I first brought you the news about original, Dutch Batavus bikes potentially coming to the U.S. market back in October. I had received spy photos of them from my correspondents at the Interbike trade show in Las Vegas.
Since then I’ve been following up with Tim Rutledge at their U.S. distributor, Seattle Bike Supply. Tim said there were some logistical problems in bringing the bikes over and I was beginning to wonder whether or not we would ever see them.
Now I have finally learned that the bikes are officially “on the way” and I noticed they are already being advertised in the Seattle-based Bicycle Paper. As you can see in the photo at right, SBS will bring in the original, European Batavus models. The bikes are expected to sell in the $6-700 range.
This is shaping up to be the year of the Dutch bikes. This Batavus news follows the debut of the Electra Amsterdam and the announcement last November of a Portland distributor of Dutch bakfiets cargo bikes.
Dutch bike importer Jorg&Olif is also expected to ramp up their U.S. presence. The newly opened Ace Hotel in downtown Portland will soon have bikes from J&O available for their customers.
Check out the Batavus USA website for more info.
Thanks for reading.
BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.
Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.
wow, I cant say Im excited about the quality of these bikes. if they were $200-300 I could understand, but not at $600-700. On average, the components are extremely low-end and if you look at some of the Batavus models they are without a doubt Huffy quality. I understand the person looking for a cruiser style bike isnt looking for something high-end and racey, but this looks like high priced, low quality stuff in my opinion. These dont appear to be as nice as the Electra’s.
Ahh it has the makings of a beautiful summer.
Dutch bikes ridden by ladies in skirts.
Doesn’t get much finer.
Bill: While the weight of the Batavus bikes will rival any Huffy, the similarity ends there. These bikes are made to be used by several generations of daily riders. The frames are solid, and extremely well made. The components, rather than being composite or aluminum, are usually stainless steel, for permanent weather resistance. Besides this, what truly distinguishes these bikes is the design, and the features. The chain guard may look like the Electra’s, but it is designed to protect the chain from the weather, as well as the rider from the chain (the Electra’s guard is open on one side, and will allow sloppy grit to impinge on the drive train), and the skirt guards may seem superfluous, but the new vanguard of velocoture will appreciate the ability to wear full skirts and trench coats with impunity. The best part, of course, is the ride, and nothing I can say will compare with a test ride to explain that. These bikes embody the pinnacle of durability, reliability, comfort and low, low maintenance. If they were made in China, they would cost less, but not everyone does it that way. They’re not for everyone, but they will not dissapoint.
Yes this is great news especially if they were to bring over the ‘oma fiets’ with 24″ wheels and a good ‘Trek Portland’ type bikes for youths with an internal hub and dynamo lighting system.
The Oma Fiets frame geometry with 28″ wheels is among the most comfortable for town riding there is. Perhaps superior to the Electra.
You do get what you pay for. There are many ‘China made’ oma fiets type bikes now on the Dutch market for 50% of the cost (200 Euros), but they are much less sturdy (frame flex), less rain resitant (rust), etc.
My girl friend’s children use their bikes for daily transportation in all weather, but locally available kids bikes are not so good for this and require too much in the way of upgrades to make them utilitarian transport. A kids sized Amsterdam Electra bike would be great! (How about a Rat Rod with 5 speed gears and a Dahon hub dynamo?).
(The odd thing is that most of the big bike companies have the same model for the US market as the Dutch market minus all the utilitarian accessories. Just go to their sites and toggle on the NL link.)
“The odd thing is that most of the big bike companies have the same model for the US market as the Dutch market minus all the utilitarian accessories. Just go to their sites and toggle on the NL link.”
Cannondale being hugely guilty of this, IMO.
Am I the only one who is bothered by the yet increasing competition local (PDX/Eugene) bike companies are going to be getting thanks to yet more imports?
Is this really something we should be jumping up and down for? I mean really…
Shouldn’t we be looking for someone to start a business building quality bikes locally instead, creating local jobs and actually keeping the money here in Portland?
Granted Dutch-made bikes at least aren’t (hopefully) made with slave labor, but still — do we really need them being sold
here?
