Recumbent - What are your thoughts on these recumbents?

They were partners of TW-Bent, now they are supplier of RecumbentUSA.com

http://www.performer.com.tw/

They seem to offer lots of different models of recumbents and trikes, does anyone have an idea about their pricing?

http://www.performer.com.tw/performer/images/Toscana%20OSS%202026.JPG

Folding Trike:

http://www.performer.com.tw/performer/images/DSCN1070.JPG
http://www.performer.com.tw/performer/images/DSCN1089.JPG

http://www.performer.com.tw/performer/images/Agenda%20Enduro%20disc.JPG

With regards to pricing, recumbentusa is the importer, so they choose the prices.

I can vouch for the Toscana (I have the 26/26 version), but a few cavaets: the chain rubs on that cable stop when I'm in the granny gear, and I had knee interference with the stock handlebars. I complained about the chain rub to Performer, not sure if they've done anything.

RecumbentUSA is supposedly selling the Agenda midracer, but if you look at the posted specs it is the Enduro version (disc brakes, 26" wheel) pictured above. The specs don't match their advertising photo...idiots. R-USA is selling the Agenda on Ebay with "make $ offer" enabled.

The folding trike looks cool, I think that will sell.

Some interesting changes made to the tried and true trike design. They are getting a lot of milage on the removable cross member design. Some new features noted here is the new adjustments on the handle bars, post below the boom, and the fully folder under rear swing arm. Before R-USA was only selling a mesh-seat version.

Shortcomings of this staple trike design? Cheap idler bearings; non-Ackermann steering design; some chain interference with fully extended booms while on the small chainring.

Having said that, I love my Actionbent (TW/Bents) non-folding/non-suspended trike as I've already designed around the shortcomings. Wouldn't trade it for any other trike except *maybe* an ICE Q.

And if you are interested in better idlers or an Ackermann steering upgrade for this style trike, contact me.

Does anyone out there have this model? I don't know if I'd trust not being able to buy from a dealer where I could walk in and check it out for myself.
http://dvrl.com/ebay/TRIKEX/Pic1S.jpg
http://dvrl.com/ebay/TRIKEX/TXT1.jpg

I've seen them one Ebay for $900 + shipping

That model is very similar to the folding model above. It is a leap of faith to buy sight unseen. I think the going price for that one is around $1200- but this time of year, you might get lucky on ebay. It took Recumbent USA a little while to get the quality up to an acceptable level and I think they are doing quite well. I suggest you pay with a credit card so you can easily challange a problem. Do note: Recumbent USA has a 20% restocking charge in case your "change your mind" and shipping is on you. The trike itself is a great value when compared to it's direct competition. Just realize that you are working with an importer, not a bike shop. Some bike mechanic knowledge will be required.

rear suspension....seems like a good idea but does it help?

Rear suspension... it is like everything else.. a trade-off. It all depends on the quality of the implementation. If the energy being absorbed is only input from the road, it makes for a much! better ride. Remember that your back is laying on the rear wheel and any road induced bounce is directly imparted on your torso. Now if suspension is poorly implemented, you get what is known as "pogo-ing" where every pedal stock also deflects the suspension. This is lost energy and makes the tirke essentially slower.

I've had my Trike-X for two weeks now. I probably have about 200 miles on it. I paid "best offer" $1190 plus $128 UPS Ground shipping from the RecumbentUSA.com eBay outlet KCUSA. Ordered late Thursday and received in Tucson a week after the next Monday.

It came in a box packed in Taiwan. The packing and partial assembly was impeccable. There were no assembly instructions and I knew to expect that. I used the assembly instructions for the similar unsuspended trike from the Actionbent.com website. Using those instructions I think anyone who can read can easily assemble this trike. I would advise doing that yourself as it gives good experience for adjustments to the seat and boom you will likely want to make when the LBS isn't handy.

I bought this trike because I felt I needed suspension for the dirt roads and road shoulders I ride. I have no doubt the ride is a lot more comfortable than it would be without a suspension. My only comparison is with an unsuspended 20x20 I rode on parking lot dirt with small scattered rocks. That was less comfortable than I would be able to live with. I really doubt changing the tires would have overcome the lack of rear suspension.

I have changed the front tires to Schwalbe Big Apples 20x2.00. I am running them at 30# psi. I changed the back to a Walmart Bell 26x1.95 "Kevlar" mtb tire. I will probably change that to a Big Apple when it wears out.

I love the looks of the Ice and HPV suspended trikes. Similarly equipped with fenders and rear rack those trikes would cost me 2-3 times what I paid for the Trike-X.

I had the confidence to by this trike because some of the previous eBay purchasers were kind enough to share their satisfying experiences with the Trike-X. Both are active on bentrideronline.com. One of them said "I took a chance and it has paid off big time." That is how I feel about my purchase.

I'm 67 years old and weigh 145 lbs. I've been riding a Redline Monocog 29er about 100 (very slow, 8mph) miles a week before getting the trike. It looks like I will do more miles on the trike. I really enjoy riding it.