Rans Rocket?

Hi all,

I've lurked here for quite some time and hope to get some feedback from
you pros about the RANS Rocket. I am considering this as my first 'bent
sometime early this spring probably around April.

When do the new models become available?

Does anyone know if the newer Rockets will be much different than last
year's model?

What are the most useful upgrades on a new Rocket, or is that something
that should only be considered after riding for a while?

What is a good price for a Rocket?

Are there any other brands you would recommend over the Rocket that would
be in the same price range?

I humbly ask for you feedback if you have time.

Thanks,

Larry

GoHabsGo Wrote:
Hi all,

I've lurked here for quite some time and hope to get some feedback from
you pros about the RANS Rocket. I am considering this as my first 'bent
sometime early this spring probably around April.

When do the new models become available?

-*You should ask RANS about that.*-

Does anyone know if the newer Rockets will be much different than last
year's model?

*-You should ask RANS about that.-*

What are the most useful upgrades on a new Rocket, or is that something
that should only be considered after riding for a while?

*-Probably ride a while, unless there are some things you know you want
and you can get a package deal. It's a shame to start tossing
components shortly after your purchase. Lurk some more, and you will
possibly find some components you really can't do without. There goes
the budget!-*

What is a good price for a Rocket?

*-Start collecting prices on eBay now. You could also watch BROL.
Others may chip in with sites to watch. These are pretty popular
bikes, judging by how few have appeared for sale in the last several
months.-*
**
Are there any other brands you would recommend over the Rocket that
would
be in the same price range?

I humbly ask for you feedback if you have time.

Thanks,

Larry
*-Best advice I got was "ride everything you can get your butt on."
It's not unusual to drive several hours, one way, to test ride 'bents.
The good ones are not cheap, and it's your body that has to fit the
bike. I started out looking at "entry level" LWB models. When I
finally made a decision, after many hours driving and many hours on
various bents, I bought a modified Strada.-*
**
*-Long way from an entry level LWB, however, nothing else produced that
blissful grin for me.-*
**
*-You might also research the BROL forum. It is more active than this
one.-*


--
Hull 697

Hi. I'm new to benting. About 3 months ago I decided to buy a bent and did
some research - and spent a day doing some test riding. I test rode a
Rocket, a VRex SWB, a Lightning something-or-other SWB, and a Veloteknik
comfort-something-or-other CLWB. I bought a Rocket and have been very happy
with it. Why did I pick the Rocket?

1. Did not want to spend too much money for fear that I would not follow
through with regular riding.
2. Read a lot of good things about the Rocket
3. Did not care that it may not be fast enough, being a bike with 2 small
wheels. I did not anticpate having to go fast or keep up with anybody else.
4. It was small and was one of the few bikes that looked like it would fit
in the back of my hatchback.

Gook luck with your decision. Rich.


"GoHabsGo" wrote in message
. 244.170...
Hi all,

I've lurked here for quite some time and hope to get some feedback from
you pros about the RANS Rocket. I am considering this as my first 'bent
sometime early this spring probably around April.

When do the new models become available?

Does anyone know if the newer Rockets will be much different than last
year's model?

What are the most useful upgrades on a new Rocket, or is that something
that should only be considered after riding for a while?

What is a good price for a Rocket?

Are there any other brands you would recommend over the Rocket that would
be in the same price range?

I humbly ask for you feedback if you have time.

Thanks,

Larry

Hull 697 wrote:
...
*-You might also research the BROL forum. It is more active than this
one.-...

That forum is full of self-congratulatory mopes and is also censored.

--
Tom Sherman - (In Transition)
Post Free or Die!

Richard Greenberg wrote:
Hi. I'm new to benting. About 3 months ago I decided to buy a bent and did
some research - and spent a day doing some test riding. I test rode a
Rocket, a VRex SWB, a Lightning something-or-other SWB, and a Veloteknik
comfort-something-or-other CLWB. I bought a Rocket and have been very happy
with it....

I am going to say it - I told you so!

--
Tom Sherman - (In Transition)
Post Free or Die!

GoHabsGo wrote:
Hi all,

I've lurked here for quite some time and hope to get some feedback from
you pros about the RANS Rocket. I am considering this as my first 'bent
sometime early this spring probably around April.

When do the new models become available?

Does anyone know if the newer Rockets will be much different than last
year's model?

What are the most useful upgrades on a new Rocket, or is that something
that should only be considered after riding for a while?

Replace the stock brake pads with Kool Stop "salmon" pads [1] to
improve braking power and greatly increase the life of the rim (due to
reduced brake track wear).

