Why are Trikes So Expensive?

This is about why Trikes are expensive
and the reasons for that. I Explain why and what makes them that way.
the ways they are made is part of that Reason. If they have folding feature as well every frame is shaped differently

[@joelongstaff7601]

I just built my third one. I'm 6' 2" tall and weigh 225lb. This one cost me $450. It has 3X 26" wheels internal gears in the rear, cable disk brakes all around and a web seat. It's Tig welded aluminum and then powder coated. All in my garage. All done at retail prices. I wouldn't sell it for anything less than $1500 because of the time invested.

[@johngray2261]

They are more expensive because they are primarily sold to older people who have more money. Sure, a little more complex than a bike...but, not enough to justify the extra cost.

[@williambuchanan6530]

Agreed

[@williambuchanan6530]

I looked into trikes many years ago when I had my first total knee. I thought “ wow, no way, that ridiculous price will drop dramatically at some point. The value just isn’t there ”. 😂 Now, 9 years later, I’m forking out a small fortune for my first trike.😢 I couldn’t hold out forever… My best friend has a son that is young and a pretty talented welder and generally very mechanical. I told him if I were him I’d be designing a trike frame, building it, adding the parts that are universal with all bikes/trikes, and selling them. No telling where that might lead.

[@ablebanner3222]

Great info. Sherri, thanks a lot.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Glad it was helpful!👍

[@jamesmchugo9422]

Trikes are more expensive, because they are. Materials, there about the same. There are fewer welds but more design work and specialty tooling is involved. Yes they have more wheels, longer cables etc. but I’m willing to bet they’re about the same in man hours to build and assemble. There more expensive because they’re a specialty niche market. And two wheeled bikes are catching up in the niche market and getting to be just expensive if not more expensive because of it. Your not going to find a new trike that’s worth riding around $500. No bicycle in the $500 range is worth riding either. I just got my first trike, it’s used, barely, but I’m liking it. I like it for all the reasons you sighted, I’m older, and those idiot things I did when I was bulletproof, well they’re coming back to haunt me. When I ride the trike, my hands and feet don’t go numb and hurt for days. My shoulder doesn’t ache and my back feels great. I can ride again and it’s fun, so I’m getting back in shape, already dropped a couple of pounds. Are trikes worth it, DEFINITELY!

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Yes to all of the above 👍I agree

[@timross3008]

Great video. Great info for newbie’s. 😊

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Thank you Tim people always ask me that question so I made a video about it.

[@dave_ecclectic]

It most likely is volume. And because they can charge more. Regular bikes also use specialized jigs to make specialized frames. Longer chain, cables more wheels is ridiculous. Double or triple them and you still can't reach a grand for a trike. Some of these cost 10 grand!

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Yes some do cost as much as ten grand which is crazy! And bikes are easier produced than trikes. Bikes all have a Diamond frame and they are mass produced.

[@happytriking]

Thanks for the nice video. I think next time I'm asked that question I'll refer them to your video😀.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Thank you very much I appreciate that Glad you liked the video 👍

[@docmulvin6605]

None of what you say qualifies a trike to cost upwards of $17,000. Most don’t cost this much, but the base price is typically around $4000 - $8000 and then you start adding on to that price.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Ice trikes start at around $9000 and up, but I know not everyone can afford a Ice trike also cost of materials has gone up as well and shipping is another reason. But typically most people buy the lower end price like a Terra Trike Maverick or Rambler wide. And still get a nice trike.

[@Hansaman58]

Great video. What kind of helmet is that and what are all the attachments I see on it please? Thank you.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

It’s a Terrano xt We got them from Terrano online it is a Bluetooth intercom and you can listen to music on your phone as well but we use it for talking When we ride together. Or even talk on your phone as well.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

I have a liv helmet made by Giant Had to get a new one recently my other one the MIPS was breaking up inside it I had it 5 or 6 years.

