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What can you tell me about Vision 40R??

Discussion in 'Gear and Equipment' started by Bill I, Mar 6, 2011.  |  Print Topic

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  1. Bill I

    Bill I

    Region:
    SouthWest
    State/Country:
    AZ
    City:
    Phoenix
    Ride:
    Homebuilt
    Name:
    Yoda
    I have an opportunity to purchase a Vision 40R-something for a very low price. I believe it's a compact long wheelbase model. But trying to find any information about Vision bikes is almost impossible. Does anyone know of a secret site where I can get some info on the Visions?? I don't want to tie up this person sale while waiting for me to come and take a look, yet I do want to know as much as possible about the R40 series of bikes.

    Safe Rides,
    Yoda (Bill)
     
    Bill I, Mar 6, 2011
    #1
  2. yakmurph

    yakmurph

    Region:
    East
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Hixson
    Ride:
    Cruzbike
    Name:
    Steve
    I just did a quick Google search for,
    Vision r40

    -and got a lot of links and pictures.

    I know nothing of the bike, but the pictures I glanced at tell me that it
    is a Short wheel Base recumbent bicycle.

    I suggest you test ride it before you trade your money for the bike!

    Good luck.
    :smile9:
     
    yakmurph, Mar 6, 2011
    #2
  3. altozwei

    altozwei

    Region:
    North
    State/Country:
    TX
    City:
    Oak Cliff
    Ride:
    Catrike
    Name:
    Patti
    altozwei, Mar 6, 2011
    #3
  4. laidback cyclist

    laidback cyclist Supporter

    Region:
    NorthEast
    State/Country:
    OK
    City:
    Broken Arrow
    Ride:
    Ti Rush/V-Rex
    Name:
    Mike
    The Vision R40 is convertable between SWB or LWB and USS or OSS provided you can still find the parts necessary for either conversion.

    I have ridden R40's, R44's, and R45's. I have ridden the R40 in both SWB and LWB configurations (both had USS). This is a nice riding bike which originally sold for over $1,000.

    If the price is low enough, even if you decide you do not like it you should be able to get your money back. Visions are good bikes and sold very well in their day. Vision went out of business due to poor timing, they took on a lot of debt and expanded just as the bicycle boom busted, not due to any problem with their bikes.

    Even today used Visions tend to command a decent price.
     
    laidback cyclist, Mar 6, 2011
    #4
  5. A.D.

    A.D. #1 Custodian

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Athens
    Ride:
    Reynolds T-Bone
    Name:
    AD
    First off, our own SallyTN has one! See Hey I am a new owner of a Vision R40

    Also via the bicycleman website:

    Vision unsuspended (without suspension) SWB bikes climb pretty well. Most riders find the LWB Visions harder to balance at very slow speeds, like on steep climbs. This is especially true on a dirt road. Vision rear suspensions tend to “bob” with hill-climbing pedaling effort, making climbing harder. The newer R-50 series rear suspension bikes “bob” a bit less than the older 40 series bikes with rear suspension. The R-40 rear suspension bikes also flex laterally, making high-speed handling poor. Pre 1998 Vision SWB bikes were pretty unstable. In 1998 they lengthened their wheelbase about two inches, a great improvement.​

    And per RoadBikeReview:

    Price Paid: $500.00 at By Owner

    Model Year:
    1999 or older

    Favorite Ride:
    Vision R-40

    Bike Setup:
    26x16 wheels. 21 Speed Shimano RSX and Suntour drivetrain. Under-seat Steering.

    Summary:
    Although Advanced Transportation Products went out of business around 2003, the Vision R-40 is still as good of a bike today as it was when it was produced. The American-made frame has clean TIG welds and a rather industrial-looking powdercoat finish.

    My R-40 has the original USS while many have converted to OSS.

    Strengths:
    The R-40 is fast, light and a great climber. The short wheelbase and minimal frame design makes for easy transport. While the small front wheel makes for somewhat shaky handling depending on speed and road surface, the bike launches straight and sure from a stop with a single push of the pedal. Fast accelleration is appreciated especailly on a recumbent when it is important to get clipped in and rolling.

    Weaknesses:
    The small 16" (359mm) front wheel is succepitble to bump-steer which can be unnerving on rough pavement.

    Similar Products Used:
    Sun EZ-Speedster CX​

    Jeff Potter has a page entitled Me and My New Super Bike where he talks about his experience with an R40.

    Lastly, Recumbent & Tandem Rider Issue #8 had a review on the Vision R40.
     
    A.D., Mar 6, 2011
    #5
  6. Bill I

    Bill I

    Region:
    SouthWest
    State/Country:
    AZ
    City:
    Phoenix
    Ride:
    Homebuilt
    Name:
    Yoda
    What can you tell me about??

    Thanks for the input folks. I dug out one of the sales catalogs from Hostel Shoppe, the year was 2002 and looked at the specs according to them. The R40 was with both over and under seat steering, as well as convertible R40. But the one that caught my eye was one that was advertised as a MLWB. Supposedly, the wheelbase on this model was 57". Was there a model that was only a Compact Long Wheelbase?? That is the question.

    Safe Rides,
    Yoda (Bill)
     
    Bill I, Mar 6, 2011
    #6
  7. A.D.

    A.D. #1 Custodian

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Athens
    Ride:
    Reynolds T-Bone
    Name:
    AD

    Attached is a pic of the Vision R40 MWB, and per the BicycleMan website:

    Many riders find the LWB R-40 harder to balance at very slow speeds, like on steep climbs. This is especially true on a dirt road. In 2002 they improved this by shortening the R-40 LWB, they now call it an MWB.
    ​

    Also, Refitting my Vision R40 is a good thread on bikeforums about one rider's modifications to it.

    R40MWB.jpeg
     
    A.D., Mar 6, 2011
    #7
  8. laidback cyclist

    laidback cyclist Supporter

    Region:
    NorthEast
    State/Country:
    OK
    City:
    Broken Arrow
    Ride:
    Ti Rush/V-Rex
    Name:
    Mike
    The R40 only has one frame design and it has always been convertable. In it's extended form it was interchangeably called a LWB, CLWB, or MWB. All three terms referred to the same configuration, that is , the fork is installed in the forward head tube. The terms CLWB or MWB would be more accurate although in this configuration the R40 wheel base is longer than my CLWB Linear Mach III but shorter than the LWB Tour Easy or Stratus.

    If you look at the picture in A.D.'s post you will see a second head tube in front of the seat. In this picture the handle bars are attached to this head tube while the fork is in the forward head tube, thus the LWB, CLWB, or MWB configuration. When the fork is in the head tube close to the seat the R40 is in its SWB configuration.
     
    laidback cyclist, Mar 6, 2011
    #8
  9. Bill I

    Bill I

    Region:
    SouthWest
    State/Country:
    AZ
    City:
    Phoenix
    Ride:
    Homebuilt
    Name:
    Yoda
    I'm finding myself saying thank you a lot here. I have one more question, though. When in the SWB position does the seat move or does the boom move or, maybe, even both move??

    Safe Rides,
    Yoda (Bill)
     
    Bill I, Mar 6, 2011
    #9
  10. A.D.

    A.D. #1 Custodian

    Region:
    SouthEast
    State/Country:
    TN
    City:
    Athens
    Ride:
    Reynolds T-Bone
    Name:
    AD
    This doesn't answer your question, but it might help you in your search for such. A website at http://www.visionrecumbentinfo.com/ seems to be an archive of information about Vision Recumbents, including Owner's Manuals which you may find handy.
     
    A.D., Mar 6, 2011
    #10
  11. BlazingPedals

    BlazingPedals

    Region:
    North
    State/Country:
    MI
    City:
    Haslett
    Ride:
    M5CHR
    Name:
    John
    Vision made a compact. It used a Sachs/SRAM 3x7 to get 21 speeds. The model was R-30. I don't think the R-30 was convertible in any way, either steering or wheelbase.
     
    BlazingPedals, Mar 6, 2011
    #11
  12. laidback cyclist

    laidback cyclist Supporter

    Region:
    NorthEast
    State/Country:
    OK
    City:
    Broken Arrow
    Ride:
    Ti Rush/V-Rex
    Name:
    Mike
    The R40 was the only convertible model.

    As for seat adjustment on the R40, the boom definitely adjusts by sliding in and out. The seat is also adjustable but I don't remember for sure if it slid or if it had 3 different hole positions where it could be bolted to the frame.

    I'm pretty sure it is the latter. You get the seat adjustment close by selecting the appropriate frame (hole) position then fine tune the adjustment with the boom.
     
    laidback cyclist, Mar 6, 2011
    #12
  13. Bill I

    Bill I

    Region:
    SouthWest
    State/Country:
    AZ
    City:
    Phoenix
    Ride:
    Homebuilt
    Name:
    Yoda
    Well, thanks again to all of you. I think the site that A.D. listed did the trick. There is a lot of info there. Now, all I have to do is buy the bike if I haven't waited to long to grab it.

    Safe Rides,
    Yoda (Bill)
     
    Bill I, Mar 7, 2011
    #13
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