Le Petit Porteur is a French brand established in 2017 by Renaud Gohin under the HPA company. The brand’s philosophy revolves around creating a bike that is compact, robust, sustainable, and easy to repair. Has it succeeded in its mission? Here’s our detailed review.
Founded in 2017 by Renaud Gohin at HPA, a company that manufactures civilian and military outdoor products, the first model from Le Petit Porteur was a delivery bicycle. By 2025, the brand expanded its offerings and now includes an electric longtail version of its original model.
The brand offers several models tailored to individual preferences. The Longtail model is perfect for carrying two children at the back. The OG model, which is the original bike of the brand, is designed for carrying goods and either a child or an adult at the rear while remaining compact. Lastly, the Shorty is the brand’s most compact model, as its name suggests.
We tested the Le Petit Porteur Longtail, the model most suited for carrying two children. How does it compare to its competitors? Here’s our assessment.
Technical Specifications
Our review is based on a model loaned by the brand.
Unique Design
The Le Petit Porteur Longtail stands out from other bikes with its compact form and distinctive frame that makes it easily identifiable.
The frame is especially sturdy and robust, similar to the cromoly steel frames found in Brompton bikes, which are also known for their durability. This design allows it to carry up to 160 kg in total and is only 176 cm long.
It’s one of the smallest longtail bikes on the market to my knowledge. The VELLO SUB, which was also notably compact, measured 180 cm, which is 4 cm longer. The rear luggage rack can carry up to 80 kg—enough for two babies or two children, and the front rack can handle up to 30 kg.
The frame suits anyone taller than 155 cm. The brand customizes the seat post at the point of purchase based on the cyclist’s height and preferences. However, unlike the Tern Quick Haul Long, for example, the frame height is less convenient to mount and may require some getting used to.
At my height of 164 cm, I adjusted to it after a few days. I also noticed slight contact with my legs when pedaling around the two bars that surround the battery, which is a minor discomfort that might also need some adjustment.
The frame tubes are too thin for cables to be routed internally. They are well managed overall, but the result looks less premium than models like the Tern GSD or the Moustache Lundi 20.
The compact nature of the Le Petit Porteur Longtail is largely due to its 20-inch wheel size. The tires fitted on this Longtail are among the best on the market. They are Schwalbe Pick-Up tires, which are wide and resistant to punctures.
The mudguards are high quality and exceptionally covering. The brand provides a free mud flap at the end of the mudguards, a great feature that will protect riders from water splashes when the ground is wet.
The Le Petit Porteur Longtail does not come with a suspension fork. Even with wide tires, the ride is rigid, and you will need to adjust the tire pressure to somewhat cushion the ride. However, it benefits from its light weight. It weighs just 29 kg with its battery and 32 kg when adding the footrests, wheel guards, and safety bar.
The lights are battery-connected and controlled from the display on the handlebar. They are good mid-range lights. If you choose the standard front rack, the light will be positioned at the front of the rack, not moving with turns.
Everything is Customizable
One of the great advantages of this bike is that it is assembled to order and therefore customizable to your needs. The handlebar, for instance, can be selected based on style and purpose. Our model came with a Klunker handlebar, which is a great compromise between comfort and sports handlebars.
The grips are also customizable according to preferences and budget. Our model came with Ergon grips, which I found ergonomic and comfortable. They are an optional extra for 30 euros.
Our model also came with the standard comfort saddle equipped with an optional handle for 8 euros. This saddle is comfortable and ideal, in my view, for a family bike. Other more sporty or premium saddles like the Brooks B17, a classic from Brooks, are also available as options.
The brand offers a choice of saddle as well as seat post depending on the rider’s height. The choice between a short or long post does not change the price and depends on the rider’s height. Only the telescopic post is offered as an option for an additional 120 euros.
Comprehensive Cargo Section
Our test model came with a complete cargo setup, starting with the standard front rack. This rack is offered at no extra cost and will depend on how you intend to use the bike. The advantage of this equipment is its incredible loading capacity. This rack can hold up to 30 kg of cargo and is large enough, for instance, to carry a Yoyo stroller.
However, the downside of this rack is that it makes parking more complicated and will require some time to get used to handling the bike. There is a smaller version that makes the bike more maneuverable but won’t allow as much transport as the large rack.
For children, the brand sells a passenger kit for 270 euros with a safety bar, platforms (footrests), and wheel guards to prevent children’s feet from getting caught in the wheels. The safety bar is very good with double bars on the sides to protect children’s hands.
However, it makes this Longtail less compact since it adds 9 cm, making it 185 cm long compared to 176 cm without. Also, note that the large front rack also increases the length of the bike by 6 cm. Our model equipped with the safety bar and large front rack thus measured 192 cm in total. All these equipments are of excellent quality and robust.
Regarding child seats, they are available directly on the Le Petit Porteur website for 59 euros. They are the Bubbly Maxi Plus CFS model from Polisport. The Longtail’s luggage rack is standard and not as spacious as that of a Tern GSD, for example. That’s why it is important to be careful about which seat models are installed.
Another very important point on a cargo bike is the kickstand. It’s a piece of equipment you must be able to rely on when getting children on and off. And on this Longtail, it’s a flawless feature. The kickstand is particularly solid and robust, relatively easy to deploy thanks to the lever at the foot available on the left side of the bike. And most importantly, it keeps the bike stable and balanced.