Perhaps the City ought to consider a tax on bikes that are sold in the city, but not made locally, in order to level the playing field. We could definitely have a very thriving bike industry in this town, one day…
Brilliant idea. Let’s make Portlanders choose…
A. Buy very expensive locally produced bike. ($2000+ and, in some cases, years to wait for the build)
B. Pay taxes to purchase already existing bike made outside of Oregon.
C. DRIVE to outlying suburban community like Gresham or Hillsboro to buy a tax free bicycle.
D. Say, “Screw it!” and give up the notion of buying a bike altogether. “I guess I’ll just continue to DRIVE or ride Tri-Met.”
You are not the only one.
I am good and tired of hearing dutch bike this, and bakefit’s that, and european whatnot’s…
You people should be spending this effort supporting the high quality bikes made locally, or even just in the US, instead of hawking mediocre, over priced european imports…
I agree with you Vladislov, but not many other’s will…
Every time I see another reference to Amsterdam, it makes me want to throw my helmet on the ground in rage….
This is America people…. Portland….
that’s funny because i went to suriname last summer which is a former dutch colony and there were literally thousands of these bikes. everyone rode one and you could buy a solid model for close to $30. i wonder why they are priced sooo high?!!!!
The same used oma fiets bikes in the Netherlands are generally 100 Euros to 350 Euros…if bought at a shop and with some sort of overhaul or garantee. (Similar to City Bike prices.)
Used bikes are set at what the local market can pay for it.
And some of what may be depressing prices in the local market would be the price paid for the bike (perhaps free if stolen or collected as garbage in one country (like Japan)and exported to another) and labour to overhaul it.
In the Netherlands bikes are about 20% to 30% more expensive than a similar model here. Some of that is how bikes are retailed (local service oriented shops), distributed (some bikes are only manufactured seasonally), inclusion of bike insurance, expectation of keeping a bike for many years, proportion of local or EU manufacturing content, taxes (VAT, import duties, etc.), etc.
I’d love, love, love to buy a super-cruiser that was a local product…as soon as someone makes one as stylie and (semi)affordable as the Jorg&Olif.
Most of the builders here are crafting bikes in small batches and there’s a cost and wait time associated with that. Not everyone is able or willing to pay either of these prices for a townie bike with a bell. For those that do, I salute them (and will no doubt covet their ride), but the complaints about the Dutch invasion stealing money from the local economy don’t quite hold up.
For one, you’re buying from a local retail source (at least in the case of the Bakfiets) which is making a percentage off the sale: ka-ching! Secondly, while many people might kick down more than $500. for a cruiser or transport bike, how many of them are really going to pay $2500 and up for a custom made option? Some will, but they’re the core customer of the local builders anyway; they got’s the love. Others will revel in the fact that they can roll on a J&O for a third of the price.
That said, I’m a big Buy Local consumer…but it might be a long while before ptown has a big fabrication facility to create a moderately priced production cruiser/commuter bike. (I never count Kenesis, because I think they’re a terrible, horrible, awful bike industry citizen and I dislike them, yes.) In the meantime there’s that 1spd Opa, gimme!
Vladislav:
There’s already a tax on bikes made in most foreign countries—an 11% import duty. Of course, free trade agreements exclude such countries as Canada, Mexico, Israel, Australia, Bahrain, and others, but part of the high price of these bikes is partially because of the tax, and partially because of transportation costs.
And these bikes don’t retail for €100-350 new—a single speed Azor Omafiets starts at €560, and those nexus hubs add quite a bit to the cost as well. And certainly these bikes are produced under much better working conditions than the majority of (Chinese-built) bikes already being sold in Oregon. Keep in mind there are a range of city bikes being sold in the Netherlands, and the ones being imported are definitely on the higher end of the quality spectrum.
Of course there are also constitutional issues around your proposal—I’m sure it would run afoul of the Commerce Clause, which reserves to the Federal government the power to regulate interstate commerce, so it’s not even a power the State of Oregon has to give to its cities.
I definitely support the buy local sentiment, but you simply don’t find very many American-made bikes of this sort. The closest (production) one I can think of is the Breezer Uptown, which I don’t think is made in the US.
