Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
|
Reviews 1 - 5 (10 Reviews Total)
|
| Next 5 |
User Reviews
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Bingen
a CommuterDate Reviewed: October 6, 2011
Strengths: Strong frame (I've added an inexpensive RST front shock fork) and driven often offroad and after going up curbs @ like 5 mph, even ridden it down The Capitol steps (Madison,Wi.) I currently have 4 of this model and 7 other recumbents.Weaknesses: Height! It's taller than most recumbents and not recommended for a novice bent rider. Some say the small 20" tires, but w/ the gear possibilities, It's way faster than anything out there, and you're not supposed to bounce curbs on a 'bent anywaysBottom Line: BEST RIDE EVER! Unbelievable comfort (I shortened rear seat support for further recline [wind resistance]), incredible gear possibilities (Dual chain/rear derailer setup [5 x 8 gears]), floating steering pole (raise for tight turns, cruise w/it in your lap), and seat backrest holds most backpacks securely.
Favorite Ride: TREK R200
Price Paid:
$1250.00
Purchased At: eBay
Similar Products Used: RANS Saturn V, Burley Limbo convertible, Actionbent Jet Stream II, Road Runner, Tadpole Trike, And rare Low Racer (7 in total of these 4 AB models), CaTrike Pocket, and a eBike that I'm converting from 20" x 16" wheels to 26" x 20" suspended w/ Cane Creek x Meks Melba shocks and a 3 speed internal rear hub
Bike Setup: You'd have to see it to believe it! Damn near laying down w/ the raised front from the shock and the height I removed from the rear seat tube and I went NUTS on the gear spread of the dual chain/rear derailer setup
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
W. Potter
a CommuterDate Reviewed: November 1, 2010
Strengths: Frame Strength
Comfort
Ability to load it up
Great way to strike up conversationWeaknesses: Little heavier than most recumbents
Parts are still out there -- little tough to find sometimesBottom Line: Wonderful recumbent...as many have said, TREK was ahead of their time when they pushed this one out. Strenght and comfort the best...I'm a big guy, and when camping, load it up. No issues what-so-ever. Like is so much, have two. (Third recumbent is a Vision). Only significant mod to the R200 was adding Aerospoke wheels -- yes, they a little heavier, but wanted bullet-proof wheels for the long hauls.
Favorite Ride: Trek R200 Recumbent
Price Paid:
$425.00
Purchased At: on Oahu, Hawaii
Similar Products Used: Vision recumbent
Bike Setup: Stock with exception of aerospoke wheelset
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rick Gauger
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: October 22, 2010
Strengths: Super comfortable & safe -- you can get both feet flat on ground while seated. Its wheelbase allows it to be placed on bus bike racks (unique!). 40+ gears, comfy seat back allows huge pedaling torque. Rider sits high for good vision. Variable pressure shock absorber on real wheel.Weaknesses: No longer manufactured, so no parts, except you can get replacement seat parts from Ran company. It's a rare collectors' item that gets me a lot of attention.Bottom Line: I've had my Trek R200 10 years and I ride it several times a week. Typical trip is 5-25 miles. Original paint job is still good. I once took it on a road trip of the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, about 75 miles, camping along the way. I'm 6'2", 240 lbs, age 58-68. I stored gear in large daypack hung from seat back, hung other gear from underside of seat. I love this bike. When I get too old I want to put an electric motor on it.
Favorite Ride: Trek R200 Recumbent
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: Kulshan Cycles
Similar Products Used: This is the only recumbent bicycle I've ever ridden.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
rx4jammin
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: December 27, 2002
Strengths: as notedWeaknesses: Mid drive friction, see summaryBottom Line: Too bad trek stopped production. They were definately headed in a great direction. I love the mid-drive. FORTY very intuative gears!!! (keep the chain, cassette & derailleurs clean and the friction is not a problem. The Rans seat is the best I've ever had. (much better than the stock Vision seat) The R200 is extremely adjustable. I'm six feet tall and my ten year old son likes to ride my R200. It can easily be adjusted in minutes to fit either one of us. If you can't find the perfect position, your not trying. The R200 is very agile (responds quicker than the Vision.) The Cane Creek rear shock smooths out the ride wonderfully and is also very adjustable
TREK, PLEASE KEEP MAKING RECUMBENTS
Favorite Ride: San Isabel
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At: ebay
Similar Products Used: Vision R44 x 2
Bike Setup: stock
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ron Friedel
a Commuter
from Brown Deer, WI, USADate Reviewed: August 25, 2001
Strengths: 1. Love the adjustability of the handlebar. If you can't find a good position for them, you haven't tried enough.
2. The mid drive gives lots of gears. You use them as 5 ranges of 8 or 9 closely spaced gears.
3. Rear shock is good. Never had problems with it holding air.
4. RANs seat is comfortable and very adjustable. Even better than on RANs bikes because it is easier to adjust seat recline.
5. The paint looks great and seems to be durable.
6. It is a Trek. Made in Wisconsin.
7. Shifting is good and precise if you adjust it properly.
8. Can be folded into a very compact package. I'd consider it for a European trip.
Weaknesses: 1. Higher than normal drivetrain friction.
2. Chain can drop off front chainwheel and mid-drive sprocket under certain conditions. Mainly fixed now (08/2001) by Trek and proper chainlength. (Do not have any slack chain!)
3. RANs seat. Too heavy, too high, too complicated. This was the RANs "fatass" seat that has a seatpad that is 3" thick and almost weighs a pound by itself. The seat and all the fittings weigh almost 6 pounds.
4. Bike is too high and too heavy at 34#. Blame the RANs seat for much of that.
5. Can't walk the bike easily. Need to steer with one hand and push on the seatback with the other hand when going over bumps.
6. The bike feels like it was designed by a committee. "Lets see how many desireable features we can put on this bike." But these features don't fit together as an organic whole.Bottom Line: This is a reasonably good recumbent. I've been riding recumbents almost exclusively since June of 1995 and my riding is mostly 20 mile per day commuting and some summertime tours and club rides. I bought the bike because I was interested in trying ASS (Above Seat Steering) and checking out the comfort of the RANs seat. It turns out that after 4000 miles of riding this bike that I still prefer USS (Under Seat Steering) because it is ultimately more comfortable and it (USS) is, at the most, only 1/2 mile per hour slower than the ASS. In my opinion the aero advantage of ASS is overrated. (All my bikes have been unfaired.) The RANs seat is comfortable but the Vision seat is more comfortable. The bike is now out of production but it was a great value at closeout for $750 completely setup from Wheel & Sprocket with the Trek guarentee and 30 day service. At $1200 it was too expensive. But then the Haluzak for my wife was $1500 so who is to say.
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At: Wheel & Sprocket, Milwaukee, WI
Similar Products Used: Homebuilt Easy Racer Clone, LWB, USS
Vision R42, USS, LWB and SWB
Vision R42, 20x20, USS, LWB
Infinity, LWB, USS
RANs Nimbus, LWB, ASS
Ryan Duplex Tandem, ULWB, USS
Haluzak Leprechaun, SWB, USS
Have test ridden most every other recumbent.
Bike Setup: The bike was set up by Wheel and Sprocket who are very experienced with recumbents. I further fine-tuned it myself to get it perfectly adjusted. This took some time over a couple of weeks of commuting.
|
Reviews 1 - 5 (10 Reviews Total)
|
| Next 5 |
Review Options:
Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating |
