Bicycles with a steered front carrier were already popular in the 19th century: in large wicker baskets attached to the front carrier above a small front wheel, cheerful baker's boys would take out fresh bread rolls early in the morning. Around 150 years later, the Viva brand, which has since passed into German hands, cites antique bicycle technology and designs with the Carry All N7.
The shiny blue painted bike arouses spontaneous sympathy from most onlookers. Its uneven pair of wheels, the steel frame with double top tube and thick lugs as well as an artistically designed chain guard do not fail to make an impression. The long head tube with a flat steering angle of just 68 degrees also looks out of date: At its upper end, this results in a compact, comfortable riding position, which is further emphasised by the curved handlebars.
The Viva Carry All in practice
At the bottom, the head tube, together with the wide fork, ensures a long wheelbase and sluggish steering behaviour. In tighter bends, the front wheel therefore tends to tip a little, but overall the bike is really pleasant to ride: it runs smoothly in a straight line, the riding position is relaxed and upright, and you can cruise calmly through the streets. Any other riding style would also be a mistake, as the 7-speed hub gears take their time when changing gear. Its gear ratio is tuned for extremely slow crank revolutions. First gear is the right gear when starting off and travelling slowly, while seventh gear is hardly ever used.
The coaster brake as the only deceleration option at the rear and the Nexus roller brake at the front are also pure low-tech. You can always stop with them, but they only have the generic term in common with contemporary disc brakes: both are brakes. Weighing in at almost 19 kilos, the Viva Carry All is a case for flaneurs anyway - leisureliness and deceleration are the appropriate basic attitude for the nostalgic concept. Unfortunately, the beautifully chrome-plated retro light (with LED) is mounted at the front directly behind the carrier strut. This means that it casts more shadow than light onto the road in the dark.
Please do not overload!
When turning in, you can already feel the additional weight of the front carrier welded from steel tubes - but you soon get used to it. Heavier loads, on the other hand, greatly increase the steering forces, and precise steering becomes increasingly difficult as the load increases. The fork and carrier twist under load and increasingly sway. For us, the fun of riding came to an end at a load of around seven kilos - for good reasons, most front load carriers are attached to the frame and not to the fork. In addition, it is very difficult to attach anything to the rack without it slipping. If you really want to use the Viva Carry All for transport, you have to do it yourself: You can screw a crate or basket firmly onto the carrier and put your transport goods in there. After all, that's how the bakers did it 150 years ago.
The most important data on the Viva Carry All
- Model: VIVA Carry All N7
- Price: 1,049 Euro
- Frame size: 55 cm
- Test bike weight: 18.8 kg
- Permissible total weight: 120 kg
- Frame: Steel, lugged
- Fork: Steel, welded
- Circuit: Shimano Nexus 7 hub gears, twist grip
- Translation: 42/18 teeth, 7 gears, 244 %
- Brakes: Front: Shimano roller brake, rear: coaster brake
- Tyres: Front: Schwalbe Big Ben 55-406; rear: Impac Big Pac 55-559
- Lighting system: Union Klassik LED front light, Shimano DH-C6000 hub dynamo; battery-powered rear light
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Pleasant new edition of a nostalgic bike concept; suitable for leisurely riding, short distances and light loads
- Minus: Centre stand cannot support a loaded bike; rack hits the down tube when parked; front light covered by strut
Conclusion on the Viva Carry All
If you don't apply overly strict criteria, you can't transport everything with the Carry All, but you can cycle through the city unencumbered and relaxed. For just over 1,000 euros, the nostalgic transporter is an extravagant alternative means of transport for shorter journeys.
