Schwalbe Durano Tires

Note: Photos of My Schwalbe Durano Tires Below

This is less of a review and more of a preview as I have not ridden these tires.  I just purchased  the Schwalbe Durano's to replace my Specialized Fatboys.  I considered the Continental Ultra Gatorskins, the Specialized All Condition II Pro's, and Michelin WildRun'R Advance.

Why Durano?  Well for starters Schwalbe seems to have a great reputation in the Recumbent World.  I read as many reviews as I could find on 559 Slicks.  Over and over Schwalbe kept coming up.  Continental had only the one option in a lightweight slick with puncture protection.  Unfortunately in the 559 size the Ultra Gator Skins are only available in wire bead.  I read way too many reviews of how hard the Ultra Gator Skins are to mount and how stiff they ride.  The Michelin WildRun'R Advance is new for 2010 so there were virtually no reviews. Michelin also provides very little information on the tire - I suppose they expect you to buy into their Brand Identity.  Plus at this time they appear to only be available in France. And while I've had a decent experience with Specialize Tires in the past I've never had a set last very long.  They seem to start falling apart around 1,000 miles.  There were plenty of online reviews to support this observation.

So after evaluation this left the Schwalbe Kojak and the Schwalbe Durano. I chose the 559 28 (26x 1 1/8) folding tire because of the weight and claims of durability.  Schwalbe states that in circumstances where the tires are not under load and ridden normally you may get up to 6,500 miles!  (This is stated right on the Schwalbe Site). So I figured if I was going to spend $45 on a tire it might as well last!  Plus the tires are only 260 grams so I can still run liners and be light enough for the style of riding I do. I dread flats as it is such a pain to change flat tube out on the road.  I read some great things about the Kojak, but I wanted to go with a narrower tire without a wire bead at a higher PSI to get the rolling resistance down a bit. The trade off will probably be a bit harsher ride, but my bike is suspended and I have a very thick foam seat cushion so I believe it will work out well for me.  If I had a non-suspended bike I would have bought the Kojak's.

The only downside to my purchase is that I had to order the Schwalbe Durano tires online and wait about a week for the tires to show up. I visited about a half dozen local bike shops and none of them had Schwalbe.  Everyone was pushing Continental or Specialized.

When my tires arrived they were stamped Made in Indonesia. While Schwalbe is a German Company like most companies they take advantage of low labor rates in Asian Countries.  I have posted a video in the Parts Section about how Schwalbe Tires are made.

My first impression upon taking the tires out of the box are they are manufactred to a very high standard. The Tread itself feels about the same thickness as the Specialized Fatboy's they replace. The materials in the Durano Tires just feel different, they feel "softer".  One thing I noticed is that after mouting on my bike and spinning the tires they seem to be very true!  I hope this helps any of you looking for 26" 559 tires for your recumbent. I'll probably add a bit more informaiton as I begin to pile up miles!

----------------------------------------------- Update -----------------------------------------------------

I've had a chance to put a few miles on the Duranos now.  In comparison to the Fatboys they don't ride as smoothly, but it's pretty close.  I don't know how much better the ride would be with a 1.35 version.  The added PSI 115/8 Bar doesn't seem to make them roll any better than the Fatboys. Because of the narrower profile and the higher PSI I had hoped for a little less rolling resistance.

The Duranos  are more "sticky" than the Fatboys and in my opinion grip the road better and corner better. They feel very solid underneath me and I'm not afraid to corner.  I have not tired them on wet pavement as I don't like to ride in the rain.

As far as speed goes I haven't really taken a hit per se... seem to ride about the same speed. It's pretty subjective at this point as there was a lot of wind today on my usual route and as you know when you are riding in wind it seems to be into a headwind both ways!  Actually lots of gusty crosswinds today made it hard for me to get up to my usual speeds.  So while not disappointed with the speed, but I had hoped to pick up maybe 1-2mph.

So should you buy the Schwalbe Durano or the Kojak? That's a tough one to answer.  In 559 the Kojak are only available in wire bead.  They weigh an additional 35 grams, but I would bet they do roll better. But I doubt the will last nearly as long and they are about the same price.

FYI:  I'm running tire liners in the Duranos right now.  Kind of self defeating one might suggest to run such a light tire with a liner.  I considered the Durano Plus but then I wouldn't have the option to pull the liner.

It's 6's really.  I'd bet the Durano is a great Trike Tire as it is grippy and offers a better than expected ride.

Update 2: I now have about 900 miles on the Durano Tires and they look almost brand new.  The sidewall is supple and the tread hardly worn.  At this same point (900 miles) the sidewalls on the Fatboy Tires were starting to separate and small chunks or holes were forming in places on the tread.  Durano really does appear to be a durable tire!

Schwalbe Durano Package

Schwalbe Durano Tire Mounted on Rim

Durano Tread Pattern

Schwalbe Durano Tread Pattern Close Up

Take the Pain out of Mounting Bicycle Tires with the Tire Bead Jack

The Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack is an amazingly simple idea put into practice. This is one of those tools that you use once then wonder why you did buy it years ago! I was really amazed at just how easy tires are to mount with the Tire Bead Jack.

Get one and save your thumbs. All you do is mount the tire normally, then when you get to the last few inches you place the tool on the backside of the rim, reach the claw over the top of the tire and with a short pull back towards you the tire slides up and over the rim. And no more pinch flats as the tube doesn't get caught under the tire bead!

