Proud to announce that we were granted the distinction “Winner“, in the category “Excellent Product Design“.
We competed with our brand new models: the SHORT and the MID. These bikes share the same frame and can be converted into one another by changing the rear dropouts and carrier. Your bike can therefore evolve with your family. The Short is 173cm and carries up to 2 children (thanks to the patented footbox bucket behind the seat tube). The Mid is 186cm and carries up to 3 kids, the rear wheel moves back, offering 13 cm more space on the rear luggage rack.
They are compliant with the new EN17860 cargo bike standard.
All our in-house developed accessories and ecosystem are also available for these new models, such as the pivoting safety bars or the tool-free handlebar height adjustment.
The Jury’s Statement
“The adaptable construction that grows with the family makes the Bike43 Short and Mid especially relevant. The precise coordination of frame, accessories, and safety features demonstrates a consistent, durable design approach. This project stands out for its versatile usability, ease of repair, and its clear focus on the needs of contemporary users. A striking and evolutionarily conceived response to the demands of modern urban mobility.”
Grateful to the German Design Council for this award, recognizing our work.
Behind this extraordinary design lies a wonderful collaboration
Etienne Richelle, founder and CTO at Bike43 remembers the start of the project :
“Our original 2015 model was a functional breakthrough. Over the years, however, functionality alone was no longer enough to satisfy users, and appearance became increasingly important as well.
While work began on a new family of shorter bikes built around the same frame concept as our original models, an industrial art design student reached out to us seeking an internship. The timing could not have been better.
The collaboration with Loïc Claeys resulted in a concept that combined attractive design with the knowledge and experience we had built over the years, while also introducing further improvements. Together, we pushed the boundaries of compactness, serviceability, ride handling and style to a whole new level.“
Loïc Claeys sought to create Bike 43’s new signature shape within a compact format. The collaboration led to several years of partnership, and he would go on to style design the new Bike 43 model.
Regarding the design, Loïc specifies: “When I discovered the world of longtails, I found that the design of these bikes lacked fluidity in their shapes and coherence. Longtail bikes tend to resemble a pile of “matchsticks” combined with a bicycle of startling, limousine-like proportions. In my view, for a product to be visually comprehensible, it must be both consistent and reassuring in its form and visual codes. In other words, it should remain close to familiar proportions. That is why the design of the Mid and Short models from Bike 43 is based on fluid, sober, and as coherent as possible lines, combined with a frame that aims to convey a sense of compactness. This frame is, in fact, inspired by a sign drawn on water.“
Ultimately, Loïc continued his work as an independent industrial designer.
