26" (ISO 559) KMX Viper

very sweet!!! can you tell me more about your rear bag and mount?

 

Bags are Nishiki Handle Bike Bags $19.99 and the racks are KMX Pannier Racks $84.95 the Air Horn is delta 150 db and boy do they work

 

Roaster -- Your back-story pretty much mirrors mine and comes at exactly the RIGHT time for me. I'm currently in contact the w/owner of an identical Viper - VERY lightly used - equip w/mirrors, speedo/odo - luggage rack & panniers. His hi-def pics show that he cut down the length of the chain tubes but that's about the only difference I saw betweem his and as they're pictured brand new. Haven't ridden it yet (he and wife just left on a one month cruise) and I won't see him for a face-to-face until August. BUT (there's always a "but" isn't there) meanwhile I've test-ridden a Catrike Villager which I REALLY like. My dilemma is the cost difference. The bare-bones Villager wud run me abt $1K more than the Viper. Test riding the Viper wud probably help my decision, BUT ..... Really for a $1K diff in price (!!) how much better cud the Villager be than Viper? What to do - what to do? If you, or anyone else following your thread, have any words of words of wisdom for a soon-to-be trike owner, I wud welcome them. Thanx!

 

get the viper

 

It rides well on our dirt roads here in the Mountains. I bet except for deep sand it would do ok in Hobbs. I have clearance for 2.125 tires and if you run them softer (40-45 #) they might even work as well as the 3" ones. It would seriously limit the turning ability however. To get a Fat tire Trike you need to design from the frame up.


ive had to pulll mine thru the sand alot more than i care to admit

 

hey Roaster if that trike was a woman, i'd have to steal her from you!

 

I got the KMX Viper used also because of $$$. Would love to have Cat Expedition, but have had KMX for 3 months and love how it rides. Yes there is a speed difference with the Cat, Cat faster, but not for the $$$ difference. Speed is not what I am looking for, looking for good ride, average 10 mile a day on rail trails. I won't ride on roads, are roads are not built for any cycle use, to many autos. I just order all new Marathon Plus tires. I was told that the ride will be much easer on the body. Note that the KMX Viper is well built and is not a lot of $$$ compared to other trikes in this class. I also just put the seat at 39 degrees, the max, and noted a increase in performance. Note that I took off the KMX foam seat and use a Ventisit pad, well worth the $$$. Was looking to add rear disc brake, but went for the tires. Spoke to lot of trike riders in my area and all have great remarks on KMX overall. You will not go wrong getting a KMK if the price is right. As I say when asked how am I doing, I am vertical and breathing !

 

Roaster - -
Thanx for your thoughtful input. You and I seem to share thoughts and reasons in cmmon. I've been trolling the websites and blogs having to do with trikes and everyone has their favorites, of course, but even those who switched from one to another can be pretty free with their reasons/justifications why. I've come to the conclusion that, subject to a test ride, I'll probably go ahead make the Viper purchase..... subject of course to the approval of "she-who-must-be-obeyed." She has ridden road bikes for years but thinks she might also think of transitioning to a recumbent. Will post again when (if) I complete the purchase.
Moral of the story: Don't go out and test drive Cadillacs when you have a Chevrolet budget!

 

Just remember that if she rides a recumbent OH WELL I will never go back and ride a wedge

 

Bob811 , how have you made out on getting a trike, just change tires on Viper to Marathon Plus and boy what a difference Hope to hear that you got a trike

 

* Roaster: Thanx for asking - but we are currently in a "holding" pattern. The people selling it were scheduled to leave for a long planned month-long cruise (must be nice!) the day following our call. Won't be able to actually see (and test ride) the Viper until about Aug 1st when they are scheduled to return. The seller did take the time to email hi-def pics which show it in VG to EXC condition with several upgrades (H2O bottle holder - luggage rack - panniers - computer - lights). It appears to be their latest model and compares exactly with the pic on KMX's website. We are hopeful that the pics and description match reality. Will definitely give you a shout one way or the toher when the time comes.

 

Good Luck !

 

* Roaster & others: Well . . . "she who must be obeyed" took the bull by the horns and "led me" to the right decision. After test-riding a Catrike (as mentioned in a previous post) she became unceasing in trolling the internet. While there ar good prices out there on the used market, as most bike/trike sellers/buyers have discovered, the cost of shipping them is just about a prohibiitive expense. She discovered a virtually new 2015 Catrike 'Trail' for sale at a price that we could not pass up only 2 1/2 hours from us. YEP! You guessed it . . . . for a couple of hundred dollars more I/we are now the proud owner/riders of the Catrike. Thanks to you and a fellow-HAM (KC5WQY) for your input. Will post again (probably under a different thread) once I get a few rides under my belt.....e-r-r-r .... under the seat of my pants.

 

congrats,

 

Enjoy. Photo's