FS Life 200 cargo bike – when child safety comes first

There it is: the Ca Go FS Life 200 Family Plus. You involuntarily have to swallow, it’s so big. At least that’s how it seems. If you compare it to your own bike – a 29er full-suspension mountain bike – it is actually only a few centimeters longer. And if you take the handlebars of the mountain bike as a measure, they shouldn’t be wider either.

With the FS Life 200 Family Plus, everything is designed for safety. Cargo bikes in the private sector are primarily “children as passengers” bikes. To ensure that the little ones sit as safely as possible, they have small seats with seat belts. They are housed in a deep tub that is not made of wood, but rather made of polypropylene foam (EPP).

EPP is a material from the automotive sector. Car bumpers are made from it. When impacted, the plastic deforms, distributes the force and absorbs a lot of energy itself. Another advantage: the material cannot splinter. Subjective impression: The little ones sit really safely in the tub. One thing should not be forgotten. The Pedelec travels at a maximum speed of 25 km/h. Even if it hits a rigid obstacle without braking, the box should protect the occupants. A “normal” cyclist does not enjoy this protection and is likely to suffer serious injuries.

The braking system is also clever. A simple trick makes it impossible to brake. What does that mean? Normally one lever operates one brake at a time – front or rear. With a bike as long as this, uneven braking – especially at the front – has dire consequences. The solution: As soon as a certain pressure is reached, a valve opens so that braking always occurs evenly. The system is called Magura IBS.

How does the bike ride? Takes getting used to! Before you throw yourself into the hustle and bustle of the big city with the FS Life 200 and children, you should use the cargo bike extensively in quieter times. It takes a moment to mentally adjust to the new format. Until you instinctively understand which curves you can take and which ones are better not and where the bike fits through and where it doesn’t.

The test bike was equipped with the Enviolo Automatiq. Your advantage: You don’t have to worry about switching gears, it happens automatically. You always pedal at the same frequency and the bike accelerates depending on how much pressure you put into the movement. You definitely have to work. An electric mountain bike runs almost by itself in the flatlands at the highest level – with Bosch Turbo. The FS Life 200 is not designed that way, you definitely have to cooperate.

The front wheel placed forward is really unusual. On a normal bike, the handlebars and the front axle hub are close together. On a cargo bike, there is a significant piece between the handlebars and the hub, which defines the cornering movement – the entire children’s box. You steer at the front and you sit in the back seat. What is also unusual is how little weight there is on the front wheel when the tub is empty. Even if the batteries are intentionally placed to create pressure, the small front wheel remains quite wobbly. It is “controlled” with a double cable steering system. It works excellently, there is no backlash or any noticeable lag.

It’s no problem to transport a lot of weight with the FS Life 200. It drives noticeably differently when fully loaded than when empty. And weight is definitely an issue. The FS Life 200 only has two wheels and therefore needs to be jacked up on its stand if it is to stand. Different than a three-wheeled cargo bike. There is a clever handle for this – and you need it too. Finally, the front part of the wheel needs to be raised. The more weight there is in the tub, the sportier it becomes.

When empty, the bike weighs 54 kilograms with one battery – if you add a second battery, you get to 60 kilograms. In the test case, the bike had to be parked four times on the way from the shelter to the street – so you know afterwards what you did. On the other hand, maneuvering is very easy because the front wheel allows a very strong steering angle. If you calculate 90 kilograms for the driver with clothing and bag, that leaves an incredible 75 kilograms of payload with a permissible total weight of 225 kilograms.

A bike in this price range must be parked safely. Safe from wind, rain and thieves. There should also be a power connection nearby so that the vehicle can be charged easily. Of course you can also remove the batteries stored under the passenger compartment, but that’s not really elegant.

Even if it takes some getting used to, the FS Life 200 can be moved safely and quickly after a few days. Unpaved dirt roads are no problem, but the bike is of course not suitable for real off-road or even jumps. The stand and handle allow it to be parked anywhere, and the large steering angle helps. Whether transporting children or shopping – everyday needs can be easily taken care of with a pack donkey like this. If you’re used to cycling a lot of distances and errands, the difference is hardly noticeable. Sure, the FS Life 200 isn’t exactly sporty, but it’s not a lame horse either.

Who is this for? In terms of safety concept, the bike is intended for a family or an individual with children. And this family shouldn’t have to look at the euro. You have to be able to afford the FS Life 200 Family Plus. The basic price is a whopping 8500 euros – this is not a bike for the low-wage group. However, the engines of the current generation are indestructible, completely different from those of the first. The brake pads on e-bikes generally wear out more quickly than on a muscle-powered bike. With a cargo bike, the weight is added. So the bike needs some love and service. If it’s protected, it should last forever.

There was no shortage of equipment. The child seats are adjustable and have a five-point belt. The Family Plus version includes a GPS tracker and a rain cover for the box. As expected, the Bosch CX Cargo Line was used as the engine. The transmission to the automatic is done with a Gates belt. There is also the Kiox display with its endless possibilities.

The small front wheel is suspended with a Suntour fork. The rear wheel is rigid, the saddle is cushioned by suspension. There is a sturdy luggage rack. However, the facilities are not all-encompassing. Whether you need a front organizer (44.95 euros) or a mounting set for the baby seat (99.95 euros) depends on the individual case. We would definitely buy the Magura IBS for even braking – that’s 390 euros plus. And if it’s just because of the convenience of charging, we would also order a second 625 Wh battery – another 690 euros. Then you get to 9500 euros.

The FS Life 200 rides dynamically and in traffic it actually takes up hardly any more space than a larger standard bike. It finds more living space in the countryside, in the suburbs or in small towns than on the paved roads in the inner cities. The safety tray and the optional accessories are clearly designed for the safe transport of children, although drinks crates can of course also be moved. The price is justified by the high level of security. Everything that is good and expensive was installed in the test bike. If you go through the features and compare it with products that seem cheaper at first glance, the impression is quickly put into perspective. The bike should have a safe storage location with power supply. Lantern parkers will only be able to enjoy the FS Life 200 for a short time.

Transparency note: The cargo bike was provided by the company Ca Go for the test period.