Good starter tandem??? Opinons please!
03-17-07, 10:55 AM
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Good starter tandem??? Opinons please!
I want to get a starter tandem for the wife and I. We live in Germany, and would do most of our touring on flat river trail and bike paths. Would this tandem be a good one to grab. There is another available on ebay, but this one is really close to my house, so really easy to pick up as well. Please let me hear your thoughts on this bike or other thoughts as well.
https://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=260096507888
I should also mention I have lots of touring experience, and also quite a bit of bike wrenching experience as well. I want a tandem to make touring with my wife more enjoyable. She isn't nearly as strong on a bike as I am. Longer touring, I'll probably use my bob yak to haul our stuff.
https://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=260096507888
I should also mention I have lots of touring experience, and also quite a bit of bike wrenching experience as well. I want a tandem to make touring with my wife more enjoyable. She isn't nearly as strong on a bike as I am. Longer touring, I'll probably use my bob yak to haul our stuff.
Last edited by becnal; 04-10-07 at 01:29 AM.
03-17-07, 11:18 AM
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For the type of riding you're describing, it would probably be adequate after giving it a good going-over, i.e., cleaning, regreasing the bearings, and fitting touring tires. The price @ 81 Euros seems about right.
Mind you, it is what it is... an older frame with vintage Shimano 6 speed components. However, that said, we know of a few couples and one in particular in their late 50's / early 60's who can easily out pace many younger couples on $7,000 (USD) racing tandems riding their 18 year old 26" Fisher Gemini with 7 speed gearing.
Mind you, it is what it is... an older frame with vintage Shimano 6 speed components. However, that said, we know of a few couples and one in particular in their late 50's / early 60's who can easily out pace many younger couples on $7,000 (USD) racing tandems riding their 18 year old 26" Fisher Gemini with 7 speed gearing.
03-17-07, 08:21 PM
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For the price, you could do a lot worse.
And Hanau is practically next door to Frankfurt a/M! You'll at least get a chance to test ride it before spending those euros.
Got slight connection to Hanau, as both my sisters were forced labor there during World War II.
And Hanau is practically next door to Frankfurt a/M! You'll at least get a chance to test ride it before spending those euros.
Got slight connection to Hanau, as both my sisters were forced labor there during World War II.
03-18-07, 09:36 PM
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Originally Posted by becnal
I want to get a starter tandem for the wife and I. We live in Germany, and would do most of our touring on flat river trail and bike paths. Would this tandem be a good one to grab. There is another available on ebay, but this one is really close to my house, so really easy to pick up as well. Please let me hear your thoughts on this bike or other thoughts as well.
https://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=260096507888
I should also mention I have lots of touring experience, and also quite a bit of bike wrenching experience as well. I want a tandem to make touring qith my wife more enjoyable. She isn't nearly as strong on a bike as I am. Longer touring, I'll probably use my bob yak to haul our stuff.
https://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=260096507888
I should also mention I have lots of touring experience, and also quite a bit of bike wrenching experience as well. I want a tandem to make touring qith my wife more enjoyable. She isn't nearly as strong on a bike as I am. Longer touring, I'll probably use my bob yak to haul our stuff.
We've added a bit to it, but its a great bike and a really good price. We paid just under $700 for the bike itself.
03-19-07, 02:34 AM
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Nice bike, but I'm hoping to spend faaaaaaaar less on my starter tandem. I won't go above 200.
Last edited by becnal; 03-19-07 at 06:01 AM.
03-20-07, 08:33 AM
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Well, I won it, and only for 170. I'm gonna go pick it up later today! Yay!
03-22-07, 01:20 AM
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Well, I own that tandem on ebay. €170 and I got myself a birthday present. I'll go pick it up on Sunday. Yay!!!
03-22-07, 07:48 AM
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Originally Posted by FoC
For our first tandem, and most likely the last since we intend on keeping this wonderful bike till we die, we got a Diamondback Wildwood.
We've added a bit to it, but its a great bike and a really good price. We paid just under $700 for the bike itself.
We've added a bit to it, but its a great bike and a really good price. We paid just under $700 for the bike itself.
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3663045
03-23-07, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Ben There
The same bike, with different paint and tires is $248 at walmart.
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3663045
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3663045
No adjustable bottom bracket, idler on the timing chain instead, Shimano Revo shifters (bottom of the line twist shifters) instead of rapid fire thumb shifters, probably cheaper brakes, cheaper cranks/rings and probably cheaper wheels.
03-25-07, 10:13 AM
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I won the tandem, and we picked it up today and rode it home. Wow!!! It's so nice!!! Should have done this long ago!!!
03-25-07, 11:06 AM
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Anybody can make something cheaper . . . Wallmart is a great example.
Quality lasts . . .
Quality lasts . . .
03-25-07, 12:43 PM
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Yes, but I didn't want to spend a thousand dollars to find out if my wife likes tandem riding. This Romani is good quality.
03-26-07, 01:10 AM
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Originally Posted by lancerob
Where's the pic man? 
Good point. The link at the top of the thread has the ebay photos, but I need to get out today and take some of my own shots with my new Green Monster. Hmmmm,maybe I should name it the Gila Monster or the Komodo Dragon. Maybe just the Dragon.
03-26-07, 07:43 PM
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heres one at walmart for $200
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4745116
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4745116
03-26-07, 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Ben There
The same bike, with different paint and tires is $248 at walmart.
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3663045
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3663045
Ive compared ours to the walmart cheapee's and I can assure you that the construction on ours is MUCH better...which was the sole factor in NOT spending less then $600.
03-26-07, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Jinker
Don't jump the gun there, same bike FRAME is at walmart.
No adjustable bottom bracket, idler on the timing chain instead, Shimano Revo shifters (bottom of the line twist shifters) instead of rapid fire thumb shifters, probably cheaper brakes, cheaper cranks/rings and probably cheaper wheels.
No adjustable bottom bracket, idler on the timing chain instead, Shimano Revo shifters (bottom of the line twist shifters) instead of rapid fire thumb shifters, probably cheaper brakes, cheaper cranks/rings and probably cheaper wheels.
The parts on our tandem arent top-0-the-line, but its 100 times better than the parts on the Walmart tandem. Plus if you get to looking at them closely there are pretty noticable differences in the Diamondback frame. Just because they are shaped similarly doesnt make them the 'same'...of course we all knew that
Just looking at the neck of the walmart bike one could tell immediately that its cheaper.
