After more thought

Your reasing is flawed.

The only reason a person should decide between a SWB and LWB is on what
he plans on using the bike for. If you are planning oin the short ride
around town, commuting and/or , short fast rides, the swb is the better
bike to have. If however you are looking for comfort, touring and
speed is not a concern you would want to be looking at the LWB
bikes.....A CLWB is one that can't make up is mind

I have a Linear LWB, and I prefer it over all of my other bikes for
longer rides. It's OK in town, but of course not as nimble in traffic.
The LWB is the classic for touring, as they tend to give a more stable
and comfy ride. But I know two people with SWB (both Streetmachines)
with the underseat panniers and they love them for big trips.

The Rans Tailwind is probably great for around town, but I don't know
if anyone has toured with it. The Stratus and the Tour Easy are famous
bikes for the open road, and both have fairly upright seats (as does my
Linear). But I don't mind riding my LWB around town, as I've gotten
qute used to how it handles. I cannot comment on the other machines you
mention, as I've never seen them. For in-town riding I prefer a low-BB
design, making it easier to put my foot down in sudden stops.
Actually, for most of my in-town riding I've gone back to an upright,
because it's more nimble and I can lock it up without worrying nearly
as much.

Buying a bent is just like buying an upright bike - what do you want it
to do? Just get groceries, or go for long rides on the weekend, or
take part in local time trials, or go off-road and play in the mud?

That said, the best advice I've ever heard (and received) is to try as
many as you can. Some folks look at the Tour Easy design and say
"that's what I want!", but after trying it and others over an afternoon
they then come out of the store with a SWB!

Mark

RIDE AS MANY AS YOU CAN GET UNDER YOUR BUTT!

Best advice I received. The learning curve accelerates as you test ride. My experience has been that bikes which were "nice" to "really nice" when I first started testing were soon "boring", "too much effort" or "what did I like about this slug?".

Seat angle is critical!!! At every bike shop I visited the high racers were displayed with the seat laid 'way back. These adjust. Get them upright when you are new and the high racers suddenly become much less strange and easier to ride. Personally I like the higher seat, rapid acceleration and high cruise. The first time on a dual 26 I could barely keep it stable primarily due to a laid back seat.

Unless you are a lottery winner none of the better bikes fall into the chump change catagory. Take your time, get the shops to fit you and try everything you can get you seat on.

Anything you think you like, ride longer.