S and S Machine

It's now possible to purchase professional quality, full size folding travel bikes, including tandems, from over 100 independent bicycle framebuilders such as Bilenky, Calfee, Co-Motion, Davidson, da Vinci, Erickson, Merlin, Moots, Rans, Rodriguez, Santana, Serotta, Seven, Ti CYCLES, Waterford and Zinn, just to name a few. If you have a passion for cycling and would like to take your bike along as regular luggage when you travel, please check us out! 

 Greg LeMond comments regarding his S and S Coupled LeMond road bike.  

Co-Motion Cycles - Road	Independent Fabrication - Mountain	Bilenky Cycle Works - Tandem	Rodriguez Bicycles - Touring

S and S Coupling™ (patented)

What is a BTC™?

• An S and S Coupling™ also known as a Bicycle Torque Coupling™ or BTC™, is a precision lug that is installed in a bicycle frame when it's manufactured to allow it to separate and pack for easy transportation. Some builders will even install or retrofit BTCs™  into an existing frame. With this system, a full size road or mountain bike will fit completely inside a single 26" x 26" x 10" case that travels as regular airline luggage. Some framebuilders manufacture full size tandems that will fit complete, including the wheels, in the same case!
•  What is a BTC in German

How will the bicycle ride?

• A bicycle manufactured with this system is ultra strong yet lightweight (two BTCs™ add only 8 oz. total to a typical road bike) and it feels exactly the same as a bicycle built without BTCs™. There is no added frame flex and the BTC™  is absolutely silent!
• Don't just take our word for it. Read the comments and reviews to find out what others have to say.

Testimonials  from:

• Owners, with up to 90,000 miles  
• Owners, page two including a comment from  Greg LeMond   
• Editors, including a down hill mountain bike racer 
• Framebuilders, including some of the finest in the world 

Magazine Reviews 

• aktiv Radfahren Monatgue und Santana Tandems im Test by Daniel Fikuart (In German)
• Adventure Cyclist Make your dream bike totally portable! by John Schubert
• Bicycle Guide S and S Machine's Travel Bikes. by Mark Riedy
• Bicycling Magazine Race-worthy steel road bike that fits in a suitcase by Garret Lai
• Cycle California!™ Folders? Yes! by Maynard Hershon
• Cruising World Magazine Bike In A Box. by Steve Callahan
• Cycle 'Pack Up Your Cycle In Your Old Kit Bag’ by Charles Maurer
• Cycle Sports Co-Motion Test Ride Japanese with English translation 
• Cycling Science Co-Motion's Co-Pilot. by Chris Rutkowski
• DirtRag Co-Motion Co-Pilot Off Road. by Karl Rosengarth
• Florida Sports Magazine A Bike For the Road. by John Robson
• Pilot For Pilots Who Pedal: A New Crop Of Folding Bikes. by Stephan Wilkinson
• Plane & Pilot The Ultimate Travel Bicycle. by Steven Higginson
• Recumbent and Tandem Rider Magazine Review #52 Zona Davis Double by Rudy and Kay Van Renterghem
• Tandem Magazine Burley Rumba S+S by David Morgan
• Tandem Magazine Co-Motion Co-Pilot by David Morgan
• Tandem Magazine Our Rig by Carlyle & Donna Isner
• Tandem Magazine S and S Bicycle Torque Couplings, Is the Search Finally Over? by David Morgan
• Tandem Magazine Santana Team Ti S&S Stowaway by David Morgan
• Tandem Magazine The Rodriguez Eight-Ball Convertible Tandem by David Morgan
• VeloNews It's Summertime, Summertime...or searching for the perfect travel bike. by Maynard Hershon

Internet Reviews

• BIKEmagic S&S Fixings - make your bike a folding bike By Brant (internet) 
• S&S Calfee Tetra single and S&S Calfee Tetra Tetra tandem by Dick Powell of The Bicycle Outfitter of Los Altos 
• Converting a Mountain Bike to a Touring Bike by Brian DeSouza (internet)
• Concord Giro road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Living the Mountain Bikers Dream by Jamie Bianchini 
• Our (dream) tandem, English and French versions by Vincent Vallet (internet) 
• Radwelt online Die Traumrad-im-Koffer-Lösung
• Sacramento Bee With bikes, know when to fold 'em By Ed Hensley
• The Bent Wheel Gear-Details by Jan Ducnuigeen (internet) 
• VéloSport Vacations Have Bike, Will Travel by, Chris Gutowsky 

How strong are they?

• Destructive tests show that a coupling is stronger than a Reynolds 531 tube.
• Nondestructive tests show that a BTC™ is stiffer than a Reynolds 531 tube.
• Unfortunate crash tests (riders came out fine):
  • Test 1, bicycle hit by a Harley Davidson 
  • Test 2, bicycle hit by an ice cream truck
• The key to the coupling's strength is the tapered tooth design which eliminates all movement where the teeth meet. When the nut is tightened with a spanner wrench, the teeth wedge together and lock to produce a rigid, zero clearance joint that remains tight. All components are precision CNC machined for a perfect fit.

Framebuilder list  

• Over 100 framebuilders including some of the worlds best from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States
• The list links to a builder profile for each framebuilder which includes a link to their home page.
• View Builder Logos instead of a list. Slow to download (about 250K). For speed, use the framebuilder list.

Photo gallery       Scroll down or use these links 

Road Bike Photos:

• Bilenky Eco-Travel Sport (travel bike package complete with case) 
• Bilenky custom road bike 
• Bilenky custom Softride
• Bilenky with fancy Nevex lugs by Richard Sachs 
• Bilenky Travel Ultralite 
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Ultralite 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Tourlite with Stainless Steel Lugs 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Ultralite 
• Bob Brown road frame 
• Bob Brown road bike with stainless lugs 
• Bohemian custom road bike with fancy custom lugs. 
• Courtney Custom Cycles "Tequila Sunrise" road bike. 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot road bike. 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot road single with pearl white paint. 
• Co-Motion Espresso Co-Pilot 
• Co-Motion Express road bike.
• Co-Motion custom single 
• Co-Motion Nor’Wester Co-Pilot
• Cycles LaMoure Mitch LaMoure and his personal road bike
• Cycles LaMoure custom track bike.
• da Vinci titanium road bikes 
• Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles titanium road bike 
• Dean USA titanium road bike 
• Erickson custom "Calvin and Hobbes" road bike. Glenn Erickson's personal bike.
• Erickson custom road bike. Ridden to a first place finish by Nancy Bruce in the '96 Masters Nationals road race championship.
• Erickson Signature with carved S and S BTCs  
• H. H. Racing Group road bike. 
• Naked (Formerly Forte) 2 steel road bikes 
• Merlin custom titanium road bike
• Merlin titanium road frame
• Ravello Bicycles road frame 
• Ravello Low-Profile Road Bike 
• Rex road bike This is the first single bike ever built with S and S Couplings!
• Rex road bike.
• Rex road bike 
• Rex custom road bike.
• Richard Sachs road racing bike with Campy Record
• Richard Sachs road bike 
• Roberts "Backpack" ULT Compact Racer weighing 12+ pounds
• Rodriguez "red and yellow" road bike. 
• Rodriguez Six Pack ultra compact, 20" wheel, road bike.
• Serotta road bike
• Simoncini road bike 
• Strong Frames road frame with Columbus EL OS tubing 
• TiCycles custom steel road bike 
• TiCYCLES titanium road bike
• TiCYCLES Hyak titanium road bike
• TiCYCLES stainless road bike
• Walker road bike
• Waterford model 1200 road frame 
• Waterford road bike. Maynard Hershon's personal travel bike.
• Waterford road bike
• Zinn Cycles large road bike 
• Zinn Cycles large titanium road bike plus packing sequence. 

Road Bike Photos - Retrofits:

• Battaglin road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Bianchi road bike retrofit by Steve Rex
• Bob Jackson road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Cinelli retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Colnago retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Colnago retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works with custom carved lugs 
• DeBernardi Road Frame Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Eddy Merckx Titanium Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Eddy Merckx Titanium Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Fuji road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Giordana 2001 Titanium AL retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• GT Edge Titanium Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Hujsak Road Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• LeMond road bikes retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• LeMond road bike with ovalized titanium tubes retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed Firenza road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works (ovalized down tube)  
• Litespeed road bikes (two) retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed titanium road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed Vortex Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Litespeed Veneto titanium road frame retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Marinoni retrofit Marinoni, chrome plated. Retrofit by J. P. Weigle
• Masi road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Merlin road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Merlin road bike retrofit by Ti Cycles  
• Moots Hampsten road bike retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Panasonic road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Performance titanium retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Pinarello road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Raleigh  road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Rivendell Rambouillet retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Rivendell Romulus retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Sampson ti road frame by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Simoncini road bike retrofit by Simoncini
• Somec road frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Serotta Colorado retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Serotta CSI Lugged frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Serotta Hors Categorie retrofit by TiCycles
• Serotta steel road frame with tapered tubes retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Serotta ti road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle  Works
• Seven Axiom Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Seven Odonata Road Bike Retrofit by TiCycles
• Trek Single Track retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Trek 720 retrofit by Powers Design Quality
• Univega  road bike retrofit by Ted Wojcik.
• Waterford road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works.

Touring Bike Photos:

• Anvil touring bikes
• Arvon world class touring bike
• Bilenky Clubsman sport touring
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Tourlite 
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Midlands Expedition with 700 x 47 tires 
• Bilenky Eco Travel Tour special 
• Bilenky Eco/Travel Tourlite 
• Bilenky Eco Travel Tourlite 
• Bilenky Eco Traveltour - Midlands Special 
• Bilenky Midlands touring
• Bilenky Midlands touring bike with 26" wheels 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Midlands 
• Bilenky Signature Travel Tourlite 
• Bilenky Travel Upright TourLite 
• Castelon custom titanium touring bike with  60,000 miles. 
• Co-Motion Americano Co-Pilot touring bike 
• Co-Motion Nor’Wester Touring Bike 
• Cycles LaMoure touring bike
• Concept Technology Softride beam single design with road/touring geometry 
• Davidson sport touring bike 
• Erickson custom touring bike "Thunderclouds and Lightning"
• Kinetics Custom touring bike. 
• Moots Mootour/S&S Coupler titanium touring bike 
• Powers Design Quality custom touring bike
•   Globetrotter-Hardo Wagner Rahmenbau touring bike
• Powers Design Quality  retrofit of a Jamis Aurora touring bike
• Rex Cycles custom touring bike with 26" wheels and bar end shifters, 
• Rivendell custom touring 
• Roberts custom Compact Audax 
• Rodriguez touring bike, "Matt's Flame" 
• Rodriguez W2 Ultimate Travel Bike 
• Seven Cycles steel touring bike 
• Spectrum titanium light touring bike. 
• Sycip a beautiful touring bike with a Rohloff Speedhub and lots more. 
• Talisman Traveler touring bike
• Thorn Raven eXp sport touring bike 
• Ti CYCLES custom titanium touring bike
•  

