Mainframeguy

Hi there... since my posts first joining the forum as a tandem n00b we have been too busy riding and "doing up" our ancient steel wheels (I still think maybe a Santana! but ancient) to post again.

We have learnt a lot and confirmed for sure that tandeming is for us. We even toyed briefly with the idea of retro fitting a Rohloff hub to our old bike... But after riding with our local tandem club and talking with a Rohloff user we went off that and so naturally have decided the money could be better spent on a whole new tandem to give us the benefit of lower gears from a small front with elliptical cranks, if that's the right word?.

Anyway for our next step we still want to budget so our present choices (unless we wait for something nice in the used tandem market, and we are a little impatient for that) are as in the subject line.
Barracuda Nevada is here
and Viking Tarantino here

I do realise they are European manufacturers but I also recognise there is some pretty good expertise on this forum. Do not confuse the Barracuda brand with the American MTB maker of the same name ,,,,

Even if you just cast your eye over the specs and give us a comparative review - all hep appreciated - there is a chance we'll make the purchase in about 24 hours, I'll let you know what happens anyway....

zonatandem

Sorry, neither sounds like a good starter tandem . . . cheap/junky components = cheap/junky tandem.
Patience . . . wait and see see what's available in the used tandem market.

wheelspeed

I have to agree with Zona. Save your money longer instead of spending what you have on either of those. Try to keep your emotions in check and just watch for a used one to come up close enough for you to test ride. Be sure to test ride a 700c bike, 26" wheel bike, touring bike, etc. Try to adopt the mindset of knowing it could be a couple seasons until the right tandem comes around that's the perfect size, and close enough to ride, and that you know is right after riding. This is assuming that I'm understanding your post correctly that you already have an older tandem.

Mainframeguy

We are feeling a LOT cooler about spending our money on a new rig now. Thanks for the very sound advice. Just hours ago we turned up a used listing posted in October for
I'm not sure the linkie will work, hence the quote.

Of course it takes the thread a little OT, but I at least wanted you to see we have listened to your advice

Oh yes, and to answer Wheelspeed we do have a tandem already, which we also bought used for a song. It was the subject of some debate on my joining the Forum to enquire if it could indeed be a Santana.... I am going to post more detailed pics, but it has inline chainset and just seven rear cogs. Also limited to just rims front and rear, quite like a hub or other third brake. I need to make another new thread enquiring about some adaptations we'll be wanting to make to her if we don't get the Burley!

zonatandem

A used Burley Duet . . . great tandem.
Yes, have ridden one for several hundred miles.

WebsterBikeMan

Those two look like about the same bike. And not much different from the used one you're riding now - a real eccentric instead of a tensioner, but otherwise? Good luck with the Burley.

merlinextraligh

+1 on the Burley Duet. The Duet hit the sweet spot of being a tandem capable of serious riding at about the lowest possible price. We had ours for 14 years.

If it fits, and the price is reasonable I'd definitely grab it.

mkane77g

Had a 89' Duet, our introduction to tandems. Server us well and it's still on the road, somewhere.