Radical tandem
 

Flipping through some old pics, I came across this one I took of a rather unique tandem I came upon in Grado, Italy, back in ‘12:


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5791af9d.jpeg

I don’t know anything about it, but I’d never seen one like it before, and not seen one like it since, so I’m just sharing it as a matter of curiosity for those with interest in such things.

That's fascinating - and addresses what I imagine is one of the biggest PITAs of a tandem - the length. I wonder how being perched behind the rear wheel affects handling, and I can't even imagine how the drivetrain works.
EDIT: fell into the "Google Compact Tandem" rabbit hole - found this, which looks similar.

Nice find!

I wonder what the ride quality must be like perched atop the rear wheel like that?

I’m not really much of an experienced tandem rider, but seems like that much weight aft of the rear axle would creat some dicey steering and control issues.

Dan

even with an adult in front, and a child in back,
that design would not handle or ride well

That rear hub will be a long term 'project' if it needs to be replaced

Tandem wheelie bike hell yeah! Sketchy til' ya die : )

Looks like a good bike for picking up or dropping off the second rider on your way to your final destination; like taking the kiddo to school on your way to work, or dropping the S/O off at the office on your way to run errands.

Makes sense in the city, where you’d be riding solo as often as two-up, and doesn’t take much more room to store than a regular bike.

I dig it, but I’d like to have a dealer close by, or a spare rear wheel

If this project had included tandems...

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...64cc25e2f9.jpg