KMX trikes

Due to the references here a few times of these trikes I took a look at
the website. Tempting!! Does anyone here have any experience of these
and just how different is riding a recumbent? What about noxious fumes
being blown directly into your face? Is the weight a problem? 18kgs is
no lightweight, it's over half as much as my aged GT MTB.
As I wouldn't be able to try one out, I live in Japan, the collective
thoughts and observations would be welcomed.

AndyM

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:06:46 +0900, AndyM
wrote:

Due to the references here a few times of these trikes I took a look at
the website. Tempting!! Does anyone here have any experience of these
and just how different is riding a recumbent?

KMXs are not representative of 'bents in general, although they can be
fixed up for road use they are mainly for pleasure. For which, I have
to say, they are second to none - never try one if you don't have the
cash to buy there and then!

In terms of traffic fumes and 'bents in general, I've not found it a
problem. But Reading is not (quite!) as congested as most Japanese
cities.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

AndyM wrote:
Due to the references here a few times of these trikes I took a look at
the website. Tempting!! Does anyone here have any experience of these
and just how different is riding a recumbent?

"A recumbent" covers quite a variety of stuff so it's not too useful as
a general term. Stuff that will relate to some recumbents won't relate
to the KMX. Reviews in Velovision (http://www.velovision.com) have been
favourable but you have to match the cycle to what you're specifically
after. Although the KMX is a tadpole trike it doesn't have /that/ much
in common with, say, a Windcheetah. The Windcheetah costs a lot more
and is designed for (and is better at) quite specific things, so what
exactly are you after, besides a comfy seat?

What about noxious fumes being blown directly into your face?

Not IME the problem I thought it might be.

Is the weight a problem? 18kgs is no lightweight, it's over half as much
as my aged GT MTB.

The weight may or may not be a problem according to what you're doing.
The question really is does the weight go on things which are worthwhile
to you? My recumbent tourer is about 20Kg, and that is a bit of a drag
up a big hill, but it's that heavy because it has a lot of stuff that I
value more than being super light (very good full suspension, built like
a tank, heavy duty racks, very comfy hard shell seat, top notch dynohub
lighting). Swings and roundabouts, I'll put up with the weight and reap
the other benefits. If you want something light and fast then a KMX
probably isn't the one, but there are many 'bents closer to that with
their design goals to look at.

As I wouldn't be able to try one out, I live in Japan, the collective
thoughts and observations would be welcomed.

First thing is to decide what you're wanting out of the thing, and then
we can suggest if it's a good match to it, or if not then something else
that is. However, most of the recumbent folk here suggest try before
you buy with any 'bent so it might be worth seeing what local dealers
for /any/ 'bents you can find, which at least will give you a better
idea of how different they can be to ride.

Cycletech-Ikd
21 Takamatsucho Takasaki Gunma, 370-0829
Phone 027 324 2360 Fax 027 322 9399
Email
Web site www.ikd21.co.jp
Contact:- Jun Kataoka

is listed by Greenspeed (an Australian 'bent trike builder) as a
Japanese dealer. Might be close to you, if so, maybe get in touch...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:

KMXs are not representative of 'bents in general, although they can be
fixed up for road use they are mainly for pleasure. For which, I have
to say, they are second to none

I think that would depend largely on how one gets one's pleasure.

My Streetmachine is mainly for pleasure, notably the pleasure of cycle
touring moderate distances with or without loads. I don't really feel
any need to swap it for a KMX for that particular line of work. And so on.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch wrote:
Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:

KMXs are not representative of 'bents in general, although they can be
fixed up for road use they are mainly for pleasure. For which, I have
to say, they are second to none

I think that would depend largely on how one gets one's pleasure.

My Streetmachine is mainly for pleasure, notably the pleasure of cycle
touring moderate distances with or without loads. I don't really feel
any need to swap it for a KMX for that particular line of work. And so on.

Though for sheer fun the Trice were absolutely topping.. Much prefer
the hammock seat to the moulded one. (Yes I did manage to crash almost
every two wheeled 'bent I tried, including the hurricane and
grasshopper. I did manage to ride the Altena OK, and didn't get a shot
on the street machine. But the Trice was fantastic. )
+--------------------------------------+
\ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 /
\ 1 9 /
\ 0 / 10 /
\ GRIN-O-METER / /
\ / /
\ / /
\___________________/______/
\ /
\....................../

The KMX seems to have very little ground clearance which may be a
concern to some.

...d

Peter Clinch wrote:
AndyM wrote:

Due to the references here a few times of these trikes I took a look
at the website. Tempting!! Does anyone here have any experience of
these and just how different is riding a recumbent?


"A recumbent" covers quite a variety of stuff so it's not too useful as
a general term. Stuff that will relate to some recumbents won't relate
to the KMX. Reviews in Velovision (http://www.velovision.com) have been
favourable but you have to match the cycle to what you're specifically
after. Although the KMX is a tadpole trike it doesn't have /that/ much
in common with, say, a Windcheetah. The Windcheetah costs a lot more
and is designed for (and is better at) quite specific things, so what
exactly are you after, besides a comfy seat?

What about noxious fumes being blown directly into your face?


Not IME the problem I thought it might be.

Is the weight a problem? 18kgs is no lightweight, it's over half as much
as my aged GT MTB.


The weight may or may not be a problem according to what you're doing.
The question really is does the weight go on things which are worthwhile
to you? My recumbent tourer is about 20Kg, and that is a bit of a drag
up a big hill, but it's that heavy because it has a lot of stuff that I
value more than being super light (very good full suspension, built like
a tank, heavy duty racks, very comfy hard shell seat, top notch dynohub
lighting). Swings and roundabouts, I'll put up with the weight and reap
the other benefits. If you want something light and fast then a KMX
probably isn't the one, but there are many 'bents closer to that with
their design goals to look at.

As I wouldn't be able to try one out, I live in Japan, the collective
thoughts and observations would be welcomed.


First thing is to decide what you're wanting out of the thing, and then
we can suggest if it's a good match to it, or if not then something else
that is. However, most of the recumbent folk here suggest try before
you buy with any 'bent so it might be worth seeing what local dealers
for /any/ 'bents you can find, which at least will give you a better
idea of how different they can be to ride.

Cycletech-Ikd
21 Takamatsucho Takasaki Gunma, 370-0829
Phone 027 324 2360 Fax 027 322 9399
Email
Web site www.ikd21.co.jp
Contact:- Jun Kataoka

is listed by Greenspeed (an Australian 'bent trike builder) as a
Japanese dealer. Might be close to you, if so, maybe get in touch...

Pete.
Thanks for that Pete!! It is sort of close (about 150-160kms).
As to what purpose... well I've been looking at getting a new bike as my
current bike is getting old and further upgrading doesn't make too much
sense (although that won't stop me;-)). As most of my riding is on
mostly paved surfaces for commutes (about 25kms each way) and longish
distances (100kms+). I can't make my mind up about a road bike, so
getting something like the KMX might be a fun alternative. They're not
too much money, unlike a Trice, so if I don't like it I haven't lost much.

Thanks,
AndyM