Embedded Technologies: Move Along, Nothing to See!
It’s essential to understand the spirit of the Le Petit Porteur brand. Everyone involved are avid cyclists. They are lovers of cycling and especially of mechanical models.
That’s why the bikes are primarily mechanical. The Le Petit Porteur Longtail was not designed as an electric bike but as a mechanical bike that was later electrified. The brand also sells a version ready to be electrified (without motor or battery) in case you want to do it yourself or through a store near you.
The display is therefore an add-on, unlike bikes from other brands that offer a complete system like those from Bosch or Shimano, for example. So, it’s clearly not the strong point of the bike.
The display is small, not very readable in bright sunlight, and the buttons to change the assistance level are too close together. The brand is working on this point and offers, as an option, a larger removable screen while waiting for something better. Personally, living in Paris, I would not opt for the large screen because it would have to be carried everywhere to avoid theft, which is not very practical.
The display is minimalist and allows you to see at a glance the remaining battery life, the assistance level, and the speed. It can also show the distance traveled. Obviously, no security features are included.
Driving: Maneuverable and Light
With a minimum weight of 29 kg, which varies depending on the equipment, this Le Petit Porteur Longtail is both light and maneuverable. Riding this bike is ideal in an urban environment. As mentioned earlier, the front rack makes driving less easy but offers more space for transport.
Natural Assistance but Lacking Dynamism
What I appreciated about the brand is its transparent communication. This Longtail is assembled in the brand’s warehouse in Châtillon. But unlike others, Le Petit Porteur is transparent about the origin of its bike parts. The motor is of Chinese origin and is, in fact, the same model initially used for the motors of the French brand Virvolt.
It’s a TONGSHEN TSDZ2 mid-drive motor with a specific configuration and 80 Nm of torque. This model would have the advantage of being very easy to dismantle and repair, according to the brand. Thanks to the torque sensor, the assistance provided is soft, progressive, and allows for natural pedaling. It’s perfect if you’re looking to maintain as much as possible the feel of a mechanical bike.
The riding sensations are therefore very different from those you might find on a bike equipped with, for example, the Bosch Cargo Line motor. On the VELLO SUBB equipped with the latter, the assistance will be more powerful and more dynamic. Personally, I would have liked more dynamism in the assistance of this Petit Porteur.
Coupled with this motor, the Le Petit Porteur Longtail features a 9-speed external derailleur chain transmission from MicroShift. The model is the Advent Super Short, designed for bikes equipped with 20-inch tires. This transmission offers very good riding sensations. I enjoyed changing gears. It’s precise and effective. I experienced no failures during my test. The shift is a bit abrupt, and that’s the only downside I could note on this transmission. To change gears, it’s classic, two levers are present on the handlebar: one to increase the ratio and the other to downshift.
I really enjoyed riding with this Petit Porteur Longtail. What is particularly appreciable is the smoothness of the pedaling even when the assistance is cut off. The bike is driven by speed, which allows you to pedal using your own strength beyond 25 km/h. This model gives the sensation of riding a mechanical bike, and that’s precisely the target audience: those who want an electric bike but not too much.
The compactness of the Petit Porteur is a real advantage, especially when equipped with the compact rack. It’s easy to park and will easily weave through city traffic.
To brake safely, the Le Petit Porteur Longtail is equipped with 2-piston hydraulic disc brakes from Tektro. This model is not as powerful as the 4-piston model, but given the price of this bike, it’s justified. The Tern Quick Haul Long that we have already tested is equipped with the same brakes while costing about 1000 euros more.
Battery Life
The brand offers two battery sizes depending on your needs: 520 Wh or 860 Wh. Our test model was equipped with the standard 520 Wh battery. This is sufficient for urban and peri-urban use. I was able to travel 52 km using the second mode of assistance except on slopes where I increased the level of assistance to the maximum. As you can see in the image below, I went to the end of the battery.
The 860 Wh battery significantly increases the range but at the expense of weight. The 520 Wh weighs 2.8 kg versus 4.9 kg for the 860 Wh. The difference is far from negligible, especially since the battery unfortunately does not have a handle, which makes its transport less convenient than other bike models I have tested.
The battery is installed on the frame in front of the rider. Its removal is very simple, and I encountered no problems during my test.
Price and Availability
The Le Petit Porteur Longtail is marketed starting at 2690 euros. The price varies depending on the options chosen. For a version with the safety bar, wheel guards, footrests, and two baby seats, you will need to count 3078 euros, or just under 3100 euros. On our version, we also had the Klunker handlebar at 69 euros, City pedals at 20 euros, Ergon grips at 30 euros, the plate that is installed on the Standard Rack at 20 euros, and the handle on the saddle at 8 euros, making 147 euros more. The total price of our version was 3225 euros.
This is clearly a strong point of this bike: not only is it customizable to your liking and equipped with quality features, but it is also sold at a very competitive price. Fully equipped, this Longtail is even close in pricing to bikes sold by Decathlon and Intersport.
This price is explained by the production chain of the company: each bike is assembled to order. The company only manages the stock of components. This choice is not without its drawbacks: you will need to be patient to get your bike. At the time of writing this article (May), orders placed on the manufacturer’s website will be honored in July, not before. All configuration is done directly on the website, but by visiting the brand’s warehouse in Châtillon, in the Paris region, it is possible to test it properly and order it with the team on site directly.
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.