How The Amazingly Burly ‘Buffalo Bicycle’ is Changing The World
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- Опубликовано: 21 сен 2024
- The Buffalo Bicycle is a robust, utilitarian, and serviceable bicycle made to help the most remote communities on the planet. Today, we will closely examine the Buffalo Bicycle and show how its incredible engineering has created perhaps the most purpose-built machine ever and how it helps communities access healthcare, clean water, education, and more.
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It has only been 2 days and you guys raised over $7100!!!!!!! That's clean drinking water, medics, school children, food, and anything else that can be transported by bike, all being done more efficiently and effectively. WOW.
Ib, AZ
Up to 112 bikes!!❤
We’re not gonna stop til we’re 10x that. Every kid in Africa gets a bike. Let’s do this 😎
Nobody cares about the poors in africa
if they make the rack a little longer, you could stand the bicycle upright on the back wheel and reduce wear on the seat, while we are on this they could rework the frame to be more cargo like the swift sidney 20/26"
If I may suggest, Seth: the Buffalo Bike is not only one of the most interesting bikes you’ve ever reviewed, but it is THE MOST IMPORTANT bicycle you’ve had on the channel. Thanks again for promoting them.
Yup absolutely,the more people that have access to a bicycle the better the world will be ❤
I've been a silent backer of WBR for years. You wouldn't believe how happy it makes me to see somebody with your reach promote WBR and the Buffalo bike. Thank you.
Same here! I've always wanted to see these in person or video ever since I ran across the campaign.
Ditto! I’ve donated 2-3 of these for people over the years. 🙂💪
Edit: Had to check - make that 6-8 if SRAM matched my donations 1:1 as I believe they did. Best xmas gifts I’ve ever had the chance to get someone - highly recommended. Thanks for doing the work you do WBR!
well not that silent
Thank you for your support!
@@CodSlap Thank you for your support!
After getting jaded watching all the high-tech bicycle channels showcasing $5k+ bikes, this is a breath of fresh air & much more inspiring.
I'm getting jaded its not for sale in the U.S.
@@PSIChris They could sell this for $500 in the US and the profits alone would allow them to continue doing great work, and it would still be an absolute deal on a solid bike here in the US.
I used to buy cycling mags, but they went from every day bikes to bikes for "all the gear and no idea" type of riders.
You know, we have many near equivalent machines available that many of our fellow riders might sneer at available in the developed world. We can recycle bikes - properly, by refitting them - square taper, BSA bottom bracket sets will always be made, steel 100mm/135mm OLD chromoly forks and frames will always be able to be fitted with new parts. Bike kitchens can be better funded by we middle class riders if we volunteer and learn from the more experienced volunteers there and we buy our classic steel and alloy frames from them and fit them with well chosen parts. I've never owned a bike that cost more than AU$2000, even my dutch cargo bike ("long john" or front loader) was an AU$850 frameset, fitted with home built wheels and groupset all salvaged from urban kerbside disposal mountain bikes, BMX and road bikes or parts, refitted with budget and sale sourced bearings and chains. My primary urban/tourer/gravel machine was an AU$800 Reid Urban X-2 first gen, it's 8 years old now and steel feels new although needs a new chainset. (I've put a few kliks on "Buster")
We NEED to take responsibility for knowing our machines! The bicycle is the last great technological advance even a total non-engineer can understand to every nut, bolt, bearing, bracket and sprocket. Even wheel building, with all the marketing hype we've been fed about it's complexity is no more complex than a Lego kit like the Mars Rover and kids build those (and some adults - guilty as charged 🙂 - lego and my own wheels... cargo bike and previous tourer)
And we need to realise we overuse cars. We need to realise how much money we waste on cars. We need to realise just how quiet and communal our cities would be if we simply reduced our car use by even 1/3 by distance.
That's a youtube channel I'd watch. Oh wait, there are people doing those. ❤❤❤
I don’t understand how an industrial bicycle is $700 and is not as durable or simple as this bike.
I, a suburban American Dad, want this for myself. And I want the spiritual counterpart for every product I own. Pure utility, built to last and be fixed by the owner forever.
Same, but they never will at least in north America. Best u can do are fixies that u modify yourself at least thats what I did.
This - They build products like this for developing countries where it's life or death, but refuse to sell them in the US because they want to milk us for every cent. So many great products get released almost everywhere except here, and maybe Canada. It's getting to the point that it's almost worth paying to buy some of this stuff through Mexico where it's actually available, instead of buying the under-engineered subscription-based US counterpart.
same, I would love this bike, I don't want or need an over engineered bike with complicated gizmos/gadgets to fix/tune constantly just something that works when I want it to work and be simple to fix when that isn't the case. I would be happy to buy two bikes if they'd let me, one for me and one to be sent to someone in need.
@@randzopyr1038don’t worry, 3rd World USA coming soon. Maybe we can buy one then.
Check out the Honda Element. One of the most utilitarian versatile car/van thing ever made.
This is "COMMON SENSE" engineering, something the automobile industry needs to learn.
Oh they know it, but they have tossed it out the window because they don't make as much money by making it so you don't have to go to them for essentially everything.
