Manufacturer sites (trikes)

Building recumbent bicycles is a tough business. Bigger and older manufacturers tend to have larger, more consistently available Web sites; younger or smaller ones seem to change servers more often and generally have more trouble staying online. If you try a link on this page and get an error, I'd suggest you come back a few days later and try again. Brands with a G link icon are also represented by pictures on my gallery page. Models highlighted in yellow in tables are ones I think are especially good values, except I didn't highlight any ActionBent trikes because they are all value priced.

If you're a recumbent manufacturer and you're not linked here, or you don't like what I wrote, email me and we'll get it sorted out.

Trikes

ActionBent Recumbents (Redmond WA) http://www.actionbent.com/
This value-price line includes eight tadpole trike models for 2009; sold direct to customers. All their trikes have dual front mechanical disk brakes, 9-inch seat height, and 14-inch or 15-inch bottom bracket height.

2009 model	frame	bars	wheels	weight	price	comments
Trident 24	Chromoly	---	26/20	38 lbs	$1195	Folding trike; mesh seat, SRAM Centera 24 shifters
Trident 27	Chromoly	---	26/20	38 lbs	$1195	Folding trike; mesh seat, SRAM Centera 27 shifters
T1	Chromoly	---	700c/20	42 lbs	$1175	FRP seat, Shimano bar-end 27 shifters
T1A	Aluminum	---	700c/20	38 lbs	$1275	Mesh seat, Shimano bar-end 27 shifters
T1X	Aluminum	---	26/20	38 lbs	$1400	Composite seat, Shimano bar-end 27 shifters
Artifice	Chromoly	---	26/20	39 lbs	$1575	Folding trike; mesh seat, Shimano bar-end 27 shifters
Mantis	Chromoly	---	20/20	38 lbs	$1475	Folding trike; mesh seat, Shimano bar-end 27 shifters
Mantis Hillclimber	Chromoly	---	20/20	38 lbs	$1575	Mesh seat, SRAM dual drive plus triple crank (81 speeds)

The SRAM dual drive system on the Mantis Hillclimber is very interesting, a 9-cog freewheel combined with a 3-speed internal rear hub, with shift levers for both in one unit on the handlebar. This was probably meant to be used with a single crank and no front derailleur, but they chose to add the triple crank for 81 speeds (9×3×3 = 81). It's been my experience that any typical 24 or 27-speed bike drivetrain, if it hasn't been tweaked for a land speed record or something, has a low enough "granny gear" for almost any steep street.

Catrike Recumbent Trikes (Orlando FL) http://www.catrike.com/
Tadpole trikes, eight models for 2009, with various wheel size and seat height configurations.

Tadpole trikes have two steered wheels in front (like a car) and one drive wheel in back. Delta trikes have one steered wheel in front, and two wheels in back, with one or both rear wheels driven. Tadpole trikes tend to be more performance oriented with a lower center of gravity relative to delta trikes.

Challenge Ligfietsen (Apeldoorn Netherlands) http://www.challenge-recumbents.com/
New for 2008: a radical-looking tadpole trike. For the 2009 season they added the Alizé folding tadpole trike with rear suspension.

Cycle Genius (Houston TX) http://www.cyclegenius.com/
Phoenix "mobility extender" tadpole trike with chair-height seat and aluminum frame.

Greenspeed (Victoria Australia) http://www.greenspeed.com.au/
Excellent sturdy low-slung tadpole trikes, 14 models for 2009 including a tandem and a delta trike. Not cheap.

Hase Spezialräder (Waltrop Germany) http://www.hasebikes.com/
Unique performance-oriented LWB delta trikes.

HP Velotechnik (Kriftel Germany) http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/
Scorpion tadpole trike and Scorpion fx and Scorpion fs folding trikes, all with full suspension (all three wheels). US dealers.

Inspired Cycle Engineering, Ltd (Cornwall UK) http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/
Makers of the respected Trice tadpole trikes, eight models now, plus two SWB bikes; see their dealers pages.

Just Two Bikes (Hugo, MN) http://www.justtwobikes.com/
Side-by side four-wheel tandem, and a front wheel drive delta trike.

KMX Karts (Portchester UK) http://www.kmxkarts.co.uk/
Seven tadpole trike models for kids and adults. They look to me like they are for bike-path rental operations more than for enthusiasts.

Lightfoot Cycles (Darby MT) http://www.lightfootcycles.com/
Multiple delta trike models, some specialized for cargo. Lightfoot's Magnum trike model is a great option for really big folks, over 6'4" or over 300 pounds; it even has a wider seat.

Rans Recumbents (Hays KS) http://www.ransbikes.com/
Rans has a Trizard LWB tadpole trike, new for 2009; steel frame, 28-inch tread width, 9-inch seat height.

Redrim Cycles (Northern WI) http://www.nfcycles.com/
Formerly called Natalia-Florence. These tadpole trikes appear to have a seat that slides on rails.

Scarab Trikes (Refugio TX) http://www.scarabtrikes.com/
Tadpole trikes with either 20-inch or 26-inch rear wheels.

Sherer USA (Corydon IA) http://www.shererusa.com/
Innovative tadpole trikes with pedals on 18-inch reciprocating levers instead of conventional cranks (slogan: "Think outside the circle").

Sidewinder Recumbent Cycles (Agoura Hills CA) http://www.sidewindercycle.com/
Unique tadpole trike with front wheel drive and rear wheel steer. The site has a video clip showing the trike spinning 360° in not much more than its own length.

