MarTay6

I'm getting ready to purchase a trike for myself this week- just got a Terratrike Rambler for my wife, she loves it...
I'm a sportier kind of guy , and even though my feet might betray my age (osteoarthritis), bad back and a stiff neck, I'd like to get the Cateye Speed! I'm considering the Catrike Road or the TerraTrike Sportster...
Anyone got any comments or other suggestions??
Wes

Retro Grouch 

Test ride.

Seat position makes a big difference.

JanMM

Info about the Speedster currently on the main page of bentrideronline.com

gcottay

+1 on both seat position and test rides.

If you can, make them nice long test rides on as many different models from whatever makers are available to you. Even if considerable travel is necessary to get a good selection of trikes I think test rides are worth it.

MarTay6

Decision made. I believe that- for me as a 63 year old novice, the Road will be a radical enough ride for me.... While I love the Speed- I think that getting on/off of it will be more of a problem to me than I want to deal with. The differences are small- 3/4" more road clearance, an inch more seat height, 5* seat angle difference... the little things add up. Add to that only one wheel size to worry about- I think I'll still be able to keep up with my wife's new TerraTrike Rambler!!! Working with my lbs to upgrade the important components to Speed level.
Wes

mchell

Good choice! At 67, I've owned a Road for 6 years and have just sold it in favour of a Catrike Expedition to gain the advantage of a 26" rear wheel, a 12x36 cassette and a great crank set along with the usual BB 7's and Catrike quality. I loved the Road but think I will love the Expedition even more. Mike

Pockets

Be kink of hard to get a Speed now anyways since they are discontinued. I am 65 and ride either my Expedition or 700. You will really enjoy the Catrike.

MarTay6

Actually, they had enough parts left to make a couple more Speeds, and I could have ordered one if I had chosen... but I decided to go with the slightly tamer Road. Riding with my wife mostly, I'm not going to be looking at the absolute maximum performance, and because I basically ordered my Road/is being built with all the Speed components, it'll still be a good performing quality ride.
Wes

pick

That's good news..so you obviously went out and road several before making the decision....what LBS are you dealing with? We always like to give props to the 'bent LBS community!!

MarTay6

Everyone keeps saying "ride every trike you can" before buying... Well, that is indeed great advice, but we have 2 "Catrike dealers" here in town- and you can't walk into the store and find a single one to test. I agree... that would be nice- but it ain't happening in this town! I was lucky enough to take a very quick spin on a Speed before it sold... so it's pretty much do as much research as possible on the internet- and then you takes your chances. Those of you fortunate enough to live near a dealer that actually stocks several models as a matter of routine- you should show your appreciation and support to those dealers. I can't imagine living near, say- Utah Trikes- with literally dozens in inventory!!
Yes, I actually checked to see how much plane fare was from Jacksonville to Utah.... but way too expensive a trip to take.
I'm buying from Lakeside Bicycle and Fitness, in Jacksonville, FL... the other dealer will simply try to push a Sun on you...
Wes

Pockets

Don't know if you have ordered you Road yet but on the Catrike forum Catrike said they will be announcing a new road at the Catrike Rally 1st week of March. Might want to wait to see what the new road looks like. Quote from Catrike forum

2012 Catrike Line Up #17 [-]


We have made the decision to discontinue the Speed this year mostly because of very low sales and as many have pointed out, it is very similar to the current 700 which we have over 3 times as many sales. It was a very hard decision, but the correct one to move forward.

This allows us to have much more focus on the 6 models we are offering for 2012; better process in manufacturing, more streamlined supply chain, less fixtures and jigs in the factory. It all makes a huge difference moving forward to make better products for our dealers and our customers.

We have been working tirelessly on our new Catrike that we will reveal at our Factory Tour March 3rd and will post on our message board, facebook and twitter page. If you cannot make the Rally, you can see it on our website and soon at your Catrike dealer. We are very excited about it and it is different than any Catrike we have ever made.

