Price Paid:  $1400.00 at Richard's Cyclery, G

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Santa Ana riverbed trail to the beach

Summary:
I purchased a new Burley Canto from Richard's Cyclery in Garden Grove, CA.
It was a showbike with special paint scheme from red fading to blue. It won
first place at 2006 Great Western Bicycle Rally Concourse D'Elegance.
It's the most cofortable bike I have ever ridden.
It's a convertable bent, but chose to ride it in the LWB setup.

Strengths:
In the LWB setup, the bent obsorbs a lot of road bumps due to the flexing of the frame.
The quickness is excellent.
I ride to the beach at least once or twice a week (44 m. R/T) and nothing is sore on my body, other than slight numbness on my feet and achy knees the next day.
It fits perfect on my trailer hitch mounted rack.
I hope to see Burley bents back in production soon.

Weaknesses:
Like any LWB bent, it requires a wide turn and very hard start on incline.

Similar Products Used:
Richard's Cyclery allowed me to take home and try out any and all bikes he had.
He encouraged his customers to go on a long ride and get comfortable with all bike and then choose.

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Riverside Bike

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
Burley, Canto

Summary:
I am a recreational rider. But I enjoy long rides, all day trips. I jog, roller-blade and am an exercise junkie and I was looking for a bike that would increase my speed, get me from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time. I own a Cannondale Hybrid which I usually put on about 1500 miles a season. I like to ride 50-80 miles a day. But now that I am in my 40's I find some serious aches and pains after these longer rides. So after telling myself for years I would never ride one of those "Old lady bikes" I purchased my Burley Canto this May. I have 1500 miles on it already. I average 15 mph without pushing myself, usually ride 75 miles in under 5 hours. When I am pushing, I am up around 17mph for long trips, but the bike will comfortably do in the lower 20's in long flat stretches. Absolutely no pain other than slight knee stiffness the next day and some occasional numbness in the bottoms of my feet. I had to purchase a bell because I pass everyone I meet. Definitely no "Old Lady Bike" I raced a couple of younger men on their road bikes and smoked 'em! Love the Bike!!! Can't imagine life without it. It's Great and I highly recommend it! It's also a great conversation piece. I have met so many bikers who stop and ask me about my Canto and I always give a glowing review! I recommend it to anyone looking for a long comfortable ride on relatively flat terrain.

Strengths:
Unbelievable Comfort, great performance

Weaknesses:
Turning tight corners is tough, you have to turn quite wide. Starting off on the bike can be difficult if not in lowest gear and level ground. Can't start on an incline at all. When you first try to ride a recumbent it feels very unstable for about the 1st 10 miles, but then it feels like you've been on one all your life. Some numbness in the bottoms of my feet, have to stand up every 10-20 miles to get rid of that. Great for flat terrain but not sure it would be possible to ride in a more mountainous state.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale recumbent. More shock absorption in the design, extremely comfortable but not the performance bike the Burley Canto is. I recommend at least a 20" front and 26" rear tire. Tried Baccetta, also an excellent bike but for my money, I prefer my Canto.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Richland Cycle and F

Favorite Ride:
North Idaho Centennial

Bike Setup:
Bike Rack. Speed Struts. M345 peddles.

Summary:
I recently bought my Burley Canto in early May. I was looking for a more comfortable bike to ride longer distances. I currently own an average MTB, which I made more road/commuter worthy. However, I could never get it dialed in to where I could ride it for several hours without something to start going numb or hurting. I went to my LBS and the sales person suggested a ‘bent. I tried out several and the Canto really seemed to work for me. He let me have it for the weekend to make sure. I easily put 50 miles on it riding the various bike trails and routes in the area. It was great! No pain, road smoothly, lots of fun. However, I did find some difference from a “normal” bike. Hills were much more difficult as I couldn’t stand on the peddles. It seemed twitchier than a normal bike but didn’t turn as sharply. It was harder for me to get started, especially on an uphill start. These things, I’m sure, is just the lack of technique and experience, and is getting better with time. Overall, the bike is great. Though paint job as I’ve dropped it and hit some things, and never left a scratch. Components are OK, shift smoothly, and can easily be upgraded. It came with disk brakes which work well even wet and look cool too. I also purchased the Speed Struts and bike rack adaptors, both are rather expensive. The ability to adjust from a “compact long” to a short wheelbase also swayed my decision. Kind of getting two bikes for one. However, the change over isn’t easy or quick. After riding it for several months now, I am very happy. I plan to get a windscreen and tow trailer (maybe some fenders too) so I can go on longer overnight rides. I highly recommend the Burley Canto for consideration. It works for me.

Strengths:
Easy to ride. Comfortable. Disk Brakes.

Weaknesses:
Heavy. Mid grade components. Accessories are expensive.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at BikeBarn

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
any country road

Bike Setup:
speed struts, rack, long wheal base

Summary:
Foreseeing a drastic reduction in finances (my wife and I are having a baby and she will hopefully no longer be working) I decided to replace an aging BikeE with something more stout. I am a middle school teacher and commute on my bike, about a 14 mile trip each day. Going from a mountain bike to a BikeE AT was easy because of the comfort. But after nearly 8000 miles in less than 3 years things were literally falling off. Things really were falling off! I did not test ride many bikes before I fell in love with the Burley Canto. I continued to test other bikes, but the smooth ride and speed stole my heart. I did test the Digango (same frame, higher end components) but could not afford the jump in price. I was also sold on the Burley brand. When I called their 800 number with a question, a real person answered the phone on the first ring and they answered my question! The more reclined position of the Canto made me feel like I was going from a office waiting room chair, the BikeE, to a lounger. Yet the position was much more suited to powerful stokes. The bike is lower, longer and much burlier. The flex in the frame and the full sized rear tire dampens the road vibrations. The seat is firm yet formed and easily adjustable. Great bike. I have had a couple of problems. Finding a computer with a cable long enough was quite an issue. Thanks to the local bike shop for finding a cadence cable that doubles as the speed cable. The other problem is the weather. Because of the positioning of the rear tire you get soaked whenever the roads are wet. So to the people at Burley: love your bikes, love your service, going to buy one of your trailers for our baby, but please provide some assistance with computers and with fender options.

Strengths:
comfort, smooth ride

Weaknesses:
finding a computer, need for fenders

Similar Products Used:
bikeE AT