Best Two-Person Tandem Bicycles in 2024: Share the Fun on a Tandem Bike
A tandem bike is an excellent way to enjoy the activity of cycling with your partner, kid, or friend in a fun and challenging way.
Tandem bike riding is not as simple as it looks, and requires a lot of coordination between both people riding as well as a balance of effort in pedaling.
Riding perfectly in sync takes practice and communication which can help to strengthen relationships and provide a lot of laughs along the way.
Once you get the hang of it, tandem riding can be a great way to enjoy a ride with someone you care about without thinking about the differences in fitness or ability.
There are many different styles and levels of tandem bikes to choose from. In this article, we hope to offer you a wide range of choices to help you find the perfect one for your needs, be it for quiet rides along your local bike trail or something for hard workouts or long distances.
Schwinn Twinn Classic Tandem
Also available in Grey
The Twinn Schwinn tandem bike is designed in a classic style with great comfort features and durability backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
This vintage Schwinn tandem bike uses a convenient step-through frame to make mounting and dismounting easier. In addition, it has two comfy padded saddles and dual-density grips, a shock-absorbent steel frame, and wide650b cx 45c urban tires to smooth out any bumps.
- Steel frame
- 2x frame types
- 650b x 45c tires
- 7-speed drivetrain
- Captain 70-73-inches tall; stoker 63 to 67 inches tall
7-speed twist shifters allow for smooth shifting with plenty of gear options for the city streets, although alloy caliper brakes provide modest stopping power in varied conditions.
Finally, this bike has unique geometry, so that the captain (front rider) should be 5’6” – 6’1” tall, and the stoker (back rider) should be 5’0” – 5’9”.
Salsa PowderKeg
Retired icon
MSRP: $3,900
The Salsa PowderKeg is one of the best tandem bikes on the market, with excellent off-road ability and a highly durable build like all of Salsa‘s bikes.
The frame is a comfortable and tough CroMoly 4130 steel material that absorbs road vibrations to make longer rides less fatiguing. This frame and fork combination can handle it all, be it for loaded touring or riding down singletrack.
- 4130 CroMoly steel frame
- 10-speed Shimano SLX
- 29×2.25″
- Bike Weight: 42lbs
Salsa optimized the geometry for stability, agility, and power transfer. To do so, the PowderKeg has a long and balanced wheelbase with long chainstays.
Finally, the components worth noting on this bike include the Shimano SLX 10-speed groupset, SRAM BB7 mechanical disc brakes with large Centreline 200mm rotors, Schwalbe Nobby Nik 2.25″ tires, and NoTubes Flo rims.
Kulana Lua Tandem
Also available in Red & Yellow
The Lua by Kaluna is a cruiser-style tandem bike designed for relaxed and comfortable riding on roads and bike paths.
This affordable Kulana tandem bike is made with hi-ten steel, providing an excellent balance of durability and comfort.
- Weight: 62lbs
- Single or 7-speed
- Fits riders 5’4″ to 6’2″
- 26″ Wheels
The other components that make this bike pleasant to ride include the oversized padded cruiser saddles with suspension, rider-facing handlebars, and upright geometry.
Using a single-speed drivetrain and a coaster brake system makes this bike very easy to maintain and simple to use. However, it may be difficult to coordinate for someone who has never used this type of brake before. Finally, this bike includes matching fenders to help keep you clean and dry from road spray.
CoMotion Bluebird Tandem
MSRP: $3,300
CoMotion’s Bluebird tandem bicycle is a premium product handmade in Eugene, Oregon.
This CoMotion tandem is a high-quality bike with tons of features to make tandem riding as easy as possible. These features include tandem-specific geometry and steering, which ensures excellent weight distribution and stability while riding.
- Frame: Steel w/ Zonally-butted CroMoly tubing
- Brakes: Avid BB5 200mm Rotors
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
- 700c x 32mm
The Bluebird tandem is very comfortable to use for long distances thanks to 32mm balloon tires, a shock-absorbent zonally butted CroMoly steel frame, Selle Italia Sportourer saddles.
In addition, it handles well thanks to the large rotor (200mm) Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes and the PureGrip Compound in the tires. This combination offers excellent traction on and off-road.