Our lineup will be stronger than ever this year as we continue to manufacture our Catrikes in our Florida factory.

As always we appreciate your comments and support and we hope to see you at the 8th annual Catrike Rally and Factory Tour.

-Mark

pick

Actually, many many trikers have made a road trip to test ride trikes...trike stores are few and far between. RBR was probably closer to you in PA, but if the $$ aren't there, they aren't there....Isn't Catrike coming out with a new version of the Road or a replacement for it soon??? Well, enjoy it when you get it, it will sell real quick if you decide your bones like a suspension better than a hardtail trike!!

MarTay6

My LBS is making it difficult to buy from him. I want a Road- with upgraded Derailuers and shifters... as shown on Utah Trikes forums... also 2 mirrors, a luggage rack. I've been trying since Monday to get a firm price from them, and they keep promising to get to me- and call me....
Still waiting. They can make time for in-store customers, walk-in repairs- yet I'm a customer with cash-in-hand, I even left them a $1500.00 deposit to get the ball rolling- and still can't get them to follow through on an order it'd take Utah Trikes 15 minutes to process.
They're making it difficult to deal with "My LBS".
Wes

Pockets

Wes- this may be a good sign telling you to wait til the new road comes out from Catrike in March

pick

+1 on Pockets take...you need to take your business elsewhere. I had a Dodge salesman do me that way when I wanted to buy a Dodge Durango...check book out "just tell me the figure I'm writing on here"...he said he couldn't tell me the price until the truck got there with it. I told him he had one more chance to tell me the price or I was out of there....came back 4 days later with my brand new Montero Sport to show him his lost business.

Dchiefransom

Am I missing out on something? You're in Jacksonville, Florida, and Catrike is in Wintergarden, Florida, and you're having a hard time with test rides? I'd get my money back from the dealer and go find another one.There's one in Orlando and one in Wintergarden. Tell the shop what you want, and don't give them any money until you have a firm price.

MarTay6

Yeah.... I've got two vehicles that are old and tired- I'd planned on retiring both me and them 2 years ago, before the housing market crashed- now I'm trying to nurse them along until the end of next year when I plan on retiring both them and me... and replacing them. The transmission in my truck has started slipping... I hate putting nearly $2+K in an old and tired truck- so I'm doing my best to avoid long trips. Local mileage only!
To make a long story short, I've ordered a Road- with upgraded SRAM X.9 components from Utah Trikes.

pick

Cool!! Did you get a deal since that's last years model and everything else is going to 10 speed from Catrike?

MarTay6

Since everything is built, it's being built using current component specs. Even Catrike's own website is out of date, as is Utah Trikes... unfortunately, the price has gone up on everything. I believe it's a 10 speed, if I understood Utah Trikes correctly.
Wes

wrq1103

I am on my third Catrike Trail, after riding a Greenspeed, and looking at the attention to detail on the Catrike, I wouldn't ride anything else. The Trail is a great value and I've ridden it on dirt trails as well as the road and love it. The new adjustable seat makes it complete.

wrq1103

Try a Catrike Trail with the adjustable seat angle. The Speed may be too laid back if you have neck issues.

hmw46

You've got some physical problems that might make comfort a top priority for you. Catrikes (Pocket, Speed, Road, etc.) have aluminum frames and you feel every pea-sized rock you run over. I strongly suggest that you test ride a variety of trikes. You don't know what you're missing if you don't test ride a trike because you think it's out of your price range. I started with a Sun EZ-3. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a tadpole. The Sun lasted one season. I have owned several trikes since that first one. The one I find most comfortable on my arthritic body is an ICE QNT because it has rear suspension. I'm now working on getting front suspension for my trike. Don't under rate suspension.

I have fibromyalgia, an arthritis-related disease. That makes comfort a top priority to me. I also covered the seat with a layer of foam and them put a sheepskin cover over the foam. I could sleep on my trike, it's so comfortable.

Last words: test ride.