The History
of Linear Recumbent Bicycles
See also:
History of USS Recumbents
and
History of Linear Recumbent Models
1980's
Dirk Kann
originally founded Linear Recumbents when his aluminum fabricating business was slow in
the mid 80's.
A very early Linear Iowa Prototype,
experimenting with rear wheel attachment (& suspension?)
The first
Linear models had over seat handlebars that looked like they would be at
home on a Harley chopper. They were comfortable and handled well on the road
but were difficult to manage in sharp turns. They had so much "tiller" that
to make a sharp right turn you had to put your left hand on the right
handlebar! They soon added the familiar USS handlebar which quickly became
much more popular and the OSS was discontinued.
This prototype has recognizable rear frame
"chainplates", the familiar rear wheel attachment.
Promotional photo of early Linear
machines.
The serial number of a Kann's Linear (or Iowa Linear) is just a few digits compared to the
long serial numbers on newer Linear frames. You can tell an original Kann
Linear by the short serial number. To find the serial number, look on the
bottom of the main frame beam behind the front fork. We are now hand
inscribing short serial #s on the Linear Recumbents we are completing.
Early USS Linear with Kann employee Randy
Heller.
1991
Steve Hansel bought Linear Mfg. Inc. in 1991 when Dirk
Kann's
other business ventures picked up.
1999
"Dirk Kann, 52, passed away on
September 4, 1999 while on a deep water scuba dive in Lake Michigan. Dirk's
death was definitely a freak of God type of thing. He was an avid diver and
a very respected person amongst the community. His passing is definitely a
true loss."
~ Tricia at Linear Mfg. Inc.
Linear
Manufacturing changed hands and moved from Guttenberg, Iowa to Western New York
where
Linear Recumbents are still in Production
Today!
2001
Late in the summer of 2001 Dave Bures purchased Linear from Steve Hansel.
Dave found the bike business to be tougher than expected. Dave sold the
remaining inventory to The Bicycle Man in late 2001.
2002
In late 2002 The Bicycle Man bought the remaining assets of Linear Mfg Inc and
moved the manufacturing operation of Linear Recumbents to Western NY where
Linear Recumbent Bikes are alive and well today.
The first 1,000 pounds of Linear inventory.
Since then Peter has been working with Alfred University senior engineering
students and local engineers and machinists to improve Linear Recumbent
Bikes. The Linear LWB (Long Wheel Base) has received the majority of this effort. The Linear Limo 3.0
began development in 2005. The frame designed was begun with computer FEA
testing. A prototype was built and put through static and dynamic tests.
First prototype, Linear Limo 3.0
The most fun part of this testing was attaching strain gauges and
accelerometers to the frame and a laptop computer behind the seat. The bike
was then raced through potholes, off curbs and up hills by a 240 lb rider.
After analyzing the data we felt confident enough to loan it to a 250 lb
rider who rode the Limo 800 miles then strapped on an additional 50 lbs of gear and rode from
Maine to Georgia. Upon completion of the trip the Linear Limo 3.0 was was shipped back to
Western NY and stripped to the frame
to undergo a dye penetrant test looking for fatigue cracks. A certified
technician’s report found that the New Linear Limo 3.0 passed nuclear specs.
FEA software testing new Linear design
2006
Finally we went back to FEA and increased the strength
and stiffness of the newly designed frame a bit and in early 2006 we began working on the final Linear
Limo 3.0 prototype and tooling.
Check out the Linear Limo 3.0 Recumbent
Touring Bike.
2007
Linear Recumbents plans to unveil a new Short Wheel Base
(SWB) Recumbent Bike to replace the old Linear Sonic some time in early
2007.
The new Linear SWB USS
Recumbent Bike will likely have dual 20" tires, 24 speeds, dual
V-brakes and a non folding frame.
See also:
History of USS Recumbents
and
History of Linear Recumbent Models
The Bicycle Man also maintains a
selection of parts and accessories for Linear Recumbent
Bicycles.
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