Tandem Cycling - Tandem Advice/Opinions

Hello,

My wife and I are going to join the tandem ranks. We are both avid cyclists (road and mountain) and look forward to a lot of fun on a tandem.

Like many others getting their feet wet and not wanting to break the bank, we are looking at the KHS milano.

I can get a new 2009 KHS milano at cost through my friend's bike shop. it has aluminum frame with tiagra spec (9 speed)

or...

I can get a 2002 Milano (NOS) for about $300 less than the 09. It has a True-temper Cro-Mo frame with 105 spec (8 speed)

Which one should we get? Or, other opinions on entry level road tandems?

Thanks for your help.

Can your friend get you a good deal on a new C'dale?

Would you ride and be happy on a half bike with those components?

Cannondale is out as my friend's competition sells them. They do look pretty nice though.

As far as components, I don't get to hung up on the level (105-ish is fine). I can upgrade that stuff as it wears out.

Have been very happy with the 2000 KHS Tandemania Comp we ride. The cromo frame rides verrry nicely.

Are you sure the 2002 model is 105 8-speed?

105 9-speed had been out for several years by 2002...


I would be inclined to go with the NOS model if the fit is good.

Are you sure the 2002 model is 105 8-speed?

105 9-speed had been out for several years by 2002...


I would be inclined to go with the NOS model if the fit is good.

Here are the bike specs on Bikepedia (http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?ItemID=36826&Type=bike) for this bike. Same as with any "fill-in-your-own-hobby-pedia", I cannot vouch for the accuracy

Duppie

I haven't ridden either. But my bias would be toward the Aluminum frame. Stiff is good, when it comes to Tandems. A flexible tandem frame results in "stoker wag" and is not a good thing.

In general, Tandem frames made of oversized Aluminum tubing tend to be stiffer. Hence my bias toward the Aluminum frame.

However, how any bike actually rides is depedent on more than just frame material. Thus, if possible test ride both, and go with the one with the best ride/fit.

Here are the bike specs on Bikepedia (http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?ItemID=36826&Type=bike) for this bike. Same as with any "fill-in-your-own-hobby-pedia", I cannot vouch for the accuracy

Duppie

I did a search for 2002 milano, and there were some people on here who said it had 8-speed 105. Weird.

The first tandem my wife and I bought was a steel KHS. We are a light team (230 lbs), but found we could wind up the frame in corners resulting in a high pucker factor whenever the frame would try and whip back to neutral. Nothing against steel for tandems, just my steel tandem experience as built by KHS. I would go for the ALU.

"We are a light team (230 lbs), but found we could wind up the frame in corners resulting in a high pucker factor"


Wow, a 230 lb team?

My wife and I would be clocking in at 330 lbs :eek:. Maybe the aluminum is the way to go for us?

BTW: I appreciate all the feedback. Keep it coming!

We have been very happy with our aluminum Milano.

I'm not sure how much of a recommendation this is -- our only other tandem experience is with a 15-year old mountain-style tandem converted to narrow tires and road bars and the team generally consists of me and my 10-year-old daughter. (As I'm a Clyde -- and a Fred -- we probably top 330, so maybe this is somewhat of a recomendation).

If you can, I suggest you take some time to test ride before you buy. (If you're in northern NJ, pm me and maybe we can arrange for you to borrow our Milano when the ice goes away.)