this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2025
8 points (100.0% liked)

Bicycles

4191 readers
20 users here now

Welcome to [email protected]

A place to share our love of all things with two wheels and pedals. This is an inclusive, non-judgemental community. All types of cyclists are accepted here; whether you're a commuter, a roadie, a MTB enthusiast, a fixie freak, a crusty xbiking hoarder, in the middle of an epic across-the-world bicycle tour, or any other type of cyclist!


Community Rules


Other cycling-related communities

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

If money was no object, this would be the bike I'd throw my wallet at!

Not only does the tandem setup look better than a traditional tandem, but to be able to convert it into a front-loading cargo bike is... WOW!

This bike is also Made in Germany.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Thank you so much for the insight!

Bilenky Viewpoint

Every day, I learn about a new gem.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 14 hours ago

I loved my Bilenky. But that's a bucket of its own issues. Cons:

  • Bilenky. The timeline on the build was originally stated at 3 months; it was delivered 14 months later. Fine, whatever. The stoker boom was welded ~1 degree off-center. That's the kind of thing nobody would notice. The person to whom I sold could barely notice it even after I pointed it out, but it stuck in my craw.
  • The price. My Viewpoint was $11,000USD in 2014. I sold it for $8000 and the buyer didn't even balk. They drove from Minnesota to Washington to buy it because price and timeline.
  • The midship rack. When I bought my Viewpoint, Haulin' Collin was the only person making the midship rack and center kickstand. He's a custom bike fab shop in Seattle. The price and timelines are what one would expect for custom. But his work is impeccable.
  • It's huge. But you don't buy any tandem if you live in a small apartment. You need a place to keep this. It was still slightly shorter than my diamond tandem though.

Pros:

  • Bilenky. The design of the Viewpoint is well-trod and tightly refined, having been pioneered in the Counterpoint Opus. Bilenky's version is dialed.
  • Their paint! OMG, their paint is easily one of the best I experienced.
  • Generic parts selection. Whatever you want, you can get it spec'd. Want to change something? No problem.
  • Independent stoker drivetrain. The stoker can select their own cadence. Unless one is an experienced tandem captain, one might not think this is a that big of a deal. Absolutely buy this option.
  • S&S Couplers. If you go with this option, the bike fits into two airline-standard cases. Although it took me two hours to pack it up. And it does limit your component selections a bit.
  • Generic recumbent seat. If your stoker wants different ergo, it's easily accommodated.
  • Generic two-legged kickstands work just fine for the bike, but you won't be sitting on the seat with one of those.
  • Rides great solo. This applies to all semi-recumbents. Riding a diamond tandem solo can be risky; the rear wheel wants to slide out in turns.

Another bit on the Hase Pino: if riding solo and without cargo on the front, the front wheel tends to wash out. No bueno. It's cornering capabilities are a scant fraction of the Viewpoint.