How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

DIscuss anything relating to non-standard cycles and their equipment.
Tangled Metal
Posts: 9505
Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 8:32pm

How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by Tangled Metal »

That's basically the question. I'm saving my pennies for a recumbent. New or secondhand I'm not sure which. I need good touring capability so 4 panniers plus. I'm quite tall but not heavy for my size.

I'm guessing racks, guards, mirrors, somewhere to mount computer and lights. What else?

How much does it all add up for reasonable quality secondhand and new? How much should I save up before I start looking seriously?
User avatar
[XAP]Bob
Posts: 19793
Joined: 26 Sep 2008, 4:12pm

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by [XAP]Bob »

Are you looking for two wheels or three?
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
yakdiver
Posts: 1466
Joined: 12 Jul 2007, 2:54pm
Location: North Baddesley Hampshire

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by yakdiver »

I bought a new KMX Cobra + mudguards, rack =£1338 then went on to spend another £350 on extras. Your question is how long is a piece of string to some the sky in the limit.
User avatar
squeaker
Posts: 4112
Joined: 12 Jan 2007, 11:43pm
Location: Sussex

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by squeaker »

This old, but lightly used, example of a classic touring 'bent (SM GT) went for £770 on fleabay last year. Just add lights and off you go ;) (Bit a trip to collect it though :lol: )

And, for a trek in the other direction, this nice Grasshopper could have been yours for £1100 or so - would need lights + underseat rack for the extra panniers, but personally I would use a rack bag, panniers and banana bags to load up.

It's all a matter of timing ;)
"42"
User avatar
NUKe
Posts: 4161
Joined: 23 Apr 2007, 11:07pm
Location: Suffolk

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by NUKe »

For 2 wheelers

About 2000 - 2500 and then upward new I'd say as a starting point. 800 to 1500 second hand, depending upon spec and age you could pay more. Also don't forget if you buy second hand you may need a consumables budget for tyres chains etc. As no one replaces them on something they are going to sell.

EBay is a good source of what you can expect to pay second hand.

http://www.bikefix.co.uk
http://www.laid-back-bikes.scot/page4/page4.html

Bikefix has a configurator for HP Velotechnik machines(these tend to be on the high side as they are over spec machines), challenge and Azub(Origami only). .
Laidback has prices for Bacchetta and Nazca.

If you want some good reviews Dave McGraw is excellent
http://mccraw.co.uk/
D-Tek Kevin is great to talk to and his half day try out sessions are superb if you don't know what you want.
NUKe
_____________________________________
User avatar
squeaker
Posts: 4112
Joined: 12 Jan 2007, 11:43pm
Location: Sussex

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by squeaker »

NUKe wrote:... for HP Velotechnik machines(these tend to be on the high side as they are over spec machines)
Or built to last? :wink:
"42"
Tangled Metal
Posts: 9505
Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 8:32pm

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by Tangled Metal »

Secondhand it is then. £2000-2500 for new, is that with all you really need for touring?

Banana bags cost a lot and hang from the seat so don't need mid rack I think. Radical do them don't they for a couple of hundred IIRC.
UpWrong
Posts: 2409
Joined: 31 May 2009, 12:16pm
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by UpWrong »

Might be worth asking if this is still avialable, https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/street-machine-recumbent-for-sale.223044/
UpWrong
Posts: 2409
Joined: 31 May 2009, 12:16pm
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by UpWrong »

squeaker wrote:
NUKe wrote:... for HP Velotechnik machines(these tend to be on the high side as they are over spec machines)
Or built to last? :wink:

Yes, HPV are pretty competitive when you look at the options and they are well engineered with good customer service. For example, Azub and Stein Trikes used to be cheaper but they aren't anymore.
User avatar
NUKe
Posts: 4161
Joined: 23 Apr 2007, 11:07pm
Location: Suffolk

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by NUKe »

Tangled Metal wrote:Secondhand it is then. £2000-2500 for new, is that with all you really need for touring?

Banana bags cost a lot and hang from the seat so don't need mid rack I think. Radical do them don't they for a couple of hundred IIRC.

IF you only selected Racks on a Street machine as the only extra then the total cost would be 2400 , If you want banana/ moonbags you bust the budget, a different recumbent might work out better.

Dependent on the recumbent you don't need banana bags . for instance on my Grasshopper I can use four panniers 2 large and 2 small( under seat). It not quite as aero as banana bags. Another way of Configuring this is to use the medium banana bags don't need a rack.

I would say if you can find what you want second hand makes sense, many recumbents Don't have hard lives, but what you want can take a while to find. It took me about 6 months to find a Grasshopper, I had almost given up and decided to buy something else when Kevin got one in.
Last edited by NUKe on 15 Jan 2018, 4:40pm, edited 1 time in total.
NUKe
_____________________________________
User avatar
pjclinch
Posts: 5469
Joined: 29 Oct 2007, 2:32pm
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Contact:

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by pjclinch »

My wife's Nazca Fiero Tour has a good rear rack but no lowrider rack, so she uses Radical banana bags for loaded touring.

Image

My Streetmachine GT has rear and lowrider racks, and takes 4 panniers.

Image

The banana bags certainly look better (the Fiero is a good looking bike IMHO, but actually looks better with the bags on) and spread the load well as they hang off the seat as well as the rack (you can use them with a seat only, but I think they work better with at least some rack to rest against). On the downside, they're a bit of a faff on and off so in practice they're left on the bike empty while mine go on and off at stops. Also, they don't underload very gracefully compared to "normal" panniers so while they're great if you need a lot of space, they're not so good if you only want a little (on a day trip, say). So I'd suggest banana bags if you can't use a lowrider rack, but stick to normal panniers (which I guess you may well have anyway) if you can add a lowrider.

The lowrider rack on a Streetmachine is very good as it's sited so if you put heavy stuff in the lowriders the only effect on handling is gluing you to the road better. if you're used to fork-mounted lowriders on a traditional tourer I'd be very surprised if you're not favourably impressed with the difference. The Grasshopper has things a bit further back to account for being a little lower so not such an ideal position, but it still seems to work well enough.

Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
UpWrong
Posts: 2409
Joined: 31 May 2009, 12:16pm
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by UpWrong »

I like the look of the Fiero. I might try putting a 20" wheel on the rear of my Paseo (and alter the suspension anchor point to adjust the headtube angle). I'm finding it quite a stretch to get my leg over the Paseo.
Tangled Metal
Posts: 9505
Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 8:32pm

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by Tangled Metal »

Seen the streetmachine GT for £500ish linked to earlier. It's the old design using cromoly instead of aluminium alloy in the current GTe model. It's about 2.5 hours drive each way to take a look.

What's your views on it from the post that's linked to? Worth a first recumbent punt?

I assume I can buy a lowrider rack for it, are such racks make/model specific?
User avatar
squeaker
Posts: 4112
Joined: 12 Jan 2007, 11:43pm
Location: Sussex

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by squeaker »

Tangled Metal wrote:I assume I can buy a lowrider rack for it, are such racks make/model specific?
Yes: very much so, so not inexpensive ;)
"42"
UpWrong
Posts: 2409
Joined: 31 May 2009, 12:16pm
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

Re: How much to get a fully kitted touring / commuting recumbent?

Post by UpWrong »

Underseat steering may or may not be to your taste. Another reason to try before you buy.
Post Reply