Recumbent Prices (:-o) [Archive]

STEEKER

01-07-07, 08:58 PM

Dr.Deltron

01-07-07, 09:30 PM

Shaman

01-07-07, 11:40 PM

Check out Rebel Cycles in Canada... No import duties or hassles for a great value TW/Bents bent or trike.
http://www.rebel-cycles.com/products.html

Wheelchairman

01-08-07, 05:24 AM

Opedaler

01-08-07, 07:08 AM

Start looking for a USED one!
I got a Tour Easy for $650. A Challenge Hurricane for $600. A Greenspeed GTX for $2,000.
Deals ARE out there! Keep looking and have money ready. Good deals will go quickly!

I've decided to quit shopping and just follow Doc around. It looks like it might pay off dividends.

Recumbomatic

01-08-07, 08:17 AM

I have to wait till the prices come down

Steeker:

You could be waiting a long time! I recommend you look into getting a used bent, or a cheaper new one (Actionbent, Rebel Cycles, Sun, entry level models from Rans/Bacchetta). Recumbent manufacturing, for the most part (IMO), is a small-scale cottage industry (er, almost), and high prices are not uncommon. European bikes such as the HP especially go for a premium. However, many experienced riders would say that the price is worth it. Don't forget a lot of roadies happily drop $1700+ for their bikes.

karterjimm

01-08-07, 08:30 AM

Put an "In search of" or "Want to buy" ad here: http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/forumdisplay.php?f=6

You may be surprised what comes out of the garages and barns! Also try Jeff at rebel cycles. He has a nice trike.

.........jim

jeff-o

01-08-07, 08:47 AM

Thanks for the referrals, guys. I even have a used USS recumbent (a Ghost) available right now. The owner had it for three months before deciding he preferred above seat steering.

BlazingPedals

01-08-07, 08:47 AM

The direct-from-the-distributor bikes can be a fair bargain for someone who is mechanically competent and is willing to fix things themself or deal long distance with the distributor when problems develop. Bents are just more expensive to make than your plain vanilla upright, so don't expect them to ever get as cheap as an entry-level DF. The US dollar being weak, and the Canadian dollar being even weaker doesn't help things either.

For an in-between solution that might work and isn't as expensive, you might try some of the crank-forward bikes. They have more upright position that might not aggravate your back the way most DFs do. The RANS lineup is the best of them; the Fusion (http://www.ransbikes.com/Fusion07.htm) can be had for less than a thou in US fundage. Other cheaper but less capable substitutes are made by several manufacurers: Electra Townie (http://www.electrabike.com/04/bikes/06bikes/townie/06_twn_11.html) and Giant Suede (http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/lifestyle/) come to mind.

mchell

01-08-07, 09:22 AM

You might try this out. Murray Cleland at http://www.recumbenttrikes.ca/

I bought my '06 Catrike "Road" from Murray as he was almost $800 cheaper than Urbane. Murray works out of his home, has a good sized fleet for test rides, an excellent paved trail nearby and since he's a small dealer, he's not required to charge GST. He might have something "used" or a demo he is willing to let go at a significant savings. Just my 2 cents.

Dr.Deltron

01-08-07, 09:24 AM

I've decided to quit shopping and just follow Doc around. It looks like it might pay off dividends.
Anyone looking for an ICE tandem trike? PM me.

STEEKER

01-08-07, 09:24 AM

mchell

01-08-07, 09:38 AM

Oops! My savings should be closer to $300, not $800. I paid $2650 and Murray threw in a complete fender set for free. My Urbane quote, in March '06, was $2800 base price plus 15% in taxes. Sorry for the confusion.

Tom Bombadil

01-11-07, 11:24 PM

For an in-between solution that might work and isn't as expensive, you might try some of the crank-forward bikes. They have more upright position that might not aggravate your back the way most DFs do. The RANS lineup is the best of them; the Fusion (http://www.ransbikes.com/Fusion07.htm) can be had for less than a thou in US fundage. Other cheaper but less capable substitutes are made by several manufacurers: Electra Townie (http://www.electrabike.com/04/bikes/06bikes/townie/06_twn_11.html) and Giant Suede (http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/lifestyle/) come to mind.

Yes, there are now a slew of sub-$500 (U.S.) crank-forward bikes out, some as low as $300-$350. These include the Giant Suede, Electra Townie, Trek Pure, and Raleigh Gruv. The Gruv has been recently discontinued but is still available. The Suede is a rather conservative crank forward, with the crank only being about 3" forward of its normal position, wherein on the Gruv it is more like 6". They all have rather mid-level, or below, components. Some have only Shimano Tourney or SRAM ESP3.0 derailleurs, others are a bit above that at Shimano Acera. They are fun to ride, I took a Gruv on an extended spin last weekend and had a blast on it.