The ‘classic’ Dutch bikes are fine, but they don’t really work that well on the hills of Portland. Batavus has a whole line of fine bikes and the lighter weight, more highly geared models would work much better in Portland.
http://usa.batavus.com/
Regarding the buy local concerns…
The closest thing I can think of in terms of a hand-built, small production, purpose-built American commuter bike is the made in New England by Mike Flanigan. It’s a lovely bike, but at $1950 for a 3-speed without a rack it’s hardly an everyman’s solution. This bike is particularly interesting to me as it is the only example I can think of of an individual builder trying to reduce the cost of his handbuilt bikes by doing small production runs to create a bike to fill the gap between full custom and large production. Check out the Q&A section at the bottom of the above ANT link as it sheds some light on the difficulty facing builders in bringing lower price locally made bikes to market.
And while Sacha White’s city bikes are absolutely amazing, are they really the type of bike you’d want to lock up outside Powell’s or the local grocery store in the rain after waiting years for it to be built?
On another side note, I believe Jorg & Olif has been thinking about moving production of their frames to British Columbia at some point to go local and avoid all the extra shipping costs and delays of getting frames from Holland, but I’m not sure they are there yet or still pursuing the idea, but it would be very interesting to see someone in the Northwest take this approach and see how prices sort out and whether more people in reality actually put their buy local money where their mouth is.
Regarding the buy local concerns…
The closest thing I can think of in terms of a hand-built, small production, purpose-built American commuter bike is the ANT Boston Roadster made in New England by Mike Flanigan. It’s a lovely bike, but at $1950 for a 3-speed without a rack it’s hardly an everyman’s solution. This bike is particularly interesting to me as it is the only example I can think of of an individual builder trying to reduce the cost of his handbuilt bikes by doing small production runs to create a bike to fill the gap between full custom and large production. Check out the Q&A section at the bottom of the above ANT link as it sheds some light on the difficulty facing builders in bringing lower price locally made bikes to market.
And while Sacha White’s city bikes are absolutely amazing, are they really the type of bike you’d want to lock up outside Powell’s or the local grocery store in the rain after waiting years for it to be built?
On another side note, I believe Jorg & Olif has been thinking about moving production of their frames to British Columbia at some point to go local and avoid all the extra shipping costs and delays of getting frames from Holland, but I’m not sure they are there yet or still pursuing the idea, but it would be very interesting to see someone in the Northwest take this approach and see how prices sort out and whether more people in reality actually put their buy local money where their mouth is.
Other than the Batavus oma fiets type bike…the other useful bike they make is the Personal Delivery Bike. I hope they try to enter this market with something different AND useful. But it will take gutts and deep pockets or verve.
Too bad there has been little City/ State leadership thought at retraining and investing in converting Freightliner staff into bike transport production.
This region has may be 5 years head start on this type of effort before another US region steps up and makes this craft enterprise more robust.
About local vs. import bikes.
a local for profit venture, turning out quality bikes for working class prices will fail in this economy – maybe try the 501c3 route and pitch it to ccc and see if you can get grants to job train at-risk populations to be frame builders – maybe partner with a pps shop class to offer bike frame building classes in a local school and have them donate the frames to a local assembler of quality bikes for working class prices – see if local builders would be willing to donate time to help develop business infrastructure – request a start-up capital donation from Chris King – partner with City Bikes Coop or NP Bike Works – organize chunk, the clown house, the zoo bombers, and shift to put on a major fundraising event, get the BTA to let you table their fund-raisers, locate grants for creative not-for-profit businesses, develop a partner program with UBI that requires recent graduates to build X many bikes as a community service, go to the jails and get them making bikes…
Do something…
And while you’re at it get me that local alternative to PBR, that’s cheaper, organic, vegan, in easily recyclable bottles with recyclable caps. PBR (and other non-local working class priced beers) might just take more money out of Portland than Bikes…
Once it’s started I’ll try to come over and help… But I’m trying to do all this in some other genre’s of life right now..
In the mean time these euro bikes look great to me!
this reminds me of the question – How come Portland doesn’t have a local alternative to PBR? (no, session doesn’t count)
The local working-class alternative to PBR involves drinking half as much beer.
I do think it’s time to reevaluate what an appropriate price to pay for a bike is. Plenty of working class people (unfortunately) pay more than $1950 for a vehicle that has recurring monthly costs in the hundreds of dollars. Sure, you can easily get a functional bike that will get you around for only a couple hundred dollars, but if it’s going to be your main transportation, I don’t think that over $1000 is that much to pay for a quality piece of equipment that is going to last and not give you much trouble. Of course, not everyone is in a situation where they can afford to get rid of their car(s), but isn’t that what we’re working toward? And a little bit of semi-affordable luxury along the lines of a beautiful handmade bike might just be another incentive for some who are considering ditching their car.
