Comparing Trikes: TerraTrike, Catrike, ICE, HP Velotechnik
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- čas přidán 20. 04. 2022
- "TAKE IT EASY ... TAKE A TRIKE!" - trike hobo
Hobo steve discusses his impressions of four trike brands, and how they measure up to one another. His thoughts are based on ownership and extensive time riding these recumbent trike brands, starting in 2009 when he first adopted trikes as an automobile replacement vehicle. In this talk, he will analyze and evaluate the TerraTrike, Catrike, Inspired Cycle Engineering, and HP Velotechnik brands of recumbent tadpole tricycles.
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thanks for sharing your experiences
You're welcome. Those are just my personal opinions of course, so these trikes may be viewed differently by different folks.
steve
Thank you for taking the time to do this vlog. I just bought my first trike last week and your advice was very helpful. I have some physical issues that required me to take a slightly different path in my purchase but I did end up with an HP Scorpion FS26. I early on rode a Catrike Dumont but didn't care for the steering. That took me to another dealer that carried ICE, HP, and Azub. I rode all of them in different models. For me with Iowa's gently rolling topography I did not need the more extreme gearing of the Enduro and since we have great trails those will be my primary venues. Thanks again for all the advice you likely prevented me from making some purchasing errors. It is better to buy once, cry once.
You are certainly most welcome David. A video like this comparison can upset some riders who have a favorite type or model of trike, but I wanted to be up front with new riders so they knew what to expect in a trike purchase.
You made a wise decision to steer away from the Dumont due to the steering, which is direct, and not nearly as stable on downhills at speed as compared to indirect steering, such as on ICE, HP Velotechnik, and other high-end trikes. Direct steering is far less expensive for trike manufacturers to produce, which appeals to the majority of riders because the purchase price is considerably less. Direct steering trikes are also lighter in weight.
Even though the initial purchase price is quite a bit higher for ICE, HP, and AZUB, you'll never have to worry about upgrading to a better trike later on. Yes, as you say, "buy once, cry once" and be done with it! 😄
steve
Thank you for sharing
The sound is an issue … is less an issue re your equipment than the echo re the room you are in. Overall the content is excellent! I think the reality is that the market has different levels based on what one wants and is willing to pay. I am retired and have the resources to purchase the Adventure HD ICE recumbent trike, but I realize I am in the one percent. I live in a very friendly bicycling city (Davis, CA) and primarily just tool around with friends for enjoyment. Thank you for a great video.
Thanks for your support and encouragement Tom! Yes, the price of these recumbent trikes does indeed enter into a buyer's decision on what kind to get, and how to equip it. Even entry-level trikes are expensive compared to many bicycles. For me, it was an easy decision because I replaced a car with a trike years ago, and trikes are not costly at all when viewed from this perspective (no insurance, no mechanic bills, no license requirements, no gasoline and oil needs, etc). For a person who is using a trike instead of a bicycle, then yes, the jump in pricing is monumental.
Living in a "cycling friendly" area is a great thing! It makes pedaling around so much more relaxing! Out on a tour, in certain congested city areas of high speed highways, the feeling can be overwhelming at times. Happily, with wide road shoulders, the constant tire whine from high speed cars is just mostly annoying rather than an actual hazard.
Regarding the sound quality, I film many of my talks in a garage, and the farther from the camera mic I get, the less quality the sound has. When I do equipment talks, I am close to the camera mic, so the sound is good. I placed the cloth mural on the wall next to me in order to help keep the sound from bouncing around, so at least it is better than it would be with bare walls, haha. My camera does not have an external mic capability, so I do attempt to keep it as close as I can when I want to include the trike in the shot.
steve
Good video. Nothing beats talking to someone who has owned one.
Thanks Greg! I attempt to share my unbiased impressions in an objective manner, but I am sure there are riders who might see things differently.
steve
This is very helpful but you dont say the precise models you have or had. Eg the HP Velotechnik - can you be more precise - Gecko or Scorpion ?
I currently have a 2021 HP Velotechnik fs26 Scorpion Enduro. I have also had a 2015 ICE Full Fat off-road trike, a 2014 Catrike 700 speed trike, and a 2007 ICE Qnt.
I originally contemplated getting the Gecko, but eventually opted for the Scorpion instead, preferring the full suspension, along with a greater gear range (the Gecko has a fixed front crankset, with a small ring that is too large to navigate the mountain uphills where I live without damaging a rider's knees). Even though the Scorpion was more than double the price of the Gecko, I am happy that I made this choice.
steve
@@EZSteve very helpful, thank you Steve -andy (the handle is a pseudonym)
@@josephfredbill I've reached an age in life where I realize choosing the least expensive option just to save money is not the best way to live for me. I only live once, so if I have the money, and I want something, I am going to spend it! 😀
steve
@@EZSteve good
@@EZSteve how did that come up - im not trying to save money, just get the best trike for me
I don't understand why so many recumbent trikes only have road cassettes and not mountain cassettes...I live in a hilly area and a road cassette will not cut it...top gear is 34??? 😄
I have had the same madding issue on a couple of my trikes, which necessitated modifying my front crankset with chainrings that would get me up hills without destroying me knees. You are correct that most recumbent trikes are geared for road riding, and I believe this is because the manufacturers are finding that most of their customers ride roads ... but still, this all depends on the terrain where a rider happens to live!
Where I live, there are mountains everywhere (except to the west, where the Pacific Ocean is). This issue of high road gearing has been at the forefront for me because of my long distance road tours on the trike, where I am heavily loaded with luggage on my journey. The typical gearing from most companies on most models simply will not allow me to climb hills with loaded panniers!
I think that since most of the trike manufacturer's customers are not riding with loaded panniers, they do not provide stock gearing for that usage. But still, even with an unloaded trike, on steep hills the stock gearing really puts a big strain on the rider's knees and lower body, not to mention the trike.
Catrikes are made in Florida, and come with high gearing, but that doesn't work in western Oregon.
The bottom line here is that we have to buy the trike that most closely matches our individual needs, and then make modifications to dial it in even more. I have always made mods on my trikes, with gearing being one of the first things I do. Sometimes, if you order a new trike from a dealer or manufacturer, you can get that gearing work done for you ahead of time, saving a lot of work in the garage later.
It's all about company profits really. Trike companies make what the bulk of their purchasers want, pure and simple. If you fall outside of that window, then it's up to you to make the necessary modifications to really personalize your trike.
steve
Sound is very bad!😂
I just have a Nikon camera on a tripod. The camera has no option for working with an external mic, so what you are experiencing is the sound bouncing around in the open garage. Yep, I'm a bottom-of-the-line type of fellow when it comes to high-end camera and sound equipment ... but of course, that allows me to spend my money on things like this trike, haha.
steve
The sound is fine. I'm not sure what the person is talking about. There's a little bit of an echo but you're in a garage so that's understandable