BlackPanther
Hyper-Fast Recumbent Riding Member.
- Location
- Doncaster.
I've reserved judgement on the Rapto as there was quite a steep learning curve to overcome. I've previously owned another lowracer (Optima Baron) which I couldn't get on with as it was a pig to balance/set off on traffic, especially uphill.
I was actually looking for a Bachetta Strada/Corsa highracer as I'd always regretted selling my old Strada, but then this Rapto came up on ebay. I read lots of reviews and took the plunge. It's a 9 speed, with a single 70 tooth(!) chainring. The first week was a nightmare on my 24 mile round trip commute, especially through Doncaster town centre, but gradually I've got the hang of setting off, and the slow speed control has improved greatly.
A few teething problems. Chain waaaaay too long, took a bit of trial and error to find the right length. Then had derailleur heel strike problem caused by the ring not been exactly vertical, and my spd shoes having too much rubber on the backs!
A couple of annoying traits of the Rapto are the fact that if you wheel the bike backwards whilst steering even slightly, then the chain pings off. This problem may be exasperated by the massive 70 tooth chainring? Another problem is that the chain can also ping off if you hit a big bump whilst pedaling.....that's happened a couple of times (which is embarrassing.) I'm going to try fitting a double chain ring (bought a 60 toother on ebay). There's no derailleur post on the rapto but I can switch 'manually' if I'm going somewhere hilly, and hopefully it will eliminate the problem of the chain abandoning the ring over bumps as it will only jump down to the 60 toother!?
I'm glad I persisted with this machine. I promised I'd ride it solidly for a month, and now I'm confident, and this one is a keeper! She's also pretty damn quick. My commute takes around 40 mins on the Rapto in the morning, compared to 50 on the road bike or the Trice, so it's around 20% quicker, which is around the same as the old Strada. An extra 10 minutes in bed!
Anyway, here she is!
I was actually looking for a Bachetta Strada/Corsa highracer as I'd always regretted selling my old Strada, but then this Rapto came up on ebay. I read lots of reviews and took the plunge. It's a 9 speed, with a single 70 tooth(!) chainring. The first week was a nightmare on my 24 mile round trip commute, especially through Doncaster town centre, but gradually I've got the hang of setting off, and the slow speed control has improved greatly.
A few teething problems. Chain waaaaay too long, took a bit of trial and error to find the right length. Then had derailleur heel strike problem caused by the ring not been exactly vertical, and my spd shoes having too much rubber on the backs!
A couple of annoying traits of the Rapto are the fact that if you wheel the bike backwards whilst steering even slightly, then the chain pings off. This problem may be exasperated by the massive 70 tooth chainring? Another problem is that the chain can also ping off if you hit a big bump whilst pedaling.....that's happened a couple of times (which is embarrassing.) I'm going to try fitting a double chain ring (bought a 60 toother on ebay). There's no derailleur post on the rapto but I can switch 'manually' if I'm going somewhere hilly, and hopefully it will eliminate the problem of the chain abandoning the ring over bumps as it will only jump down to the 60 toother!?
I'm glad I persisted with this machine. I promised I'd ride it solidly for a month, and now I'm confident, and this one is a keeper! She's also pretty damn quick. My commute takes around 40 mins on the Rapto in the morning, compared to 50 on the road bike or the Trice, so it's around 20% quicker, which is around the same as the old Strada. An extra 10 minutes in bed!
Anyway, here she is!
Last edited:
