Recreational & Family - Day 6 vs Drifter vs Townie

Wife loves her Townie in Florida - she wanted similar in Ohio and I thought I'd try one too. On internet, I ran across a Day 6 semi-recum, similar to Townie flat-foot, but with a wide seat with a back. Called Day 6 dealers but none stock it to try it; you can buy a Day 6 on internet from factory but it costs $150 to "restock" if you ship it back.

One Day 6 dealer, who also sells Townie and Sun, discouraged me from it, saying everybody prefers the Sun Drifter over either Day 6 or Townie. Now, I'm torn between the Townie and the Sun Drifter with aluminum frame. Has anybody compared these?

I am not sure why anyone would discourage you from a Day6. My shop carries the Day6, Sun bicycles, and Giant Suede's. The Day6 is not comparable to the townies, suede's, and so on. It is closer to a recumbent bike. That being said, they are not for everyone. You really need to ride it. The reason that most dealers don't stock it (my assumption) is that the Day6 is pricey and has very low margins. Nevertheless, it has it's niche.

Not to confuse your quest for a new bike, but you should also look at the Giant Suede series & KHS Smoothie. Both are foot foward bikes. Townie, Giant, KHS, and Sun all have quality products. Then find the bike among those manufacturer's which meets you needs, ie. fit, finish, price, and a local shop you trust. If considering a Day6, make sure you get a chance to ride one.

If your down to an Electra Townie or Sun Drifter, get the Townie. The Drifter is a low quality piece of crap. I can say this with vast experence, as I had Sun Drifters for rentals bikes at the slick urging of a J&B Importer's sales rep. The bottom brackets failed within a month and the handlebar padding was worse then wet newspaper, and these were the heavy duty rental fleet models, not the retail consumer products. Every Townie I've assembled and tuned has been an very well made bike with high quality components.

I also would recommend a Day 6.

I am not sure why anyone would discourage you from a Day6. My shop carries the Day6, Sun bicycles, and Giant Suede's. The Day6 is not comparable to the townies, suede's, and so on. It is closer to a recumbent bike. That being said, they are not for everyone. You really need to ride it. The reason that most dealers don't stock it (my assumption) is that the Day6 is pricey and has very low margins. Nevertheless, it has it's niche.

Not to confuse your quest for a new bike, but you should also look at the Giant Suede series & KHS Smoothie. Both are foot foward bikes. Townie, Giant, KHS, and Sun all have quality products. Then find the bike among those manufacturer's which meets you needs, ie. fit, finish, price, and a local shop you trust. If considering a Day6, make sure you get a chance to ride one.

What shop in Bluffton carries Day 6? Mine doesn't, and there is only two shops in Bluffton.

Bluffton Bicycle Shop (formerly Jonathon's) has carried Day 6 for over a year now. We only sell about 10 per year. Also, I would 2nd your notion on the Sun. The Townies are much better made.

If I wanted to get my wife on a bike again I believe the Day6 would do the trick. I don't care for the drifter but I did like the Suade and Townie.

Bob

The best built crank forward bikes come from Rans, but are priced accordingly. I'd love to have one, but just out of my budget. If you have the cash, they are probably the best built crank forward bikes on the market.

My wife loves her Townie 700c 21spd. I've upgraded it to 700c road wheels, lightweight 32mm folding kevlar tires, and SRAM 9sp x.7/x.9 trigger shifting. Not a road bike, but reasonably fast.

Thank you all for your replies. They were very helpful. Since everyone says you MUST ride the Day6 and it's hard to find a LBS to do that and since Day6 charges more than $120 restocking fee plus shipping if you order from them and decide not, our test drives will be Townie vs Suede. Thanks again, EB

I would also recommend that you try out the Trek Pure series of bikes. I purchased a Trek Pure Sport after trying out the Giant Suede, a Townie, a couple of Specialized models, and some recumbents. However, you will find that it is a little more money than the Suede or the Townie. Very nice bike, quality components.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did try to see a Pure at Eddy's Bike shop here in OH. They have an acre of bikes, mostly Treks and several stores but no Pures anywhere. Perhaps I'll wait til we get back to FL and try there.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did try to see a Pure at Eddy's Bike shop here in OH. They have an acre of bikes, mostly Treks and several stores but no Pures anywhere. Perhaps I'll wait til we get back to FL and try there.

While in Florida you may find a Day6 dealer there. You can check here to see if one is close to where you are staying, http://www.day6bicycles.com/dealers.html#
BTW, I forgot about the Pure, a very nice bike as well.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did try to see a Pure at Eddy's Bike shop here in OH. They have an acre of bikes, mostly Treks and several stores but no Pures anywhere. Perhaps I'll wait til we get back to FL and try there.

