Seeking to buy used T50 or sofrider (Purchase complete)

[chengsun]

Hi Cruzbikers,
Does anyone want to sell your T50 or sofrider?
The T50 has been unavailable for a very long time. Q is way out of my budget.
I do not mind if your bike has high mileage. I will use it to see if I really like it.
I will pick up if it within 200 miles from Baltimore.
(My purchase fund has grown to $500 now. It will be $550 next month. I can also borrow future fund to make up.)

Enjoy the season!
Thanks!
-Cheng

 

[JerseyJim]

Did you check to see if this one is still available?

https://forum.cruzbike.com/threads/sofrider-500-obo-nyc.14008/

 

[chengsun]

Did you check to see if this one is still available?

The seller did not reply my quest. Seems sold to me.

 

[chengsun]

Offer increased to $550

 

[benphyr]

Bump.
Anyone have a starter Cruzbike for @chengsun within 200mi of Baltimore?

 

[chengsun]

Ben,
Thanks for the bump!
In a few days, my offer will be $600. (I put $50 every month in the fund.)

Side note, the T50 has been out of stock for quite long (at least half a year by now). Made me wonder if Cruzbike still have this product line, or something new is coming.

 

[chengsun]

Now the offer is $600.
(Well, if you have one for sale in the proximity, we can still make a deal.)

The new T50 has been out of stock for .... almost a year?

 

[Cosmic]

I have one from alliance Ohio. It has the tool kit & the back luggage rack. But 600 is just too low. Also we have to add shipping if interested let me know we can talk. Possibilities are endless.

 

[chengsun]

Hi Cosmic,
Is that a T50 or Sofrider?
Certainly we can talk. I throw the number in based on the going price back in June. I thought that was the norm.
Thanks!
Cheng

 

[Cosmic]

It’s a T50. I’ll send pics in a few days. I just had my c3-4 vertebrae fused so I’m limited a little. I also have a V20 I would part with. Both are in excellent condition.

 

[JerseyJim]

Side note, the T50 has been out of stock for quite long (at least half a year by now). Made me wonder if Cruzbike still have this product line, or something new is coming.

The only things that I could see them adding to the T50 (aside from new colors) is accommodation for thru axles, and frankly it doesn't need that at all, or flat mount disc brakes (also not needed). QR skewers are fine and the level of groupset that it takes still uses QR. Same with the disc brakes. We should be able to get IS mount calipers for the foreseeable future. If not, certainly there will be IS adapters.

They could also add more mounting points for bags/bottles and stuff like that but they've done a pretty good job with that already. For the mission the T50 satisfies, it's well dialed in.

More than likely, the lack of stock is probably related to the production issues throughout the entire bike industry since the pandemic started. With Cruzbike being such a low volume vendor, I'll bet their overseas suppliers have put their orders on the back burner in favor of their high volume vendor clients. This is all speculation of course. However if you've tried to get bike parts from any of the major brands recently, or read/seen any of the stories about major brand bikes backordered for over a 18 to 24 months, it's a reasonable assumption.

I'm running an Microshift Advent drivetrain on my T50 right now because that's what I could get for a reasonable price when I swapped out my wheelset over the summer. It works great too. But it wasn't on my radar until I had to go shopping for a wide range cassette and the prices were crazy.

 

[3bs]

i think everyone has demonstrated the t benefits from the emiljay mod, i.e. extending the power triangle to the t. the t takes 406 wheels really well. i like mine its my stingray.
my neighbor has a electric t50 and he uses it all the time on rail trails and putzing around. he also has a v20, so when he wants to go fast under his own power he has ways.

 

[JerseyJim]

i think everyone has demonstrated the t benefits from the emiljay mod

Actually, what are the benefits of the emilijay mod? I've seen pictures and I've seen it mentioned. From what I understand it allows for the same cockpit setup as the S and V bikes. Compared to the regular T50 setup, one connection is eliminated, but is there a performance advantage over the T50 setup? Is that performance significant?

The one thing I like about the T50 front triangle is how it allows me to easily fit the bike in my car. Since the handlebars pretty much stay in the same place when the cranks are folded back to the frame/seat, I can get it into my small hatchback pretty easily.

