Recumbent - Narrowing my choices, please help a newbie!

OK, I have been ever narrowing my selection – focusing more and more on the compact wheelbase models for my first ‘bent. After some test rides I feel that this is best for my style of riding (around town for exercise, with my young kids, paved trails).

Maybe a SWB bike could be in my future, when I can pass the compact to my kids when they are older.

My budget is looking to be in the $1,500 range but not a lot more. I am already pushing it considering the original idea was to sell my Schwinn MTB for ~ 300 and get a Raleigh Comfort bike for ~ $500. “What’s an extra $1,000, eh?” Should have seen the look on my wife face when I said that! LOL But I HAVE realized to get something I “really want” will require me to spend a bit more than I had planned.

Anyway, I am looking at the following bikes. Please if anyone has some experience with them I would love to hear the pros/cons you have discovered. Given my back issues, (and on some the rough roads I would be riding) even my doc recommended a suspended bike – at least in the rear. A few of these I will likely not have any opportunity to test ride, but many of the “pro” reviews of these I have read seem to indicate that even I would be able to ride them. ;)

Maxarya Ray-1
Maxarya Ray-1X
Sun EZ Rider
HP Velotechnik Spirit

I am not sure if I am missing anything. Please add to the list if there are more suspended medium wheelbase models out there that are in the $1500 range.

On paper, the Ray-1X seems to me to have a real advantage in that it can have its gears changed while at a standstill. Anyone familiar with how that works?

Also, seems like some of these bikes are more difficult to get hold of that I would have imagined. Is this always the case?

Thanks in advance!!

Have you considered a trike?

You can get THIS (http://www.actionbent.com/TWTRIKE.html) one for only $1295, which is a fantastic deal.

Bear in mind that these are just my opinions, and you can feel free to dismiss them if you think I'm off-base. As I've stated before, I don't like the fact that the Sun is SO heavy. The others seem to have reasonable weights, though. Either the HPV or the Maxaryas look good. Of the two brands:

Spirit: This may or may not appeal to you aesthetically. It doesn't speak to me. About the only bad thing I can see about it that I really don't like is using chain tubes as a cheap substitute for idlers. The Spirit really should have an idler mounted midway on the return side of the chain.

The main difference between the Ray-1 and the Ray-1x seems to be that the Ray-1 is a 24-speed with a conventional triple chainring setup, while the Ray-1X is a 27-speed setup utilizing a SRAM DualDrive. The DualDrive is a conventional 9-speed cassette with a 3-speed internally geared hub. The hub can be shifted at a stop; in fact you are advised to not pedal while shifting the hub. Shifting the cassette gears, though, is normal and still requires pedaling. I don't consider the difference between 24 and 27 speeds very significant, but given the choice I would rather have a conventional chainring setup rather than a 3 speed hub which is heavy and special. The choice between the two is strictly personal preference, in my book.

BlazingPedals,

Cool. I agree the Sun is a heavy sucker in comparison. The Ray-1 without a lot of toys added is a 29 pund bike (per the specs). Pretty light!! I stopped into my local shop today and he is going to see if he can get in the HP and/or the Maxarya. He can get the Sun (has one in blue now). Weight is my only real concern, as I like the styles of all the above bikes.

I do have a standing offer from him for the Sun - $650 windshield included - which is mighty tempting. We'll see what it costs for the others - especially the customs which I guess can be a pain and cost some money.

If the difference is going to be very large ($650 versus $1500 plus some crazy customs fee) I may wind up with the Sun. I am not sending the horses to barn yet, but when the difference is $1000 + between the Sun and another make, the savings may win. Particularly in the face of my Hammer (wife) able to find other bills, etc to spend $1000 on. :)

That might be OK though, as I can more easily apply some cash to a bike in the next 1-2 years. (most likely when the one I get gets taken over by the wife because of her liking the smoother ride.)
;)

LOL! Good thinking!