Sun EZ Speedster Recumbent Bicycle?

[robtown]

I just sold a hybrid and this came up for $200 on craigslist. I haven't heard back from my email :( It looks like the low end model - rim brakes. I'd like to try a recumbent but have to watch the cost. I'm 6'2" and 212 lbs.
Are there any gotchas to look out for - $200 seems a bargain.

[JanMM]

Never heard of this model until just now. Looks very very interesting for $200.
http://www.bentrideronline.com/reviews/sun_bicycles_ez_speedster.htm

[BlazingPedals]

I don't have a very high opinion of it. Poor chainline, heavy... but for $200? ... Okay! I don't know how you can check ahead of time that it'll fit, but knee clearance might be an issue; at least it was for one fellow club member who was shopping for a first bent at the time.

[Doug5150]

I just sold a hybrid and this came up for $200 on craigslist. I haven't heard back from my email :( It looks like the low end model - rim brakes. I'd like to try a recumbent but have to watch the cost. I'm 6'2" and 212 lbs.
Are there any gotchas to look out for - $200 seems a bargain.
The main bad thing about them is they're rather heavy.

.....These bikes originally came out in late 2003-early 2004, and there were three models: a mild-steel frame (rim brakes), a cro-mo frame about a lb lighter with Promax disks, and an aluminum frame about 3 lbs lighter and with better-than-Promax disks. At my LBS these went for $800, $950 and $1100.
.....In late 2005 Sun introduced a 2" longer aluminum frame.
.....In early 2006 these bikes were discontinued. Most were closed out for $450 to $650.

You can cut most of the chain tubes away; the tension-side is clear in all gears, and the return side only needs one short length mounted properly. I've got a page up that shows how I did mine.

There was an IHPVA page that was a mini-review, critical of the steering geometry
{ http://mnhpva.org/Meetings/2005/aug_05/pages/12.html }
but the way the steering tiller ends up depends partly upon the size of the rider.

I am tall enough that I needed the seat all the way back anyway (and the steering riser straight); I test-rode a number of SWB's before buying the Sun and I didn't notice it to feel drastically different than other similar-riding position bikes were.

I've got one (the mid-level one, with Promax disk brakes [...the same one shown in the IHPVA page, matter of fact...]) and I'm not real attached to it; I am 6'2" and it's a bit too short for me. I go back-and-forth with the idea of cutting and welding another 4" into the frame, and just selling it to get rid of it. I never ride it anymore, and guests I take riding usually aren't detirmined enough to try taking it into traffic.
~

[robtown]

I don't have a very high opinion of it. Poor chainline, heavy... but for $200? ... Okay! I don't know how you can check ahead of time that it'll fit, but knee clearance might be an issue; at least it was for one fellow club member who was shopping for a first bent at the time.
Thanks, the guy I'm buying from is my height - 6'1.5" and weight 212 lbs. I like to try out, if only for a short time, several different types of bikes. This one fits my budget if not my current cash flow.

[robtown]

I don't have a very high opinion of it. Poor chainline, heavy... but for $200? ... Okay! I don't know how you can check ahead of time that it'll fit, but knee clearance might be an issue; at least it was for one fellow club member who was shopping for a first bent at the time.
Thanks, the guy I'm buying from is my height - 6'1.5" and weight 212 lbs. I like to try out, if only for a short time, several different types of bikes. This one fits my budget if not my current cash flow.

[bbwolfy]

I,m the same size as you describe and mine fit well. You can,t really go wrong for 200 dollars. It would be like riding it for free, if it don,t work out, you should be able to resell real easy. The one thing I did like about mine was I was at the same height as my daughter and could carry on a conversation.

[robtown]

He called just after 10am Saturday because his first group of buyers didn't. I had to leave for VT to pick up my daughter so I couldn't stop by. It was sold later that day. One day I'll at least try a bent. Thanks for the responses.