Batribike Trike 20: opinions welcome

[henleazehen]

Does anyone here own one of these? (Datasheet here: http://www.batribike.com/wp-content/files_mf/130701datasheettrikereduced.pdf) If so, I'd be interested to know how it handles, and whether the articulated frame which allows lean-over steering is better/worse than a fixed-frame trike.

I think a trike would be best suited to my needs - mainly for running errands in suburban area. I'm no speed merchant or marathon rider, and I'm a fat old hen, so need something that has the strength to carry both me and my shopping/library books/whatever. Bristol is pretty hilly, though, so I'm wondering just how long the battery would last given the combination of a heavy bike + heavy load + inevitable hill or two. I've spotted quite a few Bristolians on this forum, so if any of you use an e-bike, I'd be very interested to know how it copes with Park Street/Whiteladies Road/Blackboy Hill.

Also, wondering about practicalities such as parking issues? I can imagine it might cause some difficulties in certain types of cycle-parking bays - possibly even annoy other bike-users if it takes up too much space. And what would one do with it in places where there is no bike-park - one can't exactly chain a trike to railings or a lamp-post without causing an obstruction. Likewise, am I likely to get other road-users' backs up by riding an extra-wide and slower-than-average vehicle? (I was always an apologist for the road-space I took up when I rode my moped - often pulled over to allow bigger vehicles to pass if I felt I was holding things up. This might not be so easy with a trike.) And what other issues might I encounter when out-and-about?

As you've probaby gathered by now, I am completely ignorant of the world of 21st Century cycling - last time I rode a pedal-bike was back in the 1970s, when I was a good deal slimmer and fitter, and the only specialist gear I carried was a puncture repair kit from Woollies and a pair of cycle-clips to keep my bell-bottoms from getting caught in the chain! Doubtless there have been huge advances in safety-gear, clothing, bike-locks and maintenance kit, so I'd appreciate advice on all those aspects, too.

Lawks, I'm such a noob - please teach me all your ways, oh gurus of the cyclepath to enlightenment!

 

[raleighnut]

I've just built a very similar vehicle for myself.
I used a Kentex 24" wheel trike and then fitted a 36v front wheel motor kit from Cyclotricity, but as the forks would not accept the motor kit (the bottom of the fork is not thick enough to allow the front wheels anti rotation widget to fit) I fitted a 26" fork and wheel kit as that will then transfer to a mountain bike once I can ride 2 wheelers again (trike can revert to standard)
Mine was built so that I can get back up the hill I live on top of and allow me to travel further than along the ridge cos riding back and forth was getting a bit repetitive (trike is for physiotherapy on my broken femur) and as such is a great success.
Its speed is ideal for cycle paths (legal kit at 250w and 15mph limited) and TBH its not that wide (37") couple of issues with bollards is all I've come across. As for it being on them I get nothing but grins as I ride mine but the 2 crutches sticking up from a rucksac do look a bit comical.
I recently took mine to a shop that sells electric bikes to compare it to theirs ( I'd spoken to them at their stall at the recent Sky-ride City event in Leicester) and the guy (a Canadian) asked who'd done the conversion for me and seemed very surprised when I told him I had built it up myself. He was even more shocked when he asked what I had spent on it as theirs was £1600 ( I paid £415 for the trike £450 for the kit and about £100 on new forks, handlebars and seat post) "Ah but yours hasn't got mudguards" the fellar said "No, I left them off to save weight" I replied
I can't comment on the 'bend/lean' facility as mine doesn't have that but as for handling , It Doesn't, so slow is good and the motors limited top speed is about as fast as I want to go although the motor freewheels to allow a higher un-assisted speed.
In short mines great but they can be a bit pricey so look at other makes and I got all mine over the internet but from English cycle dealers that I could then telephone the orders through to (I don't trust internet only sellers and would rather deal with a shop)
Good luck

 

