FS: Thorn Me N U2 Triplet

I gave a heads up on this back in Spring but it is now time to say a fond farewell. I imported a steel-framed Thorn Me N U2 triplet (see pics) in 2012. Thorn are a UK speciality bike maker (audax and touring specialists) who also make tandems and triplets. The Me N U2 is designed to carry one adult and two kids (one aged 7-12, the other aged 4-10). It has been a great bike but my kids (who were six and eight when we got it) are now 11 and 13 and they have grown too big to use it. Hence the sale.

We used it on a 2.5km daily commute so put a maximum of 1,000kms per annum on it (or about 5,000kms) since we got it. Since owning it I have effectively upgraded almost the complete transmission. This includes:

SRAM X4 gear levers
An SRAM X4 rear derailleur
An eight speed 11-34 Shimano HG41 rear cassette
A new eccentric bottom bracket
Three new Shimano UN-55 square taper internal bottom brackets
New Thorn cranks on the front and middle bottom brackets
Three new chains
Four new Thorn chainrings - these are unusual (and unusually expensive) in that they are reversible. I.e. once the side of the cogs facing the chain wears down, you can simply take them off, flip them and reinstall them.

The nature of the bike is demanding on chains and bottom brackets in particular so the two connecting chains could do with replacement somewhere in the next 1,000 kms. (That said, there's nothing special about those chains - any single speed chain will do.)

Most of the other components are original:

Deore LX Brake Levers
Deore LX Brakes
Suntour X1 Front Derailleur
The Triple Crank at the rear has a 26-34-48 mix of chain-rings from FSA and Talon.
FSA XL II Headseat

The wheels are triplet-specific: 48(!)-spokes, on Shimano HB-HFN5 hubs with Rhyno rims from Sun Rims. I've just stripped down the hubs, cleaned them and repacked the bearings with fresh grease. The rims are true and the wheel runs for minutes on a single spin. The rear wheel is also fitted with a Suntour disc brake. (Quite why I'm not sure as the Deore's have always seemed more than adequate to the task but I guess a bike with three people raises potentially novel challenges if one was to descend say Howth Head on the steep side.)

The saddles are tired but still perfectly comfortable. The bike is also fitted with Blackburn racks on the front and rear wheels. I'll also be including a Krytonite New York Fahgeddaboudit chain with accompanying disc lock.

The bike is not pristine but I have taken good care of it, storing it inside and keeping it carefully serviced. The only place that sells "new" versions of the bike (SJS Cycles who in fact recondition older ones) sell them for £UK2,000. I'm looking for around €800 (including the lock).

Given the nature of the bike I'm happy to facilitate test rides. I'm based in Phibsboro but can bring the bike further afield if necessary.