Meanwhile, I welcome any practical city bike. The Dutch bike invasion will surely convince other manufacturers that the US is ready for a real urban bicycle.
Well said, Todd.
Manufactured items are just ideas made whole. When you start to talk about punitive measures such tarriffs, all you’re doing is inhibiting the free exchange of ideas withing an economic framework.
If I’m in the market for a nice leather coat, should I have to pay a premium of both time and money by being forced to shop at Langlitz due to a tax structure intended to land my money locally? Sure, I’d love one of Langlitz’s fantastic products, but the wife says I gotta feed the boys and pay the mortgage first…
Democracy is in part based on the free exchange of ideas and a free economic market is an offshoot of that premise. I strongly feel that governmental or municipal efforts to influence my spending habits are just as wrong as attempts to stifle my freedom of speech.
About local vs. import bikes.
Bike riding is still stigmatized in working class culture – it’s for kids who can’t drive, DUI’ers who can’t drive, “poor” who cannot afford to drive, or it’s a tricked out low-rider bike for use at the car show etc..
Cars still equal freedom to the vast majority. Convincing working class folks to by local made euro-style bikes, their kids can sit in would be huge culture war right now. not just an add that says – this thing is cool, practical, and will save you money in the long haul.
Want to support local frame builders? Get in line and order their bike, blog about it, tell your friends outside of Portland, cheerlead.
We might just need some big-box to come in and start producing low-income bikes – in order to see the local made, low cost townie. Though before buying new – I’d just pick up an old Schwinn off craigslist anyway – there’s already a good supply of used bikes with no riders.
About an unchecked market = free exchange of idea? I fear those notions are good on paper, in reality benefit individuals and do not meet aims for the common good.
I bought My Batavus Old Fashion coaster bike in 1987 in Toronto, and I’m still riding it today. At the time it cost $460CDN, which to me was a lot of cash.
It is an incredibly practical bike for city riding, especially with the narrow handlebars and upright posture. I pass many a Schwinn rider that cannot get through traffic because of the wide handlebars.
It is important to me to brake with the strength of my legs as opposed to my hands, because city drivers can be very unaware of cyclists. I never have to take my seat off, or my lights, and in a city chock-full of bicycle thieves my bike has been spared: probably because of the European parts and the built-in lock.
I have ridden in every outfit imaginable from miniskirts and stilettos, to my long winter coat. (Can’t dress like THAT on a mountain bike.) I’ve toted beer, cleaned out my locker at the end of the school year, and even doubled my boyfriends on the back rack. (Just one at a time though)
I love my Batavus, and have been an all-weather rider for those past twenty years, including on our salty winter roads. I am dying to get a new one, and I wish they would come to Canada again. $1000 is not a lot to pay for such a well-made bike. I’m very excited that Dutch bikes are becoming more popular.
I kind of just want a mamachari from Japan for about $100. They are pretty crappy, but easy to ride and you can just park them anywhere.
KY — Check out Curbside Cycle in the Annex. They’re carrying the Batavus Old Dutch Bikes, both single and three speeds. I just got mine this weekend. Hurry as I think they only have about 10 left out of the 50 that came in about 3 weeks ago.
Where is the Curbside Cycle in the Annex?
Todd — If you’re in Toronto, look for Curbside Cycle at 412 Bloor Street, on the North side, between Brunswick & Howland. Single speed is selling for $799 and the 3 speeds are $949. I got a red one (with a little bit of buyers remorse on not getting the pink…) which only comes in single speed, but the store retroffited into a 3 speed for me. They’re good guys at Curbside.
I pick mine up tomorrow!
I just got an email from the owners of Curbside Cycle.
Here’s their website.