Look up the IMV 0/Hilux Champ. It's a new, cheap, beautiful Toyota truck that will be released everywhere besides the United States, because it's basically outlawed. We've been regulated into oblivion by the same people who are destroying the US dollar.
@@oldbettles1690 TRUTH! 🤗🤗🤗🤗
@@oldbettles1690 I never drove one of those, but we definitely need to get back to basics. All these overly complicated vehicles are ending up on the scrapyard because they are too costly to repair. 🤔🤔💀💀💀
😊 Government regulations for safety and especially fuel efficiency dictates that cars are extremely complicated.
Watching from rural zambia, never thought I would see a Buffalo on berm peak.
I got a question then. Seth said that the bike costs around 165. Is that a lot for those communities and people, who this bike is aimed for? How long do they need to put money aside to get one?
Or can anyone else answer me these questions? :)
@@Vixen1525 check out the link above ,and they give the bikes out free.
@@Vixen1525 the bikes are given out to the communities from what i can gather, wbr is a non profit organisation funded off donations.
Not just that, they also sponsor people in the community to become mechanics with the tools and training to maintain them over time.
They also target small business owners and farmers that can use them to transport goods.
It's a really great project.
As with many things in africa someone has the money to buy them and then they are sold of as used second hand. Eventually they get to the people that need them at a much cheaper price.
As a bike shop owner in Harare, Zimbabwe, whenever we get customers wanting a bike under $300 we always recommend the Buffalo. They'll outlast most bikes costing 10 times that, and when they do need spares they're available locally and cheaply. They do also offer a couple of models with gears, one of which has an innovative method of shifting between the two gears by back-pedalling.
I guess if you are using a bike for things bikes aren’t normally designed for that’s true and lets not forget if it wasn’t for charitable people that bike would cost a whole lot more!
@@MichaelRei99 Why would it cost more? There's nothing too complicated or expensive that would require it to cost any more than it does. The most expensive part is probably the shipping of a 55lbs bike.
@@filipruml Well there's this thing called profit
@@saisamsuri Well, there's also this thing called non-profit. I know it doesn't mean there are no profit margins on the product, but considering that profit margins in the bicycle industry aren't huge to begin with, do you really think that WBR is making a lot of money on this?
Not to mention that I was replying to @MikeR65 that there is no reason for such bike to cost more than what it already does.
Glad to hear about the 2-speed version. When this initiative was getting going I quizzed SRAM guys about these hubs. They told me they were going to quit production of the one they made.
Watching from Zimbabwe. I have personally seen how these bikes help from community healthcare personnel to children attending and people going to work. Thanks for raising awareness
What’s the most interesting modification you’ve seen made to one of these?
As a Dutch person, I never realized I grew up in a developing country. 😄
Our frame (pun intended) of reference for bicycles is dictated by the so-called "omafiets" ("grandma bicycle"), which ticks a lot of boxes of durability and maintainability described in this video. There are lots of interesting videos about it on RUclips. These bicycles are meant to be used daily, carry a heavy load like a passenger, be left in the rain, flipped upside-down for maintenance, and still treat you like a loyal labrador. It's great to see that these qualities are becoming available to more and more people!
Man, videos like this are the reason I love cycling. With so many cycling channels focusing on the higher end of stuff it's refreshing to see you talk on things that matter to more people. Thanks Seth!
100%
Being released from sponsors probably got him more creative freedom than ever before.
It's interesting seeing how engineers and designers address different goals. I find the design of high end road bikes fascinating, but there are only so many videos I can watch on that before they get repetitive and boring.
I think more exposure to different designs for different purposes is good for the biking community in general. Because really, rather than one community it often feels like a bunch of different communities that don't want to be associated with each other - or each other's advancements in bicycle technology.
This is a high end bike just different aim
@@MatthewEng2593 It's really not, and that's by design. A single Rohloff or Pinion gearbox costs an order of magnitude more than a Buffalo bike, and they would have to be imported. WBR tries to keep bike production affordable and local. They could use better alloys to bring the weight down and/or improve corrosion resistance without sacrificing strength, but that would drive the cost up.
A bike of the people, not the shareholders.
Almost reminds me of a Framework laptop, but as a bike
I dunno.... If I had to guess, I would bet that Kenda's shareholders are pretty happy with the exclusive and proprietary tire deal.
@@be1100 depends on if they make any money from it. Certainly its a good ad for them though.
Sounds like a commie talking!
@@be1100 Tires can just be changed.
This is how every entry level product should be designed. Well built, simple construction, easy to service, easy to modify, interchangeable parts.
Now make a small dependable truck like this. I’d buy it
We need more companies like this who specialize on making things simpler, cheaper, longer lasting, and actually listen to the needs of it's customers in our wold.
Sadly its only non-profits now
I honestly think this is possibly the best designed, most thoughtful bike I've ever seen AND its just wonderful how a great bike can truly transform lives in developing countries. Thanks for choosing to explain the Buffalo on your channel. Great work!!
While other channels are starting to feel like 10 minutes ads to make me buy stuff I don’t need, I love videos like this on how bikes can change peoples lives. I spent $150 this weekend on 2 parts to keep my son’s bike on the road so donation of $225 (Australian) for a whole bike that may make a difference to someone’s life was an easy decision.