Stein Trikes (Subotica Serbia) G http://www.steintrikes.com/
Nine tadpole trike models including Road Shark with 26-inch rear wheel, Nomad with rear suspension, MadMax and Mungo with full suspension, and Magnum tandem trike. They now have two bike models, a SWB and a semi-lowracer. All their trikes can be ordered with BionX electric assist including regenerative braking. US contact: Wildfire HPV, Arundel ME.

Stites Design (Portland OR) http://www.stitesdesign.com/
Unique tall narrow front wheel drive Chameleon delta trike, the front part of which leans in corners like a bike.

Sun Bicycles (Taiwan) G http://www.sunbicycles.com/
The EZ-1 line of value-priced recumbents, designed by Easy Racers, is manufactured under license by Sun Bicycles. The E3, M3, T3, and X3 trikes are all new for 2009.

2009 trike model		wheel- base	seat height	weight	frame	wheels	shifters	comments
EZ-3	SX	56.5 in.	22 in.	56 lbs	Steel	20/16	SRAM MRX	Value-price delta
EZ-3 USX HD	SX	59.5	18 in.	65 lbs	Steel	20/20	SRAM MRX	Suspension delta
EZ-3 Tadpole	SX	40 in.	14 in.	49 lbs	Steel	20/20	SRAM 3.0 24	Three disk brakes
E3	SX	?	?	?	Steel	20/16	SRAM MRX	ASS delta trike
M3	UAX	58.5 in.	20 in.	?	Aluminum	20/20	SRAM MRX	USS delta
T3	CX	39 in.	13 in.	?	Chromoly	20/20	SRAM MRX	Tadpole
T3	AX	39 in.	13 in.	?	Aluminum	20/20	SRAM MRX	Tadpole
X3	SX	56.5 in.	19 in.	?	Steel	20/16	SRAM MRX	Delta
	AX	56 in.	20 in.	?	Aluminum	20/20		Delta
	USX	59.5 in.	20 in.	?	Steel	20/20		USS delta

Question marks reflect information not available on the Sun Website on 3 October 2009..

TerraTrike (Kentwood MI) http://www.terratrike.com/
Low-slung tadpole-style trikes with all 20-inch wheels; simple elegant adjustable design, all with dual disk brakes on the front wheels only.

Some models have linkage steering, with a single handlebar, linked to the front wheels with tie rods. Some models have direct steering, with a short handlebar on each side connected directly to the wheel pivots, and the wheels are connected with a single tie rod, which forces them to turn together. With linkage steering, your hands move more than the wheels do, and with direct steering your hands move the same as the wheels; so direct steering is more sensitive and quicker.

2009 model	first year	seat height	BB height	frame	steering	speeds	weight	load limit	price
Path	2008	9.5 in.	13.25 in.	Chromoly	Linkage	3*	40 lbs	300 lbs	$900
Path 8	2009	9.5 in.	13.25 in.	Chromoly	Linkage	8	40 lbs	300 lbs	$1200
Cruiser	1997?	9.5 in.	13.25 in.	Chromoly	Linkage	24	37 lbs	300 lbs	$1500
Tour	2006	9.5 in.	13.25 in.	Chromoly	Linkage	27	36 lbs	300 lbs	$2000
Zoomer	2007	8.5 in.	15.5 in.	Aluminum	Direct	24	34 lbs	275 lbs	$1900
Zoomer Elite	2007	8.5 in.	15.5 in.	Aluminum	Direct	27	34 lbs	275 lbs	$2300
Zoomer SL	2009	8.5 in.	15.5 in.	Aluminum	Direct	27	34 lbs	275 lbs	$3500
Sport	2006	9.5 in.	14 in.	Aluminum	Linkage	27	33 lbs	250 lbs	$1900
Sport Elite	2009	9.5 in.	14 in.	Aluminum	Linkage	27	33 lbs	250 lbs	$2300
Sport Pro	2009	9.5 in.	14 in.	Aluminum	Linkage	27	33 lbs	250 lbs	$2700
Edge	2005	9.5 in.	12.75 in.	Aluminum & carbon fiber	Direct	27	29 lbs	225 lbs	$4500
Tandem	2005	9.5 in.	13.25 in.	Chromoly	Linkage	27	60 lbs	450 lbs	$5000

Prior to the 2005 season, to hold the price down, TerraTrike made one model at a time, all the same, even to paint color, for a whole season, and they identified their progressive yearly models with version numbers like software. I have a TerraTrike 3.3, from 2002; see my top recumbents page for pictures of one just like it.

* The Path model (as in bike path) has a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub only, no derailleurs.

Tri-Sled (Victoria Australia) http://www.trisled.com.au/
Tadpole trikes, and a FWD low-racer. Also dealer for Rans, Challenge, and TerraTrike.

Utah Trikes Quad (Spanish Fork UT) http://www.utahtrikes.com/TRIKE-UTCQUAD.html
Four-wheel TerraTrike conversion offered by recumbent trikes dealer.

Windcheetah (Cheshire UK) G http://www.windcheetah.co.uk/windcheetah.htm
The original Ferrari of performance recumbents. 33-pound ClubSport tadpole trike made of aluminum, titanium, carbon/kevlar; new 28-pound HyperSport with seat suspended on carbon fiber leaf springs. Unique center-line single-stick steering/braking control.