Tag Archives: postie bike

Electric trike replaces iconic Aussie postie bike

Who would have thought a couple of years ago when we first started seeing those strange electric Postie trikes on our footpaths that they would replace the iconic red Honda Postie bike?
Well, now it’s official. 

Australia Post representatives have told a parliamentary inquiry into road safety that they are on track to have all motorbikes phased out of the fleet by 2025.

The Honda CT110 Postie bike has been used for postal deliveries since the 1970s.

They will be replaced by Swiss-made Kyburz electric trikes which Australia Post says are safer, can only reach 45km/h and are allowed on footpaths.

However, I’ve spoken to several posties who say they are dangerous because they can tip over on uneven footpath surfaces.

The electric trike has a top speed of 45km/h and can carry up to 100 small parcels and 1200 letters at a time, three times more than the old Postie bike.A Honda CT110 'Postie' bike with mailbags in a park

With parcels now the bulk of Australia Post’s business, the writing was on the wall for the iconic bike.

Australia Post began ordering the trikes to replace the two-wheelers in 2019 after a two-month trial of three trikes in Brisbane in 2018.

This is bad news for Honda, but good news for lovers of the bike as there should be a lot hitting the market at bargain prices.

However, it will eventually lead to a scarcity of the popular machines.

Variety Postie Bike Dash
Postie bikes in Variety Club charity ride

The Kyburz trikes are already the nation’s largest electric vehicle fleet.

Australia Post says the trikes are safer than the traditional motorcycle because they are easier to see on the road, more stable, have increased rider protection and lower on-road speeds.

Australia Post safety and wellbeing general manager Rod Maule told the inquiry the motorbike fleet was involved in the most accidents out of all delivery vehicles.

He said since beginning of the replacement program there had been a significant drop in incidents.

He claims drivers trialling the vehicles found they were less fatigued and more visible to other drivers on the road.

He also claimed an unforeseen benefit of the electric fleet was that it attracted more women to join the male dominated postal delivery workforce.

The new trikes can be ridden/driven in some states on car licences.

Australia Post postie bike electric trike eDV

Kyburz tech specs

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Honda confirm CT125 for Aussie market

2020 Honda CT125

Who would have thought that the mighty CT110 postie bike would have taken on status as a widely heralded legend of Aussie motorcycling but that is exactly what has unfolded.

2020 Honda CT125

From growing up with friendly neighborhood posties ripping up your lawn as the CT110 propelled them from house to house, or traversing the outback loaded up with camping gear, to the annual Cessnock Postie Bike Grand Prix where some truly talented riders put the Postie to the ultimate tarmac test, it is clear the postie bike has left an indelible mark on the Australian psyche.

Jap Bike Show X RbMotoLens Custom Postie
Postie bikes have even provided the canvas for custom bike builders

In August of this year a new 2020 model will arrive in Australia and it is bigger and better than ever and now called the CT125.  Initially born as a concept model, the CT125 now joins the Monkey and the Super Cub as the latest Honda classic to get a modern-day re-vamp.

2020 Honda CT125

Available in Matte Fresco Brown or Glowing Red it will hit dealerships with a sticker price of $6,999.

2020 Honda CT125

It combines the familiar retro look that we know and many love but has benefitted from a major revamp.  Taking the symbolic features of the CT series, including the upswept muffler, air cleaner cover, fuel tank, large carrier and steel front fender then contrasts starkly with a digital dash that somehow looks very out of place on the Postie Bike and will make purists turn up their nose!

2020 Honda CT125

The more modern touches continue with LED lighting and ABS while the 125 cc four-stroke single starts at the push of a button and promises increased performance over the venerable original while a four-speed semi-automatic is used to cycle through the gear ratios. The engine is adapted from the Thai built Honda Wave 125 that seemingly powers half of Asia.

2020 Honda CT125

The CT125 chassis has been designed to adapt to a broader variety of situations and a broad variety of riders. It’s based on the common Super Cub chassis package, so its nimble and easily controlled but with an increased wheel base, seat height and upswept handlebar.

2020 Honda CT125

The CT125 provides enhanced traveling and cornering stability with the adoption of the same type of top bridge and telescopic suspension commonly used for a regular motorcycle and front suspension stroke has been increased to 110mm, up 10mm compared to the Super Cub C125, making for a little more compliance when on unsealed roads.

2020 Honda CT125
2020 Honda CT125
2020 Honda CT125
2020 Honda CT125

Source: MCNews.com.au

Electric trike replacing postie bike

The next time you buy from the MotorbikeWriter online gear shop, your purchase could arrive by a Swiss-made Kyburz electric trike rather than a traditional Postie bike.

An increasing trend in online shopping has led to an explosion of parcel deliveries that have become more and more difficult to carry on a two-wheeler.

The new electric trike can carry up to 100 small parcels and 1200 letters at a time, three times more than the old Postie bike.postie bike sales tumble electric trike

Australia Post has now ordered 1000 electric delivery vehicles (eDVs) after a successful two-month trial of three trikes in Brisbane last year.

They start arriving in June in all states and could eventually replace the traditional Postie bike.

That’s good news for lovers of the little Honda as there could be a lot hitting the market later this year at bargain prices.

However, it may eventually lead to a scarcity of the popular machines.

Electric trike

Australia Post Group Chief Operating Officer Bob Black says the 1000 eDVs will become the nation’s largest electric vehicle fleet.

“With parcel volumes growing – on average, close to 10% each year for the last three years – and letter volumes declining, we’re always looking for ways to ensure our posties continue to play an important and sustainable role in the community,” he says.

“These vehicles offer additional carrying capacity, so our posties can deliver more parcels than ever before directly to the customer’s door – and can perform additional functions, such as collecting mail from street posting boxes.”

‘Safer and greener’Australia Post postie bike electric trike eDV

Along with delivery benefits, Bob reckons the electric vehicles also have safety and environmental benefits.

“The eDVs are safer than the traditional motorcycle. They are easier to see on the road, more stable, have increased rider protection and lower on-road speeds, all of which reduce a postie’s exposure to incidents and serious accidents,” he says.

“We started trialling eDVs in 2017 and we’ve since deployed them in all states. We have worked closely with our posties to make improvements along the way.

“Our posties love the eDVs because they demonstrate our commitment to providing safer and more sustainable employment into the future, given consumers are sending fewer letters and relying more and more on their postie to deliver their parcels.

“They will also help us achieve our commitment of reducing our carbon emissions by 25% by 2020.”

(Shame that most of them will be powered by electricity from coal-fired power stations!)

Australia Post will also roll out an additional 4000 electric pushbikes, bringing its total to 5980 over the next three years.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com