Recumbent - used trike recommendations

This might be an impossible request, but here goes:

My wife grew up without learning how to ride a 2-wheeler and is very reluctant to learn as an adult. So I am considering hooking her up with a recumbent trike. I already have a rans stratus (2 wheels)that I ride.

However she is concerned about cost, especially since she is unsure if she will like riding the thing. So I figure my best bet is to search craigslist and ebay for used trikes. Any models that I should look for or avoid? She is 5'4", 110 pounds, and the riding would be on roads with occasional hills. Since she does not know how to ride a 2 wheeler, stability is also important.

I dont know how realistic it would be to find a used trike in reasonable shape on a budget of, say $150ish (stop laughing!)....any suggestions?

Doug
1986 Alpine
1989 Rans Stratus

I think you'd be hard pressed to meet a $150 budget with anything she'd want to ride. Keeping in mind if you put her on a trike that is super heavy, doesn't steer or shift well and is hard to pedal I doubt she'll want to ride it for very long. Unfortunately the only thing you will get for $150 is a trike like I describe - assuming you can find anything for $150 at all.

What I could suggest is you browse the www.bentrideronline.com classified section and buy a used trike at a reasonable cost $800-$1200 then she can try it as long as she likes. If she loves it you keep it and you have a new riding partner. If she doesn't like it you should be able to sell it for the exact same price less shipping - about $150-$200.

The other option is to go visit a bent dealer with some trikes in stock and take some really long test rides. That would only cost you gas and time. Even if she isn't ready to buy new after the test rides it might make her feel confident enough about the idea to try the used route I suggest above.

Finally how tall are you and do you want a trike? If you do and you can get a model that fits you both perhaps that is an option. You'll be sure the trike gets ridden and she can ride it as much as she likes.

Good luck!

Vik, Thanks for the advice. I can't justify spending the 1K+ because she might not take to the trike. I dont know of any bent dealers near me but I will look into that. I am over 6 feet, so unless the trike allows for major adjustments, it would be hers exclusively.

Vik, Thanks for the advice. I can't justify spending the 1K+ because she might not take to the trike.

That's the benefit of buying a trike used for $1K if she doesn't like it you can turn around and sell it 3 months later for $1K. So your risk is pretty low.

Malvern, PA, that's just a few miles from my location.. my GF did not ride a bicycle for over 20 years when she started on a recumbent last year. I could give a few pointers in person to get more comfortable on two-wheel recumbents.

It is more than difficult to find a recumbent trike at $150.. even the lower quality recumbent trikes like this is costing over $200..

That's the benefit of buying a trike used for $1K if she doesn't like it you can turn around and sell it 3 months later for $1K. So your risk is pretty low.

Two Greenspeed GTO's recently sold on eBay for $1,200 & $1,500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110188847048&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320200823560&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011

On the first one, I tried to get a bid in with 5 minutes to go. Wireless connection dropped and the one bidder won it.

The $1500 wasn't as nice, but still far from the $4K+ of a new one.

And either will likely resell in a year or two for about the same price, sans a catastrophic incident.

Value of getting the Mrs on a trike?.... Priceless! ;)

Spend the bucks and sell it if she does not like it. You wont get anything for $150. A set of Avid BB7's is $160 by themselves.

thanks again for the feedback, as I posted originally I figured this was an impossible request....and thanks for the offer CAT I think i might like some pointers when the weather warms up a bit.

Deltron... That had to have hurt!

Deltron... That had to have hurt!

Thanks for the kind thought. I figured it happened for a reason. Can't figure out what that reason IS just yet though. :o

Actually, I have a diabolical plan for a GTO, so I'll keep looking for the cheap ones! :D
And take solace in my GTX & GTT for now...:p

But when I DO get a GTO...lookout world! :roflmao:

I'm in the same boat. I'm married to a man about 6'2" with bad joints. And no balance abilities at all. Problem is he never learned to ride a bike as a child. Part of that is because when he did get bikes he was always much taller than your average kid. So his parents would buy the right bike for his age but was never right for his size so he just never learned. He was 6' at 12 to give you an idea. And he really likes the look of a tadpole over a delta so our goal is to find something in a tadpole under $400. Probably equally tough as what you are facing. Which I am having a heck of a time finding. I can give you a couple pointers that might help along the way. Search craigslist. Be sure to check all the cities you would be willing to travel to. And make sure you increase your price a smidge.

But $150 is doable if you have a lot of patience and time. You will need a LOT of both if you don't have a lot of cash. The more cash you are willing to spend the less patience and time you will need. And remember too if cash is the main issue, you can always start entering in online contests to win $1,000 which you can then spend on your trike!

You need to get a printout of every goodwill and thrift shop in your area. Also try any second hand sporting good stores. Call every one every weekend and during the week ask the same spiel. What you are looking for is a 3 wheel bike or a trike. They do get them in from time to time so don't dispair. They will be in bad condition when you do find one but you will be able to find one. Usually one will end up there when someone got it and had no idea what they have. Also start networking with local bike clubs. You might find someone there that will let her try it out. Then at least you will know in your heart that you can justify the expense. Remember if you buy used you can always resell the price you paid so if it turns out she doesn't use it very often it's resellable.

And then lastly Atomic Zombie. They have 2 books out with plans for how to build recumbents. You will find various toys, bike, delta, tadpole, tandem, etc. The books are about $25 each. The cost for the steel to make the body is about $35 (and that's enough steel to make 2+ trikes really. You just need donor bikes for most the rest. And then of course welding tools you can get from craigslist for under $100. So this is very viable an option. You never know who you know that can weld and might have the equipment and save you the money of having to buy the equipment.


Hope I helped!

I think you'd be hard pressed to meet a $150 budget with anything she'd want to ride. !

i just bought a trike on Craigslist for $300 this week but I cater to the odd....... but several changes will probably HAVE to be done. Not even 3 C note$ get you much.:notamused:

counters:banned:trike

I'm in the same boat. I'm married to a man about 6'2" with bad joints. And no balance abilities at all. Problem is he never learned to ride a bike as a child. Part of that is because when he did get bikes he was always much taller than your average kid. So his parents would buy the right bike for his age but was never right for his size so he just never learned. He was 6' at 12 to give you an idea. And he really likes the look of a tadpole over a delta so our goal is to find something in a tadpole under $400. Probably equally tough as what you are facing. Which I am having a heck of a time finding. I can give you a couple pointers that might help along the way. Search craigslist. Be sure to check all the cities you would be willing to travel to. And make sure you increase your price a smidge.

But $150 is doable if you have a lot of patience and time. You will need a LOT of both if you don't have a lot of cash. The more cash you are willing to spend the less patience and time you will need. And remember too if cash is the main issue, you can always start entering in online contests to win $1,000 which you can then spend on your trike!

Hope I helped!
Unfortunately, if you can't get a proper commercially built trike, preferably a name brand, the riding experience is not likely to be good enough to support long term use and enjoyment. I had a comment by one customer that the sales tax on her new trike (more than the $150 first mentioned on this thread) was more than the total for her last bike. Modern trikes are speciallty items that cost extra because of it. Quality trikes provide an EXTREMELY rewarding riding experience. It is ultimately worth digging deeper to get something with lasting appeal and utility.

Chip
recumbenttrikestore.com