Trek had the Sole out in 2006 and it is probably still around, but I didn't like it much. And there's a slight crank forward Electra Amsterdam that is a very pretty commuter bike at $550-$600, but only in a 3-speed.

None are the match of the Rans bikes, but are far less expensive.

banerjek

01-12-07, 09:32 AM

DAM the prices up here in Toronto Canada are HUGE , I have been looking at getting a recumbent for quite some time due to my back on DF bikes , I was really wanting the Catrike road trike but had settled on the GrassHopper but it's above three thousand , for those that are lucky enough to own a recumbent I envy you,, I had dreams of driving my Bent along the water front trail camping and driving way up North but I have to wait till the prices come down
Buy used. I had been saving for a Cattrike Road, but found a used one with only a few hundred miles on it for $800 less than a new one. Prices are all over the place on used stuff, but there are lots of great deals.

Lots of people who buy great equipment don't use it much, so you can pretty much get new stuff from previous years at huge savings.

Doug5150

01-12-07, 10:13 AM

Yes, there are now a slew of sub-$500 (U.S.) crank-forward bikes out, some as low as $300-$350. These include the Giant Suede, Electra Townie, Trek Pure, and Raleigh Gruv. The Gruv has been recently discontinued but is still available. The Suede is a rather conservative crank forward, with the crank only being about 3" forward of its normal position, wherein on the Gruv it is more like 6". They all have rather mid-level, or below, components. Some have only Shimano Tourney or SRAM ESP3.0 derailleurs, others are a bit above that at Shimano Acera. They are fun to ride, I took a Gruv on an extended spin last weekend and had a blast on it.

Trek had the Sole out in 2006 and it is probably still around, but I didn't like it much. And there's a slight crank forward Electra Amsterdam that is a very pretty commuter bike at $550-$600, but only in a 3-speed.

None are the match of the Rans bikes, but are far less expensive.
I don't think much of the lower-priced "relaxed geometry" bikes, because they don't use a geometry that is nearly relaxed enough. They suffer a big loss in pedalling efficiency while only providing a minor difference in comfort. They don't really solve the saddle problems that upright bikes have--and if you're going to the hassle, you should get a real relaxed-geometry bike and enjoy the benefits.

The only one that is interesting is the Giant Revive, because its rear suspension can be of some use to people with bad backs, who want to avoid as much road shock as possible. But then, at $700 MSRP for the lowest model, the Revive isn't exactly cheap, either.

If you cannot afford the $1K+ for a RANS, then two others to consider are the Lightfoot Surefoot and Day6Bicycles, both sold mail-order.
~

Doug5150

01-12-07, 10:21 AM

DAM the prices up here in Toronto Canada are HUGE , I have been looking at getting a recumbent for quite some time due to my back on DF bikes , I was really wanting the Catrike road trike but had settled on the GrassHopper but it's above three thousand , for those that are lucky enough to own a recumbent I envy you,, I had dreams of driving my Bent along the water front trail camping and driving way up North but I have to wait till the prices come down
Catrike is an expensive brand, the prices aren't ever going to come down, and you're not getting any younger.

What you might consider doing is buying a cheaper trike, while you keep looking for the [used] Catrike of your dreams. If you insist on waiting for a great deal on a particular model of bike, you could end up waiting a really, really long time.
~

Tom Bombadil

01-12-07, 01:44 PM

If you cannot afford the $1K+ for a RANS, then two others to consider are the Lightfoot Surefoot and Day6Bicycles, both sold mail-order.
~

There is an LBS which is just a couple of blocks from my office. It is a huge LBS, occupying 5 buildings and with at least 1500 bikes in stock. They have one floor of a store dedicated to bents and crank forwards. So unlike a store that might have a half-dozen bents squeezed into some space at the end of an aisle, they have about 25 different bents & trikes in stock. And they are doing a good business in selling a lot of bents.

I'm giving this detail because while this LBS is an authorized Rans dealer, and has multiple Rans bents on the floor, they have stopped carrying the Rans crank forwards due to almost non-existent sales. When I stopped by recently and inquired as to whether they had Rans CFs, they told me that I was the first person to ask about them in months. They told me that it took them about a year to sell off the last three floor models at discounted prices. They could order one for me, but I would have to commit to buying it and pay for it upfront.

So I contacted the next closest Rans authorized dealer and they gave me the same story. Quit stocking them because they couldn't sell them.

