New to Cruzbike. Can't decide between Silvio or Vendetta

[Valokey81]

Hello everyone. So like the title says I'm new to this way of riding. I started off with looking at trikes and found my self here at cruzbikes. My current set up is a moots vamoots with full dura ace group set. Although I enjoy riding my bike I still feel I didn't get my money's worth for it. After some long rides on the weekends my back/ shoulders / glutes still take a beating. For this reason alone I started researching comfortable yet fast bikes. I originally wanted a trike but after some research found out they won't be able to keep up. Nothing worse than being dropped all the time and slowing up the group. I have now decided on getting a Cruzbike but I can't decide on which one. I want something built for speed but comfortable as well. Of course I favor the vendetta more but I feel It won't be as comfortable as I would like. Do you find your vendetta comfortable? Would the Silvio be a better choice? I've been going back an forth and it's driving me crazy. I thank you in advance for your comments.

 

[LMT]

If what you are after is speed then buy the Vendetta.

There are some people that don't get on with the headrest and seat, because of the shape of the headrest and the lumber support on the seat is less pronounced then what is on other recumbents that have a hardshell seat. Searching these boards there are a few posts to do with modifications of the seat and headrest.

Having said that I find the seat comfortable for long rides, e.g. upto 1200km when I done PBP on my V last year.

Why do you feel you won't be as comfortable as you would like riding the Vendetta?

 

[JOSEPHWEISSERT]

Hello everyone. So like the title says I'm new to this way of riding. I started off with looking at trikes and found my self here at cruzbikes. My current set up is a moots vamoots with full dura ace group set. Although I enjoy riding my bike I still feel I didn't get my money's worth for it. After some long rides on the weekends my back/ shoulders / glutes still take a beating. For this reason alone I started researching comfortable yet fast bikes. I originally wanted a trike but after some research found out they won't be able to keep up. Nothing worse than being dropped all the time and slowing up the group. I have now decided on getting a Cruzbike but I can't decide on which one. I want something built for speed but comfortable as well. Of course I favor the vendetta more but I feel It won't be as comfortable as I would like. Do you find your vendetta comfortable? Would the Silvio be a better choice? I've been going back an forth and it's driving me crazy. I thank you in advance for your comments.

I ride a Vendetta, but with a Volae seat. It is entirely comfortable, even with crappy roads and high tire pressure.

 

[LarryOz]

I have had and raced both the Vendetta and the Silvio. I got the Silvio first. Honestly I could not tell a comfort difference between the 2 from the comfort perspective.
After riding the Silvio for 3 months I just had to get a Vendetta.
The stock handlebars, boom, slider, seat and headrest are all the same on both the Silvio and the Vendetta.
If you are worried that you won't want to be laid back at 18 degrees all the time, there are several members that have made adjustable seats so they can sit up higher on the Vendetta when they want to.
I ride the stock seat with a little extra hard foam for lumbar and a Ventist seat pad.
If want to go fast (V about 2 mph faster than the S) and look fantastic doing it, go with the Vendetta!
You won't be trying to keep up with everybody else - they'll be trying to keep up with you!

 

[MrSteve]

The suspension soaks up the sharper edges of your rides on rough roads and it also soaks up some of your power.
The Silvio is a fast Grand Touring bike.

Seat angle has the largest effect on speed: Your body is the largest part on your bike.
The flatter angle of the Vendetta seat spreads the load over more of your back, so it's really all-day comfortable in my opinion.

Vendetta for the win!

 

[ratz]

Silvio short wheel base + suspension = smooth; Silvio front suspension fork = heavy but you can survive the unseen big pot hole.
Vendetta long wheel base = still pretty smooth; no front suspension fork = heavy lighter but try to not hit that pot hole if you can.

If you are Moots Vamoots Dura Ace sort of person and you don't like getting dropped get the Vendetta. Expect a slightly longer learning curve that the Silvio and think of it as positive challenge; be ready for your What Have I Done moment and time in the Car Parking Lot and remember we are hear to help you with that. Give yourself 2-4 months to get the headrest dialed in if you have rough roads you'll be tweaking it unless you get lucky on the first try, it's great design for 90-95% of the people but it takes time to figure out the correct setup (we are still trying here on the forums to figure how to make that more obvious, no joy so far). If for any reason you find the Vendetta seat not comfortable enough; then you follow Rick's instructions and put a traditional recumbent seat on you are golden.

