A recumbent trike or recumbent tricycle is a kind of recumbent bicycle but with an additional wheel.
3 wheel recumbent bike is designed to be comfortable so that the rider can easily recline using the backrest and stretch out his legs and pedal along.
Using a recumbent trike is also less arduous for the back than an upright bike and its sleek engineering makes it ideal for not just leisure but long rides too.
The posture a rider adopts while on the recumbent trike allows him to have an excellent workout so that his hamstring muscles and middle muscle tissues are well exercised.
No wonder it's getting more popular everyday among the seniors, heavy weight riders or someone who wants a more relaxing ride.
There’s so much to know about best recumbent trikes that it’s best to read all about them in recumbent trike reviews.
By presenting a list of five reviews of adult trikes in 2020, we’ve taken the hard work out of this task for you, so read on and decide.
1. Mobo Shift 3-Wheel Recumbent Bicycle Trike
Enjoy the outdoors with this adult tricycle for men and women. Designed for cruising and exercise on flat paved surfaces and gently sloping terrain
This three-wheeler bike for men and women can be a great source of fun and exercise. It's the world's first three-wheeler bike with reverse gear. This reverse gear function and its three-wheel mechanism and ergonomic restful backrest along with six angle settings make it fun to be on.
It is designed in the style of a tadpole recumbent trike.
Features
2. Mobo Triton Pro Adult Tricycle for Men & Women.
LOW IMPACT EXERCISE - Get a cardiovascular workout with minimal stress on your back and knees
This recumbent beach cruiser tricycle gives you all the exercise you want with all the fun you crave. It’s ideal for leisure rides, exercise, nipping down to the store or walking your dog. It comes to you with many features and is so attractively priced for it that it is better known as a budget recumbent trike.
The Mobo Triton is an adult recumbent trike that is also a special needs bike for adults with special needs such as autism, and those with problems concerning balance. It also helps deal with cerebral palsy, Aspergers syndrome, Down syndrome or any mental issues.
Features
Cons
Pros
3. Mobo Triton Pedal Go Kart Trike. Kids 3-Wheel Bike
KIDS RECUMBENT BIKE - Enjoy the outdoors with this easy-to-ride 3-wheeler for kids.
Here’s a best recumbent trike for kids who need a little bit more of exercise. Like the others described above, this one is also engineered to cruise on even paved surfaces and on slightly sloping surfaces.
By using the Mobo Triton Pedal Go Kart Trike your child can enjoy the outdoors while also exercising himself. It is ideal for children aged between seven and 12 years.
Features
4. Invacare Top End 1181147 Force3 17" Seat
This is the perfect hand cycle if you’re looking to just get started in hand cycling
This tricycle is made with a wraparound frame design. It is ideal for anyone wanting to launch into hand cycling or practice for the next cycling competition. Its chief features are its wraparound frame design, an enhanced cable-powered parking brake, and an upper chain ring derailer.
Not only is it great for getting into handcycling, but it can easily be used by schools, teams, and clubs.
Features
5. Trident Adult Recumbent Tricycle
There are many features that set the 2017 TW-Bents Trident apart from its peers. For this reason, users of this product and peers acknowledge that it is the best recumbent trike for the money.
First, take its 100% 4130 Chromoly frame. The trike’s construction quality is so superior that its total look bears out its cost. It also has a number of novel features added, let’s look at them one by one.
Features
Features to Consider When Choosing Best Recumbent Trike
When you are looking for the best recumbent trike, choosing the right one is a little bit challenging. So, here we will provide some ideas that will help you make an informed decision.
Steadiness, safety and security
The three-wheel design of a trike makes it all the more steady and stable. Whats more, they also have a wide wheelbase at the back. So, you can't fall over while getting off the trike, so rest easy. You can balance better on this bike than a conventional one, so you can easily move up a hill slowly without tipping over. This makes it steady, safe and secure.
Comfort
The seats of trikes are so designed that they distribute your weight evenly across them. By doing this, you don’t experience any stress on your butt, particularly if you’re on the trike for a long period of time.
If you are comfortable on the trike, you can also burn more calories fairly effortlessly and can ride longer too.
Relaxing and stress-free
Since you are seated comfortably, you will work out much longer and end up burning more calories. The general user experience on a best recumbent trike is of being relaxed and stress-free since you are in a reclining position and comfortably seated.
Comfortable to Transport
Ease of use and stability are two main reasons why trikes are very popular in recumbent. There are various kinds of folding trikes available in the market. Among them, a folding trike is more comfortable to transport.
Wheel Size And Wheelbase Length:
You must know that larger wheels have more efficiency than smaller. If you have a trike with small wheels, you will have a hard time in gravel and dirt. Therefore recumbent trike with more substantial wheels is always convenient.