I hear a lot of positives about the Rans CFs on various on-line forums. And a lot of recommendations to check them out. But I'm finding that checking them out is a very difficult assignment. Apparently getting people to pay $1000+ for a CF bike is not easy.

Doug5150

01-12-07, 02:31 PM

There is an LBS which is just a couple of blocks from my office. ....I'm giving this detail because while this LBS is an authorized Rans dealer, and has multiple Rans bents on the floor, they have stopped carrying the Rans crank forwards due to almost non-existent sales. .... I'm finding that checking them out is a very difficult assignment. Apparently getting people to pay $1000+ for a CF bike is not easy.
I ordered mine in October 2006 and had to wait a month to get it, so I didn't get any test ride before ordering either. The shop I went to had a 2005 Cruz (with the 20" front wheel) they offered a deal on, it was $750 then. I didn't like the different-sized wheels. It's tagged $700 now, and still there.

For a while RANS had a deal going where you could get one mail-order and return it if you didn't like it; you may want to look into that.

For test-riding purposes you might visit the crank-forwards forum and post your town, maybe someone hnear you will have one you can meet up and try out.

I love mine, it's great.
It's something between a recumbent and an upright; much handier than a recumbent but still pretty normal-looking and a lot more comfortable than an upright. It only has one riding position which I think may put off a lot of "upright" riders used to being able to stand, but for bent riders that's not a problem.
~

BlazingPedals

01-12-07, 06:34 PM

Catrike is an expensive brand, the prices aren't ever going to come down, and you're not getting any younger.

Perspective is a funny thing. I consider Catrike one of the cheaper brands. But I'm comparing it to Wizwheels, Windcheetah, Greenspeed, Optima, and Trice. If your standard for affordability is a Funcycle, then yes, Catrike is expensive.

BlazingPedals

01-12-07, 06:40 PM

I hear a lot of positives about the Rans CFs on various on-line forums. And a lot of recommendations to check them out. But I'm finding that checking them out is a very difficult assignment. Apparently getting people to pay $1000+ for a CF bike is not easy.

That's unfortunate, because the RANS bikes are light years ahead of the competition. I guess the target audience tends to buy based on price, with weight and component level relegated to a tertiary consideration. I understand, though; we all know someone who buys stuff based on price alone.

megaman

01-12-07, 06:45 PM

Catrike is an expensive brand, the prices aren't ever going to come down, and you're not getting any younger.

What you might consider doing is buying a cheaper trike, while you keep looking for the [used] Catrike of your dreams. If you insist on waiting for a great deal on a particular model of bike, you could end up waiting a really, really long time.
~

First off, Catrikes aren't an "expensive" brand. I've test ridden a few trikes, and the one I really liked the best was the Greenspeed. It was $2000 more than the Road, and that was on sale! The Catrike road was the second best ride, but was a price I could afford. Catrikes do seem to hold their value pretty well. Looking for used, remember a number of people have brought a new trike only to use it very little, so the price may be 10-20% less than new, and it's still in great shape to boot. For a catrike try the for sale columns at www.bentrideronline.com or www.catrike.com
Good luck.

25hz

01-12-07, 10:19 PM

thanks for the replies , I have been looking at the Ghost Bent from Rebel , a very nice looking bike . I wanted trikes at one point but they are a very tight fit for me , ,,,,,,(Urbane is very pricey)

A friend of mine has a couple nice trikes for sale right now and lives in Mississauga.
Give him a shout.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bowden10/index.html

Once you get one, send an email and we can keep you posted about the local groups and events.

STEEKER

01-13-07, 08:33 AM

A friend of mine has a couple nice trikes for sale right now and lives in Mississauga.
Give him a shout.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bowden10/index.html

Once you get one, send an email and we can keep you posted about the local groups and events.
I can't fit comfortably in a Trike ,, me to BIG :roflmao: but thanks for the help.

Katysax

01-13-07, 09:09 AM

I've seen some pretty BIG guys with trikes. They aren't all the same size. However, it does limit your ability to find a used one.

Tom Bombadil

01-13-07, 05:21 PM

This seems as good a thread as any to ask for feedback. I have an opportunity to purchase a "like new" Sun EZ-Rider AX for the mid-$800's. I know the much lower priced SX version is a pretty slow bent. The AX is several pounds lighter, used SRAM X9 derailleurs, and has disc brakes. List price for a new one is $1499.

I also have an option to get a well-used but still good condition RANS Tailwind for $400. This one is about 7 years old. Original List $995.

The EZ-Rider has far less use on it, the discount seems pretty good given the light usage.

Any thoughts on these prices?

