The History
of Linear Recumbent Bicycles
What A Difference A Year Makes!
It's been an exciting year of growth at Linear Recumbents.
On January 1st, 2011 we had one model, the Linear Limo long wheelbase.
Fast forward to January 1st, 2012 and we have three models, three component
groups and one new steering option for a total of twelve bikes!
First came our Linear Roadster which won the prestigious 2011 Bentrider
Recumbent Bike of the Year. This model is now available with the option of
above or under seat steering.
Next we developed the "Low Rider" frame so riders down to 5' can now ride
our Linear Limo.
Then we came up with two additional component groups: the extra light (LX)
and the less expensive (LE). Some customers were looking to bike a few
pounds lighter, others wanted a hundred dollar lighter price. Now we offer
quality, American made bikes from $2095 to $2995 so they can both have just
that.
In the midst of all this we built and moved into a new manufacturing and
warehouse facility. We also hired a Mechanical Engineer to head our
production department and help us get the new bikes past the prototype stage
and into production. We keep completed frames in stock so they can promptly
be assembled and ready to ship!
Our commitment to manufacturing fine recumbent bikes is evident in the
amount of road riding and destructive testing we do on pre production models
before putting them on the market. Our new manufacturing facility contains a
significant new investment in manufacturing and product testing equipment.
Continuing destructive testing is a part of our quality control process. We
take great pride in being at the forefront of the Recumbent industry in this
area.
Linear is on the move!
January 1st 2011 we had 1 frame; 1 component group; 1 steering option = 1
model at $2,195
“Great
comfort, Good handling, Good value” -
2010
Bentrider review
In the spring we introduced the Roadster.
“The best handling USS bike I’ve ever ridden” -
2011
Bentrider review
BIKE OF THE YEAR AWARD!
2011
bentrider bike of the year
January 2012 we have 3 frames; 3 component groups; 2 steering options =
12 models from $2095 to $2995
 
-
We built
and moved into a new manufacturing and storage facility.
-
We hired a
full time Production Manager – who is a degreed engineer.
-
We
increased our destructive testing program.
-
We made
our largest investment to date in production equipment .
-
We are
introducing the Linear Limo LR – (low rider) to fit riders down to
4’11”.
-
We are
introducing the OSS option on the Linear Roadster.
-
We are
introducing the XL (extra light) and LE (less expensive) component
groups, available on the Roadster, Limo and Limo LR.
-
We have
bikes to fit riders from 4’11” to 8’ tall and up to 275 lb.
-
We are
looking for a few good dealers to sell our bikes.
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.
2001
Late in
the summer of 2001 Dave Bures purchased Linear from Steve Hansel. Dave found
the bike business less profitable than he had expected. Dave sold much of
the remaining inventory to The Bicycle Man in late 2001.
Linear Manufacturing went out of business in 2002.
Bicycle Man llc bought their physical assets, intellectual property and
trade name and moved them from Guttenberg, Iowa to Western New York where
Linear Recumbents have been redesigned for strength and durability and are
back in Production Today!
2002
In late 2002 Linear manufacturing
went out of business. Bicycle Man llc bought the assets of Linear Mfg Inc.
and began redesigning aluminum recumbents using modern engineering
technology. Production of recumbents bearing the Linear name is begun in
Western NY where Linear Recumbent Bikes are alive and well today.
The first 1,000 pounds of Linear inventory.
Since then Peter have been working with Senior Engineering students and
professors from Alfred University; SUNY Alfred and Perdue University to
improve Linear Recumbent Bikes. The Linear LWB (Long Wheel Base) was first
to be redesigned beginning development in 2003. The frame design 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 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
We went
back to FEA and increased the strength and stiffness of the new frame a bit
more. In the summer of 2006 we sold the first Linear Limo 3.0 to Chris
Kelley.
Check out the Linear Limo 3.0 Recumbent
Touring Bike.
2007
Linear Recumbents began development of a new Linear Short Wheel Base (SWB)
Recumbent Bike to replace the old Linear Sonic. Our first demo bike had dual
20" tires, 24 speeds and dual V-brakes. It was well received by the crowd at
the 2007 Bentride.
2009
The project has gone through 4 iterations and is now a 20”x26” with dual
disk brakes, 27 speeds and a RANS seat. Feedback is collected from thousands
of miles of test riding by our staff and hundreds of customers.
The Linear Roadster SWB
2010
Linear moves into a newer, larger building. This puts the SWB production
behind one year.
2011
The new Linear Roadster is in production. Shipments to customers began in
February.
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.
|
