I'm in the middle of refurbishing my 1995 Vision R40 USS SWB. Glad to see other Visions on the road. I don't have the chain-handlebar contact issue due to the pivot being further back.
That bike is in really good shape for its age. What a good find. When I was shopping for my recumbent, it came down to this Vision or the Haluzak Horizon. I chose the Horizon because the seat reclined too much on the vision, making me push myself out of the seat while accelerating or climbing. Both are really great rides. I still have mine after 25 years.
Hi CJ, good to see you back recording and great information about the bike. I have just been getting my bike ready for Winter cycling, gears indexed, puncture protection tyres etc. Best Wishes.
Well-detailed overview of your recumbent. I bought my first recumbent in ‘97 from Fool’s Crow in Tallahassee, FL and it was the same make/model as yours, a Vision R40. I love the bike and have been riding it ever since. It originally came with under the seat steering; however, I converted it to above the seat a couple of months later. I much prefer the praying hamster position, but to each his own…it what’s most comfortable to the rider. Anyway, great video…happy riding!
Finally a new video!!!!! I have been waiting for you to post for months!!!!!!!! Please make more cycling videos in the city as well as a bike tour in Northern Ontario!!!!! And I even know a great starting and ending point for Day 1 (Gravenhurst to Arrowhead Provincial Park). Let me know your thoughts on that potential idea! I have also seen this bike many times on your Strava! That seems like an amazing bike!!!!!
I had a Vision R40 with adapted straight handlebars that were further back and more under the seat so had fewer steering problems. I also had the kit to change it from SWB to LWB but I don't remember ever changing it from under swat steering.
Glad to see you got a SWB! Im in almost the same boat - been riding my LWB Linear Limo since 1996, but I picked up a SWB Linear Sonic and was shocked how much I liked it over the Limo. The riding position on the SWB is much more comfortable, and I agree with you, it feels faster. I've been riding my SWB for a year now and I absolutely love it.
Ya for sure. I've owned 6 different LWB bikes over the years, but this is the only SWB I've ever had. It's really made me interested in trying others, especially a Linear Roadster. As I pointed out in the video, because the R40 is designed to be converted between SWB & LWB and USS & OSS, you'd expect a bike which is solely designed to be SWB USS should theoretically be even better!
I absolutely love my R40. Yes it’s not a super fast bike, but it is a great city or rail trail bike. Be careful with recumbents, they have a way of growing into many. Lol. I started with a 1984 Turner Hyper cycle that I rescued from a yard sale and still have it. Now I have 6 bikes. I just can’t help myself! Additional it was a Linear that I saw as a youth that brought me to owning these types of bikes.
16:17 My first recumbent was an R44, above seat steering, and equipped with a full front fairing. It was a great ride and resonably fast. I ultimately migrated to trikes as i got older and became concerned about balance. It is unfortunate that ATP went out of business. I also recommend locking your feet onto the pedals.
I'm curious why you recommend this. On a conventional bike, the advantage to clipping in is that you can get extra power by pulling up on the upstroke. By on a recumbent, if you pull on the upstroke, wouldn't that just be pulling you out of your seat?
My foot once slid off the pedal of my R44, resulting in almost loss of control. Fortunately i was able to recover without a crash. On a trike, dropping off a pedal can result in a very bad accident called leg suck, where your leg is dragged under the cross beam. Some folks have badly damaged their legs in this situation. While test riding a new trike with e-assist (no clips), my foot slipped off the pedal resulting in a fractured toe and badly bruised calf muscle. I never considered any "pull" benefit of cleats on a recumbent. You will find few trike riders without some sort of foot retention.
@@Intarsia82 Thanks for sharing. I had heard of that hazard with trikes. Having already safely ridden at least 25,000 km on recumbent bikes without my feet locked in, I don't see a need. Sure, I've had my feet slip off the pedals before, but it's never been a big deal. The bigger hazard in my mind would be not being able to unclip in a critical moment. Unlike on a trike, you just tip over when that happens.