Like, I don't know if they do so, but if they sell these bikes for at least twice the price (with a few optionals like very easy gearing and water bottle holder [debatable]) to some warm milk drinking soft sheltered individuals (me) that sounds like a great deal - get a bike that will last a lifetime and also you know you're supporting a great cause - directly and very strongly.
same.
great reasoning. did it too 😊
@@zonderbaar thank you so much for your support!
@@alexjohncarroll Thank you!
As a person who spent years using a bike as my only form of transportation because I had no other choice I can genuinely appreciate how much thought and effort went into this bike
Did you ever upgrade to a person who uses a bike as their only form of transportation because you have other choices?
I know longer own a car and don't want to. Much prefer bikes.
in a day and age where repairability and longevity are forethoughts in modern consumer products, this company has restored my faith in humanity and what we can produce
I call it finding soulutions.
You convinced me. Just donated $5.00. It would have been more, but I'm on a fixed income myself. I live in the U.S. where nearly everyone drives a car, but there was a five-year period when I got around exclusively by bicycle, so I know how useful a bike can really be, and especially so for folks who can't afford anything more expensive. That was a temporary problem for me, but in many places it is a permanent feature of life. So, I hope the money helps someone get a good bike.
Thank you for your support! Every donation makes a difference!
I worked in Malawi with people who have Buffalo bikes and they are very happy with them. Those are solid dependable workhorses which transform livelihoods.
A truly amazing charity!
I would 100% buy a Buffalo Bicycle for a household--these bikes are life changing! Thank you for publicizing this effort.
Can a regular person buy one, and I mean just one, be kinda nice to have
@@michaelmay9728I don’t think so, I looked into other a few years ago and it wasn’t possible without connections.
@@michaelmay9728not avalable in the us
Not that i can find. Would love if they did like Tom's shoes and i could buy one for me at even triple price, to have the rest of the money go to the foundation to make more elsewhere.
@@michaelmay9728 Ozark Trail has decent reviews for being a fairly basic bike. It's not quite as cheap as this but it also has some extra features. I'd say a bike like the Buffalo is amazing for those who actually need it due to it being extremely robust and durable. But that kind of bike in a modern city would be overkill and would also be quite uncomfortable. Not many city dwellers need a bike that can hold 200+ pounds and all that extra weight would be exhausting day after day. Having a bike with gears is a huge advantage and cities also have bike shops to deal with normal issues. We have the privilege of being able to afford comfortable bikes rather than the necessity of something like the Buffalo which is intended to be ridden long and hard until it's completely unusable, and then still keep going despite that.
The holes for bottle cages increase the complexity of the frame, introduce weak points, and expose the inside of the frame to moisture.
Not, they simply studied the end user, the buffalo was based on a local model called the Black mambas and the people who use them never use a water bottle thus their was no need to introduce one. The bikes are mostly used for local commuting like going to school, carrying things from the shopping centre. The distance is never more than 10 kms and you don't need to take water, you will take water when you reach home plus if you really needed to take water on the road, you can always stop and ask from the nearest house.
Plus you can just weld / strap a bottle cage to it if you really want one.
@@jumaabdul1271 He wasn't wrong though.
Tie on a bag, zip tie a basket…
I cycled in Senegal 30 years ago. I took over my Rocky Altitude. About halfway through my stay I wondered if I should not have been on one of omnipresent Chinese bikes ( Pigeons?) Yes, single or maybe 3 speed commuters like the Buffalo. I broke parts, lost parts, had tools stolen. I had to go to a Mercedes dealership to get an Allen wrench. I patched one tube 12 times in one day from thorns and pinches. I bought patch glue in used pop bottles, and cut a dead tube for patches. I had to be seriously 'en brousse' to not see one of those steel behemoths wheeling around.
At one stay the local bike mechanic borrowed mine for a ride. I showed the gearing, and he took off. The beam on his face when he returned ! Then he asked about maintenance, as he saw me earlier with the rear cluster off, and repacking bearings in the hub... he was not amused.
So yeah, water bottle mounts? What's a water bottle? I was using old bleach jugs to carry water, and filled on old pop bottle in my handlebar bag. Spoke guards are just something to break or get gummed up. Helmets were non-existent, I only wore mine on the tarmac areas.
I would like to see more on the pump... the lever looks ingenious.. less struggle to get the hose off the valve without damaging it (no wiggling etc.), wouldn't be surprised if there's a wrench head built in.
And, glad there was not a whole lot of talking about 'the people', or "lifting up" and keeping the focus on the bike and the realities of being off grid, and using bikes as an everyday work horse!
Dude! That comment was an impressive piece of social media prose! Shop talk as poetry…I’m truly inspired. Makes me want to crack open a hub & 6 pack of yuenglings & get greasy. ✊🍷🎩🎩🎩🕊🌏🚴🚴🚴🧑🏻🦽🧑🏻🦽🧑🏻🦽
I grew up in Taiwan in the 80s... We had bikes like this. I can't believe this is making a comeback. This bring back memories
The double backstand really brought back some memories. I used to sit in the back while my mom did the shopping.