The best part is this tool retails for less than $15! I couldn't find one locally so I ordered it online. If your local bike shop has one... buy it. If not just pick it up online. This is one tool you won't be sorry you bought. Plus it's light enough to just throw in your bag and take with you on the road.

Tip:  Costco Sells Nitrile  Gloves in boxes of 100 for about $10.  These weigh almost nothing.  Take a few with you on the road.  When you need to replace a tire or work on your chain you don't end up with grease all over your fingers.

My Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack

Who Makes Recumbent Bikes?

Mistral Recumbent Bike (Mfg. Challenge Bikes)

For Recumbent Trikes use the "Trikes" Tab or this link >>> Recumbent Trikes

For many the quest to discover what's out there will lead directly to recumbent bicycle manufacturer's sites. Bicycle dealers with experience and broad lines can be few and far between for those of us not fortunate enough to live in the few hotbeds of Recumbent Bike activity.

Want to know what that bike weighs? Convert Grams to Pounds with this Bicycle weight conversion tool.

Recumbent Bike Manufacturers

If you visit a page on our site that is not in your Native Language please visit Google Translate and paste in the URL so you can read the material offered.

*Click this Link to use Google Translate

This is a pretty complete list of recumbent bike manufactures, however if you know of additional companies and would like us to list them here please send us the URL (Unfortunately not every company has a website).

• Actionbent Recumbent Bike - Direct marketer of recumbent bicycles (No Dealer Base). Bikes are imported from china. Company WAS located in Redmond, Washington (A suburb of Seattle). Apparently these guys are gone, which just goes to show that quality really does speak volumes.  When people are looking for a Recumbent Bike they want something that contains quality components from SRAM and Shimano.  I've never been a fan of Chinese Bicycles because they simply don't take the time to truly engineer products to specifications that result in smooth trouble free operation.

• Azub Bike - This is the English version of the site. Azub is a Czech Republic manufacturer with dealers in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Nederland, Belgium, France, Finland and Australia. You may be able to order direct as well, but if you don't know what you are doing this could be a problem as there are import tariffs and restrictions to deal with (Not to mention the cost).

• Bachetta Recumbent Bikes - Known for their Hi-Racers, Giro (26/20 - 406/559), Basso Ti (26/20 - 406/559), Strada (Dual 650c), Corsa (Dual 650c), and Aero Ti (Dual 650c) which is now the CarbonAero. Doesn't appear to be any color choices other than the manufacturers stock color selections. Probably the best looking American bikes although the frames are still manufactured overseas. Would like to see an aluminum option, but the CarbonAero is pretty nice looking. Sells though dealers. St. Petersburg, FL.

• Barcroft Bicycles - Direct marketer known for their Dakota and Virginia Models. As of September 1, 2009, Barcroft is owned by Dana Lieberman, owner of Bent Up Cycles, the best recumbent dealership on the west coast. In addition, Dana manufactures the famous Carbent carbon fiber recumbent bike. Please visit our Dealers page to contact Bent Up Cycles.

• Bent Up Cycles - Dealer & Distributor for several lines. I list them here because Carbent is using them as their sole distributor. Based in Los Angeles, CA.

• Burley Bicycles - (Only Makes Trailers and Accessories). Here is the scoop for now... The "Cooperative" was dissolved to form a Corporation, which was sold to an individual who thinks that Trailers are the way to go. Eugene, Oregon.

• Carbent - (Currently being sold only through Bent Up Cycles). Super light weight carbon fiber - sub 20lbs. I had the opportunity to test ride this bicycle and I want one! Due to neck problems and my Doctors advise it doesn't look like this will be happening for me, but anyone with a healthy neck that really wants to go fast should consider this bike. Carbent bicycles really are under 20lbs! It's an amazing performance machine. If you want one order early because once the word is out it will be interesting to see if production can keep up with demand.

• Carbon Recumbent - Manufacturers lightweight carbon recumbent bicycles in Hungary for export around the world. Bicycles can be specified with the components of your choosing. Offers a unique model called the rain rider which has a full removable fairing to keep you out of the rain while riding and also offers rear suspension. This may just be your ticket to fun winter riding in rainy climates! I've talked with one of their principals and these guys have real manufacturing expertise and are committed to breaking into the USA market. Click the British Flag icon on the upper right side of page to view in English.

• Challenge-Ligfiestsen Bikes - HELLO AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS - take a look. These bikes are AWESOME looking. Pieces of Art! Why isn't there an American manufacturer designing bikes with these aesthetics. This site is a MUST VISIT. Simply beautiful. Sure it matters how a bike performs, but it also matters why they look like. A "10" for style! NETHERLANDS. If the link doesn't work you can also use www.challengebikes.com.

• CruzBike - A unique concept for a mainstream recumbent in that the drive power is sent to the front wheels. All CruzBike models feature dual suspension with an emphasis on both performance in their class and comfort for the rider.

• Cycle Genius - Looking for a fun, easy to ride and dare I say "affordable" Recumbent? This may well be your ticket. Don't make the mistake I did and jump right into the most expensive highly hyped bicycle out there (Unless you are an experienced rider, with plenty of $ to throw around). Some recumbent bicycles have a pretty steep learning curve and awkward riding position. These bikes look easy to ride. Definitely put them on your list.

• Easy Racers LWB Bicycles - Makers of a line of fast beloved LWB Recumbent bicycles. Owned by Gardner Martin (A "legend" in the recumbent Industry) these bikes have a loyal following of very satisfied customers. Easy Racers has a history of "wins" that goes back for more than a decade in Human Powered Vehicle Racing. Freedom, CA.

