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.