Well done on the choice and do not be put off that this may be one of the lower end tandems about. It is still a tandem, and will still give you the enjoyment that this side of the sport has. A few months ago, I looked into getting a cheaper tandem than my full offroad unit, and the Fuji and Raleigh were both in my choice range. Good bikes for the Money and will not let you down, unless you start hankering for the Full offroad machine or the full racing rig.

Edit---- Just looked at the original posting date, so how about an update on your learning curve and enjoyment factor on your "Now Old" machine?