kens@weitek.UUCP (Ken Stanley) (02/26/86)
My friend and I are considering buying a better tandem. We currently have a cheap, heavy (60+ lbs.), slow and ackward schwinn twinn. We have tried the Santana tandems, at least the two models which are priced at $2000 or less. What other brands should we consider? We don't want to spend more than $2000, and prefer the $1200 - $1500 range.
marcum@sun.uucp (Alan Marcum) (02/26/86)
In article <382@weitek.UUCP>, kens@weitek (Ken Stanley) writes: > My friend and I are considering buying a better tandem. We currently > have a cheap, heavy (60+ lbs.), slow and ackward schwinn twinn. We > have tried the Santana tandems, at least the two models which are > priced at $2000 or less. What other brands should we consider? We > don't want to spend more than $2000, and prefer the $1200 - $1500 > range. I have a Motobecane tandem, ~5+ years old. I'm unsure whether they still build a tandem or not; regardless, the experience may prove useful. The Motobecane came with, well, "modest" components. I regeared it (half- step plus granny), to get a reasonable climbing gear or few. New wheels (48-spoke cross-5 on Phil hubs), an Arai external drum brake, good sadles (Ideal front and rear women's touring rear), handlebar tip shifters, Huret Duopar rear and Simplex triple front derailleurs. The key is that for about $1000 or 1100 then, we had a reasonable tandem. The Motobecane frame isn't among the great tandem frames -- it's a diamond- mixte frame, and is a bit whippy under stress. I think the whole thing, minus racks, weighs in at around 50-55 pounds (though I've never weighed it). Ken, I notice you're in the Bay Area. Check out The Wheelsmith in Palo Alto, and Bicycle Outfitter in Los Altos. I bought my tandem at Bicycle Outfitter (and a few other bikes -- I've been pleased each time); they usually have a good selection of tandems, and good information. Wheelsmith had a La Jeune tandem, if I recall the name, when I was looking; I probably would have bought that one, but I stumbled into a sale at Bicycle Outfitter.... I've noticed that Santana has a new model in the ~$1500 range you might want to check out. I recall being very impressed with what they have done in that price range. -- Alan M. Marcum Sun Microsystems, Technical Consulting ...!{dual,ihnp4}!sun!nescorna!marcum Mountain View, California