The BikeE CT 2.0
The Best Deal on the Recumbent Planet
by Robert J. Bryant
BikeE is the first and foremost entry level recumbent manufacturer. They have specialized in compact (CWB) recumbents and have refined them into a near art form. Nobody in the industry nor in the world is as committed to entry level, easy-to-ride recumbents for the massesespecially at such low prices.
The BikeE CT is an exceptional buy. It even has some improvements over previous versions. The main difference between the new $650 CT and previous BikeE hard-tails is that the CTs are now fully manufactured in the Giant bicycle factory in Taiwan.
FRAME
The new BikeE mainframe extrusion is nearly identical to its US built counterpart (98 model). Odd as it may sound, it feels different to the touch. The Taiwan CTs are polished in Coke-can hues of red and blue. It is not bad, just different. The polish tends to show the imperfections in the finish more than the built-in-Corvallis BikeEs with their brushed finish. Personally, I miss the brushed aluminum. Also gone is the love-it or hate-it purple finish.
The seat frame, handlebars and other bits once built state side of stainless steel are now imported CroMo and HiTen steel with an electro-alloy finish. The new fork is nice as well. It has a cast crown and there is plenty of clearance for the tiny 305mm Primo V-Monster (or optional Primo Comet tires) and a fender if you like.
The CT comes in an XL frame size, recommended for those +/- 6 tall. Our CT XL weighed 32 pounds.
DRIVETRAIN
The Sachs (SRAM) 3x7 is a time proven friend that is tops in user-friendliness. We didnt know how much until we found ourselves shifting more with the new BikeE NXs Mountain Drive (with fewer gears). Almost overnight the 3x7 hub has become more difficult to find (though not according to Angletech, Bike Friday or BikeE) and could even considered outdated in this new era of 9/27 speed recumbents.
The 3x7 is for the most part an easy-to-use trouble free systemand is an outright bargain on this $650 BikeE. One case of a 3x7 problem that I know of is Kent Petersons son Peters BikeE. At 5,000 miles it dropped its bearings all over the ground. When I asked Greengear about 3x7 problems, they said that they were almost nonexistent. Our 3x7 was completely problem free. The Sachs twist grips shifted the 3x7 21-speed perfectly. It shifts easily and there is nothing better for the entry-level enthusiasts.
The Dotek crank has become par for the course for recumbents under $1000. Even the Rans Tailwind and Rocket have the same crankset. The Dotek seems to wear just fine, as long as the crank spins true (stand over the crank and spin pedals to make sure the chainrings are straight). Little has changed in the inner workings of the BikeE drivetrainit is even better at $650.
STOPPERS
New for this year are the Alhonga linear pull brakes. The front is especially weird and wonderful. I guess we can call it a semi-linear pull (semi-V). Combined with the inexpensive Tektro levers, the brakes feel a bit mushy, though the stopping power is incredibly good. It is also a no-brainer to stop a BikeE. You can apply both brakes full force. Our test Alhongas were flawless during the test and I like them a lot. These new brakes also come outfitted on the suspension AT as well.
CT SEAT
The CT 2.0 gets BikeEs Original seat which most users consider not to be the most comfy recumbent seat for miles on end, though adequate for shorter rides andmost would agreebetter than a wedgie.
CT UPGRADE PATHS
Once you buy a CT, there are some interesting upgrade paths for seat pads, seats, and frames.
--The Sweet Seat Base is available for $50 retail and will bolt on to your existing CT seat frame in minutes.
--The Sweet Seat is not an option on the CT, though it can be purchased separately for $249. There are some incentives which have some dealers offering them as low as $199 and some dealers may take your CT seat in trade (the best trade-in was offered by People Movers$100, for a perfect CT seat). The downside is that a BikeE AT with rear suspension and a Sweet Seat sells for $1099. Think about this before you buy the CT. The AT is a superior bike from a comfort perspective.
--An AT Suspension Frame Upgrade is available for $499.
--EZ Rider Cycles offers a CT seat extension kit for $35. This combined with the Sweet Seat base will make for a low cost seat upgrade.
