700c Giordano Duetto Tandem Bike

So glad the Peanut Gallery has taken over this thread, lol. But if you happen to be in the niche market of tandem bicycle riders out there, this is actually a smoking deal. The best deal, by a wide margin, on a new tandem bike has been the Kent Northwoods tandem which can be bought on Amazon for $300, right now:

https://www.amazon.com/Northwoods-Drive-Tandem-26-Inch-Black/dp/B00BD45LE2/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2XUMH4KIT... [amazon.com]

It's a pretty solid design. Robust, good for heavy or inexperienced riders. Pretty amazing they they can manufacture and ship something this big at this price and still make a profit. Downside: Steel frame. Heavy and will rust. No quick-adjust steat height posts. CheapTwist Grip shifters. Primary chain tensioner is kind of a janky design. Fat wheels, which absorb bumps but roll slow. Kind of hard to keep the derailers tuned to and reach the Granny-Gear, and not sure if I want to roll that slow on a tandem anyway.

OPs deal is $50 cheaper, is aluminum, has better shifters, 700cc wheels, quick release seat posts, better primary drive, better rear gear. But...yeah, those brakes. I guess you can't win'em all. So it's about 10 lbs lighter but same wheel-base so it's really better in every regard. And I really like the 2x8 gearing instead of the 3x7 gearing on the Kent. If you prefer performance vs comfort, the duetta has way better seats but some people might want to swap those out with big tushy cushy seats instead.

I would still call the Duetta a 'Recreational/Beginner Tandem' bike in the same class as the Kent Northwoods but it's a MUCH better bike. Giordano is DEFINTELY selling these significantly below cost. I ordered one and am putting my Kent Northwood out on Facebook marketplace ASAP.

One other tip: replace the Stoker handlebar with a collapsible handlebar. I would never use a collapsible handlebar for a regular bike handlebar/Captain handlebar but it's fine for the Stoker and it makes storing the bike easier.

You and me would look so cute riding this together. 😍

Relationship tester for under $300. Not bad.