Tandem Cycling - Any Davinci Opinions Out There?

Has anyone out there test ridden a Davinci? My wife and I are looking for our first tandem and yes, I know, first one ought to be used, but many factors will enter into the purchase of a new tandem if that's the way we go. We're pretty coordinated, but starting on hills will definitely require lots of miles and tries with a conventional drive train. While I'm sure my wife and I can master conventional timing the Davinci system sure would be ideal if I take an inexperienced stoker for a ride or if I lend the tandem to my son and his wife (she is a non-rider).

Understand Davinci represents some additional proprietary parts and some loss of drive train efficiency, but we're not racers, just want to keep up with young folk and enjoy riding together. We did test ride the Davinci and the handling and ride (with wound CF fork) was very nice. Santana Sovereign felt similar.

When shopping for our new tandem, we test rode the da Vinci, Santana, and Co-Motion. Our old tandem was a Santana. We found the ride between the Santana and da Vinci similar, stable and relaxed, and the Co-Motion more sporty like my Lemond single. We decided that the da Vinci wasn’t worth the extra price for the independent coasting and went with the Santana. Note that we rarely see any kind of hills. The only issue we have had with the Santana has been with the propriety parts, they work fine, but when adjusting the fit, a quick trip to the LBS for a new 1 ¼” stem wasn’t in the plan.

Our opinion, for what its worth... We just bought a new tandem and when presented with an opportunity to test ride a Da Vinchi, we declined. The reason? The Da Vinci really only lets one or the other rider coast, its not like you can have a different cadence, for us it wasn't worth the extra complexity (and $) in the drive train. One thing I would advise is to try and "learn" to ride a regular synced tandem first since one of the most noticeable attributes when we were learning was the "locked together" thing, but after a few rides we've adapted and its part of the fun; really :-) If we started with the Da Vinci we would have never adapted to the sync, and likely never would.

With that said I think the Da Vinci has its place, particularly with child stokers, less enthusiastic cyclists, or grossly mismatched teams. The times I would most like to be decoupled is "bump management" when you'd like to stand, but as you'll quickly find out you will need to communicate bumps anyway (STANDING! TRACKS!), or your stoker will let you know...

I've got a long write-up on my experiences in owning two da Vinci tandems here: http://eurastus.blogspot.com/2007/08/da-vinci-tandems.html

Give it a read and see what you think.

We made our new tandem decision last year (CoMotion Machiatto) after looking into a variety of bikes. Looked at DaVinci, but passed because of cost/value/weight issues I perceived. Also, we've tried both Out of Phase (OOPs) pedaling-actually used it for a few years- and in-sync with our new bike, and really like the latter better. With OOPs, it seemed to require more attention to keep the bike going straight. I can imagine that independent pedaling would be like a less predictable form of OOPs. On the plus side, I understand the gearing range is greater and the shifting is rock solid with the DaVinci system.

There is a bit of a learning curve in riding a tandem; soon you'll get the hang of it and it will no longer be an issue. Communicate!
May we suggest 90 degrees out-of-phase (OOP) for easier hillwork/starts?
With OOP there is always a power stroke going over the top making it less of a hassle for us.
Been pedaling OOP for over 225,000 miles; guess we like it!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Thanks, all for the great wealth of info. We'll make our decision on Friday. Looking at a used Santana tomorrow: only one I could find within 300 miles of our location.

.....The reason? The Da Vinci really only lets one or the other rider coast, its not like you can have a different cadence, for us it wasn't worth the extra complexity (and $) in the drive train. .......


You actually can achieve different cadences although the ratio will be fixed. The captain can run a different sized timing chainring from the stoker timing chainring. If the captain like to spin and the stoker mashes, run the stoker chainring larger than the captain, or vice versa.

I agree with everything else, they are great for mismatched teams and if you need superwide gear ranges. As for added complexity, I would have no reservations touring with the jack gear.

I caught up to, and then wheel-sucked, a tandem on a long ride (the STP) 2 years ago. In return for the draft on the downhills (could barely stay with them!) I called out all the "car backs". I noticed first the stoker, and then the captain, take a pedalling break ... whoa, that was different, bike still going uphill and stoker isn't pedalling (no, not that tired old joke) ... and then figured out it was a Da Vinci. Certainly seemed to work for them.

Well, the jury is in and my wife and I decided to buy a da Vinci Joint Venture. Thanks for all the input - much appreciated. BTW, on the final test ride we double-flatted the bike. Good thing I had my cell phone. We were riding in the bike lane and a truck must have dropped some very, very sharp dark-colored gravel. Asphalt road had some dark spots from rain and I must have run over the same rock with front and rear tires. Flatted as though I'd run over a bed of nails. Bike lanes and shoulders are magnets for debris.