episodic

Hi, money is a consideration for me (I know that bents and trikes are typically very expensive).

I'm looking at the new terratrike rover - the 8 speed model for 999$

It seems to have happy customers in it's forums. It is a direct drive tadpole style trike you can see it at terratrike's home page.

The big thing for me is that it will safely hold up to 400lbs according to it's site. Most other trikes I see are 275 max - and since I'm 300 and some change - this means it would work for me. I want to commute on it and ride on weekends and get exercise. I'm looking at this to replace my fuji commuter 2 wheel bike as I'm tired of saddle soreness, etc. (tried a few saddles - it is just my 300 lbs that hurts).

There are no dealers near me, so I'd have to buy it direct. Without a test ride.

Anyway - any comments on trikes - terratrike in particular - and especially if anyone has or has seen or ridden a rover. Thanks!

BlazingPedals

For members of the '300' club, one concern with tadpole trikes in general is getting in and out of them. That seat is *really* low. How are you at deep knee bends? No direct experience with the Rover.

dcrowell

The Rover has a higher seat height that almost any other tadpole out there. I haven't seen one in person, but if you really want a tadpole trike, that's probably the best option for price and seat-hight.

On the other hand, it's not a fast trike. It's probably a good durable commuting machine, but don't expect to be fast. With it's 8-speed IGH, it may not be great for steep hills. If you have to walk a hill, it'll be awkward with a tadpole trike.

Also remember you have three wheel tracks to worry about for road debris, potholes, and what not. If you could test ride any tadpole before buying, do yourself a favor and do it.

(all that said, and I'd love one)

Mr Gnome

Episodic,

An add was with your post that they are $799.00 and not $999.00. https://www.terratrike.com/?gclid=COy...FRsNswodajtikQ

Mr Gnome

episodic

The 799 one is a three speed the 999 is 8 speed - I know I need more than 3 speeds.

PaPa

Re: The Terratrike Rover (posted at BROL)

https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...078#post652078

"Well, I went to the dealer near my home today that had a 3 speed Rover in stock, to try it and see what I thought of the low gear, and also how it looked and handled.

The first thing I noticed, is that when adjusting the seat, it had to be pulled up and off the rail after loosening the quick release and taking the shims out. I could see where the paint on this brand new Trike was already scraped up from repositioning the seat. It was also an awkward maneuver since, you had to work from underneath the main beam to put everything back together again. He relocated the seat back, for my long legs, but after I got out of the store on the test ride, I realized that it was still to close to the pedals, but I wasn't going to try and readjust it myself, being that it was such a hassle.

As I was rolling the Rover out of the door of the dealer, I remarked that the steering seemed awfully "stiff". He said something about the steering utilizing "bushings" and that the bushings were stiff in the beginning. I got the Trike and started riding into the parking lot and the steering was beyond horrible. You would push a little on the handle, and you would feel that it was really stiff and didn't want to move, then it would sort of give and move too much. It also didn't seem to have any centering to it at all. If it was in a slight turn to the right, it wanted to stay in the turn until you try to steer it to the left, and then it would stay that way.. Getting it to center was a push pull type struggle. I would compare it to riding a cheap bike with a defective headset.

Well I figured since the steering is so erratic, I might as well see how stable the bike is, and mind you I am only going about 10mph max, so I try a couple of quick turns. Now what happens, is that I get the sensation that I am falling to the outside of the turn as I zigzag back and forth. It seems like the seat is rocking left and right, as I turn. I get off the bike, and grab the back of the seat, and sure enough I am able to rock it back and forth. The seat is clamped to the rear of the frame, and that section of the frame is flexing compared to the front part where the wheels are mounted. Oh well, no sharp turns for me, cause I feel like it is going to tip over when I do that. So I figure I will get on the Silver Comet Trail and ride in a straight line to check the gearing. There are other cyclists on the trail, and as I am riding along trying to keep this thing in a straight line, I am feeling more and more like I am driving something that is not predictable as to it's handling. That's it, I have had enough, and I turn back towards the bike store. I tried the low gear on the small hill in the driveway of the store, and I could see that this low gear was going to be too high for some of the places I ride.

