Test / Cargobike: With the Ca Go FS200 Vario, we looked at the latest version of the high-quality cargo bike. Unlike the established version, the main focus here is not on the transportation of children, but on the transportation of goods. The same high-quality basis is used, but equipped with a variable loading area and many possible superstructures.
Anyone who has been thinking about buying a cargo bike in recent years should have stumbled across Ca Go: With the FS 00 (Life), the manufacturer from Koblenz undoubtedly has one of the most exciting and high-quality Long-John cargo bikes on the market. One of its unique selling points has been its consistent focus on the Kindertransport. This allows greater comfort and, above all, more safety – of which we could we convince ourselves already in the test.
But: not everyone has children and/or wants to use the cargo bike to transport children. For this reason, the "platform" Ca Go FS200 was recently divided into an FS200 Life and an FS200 Vario in Koblenz. While the FS200 Life corresponds to the previous family cargo bike, the FS200 Vario is new to the range. As the name suggests, variability is the big trump card here - the 'new' FS200 can actually do everything - except transport children.
Known basis, new direction
The new Vario variant of the FS200 is based on the same basis as the well-known successful cargo bike from Koblenz. Technically, there is pretty much everything you could wish for from a modern Long John cargo bike. The cable steering not only makes the transmission of the steering impulses very direct, but also keeps the turning circle very small and requires less maintenance than a classic steering linkage. When it comes to the drive, Ca Go relies on the Bosch Cargo Line drive, which is powered by either one or two Bosch Powertube 625 batteries. The compartment for the energy storage is behind a lockable panel under the loading area.
High-quality components and high payload
The other components are also completely convincing: This applies to the powerful brake system from Magura as well as to the stepless Enviolo Automatic shifting hub, which is combined with a belt drive. Even the "smaller" details such as handles or saddles were not skimped on and come from Ergon. However, one can expect such a high-quality package of components in view of the base price of 7.490 euros. Matching the suspension fork installed at the front, Ca Go also offers an optional spring support from by.Schulz, which costs 169 euros more.
Anyone who already knows the FS200 has not yet learned anything new - but that changes when you look at the loading area, which offers a wide range of options. Without any superstructures, it measures 60 cm in width and 75,5 cm or approx. 370 l in volume. Its maximum load is 70 kg, the entire bike has a permissible total weight of 225 kg, which, minus its own weight of approx. 55 kg, results in a load of 170 kg.
Superstructures and accessories for the Ca Go FS200 Vario
For the loading area, Ca Go offers various superstructures or accessories as accessories - depending on the area of application.
Organizer set
The organizer set allows the loading area to be divided up. Either to be able to stow small parts in a better order or to prevent larger loads from sliding on the loading area. For this purpose, the dividers made of Foamlite can be "clicked in" in different positions. The distances are chosen so that, for example, Euroboxes or beverage crates fit into the individual areas.
Surcharge: 189 euros
Vario soft walls
Light, high side walls to prevent various transported goods from falling out. The rigidity can be individually adjusted via integrated tabs. Each side panel has an internal zipped pocket for smaller items.
Surcharge: 150 euros
Vario soft set
Included here are the Vario Soft Walls and an additional cover for the front and rear and also for the top. It is attached using Velcro fasteners, elastic straps and regular plastic buckles as you know them from backpacks. This protects the load from the weather and/or prying eyes. Practical: There is a small zipped pocket on the driver's side of the rear cover, which can be easily reached while driving.
Surcharge: 350 euros
top rails
Two aluminum bars that connect the front and rear parts of the aluminum frame of the truck bed. Parts of the load can be attached to it, for example, and the entire loading area is also significantly stiffer and more stable - especially recommended for heavy loads.
Surcharge: 89 euros
Luggage racks
Robust rear luggage rack with a maximum load of 25 kg. The rails are compatible with standard bags and also fit Ortlieb's QL-3 system. The carrier plate has the versatile MIK system, but does not require a spring clamp.
Surcharge: 150 euros
Even if safety on the FS200 Vario does not play such a crucial role compared to the Life variant, the Koblenz-based company does not completely ignore the aspect here either: so that the load (even when driving briskly) can be safely stowed on the loading area, there are numerous cut-outs for the included lashing straps. Especially in combination with the organizer set and the top rails, you should be able to stow away bulky goods.