2 bikes delivered for the price of an Ultegra crankset. Thank you for lending the weight of your yt channel to WBR. Nice touch that yt doesn't take a cut (take note JustGiving).
RUclips isn't taking a cut? That's out of character for them. I wonder if they are developing a social conscience or simply charged more and paid less for advertising.
@@Frombie_01 when you're running a charity video or campaign youtube puts the description of the charity campaign on the right of the video, as you could clearly see, and they disclose how much the person running the campaign on their video has raised. It's straight up illegal to take a cut of donations made to someone else, and youtube doesn't do it by the good in their hearts, they're required to provide the transparency.
12:15 Bike mech from South Africa here. I am guessing lack of bottle mounts is also to limit water ingress potential.
I am not a mech but I was thinking the same thing, less holes, less places for water to go. Thank you for posting, I feel less silly now lol.
@@asth3tique You're probably smarter and more intuitive than you allow yourself to believe.
So
There is no way to mount a bottle holder without drilling a hole
Lol
Smart very smart
That's smart. The thing that caught my mind immediately is that these bikes are customized so often. So leaving that part of the bike as a clean surface for welding arbitrary rider-specific attachments may be an intentional goal as well.
@@MaddieM4 absolutely. I love how something so simple can be so many things to so many people. It's the van of bikes.
I’ve been a supporter of World Bicycle Relief for a long time. In fact, in 2013, I was lucky enough to attend a special event in Moab where we had a chance to camp out, build a 1st generation Buffalo bike (thank goodness the wheels were already strung), and take it for “experience rides”. For example, we loaded up 5 gallon jugs filled with water and rode them down sandy, gravely road that were similar to some found in Africa. What a challenge! And to think that the recipients of the bike do it almost every day. We were also able to ride them all the way from Canyonlands NP into Moab. What a thrill ride! At that time, the bike only had the coaster brake - and I put it to good use!
But, the best part of the weekend was getting to meet the WBR team - including FK Day and Ben, one of the field team members from Africa. Ben’s stories of the Buffalo’s impact to individuals and families were nothing shy of amazing and uplifting. The fact that WBR is creating a biking ecosystem that includes training mechanics goes to show how involved and thoughtful the entire program is. Unlike many charitable groups, WBR does not dump funds or products and then move on to the next location.
I have no affiliation with WBR other than donating the equivalent of at least one bike per year.
WBR’s Buffalo Bikes are a very worthy cause.
@SMLPhotography1 THANK YOU for your long-time support! That was a special event in Moab. We're grateful for all the lives you've empowered with bicycles over these years!
The frame design is worth a mention too. Seat all the way down and the bend in the top tube allows safer standover for any rider size. Easier to mount when the rear is loaded. Maintains a good-sized triangle for strength. Excellent engineering. Hats off to you Seth for promoting this.
I saw these around in Kenya but didn't know anything about them. I thought they were locally made given how completely bombproof they are. It really is the best bike ever made.
I thought they were local to us too (Zimbabwe). They really are workhorses.
A long time ago I saw a documentary about the village blacksmith in remote African villages and how their job had evolved from being strictly blacksmiths to becoming the village auto mechanic. The key point was that they worked on inline 4 or 6 cylinder carburated engines on older model cars. They showed them doing engine rebuilds in a shack in conditions that would make any race engine builder cringe!! They managed to fix them up and the guy probably knows jackshit about timing curves or fuel ratios but he could make any car run intuitively.
This bike embraces the same philosophy. You just need something simple and rugged that can be fixed with basic tool. No need for repair manuals, just take it apart and figure it out as you go because it's just that simple.
I think you are absolutely correct in what you say.
Here in England, the Post Office used to have loads of bikes for their workers to use for local deliveries. They were heavily built bikes with carrying racks front and rear. When the Post Office discontinued their use, a charitable business bought up masses and refurbished them, branding them "Elephant " bikes. For every one sold in UK, another was donated to Africa. My local bike shop has a fleet of them for use as day hire bikes. Slow but very, very tough....
Here in Western Germany, the´s a YT-channel of a group of friends, who buy, fix and tour cheap, old and rare vehicles. To them, the "Trabant" was exotic, but not exactly rare, cause everyone in Eastern Germany had one (2stroke, the first mass-production-car with full composite body, communist tech, mind you)... Their vehicles always break down (I think, sometimes on purpose, cause the viewers/fans love seeing them get angry, and drinking a 40% "shot" by each breakdown), so did the "Traby". They took the engine out at the roadside, sprit it and fixed it, and just a mile later, they had to repeat everything, it was so funny...!!! It took them 2 hours to split the engine twice, and it would have taken a week, or two, if it were a western 4stroke engine/car...!!! It´s named "common sense engineering", and it´s a communist invention... Taking the engine out and spliting it was easier, than in the case of the small Honca C90-bikes, with which they crossed the Alps (3000m of elevation/climbing with 2hp)...
It's insane how much better and more practical this bike is that any bike in a US department store.
@@GNMi79 What do you think a beach cruiser is? Some $10,000 downhill bikes are easily 50 lbs. Spoken like someone who works in a cubicle, lives in an apartment in the city and doesn't know how to change their oil, let alone fix a flat tire. The bicycle industry is failing because they are catering to those you describe and not the mass majority of people. People who want quality and practicality, without the huge price tag.