 

[joy]

I have a Silvio and a Vendetta. I have a Ventisit on the Silvio and a Bacchetta foam and cover on the Vendetta. Both are comfortable, but I think I like the foam better. The original seat pads didn't work for my back. The head rests have been cut down on both and are now comfortable, with foam padding fitting up against my neck. Both bikes are great. If I could only have one, I'd keep the Vendetta.

 

[Valokey81]

Thank you all so much for your helpful feed back. After reading the comments I see you guys also favor the Vendetta. This has assured me to go ahead and get the Vendetta. One question about the Vendetta components. Does the manufacturer include some components that need to be replaced. I know to save money some manufacturers will include a good part but match it with a not so high end part to keep the cost down. Would it be best to build from the frame up or buy it as a complete setup. I favor shimano more so I don't really know to much about the sram group set the bike currently has.

 

[Rick Youngblood]

I have both Vendetta and Silvio....what everyone said above....get the the Vendetta .

 

[ratz]

Thank you all so much for your helpful feed back. After reading the comments I see you guys also favor the Vendetta. This has assured me to go ahead and get the Vendetta. One question about the Vendetta components. Does the manufacturer include some components that need to be replaced. I know to save money some manufacturers will include a good part but match it with a not so high end part to keep the cost down. Would it be best to build from the frame up or buy it as a complete setup. I favor shimano more so I don't really know to much about the sram group set the bike currently has.

Depends on budget:
The complete bike is a good buy and has a mix of parts.
The Frame kit lets you do your own thing
If you need to control costs the CB wheels are a steal at the price and are an easy deferred upgrade.

Shimano stuff will fit fine. I you go look at my build diary there is a Bill of Materials spread sheet included; you can doneload that and drop in your own parts and start to play what-if games for before ordering.

 

[unc99]

I had a Silvio, which I sold so that I could get a Vendetta (determined that I preferred a more laid back position). Note that large size Vendettas are in stock, but regular frames are out of stock (hopefully to be replenished soon).

 

[Valokey81]

I had a Silvio, which I sold so that I could get a Vendetta (determined that I preferred a more laid back position). Note that large size Vendettas are in stock, but regular frames are out of stock (hopefully to be replenished soon).

What are the height requirements for a large vs a regular?

 

[unc99]

The Vendetta products page provides the guidance below (based on your Xseam). Anecdotally, I've seen many references to the standard working for most unless you are very tall. Note also that the size you get can affect high how the bottom bracket/crank is on the bike (for the same rider, the large size will place the bottom bracket/crank in a higher position because the chain stay is longer). If you are between sizes, you may want to solicit some feedback on this decision from some others on the board, or do a search for this topic in the older posts.

• Standard X-seam range:915 mm (36 in) to 1245 mm (47 in)

• Large Chainstay X-seam range:965 mm (44 in) to 1295 mm (50 in)

 

[Valokey81]

The Vendetta products page provides the guidance below (based on your Xseam). Anecdotally, I've seen many references to the standard working for most unless you are very tall. Note also that the size you get can affect high how the bottom bracket/crank is on the bike (for the same rider, the large size will place the bottom bracket/crank in a higher position because the chain stay is longer). If you are between sizes, you may want to solicit some feedback on this decision from some others on the board, or do a search for this topic in the older posts.

• Standard X-seam range:915 mm (36 in) to 1245 mm (47 in)

• Large Chainstay X-seam range:965 mm (44 in) to 1295 mm (50 in)

Thank you

 

[castlerobber]

What are the height requirements for a large vs a regular?

Not so much based on height, as on "outer" leg length, or what they call x-seam. I'm 5'5" with a 40.5" x-seam, but there are guys here 3 or 4 inches taller than me who have the same or shorter x-seam.

http://cruzbike.com/fit.html

 

[JOSEPHWEISSERT]

What are the height requirements for a large vs a regular?

I'm average height and use the standard chainstay. I have a 42.5-inch x-seam. A guy who is a little taller than I am tried the large chainstay. It put his feet up higher and he didn't like it. So he went back to the standard chainstay. So there is some personal preference involved.