Four equipment variants from 7.490 euros
If you want, you can configure the right attachments for the "bare" Ca Go FS200 Vario for 7.490 euros. Alternatively, Ca Go also offers ready-made equipment variants, which are usually much more attractive in price:
Ca Go FS200 Vario EX
Additional equipment included: by.schulz seat post R.2 LP, luggage rack
Price: 7.590 Euros
Ca Go FS200 Vario Open Pro
Additional equipment included: Organizer set, top rails, by.schulz G.2 LP spring seat post, luggage rack
Price: 7.890 Euros
Ca Go FS200 Vario Cover Pro
Additional equipment included: Organizer set, Vario-Soft-Set, top rails, by.schulz G.2 LP spring seat post, Supernova TL-3 PRO brake and rear light, luggage rack
Price: 8.290 Euros
Ca Go FS200 Vario practical test – good as usual!
In the test we had the Ca Go FS 200 Vario Cover-Pro - the absolute top model with all accessories. In terms of driving characteristics, we would at this point on our Refer to the Ca Go FS 200 test – because nothing has changed in the Vario version either. The combination of a comfortable seating position, powerful Bosch Cargo Line drive and high-quality components from A to Z also works here and ensures a lot of driving fun. A real highlight is the very well-solved cable steering, which makes the 2,70m long bike amazingly manoeuvrable and very easy to control even for cargo bike newcomers.
The possibilities for the loading area are almost endless; the organizer set makes a high-quality impression and clipping and unclipping is done in a few simple steps and in less than a minute. In this way, the loading area can really be designed in no time at all as required for the respective application. A real highlight for us, however, was the Vario-Soft-Set: The material used makes an extremely high-quality impression, is flexible and robust at the same time. The all-round reflective but visually unobtrusive prints also ensure more safety in traffic. In terms of handling, it doesn't get much better: without even having to look at the instructions, we attached the side walls and hood in just a few simple steps. This also works so well because all parts are tight, but not so tight that everything has to be precise to the millimeter in order to be able to close the last fastener.
The integrated drawstrings in the side parts are an inconspicuous detail that is enormously useful in everyday life. You can use it to regulate how tight the side walls should be with a flick of the wrist. When the tension is high, the side walls are hardly inferior to those made of solid material such as wood or EPP. If you relax the straps, you have significantly more flexibility and also a little more storage space. Great! To ensure that the loading area is always easily accessible even with the top installed, it is attached with two two-way zips that can be opened from both sides.
In order to get a feel for the usability of the Ca Go FS 200 Vario, we subjected our test bike to a real practical test; our offices are heated with a pellet stove, which needs to be supplied with a new sack of fuel on a regular basis. The corresponding fuel trade is easily accessible by bike - so off to the Ca Go! For this deployment we decided to leave the side panels mounted. We didn't use the organizer set, nor the hood when the sun was shining brightly. However, the top rails stayed in place, after all a pellet bag weighs 15 kg and we didn't want to do without additional rigidity on the loading area.
Once on site, loading is child's play. This is also due to the maximum stable base with gas pressure spring. One sack after the other goes into our loading area - there is definitely enough space! With the fifth sack we do a quick calculation – we already have 75 kg on the loading area, so strictly speaking we are a little over the maximum weight of 70 kg; for our test, however, we still want to see how the FS 200 Vario copes with it. To make it short: Sure, the enormous additional weight is of course noticeable, but at the latest when you have picked up some speed, the bike is easy to manoeuvre. Speaking of speed: Thanks to the really enormously powerful Bosch Cargo Line motor, you don't have any trouble with this, although the sometimes more sometimes less loud humming of the drive takes some getting used to.
Back at the editorial office, the sacks were unloaded just as quickly as they were loaded onto the loading area. So you passed the test? In any case! But that's just one of countless ways you could use the bike in everyday life. Drinks or hardware store, weekly shop or large errands - with the Ca Go FS 200 Vario you can replace the car in many situations.
