ZOX 20 Recumbent Cycling

• Introduction
• Components List
• Pros and Cons
• Links and References

What is a ZOX 20 Z-frame ?

Main features;

• low seat height (9.8inch / 25cm) for improved aerodynamics
• square section frame tubing for increased knee clearance (compared with a similar spec. round tube)
• small wheels (20inch / 406) - useful for lowracer designs, no consensus about the effect on rolling resistance
• front wheel drive, fixed bottom bracket, twist chain
• seat is not as laid back as many lowracers, hence more suitable for on-road use (IMHO)

Pros and Cons

Plus

• Great fun to ride :-))
• Very solid feeling frame, rigid. No apparent pedal flex.
• Feels fast, responsive - feels like it wants to go !!
• Handling at speed - good even at 45mph / 72kph (after which I put the brakes on !!)
• The chain drive to the front wheel does not adversely affect the handling, nor does it noticeably limit the turning circle in practise.
• Better knee clearance than the Quantum Toxy XR (the only other Lowracer I have tried.) (for me)
• Great fun to ride :-))

Minus

• Close heel clearance on derailleur (for me).
• If recumbents attract attention then a Lowracer even more so (some may consider this a Plus but I do not !!).
• On the rear suspended model there is no protection against water entering the main frame tube.
• Minor point: no cable guides for the rear brake but zip-ties work fine for me.

Component List

• Frame and Forks: ZOX 20 Lowracer ("Tieflieger" in German). Black, nominal size: small. Square section steel tubing, 40mm / 15.7inch. (I read somewhere that the frames are built by AnthroTech (they are based close to ZOX Bikes and also use square section tubing)).
• Chain rollers: Drive-side: 13cm / 5.1inch diameter. Return-side: 8cm / 3.1inch diameter. I think they are made by Flux.
• Suspension: Rear swing-arm. Elastomer. I estimate 4cm / 1.6inch of travel at the wheel hub (absorbs the worst of the road shocks).
• Seat: Plywood (11mm / 0.43inch thick) with closed-foam top (19mm / 0.75inch thick) and ventilation holes, all black. Made by Flux.
• Wheels: Sachs hubs and ZAC 4019 rims.
• Tyres: Primo Comet (37-406), later replaced by Conti Top Touring and then Marathon 406x40
• Chainset: no-name, black, 46 teeth, later replaced by 48 teeth (different make) with a smaller Q-factor, then with Thorn short 140mm cranks, 40/28 from SJSC
• Gears: Sachs (now SRAM) 3x7 (3 speed hub gear (+36%, DD, -27%) with 7 speed cassette (12 to 28 teeth), later 13 to 21 teeth).
• Gear range: (orig.) 24 to 104 inches (good range for my fast (for me) day rides)
• Handlebars: no-name, black, approx 45 degree sweepback.
• Stem: varies depending on setup - see Zox20 log (end up with PlanetX 50mm/10deg).
• Brakes: Tektro V-style.
• Luggage carrying: Later: NovoSport Sport Mini.
• Mirror: Busch & Müller Cyclestar (started with the long-stalk model, later moved to the short-stalk model). (I hate riding ANY bike without a mirror).
• Early warning devices: Small bell (a polite, standard German accessory: in an emergency I shout).
• Weight: *approx* 15kg / 33lbs (orig. build, no tailbox).
• Speed: The favourite question of the onlooker: my stock answer is: depends on the rider :-)

ZOX Links / References

On my other ZOX pages

• Zox20 log >> (buying it, changes I made and how it's going)
• Tailbox #3 page >> (using a NovaSport tailbox on a Zox20)
• Photo pages >> (including collections of ZOX photos (bit old now !))

Manufacturer

• ZOX Bikes
• Staubach Blog - 1990 some historical mention of Sergio / Zox prototypes (German)

Other owners pages

• Ole Carlsen (Zox20 S Low Light owner from Denmark) photos and blog, including build-up pictures and ideas on how to fit mudguards, front light, kickstand. English spoken.
• Aragoata @ Flickr (nice pics, Terracycle roller mod, on the road shots,...)
• Bike Wiki (German)
• "Zox Owner" (Japanese page)
• utsuki ? (Japanese page: loads of good quality photos !!)
• Oliver Zechlin (ZOX-26 (?and ex ZOX-20) owner) (was www.liegerad.com, now redirects to ZOX bikes).
  (he also produces the excellent bi-annual HPV CD-ROM containing vast quantities over photos, videos, websites etc.) English spoken.
• Mike Fuchs (German ZOX 20 owner, and ex Flux V220 owner)
• Reinhard Herden (19/10/09: site gone) German ZOX owner (including interesting specifications/modifications to make it a fast touring bike, including Rohloff, SON hub dynamo, disk brakes, rear rake, sidestand...)
• Claus BRAtvogel (his capitalisation, not mine!) (German ZOX tandem owner, loads of ZOX tandem pictures) including a ZOX triplet (pedalling child in the middle position) !!
• Zox 20 Low German owner, including pics of homemade foam tailboxes, aluminium seat support and 1 piece carbon handlebar/stem with HOWTOs.
• If you know of any others please email me