 

[3bs]

Jim. True the stock t 50 set up has some advantages in that sort of thing . I have 406 wheels on mine so its even smaller and easier to tote.

the primary advantage to the mod is the whole power triangle thing. Ride your t then go ride a modern s or q. There is a difference. My sofrider and my t are same geometry and thats fine for me for my uses. But, if you are going to expect higher performance out of the t frameset, it makes sense to do the mod

 

[JerseyJim]

Looking at the difference in the boom configuration of the S & V versus the T, there are 2 things that might make a measurable difference. First is the elimination of a joint around the the fork tube's axis of rotation. The standard T has one at the headset where the boom connects and a second at the stem where the handlebar connects. Placing the handlebar at the end of the boom eliminates that joint. As a result we're no longer dealing with torsional flex of the riser or slippage of the stem connection on the riser. Both those things robs power from being put into the pedals. With the handlebars on the boom arm, it's primarily the stiffness of the boom arm that will determine how much of the leg-arm system force will be transmitted to the pedals.

Second is that once the handlebar is placed on the boom arm, the moment around the fork tube/boom connection increases as the distance of the handlebar to the fork tube axis increases. With lower seat angles, this moment arm lengthens as the handlebars are positioned closer to the rider's chest. This increased moment arm may allow greater leverage from the rider's arms to offset the legs resulting in more force going into the pedals.

If that's the case, then it's really the position of the handlebars relative to the fork tube axis that's the critical difference. The more vertical the seat, the closer the handlebars are to the fork tube axis and the less potential for increased moment around that axis regardless of the boom configuration. That's my thinking anyway, just by looking at the difference in front triangle geometries and force paths.

 

[Rampa]

I have two T's. One configured each way. The moment arm is the biggest difference I notice. The more upright one I can ride no-hands, while the Emeljay'd one, forget it. It's a bit to twitchy if I try and ride no hands.

 

[benphyr]

I have two T's. One configured each way. The moment arm is the biggest difference I notice. The more upright one I can ride no-hands, while the Emeljay'd one, forget it. It's a bit to twitchy if I try and ride no hands.

To compare the two you would need to isolate the variables that you want to test: the Emeljay mod= slider, boom /steerer clamp, and stem vs. stock setup= stock slider, steer tube riser, boom/steerer clamp, and stem.

That would require two T50s set up with all components the same including the seat type, seat location, and seat angle, the bottom bracket location, and importantly the handlebar type, location, orientation, height, etc. must be set the same.

Only then do you have a test that gives any significantly comparison of what differences are attributable to the change. Even then you have all sorts of variables with respect to how well designed and manufactured and fastened the individual parts and connections are made not to mention the subjective nature of seeing the different setups in front of you.

And further, every Emeljay mod is done differently with significantly different approaches and materials and parts.

I am confident that all of the following have greater impact than the mod by itself with all other factors being the same:

Changing the seat angle alone changes the handling, and there are trickle down effects from increased tiller length and possibly seat location, centre of gravity, and bottom bracket height.

The mod is still an upgrade and I am going to do it to my qx100 one day.

 

[JerseyJim]

I know we got a bit off topic of the OP but this just popped up. Looks like what you're looking for Chengsun:
https://forum.cruzbike.com/threads/2010-sofrider-for-sale-excellent-condition.14342/

 

[chengsun]

Jim,
Thanks for the post!
I replied to the seller. Hope we can make a deal.
-Cheng

 

[Jock Thompson]

I have a T50 limited for sale. Bought new October 12, 2019 @ the Nashville, TN Recumbent con for my wife. Odometer shows 80 miles. She has knee issues now and can't ride. Black, standard T50 components, custom wood fenders front and rear (made in OR), rear rack with Olive green Tourbon saddle bags with canvas carry strap, gives it a retro look. CATEYE Velo 7 bike computer, mirror, bell, dual bottle holders, kickstand, small tool kit. Great shape, 2 small scratches on Right fork and crank post. Will deliver up to 300 miles, live in Knoxville, TN. $1,200. Buyer to pay shipping.