Tandem Comparison

[avidcyclist]

Ive been cycling with a Raleigh T6000 tandem for the last couple of years, but after a disasterous year, with tons of problems with the tandem I have decided to purchase a new one. I have noticed that there are quite a few models and brands available, Cannondale, Ravo, Raleigh, Fuel, Exocet, Tank, Trek..... and the list goes on.

I've been trying to do research on which of these are the best, but have had very little success. I havnt even been able to find a website that does a comparison between tandems. 

 

If anyone can provide me with some advice or reference to a website with this kind of info I would really appreciate it!

[Guest Big H]

Ive been cycling with a Raleigh T6000 tandem for the last couple of years' date=' but after a disasterous year, with tons of problems with the tandem I have decided to purchase a new one. I have noticed that there are quite a few models and brands available, Cannondale, Ravo, Raleigh, Fuel, Exocet, Tank, Trek..... and the list goes on.

I've been trying to do research on which of these are the best, but have had very little success. I havnt even been able to find a website that does a comparison between tandems. 

 

If anyone can provide me with some advice or reference to a website with this kind of info I would really appreciate it!

[/quote']

 

Raleigh, Cannondale, Trek. I have three tandems with the Kinesis frames and they do not give problems. What problems did you have with the Raleigh??????

[Johan Bornman]

A tandem, or any bike for that matter, is only as good as the sum of its components. Therefore asking for brand suggestions is futile. If you had frame problems, eliminate those by choosing a different frame that has a better solution to the problems you experienced. If you had component problems, sort them one one by one. A different  brand may not be any better.

 

Put the money in your pension fund instead.

 

[avidcyclist]

Thanks for the advice, but still dont really have an answer. I do realise I have to look at all the componentents individually as well, but what frame is better? Weight, stenght, design, cost, material, ect?

[Guest Big H]

Thanks for the advice' date=' but still dont really have an answer. I do realise I have to look at all the componentents individually as well, but what frame is better? Weight, stenght, design, cost, material, ect? [/quote']

 

As I said in my posting above....... our frames we have are been made by Kinesis in Taiwan. They make most bicycle frames worldwide, half bicycles included. We are a heavy tandem pair (I am the heavy one!!!!!!). Our one frame has been used since 2002 (by us). We bought it secondhand. Before us it was used by a very competative male tandem pair in serious racing. We are still using the frmae and we have had no serious problems. I know the frmae has more than 25 000km (that is what we have done on it)

 

The Raleigh frame is lighter than the other two we have. Most Tandems are made of Aluminium. In the USA you will also find tandems made of Carbon Fibre, Steel and Bamboo. I still have to see a Titanium Tandem frame. Design wise the tandems with a single tube running from the head tube to the BB at the back seems to be most common so they would be the best desig, I asume.

 

Cost wise the Cannondale and the Trek would e more expensive than the Raleigh but again I wouls assume you are here paying for the name, more than anything else.