[henleazehen]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Raleighnut - lots of helpful (and encouraging) stuff there. Your custom trike sounds a lot bigger than the Trike-20, which is only 26" wide, so will probably fit anywhere a pram will go. Might mean a loss in stability and ride-comfort, though, if Brunel's preference for broad-gauge railways is anything to go by. I don't think my engineering skills would be up to building my own machine, so I'm stuck with off-the-peg. I'm in full agreement with buying from a shop-based retailer, and that's one of the main reasons I'm looking at the Batribike: there's a stockist quite near me in Bristol. (Also, I always try to buy from local suppliers because there'll be someone I can speak to if I need help or things go wrong. And it keeps our High Streets alive.) RRP is £1199, which I don't think is too bad, especially with a 2-year guarantee on the battery.

One of things you didn't mention was the problem of parking it: where do you leave it when visiting shops, friends, etc. And how can you BEAR to leave it, when there's always the risk someone will pinch it? Actually, that's probably the biggest advantage of having a custom-built bike - so distinctive it would be hard to sell it on. That's given me something new to consider - pimping my ride!

 

[raleighnut]

Parking it at friends is OK it just goes in the back garden and at shops for 10 minutes chained up with my normal locks. If I've got to leave it for a while then in Leicester we have 'The Bike Park' which is secure (but charges) or it is chained somewhere I can keep an eye on it.
as for the width I'll check that on the specs when I have time but I'm sure its 27"

 

[annedonnelly]

Hi Henleazehen, I know nothing about trikes so can't really help. I'm just wondering why you've decided on a trike rather than a two-wheeled e-bike. Do you have balance issues that mean you can't use a two-wheeler?

I'd have thought you'd have more choice if you looked at two-wheelers and you'd not have to worry about parking issues - at least no more than anyone with a bike does If your local cycle paths have gates/barriers across them as many of them do around here I think you'll have problems getting a trike through.

I've never used an e-bike but there are quite a few round here. I think they're great for anyone who can't manage an ordinary pedal bike, but do want to get out and do a bit of cycling.

 

[henleazehen]

Hi Anne, and thanks for responding. I'm looking at trikes for two reasons: one is that I need to be able to transport things as well as me - I don't drive, and don't have access to a car, so all my everyday errands are done on foot, dragging a wheelie-shopper along behind me. It's very rare I go out empty-handed, and I'd love to be able to get places that little bit quicker and thereby extend my range. The other is that I haven't ridden a push-bike since the 1970s, and even then was very wobbly on my two-wheeler. There are other considerations, too - I have tendonitis in both arms and reduced grip strength in my hands, which makes manouevring something that needs balancing at the same time very difficult - a major factor in my decision to give up on my moped in the 1990s. That said, I fully intend to try out different bikes when I visit the shop, and maybe then I will discover why most people prefer two wheels. The most important thing is that I get a vehicle that is easy to ride, will save time, and will reduce my use of buses and taxis.

 

[annedonnelly]

Ah, I see. Glad to hear that you're going to try out lots of different bikes.

Remember that you can get lots of shopping in two panniers on a bike. I do all my supermarket shopping by bike. Sometimes you have to be a bit careful about what you buy - a huge pack of toilet rolls is very light but takes up a whole pannier so don't buy a dozen boxes of soap powder at the same time

Did you know you can get trailers that will hook on to a bike? They're handy when you've a lot of stuff to transport.

I'm sure that whatever you get you'll be able to save time and money. And hopefully enjoy your cycling too

 

[raleighnut]

You can transport more on a trike, the basket is about the size of a shopping trolley and a range of 30 miles is 15 out and back again without charging.

 

[Pale Rider]

The brochure quotes a range of around 20 miles which is fair on the trike's relatively small 10ah battery.

Bear in mind it's no moped, the motor would probably take you along level ground or a slight incline without pedalling.

But steep hills will require quite a lot of effort from the rider.

In those circumstances, drive would be going to one rear wheel and the front wheel, which I reckon would make for interesting handling, particularly on corners.

Trikes are notorious for being poor on corners, this one's tilt mechanism may help, but only a test ride will tell.