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The Spirit is HPVelotechnik’s compact long-wheelbase city commuting recumbent - it’s been completely revamped for 2009 with twin 20” wheels.
The compact wheelbase - longer than their other bikes - is more stable and easier to get used to. It also excels at low-speed maneuvering, as you can see exactly where the front wheel is going. The seating position is quite upright for very good visibility in traffic, and the over-the-top bars are comfortable and very intuitive.
The Spirit’s aluminium frame is very light and rigid, while the full suspension keeps you comfortable - and also means that you can have the tyres at a good pressure for low rolling resistance. Cable disc brakes front and rear are fitted as standard, for superb powerful braking which is completely unaffected by mud or water.
Recumbents, like all bikes, are most comfortable when you can adjust everything to suit you. The Spirit has a very adjustable seat - it adjusts for leg length, and the seat and back are independently adjustable for angle - and all these adjustments are made in seconds with just two quick-releases. A neat touch is the little zippered pouch sewn into the seat back - a perfect place to put you keys or a snack when on a day ride. The handlebars are also adjustable for reach.
Although not designed as a touring bike, the Spirit can easily be used for longer journeys. The SRAM DualDrive gearing, with 3 hub gears and 8 derailleur gears, have a very good range - as good as any mountain bike or tourer. The Spirit has a rear rack which can take a top bag for shorter journeys, and for longer journeys an optional pannier carrier is available - this holds two full-size panniers under the seat, to keep the centre-of-gravity low down.
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I ordered our first Spirit demonstrator way back in February 2006 when HPV first told me about their new bike - so I was pretty keen to try it by the time it turned up in mid-June (exactly when it was promised, by the way). First impressions out of the box were excellent - you can really tell that HPV have been building recumbents for over 10 years now. Everything was perfectly adjusted, and the build quality was excellent. There was even a mini vase and real flower attached to the handlebars!
Having tried many other compact-wheelbase machines, I was expecting the Spirit to be like them - very comfy, but not the fastest. I was suprised, though - it is as comfy as I thought, but it is a lot faster than I was expecting, probably down to the light aluminium frame and the very supportive seat. The first outing was to be in Glasgow’s West End Carnival, and the very manouverable steering came in handy!
I am very impressed with the Spirit - the overall package is well put together, it is light and suprisingly fast while still being comfortable and very easy to get used to - but it is the little touches which I really like. The little zippered pouch in the seat, the easy adjustability, and the flower holder! While the Spirit is probably not as suited to longer journeys as the StreetMachine, and is not as fast as the SpeedMachine, it is definitely the bike I’d use for shorter journeys or city riding, and is perfect if you’re not used to recumbents yet.
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The Spirit is available in red or grey...
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And have a look at our Reviews page for other sites which rave about this bike...
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Last updated on:
29 January 2012
Kinetics, 54 Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1AE, UK
tel: 0141 942 2552, email: mail@kinetics-online.co.uk
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