Finally, you can trust a reliable Shimano Deore 2×10-speed drivetrain to provide the perfect gear at all times.
Electra Tandem Super Deluxe 7i
MSRP: $1,450
The Super Deluxe Tandem 7i by Trek’s Electra is a stylish and affordable choice with a guarantee of long-lasting quality.
For the frame, this bike has a 6061-T6 aluminum alloy with Electra’s patented Flat Foot Technology, which allows both riders to have their feet flat on the ground while sitting while also maintaining the optimal pedaling position.
Comfort is a vital characteristic for Electra, and they achieve this with a step-through frame in the back, making mounting and dismounting easier. In addition, the Super Deluxe Tandem has plush RetroRunner 26″ x 2.125″ tires, comfort saddles with suspension, and an upright riding position.
The other notable components include Shimano Nexus Internal 7-speed gearing for low-maintenance and standstill gear changing and the unique Shimano roller brakes.
- Frame: CroMoly Steel
- Drivetrain: Shimano NEXUS 7-Speed
- Brakes: Shimano Roller brakes
- Tires: RetroRunner 2.125″
Giordano Viaggio Tandem Road Bike
The Giordano Viaggio tandem road bike is a cheap option that is designed for speed with standard road geometry.
The frame on the Viaggio is a 7005 aluminum which is lightweight but slightly lower quality than the more common 6061 material.
- Frame: 7005 aluminum
- Drivetrain: Shimano 8-Speed
- Brakes: V-brakes side pull
- 700 x 32
For the drivetrain, you have a Shimano 8-speed, which provides enough options for light hills. The brakes chosen by Giordano are v-brakes with a side pull which provide ample stopping power for dry weather riding.
Although a road bike, the Viaggio has 32mm tires which help absorb some road vibrations compared to more common road tire widths. Finally, reviewers recommend having this bike adjusted by an experienced professional upon delivery to ensure maximum safety.
Moustache Samedi 27 X2 TRK
The Samedi 27 X2 electric tandem bike by Moustache Bikes is a premium touring choice with premium components and an innovative design.
This Moustache e-bike comes fully equipped for long-distance tours with a rear pannier rack, mudguards, LED lights, powerful electronics, and Schwalbe Super Moto-X 2.4″ tires, ideal for varied terrains.
- 6061 aluminum T4/T6 frame
- 140mm fork
- Bosch Performance CX G4
- Battery – 2x500Wh
- Schwalbe Super Moto-X 2.4″
- Shimano Deore 1×11-speed
The frame used is a 6061 aluminum T4/T6 with triple cavity extruded tubes and hydroformed chainstays, which boost the stiffness to weight of this material. In addition, the innovative geometry ensures that the bike is agile, precise, and feels like a true tandem.
You have a premium 600W Bosch Performance CX motor for power with 85Nm of torque. Synchronized cranks ensure that the power transfer is smooth and even at all times, even on the steepest of hills. Two batteries support this motor with 1000Wh of juice and a Shimano Deore 11-speed drivetrain with an 11-42t cassette for tackling climbs.
Finally, this tandem bike also has a Suntour Aion 140mm travel fork, Magura hydraulic disc brakes with 203mm rotors, ergonomic touchpoints, and a unique navigation function on a Bosch Kiox compact display unit.
Pacific Dualie
The Pacific Dualie is a cheap tandem bike that is ideal for trying out tandem riding without splashing for an expensive model.
This model has a 26″ wheelset and mountain-bike geometry, making it easier to maneuver on trails. The steel frame design provides comfort through shock-absorption while riding as well as being durable. Additionally, this bike also has large padded saddles and soft grips for extra comfort.
- 26″ wheels
- 3×7 speeds
- Linear pull brakes
- Weight: 59lbs
For gearing, you have a 3×7-speed drivetrain with MicroShift shifters that provides tons of options for taking climbs and descents. In addition, the Dualie uses v-brakes which work perfectly well for dry conditions. Finally, Pacific offers a limited lifetime warranty on this tandem bicycle.
Pedego Tandem
Pedego’s tandem e-bike is a mid-range choice designed for enjoying comfortable tandem cruising on urban roads and bike paths. In addition, Pedego backs up its belief in the quality of this bike with a lengthy five-year warranty.
The electronics on this bike include a whisper-quiet 500W with either a 10.5Ah or 17.5Ah battery. The larger of the two can achieve huge ranges of 76 miles (20 miles on throttle-only) when used with the Shimano Acera 7-speed drivetrain.
- Battery – 52V 10.5Ah / 52V 17.5Ah
- 500W – 45Nm Hub Motor
- 6061 T6 aluminum frame
As a cruiser-style e-bike, comfort is of utmost importance. Swept-back handlebars, large padded saddles, upright geometry, and Kevlar-reinforced balloon tires ensure any ride is smooth. Additionally, you can rely on powerful Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors for excellent stopping power.
Finally, this bike is equipped for any job as it comes with a rear rack, fenders, a kickstand, and integrated LED lights.
Buy from PedegoElectricBikes.com
Kent International 26″
The Synergy 26″ Kent tandem bike is another super-affordable option that can open the door to tandem biking as a new hobby.
The Synergy is built with a durable steel frame that is both long-lasting and comfortable to ride. In addition, it has relaxed, upright geometry, padded saddles, and urban tires, which makes riding on rough roads much more smooth.
- Steel
- 26″
- 3 x 7-speed
- Linear pull brakes
A 21-speed drivetrain gives this tandem bicycle the ability to tackle hills with plenty of gear options, and the linear-pull v-brakes offer decent stopping power on the descents.
Finally, Kent includes pre-installed water bottle cages, a limited lifetime warranty on the frame, and battery-powered lights with purchase.
Kids Tandem Bikes
Get your kids involved in your bike rides with this super-convenient tandem bike trailer for kids by Kazam.
The Co-Pilot is a tandem bike attachment with an innovative folding design that allows you to transport it and store it easily when not in use. The hinge system folds and unfolds in seconds and remains secure when locked.
- Weight: 24lbs
- Frame: Steel
- Wheel: 20″
- Kids: 4-9 / Inseams between 16.5” – 26”
You can attach it to your seat post in no time using a simple SyncLink hitch system. Once done, you can remove it easily and quickly with quick-release detachment.
Unique features of this tandem attachment include a hi-vis flag and a rear safety light for safety, and the adjustable handlebar and saddle height so you can keep using it as your child grows (up to 75lbs). Finally, the bike also has a fender and splashguard to keep your kid dry.
Thule Pivoting Tandem Bike Rack
Only compatible with a quick-release front skewer; not compatible with dropouts less than 4mm.
MRSP: $499.95
If you’re wondering how to transport a tandem bike, then look no further than Thule’s Pivoting Tandem Bike Rack. This rooftop carrier allows you to carry one tandem or recumbent bike up to 55lbs.
The pivoting fork mount makes it easy for one person to load or unload the bicycle. To use the rack, you have to remove the front wheel, clamp the fork to the fork mount, and attach the rear wheel to the tray. In addition, you can detach the rear tray to transport a single bike.
The model fits Thule rack systems and round crossbars and includes all the hardware you need to mount.
Different Types of Tandem Bikes
Tandem mountain bike
Full-suspension tandem mountain bikes are very uncommon but can be found by small-scale manufacturers online. However, some tandem bikes have front suspension and could be considered tandem MTBs such as the Schwinn Twinn or Moustache Samedi above.
Tandem recumbent bike
Another uncommon but fun choice is the recumbent tandem which is very comfortable to use. One such bike is the RANS Screamer recumbent tandem.
Side by side tandem bike
Also called a dual trike, the side-by-side tandem is a great way to enjoy a ride together with a friend or family member in a more interactive way. Workman cycles offer a trike in this style.
Tandem road bike
Tandem road bikes like the Giordano Viaggio are a great way for two riders to exercise together or cover larger distances. These bikes are less comfortable and a little more difficult to use because of the aggressive geometry.
Fat tire tandem bike
Another uncommon style is the fat-tire tandem bike. These are not easy to find any may only be sold by small manufacturers.
Foldable tandem bike
This style of tandem bike is also hard to find and but offers a very convenient solution for those who need to transport their tandem bike or store it in a small space.
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