@@GNMi79 Umm, the standard Dutch bike is ~44lb. There's a lot of demand for those - even outside the Netherlands.
@@GNMi79 Interesting fact: The US isn’t the only place in the world.
I'm an American that lives in San Francisco and I want a buffalo bike. Honestly the thing stoping me from buying a bike it that the bikes all seem flisy, and based on "performance". I want to go from a to b faster than walking.
@@GNMi79 Next time just say Buffalo then rather than speaking for the entire developed world.
I can't describe how much I love what this channel has become. Bike content, dad content, advocacy.
$165? That is crazy cool. Good stuff. This is a responsible immensely human company! Bravo WBR!
Thanks, just contributed. Buffalo Bikes remind me very much of the old Schwinns I used and abused the heck out of on rural Missouri gravel and dirt roads in the late 40s and early 50s. Glad to see that they still exist. Now if they only had a headlight connected to a spring-loaded generator that you could flip against the front wheel when the sun went down.
Why, incandescent lighting powered by an inefficient AC alternator driven from a wheel that is likely to get caked in mud and dirt is so 1940's~50's. So here in the 21st century, there's numerous better lighting systems that can be charged on small solar panels using efficient LED lights.
@henrydaubresse9652 thank you so much for your support!
I've ridden bikes my entire life and had never heard of Buffalo! This channel never fails to educate me!
The only issue with giving away bikes to developing nations is that it puts the local bike shop owners out of business. Similar to sending shoes abroad to outcompete local cobblers.
@@scottanno8861 yeah, making an economy run on charities basically neuters their growth potential: See Haiti after the earthquake.
As a short term solution or as a starting point for modernization, this shit is good though.
Years ago I saw a documentary on the Burundi bike banana workers. shit was wild. Bikes like these could work for them...
In India we have similar bikes and the cost is even cheaper. It costs around 65 to 70$. But they are extremely strong n fun to ride.
The geometry of these bikes are so great that you do not require to go for a bike fitting as you will never get a bum or wrist problem. Fantastic part is that a complete stripdown service will cost you as high as just 2$😅😅
I love those HERO bikes in India. I've seen them carrying monstrous huge loads, you can hardly believe it.
I live in a rich part in sweden and "simple" bikes are really popular even here even if people have money for more expensive (maybe its also because bicycle theft is commom here) but i think many just like things when they are simple :)
These cycles are now found in few Indian grocery stores in US
@@drmontreal6165I bought a Herosprint Pro mountain bike (with gears and everything) in Japan for ¥37,000 after tax.
It says "Made in the UK" on it. Nice to see an Indian company uplifting a poorer, failing state ;)
Really love to see a bike designed for the development of a community.
The power of bikes if so much more than just a recreational tool!
Thank you Seth for shining the light on WBR 😊😊
This is the kind of bike I remember from my childhood. I didn’t need to buy a whole case of tools to service it! With torpedo rear brake, robust integrated rear rack, fully guarded chain it was a no-brain breeze to use daily. ❤
I live in England and I want a buffalo.
Reliable and easy to maintain is what we need
I was so excited to see you promoting this bicycle. We did a big push for WBR in 2021 as part of our 1M subscriber special video. These are awesome and the ethos is on point!
I'm sure the folks behind WBR appreciate you helping them push their agenda in Africa..."Free Bikes" for students, as long as they embrace and promote the agenda.
@@1966johnnywayne hi bitter old man
Thanks for reminding me, sitting in one of the worlds richest countries, that in a huge part of the world, owning a 165$ bike is lifechanging! Donation done!
❤😊
Thank you!
The bicycle truly is one of the best Inventions in humankind. I've been supporting WBR for some time and it's great to see everything is continuing in motion.
Thank you for your support!
@@WorldBicycleRelief No, thank you. I am from a country in development and devoted my whole life to teaching. There are meaningful ways to make a difference, so many thanks for what you do.
Reliable practicality has been gone from our lives for far to long now.
It's wonderful to see it's beginning to return.
Finally discovering Dutch city bikes I see
Never heard of WBR before this video, immediately went and donated the price of a bike after watching. Thanks for letting me know about this organization!
Thank you for your support!
Feels great to donate to someone who needs a bike in this world! Thanks Seth for making this possible, Thanks @ghsteen for that exact comment you made, well done!
Seth, i've watched your videos since the days of you messing about on that Trek! Pleased to see that you've remained the same humble, thoughtful, kind-hearted person, despite your successes! Therefore, an ideal person to show us such an important bicycle!
This is fantastic. Well done to all who have made this bike possible.
I've donated to buffalo bikes in the past and it always feels good. It definitely looks like a bullet proof bike that is built to last and easy to fix.
I wish more products were designed like this. Durable, easy to work on, no frills, affordable, it's a shame stuff like this is hard to come by these days
CBS Sunday Morning just did a segment on simple design. Simplicity is difficult and exceptionally rare these days. This is a great example of a product that nails simplicity.
