Not many sports-recumbents have been round the world, but the Hurricane has. One proud owner is a Dutch airline pilot. After parking his 747 in Australia he likes to unwind by going for a spin on his dream machine. He picked the Hurricane for its lively, speedy handling, and also because it is compact enough to take on board the aircraft. Another owner, from Holland, was touring in southern Spain, and when the time came to return, simply disassembled the bike (it takes about 10 minutes) and took a coach home. The Hurricane was developed four years ago, to meet demand among Dutch and German recumbent enthusiasts for a fast, compact and aerodynamic recumbent. The original steel-framed version is still available, and Challenge have recently introduced the Hurricane Luxe, with an all-aluminium frame and hydraulic suspension.
Low down and lightweight, the Hurricane is ideal for covering distance. If you want to take it touring, racks and special Radical panniers can be fitted, and as the coach-traveller found, getting to or from your destination should be no problem. The front boom pulls out, the seat comes off, and the 20" (406) wheels don't take up much space either. Disassembled, no part is over one metre in length. Equipped as standard with Magura HS-12 hydraulic brakes, the Hurricane Luxe weighs around 14kg (but can be reduced to 11.5kg with special lightweight parts).
Customers asked Challenge if they could fit front suspension and a chain-cover to the Hurricane. This turned out to be impossible without a complete redesign - there just wasn't the room above the front wheel.So redesign they did - and the result is the Wizard, an all-round touring/commuting bike. It's still compact, lively and nimble, but with its 26" (559) rear wheel and 52cm seat height (17cm higher than the Hurricane) the Wizard is just a little more suited for everyday use. The chain cover keeps trousers clean, and there's room for standard panniers (up to 25kg) on the stainless-steel rear carrier. Full dynamo lighting (with an LED rear light) and mudguards come as standard. Like the Alu Hurricane, the Wizard has an aluminium frame, and both bikes are fitted with SRAM 3x7 gears. The standard finish is a two-layer powder-coating, but both bikes have the option of an anodised main frame.
|