Tandem Cycling - Kent tandem update

Well the Kent tandem arrived at the store today, and I have assembled the thing and had our first test ride.
First of all, I have to state that all in all you couldn't ask for much more for the low price. I doubt that you could compile the components, and tubing etc...and put together as nice a bike for anywhere near the $265 I paid for the whole schmagagy( a local mom-andpop bike shop sells the same exact bike for $379!) . It looks really nice. It has reasonable if not top-notch components(Shimano Altus). The wheels aren't bad at all: reasonable alloy hubs and rims, but need quick releases. Tires are cheapos, but they work.
The frame is steel, but well made and designed.
It went together in about an hour, and I had few problems. The gears worked OK right out of the box, the brakes are only "adequate":they stop the bike, but I wouldn't want to be flying down a mountain road two-up with these brakes.
I only got to ride it for about fifteen minutes, but the kids took off on it and were gone for an hour. They liked it! It has a stiff, reasonably fast, fairly easy handling frame. I'll post a picture or two tomorrow.

Let us know in 3 months how well you like it.
Enjoy the ride TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Let me recommend that you put Koolstop salmon/black pads ($20) on it and have the wheels trued and brakes adjusted. I think you will be quite impress with the improvement in the brake performance. I went and additional step and changed out the stock promax brake set for the Avid 7s. They are about 1" longer and thus provide added leverage. I think I could stand the bike on end if I only used the front brake! Well, almost. Thing stops on a dime now.

I think there is a real market for cheap tandems, because they provide an inexpensive introduction to this aspect to the sport. If you get into it and you and your stoker(s) get hooked, you will eventually upgrade.

But here is several problems with the approach.

1. These cheap tandems only come in one size. As a result, chances are one or more riders are ill fit. That may lead to some small number of teams that drop out when they might have otherwise gotten hooked. The only options to this is to hunt the used market for a better bike and better fit, or spend a lot more for a new bike that comes in sizes that may fit better. I contend that there are a lot more people that are willing to risk $500 or less on a new bike than >$500 on a used bike.

2. Most of these cheap bikes (tandems included) are not very well assembled. They need some immediate upgrades (tires and brakes for the Kents) and a fair amount of tweaking, tuning and adjusting. If you can do that yourself and you have the time and inclination, great, you have saved the $. But if you can't you will have to pay the LBS. Now paying $379 for that same bike at the LBS doesn't look so bad. Failing to do this will probably lead to an unsatisfactory (or even dangerous) initial experience. Again, the tandem community may miss getting some new members as a result.

3. The cheap components will wear out sooner, and will require more maintenance, and honestly don't provide the same performance as substancially better components. This may lead to people becoming discouraged with the bike if they are trying to put a lot of heavy use on it. Hopefully they have had their appetites whetted for the sport, and they will take the next step into a better bike, be it used or new.

I happen to be the proud and happy owner of a "cheap" tandem, the Lamborghini Viaggio. It is the Kent International, but with an aluminium frame and a better gruppo. $506 to the door, $60 in brake upgrades. Installed a 400mm seat post for my 6'4" son, and a Control Tech adjustable stoker stem so I can accommodate my 6yr old grandson or my 6' frame as stoker. Add $50. Did all the wrenching myself. You can read about all my adjustments in another post (Our New Lamborghini) in this forum.

This was the right decision for us at this time. My wife would never had gone for a new entry level "brand name" bike at $1500+. A good used one might be found, but the ones on craigslist and other venues were either too expensive, too far away, or not what I wanted (a road style).

It is my hope that my wife and I put so many (S)miles in this that in a few years she will be willing to spend real $ on a "real" tandem. While it's true that a brand name bike will hold value better than one of these department store bikes, I have to believe the actual loss sustained upon resale will be about the same in absolute $. If my wife doesn't really take to the sport, I can still ride with my son and grandson, and for that purpose this works very well.

Well, bikerosity, best of luck with you new bike. Hope it all goes well, and that in a few years you will be putting a down payment on a custom Calfee!

bobthib: a nice assessment on dept. store tandems; as with most anything else, you get what you pay for.

Couldn't get pictures today because of a cat problem. The bike works reasonably well, even the brakes(could be a lot better, but they stop the bike). However, the saddles are really cheap. After a couple of miles, it's kinda like being poked in the butt. I think the bike is a great value for the measley price. But, I am sure I will want better tires, saddles, and odds and ends.
I believe that with the right up-grades, this bike could actually be very competent assuming everyone fits on it. By the way, it was worth the money I paid just to hear how happy my wife is on this thing!
More in a few days......