Bicycles

Semi-recumbent electric tandem comes apart and packs up

Semi-recumbent electric tandem comes apart and packs up
Stephen Bilenky stands with the latest version of his ViewPoint semi-recumbent bike, named the eHarmony
Stephen Bilenky stands with the latest version of his ViewPoint semi-recumbent bike, named the eHarmony
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One thing that sets the Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony apart from most other tandems is its independent cadence system
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One thing that sets the Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony apart from most other tandems is its independent cadence system
This version of the Bilenky ViewPoint, the eHarmony, features a 1,000-watt front hub motor
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This version of the Bilenky ViewPoint, the eHarmony, features a 1,000-watt front hub motor
Couplers in the steel frame allow the Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony to be taken apart
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Couplers in the steel frame allow the Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony to be taken apart
The Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony is a semi-recumbent – this means that the front rider sits reclined, while the rear rider sits upright
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The Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony is a semi-recumbent – this means that the front rider sits reclined, while the rear rider sits upright
Stephen Bilenky stands with the latest version of his ViewPoint semi-recumbent bike, named the eHarmony
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Stephen Bilenky stands with the latest version of his ViewPoint semi-recumbent bike, named the eHarmony
if the person in back starts getting tired of sitting upright, they can switch places with the person in front, taking on their more comfortable recumbent position
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if the person in back starts getting tired of sitting upright, they can switch places with the person in front, taking on their more comfortable recumbent position
View gallery - 6 images

When we've attended the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in the past, we've always been on the lookout for things that weren't just plain ol' bikes. Well, this year's show didn't disappoint, with Bilenky Cycle Works showcasing a semi-recumbent creation that really caught our eye.

Made for a client by Philadelphia-based bike-builder Stephen Bilenky, the ViewPoint eHarmony bike on display at NAHBS certainly has a lot of interesting features.

For one thing, it's a tandem, and not just a regular tandem. Instead, as already mentioned, it's a semi-recumbent – this means that the front rider sits reclined, while the rear rider sits upright. Among other things, this allows both people to have an unobstructed view, with the rear rider looking over the front rider's head. Additionally, if the person in back starts getting tired of sitting upright, they can switch places with the person in front, taking on their more comfortable recumbent position.

One thing that sets the Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony apart from most other tandems is its independent cadence system
One thing that sets the Bilenky ViewPoint eHarmony apart from most other tandems is its independent cadence system

Another thing that sets the bike apart from most other tandems is its independent cadence system. Whereas both riders would ordinarily have to pedal at the same rate, this setup allows them to each set their own pace – one rider can even cease pedalling altogether, while the other continues.

And speaking of pedalling, the riders are assisted by a 1,000-watt front hub motor – factors such as battery range have yet to be established, although a regenerative braking system does boost that range. A transparent Zzipper fairing in front also helps, by lowering wind drag.

This version of the Bilenky ViewPoint, the eHarmony, features a 1,000-watt front hub motor
This version of the Bilenky ViewPoint, the eHarmony, features a 1,000-watt front hub motor

Finally, the bike can be taken apart for travel. Couplers in its steel frame allow users to disassemble it, then pack it in two hard cases that meet airline size and weight requirements.

Stephen does offer other versions of the ViewPoint, which start at US$6,595 for a complete bike. He told us that the eHarmony, however, is worth about $10,000.

Product page: Bilenky ViewPoint

View gallery - 6 images
2 comments
2 comments
Don Martin
Looks like a combination of a Hase Pino for semi recumbent and a Zox tandem for all wheel drive and splitting in two - not bad and also readonably priced
Trylon
It's actually quite an old design. The ViewPoint is a refinement of the Counterpoint Opus, which Jim Weaver created and built in the 1980s. Steve Bilenky took it over and renamed it in the 1990s. So essentially this is a three-decade-old design, with the addition of some structural bracing, the S&S couplers and the hub motor.