I wheel the bike into the store, and in a nice way, I tell him that I think the bike is horrible.... He didn't acted surprised at all, and said that is what you get when you spend less than a grand on a Trike. He then points me to another Trike that was about $1800, and tells me that it would be much better. He pulls it down, the seat is about 8 inches off the ground, and my senior citizen body does not want to fall into the seat....... End of Trike shopping. After I walk my dog, I am going to take a ride in my nice, comfortable, paid for, 24 speed Tailwind......"

episodic

My LBS can also order this one for me at a decent cost. They are a dealer for this model:
https://www.sunbicycles.com/product_d...&cl1=RECUMBENT

Comments on this one?

countersTrike

Those Suns (CX and SX) have been very good for me, but I got the prototype all made in CA. in 2004, before Taiwan mass produced them. The Taiwan frames broke often, and the extra bracing makes them pretty heavy. Must be built with that in mind by now. They look like crickets to me but if you want a 14" high seat, 3 disk brakes (1 with lock) and about 21 speeds- that is what I began with. Steers OK, took mechanical changes , a full fairing, and a motor very well over 5+ years. I recently got a used Catrike- you have to be Popeye the Sailorman to steer that trike and it is very low to sit in. The Sun is easy in comparison but not as much fun on hills or sharp turns. For longevity; my SX has lasted.

gcottay

This is quite misleading in that the trike tested was misassembled. Reading the whole thread and checking full reviews presents a quite different picture. The Rover is not right for all riders, but seems great for others and comes at an outstanding price point.

PaPa

The only thing misleading is that the problem was initiated by the manufacture', and NOT the dealer. What reviews?

mortiferous

Hello, I own a rover and I have the same concerns that you do, being around 330 pounds. I had tried out a terratrike cruiser but I found that I had the same problems with that bike that I would bent over on a DF, I was too scrunched up with my pedaling motion. With the position of the rover with its higher seat and having the pedals lower than the seat I find it to be much easier to get in a comfortable pedaling position for the bigger guy. Plus as you point out the frame is rated up to 400 pounds so that is comforting to know. As far as the ride goes the cruiser was definitely faster and did handle better.

However if you goal is a fun ride at reasonable cost that works well for the heavier guy the rover is definitely a good choice. The one thing I would highly recommend if you do decide to get the rover is that you upgrade the tires from the 40 psi ones that come stock to the 100 psi Marathon tires. As a heavier guy I find the higher pis tires to support my heavier load much better, with fewer flats and less broken spokes. This does stiffen the ride somewhat but also makes it roll smoother. I added these after the fact, if I was to do it again, I would of went with the higher psi tires right off the bat.

I agree with the earlier review that the handling is a bit stiff but not something I find to be a deal breaker. On the plus side of the handling, it turns with a very narrow radius, better than the cruiser did. Stability wise, especially with the upgraded tires it feels very stable and rock solid under my 330 pounds. It also fits just perfectly into my Hyundai accent hatchback.

One other point on carrying/pushing the rover. I just lift the rover by its back wheel and pull it along behind me. Works great for me at 5'9''. If your over six foot may not work as well (the front might touch the ground as it just clears by a small amount for me).

As far as terratrike goes as a company to deal with I found that to be a positive experience. Very pleasant on the phone and very responsive to my emails. The packaging it comes in is huge and does a great job of protecting the fully assembled bike. I would recommend that you accurately measure your X seam following the instructions on their site and they will set up your seat to close to its proper position for you.

Best of luck to you with your hunt for a more comfortable bike. I would also recommend looking at the long wheel base recumbent, I have a cycle genius falcon and it has held up very well and is way more comfortable than a DF. Not sure what they go for these days but I got mine in 2007 for $1200. As a commuter bike I would prefer the LWB recumbent, as a recreational bike I would prefer the trike (luckily I dont have to chose as I have both)

gcottay

And where do you get that information?

momule

If your only purchase option is to order without a test run I would talk to the folks at UtahTrikes.com. All they do is recumbants, they carry a wide assortment, their service is extraordinary...you actually talk to a tech and not a salesman, and they mostly assemble the trike before they ship it. If you aren't a bike mechanic some of the trike assembly can be very "interesting". These folk can also do modifications to almost everything they sell, and because they have the reputation that they do, the mods will not void the factory warranty.