[@jamesmchugo9422]

@@sherristrikesandtractors a bicycle helmet really should be replaced ever 5 to 10 years according to the national safety council. Personally, when they’re much over 6 years old it’s debatable if it’s still giving you maximum protection. Some manufacturers will say 4 to 5 years, go with the manufacturers recommendations every time. The foam, the material between your head and pavement breaks down over time when exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun. And if you ever crash with a helmet. Throw it away and get a new one. Once the foam has been compresses, cracked, damaged in anyway, it’s done, it looses its structural support and is no longer protecting you as it should. Note before you throw it away make sure you check the warranty, some brands come with free or reduced purchase price if you remembered to register your helmet at time of purchase. Hope this helped. 😎👍

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

@jamesmchugo9422 yes that’s right I have a new helmet now got one this spring so not the one in video you saw

[@elpresidente8730]

The real answer is that it's a niche leisure product and the manufacturer can basically charge what they think the market will pay. If they sell everything they build on a full order book then they have got the equation right. If they can sell more they either ramp up production or increase the price and if they sell fewer they either cut production or lower prices. If you look at another similar niche leisure product in a different sector e.g. Hobie boats you will see the same low volume high cost pattern. Also these niche leisure products tend to charge outrageous prices for spares and accessories because they know their market can afford it even if they don't like it.

[@sanantoniorose9832]

Glad you are happy with your trike. BUT, everything you listed to justify the high cost adds up to only about $200 over the cost of a folding electric bicycle that retails under $800, AND, you didn't say a thing about an electric trike. Trikes are grossly overpriced.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

I was talking about everything on my Trike, because people had asked me about it. Not to justify the cost of anything. That was why I did the video people had asked me about it and I decided to do a video about it so they could see my Trike and what I have on it. I can talk about electric trikes, but they are expensive. about any trike just about with a motor is gonna cost you with the price of the Trike and the motor about $4000- $5000 and if you want a cheap bike with electric motor that’s probably gonna be about thousand to $2000 and sometimes you can’t get parts for them if they-are purchased online. it’s hard to get service for them now if you buy them from a bike shop yes they will be more expensive but you have the warranty you’ll have a way to get parts.

[@tomprentice6935]

⚔️💪😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍👌(stroke)

[@alifelesordinary]

I call b.s. trikes cost more because manufacturers want them to. I could believe 50% more than a regular bike but not 200-300%. I say it's greed plain and simple.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

However that may be, but if you are someone who cannot balance, or cannot ride a regular bicycle or you’ve had a wreck on-bike than a Recumbent is a good choice for stability , and not having to worry about balancing, and for the comfort, but I don’t know about the part about price for sure but anyway, everybody has different ideas-and that’s what makes the world go round

[@alifelesordinary]

@@sherristrikesandtractors I'm not saying trikes are bad on the contrary trikes are great, I just wish they weren't priced so high. The manufacturer's should do whatever necessary to maximize economies of scale. Producing more trikes at a lower cost to the consumers. I feel like the manufacturers want to foster a since of elitism for their products rather maximize the number of people using their products.

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Some manufacturers are priced way too high but others are cheap and not real good. I understand the price difference and I couldn’t afford a expensive trike either mine is mine years old but I plan on Keeping it. Ice trikes are nice but too expensive as well as hp velochnik trikes. Settled for a Terra trike and I like it👍

[@elpresidente8730]

I agree with most of that, not sure that greed is the motivator, just market forces. Production volumes are lower which pushes up cost per vehicle and at the moment they are marketed as a niche product. Scarcity creates the perception of value. Trike manufacturers could be missing a trick or two by keeping prices high as lower prices would eventually feed into higher sales volumes until natural market saturation is achieved then manufacturers start competing for market share either through improved spec, lower prices or sales promotions.

[@kenmcclow8963]

Recumbents are a very small market and with low volumes the prices for design and engineering are split up on fewer units. I saw a video of a factory tour in Taiwan and they were making the frames for many of the European brands. That’s bending tubes, welding and painting. I don’t remember if they were shipping frames, or complete trikes to Europe, but then some of them are shipped again to the US. I didn’t see the US brands in the video, so maybe they bend the tubes in Michigan and Florida. I think that 90% of upright bikes are made in China and they could do production runs of thousands at a time and that certainly helps lower prices

[@mikesmicroshop4385]

Sorry, there is not that great of a difference in material costs for Trikes to be so ridiculously expensive! Trikes are 2 to 3 times more expensive than a regular bike in most cases! I have built trikes from scratch before and had less than $300 in materials! So the reason they are more expensive is because of what manufacturers are charging for them and the fact that they are such a small percentage of the market!

[@sherristrikesandtractors]

Here in northwest Arkansas they’re a good percentage of trikes ridden by people who are mid 50’s and older. May not be a lot in the area you live in but with the growth around here and all the trails we have a lot of them here. I’m not familiar with every area.

[@przemos7816]

I can make a diy trike for $200 and for another $200 I can make it electric

[@nighthiker8872]

Super! TX.