I don't know if it is too far for you to make the trip, but Ernies Bike Shop in Massillon stocks the Pure. http://erniesbikeshop.com/

Bring your bike and enjoy the Ohio Erie Canal Trail for the afternoon

The Day 6 is worth seeking out a dealer. I drove a considerable distance to test ride one, and then traveled to a trail rental and rented one for a few hours. I have now ordered one from my local bike shop. I traded in my townie which for me was never comfortable. The Day 6 is in a completely different class. I rode virtually every crank forward type bike before deciding on the Day 6.

Thanks, I'll call. Wife and I did stop in at an Ernies because they were listed as a dealer but they said none in stock at any store.

Very very useful, thanks --

"I" purchased a Pure for my wife there. :)The pedal forward design takes a little getting used to.

Day 6...........the most comfortable bike seat I have ever sat on. The backrest and the semi recumbant style allows you to take some weight off your rear and onto the small of your back ( I think.........)

you gonna let us know what you got her?:)

I've had two Townies. Liked them both! Just sayin'...

The best built crank forward bikes come from Rans, but are priced accordingly. I'd love to have one, but just out of my budget. If you have the cash, they are probably the best built crank forward bikes on the market.

+1 on the Rans CFs. New prices start just under $1,000, but worth every penny for a rider who is going to get some major hours of transport and enjoyment.

I too will also "plug" the Rans crankforward. I have a Cruz. Best bike I've EVER ridden ( excluding recumbents of course )

We have 2 Rans Fusions and a Dynamik. Wonderful bikes and higher performing than other crank forward designs.

Probly beawhile, till we get back to FL where there is more in stock choices

I have a used Day 6 available, lightly used. It is a Dream 21 model. Message me for more info

passage4.0, please tell us more at tomnaud@hotmail.com

mail sent.

A forum reader offered two unneeded bikes at reasonable price. After several minutes test ride in a parking lot, wife and I felt comfortable enough to take the chance on the Day 6 tho we wanted a 7 speed and these are 21 speed. Will take to FL and report experience of Day 6 vs Townie later.

Congratulations on your purchase and good fortune. I am sure you will be as happy as I am with my Day 6. I regret I will not be taking mine to Fl this winter due to the fact we are going to a new location, don't know about storage, and my bike rack won't fit the car which we prefer for long distances. Guess I will just have to rent something for the Pinellas Trail.

The choice of the 21 vs. the 8 speed was difficult. I test rode both, and finally decided on the 21. I have not regretted the decision.
I have also found that the Day 6 attracts attention where ever I take it.
Keep us posted on your experiences in Fl.

As noted before, we bought two used 21 speed Day 6 bikes from the nephew of a man who died. One has a normal horned seat and the other has a bench seat ($50 option when new). My test drive of the red horn seat bike went smoothly enough (tho shakily for my first time on a bike in 60 years) but the blue bench seat was almost unridable for me. It felt like I was slipping off forward. But since my wife, who rides a lot, could manage it -- not comfortably -- we took both.

Since the only thoroughfare at our home island in FL is next to the beach, we thought the 21 speed derailure system would suffer from the sand. A Day 6 dealer in Orlando who sells the bikes on EBay agreed to trade the blue bench seat bike plus cash for a seven speed Day 6. Said there's always a market for used bikes.

Alas, when we got there, he said we got taken. This is a Day 6 bike but so old, he'd never seen one like it. This bench seat has a single flat steel plate with a cushion bolted to it and a one inch square tube welded off the back of the plate at a forty-five degree angle to hold the backrest. He said it must be a prototype and didn't want to trade. Because we had never seen a Day 6 (no dealer within a hundred fifty miles of Akron Ohio), we didn't know the difference until he showed us a new bike.

The Day 6 dealer in Fort Myers had already told me that he doesn't stock them because they're low margin. He might get a couple in for Christmas and will call when he does. So, when we got to Fort Myers Beach, I emailed a person at Day 6 who replied "I can fix it. More details later." I'll keep you advised what happens next. Regards, EBunny

Who is the day six dealer in Ft.M?

Day 6 website says it is Trikes and Bikes on Fowler St. 239-936-1851

Got to our Ft Myers Beach home with the blue 21 speed. Explained to Day 6 that the bench seat was installed backwards and not adjustable because it was an older version. "We can fix that," they said, and did ship a complete new bench seat assembly.

That new bench seat did fit perfectly. Alas, I still was not comfortable on the bench even though it did everything it was supposed to do. Can you believe? They shipped both the new deluxe wide seat with horn as well as the standard horned seat at no charge.

Great people to deal with. I do like the standard seat and am starting to put some milage on the bike. I think that you will find it a comfortable ride.