Competition All-Terrain Tandems - From $6395

For thirty years Santana’s focus has been real instead of perceived performance. But when it comes to selling all-terrain tandems, our insistence on “stuff that works” is a big distinction. After all, for a lot less money you can find a over-hyped mountain bike tandem with some XT parts, disc brakes and a suspension fork. The average tandem in this category, much like the dual suspension bikes sold at Wal-Mart, will see less than six months of use before discouragement sets in. How much fun can it be to share a bike with clumsy steering, awkward handling, brakes that produce more noise than stopping power, a twisting fork that bounces and bottoms out, and wheels that wobble and fail. At the center of it all, a frame that telegraphs every rut and bump to your tenderest parts while flexing away from the force of each pedal stroke.

Within our tandem line-up, you’ll find the Picante and Cilantro—competent race-winning veterans without the flashy adolescence. Here, we present mountain tandems with attitude. But unlike others, these serious bikes have the underlying strength to back up their bold looks with real performance.