Man, e-trikes are such a double-edge sword.
My wife has one (not this model… a totally different brand), and while it’s awesome, there are two major points to consider:
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The size/weight can be a major barrier. Not only for storage and access, but from a practical standpoint. For instance, some trails don’t have curb cuts to get on/off them, so I don’t see someone ramping off stuff with a trike, as they might with a bike. Especially not if the rider is a senior.
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Maintenance is on an entirely different level. It’s not easy to access anything on a trike… not the chain, not the hubs, not even changing a tube/tire is easy.
To me, e-trikes are closer to motorcycles than they are bicycles. But goddamn are they fun.
The only trike I’d consider is a reverse trike (aka tadpole), preferably recumbent.
That said, I’m sure it’s fun to ride.
reverse tadpole
One wheel in the front, two in the back? Traditional “tadpole” is two wheels up front and one in the back.
My wife’s is the former (also called a delta) and has a slight recumbent design to it. It’s a blast to ride.
D’oh, I accidentally a word: Reverse trike/tadpole. They’re two different terms that mean the same thing (two wheels up front, one in back). Edited to make it make sense, thanks!
No worries :)
I’ve never tried one, but I’ve seen several around! I think they offer better stability than the trike we have (which can be tipsy, if you aren’t careful on side-sloping curves).
They absolutely do, but there are even tilting variants for added stability through turns. They also make regular tilting trikes, but something like a Bowhead would have them beat pretty handily on handling turns at speed.
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I do like the idea, although I’d prefer the reverse arrangement with a single rear wheel, and front suspension that tilts in corners.
You might like Bowhead trikes then, pricey but very cool.
Those are really neat!
I’ve seen them out on the street a couple times, they’re pretty impressive.
