CapTandem

Just noticed this factory closeout. $599.00 tandems for $399.99 from the manufacturer. Upright seating, 26x2.00" ATB tires, cantilever brakes, 21 speed shimano SIS Index shifting, alloy rims, quick release front hub, dual water bottle braze-ons.

https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...ml/page18.html

I have no knowledge of how much these things weigh or if they are useful for anything beyond a ride on the boardwalk or around the neighborhood, so do your own research first.

It's just that I have read so many requests from tandem wantabees looking for something inexpensive that I thought I would post this as an alternative.

As far as what we did, Hemigirl and I wanted to do more than ride around the neighborhood, so we spent the money for a 2007 Cannondale with disc brakes and put 2K miles on it in the first year.

Worksman bicycles, according to NPR, is the oldest continuous manufacturer of bicycles in the U.S.A. by virtue of making bulletproof industrial grade bicycles. Think factory three wheelers and good humor ice cream trikes (if your old enough to remember!).

The LBS that rented us a tandem in need of service for our first tandem experience -the rear wheel started breaking spokes when we were ten miles from the trailhead -might consider buying one of these to rent out instead!

Standalone 

I'll bet it's of better quality than the Tango that my wife and I have. But the Tango sure is a looker!

Our schwinn has 7 speeds, which is great for putting our kids in the trailer and tooling around on the boardwalk.

zonatandem

Compared to the Schwinn Tango, I'd take a Worksman tandem anytime.
While the Tango has some glitz, the Worksman will do more than get you around the block without the pedal coming apart.
When Tango first cameout, helped out a couple in Duluth that had just spent some $$ on a shiny red Tango. They were stopped by the roadside less than a mile from their Schwinn dealer; offered to help . . . stoker's pedal had actually fallen apart and was just pressed together . . . + they were having shifting issues too; can you say 'cheap'?
Suggested to the folks to limp back to the bike shop and get a refund.

moleman76

We have a Worksman folding bike (purchased used for about $100).

I'm pretty sure it outweighs the LeMond Tandem by 5 or 10 pounds.

Very study. I do believe, however, that Worksman equates heft with ultimate durability. If the $399.99 price includes shipping, it's not a bad deal for what it is. You may need help getting it off of the ground to put on a car rack or into a minivan or pickup truck.

Standalone 

My main complaint about the tango is that the clamps that hold the satpost up are incredibly cheap. I can feel my seat turning slightly if my wife pushes too hard on one side of her handlebars.

One wheel is already bent, without ever really taking a hard bump.

But it is a perfect match for her beloved vintage red schwinn, so it made for a nice Christmas gift last year.

I bet they're about equal in weight, too.

zonatandem

You may need a shim for that wiggly seatpost.
Make one out of an alu pop/beer can and see if that helps.

rhm

Yeah, this post made me smile. I have an older (I don't know how old) Worksman LGB (it's like a cycletruck) and though it's cool, it is awesomely heavy and does not ride particularly well. Of all the bikes I have --including folding bikes, a Counterpoint tandem, a touring bike, a Moulton Stowaway, etc.-- the Worksman is the flexiest. There's a lot of steel in it, but it doesn't seem to be particularly good steel (it feels like cast iron).

I like Worksman, because they're made right here in NYC, because they're a small niche-market manufacturer, because they've been around for so long, because they make some cool products, and so on... but what you're paying for is NYC wages, high overhead, and low volume. You're not getting high quality materials, modern designs, or fine craftsmanship. I'm afraid the same bike made in a place where labor is cheap, and where they make enough bikes that you can benefit from the economy of scale, would cost about $149 plus shipping.

CapTandem

I suggest that you should have those spokes tensioned and the wheel straightened.

I'm speaking from experience. I didn't have a clue about watching that detail. My single bike took a lot of abuse from me, and never developed wheel problems. Tandems are another thing because they carry twice the weight.

It appears that our tandem wheels were not tensioned evenly and to specification from the factory. As we rode, the spokes started to loosen unevenly, so that the wheel started to bend. Took a truing stand to be able to see it, but it was upsetting to find on a one year old C'dale.