I wish more products were designed like this when function is paramount. Sadly we live in a throw away society here and everything is built to look good on the shelf yet fail in the real world. Thanks for making this video, thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm glad you used your platform to bring awareness to such an outstanding product.
Reminds me of my dutch bike in some aspects.
100% regular dutch bike, except they bent the horizontal bar and removed the lights.
Good old fashioned safety bike, works always. Reminds me of the days I cycled 13km into the wind, both ways, in de brugklas 😉
@@ramdynebix HAH it was a 21km to, 21km back for me. Though that all changed when I got a brommer.
It pretty much is, yeah. I just fixed up my old Gazelle bike using only a wrench as well, had no idea that was remarkable.
It is essentially just a dutch bike on steroids.
Age 81, living in a flat Florida community. My max ride is about 10 miles: for daily exercise. Shopping and church trips are under 1 mile. I have no need to go fast. My priority is comfort, simplicity, reliability, safety, low-maintenance, along with a bit of cargo capacity. My exercise target is simply to spend ample time at “zone 2” aerobic level. An expensive, uncomfortable, high-efficiency, racing-optimized bike does nothing for me. By contrast, an inexpensive, comfortable, reliable, “Dutch”-inspired bike is what I need. My current bike is a 15-year-old Townie. I’m planning to play around with seatpost, saddle, stem, and handlebar so I can ride in upright position. I’m also thinking about replacing the whole rickety drivetrain (bottom bracket, crankset, rear wheel) with a new setup with belt drive and 3-gear/coaster-brake hub.
Thanks for telling us about Buffalo Bikes! I donated to this very worthy cause, and I hope everyone else who can will donate. Buffalo!
This. This is what I support. User centric products. Non greedy and helping the people. This is what companies should be.
Meanwhile, ebikes by companies like Bosch and Yamaha, which have flooded the market, use so many proprietary components that when the company ends support for the model, they'll all be trash because it's impossible or not worthwhile to retrofit the bike for standard replacement parts. This already happened with BionX and Bosch's first generation of mid-drive bikes.
Companies cannot be like that by definition in capitalism, that should also be clear... A company either makes the highest profit, or gets bought by the competition...
@@klausbrinck2137completely accurate. And I appreciate you mentioning under capitalism, as companies do have the capacity to have consumer wellbeing as a core motivator in another power structure
Didn’t know about this organization before and just donated. Would be awesome to see a coordinated awareness campaign across bike RUclipsrs. Thanks Seth and WBR!
Do you always donate to "charitable" organizations without first investigating their political objectives? Would it bother you to know that the guy in charge is a member of the WEF and that the "Free Bike" program to students comes with strings?
Thank you for promoting this charity. Their work quite literally saves lives and changes others
I knew about these bikes and backed them in the past. But your video explained so many things in detail that were new to me. So again you educated me. And it is great that you support this bike project.
This is where it's at. 10/10 for this review, and for the people making this happen.
my bike is around 65 years old, made by a long-defunct German brand. It's a nice oversized frame, very robust, not overly heavy. I put a Shimano 8-speed hub in the rear and a hub generator in the front for excellent LCD light. Presto, it's the best bike I've ever had.
Great video Seth, the Buffalo is a legendary bike. Living in South Africa you don’t need to look far to see the effects this bike has on communities. Thanks for showing those who wouldn’t get to see such an important bike.
Great vid and wonderful idea! My wife (and biking partner) was thrilled to find out about WBR and asked me to donate a buffalo as her Mother's Day gift.
Your wife is you mother?
This kind of thing is exactly what i love. A need was identified and, realizing that usual methods are not going to solve it, people came together to address it and most importantly take feedback from the end user into account.
Admittedly I want one purely because it looks to be the next best thing to indestructible, but... I'm not the target customer. i'm just some schmoe. There are people who literally Need these.
Granted I want this because honestly? I wish big box bikes were built like this. No frills. Built to last.
I have NEVER been more excited about a bicycle that you have reviewed on your channel. Thank you for sharing the information about these bikes and the organization that makes them possible!
Reminds me of my old Western Flyer I had back in the 60’s. Heavy and built like a tank. An adjustable wrench could fix anything.
This is so cool. These bikes should service people for many years, and can be repaired as needed, cheap and easily.
This is exactly what has existed in Brazil since 1960.
There are 02 models Barra Forte (Strong bar) from Caloi and Barra Circular (Circular Bar) from Monark.
Pretty strong and reliable, carries many weights, is low maintenance, and many people still use it.
Cool video !!!
why is there a circle in the middle?
@markifi doesn't seems it has a real explanation, possible it is alternative to reinforce the frame, different from ther models that use extra bar. Indee, it is a cool feature and made strong in the market.
Reminds me a lot of a Dutch bike. Built to get you somewhere and not look fashionable or try to win a race.
Except it’s affordable.
@@Where2bub Dutch omafietsen (granny bikes) are often times cheaper than this bike... And are also extremely durable and easy to repair. I saw there were also charity/companies that import dutch omafietsen by the shipping containers.
@@Where2bubHuh? My Gazelle bike was €100 second hand. If you’re paying more you’re getting ripped off
What a fantastic bit of kit. We all need a simple bike for transporting ourselves and stuff.
