Windcheetah

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mchell

I am gathering information on a number of trikes and am curious to know if anyone frequenting this site owns a Windcheetah. (Or knows someone who onws one.) I live in mid-eastern Ontario, Canada, and would like to arrange a test ride if possible. Thanks, all.

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Dr.Deltron

I had one a few years ago, but alas I sold it. Even if I still had it, I live in California, so a test ride would have meant some serious traveling. Any particular questions I might help you with? I must say that in terms of recumbent trikes, it was like driving a Lambourghini. Coolest thing on 3 wheels & VERY FAST!

mchell

Dr. Deltron, thanks for your reply. I have made arrangements to test ride a Catrike, a GT3 Greenspeed, a Scorpion and a Wizwheels. These are more in my price range than the Windcheetah, but a test ride could make a difference.

Couple of questions: Did you have any trouble adjusting to the joy-stick? From your experience, did your enjoyment of the Windcheetah justify the price? Were you ever in doubt about service? parts?

I am 61 and retired and would be using my trike solely for recreation and exercise. Touring, which my wife and I do together, is on our Rans Screamer pulling a B.O.B.
Thanks for your help.

Mike

Dr.Deltron

Dr. Deltron, Couple of questions: Did you have any trouble adjusting to the joy-stick? From your experience, did your enjoyment of the Windcheetah justify the price? Were you ever in doubt about service? parts?

I am 61 and retired and would be using my trike solely for recreation and exercise. Touring, which my wife and I do together, is on our Rans Screamer pulling a B.O.B.
Thanks for your help.

Mike,
..As I recall, the joystick adjusted easily for reach. It did take some getting used to as far as technique. Steering with a small Y handle was quite different from anything I've ever experienced. And the fact that it was even more "floating" than the Challenge Hurricane that I have. The handle was connected to the steering by a universal joint, so the "handle bars" were free to move in any direction. When you got off the trike, you just set the "handle bars" in the seat. Very different.
..Enjoyment rated an A+! As I mentioned, it was like riding the Lambourghini of trikes, existing in more rarefied air than a Ferrari. You really have to be a "people person" to field all the questions other people asked.
..As for service, I have been a bicycle mechanic for over 20 years, so that was never a problem. The only two things I was "in doubt" about were; 1) Tires..mine came with some unusual European sizes. The front wheels were 17" Alex Moulton size. The rear wheel was somewhere between a 650c & a 700c. Don't recall the actual mm dimensions though. I sold it before it needed tires, but the friend that I sold it to was able to order some that he found online. Sorry, I don't know where he got them though. Possibly from the factory. 2) The cranks were closer to the ground than the Greenspeed I had then, so I had to be careful going from the street into driveways where there was a considerable dip. I only bottomed out the chainrings once, very slightly. The chain was on the big ring, so the chain took the pain & not the chainring!
..Currently I have a Greenspeed GTX, which has a very similar ride to the Windcheetah. It has easy to find 16x1 3/8" wheels all around and handle bars that are less disconcerting than the joystick. And for the ultimate touring & family rig I have a Greenspeed GTT2. It of course is a whole different ballgame. Very fun, comfortable and stable at speed. My 11 yr old and I have gotten it up to 48 mph on a good descent. Very stable feeling at that speed due to its long wheelbase. And for family fun, my 5 yr old sits on the luggage rack and my 3 yr old twins ride in a Burley trailer. I like the Greenspeeds because the rear triangle is similar in angle to a DF bike and the Burley hooks up to it perfectly. If you got the special axle nuts, your B.O.B. trailer would work fine as well.
..Back to the Windcheetah. All I can say is that NOTHING beats it in the "coolness" department. Especially the wheel being on the left of the frame and the cogs being on the right. (amongst other things, like the joystick steering) My friend ended up getting a fairing for it and after that, no one could keep up with him, especiallyon downhills. A Baron could go 45 mph, but the Windcheetah could do over 50! So if you have the funds for such an indulgence, then by all means, "Go For It"!!! But I think you and your wife would have an absolute BLAST on the tandem Greespeed.
..Hope that helps some. Enjoy!
Dr.D

