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-   -   What will your next bent purchase be and why? (https://www.bikeforums.net/recumbent/90220-what-will-your-next-bent-purchase-why.html)

ChiliDog 02-26-05 09:29 AM

What will your next bent purchase be and why?
 
Right now I am "bentless" for the first time in years. I am looking forward to getting another recumbent, but am really trying to widen my horizon of exploring the different models, styles, and brands. Almost like I did when I first started out riding bents 5 years ago. I've owned/ridden: BikeE CT, RANS Rocket, RANS V-Rex, EasyRacers Tour Easy.

This go-round I want to spend a lot of time looking and test riding before I make a purchase, hopefully in late spring/early summer. So far these interest me: another Rocket or V-Rex; RANS Velocity Squared; Bacchetta Giro; Barcroft Virginia; Actionbent Road Runner; Catrike Pocket. Maybe a Volae (I believe they may all sit too high for me and lean the rider too far back for my neck issues).

Needless to say, I am planning some day and overnight trips to look at bents. Wondering what YOUR next purchase would be and why? What are you riding now? What would you change about your current choice if anything? What would you like to add to your stable? Thought this might start a lively discussion also for people looking to "get bent" as well as those who already ride recumbents.

lowracer1 02-26-05 09:50 AM

I'm either getting another vk-2 or a vk-3........not sure which yet. It's up in the air right now. Selling my present bike I think. So I may be riding the baron and trike more in the spring.

ChiliDog 02-26-05 10:04 AM

What is a "Vk2 or VK3"? What bike are you selling?

lowracer1 02-26-05 12:49 PM

This is the vk-2 I'm selling. I'll be getting the next updated version of velokraft or the vk-3 version. Don't know yet at this point.

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=6996

geebee 02-26-05 07:07 PM

Vk-2 drool,drool I would love one. I currently have a GT3 trike which I love and will not be parting with but if I could afford it I would have either (or even both :)) a VK-2 and/or Crank-it Mountain Quad.
I use my trike on MTB tracks (easy ones) occasionally and the quad would open up a lot more.
The VK-2 would be great on those days you feel like really flying plus it is drop dead gorgeous.

Dchiefransom 02-26-05 07:38 PM

http://www.actionbent.com/RR.html

http://www.actionbent.com/JSAS.html

I'm riding upright now, but I've been itrigued by the idea of riding a bent for a while now. I'd like to try one if these entry level bents, with the Road Runner being the first. I'm also not far from Freedom, Ca, so I might go down and test ride a Sun EZ Sport LE.
http://www.easyracers.com/ez_sport_limited.htm

BlazingPedals 02-26-05 09:40 PM


Originally Posted by Dchiefransom
...I'm also not far from Freedom, Ca, so I might go down and test ride a Sun EZ Sport LE.
http://www.easyracers.com/ez_sport_limited.htm

AFAIK they make the TourEasy/GoldRush/TiRush models in Freedom, but the Sun lineup is imported from the Far East. If you want to test ride an EZ Sport, make sure they have one there before you go.

ChiliDog 02-26-05 09:43 PM

Yes, I like the looks of the Road Runner too. I also like that the crankset is a little lower than the seat height.

Gary Mc 02-27-05 08:40 AM

With one offspring in college and another headed that way soon (I hope) I suppose that my new-recumbent days are far into the future.

Still, if I were to trip over a sack of money on the street, what would I look for. I think that I would look for a medium wheel base (MWB) foldable recumbent. I would want one that could be quick folded for car transport and more thoroughly folded into a standard suitcase for airplane or bus transport.

I have a Greenspeed Trike that meets my local needs. I have a Dahon folding bike that travels well but is a bit tough on this aging body. I would be great to have a folding recumbent for travel and comfort. I think that a MWB might be best as they sit higher and balance easier for touristy type riding in unfamiliar surroundings.

One can dream, eh?

Regards,

Gary

izgod 02-27-05 09:08 AM

I'm still riding my first bent, a BikeE AT. Since my broken femur in October, from which I am STILL recovering, I was considering an EZ3 trike, the aluminum upgraded model, AX. I was terrified of another fall. Since I've gotten back on the bike in December, I've realized this is just one of those irrational fears. I don't have any issues with balance. The accident was just that, an accident, one of those chaotic chance operations of the universe. What I do have, is a pronounced lack of strength in my right leg, and so I've decided to "upgrade" my BikeE with power assist. I know, I know, but I have to get to work everyday, and the bike is the only way I have to do it. The 9 mile uphill trip is just too much for me now, with only a leg and a half to stand on. I'm looking at this product, made especially for BikeE.

http://www.ecospeed.net/index.html

Dchiefransom 02-27-05 10:15 AM


Originally Posted by BlazingPedals
AFAIK they make the TourEasy/GoldRush/TiRush models in Freedom, but the Sun lineup is imported from the Far East. If you want to test ride an EZ Sport, make sure they have one there before you go.

