Recumbent - Help me pick a used recumbent...

I have been rather fascinated with these bikes for some time, but have never rode nor purchased one.

My stats are that I am 6'4" & 265lbs. So I obviously need a "tall" (long) bike.
In addition, I think I am more interested in the low steering style that the high front steering.

So what are my options in makes/models, and what should I be aware of in a used one?

Thanks!

You have about a hundred options. You need to find a shope and/or people near you so you can try the main styles and see what fits. You haven't really given us enough info to do a lot of narrowing down.

Lots of recumbent-related links on Bentrideronline.com. Not to mention the 'bent-specific message board.

You have about a hundred options. You need to find a shope and/or people near you so you can try the main styles and see what fits. You haven't really given us enough info to do a lot of narrowing down.

'zacktly! there are TOO many options. I need some direction to start. I primarily like to ride roads
(duh!), won;t race, don't climb hills unless I have to. maybe that helps narrow it down, i dunno...

if anything, are there any brands to avoid like the plague?

Bentrideronline.com has a buyers guide, where you can do a search on LWB, USS. There's not all that many because USS isn't as popular as it once was.

whay has USS dropped off? curious...

Bigger turning radius, heavier bikes generally. i find the steering too twitchy and my hands in a vulnerable position if thre is a crash.....

But the grasshopper is a nice uss bike.

USS would add another learning curve to 'bent-riding.

well FATA**, I am an couple of inches shorter and few pounds lighter, I ended up with a Mikado Quetzal, an odd looking lwb. uss with a mid-frame block which ends up giving a 120 gear setup. I have no shops around here to try different types took a chance and bought this thing off of ebay and have had a absolute hoot riding it. Since geting my bent I have ridden a few others and really like the USS, it seems a lot more natural place to have your hands.

I have let a few people try to ride it and most get on to it in no time, I would practice in a parking lot for 5 or 10 minutes till you get the hang of turning right and left etc. but they are easy to get on to.

I made my 11 year old daughter one using above seat steering and she was riding around town in no time.

My advise jump in buy one and enjoy, people buy these sort of things all the time and often they just sit collecting dust, look on ebay there are many out there. Most regions of the country have a bent type shop, drop by and ride a few. I think there are a ton of good choices out there, I am not sure there is a really bad choice for a first bent. After riding for a while you will have a way better idea what you want in a bent for your second one.

Wish you luck and have fun. :)

well, from a little reading today, i see there are LWB & SWB models. obviously SWB turn faster
but might also seem more skittish? comments?

yes, swb is faster and more responsive for sure. LWB is the cadillac of bents. SWBs are yor sedans and race cars.

A SWB will have a wheelbase more nearly like that of an upright, so it will come the closest to handling like one. A LWB will handle more like an upright tandem, except with only one rider. Neither will handle *just* like an upright anything.

FatA**,
You sound like a good candidate for a Longbikes Slipstream.

Don

I have been rather fascinated with these bikes for some time, but have never rode nor purchased one.

My stats are that I am 6'4" & 265lbs. So I obviously need a "tall" (long) bike.
In addition, I think I am more interested in the low steering style that the high front steering.

So what are my options in makes/models, and what should I be aware of in a used one?

Thanks!


Have you ruled out the tadpole trikes? Most of them have underseat steering...

LWB bikes have a few things that can not be changed:

1. They are more difficult to transport, if you need to take the bike to get serviced, you need a big vehicle to transport it.

2. They take up more storage room in the garage or tiny apartment..

3. They will have less accessability to public transportation such as buses or trains.

4. They generally weigh more than SWB bikes.

SWB bikes may be twichy in handling, but that's something that anyone could master after logging a few hours of riding.

Usually SWB bikes are lighter in weight due to their compact size.

at this point, i think LWB looks more the option from what everyone here has written plus the pm's i rec'd. time to start hunting...

http://easttexas.craigslist.org/bik/533094540.html

(This is not a recommendation for the bike, I just noticed the price while surfing the web)

I have an old Explorer Here (http://www.lightfootcycles.com/exmodel.htm) that has been working for me pretty good. But I am only a recreational rider. i do weigh 300 Lbs, and the bike has held up really good for me. They do offer some options here (http://www.lightfootcycles.com/big_tall.htm) in case you need it. I have the "old" style seat that I think more comfortable than the mesh ones. But that is mostly because my back rides on the "bars" instead of the mesh back. I have had mine for about 5 years (bought used BTW) and have no problems with it to speak of.
Just another option.

You should look around to see if there are any stores you can get to that rent recumbents. If so, you could try some models. Here in Minnesota from May -> October you can rent in the Twin Cities from Calhoun Cycles and in Lanesboro from the Little General Store. In the past, both shops have rented LWB and SWB. The Lanesboro shop had a couple of trikes. Both shops sell off their inventory at the end of the year, so you could buy one from them.

So, if your process drags into the summer, look around for shops that rent.

FatA, as you test ride various LWB's pay attention to the difference between seat height and BB height. BB's that are higher in relation to the seat tend to put you into a more leaned back seating position. Lower BB's get you more upright. This has a lot to do with personal comfort, so you'll have to find out whiich you prefer. bk

I'm pulled the trigger and ordered a Slipstream. I spent a LOT of time going over reviews on
the various recumbents, and have emailed others who own them. Fianlly I spoke with Greg over at
Longbikes for probably 25 minutes over two calls about his bikes. Since I usually try to pick up used
goods where I can, this is a pricey option having never ridden one.

OTOH, I do happen to like riding the recumbents at the healthclub, and those have to be some of the
most uncomfortable things ever designed in a recumbent fashion and they don't bother me at all. Thus,
give my size (tall & big buy, need to drop lbs) and the fact that the arthritis in my back just stiffens me
up after a DF ride (along with the numbing hands), it pretty much came down to a Slipstream or the now
no longer made Halezuk Horizon. Since I want USS, and LWB, I figured I really only had one choice in the
end. SO I bit.

I should have the bike in about a month or so. Will update my impressions when I get to ride it. for some
reason however, I don't think I will have any complaints.


As a sidebar, years ago a friend of mine had an old tandem that had BOTH positions able to steer. The
stoker seat had handlebars that turned, and were hooked to the front via two small gears front and rear.
Thus, it was easy to ride the tandem from the rear with no one up front. We used to get a lot of funny looks
whenever one of us did that. Only bike I ever saw that way. I imagine the Slipstream will feel sorta like
that given the wheelbase.

FatA your about to start a long and troubling fascination with a new bike style that will have you biking with little to no discomfort.... have fun and keep us posted on your new ride

As a sidebar, years ago a friend of mine had an old tandem that had BOTH positions able to steer. The
stoker seat had handlebars that turned, and were hooked to the front via two small gears front and rear.
Thus, it was easy to ride the tandem from the rear with no one up front. We used to get a lot of funny looks
whenever one of us did that. Only bike I ever saw that way. I imagine the Slipstream will feel sorta like
that given the wheelbase.


Something like this?



But only the upright rider (in the rear or the bike) gets to steer on this tandem.. I can't imagine how both riders on a tandem get to steer the bike.. It would be doable, but somewhat dangerous it seems..