Recumbent for fully loaded touring, Which one?

[bunny foo foo]

I'm looking to acquire a bike for some loaded touring (ie, going for weeks and several hundred miles unsupported). Is there any bent that is up for this purpose or am I stuck with uprights? I've seen information where people have done touring on a bent, but they were limited in the amount of gear they brought due to only having a rear rack.

Any help or direction would be appreciated.

[Shaman]

Highly regarded touring recumbent... HP Velotechnik Street Machine.
See the story at www.14degrees.org (http://www.14degrees.org)

ps; notice the midship pannier mounts, 4 pannier compatable.

http://www.14degrees.org/ja/images/hpv_sm.jpg

http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/images/produkte/sm/gt/fahrt.jpg

[Giro]

See some of the posts in this concurrent thread Link (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=5293996&posted=1#post5293996).

[Chaco]

I think my Stratus XP would make an excellent touring bike. I've ridden it over 100 miles in a day, and the seat is exceptionally comfortable. The Meuller fairing fits very nicely on it, and you can put a big bag plus double panniers on the back.

[paul2]

I have the HP Velotechnik Street Machine, and have used it on a couple of tours. It's a great bike for touring.

[Recumbomatic]

Nazca, HP Velo, Challenge, Rans, Volae, Easyrider, Linear, Longbikes...the list of makers is long. You will be limited by cost more than anything else.

[bunny foo foo]

Nazca, HP Velo, Challenge, Rans, Volae, Easyrider, Linear, Longbikes...the list of makers is long. You will be limited by cost more than anything else.



I am not just looking for a recumbent maker, I'm looking to find real knowlege on what recumbents are good for loaded touring. I can't even find manufactuer information from Nazca when I google Nazca recumbent.


So far it looks like the HP Velo street machine is the only one that's really suited for touring (two 58 lbs racks, good lord!). Are there any models that are a touring beast like this? Price range would preferrably be as least expensive as possible, but I'm not afraid to spend $2k plus if I have to for a good tourer.

[bunny foo foo]

Looks like the Rans Stratus is also a good choice. I could go crazy with three racks on that.


One question, what are the structural differences between the XP and LE other than the front wheel. Are all the racks and things interchangeable (of course it seems the front rack isn't compatable on the LE)?

[Recumbomatic]

Nazca: http://www.nazca-ligfietsen.nl/xlntcms/system/pages/PPage.php
Challenge: http://www.challenge-recumbents.com/html/index.php?taal=en
Optima: http://www.optima-cycles.nl/main/en/modellen/index.php?Itemid=27
Longbikes: http://www.longbikes.com/
Volae: http://www.volaerecumbents.com/2007/volae_recumbents.php

Models from any of these will get you where you want to go.

[Chaco]

Here's a review (http://www.ransbikes.com/stratus%20xp%20review.htm) of the Stratus XP.

[bunny foo foo]

Hmm, I think I might end up with either the regular stratus or the stratus LE. I'm going to be converting to 8 speeds and friction shifters, so I don't think spending the extra money for the normal stratus would not be the best idea.


Am I out of line with this thinking?

[Rogerinchrist]

If your looking at Volae, go to the designer. http://www.hostelshoppe.com/ If you have ANY recumbent questions they can answer them.
As far as loaded touring, http://www.easyracers.com/index.htm The "Tour Easy" http://www.easyracers.com/06-tour_easy.htm is the model to look over.

[Doug5150]

... I've seen information where people have done touring on a bent, but they were limited in the amount of gear they brought due to only having a rear rack. ...
If you are willing to use a cargo trailer, that opens up your possible choices to just about anything.
~

[gbenth]

Still should check out Longbikes Slipstream. Put racks on the front forks and on the rear and have a long smooth ride as far as you can go. Greg of Longbikes can set you up with the perfect long distance tourer but it will be close to $3000.

GbentH

[Shaman]

Trailer vs pannier touring may be a subject of its own. For the most part, you have to ask yourself ~why~ you would want to tour heavy. If you can't carry it in 4 panniers you just might not have the right gear or expectations for touring.

Trailers have a certain level of convenience but remember that they have no brakes or their own (can get unwieldy on the downhills) and it is that many more tires to get flatted. The most compelling reason for trailers I've seen to date is pets that ride with.

[FlyingAnchor]

I just don't like the idea of all that weight on my back tires so I am looking at a trailer. Recumbents are great for touring and there are many out there. Try the Bacchetta site and look at their touring bikes.

Steven

[markw]

The Bacchetta Giros would make excellent touring rigs. Front/rear disc brakes on the 26, along with extra eyelets for bottles/lighting. The Recurve seat has mounts for a rack, or you could do a Euromesh and get a terracycle rack. If I build a recumbent tourer, it'll be a Giro 26.

[Mooo]

Hmm, I think I might end up with either the regular stratus or the stratus LE. I'm going to be converting to 8 speeds and friction shifters, so I don't think spending the extra money for the normal stratus would not be the best idea.


Am I out of line with this thinking?
No.
I think the regular ol' Stratus would be a fine companion for many days on the road. I'm about to turn 10k on mine. It's the first bike I've ever kept for more than 7k miles, if that says anything.

I'd probably go LE though, 'cause I'm cheap.

[Leigh_caines]

Most bents are just great for touring
I take everything and the kitchen sink and it all fits on
Hears my rig on a 1000 mile trip
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee220/Leigh_caines/4.jpg

[BlazingPedals]

Others here will recommend the bent they ride. I could do that but I won't. The standard to which all others are judged is the venerable Tour Easy. If you are serious about loaded touring, then you should accept no substitutes.

[martianone]

+1 to the StreetMachine, as noted above.
I needed to change the fork and rear suspension
springs to maximum weight bearing ones, forgot
the exact loading identifications; ride was still
comfortable and predictable fully loaded at about 125 kg.
I also went to 47 mm Marathon tires, however that was
more for the road conditions than weight capacity potential.

[sappho1949]

There are a lot of recumbents suitable for touring. Go to crazyguyonabike.com and check out some of the journals of folks who have toured on recumbents, both 2-wheeled and trikes, and you may get some really good information on some that have worked the best for tours.

[EriktheFish]

The Stratus is an excellent touring machine! (LE version has cheaper components, but is still great). You can get underseat racks to move the weight forward and down.

[Leigh_caines]

>EZ-Speedster Yeah the aluminium one...
Yes changed the bar to one by my sides [was a great move]
>pannier sets< Two $5 bags from cheapo shop that I sowed together
Yeah I took it on a lot of back roads the last 1000miles and tyers were good.

[15rms]

I am thinking the same way you are. My interest are the Lightfoot Ranger. One of the biggest bikes around. Can carry 350 LBS. Weighs 35 LBS. Let me know what you think because I am soon to buy one and in the future at least use it for some very long bike rides.

[Leigh_caines]

>your panniers look very much like backpacks that you cut the straps off<

Yes that they are... sown together so like a saddle bags

>Are you using some kind of special below the seat rack for the short panniers? <

No they fit on ok without extra rack.

Yeah I have 16000 ks on mine so far.... but now I've made two other recumbents [a long one and a folder] so now the 3 of them have to wait their turn. All fun
Happy riding