Yes, wheelbase is one of the essential features you have to notice in choosing a trike. A long wheelbase provides a smooth ride while riding on gravel roads when lighter and short wheelbase is more responsive and difficult for riding. Select the right size of your trike according to your body size and make sure the seating position offers you comfort.
Choosing The Perfect Fit
Now that you have a ringside view of a few chosen trike models, all that remains is for you to take that one important step of choosing the one that suits you best. There are also features for people of different builds and sizes.
From the size of the frame, you can tell the actual size of the tricycle. This will tell you how far apart the different parts are from each other.
The distance from one part of the trike and another may not mean anything to you until you sit on the trike and reach out for the pedals and find that you can’t get your feet in there.
Types of Recumbent Trikes
Broadly, there are two kinds of recumbent trikes
USS (Underseat Steering) vs. OSS (Over Seat Steering): Which is The Best
Modern Recumbent Trikes come with both USS and OSS steering system. You need to choose the suitable one for you. Check out all the advantages and disadvantages of a USS and OSS that you need to know very well before making your decision.
USS (Under Seat Steering)
Do you have any issues with the shoulder, arm, and wrist? If your answer is yes, we recommend you to choose a Recumbent Trike with Under Steering System.
Advantages:
USS is preferable for them who are looking for relaxation and upper body comfort. With a USS system, you can keep your shoulder and arms on a relaxed position without more aching arms and wrists, even when you are on the go.
Disadvantages:
The USS trikes are wider than USS due to the under seat handlebars, which creates an issue to walk around in some tight places such as doorways.
Sometimes it gets more complicated than other simple-handling design. As a result, some riders find USS less easy to get used to after trying an OSS trike.
OSS (Over Seat Steering)
If you are going to use a Recumbent Trike for the first time, choose an OSS trike for your very first ride.
Advantages:
Most of the vehicles provide a steering system over the seat, so you will get used to easily with OSS trikes with no time.
Furthermore, this steering system lets you run slightly faster than other USS Trikes.
You will feel comfortable to get in or out of the OSS trikes; even also you can walk around it through a narrow space easily, you have to push on the handlebars.
USS model is less expensive than USS trikes.
Disadvantages:
The seat is reclined, and handlebars are adjusted high, so the riders with short height need to struggle sometimes for operating the handlebars.
It requires proper cable maintenance.
In conclusion, if your pocket permits to afford the USS one and if you have medical issues, you should go for it because you will never feel any shoulder pain even after a long ride. If you already have shoulder pain, then USS steering system does not increase it.
Are Trikes More Stable?
When it comes to three wheels, the vehicles do not skid, nor lie down on the road. Always provide the ultimate stability. A pedal-powered tricycle is always the best choice, where the hard acceleration is not the primary concern. The all types of trikes, mostly the Tadpole Trikes, are famous and popular for its better stability.
Center of Mass - Most of the pedal-powered tricycles are recumbent, so the mass of the center is always low enough, which keeps you safe during braking in a sharp turn. This low center mass ensures excellent stability with better ability to turn and brake.
Wheels - A two-wheeler rider may fall, or the vehicle may skid in turn. But in the case of three wheeler Trikes, there is no chance to lean into a sharp turn also. The front wheels are tending to be stronger against the side load, which makes the trike more stable than a bicycle.
Brakes - In the Tadpole design of trikes, you will find brake lever on each hand to operate the brake according to your need. These sturdy brakes avoid the skidding problem, keep your heavy-weight trike stable in turn, also lets you side-slip within your control, if desired.
Generally, it does not configure any break for rear wheels, so it will not be able anyway to put additional braking. But in case of hard or emergency braking, few trikes may skid; but the front portion of these trikes never vault over. This facility also helps to reduce the chances of accidents.
Starting and stopping of a trike is much easier than two wheeler bike or bicycle. You need not place your foot on the ground; also there is no need of a stand leg to make the trike stable as like two-wheelers. It does not require any support even while standing at a place. A trike is always stable enough for racing, riding, or daily use.
Are Recumbent Trikes Faster Than Other Bicycle?
Yes, The Recumbent Trikes moves faster on a flat trail than a standard road bike, though options vary. These recumbent bikes were set the trend to win most of the bicycle races in 1934. Most of the Recumbent Trikes are pedal-powered so, the speed will determine according to your fitness level.
A recumbent rider’s body will stay more horizontally than others upright rider’s which reduces the resistance power of the wind that works against your motion.
Also, you will get much more energy to pedal on them than the upright one; as a result, you will find that you are moving faster than other standard bicycles.
Most of the human-powered vehicles are rapidly using advanced Aerodynamics technology in this modern era to become the fastest one. However, the trike industry is using smaller front wheels, also increasing the seat angle to take advantage of aerodynamics.
