Tandem Cycling - Is it worth it?

Looking for a firt tandem.
Rode a Burley Duet, 2001 STI, very good condition (really excellent), but he won't go below $1200. As this is a first, want to get something that I could recoup most of invetment it it doen't work. The high bid for the bike on Ebay was $750. Not sure Whether I should go for it. My wife and I rode it, and it was a good fit, and rode well. Stock set-up with Thudbuster for stoker. Also rode a Santana Sovereign that didn't fit as well, but that frame sure felt responsive (also much more money). Any other ideas around $1000 (maybe plus a little). I have always liked the stiff feel of aluminum.
Mostly for long day trips, up to 60 miles and a century or 2/year.

I actually was doing a little looking at Duet prices in order to price our Duet for sale.

$1200 is about the top end of the range I saw. The Bike new would have sold for right around $2,000.

Burley Duets were very nice bikes, and it should serve you well.

I'd want to get it for $1,000 or under. But if it fits you well, and its in great shape, what's $200.

( Burley Duets were very nice bikes, and it should serve you well.
I'd want to get it for $1,000 or under. But if it fits you well, and its in great shape, what's $200)

+1 ....I could not agree more... particularly since you know the fit is good. Go for it and have fun!
Bill J

Better to spend the 200 bucks extra for a bike that fits properly and is in good condition (+ you have actually ridden it). The Thudbuster is worth a few bucks and looks like you could pick it up and save shipping charges too.
Just our opinion.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Sorry about all the spelling errors in the first post.
The Burley does not seem to have any 'sex appeal'... i.e. not a co-motion, Santana etc. Are bigger (smaller) brands significantly better, or just product recognition.

Burleys aren't as "sexy" Imho because of the niche/price point they targeted. Burley was more focused on making good, affordable tandems, than on high end tandems. (although they later added some high end offerings).

On a dollar to dollar basis, I think the Duet was as good or better value than anything offered by Santana, and I don't believe Co-Motion has evered offered a bike in the Duet's price range.

So a Duet isn't as good a bike as a Co-Motion, or a higher end Santana, but it's less expensive, and hits that sweet spot of being a serious bike, that's up to anything you could want it to do, and still relatively affordable.

Agree with Merlin; Burley is/was the biggest bang for the buck in tandems at a great price point.
Yes, more up$cale tandems are sexier/prettier/pricier/lighter, but Burley new/used are still a great value.
$ex appeal? Let your wallet answer the $$ question!

For me the Burley Duet has a good rep as a solid, cost effective bike for a couple's first tandem particularly in the price range you are considering. While you could chase an older tandem from a popular current manufacturer I don't see what it gets you for the effort. You have a well fitting, good condition, fairly new STI tandem at hand...it is highly unlikely that you'll get an 2001 Como, C'dale or Santana for like money. In all likelihood you will find and early 90's name brand bike with 7 speed's that has been siting for some time gathering scrapes, dings and needs a bit of freshening...not all bad by any means but why...given the Burley in front of you?
Enjoy the Burley...if you both find the enjoyment most of us do and get the bug of a new 'latest and greatest' or if you find it is not your cup of tea, then the Burley should be an easy sell minus a couple hundres dollars. I don't see the down side with the Duet.
Good luck and have fun.
Bill J.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

For example, I went with an older Santana and upgraded the heck out of it. However, the result is that I ended up spending a fair bit more than you would be spending on the Duet.

However I knew that would happen, and I like building up bikes. ;)

The Duet you are looking at is probably "the" sweet spot in the value/$$ spectrum.

As the owner of a Burley Duet, I echo everything that has already been said about the bike. In my mind, it is/was the best value out there for the money, and continues to serve us well (in our 3rd season). At some point, we will look to upgrade, but for now we're gonna try to ride ours into the ground.

If the Duet fits (and you say it does), I think it's probably worth the $1200 asking price. As for sex appeal, think of the duet as an Oldsmobile, and not a Porsche.

Thanks for the advice. I will probably get the Duet tomorrow. I am bringing down a shorter stem (I have to do this on all my bikes; long legs and short torso), and as long as that works (I am sure it will, having done this before), I will get it. Will also get his Thule tandem rack for another $170.
Thanks again.