Recumbent - Refitting my Vision R40

I have a Vision r40 that has been set up USS, LWB for about 5 years now. I use the bike mainly for long tours. I have other uprights for commuting and whatnot.

Here's a pic of the current set up from a short tour last summer:



Anyway, I've always been pretty happy with the setup. The arm position is very natural and comfy. The cons are that there is no "cockpit" and therefor no easy way to see a speedo, mount a mirror, etc etc.

So this year I've decided to pay with it a little but, and I'm in the process of fitting it with above seat tiller steering, adding a home made tailbox, mabe a front fairing.

I picked up this riser off ebay that is for a Burley LWB:



and I just ordered this set of handlebars off Hostel SHop:


https://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1200939295

The bike is currently set up with a mix of components, Ultegra triple, suntour front dr, shimano rsx rear, 7 sp. It is indexed.
I'm thinking i'm going to set it up with friction bar ends unless I can find some indexed bar ends on the cheap.

I've also picked up a 4x8 sheet of Coroplase and I'm going to build a rear tailbox, and possibly a front fairing depending on time.

I'm on the lookout for a handlebar bag that will work with this setup, and possibly a mid rack.

I'll post some more pics as I do the work if anyone is interested.

The reason for the post I guess is just to share what I'm doing with anyone who might be interested, but also to hear any feedback/comments from people with a similar setup. This will be my first time building a tailbox or working with coroplast. I'm also not sure how it will be running friction shifters on a recumbent. I'm more concerned about the rear since I can't see it while I'm riding.

I'll be taking the bike on a 200 mile two day tour next month which will serve as a bit of a shakedown run. Then a month after that I'll be riding it for a two week tour somewhere in the south/southeast. We don't really make real specific plans as to where we're going.

Look for more pics as I get them.

When I had an R40, I got the little "T-bar" that mounted in the post that comes out by the BB. It had enough room on it to mount a light and cyclocomputer. Probably hard to find now, but worth a look. I sold my 'bent last year with the "T" on it.

I've converted both my GF's and my own Vision R40s from USS to OSS.
Here's a picture of my neighbor's kid riding mine..



I take my Vision on public transportation once in a while, it's easier to walk along the bike and carrying it on and off the bus/train with OSS configuration.

When I had an R40, I got the little "T-bar" that mounted in the post that comes out by the BB. It had enough room on it to mount a light and cyclocomputer. Probably hard to find now, but worth a look. I sold my 'bent last year with the "T" on it.
you can still buy them through hostel shoppe. My steerng will be attached there though so I have no use for them

If you're considering a front fairing, you shouldn't be using such wide handlebars. If you've been researching Coroplast, you've probably seen a pic or two of my V-Rex with Coro speed accessories.



Man, that's a short bike! Is that a 36-inch wheelbase?

yea i've already changed the bars as those turned out not to be machined for bar ends. The ones I ended up with arent quite as wide.

I have seen your bike and your site, I've got it bookmarked. Thanks

I used this $16 aluminum bar, even narrowed it down another inch or so with te pipe cutter:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB409E01-Dimension+Cruiser+Handlebar.aspx

I've converted both my GF's and my own Vision R40s from USS to OSS.
Here's a picture of my neighbor's kid riding mine..

...

Nice photo.

Where did you get the OSS handlebar?

I ordered a Volae bar in extra medium. It showed up today so I threw it on. I think this setup is going to work nicely. Now I just need to get some LOOOONNg cables.

Link to bar:
http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1133976365

Pic of bike (excuse the kitchen in mid remodel :) )



Next I hope to start planning out a front/rear fairing in photoshop to get an idea of what I want before I start cutting...

Let me know if you want to head out for a ride together sometime.

I'm trying to get a bike ride starting from the Spring Valley YMCA during the weekday.

On the weekend my fiancee and I usually head to Valley Forge or Betzwood and ride to Manayunk and back or take the train back to Conchy.

Let me know if you want to head out for a ride together sometime.

I'm trying to get a bike ride starting from the Spring Valley YMCA during the weekday.

On the weekend my fiancee and I usually head to Valley Forge or Betzwood and ride to Manayunk and back or take the train back to Conchy.

sounds good. they let you take your recumbent on the train?

Drop me a Pm next time you're going to ride. I'm always down. I had to order some shifters for the bent so it's not ready to ride until I get them, but I have other bikes I'd take out of you want to ride before then. In fact maybe I'd take my fiancee's Bike E out for a spin.

When I had an R40, I got the little "T-bar" that mounted in the post that comes out by the BB. It had enough room on it to mount a light and cyclocomputer. Probably hard to find now, but worth a look. I sold my 'bent last year with the "T" on it.

Bike NashBar has them too. A little cheaper too :)

The key is to get on the train before the conductor ask about it, once you're on, they dont kick you out, but that's not so easy to do with LWB recumbent. That's the reason I converted USS to OSS, easier to maneuver the bike on and off the train/bus, etc..

I'm trying to get a group ride started from the Spring Valley YMCA off of Township Line Rd. once a week during a weekday evening.

What kind of shifter do you need, I have many parts available, cheap..

Let me know.



sounds good. they let you take your recumbent on the train?

Drop me a Pm next time you're going to ride. I'm always down. I had to order some shifters for the bent so it's not ready to ride until I get them, but I have other bikes I'd take out of you want to ride before then. In fact maybe I'd take my fiancee's Bike E out for a spin.

The key is to get on the train before the conductor ask about it, once you're on, they dont kick you out, but that's not so easy to do with LWB recumbent. That's the reason I converted USS to OSS, easier to maneuver the bike on and off the train/bus, etc..

I'm trying to get a group ride started from the Spring Valley YMCA off of Township Line Rd. once a week during a weekday evening.