mchell

Mike,
..As I recall, the joystick adjusted easily for reach. It did take some getting used to as far as technique. Steering with a small Y handle was quite different from anything I've ever experienced. And the fact that it was even more "floating" than the Challenge Hurricane that I have. The handle was connected to the steering by a universal joint, so the "handle bars" were free to move in any direction. When you got off the trike, you just set the "handle bars" in the seat. Very different.
..Enjoyment rated an A+! As I mentioned, it was like riding the Lambourghini of trikes, existing in more rarefied air than a Ferrari. You really have to be a "people person" to field all the questions other people asked.
..As for service, I have been a bicycle mechanic for over 20 years, so that was never a problem. The only two things I was "in doubt" about were; 1) Tires..mine came with some unusual European sizes. The front wheels were 17" Alex Moulton size. The rear wheel was somewhere between a 650c & a 700c. Don't recall the actual mm dimensions though. I sold it before it needed tires, but the friend that I sold it to was able to order some that he found online. Sorry, I don't know where he got them though. Possibly from the factory. 2) The cranks were closer to the ground than the Greenspeed I had then, so I had to be careful going from the street into driveways where there was a considerable dip. I only bottomed out the chainrings once, very slightly. The chain was on the big ring, so the chain took the pain & not the chainring!
..Currently I have a Greenspeed GTX, which has a very similar ride to the Windcheetah. It has easy to find 16x1 3/8" wheels all around and handle bars that are less disconcerting than the joystick. And for the ultimate touring & family rig I have a Greenspeed GTT2. It of course is a whole different ballgame. Very fun, comfortable and stable at speed. My 11 yr old and I have gotten it up to 48 mph on a good descent. Very stable feeling at that speed due to its long wheelbase. And for family fun, my 5 yr old sits on the luggage rack and my 3 yr old twins ride in a Burley trailer. I like the Greenspeeds because the rear triangle is similar in angle to a DF bike and the Burley hooks up to it perfectly. If you got the special axle nuts, your B.O.B. trailer would work fine as well.
..Back to the Windcheetah. All I can say is that NOTHING beats it in the "coolness" department. Especially the wheel being on the left of the frame and the cogs being on the right. (amongst other things, like the joystick steering) My friend ended up getting a fairing for it and after that, no one could keep up with him, especiallyon downhills. A Baron could go 45 mph, but the Windcheetah could do over 50! So if you have the funds for such an indulgence, then by all means, "Go For It"!!! But I think you and your wife would have an absolute BLAST on the tandem Greespeed.
..Hope that helps some. Enjoy!
Dr.D

Dr. D. Thanks for the valued info. I have heard back from Bob Dixon at AVD and he says his sales to Canada have been to the west coast mostly in the Vancouver area. Not surprising considering one can ride 12 months of the year! He has offered to put me in contact with owners in the north east USA, so I will try to arrange a test ride that way. It appears that the front wheels on the trike are 406 and the rear is now 559. Think they've done away with the hard to find 17" wheels. Tomorrow I am test riding a Catrike Speed, which at 33 degrees seat angle may be too low for me. May find the "Road" model more to my liking. I am also trying out a an HP Scorpion at the same shop which appears to be a heavy bike. As well, outfitted the way I would want it, the Scorpion is listed at $4000 Cdn, which is less, but not that much less, than the Windcheetah. The latter (Club Sport model) is listed as $3599 US + 3.7% duty, but delivered to your door.

I appreciated your comments as a bike mechanic; comforting to know that you speak so highly of the trike. Thanks once again,

Mike

Carusoswi

I'm reading about recumbents for the first time. All my life, I've ridden two wheel uprights. My fastest speed on any of them is 50 mph. So, can you tell me, in general, will I experience more or less speed on a recumbent as a result of the design? How about on flat terrain - is the recumbent going to be faster or slower than an upright - or about the same.

I'm very curious.

Right now, I ride a Cannondale Cyclocross that has been modified to make it comfortable and as fast as it can be. I'm not out to break any speed records, but, I love to let it all hang out on the decents.

Just curious.

Thanks.

Caruso

bentrox!

I'm reading about recumbents for the first time.. So, can you tell me, in general, ...is the recumbent going to be faster or slower than an upright - or about the same...
Caruso

In general, you'll be faster, depending on the bent design, your physical condition and the type of riding you expect to do. Like bicycles, recumbent designs vary; some are designed for racing, others for recreation, etc. The laid-back models are pretty fast because of aerodynamics but even more upright bents can have this advantage as well, especially when equipped with a fairing. If you are already a fit cyclist you may not be appreciably faster until your leg muscle groups are developed for the recumbent position over a period of weeks or months. With proper conditioning and a speedy design, however, I believe you will eventually be significantly faster, especially on the flats. Climbing performance takes more time to develope, however, and you may be slower overall than what you may have been conditioned to if you aggressively rode a lightweight road bike - again depending on you and the bent you choose (some bents are legendary for climbing performance).

There is a lot of stuff to learn about recumbents. I've never heard anyone complain that they were slower on a recumbent, though.

jeff-o

Dr. D. Thanks for the valued info. I have heard back from Bob Dixon at AVD and he says his sales to Canada have been to the west coast mostly in the Vancouver area. Not surprising considering one can ride 12 months of the year! He has offered to put me in contact with owners in the north east USA, so I will try to arrange a test ride that way. It appears that the front wheels on the trike are 406 and the rear is now 559. Think they've done away with the hard to find 17" wheels. Tomorrow I am test riding a Catrike Speed, which at 33 degrees seat angle may be too low for me. May find the "Road" model more to my liking. I am also trying out a an HP Scorpion at the same shop which appears to be a heavy bike. As well, outfitted the way I would want it, the Scorpion is listed at $4000 Cdn, which is less, but not that much less, than the Windcheetah. The latter (Club Sport model) is listed as $3599 US + 3.7% duty, but delivered to your door.

I appreciated your comments as a bike mechanic; comforting to know that you speak so highly of the trike. Thanks once again,

Mike

Who told you it was going to be 3.7% duty? Windcheetah is made in the UK. Expect to pay 13% duty, my friend... :(

mchell

jeff-o

I was just quoting from this page.

http://www.windcheetah.co.uk/dollar.htm

However since I didn't get much in the way of email response from Windcheetah (R. Dixon), I've bought a Catrike "Road". Love it.

Mike

jeff-o

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