• Edge Recumbent Bicycles - Made in Tennessee, USA.  Edge states  "In 2008 we acquired the inventory, tooling and model names from a well known recumbent manufacturer in the Pacific Northwest."  So if you remember the Burley bikes it appears these are newer versions of the Burley designs which is a good thing... Burley made some nice affordable bikes. These bikes are clearly spec'd to meet a price point, hopefully Edge will make a frame kit option for people who want to lighten the load.

• Flevobike - Flevobike is a Nederlands based manufacturer that offers some very interesting and innovative model. Take for example their "Green Machine" which is the only Recumbent I've ever seen that features a fully enclosed drive train using the Rohloff Speed-hub. Their Orca velomobile is another interesting HPV ideally suited to long flat terrain.

• HP Velotechnik -Okay so maybe I'm biased. The Germans build beautiful cars and beautiful bikes. Maybe they are the best in the world, maybe they aren't. Beauty if subjective. But to my eyes these bikes have Style! Starting with the "Spirit", "Street Machine", "Speed Machine", stunning "Grasshopper", and affordable "Wavey". Yeah they may be a little heavy, they may not even be the fastest in their class, but if style and comfort are big on your agenda, then this is a "must visit". Sells through a limited worldwide dealer network. Germany.

• Ligfiets Plaza - Mfg. List. - Dutch Site lists all the known manufacturers in the Netherlands. This site is not in English.

• Lightfoot Cycles - American made recumbent bicycles, tricycles and hpv's. Conner, Montana

• Lightning Cycle Dynamics, Inc. - Looking for a fast American made recumbent? Take a look at this line up! Lompoc, CA

• Linear Recumbent - USA manufacturer produces their own line of LWB's.

• Longbikes - Manufacturers long wheel base recumbent bikes and tandem recumbents with model names "Eliminator" and "Slipstream". Sells through a nationwide (Apparently USA Only) dealer network. Lakewood, Colorado.

• Maxarya Bikes - Good looking website, interesting looking bikes. Sells through dealer network. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

• MetaBike - Wish I could tell you more about the MetaBike.  Interesting concept that they have created frame geometry that allows this bike to be an upright high racer or to utilize a smaller 20" front wheel. If riding rough roads on a recumbent appeals to you Meta Bikes offers a configuration with what appears to be a mountain bike front shock.

• M5 Ligfietsen - Buyer Beware! My own experience with the owner "Bram" was not good to say the least. I have received emails from other very unhappy M5 owners. I don't know what else to tell you. These are good looking bikes, way heavier than they are spec'd on the website. the quality of the components is okay (You would expect a higher end component set on an expensive bike), and the frames are well built. But you can probably do a lot better. If you want a performance bent try Carbent!

Unsolicited Email Sent to me September 2008... 4 years after I bought my bike.

Hi, I live in Switzerland and ride a shock proof 559.
I just bought direct from M5 one carbon seat... The real piece of crap!
I posted information on the french user forum about recumbents www.velorizontal.bbfr.net
Here is a link to show the M5 "ultralight" carbon crap seat.
(here is the seat brand new, the first tree pictures on the first post)

http://velorizontal.bbfr.net/forum-du-matos-f7/les-nouveaux-sieges-en-carbone-m5-t6491.htm

Here the crap carbon ultrashitylight M5 seat after only 4KM¨!!!!

http://velorizontal.bbfr.net/forum-du-matos-f7/les-nouveaux-sieges-en-carbone-m5-t6491-90.htm

I received the seat with the exact same look as you can see in the photos, mountend on my sp559 and rided for 4km, than it was broken...

People should know to be very very careful with M5 products
Is better to buy a High Racer from Taiwan "http://performer.com.tw/" than M5.
I'm really pissed-off with mr.Bram

• Nazca Ligfietsen - Nazca is a Nederlands based manufacturer of Recumbent Bicycles that offering a wide selection of attractive models. These models may be too well appointed for those of you looking to ride in hilly terrain at high speed, but if cruising or touring in comfort is your game... check them out.

• Optima Cycles - Why are so many great looking bikes coming out of the Netherlands? Who knows? But hopefully others will follow suit. Models include "Baron", "Cobra", "Condor", "Dolphin", "Dragon", "Hopper", "Lynxx", "Orca", "Rider" and "Stinger". Netherlands.

• Oracle Cycle Works - Located in Whitby Ontario, Canada. Looks like they have shifted their business model from manufacturer/retailer to manufacturer only.

• Rainbow Ligfietsen - Nederlands based manufacturer offers four models of under seat steering Recumbent Bicycles.

• Rans Bikes - One of the better known American Manufactures featuring popular models like the V-Rex and Velocity 2. Hays, Kansas.

• RaptoBike - Created by a Dutch Company as a startup in January 2006.  Offering Front Wheel Drive low and mid racer recumbent bicycles.

• Sinner Ligfietsen - Nederlands based manufacturer offers several models of Recumbent Bicycles and their Mango Velomobile.

• Slyway - Good looking bikes manufactured in Italy.

• TerraCycle - Part Manufacturer, part dealer. Makes their own line of hand crafted bicycles and parts. Resells parts and accessories for other brands. Portland, OR.

• Toxy Recumbent Bicycles - I don't know why the German & Netherlands manufacturers seem to have such a good handle on the "curb appeal" factor, but they do. Another case in point. Germany.

