Awesome and fast recumbent FORCE 5 upgraded XP model from around 2008 with carbon and upgraded carbon seat, seat bag and more. Bike is in excellent condition and has been well cared-for with low miles. Includes computer and handlebar bag as well. Triple chain ring set-up with skinny high pressure tires – fast and lots of fun to ride. No pedals included otherwise ready to ride! Excellent cosmetics. Sram grip shifts. $995. Bike in in Branford CT, can ship anywhere in USA.

SPECS:
The Force 5 frame is triangulated. This gives good strength with thinner wall tubes. The result should be a stronger, stiffer frame of about the same weight that is a bit more expensive to build. 

The Force-5 bikes will be light. The LE should be under 29 lbs. and the XP under 26 lbs. with the new Zephyr seat. Sizing of the frame will be similar to current RANS bikes. If you take the XL size RANS now you will take an XL Force 5.

The handlebars have quite a bit of up and down adjustment. Most riders will like the Force 5 handlebars just above the knees. In this position, the bar should be below your line of sight unless you recline your seat a lot. The Force 5 does not come with a flip-it stem to save a bit more weight. Fore and aft handlebar adjustment is limited to two positions, with the riser forward and with it backward.

2004 Force 5 XP FEATURING THE RAD-LOC™ SEAT CLAMP SYSTEM
FRAME Tig Welded, 4130 Chromoly Steel
MAIN TUBE SIZE 2”
WHEELBASE 43”/47″
SEAT HEIGHT (MID RAIL)* 22.8”/23.3″
SEAT RANS Zephyr with Race Cushion and Rad-Loc
FORK Threadless Aluminum Stem Carbon Blades
HANDLEBAR RANS Top-Loader B-37 Bar
HEADSET Ritchey Logic
BOTTOM BRACKET Shimano BB-5500
CRANKSET Shimano 105 FC-5504, 52/42/30T
PEDALS N/A
CHAIN KMC Z9000
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano 105
REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM 9.0
SHIFTERS SRAM 9.0
BRAKE LEVERS SRAM 9.0
BRAKES Shimano 105
FRONT/REAR WHEEL Velocity Sparticus Uriel 650C
TIRES “Koncept” 650 X 23
CASSETTE Shimano Ultegra 9-Speed 12-25
COMPLETE BIKE WEIGHT** No pedals 25.90/25.6 lbs. on RANS scale
GEAR INCHES 24-123
X-SEAM RANGE STD 38” to 45”
XL 42” to 49”
COLOR Silver Bronze ***
SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE $2,195.00
OPTIONS Seats, Cushions, Racks, Mirror

Located in Branford, CT, however, we are in the auto shipping business and can ship this tandem bike anywhere in the country in an enclosed car carrier. Call us for rates, they’re quite reasonable. 203-208-0980

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The Mystic Aquarium here in Connecticut recently rescued 5 Beluga whales that were in distress at a aquatic Canadian equivalent of a puppy mill, and this operation required military transport plans and a lot of big tanks to pull off. The project cost a boatload of money but the whales are now safe and smiling in Mystic.

Next week, we have a nice benefit evening planned and we are auctioning off our Subaru powered Speedster and if it meets reserve a nice donation will go to the aquarium. Come support the effort, and bit on line if you like, the links for the auction are below!

Come meet the whales and bid on the naming rights at the event next week, you’re invited! Click here to see the invite!

Check out Azul’s photo album here, this is the car in the auction!

You can bid and follow the auction here.

This is Gary H’s Bugeye in it’s driveway in Australia! Gary was “moved” to send us this picture of his car and the pile that it left behind in his garage after he read our recent post about frame weep holes. (click here if you missed that post)

“Hi David, just a quick email to thank you for alerting me about the chassis holes. Have owned this car since 1972 and rebuilt repaired maintained all these years but didn’t know about the holes which were covered by previous owner in bitumen paint. Can see by the photo the amount of crap I got out once I opened the holes up. Thanks Mate !!! “

Thanks Gary! We wish you many more rust free miles in that great Frogeye!”

Next time you get into a classic British sports car, please promise not to grind. No one does it on purpose, but it sure seems like everyone does it a bit too often, based on the number of worn teeth you see in the gears on the table below. Everything you see is trash and went to the scrap pile for recycling because of bad habits by prior drivers.

If you are already a pro, you’ll find the video below an interesting study of what happens inside a gearbox when people are careless. And if you are still new to this universe, please watch the video so you can see what happens if you get sloppy.

You need to be at a stand-still to engage first gear with these non-synchro gearboxes. If you are moving at walking pace or faster, use second gear to start off, or come to a stop and patiently engage first. This way, your gearbox will last a good long time! The cluster gear above displays the worst case scenario!

There is nothing wrong with a non-synchro classic car gearbox. There is no reason to be afraid of them or to avoid them. But please treat them with respect.

This week, our display Bugeye (with custom “Luv Me” License plate) left for the trip to Harrison, New Jersey where the car will be entombed in a Condo until the next pandemic, and perhaps, beyond. In case you missed prior reports, this car was pulled out of the bushes and restored into a conversation starter in a condo common room where the car will be parked for life.

Perhaps rentals and occupancy will go through the roof once word gets out that THIS condo has a Bugeye Sprite in the common space, and for all we know, this could be the first of many British car hobby recruiting stations strategically scattered in metropolitan areas around the country. We’re open to the concept and ready to build more!

We faced a few novel challenges with this delivery. The car needed to be placed on the landing above a flight of entry stairs, and then rolled down a narrow hallway framed by metal building studs. With the help of a rollback trailer and castoring wheel dollies, the car is now parked in what will become a nice finished home, with a view!

She’s temporarily covered with a wooden structure built around it to protect it, as the space gets trimmed and finished, which will take the next four to six months. The site is at 1 Bergen Street in Harrison, if you want to go check it out once the building is finished!

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