Touring Bike Photos - Retrofits:

• Bridgestone, 1993 XO-1 retrofit by Courtney Custom Cycles
• Dawes touring bike retrofit by Bob Jackson Cycles  
• Heron retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Lygie road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Rivendell Atlantis touring bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Trek 520 touring bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works

Triathlon Bike Photos

• Quintana Roo Picante titanium triathlon road bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle  Works
• Quintana Roo Santo titanium tri bike 

Hybrid / Cyclocross Photos:

• Bilenky Mudpuppy custom hybrid
• Bilenky Deluxe Travel Nor'easter cyclocross with carbon seat stays 
• Bilenky Eco Travel Nor'easter cyclocross 
• Bilenky stainless steel cyclocross / touring bike 
• Cherry hybrid bike
• Cycle Therapy off road touring bike. It has a cut in half lizard headbadge.
• Gaansari St. Clair touring/adventure/expedition bike inspired by the '93 Bridgestone XO-1 
• Gunnar Cyclocross Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Independent Fabrication cyclocross retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Landshark stainless steel hybrid bike
• Ramblumtick Bikes Couplumtic cyclocross bike 
• Ravello Cyclocross Frame 
• Rivendell All-Rounder
• Salsa Cross frame retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Seven Cycles titanium cyclocross bike
• Soma cross frame retrofit by Ti Cycles
• Soma cyclocross (a pair) retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Surly CrossCheck Cyclocross Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Sycip  "Cross-Dresser" cyclocross   
• Thorn xTc all-round touring cycle  

Specialty cycles

• Bicycle Specialties Orion 4.2 off road 
• Bilenky EcoTraveler 
• Bilenky Travel Tourlite - ultra light weight sport tour bike for randenouring 
• Bilenky ViewPoint custom racing tandem (only one set of pedals)
• Davidson Modal, toggles between single, fixed, and geared modes
• LEVEL competition tricycle 
• Ramblumtick Couplumtick mountain/touring bikes 
• Sycip Bicycle messenger bike and more with 90,000 miles.  

Single Speed / Fixed Gear Photos

• Bilenky Daily Planet single speed travel bike 
• Bilenky Signature Travel single speed with custom carved lugs 
• Bilenky Signature Travel single speed with custom carved lugs 
• Cinelli fixed gear retrofit by Franklin Cycles 
• Paramount fixed gear retrofit by Waterford Precision Cycles. 
• Rock Lobster custom fixed gear bat theme bike 

Mountain Bike Photos:

• Bilenky  TwoNine (29" wheel) mountain bike 
• Bilenky TwoNine (29" wheel) mountain bike 
• Bilenky Hedgehog stainless steel mountain bike
• Bilenky Eco Travel Mountain bike 
• Brew mountain bike frame
• Cherry Cherry Bomb MTB 
• Cherry custom Dear John mountain bike. 
• Clean Speed frame, uses small wheels 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot OR off road bike
• Dean USA Baja titanium full suspension mountain bike. 
• Independent Fabrication frame 
• Independent Fabrication single speed off road 
• Inglis Cycles and Retrotec mountain bikes also shown packed 
• Merlin custom titanium off road bike
• Phil Wood  mountain bike 
• Rex Cycles mountain bike with Softride beam  
• Ramblumtick Bikes 29" wheel mountain bike 
• RMA custom stainless steel mountain bike frame
• Rodriguez Willie Weir's custom mountain-touring bike ridden on his Balkan Mountains adventure.
• Seven Cycles Sola mountain bike. 
• Seven Cycles titanium Sola mountain bike. 
• Seven Cycles Sola Ti, long term evaluation
• Sycip Rallye One, Winner of the Shimano "Adventure Racer" Showcase:  

Mountain Bike Photos - Retrofits:

• Basso titanium mountain bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Bridgestone X0-1 retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Bridgestone XO-1 retrofit by Powers Design Quality
• KHS mountain bike retrofit done by Bilenky. Shows the steps of retrofitting.
• Litespeed Unicoi titanium mountain bike retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Moots Mountain Bike Retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Specialized Rock Hopper retrofit by RMA
• Salsa Alacarte retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Soma Groove mountain bike retrofit by TiCycles  

Tandem photos:

Tandem configuration methods with regard to coupling placement

• ariZona Tandems  carbon fiber tandem in 3 sections 
• ariZona Tandems Davis Double carbon fiber tandem
• ariZona Tandems Davis Double Lite Flite 
• Arvon tandem bicycle frame in 3 sections.
• Bilenky Cosmo-Comfort Travel Tandem with an internal 14 speed hub 
• Bilenky "Moonbeam" Softride beam tandem 
• Bilenky Signature Tinker road tandem in 3 sections and it fits in one airline legal hard case.
• Bilenky Signature Travel Tandem shown with a Bilenky trailer for towing a hard case 
• Bilenky Deluxe Tinker Tandem with 26" wheels shown being built, step by step.
• Bilenky Deluxe Tinker tandem with 26" wheels 
• Bilenky Deluxe Tinker Tandem with a Bilenky Turtle Tow Trailer for towing a hard case. 
• Bilenky tandem in 3 sections (not a loose tube configuration) 
• Bilenky tandem bicycle with touring gear on the bike.  
• Bilenky Tinker AerMet ® and stainless steel hybrid tandem in 3 sections.
• Bilenky Tinker mountain tandem in 3 sections. This is the very first tandem ever built with S and S Couplings!
• Bilenky Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem packed in one backpack case 
• Bohemian tandem with daVinci Independent Drive 
• Bob Brown tandems split into 2 sections 
• Burley Rumba S&S tandem bicycle in 3 sections. 
• Burley Duet S&S tandem bicycle in 3 sections. 
• Bushnell road tandem with Rohloff hub 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot Periscope tandem 
• Co-Motion Custom Softride tandem bicycle in 3 sections.
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem bicycle in 3 sections and a packed backpack case. 
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem in bicycle 3 sections.
• Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem bicycle in 3 sections.
• Co-Motion Cappuccino Co-Pilot tandem bicycle 
• Co-Motion Cappuccino tandem bicycle in 3 sections.
• Co-Motion Mocha Co-Pilot tandem bicycle
• Co-Motion Mocha Co-Pilot tandem shown taken apart on a train in France 
• Co-Motion Primera Co-Pilot tandem bicycle in 3 sections 
• Co-Motion Sky Capp tandem bicycle. (a Softride beam on a production model) 
• Co-Motion Speedster Co-Pilot tandem bicycle
• Co-Motion Supremo Co-Pilot tandem bicycle
• Concept Technology Softride, trapezoidal design tandem in 3 sections.
• da Vinci custom Softride beam tandem bicycle 
• da Vinci custom for blind stoker. Captain's position adjusts without impacting stoker's position. 
• da Vinci Global Venture Road in 3 sections. 
• Davidson tandem bicycle in 3 sections 
• Erickson Signature "Rose" tandem bicycle with dual Softride and carved BTCs 
• Erickson custom tandem bicycle in 3 sections. Glenn Erickson's personal tandem.
• Erickson custom tandem bicycle in 3 sections with Glenn in the photo 
• Erickson tandem bicycle in 3 sections. 
• Erickson Signature tandem frame with carved BTCs 
• Pedalpower tandem in 2 sections shown packed in one oversize hard case 
• Meridian Softride tandem bicycle in 3 sections 
• Rex tandem with a two-tone paint job 
• Santana Arriva Stowaway tandem bicycle in 3 sections.
• Santana Stowaway tandem bicycle frame in 3 sections shown taken apart.
• Santana Stowaway tandem bicycle in 3 sections
• Santana Stowaway tandem bicycle in 2 sections
• Santana Team Ti-26 (titanium) tandem bicycle in 3 sections.
• Seven Cycles Axiom 007 titanium road tandem bicycle in 3 sections
• Seven Cycles custom titanium tandem in 3 sections 
• St John Street Cycles Customized Thorn Discovery Tandem in 3 sections.
• Spectrum custom tandem bicycle in 3 sections.
• Thorn Adventure tandem bicycle in 2 sections 
• Thorn Discovery tandem bicycle in 2 sections 

Tandem Photos - Retrofits:

Tandem configuration methods with regard to coupling placement

• Burley Duet, Early 90's retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Burley Duet 3 coupling retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works to fit into a private plane 
• Burley retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works. 
• Co-Motion Speedster before, during and after retrofitting by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• Ibis tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works.  Before, during and after retrofitting.
• Ibis tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Ibis tandem retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Longbikes retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Meridian tandem retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Santana Arriva 3 coupling (only 2 sections instead of 3) retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Santana Cilantro tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works
• Santana Cilantro tandem bicycle retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works. (before during and after)  
• Santana Cilantro and Co-Motion tandems retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works meet in France 
• Swallow tandem bicycle retrofit by Swallow Tandems 
• Richmond Cycles tandem bicycle retrofit  by Kinetics 

Triplet and Quad Photos:

• Bilenky quad bicycle in 2 sections.
• Bilenky Signature S&S triplet bicycle in 3 sections.
• Bilenky Triple that separates into 2 sections 
• Co-Motion triplet bicycle frame in 2 sections (custom paint) 
• Pedal Power triplet in 3 sections 

Convertible Tandem* Photos: Single-Tandem-Triplet-Quad-Quint-Hex		+		=
	Tandem		section		Triplet
* The cycle assembles in more than one configuration as shown here:

• ariZona Due X Tre carbon fiber convertible tandem or triplet 
• Arvon Cycles convertible tandem
• Calfee Design Tetra carbon fiber convertible tandem or triplet bicycle 
• Bilenky T3 convertible tandem/triplet converts from tandem to triplet bicycle
• Bilenky tandem, triplet, quad convertible bicycle 
• Bilenky Triplicator converts a S and S equipped tandem to a triplet bicycle.
• Black Sheep Bikes "Single-Tandem" custom mountain bike 
• Co-Motion Periscope Trident convertible 
• Co-Motion tandem triplet convertible 
• Co-Motion tandem - quad convertible 
• Cycles LaMoure Solo Tandem, Singe/tandem convertible 
• GREENSPEED GTVS6 tandem/solo trike.
• Longbikes quad - hex convertible 16 1/5 feet long in the 6 seat configuration.
• M . Steel Cycles Tandem Bicycle (2 wheels) to Tandem Trike (3 wheels) Convertible. 
• Meridian Attaché convertible tandem/triplet bicycle 
• Meridian S&S quad-convertible. Converts from a quad to a triple or a tandem bicycle.
• Meridian tandem, triplet, quad, quint convertible bicycle. 
• Rodriguez Eight-Ball tandem (26" wheel) converts from tandem to single bicycle.
• Rodriguez Eight-Ball tandem (24" wheel) converts from tandem to single bicycle.
• Santana Cabrio. Converts from triplet to tandem bicycle in road, enduro and all-terrain. 
• Santana Math Y4K Converts from tandem to quad bicycle. 
• Swallow "tandem to triplet conversion" and retrofit.
• Ventana full suspension mountain tandem-triplet-quad-quint convertible.

Recumbent Photos:

• Easyracers Ti Rush titanium recumbent retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works  
• GREENSPEED GTS 20/20 coupled sports touring tricycle 
• GREENSPEED GTO touring trike 
• Lightning P-38 recumbent retrofit in 2 sections.
• Lightning P-38 Voyager in one hard case. 
• LoGo VFT Tadpole Pocket Trike 
• Rans Force 5 recumbent retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works (includes packing photos) 
• Rans Rocket  retrofit w/S&S Couplers buy Calhoun Cycle. 
• Rans V-Rex retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 
• Ryan Vanguard recumbent in 2 sections.
• Tour Easy recumbent retrofit by Bilenky Cycle Works 

Recumbent Photos Tandem, Triplet and Convertible:

• Barcroft Columbia tandem recumbent in 4 sections 
• Bilenky tandem trike 
• Bilenky Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem.
• Bilenky Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem packed into a Trico single bike case 
• Bilenky Viewpoint Signature tandem 
• Bilenky LX Sport Travel Viewpoint semi-recumbent tandem in 3 sections, shown packed in one 14" hard case. 
• Bilenky Waltz semi-recumbent triplet. (1 recumbent, 2 conventional, 3 rear facing recumbent) 
• Easyracers custom tandem
• GREENSPEED GTT 20/20 tandem touring trike in three sections
• GREENSPEED GTVS6 convertible tandem/solo trike. 
• LoGo tandem recumbent trike  
• Longbikes Duplex recumbent in 4 sections and fits in 2 hard cases. 
• Longbikes Eliminator recumbent tandem in 2 sections 
• Recumboni - Cambrie Cycles tandem in 2 sections. 
• Rans Screamer tandem in 2 sections.
• Rans Screamer tandem frame in 4 sections. Retrofit by Bilenky. 
• Ryan Duplex recumbent tandem in 2 sections.
• WizWheelz tandem recumbent in 2 sections 

Custom Carved BTCs
S&S Coupled Bike  Postage Stamp

Why buy a bike with BTCs™?

• Benefits
• Features

Can I buy a complete bike manufactured with BTCs™?

• Yes. Almost all the listed framebuilders offer complete bikes in either standard or custom configurations.
• Some framebuilders stock complete travel bike systems including the case and accessories.

What type bikes are available?

• Road, mountain, hybrid, touring, cyclocross, tandem, track and recumbent (triangulated frames only, not monotube) bicycles and tricycles are all available. BTCs™ are as much at home in a USCF Nationals road race as they are down hill mountain bike racing or touring around the world.
  • Standard model This is the fastest and most economical way to purchase a new frame or complete bicycle. The design, available sizes and features are usually standardized. Some framebuilders keep these models in stock for faster delivery.
  • Custom design This category offers a wide range of design flexibility. It includes anything from minor changes in a standard model to a specialized design that fits you perfectly. It's now possible to get a travel bike in almost any style you want and with almost any feature you can imagine.
  • Retrofit an existing bike Many of the builders that manufacture new bikes offer retrofitting services. If you aren't in the market for a new bike it may be possible to install BTCs™ in your steel or titanium frame. Contact a framebuilder that does retrofits to see if it makes sense for you. Most framebuilders will do retrofits but some my try to discourage it with high prices. Shopping for a builder that specializes in retrofitting can make a huge difference in the price!
  • Not for use on monotube frames. Triangulated frames, such as conventional single and tandem bicycles and recumbent single and tandem bicycles,  are ideally suited for S and S Couplings. Monotube frames are not compatible with S and S Couplings. That restriction is based on our concern for safety. A monotube frame coupling sees primarily bending compared to a triangulated frame coupling that sees primarily tension and compression. Since our product wasn't designed or tested for that type of loading, we don't sell it for that purpose. We do allow it's use on monotube frames that have a structural seat frame that connects the two frame halves in addition to the couplings .With that said, we have had companies test our couplings on a limited basis on monotube frames and they have held up fine. It is possible, that with additional  testing, we may someday approve of their use on some specific monotube frames. It is unlikely that we will ever approve the use of couplings for retrofitting monotube frames.

Should I buy a new frame or retrofit my existing frame?

• BTCs™ can be installed on new frames or retrofit into existing steel, titanium or carbon fiber frames. (aluminum frames can't be retrofit).
• For framebuilders, it's simpler to build a new frame because they install the coupling in a tube in advance, then they miter the tube assembly to fit the frame. The assembled tube is then treated like a solid tube so the actual frame building procedure is unchanged. Painting isn't a factor on a new frame since paint is part of the manufacturing process with or without couplings.
• With retrofits, the builder cuts the top and down tubes and removes a short section of tube then replaces the removed section with a coupling. Before a builder can install couplings, they first determine what type tubes were used when the frame was built. In some cases, due to the shortness of tube butting etc., a tube or two may not be suitable to accept a coupling and will need to be replaced. Tube replacement can be expensive, therefore, retrofitting may sometimes be impractical. In addition to installing the couplings, repainting or touch-up will be necessary since about an inch or two of paint will be burned when brazing in the couplings. The ideal time to retrofit is when frame repair or paint is needed anyway. In most cases, couplings can only be retrofit to round tubes. Some builders can change the profile of an odd shaped tube to make it accommodate a round coupling so check with your framebuilder before ruling out the possibility of fitting odd shaped tubes with S and S Couplings.
• To determine if you bike is suitable for retrofitting, check with the builders listed on the framebuilder list.
• To pick a builder to do a retrofit for you, first review the framebuilder list under retrofitting for a builder that does the type of bike that you have.  
• Looking through our photo gallery of retrofitted single and tandem bicycles and the owner testimony pages  my also help you pick a builder.
• S and S Machine does not evaluate bikes to determine their suitability for retrofitting, Check with some framebuilders to determine if you bike is a good candidate or not. Not all framebuilders will do retrofitting.
• S and S Machine does not do retrofits, only framebuilders do retrofitting.

How are they installed?

• Steel frames:
  • Stainless steel BTCs™ are used on steel or alloy steel frame tubes such as chrome-moly. Columbus, Dedacciai, Reynolds, Tange and True Temper are only a few of the manufacturers that make steel tubes that can be fit with stainless steel BTCs™. The lug halves of the coupling slip over the outside of the frame tube and are silver brazed in place. These couplings are ideal for both new bikes and retrofitting since they fit the outside diameter of the tube which remains constant regardless of the wall thickness.
    Or
    
  • Chrome-moly BTCs™. These couplings use plated chrome-moly lugs and our standard 17-4 stainless steel nut. The lugs press fit into the inside of the frame tube and are TIG welded in place. Rubber sleeves cover the weld and paint line eliminating costly masking which makes installation faster and less expensive. The rubber sleeves also provide a dust seal at both ends of the nut. These couplings were designed for production use only and are not intended to be retrofit into existing steel frames. Retrofitting limitations are primarily due to the difficulty involved in press fitting the coupling into an existing frame tube. Chrome-moly couplings are also produced to fit only a limited number of specific wall thickness tubes (tube outside diameter stays the same and the inside diameter changes as wall thickness varies). It is unlikely that we will manufacture all the sizes required to fit the various inside diameters encountered when retrofitting.
• Stainless steel frames:
  • The same as steel frames done using stainless steel BTCs™
• Titanium frames:
  • Titanium BTCs™ are used on titanium frames (uses our standard 17-4 stainless steel nut). The titanium lugs press fit into the inside of the frame tube and are TIG welded in place. Titanium beauty rings cover the weld. 
  • The "machine to fit" couplings are designed to be machined by the framebuilder to fit tube wall thicknesses that are a size other than the sizes we stock and are commonly used for retrofitting.
• Aluminum frames
  • Santana offers new aluminum tandems with BTCs™. Aluminum frames can't be retrofit. 
• Carbon fiber frames:
  • Modified titanium couplings are being used on carbon fiber frames manufactured or retrofit by Calfee Design and ariZona Tandems. 

Where can I buy them?

• Consumers should purchase complete bikes, frames manufactured with BTCs™ and accessory items from a local retailer. If your retailer doesn't carry bicycles with BTCs™ and is unable to work with a listed framebuilder, we suggest you contact a framebuilder to locate a retailer in your area. In areas where a framebuilder isn't represented, they may sell to you direct, but there is usually no price advantage. Some framebuilders don't sell through retailers, they only sell direct to consumers. For information regarding whether a framebuilder sells direct or through retailers, see the builder profile for each framebuilder which can be found by clicking on the framebuilder's name on the framebuilder lists..
• Retrofitting BTCs™ to your existing frame can be arranged through a retailer but it is more commonly done by going direct to a framebuilder.
• BTCs™ are sold only to professional bicycle framebuilders.  We're sorry but couplings are not sold to amateur framebuilders.
• S and S Machine does not sell bikes or retrofit bikes, we only make the couplings which we sell to professional bicycle framebuilders.

Retailer list (partial only)

• Locate a retailer by city, state and country.
• List includes a link to their home page.

How much do they cost?

• New steel single bike frames add about $200-$500 or more to regular frame price. (check with a retailer of framebuilder)
• Retrofitting your steel single bike frame costs from $300-$500 or more depending on the type of bike being retrofit. 
• Complete bikes can vary considerably. Contact a retailer or framebuilder for prices, not S and S.

Cases and packing accessories 

•   Security Net: -   TSA inspectors can inspect the contents of you case without disturbing your packing job.
• Hard case: Best protection
• Backpack case: Greatest versatility
• Tandem case: Read this before ordering a tandem.
• Lightweight case: For private pilots and boaters
• Bike box and cover: Economical case for air travel
• Compression member:: Strengthens the hard case and box
• Tube covers: Protects your frame tubes from getting scratched
• Stuff bags: Protects clothes that may be packed around bike
• Cable splitters: Splits derailleur cables for easier packing
• DuPont Teflon® Bearing Grease: The only approved lubricant for BTCs™
• Spanner Wrenches: Used to tighten the coupling nut 
• Reusable chain connector: Speeds packing and keeps things clean
• Self-extracting crank bolt: Allows fast removal of crank with a single allen wrench. 

  * Cases and accessories are sold through framebuilders and retailers. If you purchased a bike and your supplier doesn't sell accessory items, check with another builder or retailer listed on this web page or contact us for assistance.

Packing a bike in a case

• Single bike preferred method, 3D and Merlin, will work for 95% of all bikes regardless of who made it.
  • 3D drawings showing a bike packed in a transparent case from all angles. MUST SEE  
  • Merlin (with instructions and packing tips) road bike (63cm)  into a 10" hard case. MUST SEE  

• More single bikes that use the same or other approaches:
  • Waterford road bike (62cm) with ergo style shift levers into a 10"  hard case.
  • Bilenky Cycle Works packing sequence from Bilenky for their Eco-Travel Bicycles
  • Co-Motion Co-Pilot mountain bike into a 10" hard case.
  • Erickson road bike (63cm) packed into a 10" hard case 
  • Rex retrofit Bianchi road bike with down tube style shift levers into a 10" hard case.
  • Land Shark touring bike packed and tips by the owner 
  • Ti CYCLES road bike (56cm) with ergo style shift levers into a 10" hard case.
  • Ravello road  bike in a hard case 
  • Specialized Stumpjumper retrofit packed into a backpack case (off site web page) 
  • Seven Sola titanium mountain bike packed by Dan Koeppel of Mountain Bike Magazine. 
  • Seven Road bike into a 10" hard case 
  • Waterford road bike with ergo style shift levers into a 10" hard case.
  • Zinn Cycles large titanium road bike into a 10" hard case. 
• Tandems
  • Bilenky Tinker mountain tandem complete into one backpack case.
  • Bilenky Tinker hybrid tandem complete into one hard case.
  • Bilenky Signature Tinker tandem complete into one 26x26x10" hard case.
  • Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem complete into one 26x26x10" backpack case.
  • Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem complete into one case. 
  • Co-Motion Sky Capp quick split for transportation in a Honda Odyssey mini van. 
  • Erickson tandem complete into one hard case.
  • Meridian tandem / triplet convertible tandem packed in 2 cases 
  • Ryan Duplex tandem recumbent in a 58"x26"x10" UPS able box or case.
  • Santana Aluminum tandem packed in a Santana case with layered foam protectors. 
  • Santana Stowaway tandem packed in a Santana Airliner SafeCase 
  • Santana Arriva tandem into one S and S hard case and one Samsonite American Tourister suitcase. 
  • Santana tandem packing instructions by Dick Powell. (off site web page)
  • Santana Team Ti-26 tandem into standard luggage.
• Recumbents
  •  GREENSPEED GTO touring trike, packing and assembly
  • Lightning P-38 Voyager in one hard case. 

How are they manufactured?

• BTCs™ are precision CNC machined from solid bar on a Mazak 625 Multiplex. This machine tool has twin turning spindles plus milling for improved accuracy over conventional CNCs. Precision machining parts isn't new to us. We have been making precision machined parts since 1976 so holding close tolerances is routine for us.

Coupling specifications including size, weight, material and photo

• Stainless steel "classic" BTCs (used on most new steel frames and retrofits)
•  Titanium BTCs  (used only on new titanium or carbon fiber frames and retrofits, won't work on steel frames)
  • Titanium with hidden welds "original style"
  • Titanium with visible welds      
• Chrome-moly TIG weldable BTCs. (limited use on new steel frames, rarely on retrofits)
• Aluminum BTCs on new Santana aluminum tandems only (not for retrofit)..

Why was the first BTC™ built? It all began when I wanted to take my bike on a Mediterranean cruise.

Travel adventures on bikes equipped with BTCs™

• 'Round the World At 10 mph On A Tandem Bicycle by Art and Judee Wickersham on a Co-Motion Mocha Co-Pilot tandem 
• 100+ country, 50,000 mile, 5 year worldwide mountain bike expedition by Jamie Bianchini and Garryck Hampton on two Black Sheep Bikes Single/Tandem Convertibles  
• 11000km tour around the South West of England, Brittany around Europe for 6 months by Björn Blässe on a Thorn tandem 
• 20,000 mile, 2 year around the world "Wish Tour" starting 7-05 by photographer Rick Gunn on a Haverty Cycle Co. touring bike 
• 8 months around the world starting by circling the US through parts of Canada then on to France Belgium Germany Austria and Italy by Doug and Amy Moore on  Retrotec and Inglis mountain bikes
• Alaska to Florida (5 months, 7000 miles) by Randall and Barb Angell on a Santana Noventa tandem 
• Around the world An adventure in progress by Marti Bowditch on a Bilenky Midlands.
• Around the world from 12-02 to 8-04 by the Eber family of four on two Burley Duet tandems.
• Balkan Mountains Willie Weir's 5 month/5000mile adventure on a Rodriguez.
• Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, UK and the USA on a Merlin by Gerald Soto
• China and the Far East plus New Zealand and Mongolia on a Thorn Adventure tandem by Alistair Morris and Ingrid Marshall 
• China, Cycling in Western Sichuan by Danielle Reed on a Bilenky 
• Circumnavigating the Big Island of Hawai`i by Sheila Hoffman & Spencer Beard on a daVinci tandem. 
• Cuba on "a bicycle built for two... I mean one... I mean two". Willie and Kat Weir tour Cuba on a Rodriguez single to tandem convertible.
• England By Tandem by Joe & Carolyn Stafford on a Co-Motion tandem.
• France 2003 - Paris and Loire Tandem Tour by Bryan and Linda Boldt on a 2002 Santana Team AL S&S  
• France, Loire Valley trip report by Lawrence and Anne Levin on a Co-Motion Sky Capp tandem. 
• Giro d'Italia Emily Kenyon's tour in Italy on a Rex retrofit. (off site web page)
• Greece (Delphi-Peloponnese) Bob Adelman's 600 mile tour on a Bilenky single (lots of details and photos) 
• Hawaii (the big island) Bob and Margie Adelman on a Bilenky tandem (lots of details and photos) 
• LA to Florida  9 year old William Cushwa and his father David, riding a Bilenky Viewpoint tandem 
• Mel's Dream Adventure...New Zealand by Barbara Kornbluh on a Bushnell tandem
• Mountain biking the Sydney 2000 Olympic Course on a Seven Sola by Azizul  Adnan 
• Nepal, Japan, New Zealand and Hong Kong, some of the places Jan Ducnuigeen has cycled on a Bilenky retrofit. 
• New Zealand 2003/2004 by Greg and Theresa Damian  on a Santana tandem 
• New Zealand northern island 4 tour, 60 days, 1947 miles, by Janine Rood and Mike Trowbridge on a Bilenky tandem 
• New Zealand southern island perimeter tour, 65 days, 1532 miles, by Janine Rood and Mike Trowbridge on a Bilenky tandem 
• Pacific Rim A 2 year tour that will visit 23 countries and travel over 20,000 miles on a Rivendell All Rounder.
• Paris-Brest-Paris by framebuilder Steve and Peggy Rex on a Steve Rex tandem.  
• Prince Edward Island by Kent and Jenny Peterson on a Co-Motion Co-Pilot tandem.
• Seattle to Boston Dennis Bell retraces a 1896 bicycle tour on a Bilenky Midlands.
  South America to North America, 23,000 miles by Gwendal Castellan on an Arvon Cycles convertible tandem
• SpokeSongs: Bicycle Adventures on Three Continents by Willie Weir, Breakaway Books, on a Rodriguez mountain bike
• The Antipodes Expedition: From Ushuaia to Inuvik by Gwendal Castellan on a Tandem made by Arvon Cycles
• Tour de France Andrew Dahlstrom's cycling experience in the Alps while covering the tour on a Rex road bike.
• Transcontinental Tandem Tour by John Bracklow and Sandy Dardenelle on a Santana Arriva tandem 
• TransRockies Challenge, a 7-day MTB race by James Annan and Jules Hargreaves on a Calfee Tetra Tetra carbon fiber tandem. 
• Around the perimeter of the USA on a tandem with side trips into Mexico and Canada. 
• Tuscany  Bob and Margie Adelman on a Bilenky tandem (lots of details and photos) 
• Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park area by Tom Swenson on a Bilenky Midlands  
• Worldwide Mountain Bike Adventure  Garryck Hampton and Jamie Bianchini are set to depart on a worldwide mountain bike expedition in April 2002 covering over 100 counties over a 3-5year period.

(To have your S and S Coupled bike travel adventure added to this list, please send us a link)

Looking for a bicycle touring adventure? Follow this link to see HubBub's Touring Guide.

BTC™ Equipped Bike Owners' Web Pages  
(Send us your URL if you have a web page and would like to be listed here) 

BTC™  User Guide 

• User Guide
• Nut Removal
• Nut installation
• Lubrication
• How do I pack my single bike?
• How do I split and reconnect the cable splitters?
• How can I convert my older design hard case from push to pull ?
• How can I prevent water from entering or damaging a steel frame?

To purchase a bike equipped with S and S Couplings, have S and S Couplings retrofit to an existing bike, find out if your bike can be retrofit with couplings or to purchase cases and accessories, please contact a retailer or framebuilder listed on this web site. Does not attempt to determine whether you bike is suitable for retrofitting or not. Only a framebuilder can make that determination. Some framebuilders are more interested in doing retrofits than others. Looking at our photo gallery of retrofitted singles and tandems may be helpful in finding a builder to retrofit your bike.

To ask technical questions that can't be answered by a framebuilder or to get coupling pricing (pricing is for professional bicycle framebuilders only) please contact: Steve Smilanick at:

S and S Machine, 9334 Viking Place, Roseville, CA. 95747
TEL. 916-771-0235 . . . . . FAX 916-771-0397
e-mail: steve@sandsmachine.com
8-29-2008

I appreciate all feedback regarding this web site. If you have a question that isn't answered or a comment, please let me know so I will be able to improve the site in future updates.

Carvings