Tandem Cycling - Source of Decent Low Cost Road Tandem Frames?

With Chuck's Bikes and his wonderful Tsunami Frames closed down, is there a source for decent aluminum tandem frames at a reasonable price? His price point was 500-600 for frame and carbon fork which is wonderful. Are there any other sources for tandem road frames for under $750? I am looking for a small sized frame. I'm not looking for anything high end, nor am I looking to spend over $1000 for a new road frame.

Craigslist

Yeah, but thats pretty much hit or miss, no shipping options, etc. Sounds like we lost the only low cost tandem frame option.

Yeah, but thats pretty much hit or miss, no shipping options, etc. Sounds like we lost the only low cost tandem frame option.

Sometimes you need to think out of the box and explore all of the options when you've imposed a strict budget. http://springfield.craigslist.org/bik/1118613942.html

Isn't chuck's website still up? I looked today and they still had mtb tandem frames listed.

It took me more than 3 months, bu I found a road frame that I felt was acceptable on craigslist for a low enough price that I didn't have to worry about not liking the components on it. Wait long enough and they do pop up.

Isn't chuck's website still up? I looked today and they still had mtb tandem frames listed.

Chuck's website is up but the first page specifically states that you cannot order after March 31, 2009. We are now in April. :)

Your local Trek or Cannondale dealer may be able to source their respective frames naked.

When my Trek OLCV Single Bike Frame failed, Trek replaced it for free. I asked to upgrade to the higher grade OLCV frame (120 to 110) and Trek said yes = Only paid the Trek cost difference in the price of the frame - $250.

Sometimes you need to think out of the box and explore all of the options when you've imposed a strict budget.

Like buying a decent, new, entry level bike or an even better used one, and selling all the components off on eBay. Try it yourself. Take a bike's component list, and do an "Advanced Search/Completed Listings Only" for each one. Take an average of all that sold, (price listed in green), and add them all up. Bet you could own a used Co-Motion frame and fork this way for under $750 if you wanted to bother.

unless the OP has a stash of parts lying around, then he'd need to buy them back to build the bike up

unless the OP has a stash of parts lying around, then he'd need to buy them back to build the bike up

Yep! But he said he wanted just a frame and fork.

I ordered chucks small mtb frame to build up, but I would like a dedicated road frame to fit 700c wheels. I need to find a decently light 26" tandem fork now. I have a ton of parts kicking around and was just gonna get the crankset and wheels off ebay and call it a day.

Yea dude, looks like a buyer bought out their inventory and is keeping the site up. Good buy. I was itching to buy one, but I don't have space for that monster.

I'd like to see someone build up one of those 'Lamborghini' frames on eBay just to see what they thought.

Did they confirm your order? I noticed the chuck's shop is down.

You gotta contact him directly via email.

As for the Lamborghini, I looked into it, but the lack of an eccentric kinda turned me off for now.

There was a hard core roadie couple on one of the Lamborghini tandems at the QuadruPedal ICHS Century in Dodgeville, WI on Sunday. It was a charity ride for the Iowa Country Human Shelter (a 100% no-kill animal shelter).

It rides some of the same roads as the Horrible Hilly Hundreds, Dairyland Dare, and Wright Stuff Century.

Its a brutal ride with over 9,000 feet of climbing along the route.

They only did the 55 mile ride. There were 35, 55, 85, and 100 mile routes. It was interesting how many of the hardcore competitive roadies avoided and went around the first part of the ride, the first five miles, because the hills were just too insane. They wanted to make sure that they could say they finished the 100mile course. I've never heard of a competitive cyclist avoiding part of a century route that casual people are riding who only do the first 35 miles. Heck, some guy rode the insane part on a recumbent! It just cracked me up, if you can't do the 100 mile course finish the whole 85 mile ride with pride, or just the 55 mile route. Avoiding what makes the ride the ride that it is just to validate oneself to claim they finished is just silly. We didn't do the 100 mile route, not even close. However, I can say that I did do the early hills. I've never been more proud of a ride I've done on the tandem yet, actually.

At any rate I talked to the couple about the Lamborghini. They said the bike is absolutely stiff and the frame is robust. He completely stripped the bike of all the components it came with and sold 'em off. He had it set up with Ultegra STI and FSA Gossamer tandem cranks. He normally rides a 60cm frame, and was showing a lot of seatpost to make the bike fit, as the Lamborghini does not come in sizes. He said his only complaint with the bike was the lack of sizing.

That the bike was fine for one of the most insane climbing rides I've ever seen, and was given the thumbs up by the roadies who owned it is about the only testament I'd need to get into one of these bikes, if I needed a low cost tandem. He said he got his off Amazon. I'd seen them on eBay. He said he had one problem with the bike, and a quick phone call to the manufacturer (phone number is on a sticker on the bike) and he was given another part to fix it. He said he rode the components that the bike came with for the first year.

I recognized the bike instantly which was why I went over to check it out. Hope to see more of these out there. A complete aluminum tandem for around $500 can't be beat. Sadly, I'll never get a chance to actually ride one of these. They are just too small. He was showing as much post as I show out the top of my 66c-t Cannondale captain's compartment.

Can someone else get on one of these and review 'em? I'm really curious to see how they stack up against a Santana steel tandem (which you all know my feelings on) considering they are one eighth the price.

The captain and stoker at the ICHS Quadrapedal ride were hard core roadies. I don't know if they've ever had another tandem (I didn't ask), but it was such an insane climbing route that I don't know what else the frame could have done to justify itself as a 'real' tandem.

Very cool! I know there is a pair of guys on the crazyguyonabike blog that traveled the west coast on the lambo while haulling a trailer. I just got my Chuck's bikes MTB frame, so i'll build that up for now with 26" wheels on slicks. Next one i'll build it the lambo.

Anyone have size info on the Lamborghini? Im seriously considering a Tandem to show my 9 yr old son the Real world of cycling. I don't want to sink to much $$$ into it yet. Wondered if the stoker position would allow a low enough seat.

Anyone have size info on the Lamborghini? Im seriously considering a Tandem to show my 9 yr old son the Real world of cycling. I don't want to sink to much $$$ into it yet. Wondered if the stoker position would allow a low enough seat.



Specifications:
Color: Custom Lamborghini pearl white
Frame: Custom-designed 7005 aluminum
Frame size: 20 inches (front), 16 inches (rear)
Fork: 700c CS-9217 steel painted
Geometry: 31-inch standover with 21-inch top tube length (front), 28-inch standover (rear)
Headset: VP-H692W, black
Stem: HL alloy ext, 100mm x 7-degree alloy, satin black
Handlebars: HL-DR-8BW, 430mm, steel black
Bar tape: CB-0108, black soft wrap
Brakes: Promax TX-117 alloy black linear design
Brake levers: Microshift integrated with shifters
Front derailleur: Shimano TZ-31
Rear derailleur: Microshift rear derailleur
Freewheel: Shimano MF-TZ07 14-28T
Chain: KMC Z51
Crankset: A106PP40T steel black, 28/38/48 x 170mm alloy, silver crank
Bottom bracket: VP-B33 steel
Pedals: VP-990S resin body
Wheels: High V profile rims, alloy 700c, brass nipples
Tires: Kenda 700 x 35c, black with silver line AV
Saddles: Custom Lamborghini with white stitching
Seat post: Kalloy SP-233 300mm alloy silver


http://www.amazon.com/Tonino-Lamborghini-70400-Viaggio-Tandem/dp/B000R7DND2



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