PROs & CONs - Top 4 Recumbent Trike Brands 

Just purchased an ICE Sprint X tour, Love It!!!! Converted from mountain biking, these bones can’t take any more abuse!! Highly recommend a trike for people with old and current injuries!!

You did an excellent job of distinguishing the differences between the major brands. Keep it up.

I love my Greenspeed Magnum XL, and my wife likes her Terratrike Rambler both from Laid Back Cycles. My Terratrike Cruiser is vintage, but so awesome.

Tim Fricker here, from Bikes@Vienna. I often tell my customers that part of the reason ICE trikes cost more is because they offer such a wide array of customization options. You can pick and choose from a variety of drivetrain choices, brakes, suspension, as well as a ton of accessories. I believe at least some of the cost difference is related to the expense of being able to provide so many choices.

Great comparison video Mickey! Thank you!

Good job! Happy trails!

Bought a catrike villager 13 years ago, the first year they came out. Was a 9 speed, upgraded to triple crank. Doesn’t fold, I have a trike rack from hitch rider, no suspension, I like fewer moving parts. I added electric assist a couple years ago from Electric Bike Outfitters. I love my cat, will keep riding it forever!

Great video. Lots of information

Nice review. I would have added to the Greenspeed PROs. Adjustability in the seat height for aero vs operator flexibility, the seat back is also adjustable for back angle comfort and more or less aerodynamic seating. It has a small turning radius and while it has a wide seat the trike wheel to wheel width is excellent..esp compared to my wife's ICE Adventure HD.

I would never go back to mountain bike style handle bars, I bought my Catrike Dumont unseen and wasn't sure if I bought a good Trike but after watching how they were constructed I knew I picked the correct Trike, besides I wasted some money on 2 other brands without any knowledge, but had to get a Trike because of health reasons. From lower back problems ( 2 pins, 6 screws in L-3, L-4, L-5 ) also right ankle is pinned and fused. Neck injury from getting rear-ended, have had to have surgery on my wrist so I needed the best and Catrike Dumont is the greatest. So the suspension on the Catrike Dumont is outstanding for people with bad backs. Another Pro for Catrike is you don't need to remove the seat when you fold it, also the wrist supports are wonderful. It has both front and rear suspension.

Good summary, but you forgot a Greenspeed pro: It has a height adjustable seat. Higher for easier entry/exit & better visibility. Lower for improved aerodynamics & faster cornering. The other brands don't have that.

I bought a Terratike 5 years ago. Love the Bosch system. Bad back so I upgraded to ICE Adventure. Suspension is great. Having trouble adjusting to Shimano system and Enviolo. Like torque based pedaling better.

I test rode a lot of the Catrike models, which was what I was wanting to buy. But I found it harder for me to get out of, which is a con. But of course not everyone would have that trouble, and I did love the ride of them.

I've had a Terra Trike Rambler for 5-6 years with the Bosch Electrical Kit and the Nuvinci 380 hub. I went with a recumbent trike because of chronic sciatica issues. It is so comfortable I can ride it everyday with no discomfort. With the 20 inch tires, it is a bit slow, but that is the only con. Also, the #1 cause of bike injuries is falling off - something you don't need to worry about on a recumbent trike!

Thank you so much

I’ve owned two ICE Sprint X (one got totaled by a pickup truck one fateful day) and now a second with 700c wheel, full suspension, carbon seat, and tubeless tires. It is supremely comfortable and relatively fast for a suspended trike. Maintenance has been near zero for 7K miles. For anyone who would like a tubeless tire option this is a “pro” of ICE trikes. I also get positive comments from DF riders on the sporty design.

You know some reed fences & rope for the enclosed part of the recumbent trike?? 😮 Great upload Thanks

Thank you so much for this video, you did a great job! You helped me to choose the right trike: ICE with no doubt! Also probably it will be a little bit cheaper for me, because in a few months I'm moving to UK from Mexico City, in order to do my PhD in physics over there, so an ICE will be my right choice! (and a cool way to ride to the university! 😂😂😂) Cheers!

I love my TerraTrike All Terrain for winter, and my Catrike Expedition for summer. I just wish I had more time to ride them.

Been riding my Greenspeed GT20 all spring/summer and find the standard seat is very comfortable. I do not have suspension and tend to ride on sidewalks as much as paved trails. I have a foam pad but yet to install it under the mesh seating; not sure I will.

The green speed... That seat might be adjustable as to where that back fits by adding a seat pad. It looks too high for me so it should be very easy to add a seat cushion and bring it to the right height

For the record: you forgot to mention 2 other models from ICE: the VTX and the Full FAT.

How does the bar to the pedal for a Sidewinder recumbent bike tighten? Do the shocks or tightening lever wear out?

I love my ice, adventurer, HD

I think 1 additional con to the Catrike is their weight limit of 275lbs.

Is there a way to adjust when the auto shift on the ICE actually shifts? Mine doesn’t shift into the gears I would select.

Was wondering if there's a reason you didn't do or don't carry AZUB brand trikes?

Interesting enough I kind of expected to see HP Velotechnik Azub and maybe even Steintrikes here, are these not up to the level or you just had to squeeze as many as you could in the time you had?

Interesting selection however I'm surprised you didn't mention other top quality brands like Azub & HP velotechnik

Trisled Gizmo 👍

As someone who has a very old recumbent trike (a Flevo Trike about 25 years old), I am quite amazed how far the development has come with time. In the same way, I'll list the pros and cons of my very old Flevo Trike. Pro: - Easy construction. You can even get building plans and build your own. I am modding my trike from time to time. Easy retrofit to a recumbent bike and back. I own a matching single-wheel back end. - Full suspension. - Large loading area. I am using my trike to go grocery shopping. With the large loading area, I can also haul 12-packs of bottles and similarly bulky stuff. - not much longer than a normal bike, thus loading it into a car is possible in many cases. Con: - No longer available. Flevobike has stopped production two decades ago. - Articulated steering. To steer you have to tilt the front end with your legs. It takes some time to get used to it. - Front wheel drive. As most of the load is on the back axle, the front wheel has not much grip, limiting the steepness of roads you can go. - No brakes on the back end. I am still wondering how to retrofit some. The single-wheel back end has brakes though.

Biggest con I found at rallies are the TerraTrike's crossbars are weak, and fracture over time. Had a fracture lead to a serious crack, throwing the toeing out 3/4 of an inch and ruined two new tires. None of the other manufacturer's were mention about crossbar outrigger bar failures.

You are looking very healthy and trim. Keep it up!

You should do a revue of Performer Trikes.

What about HP Velotechnik Trikes?

Besides quality and styling, Ice has indirect steering which is all I will own. I don't like direct steer trikes.

ICE trikes have the best suspension. Super simple & reliable. Super pro. (Former Greenspeed mesh seat rider)

Maaaaan why not start wit a bigwheel frame, road thins on back n a smaller 2 speed fwd on the stem

Catrike Suspension? All the models shown didn't have any. ICE have three basic models, The Adventure, higher seating and ground clearance for touring/leisure, The Sprint slightly lower and more aero for fast touring/daily use, and the VTX for all out speed. But in each model there is a lot of choice for personalization/customization i.e. seating, braking, gearing/drive chain, suspension and the components that they're made from, eg. Shimano, Sram, etc. I'm a little biased as I live in the UK and ride an ICE Trice Qnt trike 2006 that I can still get parts for direct from ICE! That's a 17yr old trike, now that's what I call customer service & faith in your brand/product. I ride it most days and do the maintenance/service myself, Also modified it with dynamo hub (built the wheel myself) and lights.

Terratrike added a folding bike recently!

Really sad that you spoke about the 3 low end trike brands ... yet while including ICE ignoring HPV and mover over AZUB. Idont think I would even consider any of these as they have no innovation in the past 10 years.

So I have $1900.00 saved up and in August I should have $3500,00 I have never owned a recumbent bike in my life! I have 2 e-bikes that I ride everyday! I don’t own a car! I don’t want folding! I will be contacting you in August. All I want is the terra trike GTS fog! That’s my forever bike.

👍👍

$1500 is not cheap. To me it sounded like you where making e xcurses for price because there was no real pro or con to these. Design is subjective. Price should be based in quality and features.

no HP?

There All Flipping tadpole trikes sad.

Cons: Trike Pro: Bicycle