Sometimes recumbents are sent out only partially assembled to save on shipping. My second trike, the GS GTO, was designed to be taken apart (S&S coupler in the frame) for compact shipping. It arrived partially assembled in one box. The other two were not fully assembled either because I chose to receive them in parts so that I could save on shipping. I bought my 2013 Catrike 700 from Utah Trikes and paid $80 for the shipping. It arrived with the frame in one humongous box and the wheels and other parts in a smaller box. They would have assembled the trike and then shipped it in one piece for $250. I had it assembled and on the road by the next morning. The most difficult task was aligning the front wheels but I suspect UT did that before shipping it as they were spot on.