Blythe

Hello. I am wondering if anyone here has a Kidztandem bike that they could tell me about their experiences with. Here is the website:

https://www.browncycles.com/tandems.htm

The closest dealer to me is several hours away, but I would love to learn more about it.
Except fro the very steep price tag, it seems like just what I am looking for, and so I am trying to figure out if it would be worth scrimping and saving for. I have a 3 year old and a new baby, so I could theoretically use it for a long time if we were to buy it. Also, I think the basket on front option looks very nice for errands once the kids outgrow the seat.

Thank you for your time.
Blythe

masiman

I'd look at some of the other tandem options out there that would have wider adjustability (kid to adult). Co-Motion makes one called a Periscope and the BikeFriday line is similar. The expense I think is about the same maybe more, but you will be able to use the bike with them as they get older.

I don't know how well the kidztandem would handle with a larger child in front. It looks like it would be harder to do.

richardmasoner

I know Chris Brown (owner of Brown Cycles) -- he let me use his Kidz Tandem on a Saturday with my 8-year-old daughter (weight 60 lbs). We both had a blast. We had a full day on this bike riding both uphill (very slow -- about 5 mph) and downhill (very fast -- about 45 mph). My daughter loved it because she's in front where she can see what's going on. The bike can be configured to carry both of your children.



$1900 is a very low price for a custom built tandem bicycle. This is a "traditional" tandem with a timing chain, which means your child must pedal at the same rate as you. With an infant now you'll get at least a decade of use out of this bike, and like you mention the basket makes this an easy truck-cycle conversion.

Blythe

Thank you for your replies. Richardmasoner, I have a few questions since you have ridden a kidztandem. How did it compare for you and your daughter to a trail-a-bike? Did the front position for your daughter make the ride more enjoyable for either one of you and/or feel safer? Or was it a comparable experience? Also, how comfortable was the bike for you and your daughter? The website says the front seat will be good through age 7, but with a 100lb weight limit, it seems like it will be useful for much longer than that. Do you agree that the useful life would be longer? Thanky ou for your help. I appreciate the input.

cranky old dude

If money's no issue, go for it.

Without having done a lot of research, it appears like this Kidztandem is a very
limited use investment. Can this tandem be converted to accomodate
the kids after they've grown larger? (They tend to do that quite quickly.)
If it were my choice I would either go with a trail-a-bike type, or a
standard tandem with a child stoker conversion kit. The Trail-a-bike
is very cost effective, and the standard tandem will become a life long
treasure which you and your children or spouse can use indefinately.

My experience.....we invested in a Burley Mixte frame Tandem (top tube
captain and step thru for the stoker) complete with a child conversion kit.



All three children are now either in college or in the work force, but when
they visit we can still take the tandem out for a spin. They loved the tandem as
youngsters and they still enjoy it as young adults.

ken cummings

That is a good deal for such a configuration. The closest equivalent would be the Bilenky Viewpoint at about three times as much. I own a similar Counterpoint and as the weight of the stoker in front increases stability can be a problem at slower speeds.

sunflowerflyer

Interesting concept. I don't have any experience with it, but bet the kids love the view. My only concern is the 100 pound weight limit... kids grow fast!

richardmasoner

SOrry about the delayed response...


Trailer bike: I mostly use a trailer bike with my daughter. The ride on a tandem is superior. The trailer bike can really wriggle around. Tandems are easier to control. If transportation is an issue (i.e. transport by car or bus) the trailer bike can be a little easier, but there are transportation options for tandems, too.

Comfort: I just spent a day on the KidzTandem, but neither of us had comfort issues.

Product life: My daughter was 8 when we used the KidzTandem. Chris has a mobility option for this bike too (a front seat for disabled people), so the 100 lb limit seems pretty conservative, but you'll have to ask Chris Brown about that yourself. Like Cranky Dude notes, a more traditional tandem will offer you more flexibility -- the KidzTandem has a limited usefulness as a child transporter, though conversion to a cargo bike extends the usefulness quite a bit. You can replace the front seat and handlebars with a big cargo basket to transport stuff and turn your bike into something like a small Bakfiets.