Hey Todd,
I’ve been doing as much research as I can about “Dutch” bikes or at least Dutch style bikes. I did take a spin on the Electra Amsterdam sport and enjoyed it. I did however feel like they cheated us by stripping it of all it’s character and practicality just for a lighter aluminum frame thus keeping pricing the same. I live in the Lower Mainland in BC but in the farming area where the dikes are endless. I am hoping to tote two dogs and a kid most times so I pretty much figure that is the style of bike for me. I already have an Electra Townie that is all decked out in wicker and tradition. I read with interest your in depth comparison of the Amsterdam and the Jorg & Olif since these are the two bikes that I am waffling between (tomorrow I try out a J & O). I am wondering if you have had a chance to try out the Amsterdam and have more to add. I also noticed an Ebay auction for a Gazelle Old Dutch Granny Bike and was wondering if you or anyone else out there has any input on that bike.
hallo to you all!
Reading about Dutch bikes coming to the U.S i must say i was surprised of the trend to wards “omafietsen”(grannybikes),i have ridden all sorts of bikes ,and have returned to a grannybike for all day transportation, as being the most comfortable and durable .
The Batavus-bikes (i have owned several)are really good ,(the”Personal-Bike” is perhaps best for hard every-day work) Perhaps better still are Azor- bikes (a small Dutch factory) who make real old fashioned quality bikes that will last a lifetime ,we have 4 of them now,but it will be difficult to buy them in the U.S i think (they are sold in the U.K i know,look at their site “Azorbike”.
Friendly greetings Walther Ruys, Utrecht Holland
Clever Cycles will open in June with Azor-made bikes, not just the conspicuous bakfiets but also classic city bikes, including Omas and Opas, with front rack option.
Hi Meeka,
I have not had a chance to check out the Electra nor the J&O bikes for daily use yet. I have many older Dutch and modern Dutch bikes and use them for daily commuting, as I have no car.
You are getting a much more Dutch styled bike with the J&O, though for the price the womens clasic Amsterdam is a good bit a Dutch character for a good price. You can always spend some more money to add those bits back to your cheaper bike. Then there is the number of gears you want.
As you have read Batavus has entered the Canadian market and about to enter the US market.
Mr. Ruys is spot on as the oma fiets is THE most comfortable geometry for city riding – even more comfortable then the Opa fiets version. The English call the Dutch style of riding: ” begging dog style” – arms up in front, back straight, eyes forward, etc. You have to like this style, it may not be the fastest but it is the best for city riding in normal clothes on all but the steepest cities.
My Batavus Old Dutch bike:
DOB: May 17th, 2007
19.9kg, 50cm
3 speeds, coaster brakes
Batavus Red
Owner and bike are doing very well!!!
(Interim name is Mary Jane until it gets a proper Dutch name!)
Pictures here:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/album?c=amyshlam&aid=576460762402277951&pid=&wtok=zY9VdQx7R3BX7nukkRccJA–&ts=1179808700&.src=ph
I’ve never been a big biker and I’ve never had any desire to use bikes as a mode of transportation until I tried out the Dutch style granny bikes. I’m quickly becoming a convert! It’s such a comfortable and practical ride. I love how my head is up thereby allowing me to actually see and enjoy everything around me. Me and my bike are going to have many wonderful years together!
About local vs. Dutch:
When all those local bike builders decide to hop on the dutch-style bike (and dutch cargo bike) trend, they’ll have a real competitive advantage because they don’t have to include overseas shipping in their product price.
The question is more, do these companies you are so concerned about actually WANT to produce this kind of bike? Because if they already produced these bikes, I don’t think there would be the obvious pent-up demand for them that we’re seeing.
next week I’m going to get the lowdown on a locally produced bakfiets …. should be interesting.
Jessica,
Not to make this too complicated, but any no-shipping advantage that local folks have is often neutralized by the health-care disadvantage.
One thing that often forces things to other countries is that companies, and independent builders have to cover a lot of health care expenses that are covered/lowered with national health care systems.
I\’m sorry to spam, but people that want a Batavus (there seem to be a lot of you!) can get them online Curbside\’s e-store. Check them out at http://www.curbside.on.ca (free shipping!).