Absolutely never heard about this bike and I LOVE it. This is a true "buy it for life" kind of vehicle.
Main omission, enclosed chain-case, so the chain lasts & requires less maintaining.
Secondary omissions.
Dynamo lights, 3 speed hub, pump brackets to actually carry the pump, & a decent length hand pump.
I think I just reinvented the Raleigh Superbe, which is the ACTUAL most practical bike ever.
WOW you get me with this one. Big respect to this company who really dedicate to community like that. Amazing.
In Brazil we have a classic bike “Monark: Barra Circular” a well built bike with a circle between TT and DT, came with a bag of tools and repair from factory mounted direct to the circle, started in the 1970 if I’m correct and being sell til today
Along with Caloi’s “Barra Forte”, the power duo of the simple man.
What is the purpose of the circle in the frame?
@@somethingelse9535Sturdiness, I guess
Bloody fantastic. We need more of this sort of thing....and not just in the bike world. Thanks for the vid Mr Peak.
I remember coming across these years ago and they are my favourite bike by far. The most important aspect of these is they are locally built and serviced in remote communities, removing the reliance that so many people have on donations to support them. The guy that started the company started out helping the people in Haiti through a bike donation and then developed these for students and nurses in remote parts of Africa. Farmers began buying them because they could get more food to markets, faster, leading to a stronger economy and fresher food to the people. It's incredible.
This is essentially the VW beetle and Model T of bikes... what an awesome company, with a super important mission.
I am familiar with bikes in rural Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. I have never seen one new though. They commonly transport water in containers that easily exceed 500 pounds. Contrary to the buffalo bike they use metal rods instead of break cables. Some of them even have rudimentary suspension systems. The environment is rough and everything breaks constantly, lubricant wash away by rain and become a grinding paste with dirt and dust. Most of the bikes look brown due to the naked steel exposed to the elements. I am happy to know these bikes are still been made, the ones I have witnessed look like they have been used for lifetime and new ones would allow new generations to enjoy them as well. For households that average incomes of $300/year is still a steep purchase though. I hope WBR add financing to their plan to make this bikes truly accessible to the people that need them most.
they don't sell them to communities they donate them. The cost $165 for us first worlders to donate.
@@callumhowarth8057 Donating them is not the right approach. Donations disrupt and destroy small economies.
[Edit: I looked it up, and the organization tries to keep production in or near the communities they serve.]
That depends on the local economy, no? Interfering with local businesses is bad, but denying people access to transportation for lack of funds is also bad, and more people with bicycles can mean more business for bike shops (maintenance, repairs, replacement parts), plus those same bikes can make other local businesses more efficient.
It certainly is not as simple as "sending bikes to Africa = good" though, and it's true that donation drives can have negative long term effects. I get that the video was more about the bike, but I do wish we got more detail on how the charity operates. That said, there are a number of comments from people about the bikes having positive impacts in their communities, which I take as a good sign.
@@SnakebitSTI That's the right approach ! otherwise is called dumping. Dumping is what the NFL does with non winner teams T-shirts and TOMS with their shoes. Destroying local shoe and tshirt makers. It's very difficult to compete with things that are free. Additionally people develope dependency and once the company doesn't give away free stuff people get poorer than they originally were.
What a refreshing video presenting a no fuss bike that just works. Reminds me of the typical bikes you’ll see everywhere in the Netherlands, and my own memories of riding one to school every day with friends sitting on the back rack. Just awesome, thanks Seth!
One of the most meaningful things I do these days is my recurring monthly donation to world bicycle relief. It's my small way of getting back to the world.
When moving, I donated a bike to a charity, and received a photo of it on a dirt road in southeast Asia, old race plates and all. It was nice to see an older bike getting such use. The bike described in the video seems even better suited for such uses.
Do you remember the name of the charity? I have a bike in decent condition that I don't use anymore, and could easily consider donating if it got sent someplace that would really put it to serious use.
@@DJ-nw2ef Unfortunately not. It was a decade ago, and the son of a colleague did everything. I'll see if I can contact him, and if they're still operating.
@@bearcubdaycare Don't go to any real trouble on my account. If the answer is easily available, then fine, but not otherwise. In any case, thanks for replying to my question.
I really wasn’t going to buy another bike but I just did. I hope it gets go on nice adventures!
Thank you for your support!
This seems quite smart making a super robust bike that is hard to break but is easy to fix. If only big brands made mountain bikes like this 😢😂
They can't because the bikes would handle like complete crap on trails due to weighing kgs more than their competitors, so most riders would hate them off road and go back to the lighter, but more delicate options. They're built for a purpose and that's to be the last bike you'll ever need to buy for use in getting yourself and some cargo from A to B with no focus on speed. It's like asking why, since Ford Transits are so cheap, versatile and repairable, isn't everybody using them instead of Porsches when they go to a track day.
@@peglor I'm on my 4th Ford transit. I'd love it if it were as reliable as this bike. But they're absolute junk😂 Unfortunately they're a requirement for my job.
The prepper-tactical fetishists should take note. This is the vehicle to have after society collapses; not some angry jeep trying to be an MRAP.