--3x7 Woes: BikeE has replacement wheels in stock. Some owners have added a double crankset up front for two gear ranges. Still others shift the crank by grabbing the chain tube. Fools Crow offers a front derailleur tube mounting kit and then there is the Schlumpf.
CT 2.0 WOES?
All considered, the transformation to Taiwan production has gone fairly smoothly. From a road test perspective, the biggest glitch that we have seen is the BikeE kickstand. Gone is the neat integral inverted kickstand pedestal mount. Weve had trouble keeping the new one tight, though BikeEs Lee Eckroth has told us that there has already been an update for this problem.
From a dealer/customer perspective, the main issue is that CTs are assembled in Taiwan and shipped to the USA. They dont come out of the box until they get to the dealer. If you have a lame dealer who doesnt go beyond the call of duty during set-up you end up with a broken spoke or some other little problem that turns into big problems to the retail paying customer. BikeE is a very proactive companycall them if you are having a problem. Lastly, this is not a bike that I would recommend buying mail-order. Find a local dealer.
VERDICT
BikeE still owns the compact genre of recumbent bikesand the CT is the best deal on the recumbent planet. For an entry level riderit will be a barco-lounger on wheels and put smiles on many users faces. BikeE has become the industrys beloved manufacturer. They are bringing recumbent fun to the masses and have done a lot to promote recumbents taking many along for the ride. There have been some real improvements in BikeEs technology over the past two years, though I will miss the old built in Corvallis, Oregon BikeE. I guess that this is progress. The imported version is less expensiveand built in Oregon is still available at a price (NX). Our CTs drivetrain performance and all systems performed flawlessly (except for the kickstand). With the introduction of the new Sweet Seat, I dont much care for the old style CT seatthough many still doand now there some other new seat possibilities (Sweet Seat Base/seat back kit). The only downside is that the hard tail CT rides well, um, hard in comparison to the silky smoothness of the AT.
The EASY to use BikeE ride and feel is alive and well in the CT 2.0. Aside from the like it or dont Taiwan cosmetics, the CTs is enough improved and with a lower price that should make it a best selling favorite. The CT is recumbent simplicity at its finest. We hope BikeE sells boatloads of these $650 bents.
UPDATES
BikeE says that AT (rear suspension BikeE) and CT sales are split equally. My local dealer says that the ATs are very popular, and most recumbent customers are opting for the pricier cush of the AT. After riding a $695 Rans Wave, I would say that Rans will be giving the CT a run for the money. The Wave has a non-3x7 drivetrain with a front derailleur, lower gearing, but a killer Rans seatwhich makes the bike. The Wave is TIG (pulse) welded CroMo steel and is painted a beautiful blue color. WOW!
BikeE CT RATINGS
Chain Management (idlers, chain noise, chain line)A
Drivetrain PerformanceA
Drivetrain RatingB
Brakes/BrakingA
Finish QualityB-
Comfort RatingC (Easily upgradeable)
Rider ErgonomicsUpright seat, low bottom bracket=open and very user friendly riding position.
Best UseNew rider, recreational, commuter, bike trail, fun bike.
Best Rider Type/SizeFits most riders well if sized properly.
Recommended Weak Points/UpgradesThese are not the worlds greatest components, though exceptional for a $650 bike. Our test bikes kickstand did not work.
Market ComparisonsThe new Rans Wave has a better seat at $695.
Performance PotentialC
RCN Bob RatingB
THUMBS UP
Fantastic Price
Easy to ride
Easy to own
Idler-less drivetrain and cool chain tubes
Cheap Alonga V-brakes, mushy (anti-lock?), but strong
3x7 21-speed (easy to use)
THUMBS DOWN
Kickstand mount on our CT needs work
Old low back, small base seat
Made in Taiwan finish and detail work as not as the Corvallis, Oregon build
Taiwan preassembly is not as good (find a good dealer)
Is it just me, or are 3x7 21-speeds losing their luster?
