Hey there! My wife and I are both formerly avid cyclists (we have slowed down the past year, but are still very active with bike commuting, running, etc) who enjoy gravel riding, overnighters, short tours, and recreational out-and-about kind of rides. We are both fairly athletic, so going fast is something we would probably be interested in doing, but racing is definitely not the reason we're looking for a tandem. My wife has owned an old Schwinn tandem since I met her 6 years ago and we really enjoyed riding it throughout dating and marriage. The thing is, it's single speed, only has a coaster brake, is heavier than my car, and doesn't fit either of us well. Despite those challenges, we've been able to mash up some pretty steep hills and have thoroughly enjoyed each outing on the bike. But recently the rear hub has started making some extremely loud mechanical screeching noises and the bike is not worth the cost of a replacement wheel.

Due to the fact that we both enjoy tandem riding, I am wanting to look at getting a more legitimate tandem soon. I have been stalking these forums thoroughly for the past few days (and have learned a lot!), but would like some feedback on my situation.

Here are some things we would like to have in a tandem:
- Comfortable to ride (I am 6' 2", she is 5' 2")
- I would likely be captain and my wife the stoker
- I weigh 185lbs and my wife is ~115lbs (total weight ~300lbs)
- We really enjoy riding gravel, so fitting wider tires would be awesome if possible (42mm would be amazing if possible, would settle for 35mm)
- We're really only considering older tandems currently due to our budget (would like to spend less than $1,000 USD)
- We are very light packers during our backpacking and cycling trips, so we don't necessarily need a frame intended for heavy touring since that is not representative of how we travel

Where we live in the Midwest, it looks like we have a few tandems in our area that seem like attractive options. Here are the tandems I am currently looking at:
- Santana Sovereign (Local) - $1,100 link
- Santana Visa (Local) - $750 link (includes tandem roof attachment)
- Santana Arriva (Local) - $800 link
- CoMotion Unknown Model (Local) - $1,500 link
- Cannondale Unknown Model (4hr drive) - $400 link
- Santana Unknown Model (3hr drive) - $600 link (includes tandem roof attachment)
It would be greatly appreciated if none of these tandems were bought out from underneath us without at least a heads up

I have read several times on this forum that fit and comfort are basically the most important factors in choosing a tandem, which makes total sense. That's why I prioritized every tandem that is local to me and my wife, so we can give them all test rides. However, if we assumed that all of these tandems fit us (unlikely), which options seem like they fit our needs/desires the most? It would really help to gain some understanding of the pros/cons of various models as it relates to our goals. Many of these tandems have been listed for several months which could make for decent negotiations too.

Currently I have a soft spot for the Santana Sovereign at the top of the list.
- Pros: It looks like super clean bike, well taken care of, the color is pretty nice, looks like it has the thicker 1-1/4" threadless fork, comes with a rear rack, I have read good things about the aluminum Sovereign frame on this forum, and the price seems to be pretty fair from what I've seen. Although I would still try to negotiate to $1k or so if possible.
- Cons: I am not sure how well the Medium frame will fit me and my wife. The current owner said he is 6'2" and his wife is 5'2" (exact same as us - I did not tell him that ahead of time) and he had to add the bullhorn bars to get a bit more stack height to feel comfortable. I much prefer drop bars, which he is very willing to install prior to our test ride, which is kind of him. If the test ride proves that it feels a little too small with the drop bars still, what else could be done? Buy a longer stem (hard to source due to the 1-1/4" spec). Overall, I'm a pretty big fan of this particular bike and many users on this forum rave about their aluminum Sovereigns.

Next up would be the Santana Visa, also local.
- Pros: Very nice color, well taken care of, looks like it has the thicker 1-1/4" threadless fork, comes with a roof rack, comes with a rear rack,
- Cons: Again, I am concerned about fit. The owner couldn't tell me the official frame size, but said he and his wife are both 5'8". Which would mean my wife's seat would likely go down, and my seat would likely have to come up. Looking at the current configuration of the bike, I'm not sure if that will work out. But they are willing to let us test ride it, which is great. I have also read many people in favor of Santana steel frames, and many people totally against them. The only way to make a decision for ourselves is to test ride some bikes I suppose.

The Cannondale is also pretty appealing:
- Pros: Some people on this forum love the stiffness of the frame, looks like it comes with a Brooks saddle (big fan), has the Arai drum brake, and the price is incredible!
- Cons: It's not local and would be a risk to drive 4 hours away only to learn that we don't like the way it rides / fits. It's a L/S model, which seems appropriate for myself and my wife, but there's no telling without a test ride.

Sorry for the super long post. If anybody has thoughts or opinions about these various tandems, I would love to hear it! Especially if you have experience riding the models shown and can compare one to another. I am still learning a lot about tandems through this forum and am excited to jump on board!

Thank you!
~ Jake