• Troytech Speed Bikes Recumbent Bicycles - So you have a little or a lot of extra cash burning a hole in your designer pocket?  Want to own (Arguably) the coolest looking bike on your block, your neighborhood, your city... maybe even your State?  Then the Torytech Speed Bike is exactly what you are looking to own!  You just have to see for yourself. Munich Germany.  Use Google Translate to read in English or other language.

• TW Bents - Taiwan manufacturer. Somewhat dated site, who knows if the products are kept up to date? The "Amigo", "Focus", and "Middleracer" bents look like a plush ride and have an interesting neck/head support.

• Varna Hand Cycles - Canadian Manufacturer (British Columbia) offers a variety of interesting bicycles focusing on a line of "Hand Cycles". I don't know if these are truly bents, but this site is definitely worth the visit if only to learn about the different cycling alternatives.

• Velocraft - Carbon Fiber Recumbents. If you want light weight and low to the ground racers you may just need to find (or travel to) a dealer near you. The VK3 looks like the kind of bike an affluent bent enthusiast would like to have in their stable. And you could probably ride this one on the street.

• Volae Recumbents - Volae, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hostel Shoppe - Bikes are built to design specs by Waterford Precision Cyles in Waterford, Wisconsin.

• Zephyr Ligfietsen - Nederlands based manufacturer offers an attractive low racer model.

• ZOX Recumbent Bikes - Manufactures their own line and reseller for a few other brands. Erlangen, Germany.

If you have or have not you'll still want to read more of my opinions on what might make or break this product and this company.  RideKick in my opinion is a fantastic idea and a well engineered product (on paper anyways). The concept of pushing one's bicycle brings to mind a lot of questions; first and foremost "Does it work"?  The answer to that is YES.  And here is why... the RideKick trailer connects directly to your rear wheel axle like any bicycle trailer.  So the force will be transmitted through the same mechanics as the freewheel or cassette on the opposite side of your rear wheel.  It just makes sense right?  Will it swerve or create problems in turns?  It doesn't seem to from all the reviews that I have read.  And no I don't know if it will break or tip over if you crash or tip over.  I haven't ridden one yet!

RideKick Push Trailer

So What is to Like About the RideKick?

Before I get into this further let me jump over to their site and grab the Specifications:

Dimensions:  24” wide x 39” long* x 16” tall  (60.9 cm x 99 cm x 40.6 cm)

Weight:  40 pounds with battery pack (Battery is 18lbs)

Cargo Capacity:  Rated to 75lbs

Motor:  500 watt electric brush motor

Battery Pack:  Sealed Lead Acid (SLA), 24 volt, 12 amp hour

Controller:  Microprocessor based smart controller

Hitch:  Quick Release

Speed Control:  hand-operated throttle

Maximum Speed:  19 mph  (20 mph is the legal limit in USA Federal Law)

Range:  Expected Distance 12-15 miles

Okay that's the basics you can head over to RideKick DOT COM if you want a little more detail... but lets get into what I like about this product now.  This is a commercial product manufactured (As is my understanding) in the United States.  I'm sure they use components that are sourced outside the country as well, but the bottom line is you can buy one without sending your money off to China via Paypal.

I'm sick to death of no name sites pitching Chinese CRAP via Paypal.  I'm sick of visiting Forums and having some idiot "Chime in" about how they can buy a whole electric bike kit for $200. Great if they can do that then do it and shut the hell up.  The Chinese Crap you get off eBay may or may not work, will come with instructions you probably can't read.  "For most pleasure ride connect left wire to wheel now".  What? The eBay special will have a warranty and all you have to do to get your warranty service is pay $125 Shipping back to the factory in China and then another $125 to have it returned to you! That's assuming you get the product you actually ordered after the month long wait.   Anyways enough hammering on the Chinese Crap, if you are the type of person that doesn't mind buying complete junk with the hope that it will work then more power to you!

RideKick is NOT designed for the tinkerer, it's designed for the recreational cyclist or commuter.  It's a finished product designed for people who just want to ride and enjoy their cycling experience.  I've read hundreds posts on Endless Sphere and the people there don't mind tearing things apart, soldiering, and rewiring.  They also seem to want to go 40 miles per hour on a bicycle.  I do not want to do any of those things, I just enjoy riding as recreation which is why I enjoy the recumbent community so much. What do you want to do?  If you are the Endless Sphere type then the RideKick is probably not for you.

I would also like to touch on the constant belittling by the Lance Armstrong wannabees that say "Why would you want an electric motor on your bike if that's what you want then get a scooter".  Well here is exactly why and I'll give you an example.  My loop is 18 miles and it's part city street and part bike path and has some wicked hills.  At the end of my loop is a 1.5 mile climb at 3-5 %.  I live in the Desert Southwest where 80 degrees at 10am in the summer is an abnormally cool morning.  So as I head off for my like I have a fair amount of energy... 15 minutes into my ride I'm dripping buckets of sweat.  I have to stop and stand up to let the heat dissipate off of my back and rehydrate.  By the time I get to mile 16.5 and look up at that last mile and a half climb I am asking myself why I chose to ride in this heat.  And that's the time I want to push a little button and have a little device push me up that hill!

I see no glory in being Lance Armstrong.  I ride for fun.  And with an electric assist I will have a whole lot more fun and will WANT to ride more.  The human body (especially as we age) only needs 20 minutes or so of moderate exercise per day for health benefits.  Riding 18 miles takes me one hour and 15 minutes on average considering the hills.  I cruise the bike paths at about 18mph and climb hills at about 8 mph.  I do NOT need more exercise, I need more FUN!

