Tandem Cycling - Any experience with Honda Odyssey for transporting tandem?

We currently own a Honda Element (Purchased two years ago when we were still riding singles). The Santana fits inside with the rear wheel betwee the front seats. It's a little crowded. I'm considering trading in the Element on something a little longer. Does anyone have experience transporting a tandem in a Honda Odyssey?

Thanks

I haven't driven with our tandem in an Odyssey but I did test fit our Comotion in a friends. There's an extra 10" of room which nearly gets the rear wheel from between the front seats.

Like you we currently own an Element and have the "tandem divider". Out of curiousity do you rest your rear wheel on the drink holder? I was going to that but the rear derailleur gets into the armrests. We love the Element since we can carry the tandem, a single, and 3 adults without dealing with a roof or trunk rack. We thought about the Odyssey but the extra cost of the vehicle and the drop in gas mileage made it easy to commit to the Element.

Personal Gas Mileage observations
97 Honda Accord
Bare Roof 75 mph on the interstate - 31 mpg
With Empty Roof Rack at 75 mph - 27-28 mpg
Roof Rack with 2 singles on top - 24-25 mpg and struggle to hit 75 mph

Honda Element
Tandem and a single inside on the interstate at 75 - 80 mph - 22-23 mpg
Tandem and a single inside at 70-73 mph - 26-27 mpg

So... on a 450 trip arriving 15 -20 minutes earlier costs about $12 in gas.

I transport my 2008 Cannondale Road 2 in a Honda Oddyssey (2006) and it's the perfect fit. We have the LT model, and remove the middle seat insert that makes the two passenger captain chairs into a bench, and lower (hide away) one of the seats in the very rear. The bike fits perfectly (with a bit of room to spare) without having to lower the console at the very front of the van, which will give you even more room for a tandem with a longer wheel base. So after its all said and done, you can fit the bike and still have room for 5 (driver and 4 passengers). The stoker handle bars rest perfectly against the middle captain chair (great for securing the bike). In short, the Oddissey is perfect for transporting a tandem.

Thanks for everyone's reply. It's very helpful.



Out of curiousity do you rest your rear wheel on the drink holder? .

Yes! And as you point out, there IS some intereference. It is part of why I'm exploring alternatives.

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PL

Our 2002 Odyssey doesn't have split fold rear seat, but if we fold it down and move the captain's seat behind passenger outward so the gap is in middle, the tandem fits great down the middle.

The front tire fits in a crack between one of the front seats and the center console. The front pedals end up between the middle row of seats. And I can close the rear hatch with room.

Yes! And as you point out, there IS some intereference. It is part of why I'm exploring alternatives.


I have the same issue so I went with the ghetto fix. I built a stand out of 1x6 that spans the drinkholer/banna holder and emergency brake. The downside is that I've lost access to the ebrake and the drinkholders. Version 2 is in the works and will incorporate drink holders. If it weren't for the rear axle spacing I would have removed the drinkholder entirely but my wife doesn't like the greasy parts rubbing the seat.

In case you're wondering I'm not particularly worried about the emergency brake since I live in Florida and our Element is an automatic.

I would have loved an Odyssey but my budget was limited and I got a GREAT deal from a private seller for our Element.

We have a 26" road tandem that just fits with the wheels on by removing one middle seat. We just went camping & stored the tandem, kids bike, tent coolers & camping junk all inside the van! I have to say that i am impressed with our 2001 Odyssey. It is a do it all machine.

Have friends with new Odyssey and they haul tandem + single easily.
We own a '97 Honda Accord Wagon and haul custom tandem and single inside with hatch shut and all our gear for 1,000 mile trip.
Luggage that we dont have to get to lies flat on floor. Tandem goes on top of that (with pedals, wheels,capt seatpost/stoker bars removed). Then heavy blanket, then single with pedals/wheels removed.
Have enough room behind passenger seat to stow suitcases we need to get to at motel stops. The rest of our stuff gets then packed in where there's room. And there's room for the 2-of-us up front.
Best gas mileage on this trip was 36.2 mpg, most of it on scenic back roads and some Interstate.
Keeping bikes inside vehicle saves gas, keeps 'em out of the elements and away from possible theft.
Works for us!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Does anyone have experience transporting a tandem in a Honda Odyssey?

Personally, no...

However, we know about 20 teams who do and they are all quite pleased with the Odyssey, both 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen. There is even one couple who transport their Co-Motion triplet in their 2nd Gen model...

In fact, if we had to replace our '06 Toyota Tundra we'd most likely pick up an '06 or '07 Odyssey... or something even smaller.

2004 Odyessy, Trek 1000 fits easily with the 3rd seat folded down plenty of room, like it was made for a tandem. Second row seats are like a bike rack. No removal of anything. Perfect for half bikes at events I just stick the bike in the built in bike rack and lock it up.

The Honda Odyssey is the semi-official tandem transport vehicle for all tandem cyclists.

The first time I stopped by the Honda dealership just to ask questions about an Odyssey, they offered a loaner for me to take home and try out the fit for the bike.

We bought one a couple of days later.

Our bike backs in with both wheels on, and we get 20+ mpg around town, and 25 on the highway without paying too much attention to speed limits. We're usually 10-15 mph over (please don't tell your cop friends).

After 45,000 miles, the Odyssee has only been back to the dealer once, for some brake issues that were covered under warranty & a service bulletin.Other than that, I've only filled it up with gas, changed the oil according to schedule and replaced the windshield wipers a couple of times.