This BikeEs is not fast....sorry, its true
Our CT 2.0 XL is kinda heavy
Imagine my surprise when I opened the box containing our Next Generation BikeE NX 5.0 test bike, and it was not the same bike that we previewed at Interbike Las Vegas. Its a new updated, and more aggressive BikeE design! The bottom bracket has been moved higher and farther forward so it is directly behind the headtube, whose angle is 2 degrees steeper, and the wheelbase has been shortened two inches. The NX has the coolest component package on the bent planet, a new recontoured Race-Tail frame, the high-back Sweet Seat and a new handlebar and top-loading stem. The new changes transform the bike from a laid back, easy-to-ride, low-to-the-ground comfort bent, to a more aggressive (though still friendly) medium wheelbase (MWB) performance stance.
FRAME & PARTS
The NX is the only BikeE that is built in the USA using a USA built frame extrusion. Since the NX has a different frame geometry, this model cannot share mainframe frame parts with the AT 3.0 or CT 2.0. The top-loader stem allows owners to install their choice of handlebar. The stock bars are aluminum with a rise and a reach to bring them closer to the rider. The swing arm and suspension technology are directly off the AT 3.0. The Cane Creek AD5 shock on the BikeE offers one of the smoothest suspended rides in recumbency. The fork is CroMo built in Corvallis with Hayes disk brake mounts brazed on. This fork is made to accept the taller 349mm 16 wheel, and it has a more attractive finish than the CT/AT fork.
In the NX R & D, designer Paul Atwood utilized morphy, a test bike that has a completely adjustable riding position. He can tweak the wheelbase, headtube angle, seat position and BB height to find the NX perfection. And that is how the NX came to be.
ULTRA TRICK DRIVETRAIN
The NX offers the most unique spec and drivetrain of any bike built on American soil in 1999. The NX has an SRAM Grip Shift ESP 7.0 shifter and rear derailleur. The chain is the new SRAM chain (formerly Sachs) which is the BMW of bicycle chains. Having the 1999 ESP here alongside Shimano Rapidfire, I must waffle and tell you that I prefer the quick shifting of the ESP. However, the design of the ESP derailleur does make it more difficult to pull the rear wheel out of the dropouts.
The real sweet spot of the NX is a neat little gizmo called the Schlumpf Mountain Drive (SMD). The SMD has a two speed planetary gear bottom bracket gearing system with a one-chainring crankset. The crankset itself is just average, though the guts are incredible. The SMD can be shifted on the fly or at a stop. You just click your heels together and say, theres no place like home... Oops, wrong instructions. There is a neat button placed where the dust cap should be on the end of the crank spindle (axle). You just click it with your heel as you pedal. It sounds odd, but its simple, unique and EASY to do. The gear range is very wide: the low range is 1:1 and the high is a 1:1.65 offering 16 evenly spaced wide range gears in a simple to use drivetrain. Most riders notice the drag of a 3x7 hub. There doesnt seem to be as much drag in the SMD (though more than with just a derailleur). SMD reports that the Mountain Drive is 95-97% efficient.
This is the coolest component Ive tested in years. If they were cheaper and readily available, Id have one on every bike. They currently cost about $500 retail and require some bottom bracket modification with a special tool that I dont have.
The Hayes Hydraulic disk brakes are equally slick. They stop on a dime and we did not have have any rim squeal. Wet weather braking is fantastic. They do have an interesting metallic sound to them as they workand disks modulate different than other bicycle brakes.
Hayes earned its name as a leader in hydraulic brakes by being the primary supplier of brakes for Harley Davidson motorcyclesand they stop better than any bicycle brake Ive tried! They wont gouge your rims and they stop fantastic in the rain.
Is there a downside? Possibly. First, they use DOT brake fluid (like a car, yuck!). Our Hayes brakes were perfect for three rides over about 40 miles and then we noticed some dragging on the front disk. When I looked in the Hayes manual under troubleshooting, it said, re-center the caliper, and push pistons back. Well, this is beyond me. Im still learning how to work on V-brakes.