I've looked at just about every bike kit and electric bike reseller in the United States that I can find online.  I've talked to many owners and probably frustrated them to death.  I've talked to "Reputable" dealers in China (Which is not an easy task) and that bottom line is none of them are selling a "Solution" they are selling parts.  I asked ebikes.ca which has an excellent reputation to build me a kit and they told me to just buy the Ezee Kit.  That's nice.  But I don't want a junk Chinese rim and junk spokes.  The Weinmann product may be quality in China, but I don't like it.  Nearly all of the Chinese Rims are made with junk Chinese Steel spokes (No Name) and are assembled by factory workers NOT wheel builders.  A properly tensioned and trued wheel is essential!  The Chinese Solution is to use 12 gauge spokes which will not break and you don't really true so much because they are so stiff.  But that creates it's own problems with rims and stiffness.  These are scooter wheels NOT bicycle wheels.  I do not want to ride a scooter I want a bicycle with Electric Assist.  The RideKick does not interfere with your bicycle it enhances it!  And these "Kits" add their own weight and problems for riding those times when you do not want assist.

Side Note:  If you want a decent Chinese Manufactured eBikeKit backed by a USA Company I would suggest you buy from eBikeKit (Jason).  It's the best bang for the buck, but not what I want.

Let me summarize some Benefits of the RideKick:

• Simple installation - hook it on and go
• Multiple bikes - get an extra adapter for each bicycle your ride
• Folds out of the way for storage
• USA Company so easy to acquire
• 1 Year Warranty

Lets Talk About Potential Problems with the Ridekick

I'm worried that RideKick is not gaining enough momentum in the cycling community to survive as a company.  Google Searches for the product are DISMAL... less than a 1,000 per month.  The dealer base is very small at time even though it's been less than a year since production so I expect this will improve.

SLA battery technology is KLUDGE KLUDGE KLUDGE.  And it's not the weight in this case as the trailer is going to need some weight to get traction.  It's the life cycles and the poor range.  You can't make SLA any better than it is.  I know a whole lot about SLA battery technology and a fair amount about the Lithium technologies as I have read them to death.  SLA batteries do NOT last long if you discharge them beyond 50%.  So your 12 Amp Hour battery in SLA form is really an 18lb 6 Amp Hour batter.  At 24 volts you have 24 x 6 = 144 Watt Hours.  If you are riding on the flats with no head wind and using an average of 12 Watt Hours per mile with pedaling you are going to get 12 miles before the battery dies.  That's it.  If you encounter any headwind that is going to go down, if you climb hills that is going to drop dramatically.  So the range simply is not there with SLA.  Contrast this to the soon to be released 20 Amp Hour lithium battery (Which you should be able to discharge to 20% remaining) or 16 effective Amp Hours available and your distance jumps to 32 miles with pedaling.  That's a gigantic difference.  With most people wanting to feel "safe" out to 20 miles I just don't see the SLA as a viable option.  Sure you could add another 18lbs to the equation and for people that live in areas without hills like Florida perhaps that is an option, but not a selling point for most people.

Okay so lets just figure that in order for RideKick to survive they are going to need a cost effective Lithium Solution (They know this). But what is cost effective for Lithium Technology imported to the United States?  If you use the AllCell (US Based - Chicago) model then it's probably going to be around $750 for the battery!  Will RideKick be able to do the volume to bring the battery cost down?  Will RideKick choose a cheap Chinese Manufacturer (Probably but lets hope they can warranty the batteries). Seriously if you add in the Lithium Technology required to make the RideKick a successful product you DOUBLE THE COST.  At a retail of $1,400 these become a tough sell!  So battery technology and pricing is going to make or break RideKick.

What Else Can RideKick do to Make Their Product More Saleable?

The first thing they can do is convince the masses that their product is going to LAST?  How does one do that?  Do they offer an extended warranty option?  Perhaps $50 to $75?  Do they offer motor upgrades?  Do they offer custom painted models or special edition models?  I don't know what they are going to do but here are my thoughts.

I'm not a fan of the brushed motors because I know the brushes are going to need replacement.  How many miles until they break down?  I think Ridekick needs to come clean on the life of these motors and have an option for Manufacturer servicing and refurbishment of the product.

I believe Ridekick needs to do with their controller what the Scanning Industry did with Personal Radio Scanners years ago when the FCC made it illegal to monitor certain frequencies. They built products that allowed users to source their own upgrade "crystals".  If they did that then the burden of proof was not on the manufacturer, but on the end user.

In order to stay compliant with the law RideKick must adhere with the 20 mph limit.  But this is not to say they could not "over engineer" their controller electronics to handle more power.  The controller after all should run cool!  If you read the forums on electric vehicles motors and controllers can handle more power than they are generally rated for.  RideKick should comply with the law of course, but as an end user consumer I should have an option to upgrade by battery to 36 volt and the controller should handle the additional voltage.  People want to buy products that will do what they want them to do.  There is the law of common sense that says bicycles are not motorcycles and bicycle manufacturer products to work at bicycle safe speeds. But if  you want to sell product you have to meet the entire market and in the world of electric bicycles that actually includes tinkerers and modifiers.