Thanks for the video. Much appreciated. I watched it in Siem Reap Cambodia. Your excellent videos help me to get through more than two and a half years of covid lockdown. But I always like watching them. Your best videos for me are about bicycles. But the other videos are also good.
... great video thanks. I've owned the R40 and R44 but found them a bit heavy and hard work going up Norwegian hills. So have moved on to lighter recumbents which have taken some of the hillclimbing pain away :)
I had one of these and found the steering a little twitchy at low speed but lucked out, found the LWB kit for it and it road like a limo. Met someone who wanted the SWB version and sold it but kept the LWB kit as its as it is unobtanium.
It sounds like you must have had one of the R40's from the first half of its 10 year run. As I mentioned in the video, in the later years they moved the position of wheel front wheel further back, which apparently greatly improved the stability. I've never ridden one of the older ones like you had, but would be interested to see how it compares. I love my R40 as a SWB, but if a compatible conversion kit came up for sale in my area, I'm sure I'd be interested in buying it just to see what my bike feels like as a LWB or OSS.
High. Great video. I love my recumbent but...... I found it almost impossible to start on anything of a hill. Ok to climb providing I could start on the flat. Its a "Speed Ross" incidentally, short wheel base above seat steering, 700c rear and 20inch shopping wheel front, Vee brakes both. For your drinking bottle, have you thought of putting a drinking tube in the bottle reaching over your shoulder like a "camel back"? Easy to sip without encumbering your hand. Happy riding.
I missed my only USS R40 that I bought in 1996 in Teal color from People Movers in Orange, California. I also bought a maroon LWB conversion. Traded to 2001 BikeE RX at Richards Bicycles in Fountain Valley which I sold it to a friend and got an Optima Baron. I love underseat steering for only a few who made it. Its a double-minded for thieves who wants to steal it on how to even use it.
I love USS bikes. I had a similar theory about thieves, but believe it or not, my Vision R40 actually did get stolen. Thankfully I was able to recover it about a week later.
Helpful video. I'd like to see one about your Linear Limo. I'll check your channel and see if you did one. Your town looks like Pittsburgh. I'm originally from that area of Pa.: Johnstown and lived in Uniontown in the early 2000s. Loved riding my Challenge trike on the Rails to Trails route.
Nice! Mine was a pretty lucky find, but there are plenty of them out there. I'd recommend joining the "Vision Recumbent Bicycles Group" on Facebook, as people sometimes post Visions for sale there. Other than that, I'd just recommend that you setup alerts with your local listing websites (that's how I found mine).
Another great video, CJH! Your recombs are a great choice for long-duration riding. I would add an LED flag post for safety. The milk crate is a bit ghetto on such nice pieces of kits that you ride. I would opt for some dedicated bike panniers or similar. Finally,, I think you're due for some e-bike projects and/or a recumbent trike (like ICE). Or maybe you can opt for a recumbent e- trike?!!
I had a great time watching this video, CJ. I hope you’ll get back to your old posting pace, you’ve been missed. Something you might want to try is experimenting with a different handlebar orientation. Remove the bar from its clamp and rotate it 180° (so that the ends of the grips face forward) and then rotate the bar vertically in the clamp (so that the ends of the grips face upward) in order to create “tank-style” steering. This will move your hands forward and higher, some people find this more comfortable and others find it less so. The main advantage is that the seat won’t get in the way of your ability to turn, at least not as much as it does with the bars in their default position. If this appeals you might want to find a wider bar that will give you more clearance.
That joke was perfect the only thing missing was a rim shot! (I think you have drums don’t you)Your videos are very technical and full of detailed information that makes them sound serious. So your little joke brought me back to appreciate the fun side of your video! It’s important to mix bicycle types so as not to get in a boring grove. Happy cycling to you and thanks for inspiring me to ride more.
Thanks for this, I was always curious how you start on these types of bikes. I still want to see what climbing a steep hill is like, is it easier? harder?
I own that same bike except mine has the other steering config. The funny thing is that the handle bars look the same, its just yours are shorter and under the bike.
That doesn't surprise me, considering the bike was designed to convert back and forth between USS and OSS. By having both configurations using the same handlebars, this is one fewer part you need to acquire to do the conversion.
I've got an above seat steering SWB Vision R40. I'm enjoying it a lot, but there's something really wrong with the chain idler. I'm pretty sure it's missing parts.
You may want to have a look at the Vision Recumbent Info website (link in the video description). They have some of the original owners and service manuals uploaded there.
Very good video! I like the style and the good research. The bike is wonderful to adjust and has good features. To achieve a better steering angle, a second steering axle is certainly better, the handlebars are swinging out too far. Many greetings from frankfurt
That's a great question actually. Basically you do it by placing one hand on the top of the seat and the other on the handle bar, but it's at an awkward height, so it requires walking a bit hunched over. However, if you're walking on a wide path with not many people around, I've found it's possible to walk without the hand on the handlebars. Just tilting the bike from side to side can be used to make minor correction to which direction the bike is pointed.
Thats exactly how it works, i walk my SWB USS one Hand (allways the right one) at the Seat-Top. Only for really sharp turns the left Hand is needed. As this is one of the major concerns be asured its a misapprehansion. You also become as quicky used to the missing handelbar in front of you as to riding a recumbent itself. And then its nothing but joy and comfort for Miles and Miles. And uphill Up to 12% is not much of a Challenge.
I'm sure it's possible to walk the bike just holding the top of the seat and by using pressure on the seat top you can actually control the steering without touching the handlebars.
Offerup also has some in San Jacinto, California in 2022. He's having hard time to resell it since its USS and the city he lives in are not familiar with Recumbents. Not sure if he still had it.
I thought it was especially convenient making your video near a cemetery . Not so far to travel if something goes terribly wrong and it turns out to be your last bike ride. 🤔
I don't like the USS because if you have to stop abruptly or make an emergency maneuver, you can fly forward because you don't have a fro t handlebar to brace yourself.
While I can understand why that may seem like a potential hazard, as someone who basically rides USS recumbents exclusively, including a ton on urban cycling including plenty of abrupt stops, in reality, 'flying forward' is something that never actually happens.
I'm in the middle of refurbishing my 1995 Vision R40 USS SWB. Glad to see other Visions on the road. I don't have the chain-handlebar contact issue due to the pivot being further back.
That bike is in really good shape for its age. What a good find. When I was shopping for my recumbent, it came down to this Vision or the Haluzak Horizon. I chose the Horizon because the seat reclined too much on the vision, making me push myself out of the seat while accelerating or climbing. Both are really great rides. I still have mine after 25 years.
Hi CJ, good to see you back recording and great information about the bike. I have just been getting my bike ready for Winter cycling, gears indexed, puncture protection tyres etc. Best Wishes.
Love hearing the details and impressions of your 'new' bike. Thanks for posting again on TH-cam.
Thanks!
Well-detailed overview of your recumbent. I bought my first recumbent in ‘97 from Fool’s Crow in Tallahassee, FL and it was the same make/model as yours, a Vision R40. I love the bike and have been riding it ever since. It originally came with under the seat steering; however, I converted it to above the seat a couple of months later. I much prefer the praying hamster position, but to each his own…it what’s most comfortable to the rider. Anyway, great video…happy riding!
Finally a new video!!!!! I have been waiting for you to post for months!!!!!!!! Please make more cycling videos in the city as well as a bike tour in Northern Ontario!!!!! And I even know a great starting and ending point for Day 1 (Gravenhurst to Arrowhead Provincial Park). Let me know your thoughts on that potential idea! I have also seen this bike many times on your Strava! That seems like an amazing bike!!!!!
Thanks. I've considered bike tours through Northern Ontario a few time, and I'm sure I will eventually, but my favourite type is scenery is farmland.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, that frame has such clean lines it looks like a hoot. 👍
Good to see you back! Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the explanation. Great to see a video from you again..
No problem, glad you enjoyed it!
I had a Vision R40 with adapted straight handlebars that were further back and more under the seat so had fewer steering problems. I also had the kit to change it from SWB to LWB but I don't remember ever changing it from under swat steering.
Glad to see you got a SWB! Im in almost the same boat - been riding my LWB Linear Limo since 1996, but I picked up a SWB Linear Sonic and was shocked how much I liked it over the Limo. The riding position on the SWB is much more comfortable, and I agree with you, it feels faster. I've been riding my SWB for a year now and I absolutely love it.
Ya for sure. I've owned 6 different LWB bikes over the years, but this is the only SWB I've ever had. It's really made me interested in trying others, especially a Linear Roadster. As I pointed out in the video, because the R40 is designed to be converted between SWB & LWB and USS & OSS, you'd expect a bike which is solely designed to be SWB USS should theoretically be even better!
I absolutely love my R40. Yes it’s not a super fast bike, but it is a great city or rail trail bike. Be careful with recumbents, they have a way of growing into many. Lol. I started with a 1984 Turner Hyper cycle that I rescued from a yard sale and still have it. Now I have 6 bikes. I just can’t help myself! Additional it was a Linear that I saw as a youth that brought me to owning these types of bikes.
16:17 My first recumbent was an R44, above seat steering, and equipped with a full front fairing. It was a great ride and resonably fast. I ultimately migrated to trikes as i got older and became concerned about balance. It is unfortunate that ATP went out of business.
I also recommend locking your feet onto the pedals.
I'm curious why you recommend this. On a conventional bike, the advantage to clipping in is that you can get extra power by pulling up on the upstroke. By on a recumbent, if you pull on the upstroke, wouldn't that just be pulling you out of your seat?
My foot once slid off the pedal of my R44, resulting in almost loss of control. Fortunately i was able to recover without a crash. On a trike, dropping off a pedal can result in a very bad accident called leg suck, where your leg is dragged under the cross beam. Some folks have badly damaged their legs in this situation. While test riding a new trike with e-assist (no clips), my foot slipped off the pedal resulting in a fractured toe and badly bruised calf muscle. I never considered any "pull" benefit of cleats on a recumbent. You will find few trike riders without some sort of foot retention.
@@Intarsia82 Thanks for sharing. I had heard of that hazard with trikes. Having already safely ridden at least 25,000 km on recumbent bikes without my feet locked in, I don't see a need. Sure, I've had my feet slip off the pedals before, but it's never been a big deal. The bigger hazard in my mind would be not being able to unclip in a critical moment. Unlike on a trike, you just tip over when that happens.
Thanks for the video. Much appreciated. I watched it in Siem Reap Cambodia. Your excellent videos help me to get through more than two and a half years of covid lockdown. But I always like watching them. Your best videos for me are about bicycles. But the other videos are also good.
The lockdown was in Sydney. Sorry I forgot to mention that.
... great video thanks. I've owned the R40 and R44 but found them a bit heavy and hard work going up Norwegian hills. So have moved on to lighter recumbents which have taken some of the hillclimbing pain away :)
These bikes are great, I have two! And a few other recumbents to keep it company...
I had one of these and found the steering a little twitchy at low speed but lucked out, found the LWB kit for it and it road like a limo. Met someone who wanted the SWB version and sold it but kept the LWB kit as its as it is unobtanium.
It sounds like you must have had one of the R40's from the first half of its 10 year run. As I mentioned in the video, in the later years they moved the position of wheel front wheel further back, which apparently greatly improved the stability. I've never ridden one of the older ones like you had, but would be interested to see how it compares. I love my R40 as a SWB, but if a compatible conversion kit came up for sale in my area, I'm sure I'd be interested in buying it just to see what my bike feels like as a LWB or OSS.
You can put a chain tube over the chain to protect the handle bar from the chain.
Beautiful Recumbent Bike!
Thanks!
High. Great video. I love my recumbent but...... I found it almost impossible to start on anything of a hill. Ok to climb providing I could start on the flat. Its a "Speed Ross" incidentally, short wheel base above seat steering, 700c rear and 20inch shopping wheel front, Vee brakes both.
For your drinking bottle, have you thought of putting a drinking tube in the bottle reaching over your shoulder like a "camel back"? Easy to sip without encumbering your hand.
Happy riding.
Primeiro vídeo bem esclarecido que vejo, nesse mar de Internet.
I missed my only USS R40 that I bought in 1996 in Teal color from People Movers in Orange, California. I also bought a maroon LWB conversion.
Traded to 2001 BikeE RX at Richards Bicycles in Fountain Valley which I sold it to a friend and got an Optima Baron.
I love underseat steering for only a few who made it. Its a double-minded for thieves who wants to steal it on how to even use it.
I love USS bikes. I had a similar theory about thieves, but believe it or not, my Vision R40 actually did get stolen. Thankfully I was able to recover it about a week later.
I have a Bike-E has a plastic tube chain covering the chain, velcro to the frame
Helpful video. I'd like to see one about your Linear Limo. I'll check your channel and see if you did one.
Your town looks like Pittsburgh. I'm originally from that area of Pa.: Johnstown and lived in Uniontown in the early 2000s. Loved riding my Challenge trike on the Rails to Trails route.
Wow that was fun to watch. I've had a Vision for 20 yrs bought used, no suspention. I would love to know how to track down one with.
Nice! Mine was a pretty lucky find, but there are plenty of them out there. I'd recommend joining the "Vision Recumbent Bicycles Group" on Facebook, as people sometimes post Visions for sale there. Other than that, I'd just recommend that you setup alerts with your local listing websites (that's how I found mine).
Very nice work, thanks for sharing your biking experience and knowledge with us, please stay safe and healthy my friend ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
Another great video, CJH! Your recombs are a great choice for long-duration riding. I would add an LED flag post for safety.
The milk crate is a bit ghetto on such nice pieces of kits that you ride. I would opt for some dedicated bike panniers or similar. Finally,, I think you're due for some e-bike projects and/or a recumbent trike (like ICE). Or maybe you can opt for a recumbent e- trike?!!
I had a great time watching this video, CJ. I hope you’ll get back to your old posting pace, you’ve been missed.
Something you might want to try is experimenting with a different handlebar orientation. Remove the bar from its clamp and rotate it 180° (so that the ends of the grips face forward) and then rotate the bar vertically in the clamp (so that the ends of the grips face upward) in order to create “tank-style” steering. This will move your hands forward and higher, some people find this more comfortable and others find it less so. The main advantage is that the seat won’t get in the way of your ability to turn, at least not as much as it does with the bars in their default position. If this appeals you might want to find a wider bar that will give you more clearance.
The holy seat joke lol!! What a cool bike Christopher! Glad to see that you are enjoying riding it!
haha I'm glad someone appreciated my joke! Thanks :)
That joke was perfect the only thing missing was a rim shot! (I think you have drums don’t you)Your videos are very technical and full of detailed information that makes them sound serious. So your little joke brought me back to appreciate the fun side of your video! It’s important to mix bicycle types so as not to get in a boring grove. Happy cycling to you and thanks for inspiring me to ride more.
Very informative....Thank you!
Great review of the bike , could you make a mount to hold the bottle in front of you while riding or legs would hit it.
Thanks, Changing the placement of the water bottle holder wouldn't solve the hazard.
Great info, thank you.
Thanks for this, I was always curious how you start on these types of bikes. I still want to see what climbing a steep hill is like, is it easier? harder?
I own that same bike except mine has the other steering config. The funny thing is that the handle bars look the same, its just yours are shorter and under the bike.
That doesn't surprise me, considering the bike was designed to convert back and forth between USS and OSS. By having both configurations using the same handlebars, this is one fewer part you need to acquire to do the conversion.
