Strengths: - mid-height bottom bracket = no numb toes!
- hand crafted frame and it shows
- 2 inch main tube for great energy transfer, stiffness
- 24 inch wheels make for lower stepover
- fixed seat position = outstanding balance
- unbelievably comfortable sling seat
- highly adjustable handlebar stem
- swappable handlebars (Rans SWBs can't do this)
- Ultegra components very good
- Key replacement parts still available from Volae
- fully adjustable/great fit for larger riders
Weaknesses: - 24 inch wheels yield limited tire selection
- Vision is out of business - too bad!
- Shimano XTR shifters work, but seem out of place here
- Interestingly, 52 tooth chainring is too small for 24 inch wheel gearing, could use a 54 easily... Recumbents mandate wider gearing ratios than standard road bikes
- boom adjustments take time, and chain manipulations; it's worth it but it takes time
- NOT a beginner's bike! Fast, sensitive steering will put you in the briar patch if you're not respectful AND skilled...
- short riders need not apply, long stepdown (although not as long as 650C highboys!)
Bottom Line:
The Ultimate GT racer - exquisitely comfortable, significantly faster than any recumbent I've ridden, only highboy racer with mid-height bottom bracket, big 24 inch wheels carry speed extremely well. I have ridden recumbents for seven years and was ready for something faster, fast enough to stay with my buddy's new Trek Madone, and get me up hills faster than my previous recumbents. This bad boy fills the bill. Handmade in Seattle Wash. from ATP/Vision, those guys sure could make a quality bike frame! Bike came with 2nd set of HED carbon fibre racing wheels, also in Ultegra trim - frighteningly fast. Can't say enough about the quality of the bike, the overall comfort, and the speed - my wedgie friends remark how much faster this bike is than my previous rides. Listed strengths dominate the equation - listed weaknesses are nits. **IMPORTANT** I found I simply couldn't ride traditional highboy racers as all have straight main tubes, with cranks substantially above the seat, which induces "numb toe" within a few minutes for me. The Saber main tube has two gentle bends designed in to keep the crank at seat height, eliminating numb toe - if you experience numb toes, this highboy is THE ride for you. And it's important to note that later Sabers do NOT have these frame bends. Strongly recommended if you can find one!
Similar Products Used: Many recumbents, most recently Rans Tailwind, Rans Vivo
Bike Setup: Stock VR65 group AND new 11-34 SRAM PG980 cassette, SRAM X-7 rear derailleur, SRAM 9.0 rear shifter, Calhoun Evo pro handlebars, Panaracer 520-28 tires, Vision seat bag
Strengths: - mid-height bottom bracket = no numb toes!
- hand crafted frame and it shows
- 2 inch main tube for great energy transfer, stiffness
- 24 inch wheels make for lower stepover
- fixed seat position = outstanding balance
- unbelievably comfortable sling seat
- highly adjustable handlebar stem
- swappable handlebars (Rans SWBs can't do this)
- Ultegra components very good
- Key replacement parts still available from Volae
- fully adjustable/great fit for larger riders
Weaknesses: - 24 inch wheels yield limited tire selection
- Vision is out of business - too bad!
- Shimano XTR shifters work, but seem out of place here
- Interestingly, 52 tooth chainring is too small for 24 inch wheel gearing, could use a 54 easily... Recumbents mandate wider gearing ratios than standard road bikes
- boom adjustments take time, and chain manipulations; it's worth it but it takes time
- NOT a beginner's bike! Fast, sensitive steering will put you in the briar patch if you're not respectful AND skilled...
- short riders need not apply, long stepdown (although not as long as 650C highboys!)
Bottom Line:
The Ultimate GT racer - exquisitely comfortable, significantly faster than any recumbent I've ridden, only highboy racer with mid-height bottom bracket, big 24 inch wheels carry speed extremely well. I have ridden recumbents for seven years and was ready for something faster, fast enough to stay with my buddy's new Trek Madone, and get me up hills faster than my previous recumbents. This bad boy fills the bill. Handmade in Seattle Wash. from ATP/Vision, those guys sure could make a quality bike frame! Bike came with 2nd set of HED carbon fibre racing wheels, also in Ultegra trim - frighteningly fast. Can't say enough about the quality of the bike, the overall comfort, and the speed - my wedgie friends remark how much faster this bike is than my previous rides. Listed strengths dominate the equation - listed weaknesses are nits. **IMPORTANT** I found I simply couldn't ride traditional highboy racers as all have straight main tubes, with cranks substantially above the seat, which induces "numb toe" within a few minutes for me. The Saber main tube has two gentle bends designed in to keep the crank at seat height, eliminating numb toe - if you experience numb toes, this highboy is THE ride for you. And it's important to note that later Sabers do NOT have these frame bends. Strongly recommended if you can find one!
Similar Products Used: Many recumbents, most recently Rans Tailwind, Rans Vivo
Bike Setup: Stock VR65 group AND new 11-34 SRAM PG980 cassette, SRAM X-7 rear derailleur, SRAM 9.0 rear shifter, Calhoun Evo pro handlebars, Panaracer 520-28 tires, Vision seat bag
