Recumbent - HELP! P 38 or SatRDay?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : HELP! P 38 or SatRDay?

sokowa
07-28-04, 01:44 PM
Hello,

I'm going to purchase a recumbent in the next few days, and am wondering whether I should go with a used Lightning P 38 (with Voyager upgrade) or Bike Friday "SatRday".

I am new to recumbents (I have a Bike E CT), but would like a bike that folds up.

The P 38 comes with a fairing, voyager upgrade, and seat bag and is $1700 used. The SatRday is about $1000 used. Which will be better in the longrun? My concerns are:

How does the SatRday handle climbing hills?

How does the P 38 handle rocky roads or woodland paths without suspension (and with suspension, if I decide to add that later)? Or is it mainly just designed for speed (which is nice, but not essential for me)?

How long does it take you to fold your P 38 voyager? It seems like the SatRday doesn't take as long from what I've read.

Any help as to which bike would be a better deal would be great as I need to make a decision soon! :)

cerewa
07-28-04, 02:18 PM
the SatRday is known as a bike that really isn't for speed.

i would love to have a P38 with a fairing and seat bag.

the SatRday's tiny wheels aren't ideal for rocky roads or bumpy paths. I think you're better off putting fat tires on a P38.
sch
07-28-04, 08:05 PM
SatRDay is more of a road bike and rides mostly like one. It breaks down "rapidly"
and can tow a trailer that is also its shipping container. The stripped P38 is a bit
more of a PIA to break down. If you put the fairing on the you will double the work.
On the other hand, a faired bike has a large imprint, takes a lot of space and you can't mount it where the wind created by driving hits it full on, you will rip the fairing off. Fairing is of course, of no value on rocky roads or bumpy paths. It comes into
effectiveness above 15-17mph or with a headwind. Should be a lot of headwinds
in Kansas though. Unless you have a large van, you will have to take the fairing
off for transport. The P38 wants to go fast, it doesn't want rocks and off roading.
Steve

sokowa
08-06-04, 10:00 AM
Thanks for the help :) I may eventually purchase both. I ended up going with the P38 as the SRD sold already.