I'm torn with going used and saving bucks vs going with a new Bacchetta Agio at full list, because I really like the Agio.

Usage is going to be near 100% rail trails, at slow to moderate speeds. I know all of these are slower bents, that's not a problem.

BlazingPedals

01-13-07, 08:26 PM

Both the used ones sound like decent deals. The RANS will be lighter than the Sun, because ALL Suns are heavy. Or the Agio... hmm... Which do you like the feel of better?

Tom Bombadil

01-13-07, 09:06 PM

My perception, with several days in between relatively short rides, is that I like the Agio best. But it is close. The EZ-RIDER AX is $450 less, with an original list of $200 more and with better components. Kinda hard deal to pass up.

The thing I like least about the Tailwind is the tall gearing on the front crank, something like 62/52/42. That's good for speed but eliminates the low gearing, and I'm more of a low gear kinda rider.

BlazingPedals

01-14-07, 08:41 AM

You're making things too complicated!

1. If you like the Agio best, then get it! A few years from now you won't care if you spend extra for it, as long as you like it.

2. If you like everything about the tailwind except the chainrings, those can be changed. The gearing could probably be changed for less than $50.

3. As for the AX, see number one. Don't buy because it's a perceived deal. The deal is only good if that's the bike you wanted anyway.

Tom Bombadil

01-14-07, 05:45 PM

I don't think much of the lower-priced "relaxed geometry" bikes, because they don't use a geometry that is nearly relaxed enough. They suffer a big loss in pedalling efficiency while only providing a minor difference in comfort. They don't really solve the saddle problems that upright bikes have--and if you're going to the hassle, you should get a real relaxed-geometry bike and enjoy the benefits.

If you cannot afford the $1K+ for a RANS, then two others to consider are the Lightfoot Surefoot and Day6Bicycles, both sold mail-order.
~

I just measured the angles, using on-line pics of the RANS Dynamik vs the Raleigh Gruv and the geometry of the crank to the seat position (i.e. the angle from the bottom bracket to the seat) is almost the exactly the same. The RANS crank might be about a half-inch forward of the Gruv's crank.

Visually the RANS looks much different, with the open frame and dramatic lines and seat tube following a very slanted angle to the BB. The Gruv's seat tube angle being less, lends the impression that the geometry is less relaxed than it really is. If the Gruv ran the seat tube directly to the BB, then you'd see that the geometry is much closer than you think.

(later edit)
It was pointed out by another than the RANS seat tube is such that the angle to the crank remains the same for all heights. (The Sun Sunray does this too) This is not true for the Raleigh or many other popular crank forwards. Their seat tube angle is steeper and thus the angle to the crank will change depending upon the height of the rider. It will be near the RANS angle for shorter riders, but become increasing different for taller riders.

STEEKER

01-30-07, 09:48 AM

I found this site near Toronto, anyone heard about them I can't find too much about them on the Web ?. http://www.oraclecycleworks.com/

paul2

01-31-07, 02:15 PM

I found this site near Toronto, anyone heard about them I can't find too much about them on the Web ?. http://www.oraclecycleworks.com/

They had a recumbent only bike shop in Whitby, but it closed down about a year ago. I believe they are still producing their own recumbent. When I talked to the guy a couple of years ago he was still in the prototype stage. He said it was going to cost $3500.

peterm5365

02-01-07, 11:08 AM

I'd go used if you can find a good deal. I recently bought a decent RANS V-Rex with lots of upgrades for $200. I'd classify that as an incredible deal, but there are good deals out there if you wait long enough.

Opedaler

02-01-07, 11:29 AM

Tom,

I'm in somewhat the same situation......good deal but not sure if it's the right bike. My recommendation on other items has always been to save until you get the money to get the one you want. But what if you're not sure and you may be passing on a real steal. I posted a question about a certain bike in another thread but my concern was the ability to flip the bike if it turned out to be the wrong one. You might look at it that way. In other words if the deal is good enough then all you need to worry about is the hassle involved in reselling and rebuying. Take a good look at the resale value and if it is far below what you will have to give then better wait for the one that really "caught your eye."

STEEKER

02-02-07, 02:17 PM

They had a recumbent only bike shop in Whitby, but it closed down about a year ago. I believe they are still producing their own recumbent. When I talked to the guy a couple of years ago he was still in the prototype stage. He said it was going to cost $3500.
The shop was closed but a Bent rider I know mett the owner while touring on the water front trail during summer 2006 , I am leaning towards the tw ghost it is in my price range but I noticed it did not have and idler? so would that not cause alot of chain flop? , plus I wreck air shocks hence why I hate them:p and hopefully could swap it out

vik

02-02-07, 04:48 PM

DAM the prices up here in Toronto Canada are HUGE , I have been looking at getting a recumbent for quite some time due to my back on DF bikes , I was really wanting the Catrike road trike but had settled on the GrassHopper but it's above three thousand , for those that are lucky enough to own a recumbent I envy you,, I had dreams of driving my Bent along the water front trail camping and driving way up North but I have to wait till the prices come down

lol....why would the prices come down??? As other people have suggested buy used if the new ones are out of your range. Due to the variety of designs it is not uncommon to find a hardly used bent that someone didn't enjoy at a steal.

PuttPutt

02-02-07, 09:25 PM

Other than its $999 price tag, I know nothing about it...

http://www.bikemania.biz/Three_Wheel_8_or_24_Speed_Recumbent_Trike_p/sb_comforttrike.htm

There is also a SWB with USS on another page for $949

Trsnrtr

02-03-07, 07:45 AM

lol....why would the prices come down??? As other people have suggested buy used if the new ones are out of your range. Due to the variety of designs it is not uncommon to find a hardly used bent that someone didn't enjoy at a steal.

Excellent advice. I own two multi-thousand dollar, low mileage bents that were purchased at very reasonable discount, roughly 65-70% of retail.

DaveTaylor

02-08-07, 02:32 PM

+ 1 Exactly true. I have a 2005 SWB USS bent I bought in November 2005. Rode it on the trainer that winter a bit, 100 kms, then put another 400 kms on it on the road. It never saw rain and was never dropped. I stopped riding it in July 2006 and would gladly sell it for much less than it cost. As a matter of fact, I e-mailed the O.P. with that information a few weeks ago. I have yet to get a reply:(

STEEKER

02-10-07, 09:21 AM

Heading down to Urbane cycles to check out the Challange Hurricanes bents plus they have some Rans too, the prices have been lowered:D

Opedaler

02-10-07, 09:36 AM

"As a matter of fact, I e-mailed the O.P. with that information a few weeks ago. I have yet to get a reply:"

Was that me (Opedaler)? Never recieved anything.......you've got a PM.

DaveTaylor

02-10-07, 12:01 PM

Sorry for the short forms Opedaler, I was refering to the Original Poster:)

STEEKER

02-10-07, 12:53 PM

Okies . I was checking out the different Bents at Urbanes cycle and they had a beautiful Yellow Bacchetta Giro 20 and it costs just a little bit more than I would have paid for tw bike and would be a better choice, they also had a Giro 26 too, I will test them both when the snow is gone:D

Opedaler

02-10-07, 01:37 PM

Sorry for the short forms Opedaler, I was refering to the Original Poster:)
Ooops, my bad........as you were.

STEEKER

02-11-07, 09:08 PM

Dr.Deltron

02-11-07, 10:52 PM

W:eek: W
I saw pictures of a wicked low racer called a opitma baron with a sweet tail fairing on it DAM !! I want one of those too, I wonder what it would be like to zipp along driving one of those????
It's pretty awesome dood!!
Barons are fast, box-stock. You want fast? Try a Baron!

I've got to dig out the picture of my friends "Rat Rod" Baron.
Wood, carbon & aluminum. Veeery "cooool" looking ride.
And someone mentioned Challenge Hurricanes. That was my first bent and I still have it 10 years later.
Used...$600. . . . or $125,000 if you include the 67 bents I bought after that...but that's another story;)
I love that bike though, and it is similar in design to the Baron.

But I wouldn't ride either one in snow! :D

karterjimm

02-12-07, 07:53 AM

W W
I saw pictures of a wicked low racer called a opitma baron with a sweet tail fairing on it DAM !! I want one of those too, I wonder what it would be like to zipp along driving one of those????

I own one and all I can say is that it adds a new definition to the word "FUN"! :D

............jim

BlazingPedals

02-12-07, 10:06 AM

Recumbomatic

02-12-07, 07:35 PM

Steeker:

The gallery section of the Recumbent Blog has some gorgeous pictures. Many different bikes, but also too many Aeros if you ask me (Nothing wrong with an Aero, I just don't need to see one over and over).

http://www.recumbentblog.com/archives/gallery/

STEEKER

02-12-07, 08:03 PM

Thread hijack warning! To see what it's like for a good rider on a lowracer, check out this video. He taped a bullet cam to his chain stay, pointing backwards. The vid was shot at Hilly Hundred (http://www.hillyhundred.org) in 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBV7-h6sIyo
I did add all the hilly 100 to my Fav's last week:D plus another one from there and linked them from my blog ,, which bikes are those??