Recumbent - RANS Crank-Forward Bikes

Anyone on here have any experience with a RANS Crank Forward Bike. I got a chance to take a short ride on a 2007 Fusion. I was pleased. Quite comforable, relatively light, good fit/finish and handled nicely. I was not impressed with the level of componentry, however, it functioned very well.

I would be interested in hearing about other riders impressions. I was thinking it might make a good companion to my 2006 Stratus Classic (26/20)!

Al

If you don't like the stock componentry, you can always order a frameset and do the build yourself. Compared to its competition,which are all geared toward beginners, the RANS lineup could be described as 'elite.'

I just bought a 2006 Fusion last Friday and so far I like it a lot. Biggest difference from 2007 is frame material, Chromoly steel vs. AL. Not much weight difference though, only 1.5 lb.

Hello:
i have 2 models of this style of bikes,i purchased only the frameset and picked out the components of my choice with handbuilt wheels and i am happy with my choice.
you can always buy only the frameset and pick out whatever components you like.

Thank
You
Earl
The #1 love muscle


Anyone on here have any experience with a RANS Crank Forward Bike. I got a chance to take a short ride on a 2007 Fusion. I was pleased. Quite comforable, relatively light, good fit/finish and handled nicely. I was not impressed with the level of componentry, however, it functioned very well.

I would be interested in hearing about other riders impressions. I was thinking it might make a good companion to my 2006 Stratus Classic (26/20)!

Al

Anyone on here have any experience with a RANS Crank Forward Bike....
I have a 2006 Fusion, I like it a lot also. It's handier than a recumbent but still much better comfort than a upright bike would be.
Various notes:
-it's not much good if you're over 6'2" or so tall. There's supposed to be a 1" taller seatpost coming out soon.
-if you're heavier you may get seatpost slippage with only the stock clamp. Another 1-3/8" MTB clamp placed around the seatpost will stop this.
-if you're tall and you attach a rear rack, the seat may overhang part of the space for a cargo trunk. RANS sells a rack kit with extender plates to move the rack back a couple inches, but it's not really far enough IMO. I plan on building a rack that is shifted back at least 8".
-the rear brake feels a bit mushy, because there's no seatstay bridge. Use a brake brace or switch to disk brakes to improve this matter.
-also if you're bigger/heavier, as much as two-thirds of the weight ends up on the rear wheel, and it may not be built well enough for a heavier/bigger rider. The hubs on the 2006 were only Deore's with only two bearings (decent MTB rear hubs will have 4 or 5 sets of bearings). I weigh 275lbs and the rear bearings are grinding after only 100 miles, but I'm switching out the wheels to go to disk brakes anyway, so I'm not too concerned about it.

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I have no experience with these, but some other semi-recumbent bikes are the Surefoot Lightfoot, Sun SunRay and Day6Bicycles. The Lightfoot and Day6 are from smaller makers so you might be able to get a bare frame if you wanted. These don't have the same frame design and they come with "conventional" seats, but they cost less and come pretty close to the position you get on the RANS bikes. If the OEM saddle doesn't work, you could probably mount an ergo-style seat and it would work a lot better than on an upright bike.

There are milder semi-recumbents, often for much lower prices (Townie, Revive, Suede) but these generally don't work real well overall. They only provide a small increase in comfort but suffer a large loss in pedalling efficiency.

Then there is the "bottom of the barrel" bikes--items you see sold as comfort bikes, which really aren't. How much they cost almost doesn't matter, because they're not worth buying at any price. The Jeep and Cadillac comfort bikes for two examples use conventional-geometry frames, their only "comfort" features are a wide saddle, a high stem and a suspension seatpost.
~

Hello:
i have 2 models of this style of bikes,i purchased only the frameset and picked out the components of my choice with handbuilt wheels and I am happy with my choice.
you can always buy only the frameset and pick out whatever components you like.

Thank
You
Earl
The #1 love muscle

You can buy a RANS CF frameset? Is this something new? Last time I emailed them they weren't selling them in framesets (but that was like2 years ago). I guess a lot of customers have been asking for framesets.

It only makes sense cause many ppl have a MTB sitting around somewhere. Buying a frameset and transferring components makes it easy. I wish they did this like a year ago instead of me trying to hack together this high racer.

You can buy a RANS CF frameset? Is this something new?

I went back and checked the rans site. I don't know how long they've allowed it, but yes you can order a frameset. Here's the link for the Fusion:

http://www.ransbikes.com/Fusion07FS.htm

The others seem to have framesets available too.

"Compared to its competition,which are all geared toward beginners, the RANS lineup could be described as 'elite."

BlazingPedals makes a very good point! And, readers should remember that I also said "however, it functioned very well." It's just that I would have preferred components equal to what is on my Stratus!

Building up a frame set would be a good way to go and those considering that course should go to the RANS web site and find out what comes with the frame set. As one poster observed, "It only makes sense cause many ppl have a MTB sitting around somewhere. Buying a frameset and transferring components makes it easy."

If I get one I would probably upgrade the shifters to SRAM X9s (I have an extra set) and maybe go to Avid Arch Rival brakes IF I experienced the issues that Doug 5150 did! I am looking at the bike primarily for my wife (I WOULD ride it some, but my Stratus is my favorite ride) because I don't expect my wife would ever ride a recumbent!

Like I said I liked the bike, it performed well, and futhermore I believe most buyers will be pleased with it just the way RANS ships it!

Thanks for the replys
Al