The Hayes brakes are high tech and not every bike shop/mechanic will be able to fix them, adjust them or set them up. Disk pads will be requiredso youd better hope that they dont pull the planned obsolescence game. Are they necessary? No. I liked the low-tech Alhongas on the CT/AT, so these pricey disks may be wizbang overkill for some.
The wheelset is a surprise. BikeE has a matching Primo Comet tire set in 451mm 20 (same as a Gold Rush front tire) and a 349mm 16 front wheel (same as a Vision or Haluzak use). The jump from the 305 16 on the CT/AT to the 349 raised the BB up three inches by itself. The 451mm is quickly becoming a dinosaur. Gardner Martin (Easy Racers) will be glad to hear that somebody else is using it. This is truly the best performance wheelset the NX could hope to have. Honestly, I had to be told that the rear wheel was a 451, as Primo Comets are available in 305 and 349mm 16 and 406 and 451mm 20 tires. For all of you who disdain the 451mm size, rest assured that with the Hayes disk brakes, a 406mm/305mm NX can be ordered from BikeE (the wheelsets interchange due to the disk brakes).
A SWEET SEAT!
The back is talllike a Rans seat backwith no apparent seat stays. The seat braces are expertly hidden within the structure of the seat. Our initial experience with the Sweet Seat was that it flexed and twisted on the frame more so than the previous seat. When our NX arrivedit had a new delrin pieces on the seat quick release that keeps the seat 30% stiffer on the frame. There is also an improved cross support that helps. You wont find it as stiff seats with external braces, but the slide/adjustment works great, is more user-friendly and definitely worthwhile on the BikeE. This sliding seat adjustment is better than any other on the planet. It puts other similar designs to shame and makes adjustable booms, boom bolts and adjusting chain lengths for different riders (none of which you have to mess with on a BikeE) look like an amateur hour at the recumbent design contest.
There is no visible recline adjustment; however, each of the seat quick releases have an upper and lower position. Placing the front QR in the higher position and the rear in the lower position, the seat reclines very well.
The seat base is wider and has more foam. It is cupped and flaired and holds your rear snugly. I think that this base is a marked improvement, however, more so on the AT than the NX. Most riders will agree to this, though I have heard comments that it looks the same as the old base, the new base isnt large enough, or that the new base isnt enough of a change. The bottom line for me is that I find a lot of difference in the way it cups my tail section. I am much more comfortable on the Sweet Seatespecially on the AT. However, I hope BikeE does come out with an XL seat base some dayBikeE seat bases have always been a bit on the small side. The Sweet Seat will be at its comfortable best on a properly sized CT/AT (tall riders go XL).
NX ERGONOMICS
The NX ergonomics are different than the CT/AT. The seat height is rather high for a performance bikeat 28-29, it is 2 higher than a CT/AT. The bottom bracket (BB) is 4 inches higher (though still lower than the seat) and the two degree more upright head tube places the controls farther away from the rider. The NX almost begs for a semi-lean forward performance crouch (similar to the low handlebar RoadE). With the more upright head tube, the most reclinable (laid back) position of the Sweet Seat may not be able to be utilized on the NXat least with the handlebars on our test bike and with some taller riders (see verdict). The NX ergonomics are different, more extreme and more performance oriented than the CT/AT.
THE RIDE
The BikeE CT/AT has a feel like a mini-LWB. The bike feels low and the controls are close, thanks to the laid back head angle. The NXs more upright headtube changes the reach to the controlsas well as the handling of the bike. It doesnt feel like any compact youve ridden before. It feels like a medium wheelbase (MWB).
The NX has a more neutral feel than the CT/AT. It has a unique stable feel about it. It is light feeling, sure footed, and nimble. This geometry is complimented by the Primo Comet tire set.
My starts and stops were initially more difficult due to the higher BB. Since I was on a standard size frame (which I officially fit but didnt really fit), I was getting some suspension pogo on fast accelerating starts and hill climbs. The design itself does not seem to induce pogoing of the suspension, though incorrect sizing will. This is one bike to buy large size.
I think for urban/city/recreational riding this is as good as it gets (though I might opt for the fat tire set). The bike is small, compact and offers great low, medium and high speed handling. The NX can turn on a dime and is an exceptional low speed balancera trait that gives it the edge well over any of the bad habits of LWB recumbents. As for SWB comparisons, there is no boom or front wheel interference with the NX. There is no boom flex, because there is no boom. The NX extrusion is very stiff, combined with the refined and cush BikeE rear air-suspension. This is one of those rare recumbents that people will be able to ride with no hands once they get accustomed to the bike.
PERFORMANCE
When I first read the BikeE NX press release, I wondered to myself what BikeE could do to improve performance. I personally dont think the high-tech brakes on the Schlumpf will make it go much faster, and our test example is not a light bike (though lighter than our test Gold Rush or Rans Stratus). BikeE has never been known as a builder of high performance recumbentsthough this is a high performance BikeE.
I found the NX to be a good performer. Over my winter test loop, which is 13-18 miles of the Soos Creek Trail and backroads from my house to Lake Meridian in Kent, Washington, it performed every bit as well as any recumbent I ride on this course. The NX felt more stable than most SWB, and more nimble than any bike I currently ride on this test course. The one hesitation I have is that your performance will rely on the use of the rather skinny, kinda wimpy Primo Comet tires.
BikeEs fairing will fit the NX, however, it may not fit as well (due to the more upright headtube angle of the NX). And the BikeE Zzipper has never offered as much boost as compared to other recumbents (positioned fairly upright). The NX has a more upright riding headtube, thus upright bar/stem will have the fairing more upright. The higher BB cleans up the aerodynamics. It is my guess that a tailbox would be a great add on (see Kents tailbox article RCN#44).
VERDICT
I give this bike a thumbs upwith some ergonomic qualifications. It is the most interesting new design to come through our doors in a while. BikeEs mission for this bike is to attract BikeE owners who love their CT/AT but are considering moving upscale, either in spec or performance (or both). The NX fills the niche for an enthusiast performance BikeE very well. However, some riders may be put off by the drastic change and may not want to change to the more aggressive NX geometry.
The components might even be too high tech for BikeE lovers. I actually shifted more with the Schlumpf, more than I would have with the stock 3x7. Also, you need to nearly stop pedaling to click the shift buttonwhich may be annoying to super-enthusiast types. The disk brakes are very cool, but they are overkill. Especially now with the cheap and powerful Alhongas on the CT/AT.
Our most critical point (and above qualification) about the NX is with the seat recline/reach to the controls issue. On our NX, I am skirting the outside edge of an acceptable reach. When I reclined the seat to my liking I was hyper-extending to reach the controls. Some shorter riders did not have this problem. Our local AT rider, Tim Koffley, is 61 and has a similar x-seam to mine. He had a hyper-extension problem on the NX as well. When we placed the Sweet Seat on his AT 3.0, he had a reach problem which forced him into riding with the seat more upright or an incorrect leg extension, neither of which is acceptable (Tim took a ride on the Sweet Seat and opted for the EZ Rider seat extension kit along with a Sweet Seat basesee pages 6 & 13).
The new Top Loader stem offers the possibility of easily changing out the handlebars. With our test bikes handlebars, riders in the 6 range may have a bar-reach extension problemor possibly be required to ride in a more upright seat position than they prefer. We expressed our ergonomic concerns to BikeE. Just as we were going to press they announced that they would be using a higher rise bar that sweeps back and brings the controls closer than the one on our test bikethat brings ergonomics more in accordance with the magic 90-degree arm bend. Unfortunately, we were not able to try the NX with the most recent handlebars. They are different than those pictured in this issue of RCN.
Our standard NX test bike accepts riders well over 6 tall. As with the CT/AT, I quickly found that the optional XLs 4 of additional wheelbase improved my center of gravity, and made things better for me. On the standard frame, my front wheel felt light, and could easily bunny hop the front wheel on steep climbs. Even so, I love the handling feel of the NX. From my past experience, the XL is the way to go if you are anywhere near 6 (or over unless you ride in flat area, are a very light rider or are bike weight/size conscious).
