Ep 85: Buying Your First Recumbent Trike | A User’s View

Interested in making the cycling switch to more comfort and fun. Here’s an overview of what to look for when buying a recumbent trike from the view of a seasoned user.
Mahalo nui loa for riding along with us as we trike all throughout the Hawaiian islands.
PS: my channel features original music, video and photos. Here's this week’s music:
Music: Coconut Joe “Sands of Silver and Gold”
Middle of the Ocean CD • ©2003 Bob Rogers/Turtle Bay Records
Available on iTunes
I ride a HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS26 recumbent trike . Here's a link with more gear and facts: www.coconutjoe.com/trike.html
Gear Note: I maintain a simple gear footprint. Accompanied by iphone, gopro max and Skydio drone, I do all my own filming including drone footage. Audio is captured on my phone and then married to the video footage in iMovie where I do all my own editing.
©2024 Bob Rogers

[@hpvelo]

Very helpful content for "newbies". Thanks and always safe and happy rides!

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

Glad it was helpful! Mahalo.

[@tomboyd9053]

Aloha! Good overview, Bob. We both have our HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS26 set up in similar ways - rear rack, side bag, Shimano E8000 e-assist, Rohloff Hub, etc. My first recumbent trike was a Catrike Villager which I bought after my 2nd left knee replacement. It was adaptable (higher seat) and affordable for my needs. I upgraded to the HP after my 3rd left knee replacement and several years of riding a Freedom Ryder Handcycle.

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

Howsit Tom. Yep. We be Triking bothers from different mothers. I bought my first trike, the HP, with my neck and back problems. Now that I’ve had the operations the trike with all its bells and whistles it’s all bonus. Love it. Aloha 🌴

[@kellyfromiowa1849]

I bought my first trike last year. I only had two requirements: price and weight limit. The main thing was to find out if I liked trikes and wanted to invest in a better one. Great video. A lot of good points to take into consideration.

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

Thanks for the thoughts. Congrats on the recent purchase. I like the idea of a first buy before you buy the better one. I researched and researched for 4 months, sat in one to get the feel, and then made my move. No real regrets except I didn’t need the fixed 1lb lock which I finally removed. Happy Rolls 😎

[@garyseckel295]

30-years recumbent experience here. Both tadpole and delta planform recumbent trikes here. 70yo, limited-mobility handicapper here. Cannot get on/off my owned tadpoles for 15-years now. Wheelchair/forearm crutches on/off ONLY on a delta planform trike! "Hase Lepus" with 2WD, air suspension, E-assist, Rohloff gearbox, and under seat steering. Indirect steering HUGELY isolates hands and arms from road vibration! Upper arms also naturally vertical at rider's sides! Once Rohloff, never again any cassette! I use heel cup pedals with nylon straps removed. Never outgrow a delta planform trike. Grow oldest on a delta planform trike. AKA: "Jason Stillwater" in the recumbent world.

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

What a testimony Gary. 30 years, wow, awesome. Yeah, love dem rohloffs.

[@douglas1559]

👍Thanks for sharing Bob,Yep!need to get me a rohloff so I can shift up or down when stopped 💫

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

@@douglas1559you’ll love it. 😎

[@garyseckel295]

@@douglas1559 Stopped AND Slow Speed Shifting are everything to anyone having experienced such!!! Technically, one could go with more affordable 11-speed gear hub. BUT.., if a retirement One Time Purchase, Rohloff gearbox is 14-speed AND more importantly, internally indexed. I honestly do not know (I own an 8-speed, but don't remember) if the 8 and 11- speed gearboxes are internally indexed! I think they are cable indexed. Also, everybody, REALIZE that on a delta-planform recumbent trike, "Tadpole disassembly" is NOT applicable to a delta planform Rear Flat Tire!!!!!!!!!!! WHOAH!

[@alanpage8911]

You can get some suspension by having volume in your tyres. Road tyres tend to be narrow and 90-110psi. Wider tyres can run about 50-65psi, so a more accommodating ride feel. Light, simple and much cheaper than going full susp.

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

So true, great comment. Thanks Bruddah.

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

I forgot a major configuration when purchasing a recumbent trike with e assist. Do you want a crank motor or a rear hub motor? Talk to your trike shop about the differences.

[@garyseckel295]

Separation of systems would indicate crank motor.

[@hawaiiantrike-surfkayak]

@@garyseckel295🤙🏽