I personally have no desire to ride above 25mph.  I don't want to ever ride my bike at a rate that is faster than I can power it myself under ideal conditions.  And for me and my bike it's 25mph.  For others it may be faster or slower.  I also do not want to push my components at their extremes.  If 19mph is the Top Speed then I don't want to push full throttle to get there... I want to push 75% and be there.  Bottom line is I don't want to be on the bleeding edge of what it can do with no headroom.

RideKick needs an information remote at the Handlebar like the Cycle Analyst.  Stopping your bicycle and getting off your bike and going back to the trailer to check how much battery is left is a poor solution.

I believe another way for RideKick to succeed is to publish their gearing and parts used (This may seen contrary to sales) so that the tinkerers can modify the units if they want.  Sure it would void the warranty, but that is NOT RideKicks problem.  When I had my automobile motor rebuilt they used a product called a "Heat Tab". If the engine overheats the tab bursts and the warranty is void.  Controllers could be programmed or stickers used so that if modified the warranty is void.  This releases the Manufacter from warranty or liability, but gives the end user the freedom to do with the product whatever they want.  I like that idea a lot.  By publishing gearing it would be simple for an end user to source replacement parts (i.e. different size chain rings) for more torque or speed.

I'd like to see RideKick price the unit WITHOUT A BATTERY so the consumer could choose SLA or Lithium, or maybe even NiMH and not "waste" the money on the lesser technologies.

I'd like to see RideKick offer consumers a "Shell" version where they can source their own motor, controller and battery.  Or at least offer more options, I just don't think 24 volt is heavy duty enough for the hills in my area that I would like to ride.  So offering me the option to buy a 36 volt or a shell that I can customize with multiple voltages or multiple chainrings makes the product infinitely more usable.  For planned trips in the hills I could pop in a different battery or I could put on a chainring for climbing.

When I first saw the RideKick I thought wow I could load that thing up with batteries and really extend the range, then I thought "I wonder if I would burn up the motor".  So who knows?  If the trailer needs a certain amount of weight for better traction I'd load it up with a few water jugs and go lithium as opposed to using SLA and dreading the extra weight unpowered.  If I needed to lighten it up I could dump the water.  Sweet and easy.

I hope RideKick comes out with more color options.  I'm sure for some people bright and flashy would be in order (Especially for those who ride on city streets).  For my purposes gray is just fine, but I do not want to be a moving billboard for the product.  I attract enough attention on my bike already.  And while I know the attention is great for RideKick and marketing I at times get tired of talking to people about my bicycle.  I certainly don't want to be asked constant questions about the trailer that I own.  This is not the same as demoing or reviewing the product; at those times I want the attention. But eventually I know it will wear thin.  Trust me on this one I've been fielding questions on my bike since I started riding it.  I'm not a Rock Star and I don't want to be.  I often choose to ride at times I know the paths will be clears just for some solitude.

I see enormous potential for the RideKick and I do hope they make it.

If you are considering the RideKick don't look just at the price.  Look at the enjoyment.  The price is nothing compared to the eBike Options (Which are much more expensive).  Recumbents are awesome and not needing to modify yours to get electric assist is the way to go.

I'm sold on the concept of RideKick.  I'm very excited.  I actually really want one.  But I will wait until the Lithium version is proven.  Right now they are so close to having this where I would pull the trigger.  But the speed limit, the unproven reliability for climbing, and the SLA technology just have me gun shy.  I'm also a little shy on the price with lithium... but who isn't.

Well here is to hoping the volume goes up so the price can come down.  I believe the correct price point is $849 with 20 amp hour lithium.  Is there enough profit at that price point to warranty and support by dealers?  I don't know!

RideKick

If you know anyone at Ridekick please ask them to publish information on the tires and how to change them.  What PSI do they run at?  Can you put slime tubes in them?  How much do they cost to replace?

Geez just publish the owners manual already in pdf format on the site!

Contribute to this page by submitting links to sites you find that offer information on building recumbent bikes.

• Bentech Recumbent Bike Plans - Plans "blueprints" if you will are available for two models a SWB and a LWB.

• Steve's Recumbent Bicycle Project - Listed here instead of on the personal sites because of the construction ideas and plans presented. Plus some excellent photographs of the bikes and process as he has built them.

See additional links in comments below.

For some time I've wanted to get a good toolbox for my growing collection of bicycle tools. Years ago I purchased a Plano Tackle box that I've used as a toolbox for household repairs. I really like the design and size, unfortunately that model has been discontinued. So after a bit of shopping and reading a lot of online reviews I decided to pull the trigger on a new Plano Model 823 toolbox. I chose to purchase this Plano toolbox at Amazon because of the free super saver shipping and no sale tax. My delivered cost was $32.99 which isn't too bad.

For me this is the perfect toolbox for my bicycle tools. The toolbox has 3 compartments for tools and two trays in the top lid for small items like screws, tube stem caps, etc.

I first loaded up the very deep bottom tray with my cleaners, extra tubes, spare cassette, lithium grease, and other large items. In the middle tray I put my bottom bracket tools, cassette remover, and similar larger items. In the top tray I placed my allen wrenches, third hand tool and smaller parts. Then of course the little items in the clear plastic top containers. Bottom line is this is a beast of a box and everything now fits! Good bye old plastic shoe boxes and bins, hello bike toolbox beast!

If you are looking for a great way to keep your tools together this is it. This is made of a rugged plastic that looks like it will last for years... my other Plano box has served me very well.

