Some things take a long time to get right. Such is the case with ATP Vision�s newest dream machine, the R60 series Saber. The new Vision Saber started life nearly four years ago as an USS/SWB prototype (left) with dual 650c wheels. After a lot of R&D and years of anticipation, it has evolved into a dual 24" OSS/SWB.

The Saber is really Vision�s first truly high-performance recumbent. They have offered their top of the line R45 for many years, but that bike has always been more of a high-end sport-tourer than a true no limits speed machine. It�s also only the second bike that Vision has ever made that is available exclusively with OSS. It�s really not that big of a surprise that they wanted to take the time to get it right. However, the lengthy development process may have lessened the anticipation of the bike�s arrival. Many people had given the bike up for dead when it finally appeared in Vision�s 2000 line up.

ATP showed up at the 1999 Interbike trade show with two Saber prototypes; a lime green R65 steel version and the R68 Ti Saber. Both bikes drew a lot of attention at Vision�s booth. The suggested MSRP�s of $3295 for the steel bike and over five large for the R68 version also raised an eyebrow or two. No, the Saber wasn�t going to come cheap, but it certainly was a looker.

I first saw the bike �in the paint� at the CABDA show in Chicago later that year where I managed to get a few laps around the small test area. My first impression was that the bike handled nicely and seemed to be very well made. Being a reformed road racer, I was intrigued by the bike�s full Shimano Ultegra grouppo (including STI�s). Being a fully realized Campy addict, I was even more intrigued by the R68�s full Campagnolo Record compliment.

The production bike that I finally got my Phil Wood stained hands on was a Mercedes-Benz silver R65. It was decked out with full Ultegra, just like the showbike. It also sported Vision�s new and improved seat. The back seat mesh has been reinforced around the edges and is a little stiffer than the old version. The base is pretty much unchanged. The R65 has Sun rims and Panaracer 24?X1? tires (one of your few choices in that rare size � more on this later).

Just like the CABDA bikes, our test R65 was very nicely finished. The paint was flawless and the welds were worthy of a $3000 bike. The Saber has a very serious look about it. One glance at the R65 tells you that this is a ROAD bike. It�s minimal frame clearance and dual-pivot brakes mean that skinny tires are your only choice (not that you�d be able to find any high-quality fat 24 inchers anyway). The R65 also uses road style drop-bars that top off its �Tour De France� look. Vision is targeting this bike at the high-end roadie market and has hit the nail pretty much right on the head.

The bike�s road bike air continues once it�s up and rolling. It has that same lively feel as your old upright racing bike. As a matter of fact, the similarity is almost eerie. Recently removed road racers will feel right at home on the R65. The Saber was rock solid in the turns and on the straights. Its curb weight 26 lbs will be a big benefit on the climbs. The R65�s above-average low speed handling will also come in handy when gravity rears its ugly head. Riders who reside in very steep areas may want to change the Sabers stock cassette though.

The bike is a great climber, but its gear range is slightly limited by the 11-23 9-speed cassette. The R65 isn�t only fast on the climbs. Its stable handling and efficient, aerodynamic riding position allow the rider to cruise at high speed for long periods of time and will tempt its pilots to let it all hang out in the twisty stuff.

Surely, the bike is very fast but isn�t a good choice for your next trans-am ride. First there are the aforementioned skinny tires. Secondly, it�s not very easy to mount a rack on the Saber. It is theoretically possible, but it might require a little ingenuity. As I said before, this is Vision�s road bike. It isn�t meant to tour and makes no concessions toward that end.

The seat on our R65 was rather high (the tape says 28.5). This is certainly going against the current design trend, but is also a major reason why the Saber feels so much like an upright road bike. The tall seat height will also somewhat limit how many riders can get on the Saber. It�s not as bad as I expected, but very short riders still need not apply. Another annoyance that I had with the R65 was with its STI shifters. The shifting performance suffered quite a bit because of the awkward positioning of the shifters. I could just never manage to get my hands in the right place at the right time. Aesthetically the STI�s are a plus, but ergonomically they�re a big minus. The rather narrow drop bars that they were mounted on also caused a few problems. I�m a pretty skinny fellow and I still found them to be a little bit narrow.

I think that most customers will find the overall Saber riding experience to be a rather pleasurable one. The minor financial crisis that may occur in order to finance that purchase may be another matter. As Vision intended, I think that the bike will appeal very much to financially affluent roadies who are looking for their first recumbent. Some high performance recumbent riders who may have also considered a P-38 or other high performance SWB may also be interested. Vision owners are a pretty loyal bunch and many of them will probably also take a look at the R65 when they decide they want a really fast bike to ad to their stable. Customers looking for a good all-around recumbent will most likely look elsewhere.

The R65�s biggest competitor on the showroom floor, however, may be one of its own siblings. Vision dealers who have both an R45 and an R65 in stock may have a hard time convincing people that the Saber is worth the extra $700. However, bikes always cost more in their debut year and Vision is working on a solution for future model years.

ATP Vision R65 Saber Type � High Performance SWB/OSS Wheelbase � 42? Seat Height � 28.5? BB Height � 28.5? Components � Shimano Ultegra MSRP � $3295 More Info -www.visionrecumbents.com

The Good 1. Lightweight 2. Stable handling 3. Road bike feel 4. Road bike looks

The Bad 1. High price 2. Lack of versatility 3. Rare tires