Who has tried an electric trike?

kitchenman

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 9, 2010
1,309
7
Aberaeron, West Wales
I've been advising new member Tara regarding a possible electric bike purchase. I have no idea why! ... I've never ridden one but its definitely on my list now. I wonder if those members who have tried one could delare themselves and provide some advise for anyone who may be thinking like Tara.
Thanks.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,310
30,675
Member SteveW has added a Cyclone motor to a trike, I think it was either a Pashley or Powatryke.

Since Steve also operates as a mobile bike repair service, Tara can contact him directly for his experiences as he isn't often in the forum:

Steve Watkin, Phone: 01689 837602, Mobile: 07748 655201

He is based in the Bromley area.
 

banbury frank

Banned
Jan 13, 2011
1,565
5
Hi

I had a thought if you take a Pashley Trike and Fitted a EZEE 20 inch front wheel kit from john

Or he will fit for you That would make a super Trike Not in Tara ,s budget though

Bike £700 Kit £895 Fitting £200 About £1800 But what a super Bike

Frank
 

Orraman

Pedelecer
May 4, 2008
226
1
I am very much enamoured with my Panasonic powered bikes but there are times when I really need power without pedalling to get me home.
I recently bought an older 24" Powatrike with 3 speed hub gears, 36V SLA batteries, throttle and no pedelec function to see if a trike would suit my needs.

The width of the rear wheels is less than the height of the seat so when a wheel drops into a hole the seat jerks over by a larger amount. This can be most disconcerting.
The greater weight of the extra wheel, heavy axel and the batteries causes greater bucking and jolting over poorer surfaces and the riding position makes it difficult to stand on the pedals to absorb this.

Road camber requires that you lean and steer to the right to compensate and this makes braking while turning to the right somewhat 'interesting'.

Had a problem with the single FET in the controller and had to replace it with 2 in paralell so with a lower rds it nips along.
An alternative would be to go slower?
Now I want to try a semi recumbent trike.

Dave

Hasebikes – trikes, recumbent tandem trikes, handicap bikes, trailer – News - Homepage
 
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C

Cyclezee

Guest
Firstly, thanks for the 'plug' Frank.

Below is one I converted earlier, it is my own TW Bents Artifice recumbent you can see here Ezee Powered T W Bents Artifice Recumbent Trike

I have made a few changes since the original build, the bag mounted battery has gone as has the head rest which I modified to secure a top box on the carrier to carry a second battery.

I love this machine, it is such fun to ride. It has a 26" rear wheel eZee kit, but there are several people with 20" eZee kits on recumbents.

eZee kits are quite adaptable and would suit both upright and recumbent trikes, either tadpole or delta type.

For the Danish readers amongst you Christian Schade has recently written an article about his eZee powered Steintrike Mungo Sport, what a superb machine Teknikken bag min hypercykel - Pedalbilen | Ingeniøren .

Conversions and kits can be tailored to individual requirements and budgets, so If anyone is interested in an eZee kit for a trike, PM or email via my website for prices and further info.
 
C

Cyclezee

Guest
Hi Frank,

Yes, I saw the Pashley and believe an eZee 20" front wheel kit would work.
 

Tara

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
95
0
Torbay, South Devon
Hi it's 'Tara' here.

I'm having a tantrum, because I just wrote out quite a lengthy post and then AOL crashed before I sent it :mad:

The upshot is, I cannot for the life of me find a trike that will go through my front door (78cm wide) that also doesn't weigh riduculously heavy.

My 'ticks all boxes' dream trike is no longer being produced: Electric Bicycles - Vector (Trike) £849

Then I liked this one (not as much mind) but look at the handlebar :eek: Electric Bike Sales - Shop Online for Electric Bikes, Electric Vehicles and Cycle Accessories - Trilux Foldable Trike

Then finally, I thought "Ooh a chopper style trike, and only 69cm wide" to be told they aren't very stable when cornering and not suitable for decent treks: Electric Bike Sales - Shop Online for Electric Bikes, Electric Vehicles and Cycle Accessories - Chopper Trike

Most recently, I found this bike, but it seems very narrow at just 56cm wide? What do you think? another trike with potential stability issues?
http://www.poweredbicycles.co.uk/Cutty-Trike/832.htm

I now know the names off by heart of every dealer / shop selling leccy trikes, and it's not looking good......
 
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funkylyn

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 22, 2011
3,172
27
South Shields, Tyne & Wear
Hi Tara,

The size was one of the reasons i quickly gave up on my trike and got a bike.
However it fulfilled my need to get my confidence back after not having cycled since a child.

I cant remember if there was a specific reason why you prefer a trike ?

If its confidence, why dont you go along to say, Partridges on the A38 south of exeter, they have plenty room for you to practice and just see how you feel ?

Otherwise, I dont know what to suggest because if you go for say better stability with a trike you automatically seem to get more width obviously the narrower ones have less stability but maybe still enough for you ?
Tara you really really need to get out there and try as many as you can.

Good luck......and yes, its frustrating when that happens when you lose a post....never of course when you have just written one sentence...ALWAYS near the end of a long post :D

Sods law......

Lynda
 

kitchenman

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 9, 2010
1,309
7
Aberaeron, West Wales

Tara

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
95
0
Torbay, South Devon
Why dont you talk to the guys at EBS and see if they will customise it for you. Have the handlebars you DO want? ... (actually I quite like them! great for hanging gadgets. )
ALso, regarding the cornering thing ... are you going to be doing that? .. i.e going round corners fast?
Hello KM :)

From the communications I've had so far, the bikes I've enquired about come in boxed up, and the shops aren't keen in fiddling about with them.

For instance, when I enquired with one dealer about getting the Triad chopper trike converted to an e-bike, the reply was:

Hello

I personally don’t fancy this, I’m not sure if you will also maybe void your warranty.

Not only that if the job is time consuming the labour maybe quite a lot on top of the cost of the kit to fit.

Most electric bikes at the cheaper end of the scale cause us a lot of problems.
The last thing I would want to do is sell you something that could cause you endless problems with batteries and electronics going wrong like we have had in the past.


Now I am concerned about buying any bike, because I don't know enough about motors etc - I could end up buying a nice trike with a really naff kit and not know it.

Sorry to sound defeatist, but I at the mo, I'd feel happier buying a car - at least I can read reviews and gen up on what I would be buying. This potential trike purchase feels like I am going into something blindly.
I know I could travel up to Bristol from South Devon and try out some trikes, but as said, its the kits that are the real unknown / concern.
 

banbury frank

Banned
Jan 13, 2011
1,565
5
Hi Tara

If you buy a kit from John at ezze he will support your local bike shop fitting it over the telephone and he keeps spare parts if there is a problem in the future it really is a simple as changing the front wheel 4 to 6 hours labor for a bike shop when they have done one they will be soon offering to supply and fit johns kit to many off there bikes and trikes and being as they have fitted it and supplied the trike the will be confident in servicing it with Johns help

Hope this helps



Frank
 

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
why do you want a trike in the first place? I see no advantages and plenty of disadvantages over a 2 wheel e bike. In city/town traffic you would probably be stuck sitting there along with all the cars, unable to cut your way through......

and if its for load carrying you can get some large panniers or even a trailer which can be left at home most of the time. I cant think of anything more of putting then Dave's explanations above....We cycle because it is a pleasure and rewarding....

really important to try before you buy
 
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kitchenman

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 9, 2010
1,309
7
Aberaeron, West Wales
Hello KM :)

From the communications I've had so far, the bikes I've enquired about come in boxed up, and the shops aren't keen in fiddling about with them.

For instance, when I enquired with one dealer about getting the Triad chopper trike converted to an e-bike, the reply was:

Hello

I personally don’t fancy this, I’m not sure if you will also maybe void your warranty.

Not only that if the job is time consuming the labour maybe quite a lot on top of the cost of the kit to fit.

Most electric bikes at the cheaper end of the scale cause us a lot of problems.
The last thing I would want to do is sell you something that could cause you endless problems with batteries and electronics going wrong like we have had in the past.


Now I am concerned about buying any bike, because I don't know enough about motors etc - I could end up buying a nice trike with a really naff kit and not know it.

Sorry to sound defeatist, but I at the mo, I'd feel happier buying a car - at least I can read reviews and gen up on what I would be buying. This potential trike purchase feels like I am going into something blindly.
I know I could travel up to Bristol from South Devon and try out some trikes, but as said, its the kits that are the real unknown / concern.
At the moment you got nothing! .. (unless you bought something in the early hours! ) ... I suggest you get the bike you want first then .. umm.. you'll have something! /// Then you can move forward (literally!) ..
 

steveindenmark

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 10, 2011
406
2
Tara,

I can see every reason why you want a trike. The biggest being that YOU want one.

I had an ICE trike and it was brilliant. I wish I had kept it and put power to it.

ICE trikes are made in Cornwall and the guys there are great.

Send them an e mail and tell them what you want and they will do everything to help you. There is a warning though. ICE trikes are top of the range and not cheap.

Unless you have ridden a trike you have no idea how much effort is expended just keeping a 2 wheeled bike upright.





Steve
 
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Christian Schade

Finding my (electric) wheels
Aug 27, 2011
8
0
Roskilde, Denmark, Denmark
Hi - I am riding a tadpole configuration (two wheels front, one back) trike 2x30 kms to work every day and it is the best vehicle I have ever owned, so far. It is fun, easy, comfortable and fast.

However, it is definitely not cheap. The trike in question is a Steintrikes Mungo Sport, fully suspended, equipped with an eZee conversion kit from the small but very busy ingenious Steintrikes factory in Austria.

The Mungo Sport can be converted with a full fairing into an Interceptor velomobile, if you so desire.

Riding a fully suspended trike in ebike mode is great for long distance commuting. There's no back pains, I can use SPD shoes without hazzles, it can take a lot of luggage and the motor practically removes all hills, wind and stuff. I am always the first bike through a crossing and have a great overview of the traffic around me. The tadpole config and fully suspended double wishbone makes it possible to make very sharp turns.

It is definitely not a city bike, but for long commutes I can think of no better solution.

 

Tara

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
95
0
Torbay, South Devon
Thank you Christian and Steve

Unfortunately I am not looking for a recumbant (sp?) type but it's really good to see the variety of trikes there are out there.

I hope that when I get my three wheels, I'll be able to post some pics and adventures too, though I'll just be happy to get a little fitter whilst having a leisurely pootle around the bay :)
I'm definitely looking forward to saving some petrol money too :D
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,310
30,675
There are also converters to turn a bike into a trike for you Tara, enabling adding a front motor kit afterwards, or rear motor in the third case. Here's some example sites:

Converter 1

Converter 2

Converter 3


There's also a choice of ready made trikes on this site, all ok for front motor kits:

Bikecare
 

Tara

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
95
0
Torbay, South Devon
Thank you Flecc

My problem is that I need a fairly narrow trike (no more than 70cm ish / 27" max width) There's only the chopper trike on the 'BikeCare' page that would suit, and I do like the style of that bike, but a shop owner told me they weren't the most stable of trikes and not good for longish rides.

My dream / no 1 trike is a Di Blasi folding electric R34, but the motor wouldn't be good enough for the inclines here, so I've been looking for an R32 non electric, but they are dear at nearly £1,500, and then there would be the new kit costs to be added on.

Oh and I forgot, these bikes are very difficult to convert so I doubt I'll get one.

I'm sure I'll get sorted eventually though :)
 
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