NewbieIATandem

The wife and I have a Trek tandem and love it. We have a couple of kids that would like to tandem with us. There is someone selling a Kent Dualdrive (the Wally World bike) that we are considering for a second tandem. (Likely to not be our last tandem, kind of like those chips, ya can't have just one...)

For very basic riding, bike trails, a bit around town, no centuries and no RAGBRAI; both the kids (young teens) and some friends (happily married couples) would be the occasional user of this bike.

I know the topic of cheap tandems with lower end components has been tossed around before but I don't remember any discussions of the Kent Dualdrive as a second tandem.

Again, this would be a second tandem for occasional use. Seller is asking $225 which sounds a little bit high considering a new one with full return from Walmart if we find it is not meeting our needs is only about $35 more.

Any opinions would be appreciated, and no, we can't really afford much more than $150-$200 as this is NOT going to be our primary tandem. I know we could continue to wait for a good deal on a better tandem to come along, but would like to pick up our second tandem within the next few weeks so we can start using it this spring.

Thank you all.
NewbieIATandem

Ben There

There was some discussion in this old thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...highlight=kent
Also remember the walmart shipping fee is about $75.

teamcompi

Ask yourself how much better a tandem will you get for $200.00, especially since you do not want to wait till the end of time. If you whine a little bet you will get it for 150.00, or at least its worth a try.

Best of luck.

TandemGeek

Start at your low number and see what they come back with... You never know.

Attached is a fair market value based on Wally World's MSRP of $248 for the Kent.

NewbieIATandem

Thank you all. I appreciate all the insight this forum provides on so many subjects.

Now the decision between the stoker and me on next steps. Will probably go for it.

zonatandem

The WallyTandem, no matter what the price, will sure let other folk/riders realize 'a rose is but a rose by any other name' or is it 'you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear'?
Think it's rather magnanimous of you to invest in something like that, for other folks' occasional convenience/pleasure.

NewbieIATandem

We've got many happily married friends that we occasionally get together with. We know this is not the best tandem in the world, but we can tell from the general impression of the couples if they are a candidate for tandeming. Heck we started with an $80 / mid 70s piece of s..teel that was so far from perfect for us after two rides we were... hooked on tandeming and bought the Trek. Considering our kids were the only ones with bikes in the family and until about a year earlier had only had xyz-mart bikes. We ended up with about a $1600 investment on our then $800 Trek T900. We bought the bike, water bottles, rack, helmets, riding gear, Thule rack, computer, etc. etc. Our goal was to be together, and we had decided (even after only 3 miles on that ill-fitting $80 tandem) we loved being together in that way so were then ready to make the commitment. Neither of us being cyclists didn't put us off by the terrible seats, the bad geometry, the marginal frame, the marginal brakes (it did have new tires that were very nice), spotty shifting, did I mention terrible seats that gave you either tingles or numbness in about one city block? We ended up selling it to one of the couples (see below) for $80. They have put some new seats on and have ridden it in a few charity events in the community.

The folks we hang out with are more about being together than cycling. After taking both our T900 and the $80 bike to a social event we had about 30 married couples try them out. You could tell before they went 10 feet which couples should NEVER own a tandem. There was one couple where the wife hopped off the back of the tandem 5 times in a row. They never made it more than 5 feet. Wouldn't recommend tandeming for them. But two of the couples (don't even remember who rode what, many rode both) were going out shopping for a tandem after just seeing the joy of being together on a bike.

Most of them would be happy on one of those old Schwinn single speed anchors because cycling was not the purpose, just being together and having a bit of fun. So if we can honestly help others just see if they want to look more at the tandem scene it will be worth the investment. If they would complain about the shifting, or frame flex, or X or Y or Z. We can let them have a spin on the Trek. We will encourage them to try out a few others at the LBS.

But I ramble. As long as it is safe, we can deal with problems and components that might need to be worked around. Heck, I might end up selling it to my brother inlaw who thinks that there is no better store than Walmart. "If it's cheap, it's good." They just bought 4 singles from Walmart and he almost had a coronary when we told him how much our Trek cost. But maybe for $200 he and his wife can get a servicable tandem. Not great, but cheap...

Dang it, that ramble circuit must be on the fritz. I'm shutting up now and getting back to work. Again thank you all for sharing opinions on this purchase.

labrat

I have one of these as a family bike path runner. Have had it a few years but to make it shift decent I replaced the Falcon freewheel and ?? chain with Shimano items (made a world of difference). I have also had issues with other areas like the pitted Joytek cones and rear wheel out of true. While it is fine for the occasional jaunt around the neighborhood, don't forget to leave room in the budget for repairs/upgrades.

Just my 0.02

hr2510

Did you buy the Kent?

zonatandem

Why is the seller selling his 'new' wallytandem?
If you are mechanically handy and have some spare componentry sitting around in the workshop then go for it. Offer $125 but would not go over $150.
These bikes are a problem waiting to be fixed. As long as you are aware of that . . .
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

NewbieIATandem

Keeping an eye out for the price going even lower. They are offering it for $200 now. I have picked up a used Univega (don't remember who pointed it out on craigslist "only" 350 miles away) we are very happy with it. However, can you ever have enough tandems?

Right now we don't have the money to offer $100. Back to school is coming, we are going to keep our eyes on that used Kent just for kicks for now. If it is still available when we have the money we may give it a shot.