Tandem Choice

Go for the new bike. Better equipment, will fit better, warranty, lighter. Seems like a no brainer
to me Garry

"John Carlarne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have the chance to buy a Raleigh Pursuit tandem new for $1400 or an

older

Quoted message said:

Trek T200 (1995) in great condition for $1200. Is anyone familiar with

these

Quoted message said:

tandems, or who might have favorite?

Any advice would be very welcome.

Best,

John

"garry nold" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Go for the new bike. Better equipment, will fit better, warranty, lighter. Seems like a no brainer
to me Garry

Wow, talk about sweeping generalizations. Why does that fact that the Raleigh is new mean it'll fit
better, be lighter or have better equipment?? I'll concede the warranty point though. Adjusted for
inflation the new cost of the Trek T200 is something like 2.5 times that of the Raleigh -- and it
was still considered a mid level tandem. A $1,400 new tandem these days is at the lowest possible
price point of a tandem available at a bike shop and must by necessity make a lot of equipment
compromises to come in at that point. I'd be surprised if the equipment on the new $1,400 Raleigh is
any better than what you'd get on a new $400 "comfort bike".

I'm not familiar with that particular model by Raleigh (the Pursuit), so perhaps they've gone
upscale on that model, but otherwise the Raleigh tandems of recent years are pretty much intended
for the "toodle down to the Dairy Queen at the end of the block" crowd. That's fine, if that's your
intended riding. Trek's tandems from that era are actually very well thoughtout and well spec'ed,
but it is a used bike so you need to be careful and make sure it's in good condition. If I remember
right the T200 had a double butted True Temper frame, the equal of any steel available for building
tandems at that point. The equipment will be "tandem rated" -- XT and such. Drivetrain will likely
be a triple up front with a wide-range 7 speed cassette in back. The 7 speed stuff shifts as well as
anything, is very durable and is still serviceable. The Trek was, and still is, a serious tandem
that's appropriate for fast club rides, centuries, loaded touring or even toodling down to the Dairy
Queen. Seems like a no brainer to me! 😉

Cheers,

-Jack

Quoted message said:

"John Carlarne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have the chance to buy a Raleigh Pursuit tandem new for $1400 or an

older

Quoted message said:

Trek T200 (1995) in great condition for $1200. Is anyone familiar with

these

Quoted message said:

tandems, or who might have favorite?

Any advice would be very welcome.

Best,

John

Jack, I own and ride a tandem. I have riden both a Trek T200 and the Reliegh Pursuit. I happen to
sell the Raliegh so yes I am a little biased. As far as fit, the used Trek is only 1 size, the New
Raliegh is available in 3. As far as equipment, I would take new 105 level equipment any day over
6-10 year old Deore/xt rear der. I in no way put down the tTrek, they were fine tandems. They are
not as good as the new Raliegh though. I still say it's a no brainer. The bike is lighter, has
equipment on it that will work better, is available in 3 sizes so the Raliegh has a better chance of
fitting, new bike warranty and the most important part, the price is much better. I would value a
6-10 year old T200's value at less then $1000. If the Trek was an $800 bike, then we would be having
a different discussion. At this point I would consider the Trek, if it fit;-)

Does that clear up the mud? Garry

"Jack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"garry nold" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Go for the new bike. Better equipment, will fit better, warranty,

lighter.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Seems like a no brainer to me Garry

Wow, talk about sweeping generalizations. Why does that fact that the Raleigh is new mean it'll
fit better, be lighter or have better equipment?? I'll concede the warranty point though. Adjusted
for inflation the new cost of the Trek T200 is something like 2.5 times that of the Raleigh -- and
it was still considered a mid level tandem. A $1,400 new tandem these days is at the lowest
possible price point of a tandem available at a bike shop and must by necessity make a lot of
equipment compromises to come in at that point. I'd be surprised if the equipment on the new
$1,400 Raleigh is any better than what you'd get on a new $400 "comfort bike".

I'm not familiar with that particular model by Raleigh (the Pursuit), so perhaps they've gone
upscale on that model, but otherwise the Raleigh tandems of recent years are pretty much intended
for the "toodle down to the Dairy Queen at the end of the block" crowd. That's fine, if that's
your intended riding. Trek's tandems from that era are actually very well thoughtout and well
spec'ed, but it is a used bike so you need to be careful and make sure it's in good condition. If
I remember right the T200 had a double butted True Temper frame, the equal of any steel available
for building tandems at that point. The equipment will be "tandem rated" -- XT and such.
Drivetrain will likely be a triple up front with a wide-range 7 speed cassette in back. The 7
speed stuff shifts as well as anything, is very durable and is still serviceable. The Trek was,
and still is, a serious tandem that's appropriate for fast club rides, centuries, loaded touring
or even toodling down to the Dairy Queen. Seems like a no brainer to me! 😉

Cheers,

-Jack

Quoted message said:

"John Carlarne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I have the chance to buy a Raleigh Pursuit tandem new for $1400 or an

older

Quoted message said:

Trek T200 (1995) in great condition for $1200. Is anyone familiar with

these

Quoted message said:

tandems, or who might have favorite?

Any advice would be very welcome.

Best,

John