Details: main frame tubes are fillet-brazed Reynolds 531 double-butted CroMo steel; BB connecting tube is ovalized Reynolds 501 straight guage CroMo steel; double-diamond close-coupled design, frame weight 17lbs; Campagnolo dropouts front and rear (140mm rear overlock, 100mm front); proprietary Taylor tandem fork and box crown; BB's are English threaded; front BB shell is eccentric (to adjust timing chain); full set of touring tandem braze-ons: front and rear rack & fender eyelets, generator/light mounts with internal wire routing, front & rear cantilever brake bosses and stops, routing eyelets for two rim brakes and a rear disc or drum brake, Phil Wood disc brake mount, downtube shift lever bosses with central cable routing (left downtube shift mount can be used for a drag brake), 2 sets of water bottle braze-ons, and pump peg for matching Silca Impero frame pump (included.); capt. seatpost is 25.0mm, stoker's 26.4mm; both posts and forged alloy stoker stem are included with frame; oversize tandem headtube with Stronglite roller-bearing headset in excellent condition (included with frame/fork); hand-finished in Flamboyant Orange with the trademark Jack Taylor white box pinstripes and Mondrian logos
This frameset is structurally perfect -- never crashed or dropped, no dings or dents in any of the tubes, alignment is perfect, no corrosion. As expected at nearly 30 years of age and having been ridden by my wife and me in the UK and several US locations coast-to-coast and transported by car, bus, train and air, there are some surface scratches and/or chips in the usual places: underside BB shells, rear triangle, around rear dropouts, and a bit on the underside of the top tube from transport. These are visible in the pictures and are a product of normal but careful use -- not trauma. The bike is very presentable as it is now; the new owner might consider a respray in the future or as part of a full restoration. The frame's blemishes are all readily visible -- no nasty surprises down the road.
As to performance, built with a Campagnolo/Phil Wood drivetrain and 40-spoke wheels, it was capable of 50-60mph on the flats and well over on descents (your mileage may vary depending on your weight, terrain, wind speed and direction, road conditions and life and health insurance status.) With a short wheelbase and double-diamond frame, this tandem is rock-solid and steady at both a slow pace and a help-me-Jesus 70mph mountain descent. Handling is intuitive, and it is supremely smooth and comfortable -- thanks to Reynolds -- on both a cross-country loaded tour or a weekend ride.
My wife and I passed many hours and miles on this bike these past 25-plus years and I can honestly say that it never let us down. It was gentle when we were fumbly tandem newbies and challenging but forgiving as we grew into it and discovered what a formidable piece of magic Mr. Taylor was kind enough to entrust to us. We part with it reluctantly but knowing that it will thrill its new owner(s) at least as much as it did us and that, with proper care, it will outlive us.
That being said, if you want the heart and basis of a classic tandem road machine, this is it. There is none better. You won't be disappointed.
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