I finally got a chance to spend some real time on a tandem hase pino, and honestly, it's completely changed how I think about riding with another person. If you've ever tried a traditional tandem, you know the drill: the person in the back (the "stoker") spends the entire ride staring directly into the back of the "captain's" jersey. It's functional, sure, but it's not exactly social. The Pino flips that entire dynamic on its head, quite literally, by putting the front rider in a recumbent seat while the person in the back sits upright.
It looks a bit wild the first time you see it. It's long, it's got a mix of wheel sizes, and it definitely draws a crowd whenever you park it outside a cafe. But once you get over the initial "what is that?" factor, you start to realize that this bike solves almost every common complaint people have about tandem cycling.
A Different Way to See the World
The biggest selling point of the tandem hase pino is the seating arrangement. Because the front rider is sitting in a low, recumbent position, their field of vision is totally unobstructed. They aren't looking at someone's shoulder blades; they're looking at the scenery. Meanwhile, the rider in the back sits higher up than on a normal bike, so they can see right over the front rider's head.
But the real magic isn't just the view—it's the conversation. On a standard tandem, you're usually shouting over your shoulder or trying to hear a muffled voice from behind you. On the Pino, your heads are actually quite close together. You can talk in a normal speaking voice, share a joke, or point out something interesting on the side of the road without feeling like you're in a shouting match with the wind. It makes the ride feel much more like a shared experience rather than two people just working on the same machine.
It's a Bike That Grows with You
One thing I didn't expect was how adjustable this thing is. The front part of the frame is telescopic. This means you can shorten or lengthen the "boom" to fit different leg lengths in a matter of seconds. It's not just for two adults, either.
Hase has designed this bike to be incredibly versatile. You can put a small child in the front with a special crankset adapter, and they can pedal along (or just sit there and enjoy the ride). It's an amazing way to get kids involved in longer rides that they'd never be able to handle on their own. I've seen parents using the tandem hase pino as a school-run machine, which is arguably much cooler than a minivan.
Then there's the accessibility angle. For people with balance issues or disabilities that make riding a standard bike difficult, the Pino is a lifesaver. The front rider is securely seated and can even have a harness if needed, while the rear rider handles the steering and most of the balance. It opens up the world of cycling to people who might have thought those days were over.
Handling the "Long" Bike
I'll be honest: the first five minutes on a tandem hase pino feel a little bit like steering a bus. The front wheel is way out there, connected by a long steering rod. If you're the captain in the back, the steering feels a bit light at first. But, strangely enough, it clicks into place faster than a traditional tandem.
Because the center of gravity is lower (thanks to that front rider sitting down low), the bike feels remarkably stable once you're moving. The turning radius is surprisingly tight, too. You won't be doing any trials-style track stands or weaving through tight bollards with ease, but for general road and trail riding, it's nimble enough.
The kickstand is also worth a mention—and I know, talking about a kickstand sounds boring. But on a bike this heavy and long, you need something heavy-duty. The Pino's double-legged stand is basically a motorcycle stand. You can leave the front rider sitting in their seat while the bike is parked, and it won't budge. It makes getting on and off way less of a circus act.
Touring, Cargo, and the "Porter" Life
While a lot of people use the tandem hase pino for weekend jaunts, it's actually a beast for touring. If you're riding solo, you can actually turn the front seat into a massive cargo hold. Hase makes something called the "Porter Bag" that sits right where the front passenger would go. It turns the bike into a high-capacity cargo bike that can haul a week's worth of groceries or enough camping gear to disappear for a month.
When you do have two people on it, you still have plenty of room for panniers on the rear rack and even under the front seat. It's one of the few bikes where you don't have to compromise between "bringing a friend" and "bringing your stuff."
The Electric Boost
Most of the newer models of the tandem hase pino come with an electric motor, usually a Shimano Steps system. If you're on the fence about whether you need a motor, let me help you: you probably do.
The Pino isn't a light bike. It's built like a tank to handle the weight of two riders plus gear. While it's perfectly rideable without a motor on flat ground, the moment you hit a decent hill, you'll be glad for that electronic assist. The motor makes the bike feel 50 pounds lighter and ensures that the "shared experience" doesn't turn into a "shared argument" when the terrain gets tough. Plus, it levels the playing field if one rider is significantly stronger than the other.
Is There a Catch?
It sounds like I'm in love with this bike, and largely, I am. But it's not perfect for everyone. For one, it's a big investment. These bikes are hand-built in Germany, and the price reflects that. You're paying for incredible engineering and niche versatility, but it's definitely not a "budget" purchase.
The other thing is transport. You can't just throw a tandem hase pino on a standard roof rack. You either need a specialized long-wheelbase rack, a van, or you need to take advantage of the telescopic frame to "shrink" it down. It does get significantly shorter when you slide the front boom all the way in, which helps it fit into some larger SUVs or hatchbacks, but it's still an extra step to think about.
The Verdict
At the end of the day, the tandem hase pino is about connection. It's for the couple that wants to actually talk while they ride. It's for the parent who wants to take their kid on an adventure. It's for the cyclist who wants to share the joy of the road with someone who might not be able to ride solo.
It's a specialized tool, for sure, but it's one that does its job better than almost anything else on the market. If you ever get the chance to test ride one, do it—just be prepared to never want to go back to a regular tandem again. There's something about that "Hase smile" everyone talks about; once you're on it, it's pretty hard to shake off.