Hi all,

thinking of a new trike and came across these [www.buybuybicycles.com] worth a look or stick to the main brands ?

cheers

Russell

BROL Bent Riders Online, an American forum has a few threads on the Mantis. IIRC the main issues are:-
1. They come with 451 wheels, rather than the more common 406 that most '20"' are these days. So tyre choice isn't as wide.
2. Difficulty in fitting the mudguards which are extras.

The wheel size is the one I'd worry about, Westcountry Recumbents offer 451 tyres and tubes, so look there for the choices you'll have. As 406 is the standard BMX standard you can get tubes and tyres online from dozens of suppliers and from your LBS.

"I thought of that while riding my bike." --Albert Einstein, on the Theory of Relativity

2007 ICE QNT
2008 Hase Kettwiesel AL27
2011 Catrike Trail.
1951 Engine in need of partial rebuild.

Thanks Geoff, well spotted.

I want to use it on forest trails, saw these tyres that may do the job - [www.sjscycles.co.uk]

cheers

No worries. The thing is in 406 you have a huge choice. 451s are few and far between in comparison. I don't think you'll ever not be able to get 451s, of some sort or another. It's just that you'll need to mail order them. For trails, I like Big Apples, OK so long as you are nor trying to climb on a loose surface, as they don;t have much tread, but they roll well on and off road. You can get some really aggressively treaded 406s, designed for BMX traction in mud!
If push came to shove you could always rebuild the wheels with 406 rims.

The rest of the specification is cheap and cheerful IIRC and anyway as parts wear out you can upgrade to better components. As is it'll work and there's nothing that stands out as needing immediate replacement.

As a cheapish way into recumbents it is OK, so long as the fairly easy assembly is within your abilities. However maybe, as a percentage of its original price, it won't hold its resale value as well as a more expensive trike. Only you can know if this will be an issue.

I nearly bought one as trike number three and was put off by the wheel size as everything we ride, bar a 700C bike of my wife's is 406 wheeled.

"I thought of that while riding my bike." --Albert Einstein, on the Theory of Relativity

2007 ICE QNT
2008 Hase Kettwiesel AL27
2011 Catrike Trail.
1951 Engine in need of partial rebuild.

I think 451 is the size for "Super BMX" or some such similar name - ie BMX for bigger people. There should be a fair selection of rims and off road style tyres in that size - admittedly 406 has the bigger proportion of the market. But it should mean that 451 isn't extinct. The problem is identifying the tyres you want: some retailers, eg Chain Reaction Cycles, don't use the ETRO rim size and instead describe both sizes as 20" - however 406 tyres are described with a decimal (eg 20x1.5", 20x1.95") whilst 451 tyres are described with a fraction (eg 20x 1 3/8", 20x 1 5/8"). But best to double check before you buy.

Which is fine in principle Hercule, until a manufacturer gets it wrong...
Continental were doing the 406 Conti GP with label reading 20 x 1 1/8" last time I tried one.
Always go by the ERTRO.
Rob
wrhpv.com