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.dzrthauler
03-01-10, 10:45 PM
After 2 trips to the P.O. (21 mi. total) and a utility ride hauling a combined weight of about 100 lbs (29 mi. rt) I'll give my two cents about my new tourer that seems to be off of every ones radar - (we couldn't find any reviews of it when we were doing our homework on tourers) She came with everything I was looking for at the price point we had:
http://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_tr_101_10.htm
The geometry on the KHS site is kind of odd, but the 21" that I got fits me just like a 57 would. It has been about 25 years since I've been on the hoods, and when I put my hands on this one, it felt like I had never left (my hand went to the down tube to shift, that's how comfortable I was on her!). The bar ends are very tight shifting and very smooth. I don't have any previous experience with Tektro brakes, and these seem to do just fine under a trailer load. The handling is tight and stiff like steel should be - she ran smooth over the dirt roads we regularly run and smoothed the bumpy asphalt on the highway shoulders just fine. The rear rack is very adjustable and although I haven't found a weight rating for it as yet, it seems to be extremely strong and stable (as soon as I load it with full panniers, I'll post those thoughts). The Maxxon multi setting tail light is a perfect beginner light for trips around the neighborhood after dark. The full set of plastic fenders that it came with was a definite plus. All in all, I am very happy with this bike so far and I look forward to putting many more utility miles and commuting miles on her. Honestly, the only negative I have is the fact that it only has 2 places for water bottles - I'll survive, a Camelbak has been on my "want list" for a while any way. Potential upgrades - just one; probably the saddle at some point, but I'm only guessing right now. Everything else, from the Kenda Kevlar reflective tires right up to the bar tape is all good!
http://www.khsbicycles.com/05_flite_tr_101_10.htm
The geometry on the KHS site is kind of odd, but the 21" that I got fits me just like a 57 would. It has been about 25 years since I've been on the hoods, and when I put my hands on this one, it felt like I had never left (my hand went to the down tube to shift, that's how comfortable I was on her!). The bar ends are very tight shifting and very smooth. I don't have any previous experience with Tektro brakes, and these seem to do just fine under a trailer load. The handling is tight and stiff like steel should be - she ran smooth over the dirt roads we regularly run and smoothed the bumpy asphalt on the highway shoulders just fine. The rear rack is very adjustable and although I haven't found a weight rating for it as yet, it seems to be extremely strong and stable (as soon as I load it with full panniers, I'll post those thoughts). The Maxxon multi setting tail light is a perfect beginner light for trips around the neighborhood after dark. The full set of plastic fenders that it came with was a definite plus. All in all, I am very happy with this bike so far and I look forward to putting many more utility miles and commuting miles on her. Honestly, the only negative I have is the fact that it only has 2 places for water bottles - I'll survive, a Camelbak has been on my "want list" for a while any way. Potential upgrades - just one; probably the saddle at some point, but I'm only guessing right now. Everything else, from the Kenda Kevlar reflective tires right up to the bar tape is all good!