solveg

I just traded my lightest bike, a Klein Stage Comp, for a Sun EZ-1 SX. The guy that got my Klein has just undergone a bunch of chemo and stem cell bone marrow transfusions, and the Sun is just too heavy for him.

So I'm looking at this recumbent, and it looks, frankly, scary. It has a short wheelbase, but I still don't know if it's safe in my bike rack. I heard you have to pull with your hands or something. I read something about taking the front fender off? What are the options for a rack on it? Is it actually harder on backs because you have compression when you are on rough surfaces?

Why is everyone moving towards trikes? What's the difference between starter models and advanced models? Do they require any extra maintenance?

etc. etc. etc. You guys should make a noobie sticky!

10 Wheels

Sun is just too heavy for everyone.

Jeff Wills

It looks less scary out of the bike rack and under your butt. I got my short-wheelbase recumbent 20 years ago (a Lightning P-38) and I've had it near 60mph downhill. About the scariest thing was my cheeks going whuppa-whuppa-whuppa in the wind.

Exactly wrong. You need to completely relax your arms and shoulders and keep a very loose grip on the handlebars. Tensing your hands, arms or shoulders will lead to pedal steer. It's a common newbie mistake to over-control the bike. Learning to push on the pedals without influencing the steering is a Zen thing.

Front fenders are a necessity, especially for me, in the Pacific Northwest. Many conventional racks work or can be made to work, and there are special under-seat racks for touring.

My lower back is in pretty good shape after 20 years of riding recumbents. If you're on rough surfaces, fatter tires help any kind of bike.

*Sigh* 42 is the answer.

cranky old dude

solveg, it's good to see you've come back.

Lots of good info here in BF, and you might also look at BROL
https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...isplay.php?f=2

Like Jeff said, just sit back and relax. Always try to remember to start up in a low gear. Keep a loose grip on the handlebars and take some practice rides in a nice big empty parking lot and before you know it you'll be rolling right along. It may seem a bit twitchy at first but don't be discouraged, you'll get smoother with more miles under your belt.

The Sun EZ-1 is a nice solid little bike, not a speed demon but fun to ride none the less. Try to take advantage of opportunities to ride other recumbents as they all handle differently. I personally prefer the way long wheelbase 'bents handle, though short wheelbase bikes are easier to manuver in crowded areas. For example, Bjjoondo has just gone from a Sun EZ-1 to a Sun EZ Sport and I'm sure he can describe the different handling characteristics of those two bikes.

Above all, have fun!! You're about to see the world from the seat of a bicycle in a way that is just fantastic.

Retro Grouch 

There is no one recumbent. There are many recumbent bicycle designs.

DF riders love to discuss the differences in ride quality and handling of relatively mimimal differences in diamond frame bicycle design. Recumbents encompass huge design differences. The differing designs handle and ride quite differently. Experienced recumbent riders make everything look so easy that you really have to try out a few bikes to appreciate how different they can be.

JanMM

https://www.sunbicycles.com/manuals/r...structions.pdf This from the Sun website.

Just think of this bike as your starter recumbent.

Everyone is not moving towards trikes. Not interested, thank you.
One advantage of trikes that I consider an immediate-gratification advantage: Trikes do not have the learning curve of a recumbent bike, although some 'bent bikes are easier to get the hang of than others.
I'm five years into bent-riding and have not looked back.

countersTrike

(OT- sorry) I would recognise that beer drinking squirrel anywhere! I don't recommend him as pilot.. Welcome Solveg!

BlazingPedals

Welcome aboard, Solveg. Good advice from Jeff, except for the fenders. I mean, fenders = YES if you ride a lot in the rain. Otherwise, not needed. The EZ-1 SX is a solid bike with good handling. But it's a 'long wheelbase' format, no matter what it seems. But it's great for bumming with the wife, but not so much for keeping up with the buds.

I have four 'bents, and none of them are a trike. If I ever get a trike, it'll be one that gives up very little to a 2-wheeler in the speed department.

Sayre Kulp 

Oh I wouldn't say that...

bjjoondo 

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Welcome, the wife and I just bought new EZ-1 SX's and we've had FUN riding them around, yep their bit on the "hefty side" at 40lbs but, their easy to mount and once you've learned to start out in a low gear, (we like middle chain ring/2nd. cog on cassette), you put a pedal at just "past" top dead center, (which ever one you prefer), PUSH forward with that pedal and let your other foot come up naturally to the opposite pedal and head out!

Use only a "VERY" light touch on the handle bars, if you grip too tight it makes the front end "flop to and fro"!!! When riding up hill I don't "grip the bars", I just place my hands on them, push your bunns back into the seat and torque with your legs, while "totally" relaxing all of your UPPER BODY. (Note: For US, that "totally relaxing the upper portion of the body is the HARDEST thing to learn!)

The EZ-1 is NOT a screamer but it's a really excellent "commuter, rec ride and even a good Trailer Tugger"! The ONLY reason I upgraded to a EZ-Sport AX was that on the EZ-1 I felt a bit cramped, like a "elephant on a tricycle", it's just ME, the wife has NO problem at all. It's probably because I'm 6ft. and 230lbs, been riding MTB's and Hybrids which have a long wheel base, and feel Large and Roomy, especially with the "Trekking Bars", we had on them.

My best comparison is this: The EZ-1 SX is like a good compact car, the EZ-Sport AX feels like a "Cadillac" Sedan DeVille, Luxo car. I kept my EZ-1 for a "back up" bike and it has the "coupler" mounted on it to be my "utility" bike but I'll be "doing the heavy miles" on the EZ-Sport AX (20/26 combo, Alum. frame/cro-mo fork, Sram X9 derailers (9speed), only 35lbs.), really it should be called the "EZ-Cruise AX", wow, as the song says: It's like a smooth stretch of highway"!

Artkansas 

And actually the twitchiness is not the bike, but the rider. Since you can't use your shoulders to anchor your arms, you have to learn to keep your arms quiet. The recumbent, especially a short wheel-based one, is very responsive to the slightest input from your arms.

But once mastered, the combination of the low center of gravity combined with high pedals will have you amazed at how deeply you can go into a turn with full power and high speed. Its like driving the best small sports car ever.

EriktheFish

Click on these links for an "Intro" to Recumbents:
https://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents/recumbent_faqs.htm
https://www.bicycleman.com/history/history.htm
https://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents...t_glossary.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recumbent_bicycle

trestlehed

10 Wheels wrote: Not necessarily. It all depends on what type of riding you will be doing. If you have a lot of steep hills then the Sun EZ-1 SX and the Sun Easy Sport are probably not your best bet. I've had an Easy Sport LE (now called the AX) since 2002. It is indeed a Cadillac on 2 wheels. When people ask me what it's like to ride, I ask them if they enjoy sitting in a beach chair. When they reply "yes", I say that the bike is like pedaling a beach chair. I ride my bent on paved bike paths ONLY. No need to worry about potholes and teenagers driving a giant SUV while texting.

If you want to sell your EZ-1 SX in order to upgrade to a different bent, I might be interested. I would like a back-up bent for friends to ride. Can you post some pics?

Ecumbent

I bought my EZ-1 SC in '03 and passed it on to my brother, I'm running a LWB now.

The EZ runs as good as any BikeE, maybe better. A great little bike with an indestructible steel frame.

The EZ is the easiest recumbent to motorize, it can handle an incredible amount of weight.

banerjek

Trikes rock and they're fun as hell to ride. But they are not created equal. Some of them have abysmal handling -- they get highly unstable much over 25mph. Others handle with confidence at 40+mph.

Differences in models vary in weight, componentry, handling, and feel.