KHS vs Raligh Tandem

Kevin Lutz said:

I'm looking for a lower priced alunium tandem bicycle. I'm considering the Raligh Coupe or the KHS
Alite. There is about a $500 price difference, but I don't notice that much difference in the
components. I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the price and quality difference of
these two bikes.

Kevin, I was interested in the comparison of a couple of lower-end tandems, so I Googled around a
bit and came up with the information below.

There really isn't anything importantly different in the spec of these two bikes, so fit should be
your primary concern, and the dealer's ability to provide decent assembly and after the sale
service. Most bikes like this are going to be far more satisfactory if the dealer does not merely
lift them out of the box and bolt them together, but takes the time to add greas to the hubs, oil
the cables, and tighten, true and stress-relieve the wheels.

I notice that the KHS offers only one size, and the Raleigh two. Even if you want only to roll
around a park on a Sunday afternoon, you and your stoker will get a lot more out of the bike if it
fits you well.

The KHS doesn't specify whether it has a replaceable rear derailer hanger. Either the dealer or
KHS can answer that one for you, but for an AL frame that is a deal-breaker if it is not
replaceable, IMHO.

2003 KHS Tandemania Alite Frame: 7005 Aluminum 27 Speed Fork: Oversized Chromoly Unicrown Headset:
Tioga DX2 Aheadset, 1-1/8" Rims: Sun Rhyno Lite 40 hole Front Hub: Alloy QR Rear Hub: Shimano XT
145mm Double threaded Tandem QR Tires: KHS Dirt Slick, 26"x1.75" Spokes: Stainless Steel, 14 gauge
Front Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT Shifters: Shimano LX Chain: KMC Z-9000
Bottom Bracket:Crankset: Sugino RD-5000T, 52/42/30t Bottom Bracket: TH 7418, Cartridge Cassette:
Shimano Deore 9 speed, 11-34t Pedals: VP, Alloy Captain's Seat Post: Kalloy SP 267 Stoker's Seat
Post: Post Modern Suspension Saddles: Velo 3011 Handlebar: Kore, Alloy Captain's Stem: Aheadset,
Alloy Stoker's Stem: Adjustable Alloy Brake Levers: Powertools Linear Pull Brakes: Shimano LX
v-brakes Colour(s): Blue/Titanium Sizes: 20"x16" Weight: 38.5lbs

Raleigh Coupe Tandem frame with disc brake mounts and a replaceable derailleur hanger 40 spoke Alex
double wall wheels. 27 Speed Shimano Drivetrain WTB Speed-V & Speed-She Saddle TruVativ Tandem Firex
Crankset with Timing Avenir Comfort Grips, WTB Captain Speed-VStoker Speed-She Saddles Sizes
18.5/16", 20.5/18" Colors Kingston Blue/Silver Frame 7005 Aluminum Fork Mtn Tandem Chromoly Headset
Cane Creek Zero Stack Crankset TruVativ Fires Tandem 38t Timing 28/38/48t
F. Derailleur Shimano Deore
G. Derailleur Shimano LX Shift Lever Shimano Deore Cog Set Shimano Cassette 11/32t 9spd
Weight 42 lbs.

Hope that helps,

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

Ted,

Thanks for the information. I live in the Chicago area, so there are plenty of dealers. I have
found several that carry the Raleigh, but only one that carries the KHS. Unfortunately, the dealer
that carries KHS only buys tandems on rare occasions. The dealer that sells Raleigh is one of
Chicago's largest tandem dealers. As a result, I'm more inclined to go with the Raleigh for the
dealer support.

Kevin

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

Quoted message said:

Kevin Lutz said:

I'm looking for a lower priced alunium tandem bicycle. I'm considering

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Raligh Coupe or the KHS Alite. There is about a $500 price difference,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I don't notice that much difference in the components. I was wondering

if

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

anyone could shed some light on the price and quality difference of

these two

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bikes.

Kevin, I was interested in the comparison of a couple of lower-end tandems, so I Googled around a
bit and came up with the information below.

There really isn't anything importantly different in the spec of these two bikes, so fit should be
your primary concern, and the dealer's ability to provide decent assembly and after the sale
service. Most bikes like this are going to be far more satisfactory if the dealer does not merely
lift them out of the box and bolt them together, but takes the time to add greas to the hubs, oil
the cables, and tighten, true and stress-relieve the wheels.

I notice that the KHS offers only one size, and the Raleigh two. Even if you want only to roll
around a park on a Sunday afternoon, you and your stoker will get a lot more out of the bike if it
fits you well.

The KHS doesn't specify whether it has a replaceable rear derailer hanger. Either the dealer or
KHS can answer that one for you, but for an AL frame that is a deal-breaker if it is not
replaceable, IMHO.

2003 KHS Tandemania Alite Frame: 7005 Aluminum 27 Speed Fork: Oversized Chromoly Unicrown Headset:
Tioga DX2 Aheadset, 1-1/8" Rims: Sun Rhyno Lite 40 hole Front Hub: Alloy QR Rear Hub: Shimano XT
145mm Double threaded Tandem QR Tires: KHS Dirt Slick, 26"x1.75" Spokes: Stainless Steel, 14 gauge
Front Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT Shifters: Shimano LX Chain: KMC
Z-9000 Bottom Bracket:Crankset: Sugino RD-5000T, 52/42/30t Bottom Bracket: TH 7418, Cartridge
Cassette: Shimano Deore 9 speed, 11-34t Pedals: VP, Alloy Captain's Seat Post: Kalloy SP 267
Stoker's Seat Post: Post Modern Suspension Saddles: Velo 3011 Handlebar: Kore, Alloy Captain's
Stem: Aheadset, Alloy Stoker's Stem: Adjustable Alloy Brake Levers: Powertools Linear Pull Brakes:
Shimano LX v-brakes Colour(s): Blue/Titanium Sizes: 20"x16" Weight: 38.5lbs

Raleigh Coupe Tandem frame with disc brake mounts and a replaceable derailleur hanger 40 spoke
Alex double wall wheels. 27 Speed Shimano Drivetrain WTB Speed-V & Speed-She Saddle TruVativ
Tandem Firex Crankset with Timing Avenir Comfort Grips, WTB Captain Speed-VStoker Speed-She
Saddles Sizes 18.5/16", 20.5/18" Colors Kingston Blue/Silver Frame 7005 Aluminum Fork Mtn Tandem
Chromoly Headset Cane Creek Zero Stack Crankset TruVativ Fires Tandem 38t Timing 28/38/48t
F. Derailleur Shimano Deore
R. Derailleur Shimano LX Shift Lever Shimano Deore Cog Set Shimano Cassette 11/32t 9spd Weight
42 lbs.

Hope that helps,

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR