On a bicycle built for two, either your partner and you work together or not at all. There really is no in-between on a tandem. It is a team effort, not only requiring both of you to pedal together to get over a mountain pass, but also work as ‘one’ negotiating turns and technical sections. Usually couples either ride on the road or on dirt trails, but seldom both due to limitations of the bike or rider comfort level. A road tandem, with its 700c wheels and larger gearing, is much faster on the road than a mountain bike tandem. A mountain bike tandem, with its 26-inch wheels and smaller gearing, is much stronger and is geared to make it easier to climb – especially while riding trails. My wife and I are in-between… we want the speed of a road tandem, but be able to ride some trails on a whim. Our 1998 Cannondale MT1000 mountain tandem has served us well for five Triple Bypass tours, but we both are looking for something that will roll faster on the road and yet still handle the trails. We just do not want to own two different tandems. Enter the 2012 Java from Co-Motion.
The new Java is a 29er tandem. A 29er wheel is a 700c size wheel, but is more robust like a 26-inch mountain bike wheel – in theory, the ideal bike for our needs! There have been other tandem manufacturers who have built 29er prototypes, but Co-Motion is one of the only builders committed to this wheel size for a production model tandem.
The 2012 Java utilizes over-sized, zonally-butted cro-moly tubing as the basis for this new tandem frame. The reason that Co-Motion chooses to go with the over-sized tubes is so that the lateral tube, the one that goes from the rear dropout to the head tube on other tandem frames, can be completely eliminated. The head tube is over-sized at 44mm for increased stiffness and the frame is mated with an ‘larger than life’ Co-Motion taper gauge rigid fork with a CNC tandem steerer tube. All of these features together are used to create a light, yet stiff steel 29er tandem frame.
The Java is available as a complete bike and comes fairly well equipment with Shimano Ultegra, Chris King, FSA and Avid components. The components more closely resemble a touring bike group than a mountain bike group due to its use of drop bars and road gearing. Depending on the intended use, the drop bars could be viewed as a positive or negative feature. If you have ridden a mountain bike with drop bars off-road, you know that the handling is a little more difficult when compared to using straight bars. This is due to the your body being positioned more forward, over the bars while steering, shifting and braking. Though there is virtually no possible way that a tandem could endo, this is a slightly more forward position than some mountain bike riders might prefer. Along with the positioning consideration, the road style brake levers allow the use of only a cable actuated disc brake setup at this time. If hydraulic brakes are desired, the drop bars, brakes and shifters will need to be swapped to a mountain bike setup or a cable to hydraulic convertor will need to be used to partially have a hydraulic disc brake setup. If you are coming from primarily a road biking background, the use of the drop bars will not even be an issue and probably be the preferred setup. To be certain, it is best to visit a Co-Motion dealer for a test ride.
Each Java is hand-built to order in Oregon unless you find one at a local dealer that they specifically ordered themselves. If time permits, it is best to visit a dealer so that you and your riding partner will be able to specify exactly what you want before the frame is built. The list of options include S&S Couplers (Co-Pilot), custom sizing, custom name decals, paint fade options, custom mounts and a choice of colors from over 40 different options. Some of these options do require an up-charge, but you will at least be able to order exactly what you want. The Co-Motion Java has an approximate weight of 38 pounds and a retail price of $5365. Visit Co-Motion’s website to find an authorized dealer near you to schedule a test ride or place your order.
If you and your riding partner are stuck between a mountain and road tandem or if you are looking into a fun way to exercise and tour with your partner, checkout all of the buzz with the new Co-Motion Java!
You state that “There have been other tandem manufacturers who have built 29er prototypes, but Co-Motion is one of the only builders committed to this wheel size for a production model tandem”
I respectfully disagree: Our Fandango 29’er has been on the market for the last 2.5 years, and has become our best-selling off-road tandem. In fact, we have discontinued the 26″ wheeled line completely. While Fandango isn’t a major player in the bicycle world, please give credit where credit is due. We committed to the 29″ wheel for off-road and mixed use tandems a few years ago.
Thanks!
Hi Alex– Thanks for your comment on the Fandango 29’er Tandem. It’s always good to learn of more tandem bike manufacturers building for this category.