FAQ
No, all our bikes are fully assembled and tested before we send them to our customers. We pride ourselves in making it as easy as possible for our customers to ride straight away and if you are based close to our store, we may even be able to bring the bike to you for a fee.
An upright trike will need to be steered by the rider as it tracks to the low point on slopes. This traditional design also is more tippy as the height of the rider may make them feel that every change in slope and camber moves their body like a pendulum. Often riders who have ridden a 2-wheeled bike in the past will try and compensate for camber changes by leaning away from the slope but this can have the affect of making the trike move in the opposite direction to that planned. Upright trike riders must lean into the curve on the side of the lower wheel and steer the trike out of the slope. Like snow skiing. Some people find it very difficult to adapt and the taller and heavier the rider, the more pronounced this may be.
A semi-recumbent or sit-down tricycle has a seat rather than a saddle. The seat is at the height, usually, of a dining chair and has a base pad and backrest to support the rider. The pedalling action is towards the front of the tricycle rather than under the bottom of the rider and the way to get onto the trike can include stepping over the frame but can also include sitting down first and then swivelling around to lift one leg over the frame while seated.
The semi-recumbent tricycle geometry is more forgiving as it is less responsive to changes in camber. As long as the rider keeps both rear wheels travelling at the same elevation (i.e. square to the slope and not across-slope), the rider feels far more stable and comfortable and can concentrate on steering, braking and using the power control. Far less weight is on the wrists and the steering feels lighter in the more prone position.
Some people prefer the pedalling action to be towards their bottom and we have a range of semi-recumbent options with varying crank positions. We frequently sell semi-recumbent or sit-down trikes to people who are older, have less confidence, are taller or heavier or who really are looking for a comfortable, fun and exciting ride. Suited to older riders, active seniors, disabled riders, taller children, people who have one-sided weakness, riders with prosthetics.
Our Trident semi-recumbent electric tricycle is our best-selling trike in Australia.
Is it safe to ride a tricycle?If you need more stability or a higher ride position, we are considering dropper post options as well for the 2-wheeled bike and can also offer a range of tricycle and stabilised bike options with both fixed quick release stabilisers or swinging wheels. We want people with short stature to be able to ride with their friends and family and we feel passionate about supporting this community to achieve their riding goals.
Always treat your battery with care. Just like your mobile phone, your battery contains sensitive electronics and lithium ion batteries should be treated gently. If your battery gets wet, please remove it and ensure it dries out fully before using. Always remember to keep the silicon cover on the charge port closed when not charging the battery and use common sense to keep your bike in good working order. You must take care with your Li-ion battery - do not get it wet, overly dusty or muddy. Do not use if it has got wet and take due care and attention else you may void your warranty or worse, create a dangerous situation. All Li-ion batteries must be treated with care but our use of reliable and stable good quality batteries is your assurance that you are in good hands. Please always read the care instructions supplied at time of purchase and take responsibility for good management and practices.
If you are planning on not riding for more than a few weeks, we recommend storing your bike with a battery level of around 60-80%. This is the level for batteries we receive in bikes or from our battery supplier. It is optimised for longer term storage. If you leave a battery full or empty for an extended time (over 3 months), your battery may well fail as a consequence of your actions. This is not covered by warranty.
Battery replacement is required when the battery no longer holds a charge or if the battery becomes damaged. Li-ion products do degrade over time and this is widely researched and publicised. It is not always the case but a degradation of 30% in the first year can occur and is considered to be within specification. We have many customers with batteries lasting over 5 years but it is dependent on a wide range of individual factors as well as the battery technology, including gross load, terrain ride style and demand on the motor and variability on draw on the motor.
Warranty terms on batteries are generally shorter than the warranty on bike frames. Please check your warranty terms as they do vary by manufacturer. Some bikes are offered with reduced warranty due to their age.