You know, Batavus is okay (I rode them in Germany) but nothing (and I mean nothing) compares to a Gazelle Primeur bike. I have two bikes I swear by (or at, depending on the day\’s events). I ride a 25 year old chro-moly American Diamondback mtb that has held up amazingly well and then a Dutch-made Primeur. There\’s no comparing the two as I wouldn\’t ride the dutch bike in hills or an Albertan winter which is what the mtb is for. But I tell you, take one of these Dutch puppies out for a ride and it\’s like a spiritual awakening or realizing what it\’s like to drive a Greyhound bus (in the good sense that is). The problem/beauty is that you have to decide which to ride…
As for who makes them: why not let the folks who make good quality stuff do their thang – the diamondback is high quality, and replaced with good components of course, has held up over rough rocky mountains trips while the Primeur (15 years old) hasn\’t been touched by a wrench except for new treads and tubes. When I bought it from my uncle-in-law, I asked him about access to parts – he just gave this oh-so-rational German look and said \”you won\’t need them\”. I shut up and after 15 years, understand.
So any reports from all those new Dutch bike owners in Portland OR (Clever Cycles) or Seattle (Dutch Bike Co.) on how their ride is working out?
Hey Batiavus lovers I just got a 1984 Batavus Winner from a barn in southern wisconsin. It took awhile to clean it up but what a find. I am getting new tires on it and a small tune up and she\’ll be ready for the road. The only picture of a Winner model I could find on-line was on wikipedia from Poland. Is there anybody out there with the same bike?
I just love the dutch bikes but am not sure what to go for. The price tags are insane though. I know you get what you pay for and a high end road bike could set you back thousands, but for some reason the idea of spending $1500 for a commuter bike is a bit much. I live on the westcoast and it is hilly so I do need the gears. I keep getting asured that 7 or 8 gears is enough! Maybe. I took a raincity 8 speed Azor oma for a spin last week and it was so smooth! I need the upright position as I have problems from being in a car accident long ago. I got a giant cypress a few years ago because it kind of looked like a dutch bike but is already rusted out from two years of riding in the rain and occasional salt. I either have to replace all the components or buy a new bike.
For years city commuter bike were impossible to find in stores which only sold mountain bikes or road bikes(rarely) so that is what I rode. I never knew where people did find their cute second hand bikes. I fantasized about a cute old european bike to toodle around on, but where would I find that in a small canadian prairie city? So for years i was riding mountain bikes hunched over on big nobby tires. I did do alot of off road riding for sure, but it was slow going on pavement. And i was wearing dresses.
Fad or not I think it is great that the dutch city bike is making its way to North America. Be happy some excellent quality bikes not made in China are available!
And I am learning some dutch trying to figure out those websites. The problem is that raincity and other stores that even carry these bikes never seem to have enough in stock! However I have not seen anybody on a dutch bike yet. In Vancouver I see lots of fixies(people crashing to try stop) and lots of old european styled beaters, so who is buying up the dutch bikes?
\”The \’classic\’ Dutch bikes are fine, but they don\’t really work that well on the hills of Portland. Batavus has a whole line of fine bikes and the lighter weight, more highly geared models would work much better in Portland.\” (Burr)
I think that\’s a point a lot of people forget. Dutch is all good and well, but the kind of conditions under which you would cycle in Holland is different from North America. I\’d much rather buy a bicycle designed with my local topography in mind. Too bad most local bicycle shops don\’t work with this in mind.
The Jorg&Olif Original is a Dutch Azor bike adapted to US conditions by the addition of roller brakes (better for stopping on hills) and 8-speed shimano gears, adjusted for easier climbing on the steeper hills found on the US West Coast. So far, mine\’s working just fine here, although I\’ve yet to try it on really steep climbs like Mt. Tabor.
There is an American bicycle company making affordable ($600) high quality hand made Dutch Style bikes. They’re called Bowery Lane Bicycles – http://www.bowerylanebicycles.com
They’re made American steel at a factory using solar energy in NYC and have been receiving a lot of press.
I was hoping for many years that the quality European bike makers will try their luck in America with a distribution network, but it ain’t happened. The thing is, that they are not interested. Last time I tried to order the new ABUS (German) bike lock from the German website, I got a polite, but basically a no, for an answer. Its not worth the hassle for them to try to market a few 300-400 dollar “basic” bikes in the US when they sell the 800 Euro citybikes in Europe like cupcake.
The American and English bikes are just plain awful looking + made in PRC. So what I do? Go to Ebay Germany and look for a seller thats willing to ship to the US. Its bike paradise over there, and I want a slice of it.