What kind of shifter do you need, I have many parts available, cheap..

Let me know.
thanks for the offer. I ordered some rapid fire shimano shifters though. I was going to run indexed bar ends but I think because of the position of the handlebars the rapid fires are going to work out better.
Let me know about the weekly ride, I'd definitely be in for that.

yeah, I have at least 3 sets of Rapid Fire brake/shifters, how many speed for teh right shifter? V-brake compatible or catilever brake?
I also have a bunch of grip type shifters and regular brake levers.
If you find something suitable from me, you could save a little and get your parts rightaway, I don't think I'm more than 15 miles form you.
You're probably going to have a hard time finding a shifter cable for your rear derailleur though..

7 speed. I've already ordered everything. I got the shifter cable from my local bike shop..tandem cable.

I want to convert my over-seat steering to under-seat steering.
Does anyone have any experience with that?
Thanks.

7 speed. I've already ordered everything. I got the shifter cable from my local bike shop..tandem cable.

I've got a few grip-type shifters, but not Rapid fire trigger type shifters for 7 spd.. I suspect that even a tandem length gear cable might not be long enough for your application.. might need to source a 4500mm carble.. This weekend looks like serious rain expected for Friday and Saturday, if Sunday clears up and not too windy, I might go out for a ride from Betzwood.


I want to convert my over-seat steering to under-seat steering.
Does anyone have any experience with that?
Thanks.

What kind of OSS bike do you have?

What is the steertube diameter?

My bike is a Sun EZ Speedster SX. Not sure about the tube size.

It's going to be tough to convert to USS for a Speedster:



First off, there is no a whole lot of room between the seat and steering column, so you might have to go to a handlebar that's attached to the fork.

Since your current fork is not likely to have a mounting point for handlebar to be attached to, a new fork may be needed, or modification to your current for is necessary.

Second, you will need a handlebar that is long enough to reach your hands and wide enough to fit your seat and have room to steer. With the original wide seat of the Speedster, you might have a hard time finding a handlebar that would clear.

I would recommend you keep an eye on craigslist for used USS recumbent instead of converting your Speedster.

HEY-- how did you get a picture of my bike in front of my house?? I'd swear that I locked it in the garage....... ;)
Rats- I was hoping to just convert. I got this bike last year from Craig's list, even tho I really wanted a USS. It seems like it's really hard to find a used SWB USS around here. Guess I'll have to keep looking.
Thanks for your help.

My shifters came in on friday. I also bought some mirrors and grips. Saturday I ran the cables , installed my first tailbox, storage container, and took it out for its first above seat steering ride. After about 5 minutes of adjustments I was on my way. I still need to finish it up as you can see with the front der cable, but I'm pretty happy with it. Very comfy. At first the steering was a little weird, but in no time it felt normal.

pics:

That's a lot of tiller. Personally, I don't mind tiller, but some people hate it. Glad to hear it's working for you!

it's definitely not a bike put together for close quarters city riding, but that wasnt my intended purpose. As long as I can turn around in a one lane road without going off of it i'm happy.

I can pretty much get used to anything given enough time. I think I'll be happy with it and it not, well I still have the USS stuff.

Looks awsome.. now if only we could get some decent weather to ride around here..

This evening I'm going to ride with a group in Wayne, PA.. pretty much every Monday night I go ride with them, sometimes on my road bike, sometimes on my recumbent.

April 7 to September 29, 6:00 p.m., 8-18 mph, 5miles to 40miles , Start COS (http://www.suburbancyclists.org/scuguide.htm#LCOS) Multi-Level Rides on the Main Line (Wayne, PA.). Come join the largest and friendliest evening ride group on the Main Line. Multi-level rides meet 5:30pm and leave 6:00pm sharp every Monday (except on holidays)at Church of the Saviour ("COS"), 657 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne, PA. We meet in the rear parking lot of COS adjacent to the gym (Bld. F). Large, clean, bathrooms and water are available inside the gym area.

Looks awsome.. now if only we could get some decent weather to ride around here..

This evening I'm going to ride with a group in Wayne, PA.. pretty much every Monday night I go ride with them, sometimes on my road bike, sometimes on my recumbent.

April 7 to September 29, 6:00 p.m., 8-18 mph, 5miles to 40miles , Start COS (http://www.suburbancyclists.org/scuguide.htm#LCOS) Multi-Level Rides on the Main Line (Wayne, PA.). Come join the largest and friendliest evening ride group on the Main Line. Multi-level rides meet 5:30pm and leave 6:00pm sharp every Monday (except on holidays)at Church of the Saviour ("COS"), 657 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne, PA. We meet in the rear parking lot of COS adjacent to the gym (Bld. F). Large, clean, bathrooms and water are available inside the gym area.

Cool. Maybe I'll check that ride out sometime. I'm riding tonight with the newly formed Firebird CS on the VF trail. For more info feel free to join the yahoo group:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/FirebirdBC/

We're based out of Phoenixville.

I'll be riding my commuter ('73 Raleigh Grand Prix) tonight as that's what I have with me at work today :). Storing the bent while at work is a pain, so i normally take that bike instead.

I didn't know a bike club in Phoenixville existed.. I thought most cyclist around the area are either SCU or PBC..
I posted a message on the Yahoo group for rides from the Spring Valley YMCA.

Storing a LWB bike could be troublesome..

I didn't know a bike club in Phoenixville existed.. I thought most cyclist around the area are either SCU or PBC..
I posted a message on the Yahoo group for rides from the Spring Valley YMCA.

Storing a LWB bike could be troublesome..

yea we're brand new. It basically formed from a few people who would meet at a coffee house Sunday mornings to ride. It's still a pretty loose nit group.
I saw you just posted so I guess you were able to join the group. Welcome!