Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 27^th, 2009, 1:34pm:
couple more issues:
 
Bottom bracket height - in general, the further you lay back and the higher the bottom bracket, the more power you can transfer to the cranks, thus more speed, etc. SWB bikes tend to have higher BBs than LWBs. Higher BBs tend to be less easy to learn and maneuver in tight situations though.  
 
Seat design and fitting can play a huge part in determining how the above issues play out and show the need for road testing. Mounting a Euromesh seat on a Bacchetta Agio (instead of the std Recurve seat) and laying it way back resulted in an easy 5mph speed increase for me, party due to better aerodynamics and partly due to better power transfer. It also resulted in far greater distances being easily achieved. The Recurve seat is more useful and comfortable to me for local shopping within a 5 mile radius though.
 
I suspect that how a given bike is rigged might possibly produce greater variation than the difference between a SWB and LWB that are rigged fairly similarly.

I personally think a LWB is easier to get your balance on than the high racer.  If you are really well balanced then either will work.  I personally like the angle of a high bottom bracket.  The X-Stream basically sits almost exactly like my SWB except a bit lower.  The SWB is a little more maneuverable in tight turns but with time I am sure the X-Stream will be fine.
 
All that said I have the X-Stream for speed, but the trike still feels more like a fast sports car.  All of the above have their place, just buy one of each and you will be fine.

Regarding the V3 at Plano Cycling...  I believe the handlebar riser is a "straight up" version, which I think is weird, because an angled riser is better for bringing the grips back toward you for a reclined seat angle -- especially with a Hoagie seat on it!  So if/when you test ride it, realize that a "not quite there" reach to the grips can easily be remedied, and just move the seat further forward than normal.

Steve (Killer Bee) mentioned that some of us did a 600k ride this past weekend, out of all of them I am the newest to 'bents (by about a week, but still).  So perhaps with the least experience, I can give you some advice:
 
1.  Test ride, pure and simple.  PCF let us take two bikes for a weekend with no problem.
 
2.  The wind:  With a pure headwind the 'bent has an advantage, but with a cross-wind, give me plenty of side space.
 
3.  Hills:  Anyone who says a 'bent can't climb is lying.  Of course, it all depends on the rider/bike, but I had a high-racer drop me on a good climb when I was on my DF (and I'm a climber).
 
4.  Comfort:  Hands down, give me my Bachetta (no more numb hands - or saddle sores).
 
5.  Pack riding: I ride with the local club on their fast past Tue/Thursday rides, and they only gave me grief for a little while.  It does take some getting used to riding in close with DFs that aren't used to 'bents (especially when you're still getting used to a 'bent), but it can be done.
 
6.  Commuting, touring, t-shirt rides and racing:  The 'bent can do it all, just not racing against DFs.  
 
7.  Test ride: Important enough to mention twice.

I just rode my first bent bike.  It was a shoter LWB and a very heavy bike.  I didn't zig or zag just jumped on it and went ( I won't be so lucky with a swb bike like the v-rex).  Riding this entry level bent felt like what a bike is supposed to feel like.  I noticed it was very easy to spin.  The bent I rode was too heavy, and too much of a cruiser for the price, but it was a good start.  I then found out they had a much more performance oriented lwb bike that is nearly identical in riding position to the Rans V-3.  Long story short I might have a bent bike way before I ever thought possible.  I am going to ride some SWB bents tomorrow evening and anything else I can before I pull the trigger.

Yup, and they were very nice.  I kept telling them they need to carry Rans and their prices seemed to be just about on par with everyone else.  They have a Sun they are putting together that I will ride in the next couple of days. The price is very low considering it is last years model, but it has many of the more middle ground features  that I am looking for and the ones it is missing are easy upgrades. It is also only 3 lbs heavier than the Rans bike I have been looking at.  The only thing it dosen't have is the option to go to Disc brakes like most of the Rans bikes I have seen have.  For the price difference I might be able to live without this...but really don't know.  I wish there was some way I could put 25miles on something before I bought it.  People seem to view Sun as a lower level company, but we will see. Right now I have made a commitment to no one and have more bikes to ride!

Quote from system-f on Apr 28^th, 2009, 10:14pm:

 
My suggestion on this is, once you've got your first choice solid in your mind, ask the shop if you can take it for a weekend test before you buy it.  A good shop should have no problems with that.  Shellene and I tested two Bachetta Corsa's from PCF, one S/S and one "standard" for a weekend (we got well over 25 miles riding in), and then ended up keeping the S/S and ordering a second S/S.  PCF had no problems with that at all.
 
 

RE your first ride on a little heavy entry level shorter LWB. Sounds like my EZ-1! I am sure you could get a zippier model than a Sum EZ-1 for touring and longer rides. I tried a SWB with low steering and found it unsteady. I am sure I could get used to it. I prefered the LWB because i could immediately get on a ride comfortably. The shorter LWB was preferable because I needed to commute using sidewalks a good ways each day. bottom line: 'bents are really comfortable, whichever one you choose. Happy riding!