Strengths: Solid company reputation; sweet riding chromoly steel frame; excellent paint and weld finish; comfortable, natural seating position; adjustable handlebar/seat; excellent component group; lightweight (30lbs) for a LWB; many accessories available through ER; wonderful ERRC community, newsletter, internet group. Did I mention the bike is FAST? Plus, you are "fit" to this bike based on your x-seam...guidelines to do this are on the Easy Racers homepage. I am short (5'4") and the last thing I wanted was a LWB bent that was too big and too cumbersome for me to manage. This one felt "right" the moment I sat on it and accelerated. It's as responsive, and yet stable, to the pedal stroke as my Rocket. It just coasts and coasts. Everything is available to you through ER to set it up to do just what it's named for: tour. Yet it is a great "fun" bent...recreational use, commuting, whatever. I rode it 20 miles first time out and never felt "recumbutt"...got the seat slightly reclined. Just as comfortable as my RANS seat. I haven't had to call, but I hear the customer support in CA is of the highest quality in response to phone calls.
Weaknesses: Thought the LWB would be a transport nightmare, but it slides right into my mini-van & I have already done study that shows it will do ok on a trunk rack or roof rack, if I needed to haul it that way. No other weaknesses...just wonderful. You do have to practice piloting a LWB after being on a SWB, but I am improving...wide turns, wide turns...Only other weakness is that I am neglecting my other bent...is this a weakness?
Bottom Line:
I already own a RANS Rocket SWB, but I wanted a LWB for extended rides and to fulfill my dreams of bent touring. The Tour Easy is a "classic" and it's "easy" to see why. It is lightweight, totally user friendly, responsive, smooth riding, and FAST. Totally comfortable seat and handlebar set up. It's just like sitting on a "chopper" and I like that I can put my feet flat on the ground with a natural, comfortable arm position. It's effortless to peddle, though I'm still getting used to "shoving off". When you join the ERRC and get the magazine, you realize that you have "come into the fold", so to speak. It's like being among the "Harley riders" of bentdom or something. Now one of my goals is to tour the Easy Racers factory and meet the ER family and head guru, Gardner Martin. Some day! Now "read my lips" people: I will NEVER sell my Tour Easy. It's a "bent for life" bent. Could not be happier on a Fold or Gold Rush. I love the feel of steel and it's just what I wanted, but never dreamed existed in a LWB. I thought all of them would be big, heavy, air-liner type bents. Not this baby. She's a little red sports car! Zoom zoom zoom...
Similar Products Used: Own a RANS Rocket also. Have owned RANS V-Rex, BikeE AT, and CTs. Test ridden Tailwind, Burley Koosah/Jett Creek, RANS V2, EZ Sport & Sport Limited. None of them felt "right" like the Tour Easy. It's a lot to pay for a bike, but well worth it for a life-time purchase.
Bike Setup: Pretty much stock on the 2004 S & S here. It came with Schwalbe Marathon Slick kevlars, 406 front rim, Kool Back seat. I have a Sigma cyclocomputer on it, seat bag, handlebar bag, kickstand, bell, Speedplay Frogs, and CatEye Luminex lights. I want to get a rear rack and fenders. Eventually a small, partial front fairing (more for winter and rainy weather riding). Got to save up some bucks for these accessories down the line.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Thom Remington
a Commuter
from Wilmington, DE, USA
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2001
Strengths: Comfortable, stable, and very fast.
Weaknesses: Difficult to haul around. (It's BIG!)
Bottom Line:
This is an absolutely wonderful bike! It invites me to come and ride - to ride FAST - more than any other bike I've ever owned. With fairing & fenders, I can ride in the rain and not get equipment (running gear, brakes, shoes) all gunked up.
I've had the bike about six months - through the winter - and put almost 1,400 miles on it.
This bike is suitable for anyone who wants to ride fast in comfort.