You should note that the latches are on the sides of the box. The lid and trays lift completely out of the box... I really like this I suppose others will not. The advantage is you have full access to all compartments and no real mechanical parts to break down. My only complaint if there is one is the top small parts trays do not click in very tight so that if you load them up and were to tip the box at an angle I suppose it's possible you could knock them off the top of the box. I doubt that will happen though because I can think of no reason to carry the box at an angle. The toolbox is a dark shade of gray and I like the color.

Pictures of the Plano Toolbox I bought for My Bike Tools:

Plano Toolbox Top View

Plano Contractor Grade Toolbox Information Sticker

View of Toolbox Depth Perfect for large parts, cleaners, etc.

Where to Buy Kojak's in the USA

Since I ordered my tire just 3 weeks ago when Amazon said there was only 1 in stock, they have now been restocked and are showing 3 in stock. And the new price is now $42.48! Blah, isn't that the way it goes; as soon as you buy something you find it very soon after at a much lower price? It's just the way it is I suppose. In any case the Schwalbe Kojak in my opinion is well worth the money because there is no other completely slick folding tire in it's size that even exists.

Here is the "trick" you need to know when buying anything including bicycle components from Amazon.  And I have learned this one the hard way.  Amazon sells products and they promote other people's products. This means that the exact same item on Amazon can be sold for different prices!  This also means that if there is a problem you could end up dealing with Amazon or a 3rd party.  When you are searching for products make sure you search the ENTIRE AMAZON site.  This is easy to do.  In the search bar at the top select "All Departments".  Then you can refine your search from there.  Usually bike parts are in the Sports & Outdoors department.

Amazon Links for Schwalbe Kojak Tire:

Kojak Folding :  Schwalbe Kojak Folding Bead Tire (26X2.0)

Kojak All Tire Sizes: All Sizes of Schwalbe Kojak Tires

You may also want to try AE Bike in Michigan as they carry some Schwalbes and have a good track record for delivery.  I bought my Durano's there... they did not have the Kojak's when I checked.

Kojak Size and Weight

The folding version of the Kojak is 460 grams in the 26 x 2.0 size, and comparing that to my existing Continental Sport contact that is only 200 grams more for a much larger tire (The height of the rear of the bike rose about 1.5"! I intentionally wanted the rise because I have recently changed out the front fork to one that is "suspension corrected" to match the height of the suspension fork it replaced (Dropped about 2 lbs off the bike weight). So with the fork swap and the new tire the ride is about the same level. Would a slight rise in the rear vs the front without a fork swap make a difference? I don't know. Every time you change something on your bike it changes the performance or geometry slightly. The handling of bicycle with the new fork has drastically improved the handling of the bicycle for the better! Very happy about that. I'll have to write about that in another review. I also need to do a review on the new wheel build and the Velocity Race Hub. Never seems to be enough time to do everything.

Back on point. The Schwalbe Kojak feels very well made. There are no rough edges and the mounting was surprisingly easy... didn't have to break out the Tire Bead Jack for this one... just a little pressure on the thumbs and it mounted right up. This might have something to do with the Mavic 717's that I am now running front and back, I don't know for sure, but in any case it was very easy to mount and very secure when inflated.

Kojak Ride Quality

The ride of the Kojak vs the 1.4" Conti it replaces is surprisingly similar in terms of rolling resistance. In fact the Kojak may actually roll a little bit better from a purely subjective standpoint (we all like to feel good about what we buy right?). I chose to run the tire at Max Pressure to start to see how it feels. Max pressure is 85 PSI. Recommended pressure is 70 PSI. At 85 PSI the tire does feel a bit STIFF, while still quick, it was not quite what I was going for. So I reduced the pressure to 70 PSI and the ride smoothed out noticeably.

I barely feel the difference in rotation spin up (Acceleration) vs the Conti but that is also likely due to the new wheel I had built up that dropped the weight over the existing wheel by about 10 ounces! So even after the additional 200 grams the new wheel with the Schwalbe Kojak mounted is lighter. And the Velocity Race hub spins very smoothly.

Although I'm not the guy who tries to maximize corners at high speed, this tire does corner much better than the previous tires I've run - the Specialized Fatboy, Schwalbe Durano, and Continental Sport contact - on this bicycle.  I also don't worry so much about hitting a small rock now when I corner.  I have had the back end slide out from under me with small stones in the past.

Hopefully some of what I've written will be helpful in your own decision making choice for your own recumbent bike. I'm hoping to build an electric upright based on a Trek Pure or a Electra Townie and for that bike I'll run the Schwalbe Big Apples... thought about doing that on this bike but even with a light skin (Which they might not be making any more) Big Apple I just couldn't bring myself to risk the additional weight. I'm very happy with the Kojak and I think most people will be as well.

I find it ironic that people will spend a couple thousand on a nice Recumbent then run $15 tires. Tires make so much difference. Do yourself a favor and find the best folding tire you can for the type of riding you do. Less weight can really make a difference. When the Continental Sport Contact wears out on the front I may consider replacing it with a Kojak 1.3, but I have a whole lot of pedaling to do between now and then!

Kojak Tire Pictures

If you click the pictures they will enlarge

Brand New Schwalbe Kojak Folding Version Tire

Schwalbe Kojak Mounted on New Bike Wheel

I think the availability problem is mostly Schwalbe and their limited productions of this model coupled with dealers not wanting to carry these tires as they are more expensive and slow to sell in local bike shops. From the owners that I talked to about Schwalbe most had a negative impression - not of the product - but of the company. Limited availability and hard to make a profit from the Kojak is what I took away from these conversations.

