Looking for used Tandem

I am 6'0", very experienced rider; she is 5'4" (long torso), less experienced.

 

We'd like to ride together, but our comfortable speeds separate us. We've done one ride on a rented tandem and would like to upgrade to one of our own.

 

Looking for a used tandem in the neighborhood of $1000 ($1250 is probably my upper limit).

 

Hoping the community can help. I haven't been able to find much of anything.

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Permalink Reply by igz on March 25, 2011 at 5:43pm
they're there (like my grammar?),  just keep looking around
Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 26, 2011 at 12:37pm

We bought a used tandem two years ago and are quite happy with it. For the amount you mention you probably are looking at an older Burley, or a tandem from one of  the large bike manufacturers that (used to) make tandems (Trek, Cannondale, KHS, etc.). Older bikes can be a great choice, since a lot of tandem don't see that much use.


Here are a few resources that can help you find one. Since the market for tandems is small, it works to your advantage if you are willing to drive somewhere. (we found our tandem on Craigslist in Minneapolis.)


Here is a decent tool that can help you determine whether the asking price is realistic (often it is not): http://www.thetandemlink.com/usedhome.html

 

Here is a good website that offers tandems for sale nationwide: http://www.tandemmag.com/classified/

 

Craigslist probably has the most tandems for sale, but it helps using a better tool to search them. I used searchtempest:http://www.searchtempest.com/results.php?search_string=tandem+bike&...

 

Also you could ask around at the Chicago Area Tandem Society. Members may have for sale or can direct you further: http://chicagotandems.home.mchsi.com/main.htm

 

Good luck finding a used tandem

Permalink Reply by roofis lee king on March 26, 2011 at 4:33pm
try working bikes, they used to have a few in their warehouse before they moved, they might have one for cheap that needs a lil love for cheap
Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on March 27, 2011 at 6:04am
Thanks for all the great information and links.  This is quite helpful for anyone looking at a used tandem.

Duppie said:

We bought a used tandem two years ago and are quite happy with it. For the amount you mention you probably are looking at an older Burley, or a tandem from one of  the large bike manufacturers that (used to) make tandems (Trek, Cannondale, KHS, etc.). Older bikes can be a great choice, since a lot of tandem don't see that much use.


Here are a few resources that can help you find one. Since the market for tandems is small, it works to your advantage if you are willing to drive somewhere. (we found our tandem on Craigslist in Minneapolis.)


Here is a decent tool that can help you determine whether the asking price is realistic (often it is not): http://www.thetandemlink.com/usedhome.html

 

Here is a good website that offers tandems for sale nationwide: http://www.tandemmag.com/classified/

 

Craigslist probably has the most tandems for sale, but it helps using a better tool to search them. I used searchtempest:http://www.searchtempest.com/results.php?search_string=tandem+bike&...

 

Also you could ask around at the Chicago Area Tandem Society. Members may have for sale or can direct you further: http://chicagotandems.home.mchsi.com/main.htm

 

Good luck finding a used tandem

Permalink Reply by Liz on March 27, 2011 at 6:05am

While we have yet to find a good road tandem that fits my boyfriend and I on CL, I have seen many good deals out there. 

 

Be prepared to go visit a lot of the ads, get on the tandem and find its the wrong size.  Its the time consuming way to find a tandem.  Hopefully you will have been luck than us with road tandems.  So far my boyfriend and I have found that many of them are too long for him in the front and built for riders with a taller captain than us (5'8" him and 5'4" me). 

 

We did pick up a cruiser tandem for $120 that just needed a little TLC (new tires, fenders, an drivetrain cleaning, hub cleaning, and outside cleaning) that is really great for around town joy rides.

 

Since our general road speeds aren't too different, our plan for now is to be patient until the right one comes along or we can afford a bike friday two'sday

Permalink Reply by R.Arehart on September 23, 2011 at 4:07am
I'm, selling a Trek T50 Tandem VGC  21 speed. $725. Western Burbs
Permalink Reply by Duppie on September 23, 2011 at 5:04am

For the price of a Bike Friday Two'sDay, you can get a nice KHS and customize the captain's cockpit (new stem, stem riser) to make it fit, or you can look at a Hokitika: American made, comes in a variety of sizes and can be had in custom sizes as well.

 

The main draw IMO for a Bike Friday tandem is that you can travel with it. But unless you plan to travel a lot the added price for foldability is not worth it. We are experiencing that with our S&S coupled tandem.

 

Liz said:

While we have yet to find a good road tandem that fits my boyfriend and I on CL, I have seen many good deals out there. 

 

Be prepared to go visit a lot of the ads, get on the tandem and find its the wrong size.  Its the time consuming way to find a tandem.  Hopefully you will have been luck than us with road tandems.  So far my boyfriend and I have found that many of them are too long for him in the front and built for riders with a taller captain than us (5'8" him and 5'4" me). 

 

We did pick up a cruiser tandem for $120 that just needed a little TLC (new tires, fenders, an drivetrain cleaning, hub cleaning, and outside cleaning) that is really great for around town joy rides.

 

Since our general road speeds aren't too different, our plan for now is to be patient until the right one comes along or we can afford a bike friday two'sday

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 23, 2011 at 9:48am
This is a zombie thread...but....I've got a tandem that might work too. Drop bars in the front, cruiser bars in the rear. Check my pics.
Permalink Reply by Mark Paye on December 13, 2012 at 10:50am

If you looking for a tandem, I may have one that suits your needs.  Check out my post "Two Road Tandems for sale."

Mark

Permalink Reply by S on December 13, 2012 at 4:47pm

The original post was almost 2 years ago.  The poster probably already has a tandem by now.

Mark Paye said:

If you looking for a tandem, I may have one that suits your needs.  Check out my post "Two Road Tandems for sale."

Mark

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