Weight lifting is one of the main factors for any types of human powered vehicles. Keeping this point in mind, Tadpole configuration comes with two wheels in the front section that equally distributes the weight between them to increase the speed.
The recumbent trikes will be able to beat other human-powered vehicles easily in term of speed as it uses the efficient Aerodynamic strategy. Usually, the aerodynamic recumbent trikes have already touched the fastest category all over the bicycle world.
Cartrike 700 is always preferable for its high speed and extreme comfort. The 700c rear wheels provide smoother and speedier riding than others. It is the fastest recumbent trike that can easily beat other bicycles in term of speed.
Recumbent trikes are a perfect blend of comfort, safety, stability and of course, speed. If you are primarily looking for these facilities, you must go for the trikes without a second thought.
Are Recumbent Trikes Safe?
One of the most commonly heard misconceptions about Recumbent trikes is that it is a very unsafe method of riding due to its extremely lowered height. Contrary to the rumor, in reality, a recumbent bike is, in fact, a much safer option than riding a normal recumbent bike.
Yes, Trikes are not normal to most drivers, but they definitely are a safer option for a few reasons.
If you are planning to get yourself a recumbent trike, you can be sure about an important aspect. Recumbent trikes draw a lot of attention while on the road, so it is imperative that vehicles however fast, will slow down to check the trike and this, in turn, increases the safety of the trikes on the road.
The design -
The design of a Recumbent trike is based on a simple aerodynamic principle that allows the vehicle to smoothly cut through the wind and air like a bird or a plane. This makes it easier for the rider to move through windy situations quickly.
Lower height -
Even though recumbent trikes are two-wheelers, the lower ground clearance makes it a much safer option than a bike.
The decreased strain on lower body joints -
Trikes are also a better and safer option for riding enthusiasts who suffer from ailments like Arthritis and other lower joint diseases, and people with partial disabilities. Since the pressure on the knees and ankles are significantly reduced, the trike is regarded as a more comfortable option than a recumbent bike.
Alternative riding option -
People suffering from Parkinsonian and other neurological disorders have difficulty in maintaining a proper anatomical balance often. Riding a bike is a precarious option for these individuals.
However, due to the lowered height of a trike and the more comprehensive seating arrangement makes a trike a feasible alternative to ride for them.
Considering the above factors, trikes have a few advantages over bikes. However, we cannot forget that there always will be certain factors that can compromise safety.
Safety on descents especially is more a matter of your state of mind than any objectively measurable phenomenon.
So, It is always best to be careful of adversities also and be prepared to handle them in spite of a 99% safety assurance.
Dr. Mirkin say, If you're 60, 70, 80 or any age, try a Trike!
A Word of Caution
Ill-fitting trike size can affect your riding to a great extent. Another demerit of making a wrong choice is that it forces you into an awkward position while riding. This could cause aches and cramps once you get off the trike.
It could also reduce the safety levels and the stability of the trike while you’re on it. The reason you need to choose the perfect one is that it gives you the best mounting and dismounting experience, comfort, balance, easy pedaling and healthy posture. Your weight is also an important factor—after all, the trike should be able to take it.
Conclusion
Tricycles aren’t just for kiddies, but the latest ones in the market prove that even adults can use them—in fact, many of them are made for seniors.
Toddlers learning all about stability and seniors wanting low impact cardio workouts can get all they can from these trikes, including a great time on them.
If you would still like to know more about them, read a few more best recumbent trike reviews and find out actual users’ opinions on them before making an informed decision.
These trike reviews can help you choose and give you a few more tips on what to expect from the trike you buy and maintaining it.
Recumbent Trike Technical Overview
Read Also: 7 Major Benefits of Recumbent Trikes.
Resources:
http://www.triketech.com/Trike/recumbent_trike_suspension.html
http://bikeroute.com/WhyBent.php
https://tadpolerider2.wordpress.com/trike-anatomy/
What is the “make” of bike your riding ??
Who makes it. Looks good
Disappointed the reviews did not cover tricycle riding in rural areas. Of the five tricycles reviewed; only the TW-bents Trident appears to be an option. Living on the Oregon High Desert; if you are not traveling up hill, you are traveling down hill. Replacement of the OEM tires with flat proof tires is a GIVEN. Once out of town or off the highway; most roads turn to crushed gravel. I envision day trip loops of 20 to 60 miles.
Very sketchy uninformed article. Only low end and cheap trikes rallied and even the reviewer paned some id those listed. How can they be the best options? A kid’s trike listed? Come on.
There are a lot of trike brands; you have used the videos of two that you don’t mention by name. As entry-level or economical brands - or for the variety including kids and hand cycling- I appreciate your effort to not just overlook a sizable market. However, no mention of Catrike, Greenspeed, ICE, TerraTrike… just seems like a huge disservice particularly for folks that need more than 3 speeds. I have 27 and use most of them in hilly Southern CA.