I also have a HP Velotechnik StreetMachine GTE. Mine is equipped with a Rohloff speed hub. I really like this recumbent it's stable and maneuverable. Great video nicely put together! I hope to cycle the USA some day but for now I enjoy the comfortable cycling paths in my own country (The Netherlands)
Love mine. Another note of interest for others is that it accepts a wide range of tire widths. I run 2" tires because I mostly ride gravel and trails. Regarding rider height, I am 5'6" and do find it challenging to reach the ground, made worse by having the other seat you showed. I wear lug-soled hiking shoes to reach the ground and still have to plan ahead for stops. The seat you have is better for shorter riders, but it probably still sits too high for anyone under 5'6".
Really informative video. I have been riding a Speedmachine since 2015 and love it. I have got comparatively short legs, so it works better for me than the Streetmachine. I have the long stand, bolted onto the frame: it’s a bit too short when I am loaded with touring gear, so I have to be careful how I park. Otherwise equipped with SRAM gears with an oversize rear 1st gear, SRAM brakes (a bit mushy, but they stop fine), normal rear shock, front shock, mudguards, and rear rack, sport seat with mesh. The Velotechnik support has been great, and I am lucky to live only 200m away from them! Looking forward to their open days on 2nd of July 😎
Recently I bought a 1 year old (500km) Speedmachine with Rohloff for a good price. It has that low steering as well. It's a great bike but takes some time for learning.
Mark, HP offers the Pinion as an option and they provide a special boom to mount the gearbox as well as a custom tensioner and drive gear in the back. Everything on the bike is available from HP.
Dios mío...que bicicleta!!..siempre fue mi sueño la street machine, pero ahora pandemia, alzas de precios y una serie de etc... etc, creo ya será difícil tener una de estas maravillas.
Very useful, many thanks for this1 I've read that the kick stand mounted on the low rack isn't good at holding the bike up, especially wh=ith panniers loaded at the rear. Any thoughts please?
Both kickstand options are good, but the shorter one is stronger and more stable with loaded paniers. When I was ordering the bike, I asked HP what was better for loads and they said the low rack kickstand. I have found it to be very stable with loads.The longer kickstand puts the bike at more of an angle which might not handle heavy loads on the rear rack as well.
@@BentRevolution Thanks very much for this - useful feedback. So you would recommend the low rack with stand , not only for the stand, but also for the convenience of having a small pannier within easy reach below the seat for essentials, is that correct? I assume it doesn't add too much weight.
I’m newly researching recumbent bikes and trikes. What is the ballpark price of this bike as equipped? Also what was your deciding factor over a trike or did you even consider them? Thanks
The base price of the bike is around $4,400, but with all the equipment on my bike it would cost around $8,000. The Pinion box is around $2,000 by itself. I had a CruzBike S40 before this and really liked it, but this bike has full suspension which makes it really great. The trike equivalent would be the HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26.
Can I ask about the idler pulley, (on a standard geared bike). I have just got a used GT, the rubber fell out of the idler, so it is making a lot of noise. Just wondering if I can remove it all together, as the chain line seems almost straight. Or will this create other issues? Also the guide tubes are noisy, I think it is the upper rear. Can the rear ones be shortened so that they just cover the tyre? Many thanks, hope you don’t mind me picking your brain and drawing on your experience
I wear a helmet if I am riding a traditional bike or if I am in a high-traffic area. Most of my riding is on lightly-traveled roads or bike paths. Recumbents don't really produce head injury-type crashes. I wear gloves if it is cold which is almost never in Florida :)
I love your video - waiting on a truck with MY StreetMachine. c'mon, c"mon, c'mon. I'm 71, riding these bikes.....feels like 12 again
I also have a HP Velotechnik StreetMachine GTE. Mine is equipped with a Rohloff speed hub. I really like this recumbent it's stable and maneuverable. Great video nicely put together! I hope to cycle the USA some day but for now I enjoy the comfortable cycling paths in my own country (The Netherlands)
Love mine. Another note of interest for others is that it accepts a wide range of tire widths. I run 2" tires because I mostly ride gravel and trails.
