I have a history of haveing 3 back surgeries after breaking my back in 1989 & am 54yrs old. I want very much to get back into cycling and have just (3 monts ago) discovered that a recumbent may be the answer as other types of cycles lay me out flat.

Anyway I'm on a fixed income and am looking for something with comfort (back is fused from almost top to bottom). The local shop that sell recumbents sells the Burley line. They have two brand new Limbo's & of course the 2005 line. I've been looking at the Limbo because of it's covertable frame set up (which I want) but also because of the shock type suspension. I am also quite interested in the Canto (convertable frame-little cheaper) but it doesn't have the shock type suspension.

My question is to those who have ridden both. Is the comfort level that much different? Also is the tiller about the same? Any + or - comarisons would be most helpful as I'd like to get the best I can for my limited $$$.
Sorry I don't have all the lingo down yet.
Thanks in Advance :D

I ride a Canto, have back problems, severe arthritis... Broke a couple of vertibre in Marine Corps training too. Just retreaded to a Kenda Contact up front and a Bontrager Comfort B on the rear. I have about the same speed capability on the road, a little better on trails, and a much smoother ride than the factory hard thin slicks that came with the bike. The frame does OK on smooth transitions (dips), but is somewhat rough on sharper bumps. I like the limbo concept, but couldn't go that high $$. I'm sure it would help with average bumps since the shock absorber would give a little, but the canto frame provides some "passive" shock absorbtion too that I have noticed. BTW I'm at 210lb (last summer) to 222lb (now). Did the WI MS-150 (all hills) in long wheel base, and switched to short wheel base with the new tires. I like it both ways, but will be staying short for the near future, and at least 1/2 this next summer.
The tire weighting is definitely more even on short set-up, but the front still doesn't dive with hard stopping, but the rear definitely gets real light (skids) though.

Off subject:
I don't see myself doing an endo with hard braking and a short wheelbase like on a DF, but I can skid the rear now. Long wheelbase was super stable. Being lower is nice, but I still don't trust myself to do a 2 wheel side skid stop like I can on my Canondale road racer (only last about 10 minutes before I need to get off due to extreem DF position, but a fun ride on 130lb. skinny tires and almost no bike weight.) perhaps someday I or someone will make a super light weight recumbent style, so far most builders are coming in quite heavy, even the CF lowracers are very thick bodied.

the shock does help I have the limbo. you could get the canto and put on suspension hubs that may help a bit too. http://outnaboutgear.com/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=629&Catalog=39&sort=3rdcharacter
I don't know the price on the new lwb susension models.
here is a limbo for a good price http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7129813580&category=2904

Just for your info Steve the local (Spokane,WA) price for the Burley 2005 suspension models is the Spider@ $1800 & the Nasoke@$1400 and neither one has a convertable wheelbase as the Limbo does.

Hmmmm seems like getting the Canto, then adding the suspension hubs would up the price all right, but I would be loseing the convertability of the wheeelbase. Interesting comparisons. Thanks so much for the info