IPassGas

If your stoker is tall and you are considering a new tandem, consider a frame that gives your stoker more space. We bought a new tandem last year that could break apart. We considered buying a stock frame (wouldn’t a Gates timing belt be nice). However, we thought that giving the stoker more space would be an important benefit. Our new tandem has 5” more space (than a typical tandem) for the stoker. After 3 lengthy tours, and in between riding our old tandem a couple of times, the stoker is very pleased with the additional room, a definite improvement.

joeruge

Our we talking Rodriguez here, or what?

Carbonfiberboy 

We're lucky: short stoker = gates belt plus same cockpit as her single. Just shortened her cranks to 151mm which allowed us to move her bars out from under captain's saddle.

Joint Venture

We specified our 2016 da Vinci Joint Venture with an extra 2” of stoker TT length, so it’s 30.4” instead of the standard 28.4”. It was an extra $150 well spent. Our tandem is coupled too, but I can imagine your extra 5” in rear TT length might have some potential impact on packability for travel - depending on how yours breaks down.

IPassGas

Very true. During the design phase, careful attention was given to the ability to pack into S&S cases, and it does fit nicely....something I only began to really appreciate during the design. It was not clear to us at the beginning if a few extra inches would really matter all that much for the ride, but it does. This is nearly impossible to be able to test before buying.

@joeruge ... yes, Rodriguez it is!

honcho

If you want to give your stoker space, try a Hase Pino or Bilenky Viewpoint. Captain is in back, upright and Stoker is up front, recumbent. We're not as fast on our Pino as our conventional tandem; however, we're both very happy. Communication between captain and stoker is easier since our heads are closer together, stoker has plenty of space and a great view ahead other than the captain's back and butt. Downsides are that we're not as fast, difficult to pedal out of the saddle for the captain (gotta spin, spin, spin) and the upright position is very upright and recumbent isn't for everyone. Even with the downsides, I don't think I could ever return to a traditional upright tandem after the last six years on our Pino.

cat0020

Same here.

I didn't spend nearly as much as a Hase Pino when I bought my Performer Family Tandem.

It's not as stiff or sturdy as a Hase Pino, but for my wife to ride with me or taking a (legally) blind person on a charity ride, speed is not a priority.

alias5000

Or a Circe Morpheus. Everything else that honcho said, also applies there.