Why I didn't buy an Upright e-Trike... and neither should you

I recently test rode a customer's upright trike and it was SCARY... It reminded me of all the reasons I went with a recumbent trike over an upright trike over a decade ago. An upright electric trike simply doesn't solve the pain points that pointed me in the direction of a recumbent trike.
*Disclaimer: This is why I didn't buy one years ago and why I wouldn't now. My hope is that more people discover the freedom, comfort, and ease of riding a recumbent trike.
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[@dancurran8977]

I have a me powered three speed grandpa trike. It's definitely slow and uncool but I find it to be pretty comfortable. It gets me around the neighborhood and Hagan Park. I am passed by everybody on the American River bike trail but that's ok. I have resisted going into the Laid Back shop because I have the feeling that I would leave a couple thousand dollars poorer!

[@BardovBacchus]

#1 thing I don't like about tadpoles; The pedals. Why in the world do you want your feet and pedals so far in front of your front wheels?!? Your ankles are a crumple zone. Does anyone make a decent velomobile in the USA..? For $6,000 I should at least get an enclosed cabin ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@GinaSpadafori]

I bought an upright e-assist trike and the problems you outline are absolutely true. Didn't keep it, and got my Catrike eCat Villager from you. Happy!

[@LaidBackCycles]

Glad you are loving your eCat Villager Gina, it's a great trike :)

[@chucklitecky2181]

At age 80 I wanted to get back into riding but didn't want to deal with the falls, so I went with the recumbent and after two years no falls!

[@LaidBackCycles]

Woohoo! Keep riding and having fun Chuck!

[@rstewardson4164]

Decades ago my parents lived in a mobile home park near a corner. It was fun watching others grandchildren taking that corner to fast on grandma’s trike and going over. I’ve taken the turn into my driveway and lifted the inside of my GreenSpeed, which II a bit of a trill.

[@LaidBackCycles]

I still have a 1997 Greenspeed GTO and love how it corners. I'm a fan of the GS designs.

[@tanyasmith5883]

I have two TerraTrikes, but I have to admit they look sort of like wheelchairs to me. I wonder if anyone else has thought that about recumbent trikes. The comfort and affordability is more important to me than looks, though.

[@thewerst8346]

thank gosh you said it... Thx

[@sdorn]

Reason #3 why some people buy an upright delta e-trike: Lectric and RadPower came out with models with a price point much lower than our comfy recumbents. To their credit, I believe that both Lectric and RadPower have speed governors on their e-trikes. Probably the better reason to consider an upright is for the very few cargo e-trikes, which I only see in upright form. Dahon advertised a folding tadpole upright last year, but it's not yet shipping, and I know there are a few European manufacturers. But that's not for recreational or commuting purposes. With recumbent e-trikes, I think one would need a trailer for cargo purposes.

[@teresadriscoll7753]

We went from 2 wheel TREK bikes to recumbents. My husband has Parkinson’s and balance was becoming an issue. I have a Catrike Dumont and he has an ICE because it is little higher off the ground and is easier for him to get in and out. We really enjoy riding together and even got a cart for our dog who rides behind me. It’s a family affair !

[@liammalarky3483]

We had grandma trikes back in the 1970's. Cornering was very Evel Knieval!!!

[@markfeldman6509]

Try transporting an upright trike in/on your vehicle. Throw in motor weight and it’s impossible. Those trikes are generally bought by older and compromised folks and there is no way they can load them onto a vehicle.

[@teresadriscoll7753]

My husband’s ICE and my Catrike fold up ! We can put both of them in our Jeep along with the dog cart.

[@kenschmidt6522]

My wife's Lectric XP trike folds at the down tube and handle bars, though it is a bit heavy.

[@shawncrean9802]

Appreciate the information, looking forward to coming over there one day.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Look forward to when you do. We'll show you and let you ride some cool trikes.

[@lindawalker8500]

My husband bought one thinking it would be what he wanted because of balance issues. Well.....He tried it two different times and the motor made him feel like he was going to be thrown over the handlebars. Needless to say, it is sitting in the garage because its dangerous.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Yep, an upright bike trike seems like it would be good for balance but just doesn't measure up like a trike.

[@lindawalker8500]

@@LaidBackCycles We want to sell it, but having trouble selling it as dangerous as it felt to him.

[@larryhoworth8407]

The upright does have the advantage in hauling groceries or other items. That big basket and front basket work a lot better than paniers on a trike. To be fair, many upright trikes do have a differential. I want a nice trike like and ICE or HP, or AZUB for riding, and a cheaper upright for grocery shopping.

[@LaidBackCycles]

Check out the the MTX basket from Topeak racks. It works great for recumbent trikes.

[@larryhoworth8407]

@@LaidBackCyclesThanks, that looks good! 😎