"Richard Greenberg" wrote in message
news:c%i1f.2716$026.1245@trndny09...
Hi. I'm not a recumbent cycler (not yet anyway), but have been playing
with
the idea of purchasing a "not too expensive' one to play with. I don't
see
any easy way to "try out" recumbents in my neighborhood, and don't really
have the time to travel hours to any of the 2 or 3 shops within 500 miles
of
LI, NY. I've noticed that there are a few Bikee's (or is it Bike E's) for
sale now and then on Ebay. Are these bikes a reasonable place to start?
What should one pay for a good to excellent condition specimen? Thanks
for
any info/advice.

Richard, as one who has riddent and owned a variety of recumbents, I have to
recommend: Test ride as many as you can before choosing which one to buy.
The various major types - LWB, SWB, CLWB, Trikes, etc - vary widely in their
ride characteristics and capabilities. There are always trade-offs with
recumbents. The key is figuring out which tradeoffs you prefer. That means
lots of test rides.

I've been very happy with my RANS Rocket SWB/OSS recumbent (Short WheelBase,
Over-Seat Steering). You can find one for under $500 on Ebay (also check
Bent Rider Online). It's a fun, practical, versatile, relatively quick, and
"sporty" recumbent. However, the short wheelbase is a bit twitchy. Some
would say too twitchy. For me, it's manageable; but I've wondered about
getting a Long WheelBase (LWB) bike. They handle completely differently.

As for the ActionBent offerings on Ebay (and elsewhere): There is an
ActionBent enthusiast's group on Yahoo Groups, which I recommend that you
join. They are responsive to questions from newcomers.

If you're handy with a wrench, and not afraid to fix your bike, then buying
online is a good choice. If you prefer not fixing your own bike, buy from a
local/regional dealer, or find a mechanic locally. Recumbents can sometimes
need some "dialing in" to get them working correctly.

Maybe a Bike E will work for you. Maybe not.

good luck