Regarding rider height, I am 5'6" and do find it challenging to reach the ground, made worse by having the other seat you showed. I wear lug-soled hiking shoes to reach the ground and still have to plan ahead for stops. The seat you have is better for shorter riders, but it probably still sits too high for anyone under 5'6".
Really informative video. I have been riding a Speedmachine since 2015 and love it. I have got comparatively short legs, so it works better for me than the Streetmachine. I have the long stand, bolted onto the frame: it’s a bit too short when I am loaded with touring gear, so I have to be careful how I park. Otherwise equipped with SRAM gears with an oversize rear 1st gear, SRAM brakes (a bit mushy, but they stop fine), normal rear shock, front shock, mudguards, and rear rack, sport seat with mesh. The Velotechnik support has been great, and I am lucky to live only 200m away from them! Looking forward to their open days on 2nd of July 😎
Recently I bought a 1 year old (500km) Speedmachine with Rohloff for a good price. It has that low steering as well. It's a great bike but takes some time for learning.
Rohloff is a great gearbox.
I’m also in Florida, riding a street machine as well, mine is a bit older, we should ride sometime!
Nice. Was the Pinion a standard option? Be interesting to see what you did at the rear end.
Mark, HP offers the Pinion as an option and they provide a special boom to mount the gearbox as well as a custom tensioner and drive gear in the back. Everything on the bike is available from HP.
Dios mío...que bicicleta!!..siempre fue mi sueño la street machine, pero ahora pandemia, alzas de precios y una serie de etc... etc, creo ya será difícil tener una de estas maravillas.
Which recumbent bike would you recommend for somebody 5’4” height?
Very useful, many thanks for this1 I've read that the kick stand mounted on the low rack isn't good at holding the bike up, especially wh=ith panniers loaded at the rear. Any thoughts please?
Both kickstand options are good, but the shorter one is stronger and more stable with loaded paniers. When I was ordering the bike, I asked HP what was better for loads and they said the low rack kickstand. I have found it to be very stable with loads.The longer kickstand puts the bike at more of an angle which might not handle heavy loads on the rear rack as well.
@@BentRevolution Thanks very much for this - useful feedback. So you would recommend the low rack with stand , not only for the stand, but also for the convenience of having a small pannier within easy reach below the seat for essentials, is that correct? I assume it doesn't add too much weight.
@@andrewopie8688 Yes, I really like the low rack for those reasons.
@@BentRevolution Many thanks for the prompt reply. Very helpful)
Cruzbike s40 vs StreetMachine? Which do you prefer and why?
I have had both bikes at different times and like both. I like the StreetMachine a bit better because of the full suspension.
A fellow bent Ryder out at Howard Park I see.....
I’m newly researching recumbent bikes and trikes.
What is the ballpark price of this bike as equipped?
Also what was your deciding factor over a trike or did you even consider them?
Thanks
The base price of the bike is around $4,400, but with all the equipment on my bike it would cost around $8,000. The Pinion box is around $2,000 by itself. I had a CruzBike S40 before this and really liked it, but this bike has full suspension which makes it really great. The trike equivalent would be the HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26.
@@BentRevolution excellent. Thank You
Can I ask about the idler pulley, (on a standard geared bike). I have just got a used GT, the rubber fell out of the idler, so it is making a lot of noise. Just wondering if I can remove it all together, as the chain line seems almost straight. Or will this create other issues?
Also the guide tubes are noisy, I think it is the upper rear. Can the rear ones be shortened so that they just cover the tyre?
Many thanks, hope you don’t mind me picking your brain and drawing on your experience
I would suggest getting a replacement idler from T-cycle.com. The idler is important for proper tension on the chain.
I have seen a couple of your videos. Do you ever wear a helmet, gloves ?
I wear a helmet if I am riding a traditional bike or if I am in a high-traffic area. Most of my riding is on lightly-traveled roads or bike paths. Recumbents don't really produce head injury-type crashes. I wear gloves if it is cold which is almost never in Florida :)
Does this guy even own a pair of socks?
I have some socks, but save them for special occasions.