I'm not too well informed about older 'bents. Did they really
build 10 spds., the seat looks like a repalcement of sorts.
27" rear wheel? Might this be a frame built up with a bunch
of spare parts? I can't imagine a LWB with only 10spd.

I'm thinking maybe a good candidate as a commuter, 10 mile
round trip. It would sit out in the weather while at work.

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/800141445.html

Maybe, tho the ten-speed part seems iffy. Googling 'Nimbus recumbent' or 'Rans Nimbus' gives pictures that look like the Craigslist listing. For example:

http://www.richardcmoeur.com/recumbent.html

That looks like the old RANS 'bucket' seat. It was pretty pitiful.

Yes, there were 10 speed recumbents with 27 inch rear wheels dating back into the early 1980s. I'm the owner of an early Linear long-wheelbase, aluminum-frame recumbent built by Kann Body Shop in Iowa, the first of several Linear builders. I bought it for $400 a few years ago to use as spare parts but it is still in one piece and quite rideable as I have never needed any of the parts off it.

O.K. So the bike is probably mostly original. I'm getting very interested now.
Is the bike easily upgradable, especially the drivetrain? Maybe a triple crank?
The seat doesn't bother me too much, I think...since as a commuter it'll be
in the elements a lot (rain etc.).

O.K. So the bike is probably mostly original. I'm getting very interested now.
Is the bike easily upgradable, especially the drivetrain? Maybe a triple crank?
The seat doesn't bother me too much, I think...since as a commuter it'll be
in the elements a lot (rain etc.).

I expect it would be upgradeable. The rear dropout would be relatively easy for a shop to spread and re-align, so it could take a 9-speed rear. Likewise, the bottom bracket could be changed and a triple installed. You'd want new derailleurs all around. You could also get a modern RANS seat for it. You could also probably go from a 27" to a 700C rear wheel, although the stock brakes may or may not adjust that far.

That's a bunch of upgrade bucks, though. I sold my wife's 1997 Nimbus a year ago, for $600. It was completely stock 3x7 with the *good* RANS low-back seat. What you'd need to get that bike into similar shape, whether you convert to 7, 8, 9, or more:

BB
triple crankset
F. derailleur
R. derailleur
chain (3)
cassette
spread dropouts and re-align
rear wheel
possible new brakeset
possible new seat

Thanks for the input.

For the price, I believe I'll at least take a look at it, see if it
fits me, and take it for a spin. If low gear is low enough, and
high gear is high enough, the steps in between probably won't
bother me all that much.

I'll let you know how it all turns out.

Happy Trails

Aww Shucks!

Got into Milwaukee on Thur. afternoon....bike was sold Wed. evening.:(

Still shopping.

O.K. I found a bike. Craigslist find within a couple of hours from
my house. It's a 2005 Volae Tour in very nice condition. I brought
it home a couple days ago and am expecting a package from Fed-X
with tires, a rack and computer to arrive today. Now I have both
a LWB (Sun EZ Rider) and a SWB to chose from for my recreational
riding. I don't believe I'll commute with either one of these as the
area where I lock them is not all that safe and the bikes are just
too nice. For now I'll continue my commuting with my old Trek 820.

Here's a couple of pics before I get all the goodies on her....

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/IMG_1177.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/IMG_1176.jpg

Happy Trails