a.twiddler
Veteran
Rans Stratus XP Update 1/7/25
Owned since 21/3/25, a bit over 3 months. It’s taken a while to get it the way I want it.
Some random thoughts.
Compared with the Linear, which is the only true LWB that I can compare it with, its steering is … different. The Linear feels neutral, though any feedback to the rider is damped by the steering linkage as well as any front wheel road buzz.
Not only is the steering direct on the Rans, but when static it’s noticeable that the front of the frame rises when the steering is moved to straight ahead and lowers when moved even a few degrees to one side or the other. Therefore it’s not as expected, where a bike with a strong self centring action would tend to drop the front of the frame fractionally when the wheel is straight ahead and rise slightly when the wheel is turned either way. The weight of the bike and rider would make the front wheel straighten up when rolling. Probably most bikes have this tendency but in real life situations it’s slight enough to be almost unnoticeable.
The Rans does the opposite at a standstill, and so the front wheel feels as if it “wants” to turn one way or the other, added to by the weight ahead of the wheel spindle. Some reviews make much of the “flop” and the effect on low speed handling but certainly for me, once aware of it, it works OK. It’s just one of its “characteristics”. It climbs well enough, and tracks straight at ultra low speed.
One thing that is noticeable is that the contact patch moves a lot when turning sharply. Due to the laid back forks the wheel tilts visibly, and the contact patch moves almost to the sidewall in the direction that you are turning. It doesn’t affect the ability to manoevre. It’s just another “characteristic”. I’m more concerned about sticking my knee out at such times, to avoid the handlebar.
When wheeling it about, despite the extra length over the Linear, it’s a bit easier due to the ability to turn the bars at right angles or beyond. The Linear’s USS is constricted by the steering rod contacting the frame when turning it right and the bar end touching the seat when turning left. Not a problem on the road but something to be aware of when turning it round to get it into the garage.
Since my recent successful rematch with Alsagers bank I feel much less in a rush to complete all the rides on the Linear bucket list with a vague notion of selling it this summer -somehow, after that, I’ve come to appreciate it more. It’s been the most testing ride I’ve done since I was flattened by pericarditis last year. It’s been a turning point. So the pressure is off in that respect, and I’m more likely to use the Rans for similar rides to get a comparison.
I’m more at home with the OSS on the Spirit at the moment than the Rans bars which I’ve adjusted with a view to getting through local barriers rather than comfort as a first priority, though I’ve had a couple of years to get used to the Spirit. The width of the Spirit bars just passes through local barriers. That’s fortunate as they’re not width-adjustable. The USS on the Linear feels very natural. My palms just fall into place on the curved padded bar ends as if made for them.
The Rans, like the Spirit, is easier to get on and off than the Linear despite my earlier misgivings. I’ve become hypersensitised to this aspect after my issues with the Grasshopper, I think.
The seat is a little lower than the Linear one but it feels much lower still once aboard.
It manages the mild off road stuff that the Linear and Spirit can.
The Spirit is probably better on this stuff than the other two just due to being shorter and able to navigate obstacles more easily.
Recently I came across a zig zag barrier with not just 2, but 3 parts to navigate. Here I discovered that with the seat bag on, the centre of balance is at the seat base. I was able to grab the seat base, stand up, and rotate through 90 degrees several times, having rolled forward to the appropriate spot each time. The barrier seems like overkill to me. It’s possible that I could get through this sort of thing with underseat panniers too, if I had to, as the weight would be all under the seat. Whether the seat frame would suffer in the long run if I made a habit of it is unknown. Probably best not to push my luck.
The Rans does seem a bit faster for the same effort as the Linear, at the cost of being even longer! Still, if that’s what it takes, I can live with that. I need to get the serendipitous juxtaposition of the weather, being not too much heat and not too much wind, and my energy levels being right on the day, to see how it goes on a long trip, perhaps the long anticipated century ride which was knocked on the head by my bout of pericarditis last year.
I thought I’d turned the corner in my recovery with my recent successful rematch with Alsagers Bank on the Linear but some days I feel good, while others I still feel a bit meh. I’ve noticed some Achilles tendon pain recently. I don’t know if that’s Rans specific due to its particular geometry, or just due to the fact that I’m cycling more generally.
Recent tidying up of the front mudguard support on the Rans with a plastic clip on support instead of the long bolt and tube. The now redundant fixed mudguard bracket supports a front reflector.
So far, so good!
Owned since 21/3/25, a bit over 3 months. It’s taken a while to get it the way I want it.
Some random thoughts.
Compared with the Linear, which is the only true LWB that I can compare it with, its steering is … different. The Linear feels neutral, though any feedback to the rider is damped by the steering linkage as well as any front wheel road buzz.
Not only is the steering direct on the Rans, but when static it’s noticeable that the front of the frame rises when the steering is moved to straight ahead and lowers when moved even a few degrees to one side or the other. Therefore it’s not as expected, where a bike with a strong self centring action would tend to drop the front of the frame fractionally when the wheel is straight ahead and rise slightly when the wheel is turned either way. The weight of the bike and rider would make the front wheel straighten up when rolling. Probably most bikes have this tendency but in real life situations it’s slight enough to be almost unnoticeable.
The Rans does the opposite at a standstill, and so the front wheel feels as if it “wants” to turn one way or the other, added to by the weight ahead of the wheel spindle. Some reviews make much of the “flop” and the effect on low speed handling but certainly for me, once aware of it, it works OK. It’s just one of its “characteristics”. It climbs well enough, and tracks straight at ultra low speed.
One thing that is noticeable is that the contact patch moves a lot when turning sharply. Due to the laid back forks the wheel tilts visibly, and the contact patch moves almost to the sidewall in the direction that you are turning. It doesn’t affect the ability to manoevre. It’s just another “characteristic”. I’m more concerned about sticking my knee out at such times, to avoid the handlebar.
When wheeling it about, despite the extra length over the Linear, it’s a bit easier due to the ability to turn the bars at right angles or beyond. The Linear’s USS is constricted by the steering rod contacting the frame when turning it right and the bar end touching the seat when turning left. Not a problem on the road but something to be aware of when turning it round to get it into the garage.
Since my recent successful rematch with Alsagers bank I feel much less in a rush to complete all the rides on the Linear bucket list with a vague notion of selling it this summer -somehow, after that, I’ve come to appreciate it more. It’s been the most testing ride I’ve done since I was flattened by pericarditis last year. It’s been a turning point. So the pressure is off in that respect, and I’m more likely to use the Rans for similar rides to get a comparison.
I’m more at home with the OSS on the Spirit at the moment than the Rans bars which I’ve adjusted with a view to getting through local barriers rather than comfort as a first priority, though I’ve had a couple of years to get used to the Spirit. The width of the Spirit bars just passes through local barriers. That’s fortunate as they’re not width-adjustable. The USS on the Linear feels very natural. My palms just fall into place on the curved padded bar ends as if made for them.
The Rans, like the Spirit, is easier to get on and off than the Linear despite my earlier misgivings. I’ve become hypersensitised to this aspect after my issues with the Grasshopper, I think.
The seat is a little lower than the Linear one but it feels much lower still once aboard.
It manages the mild off road stuff that the Linear and Spirit can.
The Spirit is probably better on this stuff than the other two just due to being shorter and able to navigate obstacles more easily.
Recently I came across a zig zag barrier with not just 2, but 3 parts to navigate. Here I discovered that with the seat bag on, the centre of balance is at the seat base. I was able to grab the seat base, stand up, and rotate through 90 degrees several times, having rolled forward to the appropriate spot each time. The barrier seems like overkill to me. It’s possible that I could get through this sort of thing with underseat panniers too, if I had to, as the weight would be all under the seat. Whether the seat frame would suffer in the long run if I made a habit of it is unknown. Probably best not to push my luck.
The Rans does seem a bit faster for the same effort as the Linear, at the cost of being even longer! Still, if that’s what it takes, I can live with that. I need to get the serendipitous juxtaposition of the weather, being not too much heat and not too much wind, and my energy levels being right on the day, to see how it goes on a long trip, perhaps the long anticipated century ride which was knocked on the head by my bout of pericarditis last year.
I thought I’d turned the corner in my recovery with my recent successful rematch with Alsagers Bank on the Linear but some days I feel good, while others I still feel a bit meh. I’ve noticed some Achilles tendon pain recently. I don’t know if that’s Rans specific due to its particular geometry, or just due to the fact that I’m cycling more generally.
Recent tidying up of the front mudguard support on the Rans with a plastic clip on support instead of the long bolt and tube. The now redundant fixed mudguard bracket supports a front reflector.
So far, so good!