Great video on such a beautiful classic recumbent bike. Can you tell me where I can get the complete seat cover.
The website is called "Recumbent Seat Fix".
Love the video.
Cool bike! 👍
Thanks :)
I've got an above seat steering SWB Vision R40. I'm enjoying it a lot, but there's something really wrong with the chain idler. I'm pretty sure it's missing parts.
You may want to have a look at the Vision Recumbent Info website (link in the video description). They have some of the original owners and service manuals uploaded there.
T-Cycle carries idlers that might work. One of mine is messed up and I'm trying to replace it.
C J, just wondering where you are nowadays? No recent videos! Are you still ok?
Thanks for your concern. All is well with me.
Salam alaikum dear friend 🙏 MashAllah beautiful sharing 👏😄 my dear friend 🙏 from Pakistan 🇵🇰🤲 and happy New year 🎊🎊🎊
Very good video! I like the style and the good research. The bike is wonderful to adjust and has good features. To achieve a better steering angle, a second steering axle is certainly better, the handlebars are swinging out too far.
Many greetings from frankfurt
nice video! reminds me of a Wes Anderson movie :)
Silly question but HOW or CAN YOU "walk the bike" since the handle bars are so low?
That's a great question actually. Basically you do it by placing one hand on the top of the seat and the other on the handle bar, but it's at an awkward height, so it requires walking a bit hunched over. However, if you're walking on a wide path with not many people around, I've found it's possible to walk without the hand on the handlebars. Just tilting the bike from side to side can be used to make minor correction to which direction the bike is pointed.
Thats exactly how it works, i walk my SWB USS one Hand (allways the right one) at the Seat-Top. Only for really sharp turns the left Hand is needed. As this is one of the major concerns be asured its a misapprehansion.
You also become as quicky used to the missing handelbar in front of you as to riding a recumbent itself. And then its nothing but joy and comfort for Miles and Miles. And uphill Up to 12% is not much of a Challenge.
I'm sure it's possible to walk the bike just holding the top of the seat and by using pressure on the seat top you can actually control the steering without touching the handlebars.
My r40 is above seat steer. I put a Thor seat on it. Fast as snot now.
Where can you get a new seat cover. You did not put a link to it.
The website/company is called Recumbent Seat Fix.
Where can you find one of those or one similar
I recommend checking your local listing services (kijiji, craigslist, facebook marketplace etc).
Offerup also has some in San Jacinto, California in 2022. He's having hard time to resell it since its USS and the city he lives in are not familiar with Recumbents.
Not sure if he still had it.
Lovin the milk crates and the jokes my man
haha thank you!
I thought it was especially convenient making your video near a cemetery . Not so far to travel if something goes
terribly wrong and it turns out to be your last bike ride. 🤔
Hi, Mr. Hoyle. What is your teleprompter setup?
I don't use a teleprompter, just memory.
@@cjhoyle Wow!
Thank you. Good to see you. If you ever come through the Rockford, ILLinois area, let me know.
Alumanum? What’s that? 😅
You must not live in north america.
Same frame as tw-bents adventure-plus and Action-plus.
Kawan baru dari Indonesia hadir nyimak sepeda yang sangat bermanfaat sekali kerja yang bagus.sukses selalu kawan ♥️🫰👍💪🏻✌️🙏
i rode one with moulton forks 25mph and lost ballance
Yikes! Was that one of the earlier ones (before they changed the position of the front wheel pivot)?
@@cjhoyle it was made in 90s by peter ross who invented the trice
@@jasperedwards2713 Oh sorry, I thought you were talking about an R40.
I don't like the USS because if you have to stop abruptly or make an emergency maneuver, you can fly forward because you don't have a fro t handlebar to brace yourself.
While I can understand why that may seem like a potential hazard, as someone who basically rides USS recumbents exclusively, including a ton on urban cycling including plenty of abrupt stops, in reality, 'flying forward' is something that never actually happens.