Anyways I finally found one at Amazon and bought it. It was listed as 1 in stock, order soon or whatever language Amazon uses to try and entice you to buy RIGHT NOW. As the product is shipping direct from Amazon I can only hope it arrives okay and I do not have to deal with their customer service people. Amazon is great at taking your money, has good prices, and is pretty good about delivery... you just have to hope that nothing goes wrong because there customer service is less than desirable.

So I should be the proud new owner of a Schwalbe Kojak Folding 26" tire soon. I'll review it when I get a few miles on it. At 460 grams I'm hoping I won't notice the extra weight as much as I'll notice a smoother and more comfortable ride. I recently purchased a new wheel that is about 240 grams lighter than my existing wheel to compensate for the additional weight in terms of rotational mass.

I would have happily purchased a similar Continental Tire, except they don't make one! Come on Schwalbe, end users like your tires... get them across the pond and in the dealers hands. The Schwalbe Kojak seems to be very popular for those who can find them. Ordering tires from the UK is an expensive proposition... but I did find a few in stock at some UK Based Online Shops.

Until recently I was a long term customer of JensonUSA having made several past purchases without incident.  I am absolutely astounded at what they tried to pull on me, and the way they responded to their con. Instead of admitting their guilt, they tried to pass this off as a normal business practice. They sent me used products, blamed me, and never refunded me as promised.  Good thing they are not in the medical equipment business

The Black greasy fingerprints on the INSIDE of the box was a nice touch!

JENSONUSA = FAIL.

I have purchased in the past from JensonUSA without problem.

In fact about 2 weeks ago I ordered brakes for my front wheel. No problem.

I liked them so much I ordered the companion for my rear brakes. That's where it gets ugly.

The brakes they sent for the rear were in a white generic box, they were loose in the box and missing parts.

I immediately wrote Jenson. Their response was they would just credit me for the brakes.. That would seem reasonable. I told them I did NOT want the used brakes and asked them to issue a return call tag. I told them I can afford to buy my bike parts and when I buy parts I expect them to be new parts. I did not asked to be credited, I asked for them to take their old parts back and I would buy new parts from a different vendor.

The very fact that they sent me used parts was appalling and not acceptable.

So what did Jenson have to say about this:

"It is entirely possible that our company will open a box (for example, to photograph an item). That's still new. We also accept New-and-unused returns from consumers. Finally items from our stores could be opened to be put on display."

Repackaged, Customer Returns, and Demos are NOT NEW!!! Pulling parts off of bikes and reselling them is not new. Apparently they believe it's okay to send used parts to customers who pay FULL RETAIL. This was their excuse. If you had seen the way these arrived many people would have been even more upset than I was.

And sure offering to credit the full amount seems like a nice gesture doesn't it?

But that's not what they did. Instead I got an additional charge of $6.95 billed on my statement.

Have not heard back from Jenson about this new charge.

JENSONUSA = FAIL.

If you want to be treated like crap, get used stuff... then go ahead and buy from them.

For me I'm done with them. Again this is not my first purchase from Jenson, I've made several. And this is how they treat repeat customers.

So now I have used brakes and no refund, waiting for the payment processor to make things right.

JENSONUSA = FAIL.

You don't blame your customers for your inability to operate an ethical business.

Installation of the Single Digit 7 V Brake

Installation was a breeze because I chose not to replace the old brake cable and housing.  I just unscrewed the old brakes and screwed on the new Avid Brakes.  I did not change the brake levers either as they work just fine.  I did use the supplied brake noodle and the new dust boot cap (another nice improvement over the Mini V Brakes).  I selected the standard middle whole for the spring mechanism and pushed the pads flush with the rims.  I didn't even have to move any spacers.  I'm running an Mavic 717 and the alignment was near perfect.  I own a Hozan cable puller which makes installation even easier.  Although if I didn't have it I'm sure it wouldn't have been much harder.  Installation of these rim brakes couldn't have gone smoother!

Within 10 minutes I had the Single Digit 7's installed and adjusted.  The Allen wrench adjustment is in my opinion better than the Phillips screw head adjustment of the Tektro's I replaced.  Bottom line is these brakes are easy to install and adjust.  And the power - much better!  These are very grippy and make no noise at all.  I did clean the rims before installing, but still noise free brakes are what we are all after.

I considered the Single Digit 5's, but the price difference wasn't so great after factoring in the free shipping to make it worth downgrading.  The Single Digit 7's are a bit lighter and offer a better stock brake pad.  I also couldn't justify the price of the next step up in the Avid Linear Pull line (SL then Ultimate) to shave just a few grams (20 and 3 grams respectively).

I did read many reviews of the Avid Single Digit 7's before making my purchase and for years these have been the overwhelming choice for solid, strong, reliable well priced rim brakes.  Bachetta Bikes uses the Single Digit 7's on some of their bikes.  It's hard to argue with excellent engineering and quality ergonomics.

To save you the visit to the Avid/SRAM site here are the spec's:

Weight     185 grams (per wheel)
Caliper Design     Forged
Finish     Graphite Grey
Pad     RW2 Cartridge Pad
Adjustment     Screw Style
Special Features     Stainless Steel hardware, Oversized Linear spring, Aluminum pivot bushings
Compatibility     Mountian style levers

Update:  I liked the Single Digit 7 Brakes so much just ordered another set for the Rear.  Be sure when you order to specify front or rear.  It's my understanding the bolt lengths are different so you'll want to be sure they fit correctly.