Bud Davis

I am a 65 year old male. Ride casually, 12-14 mph & 20-30 miles per ride. I have always had a hybrid, but it seems that this change may be appropriate.

I am looking for recommendations. My price range is up to $1000.

Also, suggestions for transporting on a bike rack ? My wife has a hybrid, so I would like to be able to carry both a same time.

Thanks for your assistance.

Bud Davis

townandcountry

Check out Tour Easy and Gold Rush. Several of the 'bent riders in my group have those and they like them. They can go really fast, too. I don't know about the price range, since I'm still able to ride one of those "wedgie" upright types.

mtessmer

I'm affraid you won't be able to touch a Tour Easy or Gold rush for a thousand, they go for almost twice that. Maybe you can find a used one for a grand. There are others around your price range though.

rd5590

Recumbents are generally more expensive than DF bikes. For your price range, consider the Burley Koosah. Easy to learn and has received good reviews. Tour Easy (TE) is a great bike. I love mine. But new they start at 2k and go up quickly. A new Rans Stratus is about $1600. You might find a used bike on Ebay, but these bikes generally hold their value well. There is a learning curve with any recumbent. The long wheel base, conventional steering and low bottom bracket types are the easiest to learn. Once you do, its hard to go back to a conventional DF bike.
Here is a link which provides good info. https://www.bicycleman.com/index.htm

Good luck,
RonH

Bud Bent

Bud,
Do some long test rides. I recommend starting with a CLWB like the EZ-1. I didn't much like those, but they are the easiest bent to get started with, if you haven't ridden a bent before. Next, try a LWB, like those mentioned above. Finally, try at least one SWB. Try to give each one a good long test ride. Each style has its advantages, and a few long test rides are likely to tell you which style suits you best.

LarryJay

I also am a casual rider, 12 to 14 mph for 20 to 30 miles. I bought an EZ Sport about five months ago, about $1000 and love it. I ride four or five times a week and it gets better and better. I'm very glad I bought the EZ Sport, its a good beginning bent. If you are like me, after a few months, you will begin to wonder if you will ever want or need anther bike because you are enjoying this so much. But there is always a better one out there and others to try. Whatever you buy, you will love riding a bent. Its almost sinful.
Larry

erik forsgren

Hello Bud,
As you are new to recumbents the question of price is of course very important. Will you dedicate your entire life to this new kind of vehicle the prize is of no importance. But if you only want to test the thing I would say that renting a recumbent is a much better and cheaper choise. As for me I purchased a Radius Marco Polo on the net and started to ride without any knowledge of bents and I have since then never considered to go back to an upright

ChiliDog

RANS Tailwind is a nice, relatively lightweight, user friendly bike.

meb

Besides the Burleys, EZ-1, EZ-Sport, and Tailwind already mentioned, also in that $1000 or less price range consider Cycle Genius and Action Bent, Backsafer, Human Powered Machines, S & B recumbents.

johntolhurst

Also, we at www.cruzbike.com can provide a conversion for a y-frame dual suspension to a create quality FWD recumbent. Easily done for well under $1,000.
John

funbun

I test rode a RANS Stratus about a year back. I was scared to death because I couldn't do uphill on that thing. Anything below 8 miles and hour was a nightmare.

That's my average speed. So, for me trikes are the solution.

funbun

This Cruz Bike is a cool idea!!!

erik forsgren

Try this website:www.liggister.org/buyandsell.html

sukispop

Hi Bud,

Recumbents are great bikes; I own a lwb Stratus myself, and love it...but it retails for almost $1700, and is not in your specified desired price range.

Another type of bike to consider is the "semi-recumbent", which some 'bent authorities have now re-named "EZB"'s(Easy Bikes). While many of these EZB's are heavy, slow, and kinda ugly, RANS, one of the oldest and most respected recumbent manufacturers, has created a line of these bikes that are really fun bikes to ride. I own the second production year model of their first iteration, the Fusion, which had a 20" front wheel and a 26" rear wheel. I LOVE riding this bike! It is the first bike that I've ever ridden that immediately brought back my childhood love of riding a bike. And, to be honest, whenever I can get out for a quick ride, during these wet weather months, 9 out of ten times, I'll grab the Fusion instead of my beloved Stratus recumbent. Why? Because it's a quick, fun, great handling bike that can zip around with the best of them. It's just a no-brainer fun bike.

RANS has evolved this bike into four distinct models, all of which now have dual 26" wheels, which make the bike a little faster, and an even better handler. Three of the models are within reasonable reach of your $1000 range, with only the top end model well beyond it. These bikes may not have the supremely comfortable seat back that true recumbent bikes have...but I can tell you that they are still very comfortable(no numbing of the wrists, hands, butt, or groin)...and these bikes have the added benefits of being able to use body english in riding them...and you can stand up and pedal on these new versions(on mine you can't, due to its slightly different design aspects).

Here's a link to the article that RANS posted on their website, regarding the development of these bikes:https://www.ransbikes.com/ITRComfy.htm

'Hope this may be of help....good luck, and take care.

Strixowl

Hi Bud
I'm a 57 yr old Male & I own and ride a Burley Limbo Recumbent at this time. This is my only bike, my first Bent and LOVE it. It can be converted at my pleasure between a SWB and a MWB. Burley refers to them as a Versatile Configuration Recumbent. So in one "bent" you have the ability to alternate it between a 41.5"– SWB or a 58" MWB (Medium Wheel Base) fairly easily.

I believe they offer two versions of the Versatile Configuration style in their 2005 Lineup. The Taiko ($2000) & the Canto ($1200) around here, but you could probably find a good condition, used Burley Limbo 2004 or older (Versatile Config) around for less, as they discontinued the Limbo and went to the one's mentioned above. For your info the Limbo also has a rear shock but the Taiko & Canto do not. Burley put a rear shock on their 2005 Spider ($1800) & Nasoke ($1400) which are "not" Versatile Configuration, but LWB. These are prices I got from a LBS. Depends on what you want and of course your $$$$ & sometimes health.

https://www.burley.com/default.aspx

As for bike racks I would take a look at Sportworks. They make a good hitch type rack for recumbents called the "Universal" which can be mixed and matched with other type bikes. I've found them to have many knowledgeable outlets and quite helpful by phone. This goes for Burley to,both by phone & e-mail.

https://www.bicycleracks.com/

Good Luck,

VTXT

Bud. I'm fairly new to the bent world and just turned 60 this past week. Test rode a Burley and an Eazy Rider and went with a SWB for handling. but I could not afford to get it at their dollar level, so I went with Actionbent Jetstream. Rode all last summer and really enjoyed it. I have a number of old injuries that make riding anthing but a bent very uncomfortable. And the price was right. Check them out...just an option.

volae

This bike is a demo and the cost is $975.00
https://www.hostelshoppe.com/specials.php

Tell them Tom from Kentucky told ya
I have a Volae too, Allsome bike,




$995.00

dozercsx

Hi Bud,

My experience says that the most difficult thing for older first time recumbent riders is stops and low speeds with a high bottom bracket. The problem is that it's usually a long, uncomfortable reach to the ground when stopped. For instance, my 67 year old father-in-law excitedly tried my RANS Tailwind, only to fall when attempting to put his foot down on stopping.

I recommended a Sun EZ-1 aluminum (very low bottom bracket) for a 60 year old co-worker, and he's happy as a clam. Ran him about $300 bucks on Ebay, and if he ever grows beyond it, it's an easy resell. Another bike which seems to fit the bill ,and would seem to work well for an older rider is the Burley Koosah or Jett Creek. I also bet the EZ Sport pictured above would work. I highly recommend trying these and seeing what you think.

(BTW I also own a RANS Vivo (high bottom bracket) and the Vivo is a noticeably more difficult "stretch" at stoplights.)

Go for it, though - I wish you the best riding experience, and if you stick with a recumbent, odds are you'll get it!