Thanks. The only place selling bents in my area seems to be a guy in Alameda, Ca that I "think" is running a business out of his home.

I take that back. I just found a link from Bentrider Online, and there are now quite a few. I also see that Sun now makes an EZ Tadpole. The dealer that sells them also is a sponsor of my cycling club. :D

pauncho 02-27-05 12:30 PM

My next bent will have three wheels. I'd like to feel safer about taking shorter rides in cold weather instead of not going at all because I'm afraid to fall on ice patches. Given that there is usually a lot of mud on trails that time of year, I'm going to look hard at that new EZ-3 tadpole.

atom bomb 02-27-05 08:23 PM

Currently have:
Vision Sabre
Catrike Road

Thinking about LWB for fun, easy, stable, fast, long rides
GRR? V2? :rolleyes:

bentrox! 02-28-05 02:21 AM


Originally Posted by pauncho
My next bent will have three wheels. I'd like to feel safer about taking shorter rides in cold weather instead of not going at all because I'm afraid to fall on ice patches. Given that there is usually a lot of mud on trails that time of year, I'm going to look hard at that new EZ-3 tadpole.

Sun's tadpole trike is the "EZ-Tadpole". The "EZ-3" is a delta trike. I've heard that for steering trikes on ice two wheels up front are better than a single one.

bnet1 02-28-05 08:40 AM

Well, here is my 2 cents. I would like to ride a SWB, most likely the Rocket. But I have a love affair going with my Tailwind so I may stay with the LWB format and consider the V-2 or even the formula version. I would still use the Tailwind for a "jump-on and go to the store bike". It also is one that I can drop the wheels and fit in the back of the Escape. The whole issue with me is that the Tailwind is so darned versatile that the only thing I would gain by upgrading to a higher end bike is perhaps some speed. But then I can still dream about getting a Rocket AND a V-2 formula...

sukispop 02-28-05 02:33 PM


Originally Posted by Dchiefransom
The only place selling bents in my area seems to be a guy in Alameda, Ca that I "think" is running a business out of his home.

If the person you're referring to above is Zach Kaplan, then he's a person well worth seeing about anything recumbent. He's one of the most respected recumbent authorities on the West Coast, and can answer any questions that you might have. I can't tell you if he actually works out of his home, but I can tell you that he sees customers on an appointment-only basis. What this provides is a 2 hour opportunity to get Zach's undivided attention on you alone, and he can give you a "Recumbent 101" education, as well as an opportunity to test ride any of the many recumbent bikes and/or trikes that he has in stock...and he carries quite a few of the most popular lines. He also does modifications, and can custom spec your ride to your particular needs and riding style. He may not necessarily be known for having the most rock bottom prices in the country...but what you get in exchange is real world expertise and experience...Zach knows his stuff!

Good luck in your search...take care.

:)

Arnold Layne 03-01-05 05:53 AM

Chili,

Not trying to answer your question with a question but I'm thinking about getting a Gold Rush and was wondering how you liked your Tour Easy. I have a trike which I purchased to use for multi-day touring/camping trips, due to its load carrying stability, but it's a bit slower than my two-wheeler. I thought it may be nice to have just one vehicle that would satisfy both touring and faster ride needs.

bentcruiser 03-01-05 07:41 AM


Originally Posted by ChiliDog
Wondering what YOUR next purchase would be and why? What are you riding now? What would you change about your current choice if anything? What would you like to add to your stable?

I was thinking about this the other day. I was not thinking of another bike but how much I like my current bike (a modified Burley Canto). It was when I was changing the wheelbase. I thought how nice not to have to choose what wheelbase to use. . .and that I do not need a dealer to convert it. I had thought of some evasive changes too. I thought about trying to figure out how to make the bike USS with a setup like the HP Velotechnik Streetmachine has. I am still calculating that one.

If I bought another bike, I really like the looks of the Bacchetta Giro dual 26 or the HP Velo Grasshopper.


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