The promised weight loss of the NX that was supposed to aid in performance has yet to come true. Our NX was a shade heavier than its projected weight of 30 pounds (production #1).
THE COMPANY
As recumbent manufacturers go, I love dealing with BikeE. They are about the most proactive in the business (tie with Rans). Their response to our ergonomic concerns was incredibly fast and effective (though not fast enough for us to get the new bars on our test bike). They listen, have meetings, make updates and make our work seem worthwhile. If you have input for BikeE, I say let them knowBikeE listens. The quality of my NX, the paint, the parts, the build quality and the way the bike went together was incredible. We just dont have trouble with BikeEs. Setting up the NX took exactly 15 minutes from box to road, complete with fine-tuning Bob-adjustments. The average time we spend for that here is probably two hoursand sometimes we get a bad one that takes days of messing with. If I did have a problem, question, concern or need an additional part, they are available on the phone or via email and things move very quickly. BikeE is a progressive company that is serious about selling good and affordable bikes at all levels of recumbency.
So, will it be faster than a speeding Colnago, Gold Rush Replica or P-38? I would bet notbut who cares. Racers on speeding Colnagos should stay on them. A real roadie is the toughest potential recumbent performance convert. It takes an exceptionally fast bent and rider to keep up with the peloton. The NX performs better than the CT/AT. Riders who love BikeE and want a more aggressive, state-of-the-art performance BikeE (or recumbent) will love the NX.
It will be interesting to see how many people out there are interested in this new $2000 high-tech model. The NX left me with the impression that the $650 3x7 equipped CT is the best deal on the recumbent planetand the AT is a supreme bargain at $100 over 1/2 the cost of the new NXthough the NX is an impressive new model.
Im sure that the laid back CT/AT style will continue to be the most popular BikeE model. BikeE owns the compact recumbent style. They are more committed than any other manufacturer. They continue to refine their designs and improve their bikes. There is no doubting the fact that this is the Next Generation BikeE.
UPDATE
BikeE has made a rise handlebar standard which seems to have eliminated the reach concernes with this model. The NX stem and handlebars are available options for those who would like to add them to their BikeE CT or AT. In test riding a new production NX recently, I stand firm on my sizing comments. With the shortened NX wheelbase, tall riders need to pay special attention to proper sizing. Tall riders, if you are near 6 feet tall, consider the XL frame.
ACCESS
BikeE Corporation
Address: 5125 SW Hout St.
Corvallis, OR 97333
Tel.1-800-231-3136
www.bikee.com
Schlumpf Ing.
Ch-7324 Vilters
Switzerland
www.schlumpf.ch
BikeE NX RATINGS
Chain Management (idlers, chain noise, chain line)A
Drivetrain PerformanceA
Drivetrain RatingA
Brakes/BrakingA
Finish QualityA
Comfort RatingBack A; Base B
Rider ErgonomicsUpright seat, low bottom bracket=open riding position (though a higher BB, more aggressive position than the CT/AT).
Best UseThe ultimate BikeE for the compact technoweenie.
Best Rider Type/SizeMedium size, or XL frame
Recommended Weak Points/UpgradesI do have ergonomic concerns. The new Seat can be reclined more and the headtube angle is steeper. Thus, the controls are farther away from the rider. This can be solved by different bars or a pull back stem.
Comparison to Market CompetitionVision R32 is less expensive and has full suspension, though uses lower line componentry and a 3x7.
Performance PotentialB
RCN Bob RatingA
THUMBS UP
Advanced new BikeE geometry
The most high-tech drivetrain available
Easy to ride/Best of SWB & LWB in a MWB
Idler-less drivetrain runs smooth
Disk Brakes are high tech, cool and stop fast!
Built/assembled in Corvallis
THUMBS DOWN
Sweet Seat base is still a bit small
Possible control reach problems (new bars should help)
May be too high tech (I didnt want to ride this bike in the rain)
High performance requires skinny Primo Comet 451/349 tires.
Not as fast as a Gold Rush or speeding Colnago (wedgie)
