Buffalo Bike

World Bicycle Relief

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The Buffalo bike aims to provide entrepreneurs, farmers, students, and more in rural Africa with the ability to transport heavy loads over long distances over rugged terrain. These bicycles are compatible with locally available spare parts, allowing for proper maintenance to continue its lifetime.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Africa and South America

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

World Bicycle Relief,

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

$130-$150

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Competing options would include existing local bike manufacturers and distributors with presence in the region, such as California Bike, Mellowcabs, Bandha bikes, etc. In addition, options such as commute by foot or bus would present competition.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal #11: Sustaianable cities and communities

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

African organizations, businesses, and individuals seeking a sturdy bicycle as an additional option to transportation, including those seeking to gain income through provision of transportation services.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Buffalo bicycle components are sourced from manufacturers in Asia who produce each part to their specifications. Their Taiwan-based supplier management team reviews potential supplies, evaluates product quality, and manages shipping logistics. They arrive to Africa completely dissembled, where trained teams put them together.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trade secret.

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

World Bicycle Relief sells to organizations, businesses, and individuals across Africa to meet their transportation needs. Bike sales help their customers accomplish their goals efficiently while generating revenue to WBR, improving factory productivity and increasing spare parts network viability. Bicycle sales lead to additional support for WBR’s education, healthcare, micro-finance, and disaster relief training programs.

When donated, the bicycles are given to schools, not individuals. Each school has a panel of community leaders that decides how to distribute the bikes. A contract is then signed between the recipient of the bike, his or her parents and the school panel. In the contract it clearly states that the recipient may only keep the bike as long as they attend class.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

290,000+^{Interview with manufacturer}

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Capacity

The number of people that can fit within product [Persons]

Gear Ratio

The ratio between the rates at which the last and first gears rotate

Unknown

Maximum load capacity (kg)

99.79

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Each bike weighs 53 pounds, and has a rack that will hold 220 pounds. Tubing is 16 guage steel, chainrings are 3m and are connected to a coaster brake hub with a chain built with 1.2mm plates. Tires are automotive grade and are filled with puncture resistant tubes.

Additional design specifications are available here.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

A full bicycle maintenance manual is available here. Schematics available below.

Technical support Technical support provided by

Each Buffalo bike comes with a small toolkit and pump for basic maintenance. WBR has also developed a Field Mechanics Training Program to accompany distribution, allowing customers to have access to a local repair service. These mechanics also work with microlenders to establish businesses and purchase a stock of spare parts.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Main components are produced in Taiwan, though traditional spare parts are locally available.^{Interview with manufacturer}

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

These targets are not publicly available.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Unknown

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Testing done by manufacturer.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Potential hazards include traffic accidents or pedestrian crashes, especially when sufficient training has not been received.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

It is possible for a cart to be attached to the bicycle to transport goods. There are also a range of attachments available to be hitched to a bicycle for agricultural productivity, as well as technology that harnesses the kinetic energy of motion to produce electricity (i.e. dynamo phone chargers).

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Unknown. The research found was done by the manufacturer.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Field testing from manufacturer.

Check out their report on the impact of bicycle mobility on health caregivers and their clients in Zambia here.

Check out their Bicycles for Educational Empowerpowerment Program (BEEP) here.

Check out the report on smallholder dairy farmers in rural Zambia and how they use WBR Bicycles to bring goods to market here.

Check out the Project Tsunami Report that confirms the power of bicycles here.

Other information

For more information, please visit their site here.

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Buffalo Bike

World Bicycle Relief

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In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors