Description:Ventana throws down the gauntlet with El Testigo Experto. Our long travel tandem with monster truck aspirations is the last word in stoker comfort and gives new meaning to the words plush, gnarly and robust. With 6” of active rear wheel travel, oversized sealed cartridge bearings, clearance of downhill tires, massive 4” variable wall thickness oval down tube, oversized top tube, seat stays, and chain stays, replaceable/ adjustable dropouts and our renowned welding and machine work, this tandem looks and performs like it spent the summer on steroids.
Submitted by
Tom Miller
a Cross Country Rider
from Dolores, CO, USA Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Kokopelli BIke and Board
Strengths:
Everything
Weaknesses:
Don't even look at the Credit Card bill.
Similar Products Used:
Lots of road tandem miles and years of mountain bike racing.
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi Monster T 180mm travel XT drivetrain, lots of bike geek stuff, email if you want to know more.
Bottom Line:
We don't get to ride the Testigo very often, but when we do it's usually something stupid like the local race or some 40mile singletrack epic. This is a tandem you can take anywhere, period. The extra travel in the back when paired with the ridiculously overbuilt Marzocchi Monster means this bike will roll through just about anything. The trick is to make it go where you want and how to stuff a 14 foot bike on 1 and 1/2 foot wide trail. The only thing I changed from the originall set-up was that I switched the pedalling to "Out of Phase," 90 degrees offset to each other. This virtually eliminated pedal induced bob, which was our only issue in the past. This did however mean, no more pedalling out of the saddle and it takes awhile to get starts and stops smooth again. This is about the coolest ride out there in terms of quality and "drool factor." Don't jump into a bike like this unless you have ridden many, many miles on a tandem with a stoker who is experienced, and that you communicate well together. This bike gives you the confidence to push your limits and it requires a special team to do that without your $8000 bike causing your divorce. Currently, Ventana is not offering the Testigo. This means they are hard to find, and buyer beware for on-line sales, but it could be worth it for the right riders.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andrea compri
a Weekend Warrior
from verona, italy Date Reviewed: October 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
601 trail on monte baldo
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$7000.00
Purchased At:
italian distributor
Strengths:
this is a very smoothing machine for everyone are a little bit crazy to ride it. Yes we'are italian too...we are the first to made the 601 trail in torbole with a tandem, damned boys.
Weaknesses:
I think nothing!
Similar Products Used:
last year we used a Cannondale tandem, but not rear suspended...that's all!
Bike Setup:
888 marzocchi fork, all race face diabolus equipped, xtr and wheels with Phil wood hubs and double wide rims with michelin 3" tires...
Bottom Line:
we are the fisrt couple to buy this kind of tandem in europe, we thanks all the people that support us, and I really think that the tandem have a smooth future in this sport...
$
Overall Rating:
