Santana Cycles Inc. 2001 Arriva

Price Paid:  $4700.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Northern Marin

Bike Setup:
Stock, except tires. Has S&S couplings for travel, hence high price, that adds about $1100 with tax.

Summary:
We test rode everything out there up to a $12k or so Calfee carbon tandem & this seemed to be the peak of the cost-performance tradeoff. A great ride, and bikes costing even thousands more didn't feel any better really. Admit to being a bit set on Santana, despite paying more, as they have had so much time to figure out the little design issues with tandems. But within Santana - don't see any reason to go for the AL (or god forbid Ti) models, this has a great feel and is "light enough". Very tight ride, and generally decent components, some seem very good (wheels). Plus steel has great feel and lasts forever.

Overall this is a bike that could really last a lifetime, and never feel out of date. We sprang for the couplers figuring at some point in the next 40 years we'll want to take it somewhere. Broken down it can fit in two normal (but big) suitcases. So cool.

Strengths:
Incredibly stable, comfortable, confidence-inspiring frame. Have taken it to 50 mph+ with no shudders or frame tweakiness. Just an incredibly satisfying bike to ride.

Weaknesses:
A few issues w/the components:

Deadly tires! - prone to bead separation. Change them immediately. The new ones have Gatorskins so this isn't an issue now.

Not impressed with quality of shifting, will probably upgrade that at some point (index shifting on the front derailleur is just a bad idea, it seems, how bout a bar-end?). But hey I'm comparing Campy Record 10 to mid-grade Shimano MTB components so...

Also would be nice if it came w/a disc or drum, we smoked the back on a descent once. I guess that's only an issue when you have long descents & if not, it's just deadweight.

A few random fasteners are rusting, will try to warranty these.

Similar Products Used:
Test rode just about everything out there.

Price Paid:  $1900.00 at Richardson Bike Mart

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in Clay County (smooth roads!)

Bike Setup:
Ultegra flightdeck shifters/brakelevers and front derailleurs. XTR rear.

Summary:
Bought this as a one yr old 2001 demo, excellent condition, full new bike warranty. Yup, the price is correct - included SPD M535 pedals and flight deck installed - tamer stoker seatpost, other standards. Tires had been replaced w/ Specialized Armadillos 700-28's. Rear hub is Shimano vs. Hadley - may upgrade that if I can find a disc compatible 40-spoke rear hub.

We were planning on buying a new Burley tandem, and walked into this gem in our size for the same price. What a difference!

We love it. It's our first tandem since getting rid of our chunk-o-iron Schwinn Tandem a while ago. For 'round the neighborhood jaunts, we hook the half-bike up with the burley behind - Human Powered SUV. Longer rides, burley only, and group rides when we can get the neighbors to watch the kids.

Awesome bike - no problems. BEAUTIFUL paint. We're swapping out the stock Serfas Ti's for Terry Fly and Butterfly saddles. In the flats 'round here, no need for drum or disc, but when we move out of N Tx again, that'll be a prime upgrade.

Strengths:
Ultegra/XTR on super frame at dynamite price. Fit and finish. Flight deck is nifty.

Weaknesses:
Serfas saddles are quality, but we're swapping 'em out for Terry's.

Similar Products Used:
Schwinn bomber tandem, Testrides on Burleys, Cannondales.

Price Paid:  $3800.00 at Bicycle Outfitter, L

Favorite Ride:
Skyline Drive

Bike Setup:
stock with suspension seatpost on the rear

Summary:
This tandem rocks! It is fast, stable, smooth and very quiet. It weighs 38 lbs on my scale. The wheels are incredibly strong, after over 1 year and 1,500 miles they still are perfectly true. The brakes & components stay tuned and do not require re-adjustment. My wife and I both love riding this bike.

It is expensive compared to the Cannondale tandems, so it gets a "4" for value but a "5" for overall quality.

Strengths:
Frame, wheels, components (everything)

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Burley

Price Paid:  $3800.00 at Bicycle Outfitter

Favorite Ride:
Petaluma, CA to coast

Bike Setup:
Optional drum brake (a must), adjustable stoker stem, bar end shifters (crucial for reliable touring

Summary:
The sturdy, strong Santana Arriva is a joy to ride. Santana says that its aluminum tandem is now its best-seller, but nothing beats steel for absorbing the bumps and vibration tandem teams have a hard time avoiding. The Arriva is stiff and feels solid whether decending at 60mph or grunting up a steep climb.

Strengths:
Compliant yet rock-steady frame, specs, options, quality.

Weaknesses:
Rims prone to blow-outs with certain tires.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $3500.00 at richardson bike mart

Favorite Ride:
goatneck, cleburne tx.

Bike Setup:
medium frame size, beautiful candy apple red paint, senfras saddles front and back, simano xtr component set, tamer suspension stoker post, Just added areo bars, We use shimano spd sandles they are great for hot weather riding!!

Summary:
Once you learn the basics of tandem riding. This bike makes it easy to excell your efforts.
has been great to us so far.
look for us at the hotter than hell 100 in august !!

Strengths:
This is our first tandem. We have put about 1 thousand miles on it so far. We are having a great time. Very stable ride. We are getting faster each week we go out!

Weaknesses:
not many,,, Have to true the back wheels quite often.

Similar Products Used:
none