Some people could use lower than stock gearing, and the stock Primo
Comet tires do not have the best traction on wet roads.

Fenders are necessary for riding in the rain. Get one of the seat back
bags and/or the HT rack [2] for light cargo, and the under seat rack
for touring.

What is a good price for a Rocket?

The RANS Rocket is still an excellent value at full MRSP.

Are there any other brands you would recommend over the Rocket that would
be in the same price range?

No.

I humbly ask for you feedback if you have time.

Riding a RANS Rocket is more fun than watching the Canadiens play
hockey. You will not find a more fun bike to ride unless you happen to
find a used Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [TM] for sale.

[1] See http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakeshoes.html.
[2] Regular racks interfere with the Sprint Braces (seat struts).

--
Tom Sherman - (In Transition)
Post Free or Die!

"Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" wrote in message
ups.com...

Hull 697 wrote:
...
*-You might also research the BROL forum. It is more active than this
one.-...

That forum is full of self-congratulatory mopes and is also censored.

--
Tom Sherman - (In Transition)
Post Free or Die!

As much as I disagree with Mr. Sherman on most things under the sun, I
certainly do agree with him about this. If you are faint of heart and
essentially more of a mouse than a man, then you might well be happier on
BROL. However, the give and take of unfettered opinions on ARBR is something
that we should cherish. BROL is dead and ARBR is not. That is the difference
and it is all the difference in the world. Even a horror like Ed Gin can not
turn me off of ARBR.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

"Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" wrote in message
oups.com...
[...]
Riding a RANS Rocket is more fun than watching the Canadiens play
hockey. You will not find a more fun bike to ride unless you happen to
find a used Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [TM] for sale.

Mr. Sherman's love affair with the Rocket has always puzzled me. I guess I
would actually have to ride it in order to know what he is talking about,
but it seems to me that a SWB is a SWB.

Do only the Canadiens play hockey or do not also the Canadians play hockey?

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

Edward Dolan wrote:
"Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" wrote in message
oups.com...
[...]
Riding a RANS Rocket is more fun than watching the Canadiens play
hockey. You will not find a more fun bike to ride unless you happen to
find a used Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [TM] for sale.

Mr. Sherman's love affair with the Rocket has always puzzled me. I guess I
would actually have to ride it in order to know what he is talking about,
but it seems to me that a SWB is a SWB.

One has to ride a bicycle to truly understand how it handles - words
and equations are inadequate.

Do only the Canadiens play hockey or do not also the Canadians play hockey?

See http://www.canadiens.com/ for the website of "Le Habs". In this
case "Canadiens" is the proper name of an organization.

Of course, I expect Mr. Ed is more familiar with "horse hockey".

--
Tom Sherman - (In Transition)
Post Free or Die!

Hi. You mentioned that you think the Kool Stop Salmon brake pads are a good
upgrade for the Rocket.

"http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakeshoes.html

Are the pads found at the link above the ones you would recommend for the
Rocket as opposed to any of the other Kool Stop choices? Did you mount them
with some toe-in on your Rocket, or parallel to the rims?

Thanks, Rich


"Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman" wrote in message
oups.com...

GoHabsGo wrote:
Hi all,

I've lurked here for quite some time and hope to get some feedback from
you pros about the RANS Rocket. I am considering this as my first 'bent
sometime early this spring probably around April.

When do the new models become available?

Does anyone know if the newer Rockets will be much different than last
year's model?

What are the most useful upgrades on a new Rocket, or is that something
that should only be considered after riding for a while?

Replace the stock brake pads with Kool Stop "salmon" pads [1] to
improve braking power and greatly increase the life of the rim (due to
reduced brake track wear).

Some people could use lower than stock gearing, and the stock Primo
Comet tires do not have the best traction on wet roads.

Fenders are necessary for riding in the rain. Get one of the seat back
bags and/or the HT rack [2] for light cargo, and the under seat rack
for touring.

What is a good price for a Rocket?

The RANS Rocket is still an excellent value at full MRSP.

Are there any other brands you would recommend over the Rocket that
would
be in the same price range?

No.

I humbly ask for you feedback if you have time.

Riding a RANS Rocket is more fun than watching the Canadiens play
hockey. You will not find a more fun bike to ride unless you happen to
find a used Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [TM] for sale.

[1] See http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakeshoes.html.
[2] Regular racks interfere with the Sprint Braces (seat struts).

--
Tom Sherman - (In Transition)
Post Free or Die!