Hi
I am thinking of buying a recumbent trike with 26" rear wheel. The cost is an issue so might not happen and the fact I do have some back problems sometimes means I am probably likely to explore the ones with rear or full suspension further increasing the cost. I have a few questions about recumbents.
1) I understand that with Azub trikes it is possible to move the seat forward or back a little to adjust the trike for different users - which means adjusting the chain could be avoided if my wife wanted to go on a ride. Do other makes have similar features?
2) I currently have an e-bike with Shimano E-steps but this extra option for trikes seems to cost as much as I paid (£1800) for my entire brand new Scott ebike a few years ago (granted I got £200 off as it was end of season but still). So if I ever get a trike I will probably look into getting a kit from Tongsheng. Is there any brand of trikes that I should avoid as their build is too tricky for the kits?
3) If I buy a trike through a cycle to work scheme would I be allowed to modify it with a kit as I am not officially the owner at this stage?
4) If I end up with only rear suspension can I have very low pressure in front tires as the weight at the front is shared between 2 wheels?
e.g. Schwalbe Big Apples can go as low as 30 psi. If needed can I go slightly lower e.g. 20-25 psi if I am not planning to ride very fast anyway?
Never tried any trike and I am conscious that the advice is to expect my preconceptions to be challenged and try a few.
So once the lock down comes to an end either visit D-TEK or some local dealers and check ebay for second hand.
My thoughts at the moment (if buying new):
1) Performer JC 26 - rear suspension - probably the cheapest new option - unfortunately the only dealer is in Scotland (I live south of London). A bit far. If I buy directly from the manufacturer I don't have an option to buy through cycle to work scheme and have to assemble it myself or find someone to do it for me. On one forum someone said import tax and VAT already prepaid which would mean it would be a lot cheaper than competition but I would need to confirm that with Performer.
2) Specbike technics -cheapest full suspension trike but again since shipped from Latvia can't be bought through cycle to work scheme. No local dealer support. Unable to try first unless I go to e.g. Spezi fair?
3) Azub -TRIcon like the moving seat feature but no dealers locally
4) Scorpion 2 - a local dealer in London - the most expensive trike on my list but if bought through a scheme the cost migth go down by 25%
I am thinking of buying a recumbent trike with 26" rear wheel. The cost is an issue so might not happen and the fact I do have some back problems sometimes means I am probably likely to explore the ones with rear or full suspension further increasing the cost. I have a few questions about recumbents.
1) I understand that with Azub trikes it is possible to move the seat forward or back a little to adjust the trike for different users - which means adjusting the chain could be avoided if my wife wanted to go on a ride. Do other makes have similar features?
2) I currently have an e-bike with Shimano E-steps but this extra option for trikes seems to cost as much as I paid (£1800) for my entire brand new Scott ebike a few years ago (granted I got £200 off as it was end of season but still). So if I ever get a trike I will probably look into getting a kit from Tongsheng. Is there any brand of trikes that I should avoid as their build is too tricky for the kits?
3) If I buy a trike through a cycle to work scheme would I be allowed to modify it with a kit as I am not officially the owner at this stage?
4) If I end up with only rear suspension can I have very low pressure in front tires as the weight at the front is shared between 2 wheels?
e.g. Schwalbe Big Apples can go as low as 30 psi. If needed can I go slightly lower e.g. 20-25 psi if I am not planning to ride very fast anyway?
Never tried any trike and I am conscious that the advice is to expect my preconceptions to be challenged and try a few.
So once the lock down comes to an end either visit D-TEK or some local dealers and check ebay for second hand.
My thoughts at the moment (if buying new):
1) Performer JC 26 - rear suspension - probably the cheapest new option - unfortunately the only dealer is in Scotland (I live south of London). A bit far. If I buy directly from the manufacturer I don't have an option to buy through cycle to work scheme and have to assemble it myself or find someone to do it for me. On one forum someone said import tax and VAT already prepaid which would mean it would be a lot cheaper than competition but I would need to confirm that with Performer.
2) Specbike technics -cheapest full suspension trike but again since shipped from Latvia can't be bought through cycle to work scheme. No local dealer support. Unable to try first unless I go to e.g. Spezi fair?
3) Azub -TRIcon like the moving seat feature but no dealers locally
4) Scorpion 2 - a local dealer in London - the most expensive trike on my list but if bought through a scheme the cost migth go down by 25%
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