You can also look for a three way Baron/M5/Jester test around championship time. http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=137976, "Dear customers, Since the beginning of 2012 Optima Cycles has been involved in the design and production of electric assist bicycles for 2 different Dutch bicycle brands. Early on Cruzbikes were a tinkerers paradise (aka spend hours custom fitting things to make it work) because there were lots of design decisions in those beta products to overcome around racks, fenders, brakes, suspension, skewers, bars, etc.
I used to own 2011 Baron lowracer.
Earlier this year, Yellowbike (formerly know as Revobike) decided to take the latter approach when they negotiated a deal with Optima Bicycles of Holland.
I live on the edge of an urban area and do most of my riding with my Baron on rural roads. However, I would trade a little of the efficiency for just one more idler.
Spend a few days on BROL It really is the only source of reliably helpful information that can guide you to an intelligent decision. Keep seeing the titled bent as well rated and commented upon in prior years but cannot see anything about more recent iterations or a website for purchase. Obviously this approach requires a much larger initial monetary commitment. So far I’ve been extremely happy with the Optima Baron.
Velokraft: NoCom (No Compromise). Just look at the specs. The Baron isn’t really all that low for a lowracer with a seat height of nearly 13″ but the seat does lay all the way back to 20 degrees and the bike cuts a pretty small hole in the wind. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Yellowbike assured me that this was a mistake. They are always making improvements but many of the early issues have been addressed, no need to tinker anymore. The Top Line version weighs in at 26 pounds without the Magura discs. I would like to ask some questions before taking the plunge. :D, Nope, but it can’t be hard to research. Of course one of the coolest things about riding the Baron is the instant effect it has on your social standing.
It would appear that Yellowbike is letting the Optima line’s stunning looks and great reputation do most of the talking for them.
That is very impressive considering my deteriorated state of fitness. Cyclery | Easy Street | Greenspeed | Hase | Hostel Shoppe | HP All right reserved. If a lowracer had been my first "bent" experience, I'm not sure it would have been the best bike for me at the time. :). If you decide to get into the bicycle importing business, there are two equally effective ways to do it. At first glance, the Baron seemed very well equipped. The two bikes are very similar in design and have an equally similar speed potential. It’s fast, comfortable and I haven’t seen a white knuckle yet. That bike is the Optima Baron. My bike is a "quasi-lowracer" and I ride it year round for my commuting. I have an HPVelotechnic Streetmachine GTE - alas, it has suspension - but as a tourer, in my opinion it's hard to beat, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser.
Difficult not only to stop but also to start!
I really dislike having tailpipes in my face, though, so I seldom ride in heavy traffic. Pedals: The Low Racer pedals are usually IN FRONT of the front wheel. All rights reserved. We may request cookies to be set on your device. They were made in Holland until 2008 when they moved to their own factory in Taiwan. Yellowbike’s success also has a lot to do with their sense of timing. The bright yellow Optima color also makes sure that you can’t sneak by them. I used to own 2011 Baron lowracer. I spent 18 months chugging along on a Burley Jett Creek before I bought my first lowracer. We’re offering you any two free CBD samples on this page.
The Baron has no water bottle braze-ons, no rack eyelets and it is very hard to strap anything to (including a flag). This will allow me to ride the bike during the next HPRA events and test the bike more under race conditions (and hopefully trounce at least a few of my competitors). Unique like a ferrari of bikes even lower than bmx, kids express disbeliefs, "whoaa that's a cool bikes".
Optima was well known for their European made suspended (with suspension) recumbent bikes. Dave Johnson raced Rick Wianecke's "Great White" streamliner, and beat me by .04 seconds.
In some ways it's easier than other bikes. it
I consider my Baron to be very road-worthy as a bike. Optima Baron (High to Lowracer) / tourer recommendations Hello all. After two rides I was able to equal my fastest speeds ever around my test loop. Love it or hate it, a $2600 bike should really have a nine-speed drivetrain in the year 2000. Some LowRacer Bike Models: Barcroftand: Oregon Lightening: U-2 Challenge:Suspension, Fujin SL I, Fujin SL II, Taifun, Jester, NME Ultra Lowracer Walter Zorn:Kreuzotter V5 Optima:Baron, X-Low, Cobra M5: Titanium Low Racer, Carbon Low Racer Velokraft: NoCom (No Compromise) First was the eight-speed rear cluster. The new price was +- 2350 euro. LarryOz Administrator. I’ve seen what these bikes have done for some of my fellow competitors, so I was rather anxious to get my hands on one. The bike’s stiff frame and carbon seat didn’t allow any excess power to escape. Also contributing to the Baron’s speed is its weight. It and the Challenge Jester occupied most of the top spots at the most recent World Championship event in Belgium. Mine has only ever derailed while attempting backwards pedaling. I used to own 2011 Baron lowracer. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=137976. The first and most popular way is to bring the bikes into the country in small numbers and accept the fact that after customs and shipping, your profit margin will be small. Unique like a ferrari of bikes even lower than bmx, kids express disbeliefs, "whoaa that's a cool bikes". I do 95% of my riding on rural roads, watching out for log trucks more than cars. You can also change some of your preferences. The Optima’s 52-inch wheelbase probably has a lot to do with its shock absorbing affect and it’s stable handling characteristics. Nice bike and if the price is right as a used bike for you I would buy it.
Very Fast. I have no issues on my Optima Baron. The Baron has been a force to be reckoned with in European HPV racing. Challenge:Suspension, Fujin SL I, Fujin SL II, Taifun, Jester, NME Ultra Lowracer Low-speed handling on the Racer 2 is a bit quicker than a Challenge Jester or Optima Baron. The last 3 years we have been able to keep producing Optima recumbents in smaller numbers next to the growing numbers of other projects. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Beginning of 2016 Optima Cycles will present an updated and simplified collection which will be widely available again. I climb just fine - though it's a hurdle every once in a … M5 Low Racer - One of the fastest productionbikes in the world: For sixteen years now the Low Racer … They were also nice enough to loan me the bike for an extended period of time. I was learning how to ride the bike the first few miles and was way over into the road than I should have been. However, you still must learn to filter the noise (shills and know-nothings) from the signal. They have entered the recumbent market at a very good time. It is, however, a bit lower than some of its counterparts.
I know you can have a custom one made too but I'm curious.
If you do not want that we track your visist to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps and external Video providers. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. The Jester is a really nice fast lowracer. The eight-speed stuff was functional for sure, but if I were the consumer I’d expect nine. 'musa said it all.
Optima does offer a non-disc brake version that is equipped much better for $2750 and they have told me that they are working on the component spec problem. We have expected to have their Oriental bikes in stock soon but as of 2016 they are still not available. People can look right at a normal bike but not "see" it while on your bent, they will be staring with their mouths open.