It’s time for an experiment. I got myself a used Grasshopper FX recumbent bike from HP Velotechnik.
I tried a recumbent before for a weekend, but never owned one. I was lucky to get this used Grasshopper for a good price. The Grasshopper FX is a folder and that helped to like the bike a lot.
If you buy a new Grasshopper now, you end up with a price close or above 4.000 €. Producing a small number of items demand a higher price. If you would buy the components of the Grashopper on a standard bike, you would spend much less of your money. I visited HP Velotechnik on a in-house exhibition just to learn, that they don’t like direct contact with their customers. You have to find a local dealer to get the bike or parts (there are exceptional cases were you can get parts directly from them)
The Grasshopper is heavy and the build quality is very good. I got the bike with an Air Suspension. Very easy to adjust the performance by changing the airpressure. The ride is comfortable with front and rear suspension. The bike feels agile and sturdy. My bike came with a rear rack too – good for touring, but it adds weight too.
This is what HPV calls a BodyLink seat. Together with the optional Airflow-pad the ventilation for my back is OK. Expect to return with a wet back – I had this problem on my test ride with the other recumbent too. Close to no ventilation. That’s one drawback of all recumbent bike I think. At least I don’t like it.
Having disc brakes is an essential feature together with the small rims. It is easy to produce too much heat when braking with a caliper brake and kill the tube in your tire that way.
The under seat steering is much more nervous then the optional above seat steering. I got the bike this way and will stay with it. Don’t expect the maneuverability of your upright bike with a recumbent. It is very limited. Also you are not able to lift the front wheel to cross a boardwalk. There are much more obstacles out there for a recumbent then for an upright bike. A major drawback.
I added new clip pedals (one side with, one without) and a cycle computer from VDO. Not easy to find a place for the computer since there is no steering bar in front of you. The position I found is OK to read the values on the display but not to reach the buttons on the device. Just found no better option.
Mirrors! You need mirrors on a recumbent bike. The main reason for me to sell the bike after a month was the insecurity I felt when driving through the road traffic. You don’t see anything behind you. You will only hear the cars coming from behind and may spot them in the mirror. I’m just to old for this type of danger seeking. It was an experiment and it failed.
The SRAM DualDrive combines advantages of both a 3-speed hubgear and 8-speed chaingear. The 3-speed hubgear is operatable even standing still. That’s important on a recumbent. If you stop in the wrong gear, you won’t be able to start again. With the DualDrive you just have to switch the hubgear. I had no problems with the noise of the hub.
Here it is and away it went again. I liked the idea of less aerodynamic drag and a very comfortable ride. But the fun I experience with nearly all upright bikes was not there because of the insecure feeling while riding the recumbent.
HNF Heisenberg – Adventure