I've struggled to find a replacement frame for a fully. Manufacturer doesn't sell them directly, forwards me to bike shops. Bike shops don't respond. Maybe need to try again in a few months if the market stays cool and the season start rush wears off....
In terms of bikes North America is like a different planet. Bikes like this are so abundant on the second hand market in Europe. You can get this for 40€ in any city in Europe
The old black bicycle with the U shaped handle did exactly that. Bicycles till the 80's were designed for toughness & ease of maintenance. They did everything the new Buffalo does. They didn't have amazing features like the big rack (but had a smaller rack with a spring clamp to hold things down on the old bike) & the front brake & the rear brake fixed wheel mechanism, which eliminates the rubber brake pads. The rear stand is such an amazing feature. Goes so well with the design. The only drawback is the height & length of the Buffalo. The old bike could carry a small family. Yes the beam between the handle and the saddle could carry two kids or an adult. The rear rack could do the same. The riding position was up right on the old bike which allowed all that people did in the past. And many would prefer that because it was more comfortable with wide spring loaded seats. I think if the new features like the brakes (minus the rear fixed wheel feature), the rack (with a clamp) & the rear stand would make the old bike better than the Buffalo. The size of the Buffalo is good for a small sized person to a medium sized one. It is excellent for kids. I would prefer the old bike with all the new features if I was living in those places. Since I'm not. An economical & a customisable hybrid is the best buy for those living in the cities today. ✌🇮🇳
Absolutely the best bike ever. Can't buy one so I'm modifying a cruiser to be its twin. Love this. And to benefit so many people, I am absolutely blown away. Will be finding out how to contribute to help this cause.
God bless brother! I watch because I am a MTB, but I love the fact that your enthusiasm for bikes covers everything bicycling. I watched this video from start to finish and am proud to be one of your subscribers for this video alone. Keep up the good work and the outreach!
How to make the Buffalo better? Make it a 3-speed. FYI, as "heavy duty" as the Buffalo is, it's almost identical to the bikes we had 70 years ago. Just goes to show that newer and techie-er is not always better.
Every time I watch a Seth's Bike Hacks video I start looking at used bikes, even when I can't afford them
You can afford this bike
@@ChrisLoew But it appears to not be for sale.
Love your video's, I went to Berm Park and it was amazing.
That last comment you made got me, to think that 10 people could have their lives significantly altered all for what some people consider a toy of a bike puts the work of WBR in context for how important it is. Buffalo is company actually making this world a better place.
In India we have this ATLAS cycle for around 70USD....
It is iconic, one of the most rugged and heavily used bike across many lower class people in India and it's too versatile..
We are proud we have such products in India so affordable and yet reliable
To be honest, it just seems like a more robust version of a simple Dutch bike. But lovely stuff!
That chain is the way to go. I pretty much only run 415 hardened chain, everything else is like using a rubber band, all stretchy and bouncy until it snaps.
TdF should be raced on stock Buffalo Bikes. That'd be pretty interesting. 🤣
My girlfriend and I went shopping for a bike for her a couple of months ago, and were shocked that any new bike was at a minimum going to be $700, but most were over the $1000 range. We ended up getting a used bike through a local coop for about $200 which was great, but it was still wild to me how much new bikes were going for. I wish something like this was in the US because man it would've been nice to have this as an option
I want one. This is how I like all of my stuff. Everything should be designed to be robust and serviceable.
watching this video just brought back so many memories from back home in Africa, these bikes turned me into the mountain biker i am right now
this is literally a normal bike from 30 years ago
So true hahah. My grandpa’s even had a light that was powered off of the front wheel!
It’s just like how communist era basic furniture is now becoming popular again.
Commuter bike vs specialized sport bike
@@kv-yj3wc I remember the whirring sound of the generator as the light dimmed and brightened with the change of velocity.
I haven't thought of that in years.
Doesn’t matter the fact it’s here and available to people that didn’t have this 30 years ago giving them and other places a chance
@@Monkeyzzbiznizz that's nice but don't sell it as something game changing and totally new when it's old standard technology used in the same way it has been always used
Bummed I can't seem to just buy one. I'm homeless in America and got really excited the way the video was framed at the start. This would change so many lives like mine. And the whole white savior "I guess they don't have standard water bottles" sort of stuff feels pretty gross when our own country is a raging fire for the bottom 50% of the economy.
Yeah can't get one other than in Africa.
But you can get a cheap thick steal frame bike with a rear storage rack and add a rear wheel kick stand for loading. Or get a trike bike for under $200.
I think he was theorising why they omitted the water bottle holder when they were so thoughtful in every other aspect of the design.
Your local bike shop might be able to procure one for you...
I think it’s hilarious how he’s speaking to viewers who would be shocked by the bikes design. It’s like a truck review where the reviewer is absolutely SHOCKED by the body on frame, big wheels and truck bed.
It just points out how the American bike community is so bizarrely geared towards racing. Imagine if every car video was a comparison to race cars 🙃
Awesome review! I think the Buffalo bike doesn’t have bottle cages because it would compromise the frame’s structural integrity. Since it’s designed to carry heavy loads in tough conditions, they likely prioritized strength over convenience. Keep up the great work!