EGBigelo

Hi everyone - I'm a road bike rider (sometimes hybrid too) and I've gained an interest in recumbent bikes, especially trikes (two wheels in the front, not back). What are the top brands I should check out? It seems none of the road bike brands I ride make recumbents.

I ride 20-30 miles daily on my road bike, and looking to do the same on a recumbent. More of a leisurely ride and not an all out training ride like I normally do. I wouldn't even mine doing some touring.

I will start reading through the forum, but if someone would jump in with a few decent brands I would appreciate it.

JanMM

Correct that, to the best of my knowledge, no manufacturers of road bikes make recumbent bikes or trikes. I'm not much interested in trikes, but I'm sure you'll get some worthy some trike recommendations here. I very much enjoy my recumbent bikes; just wondering why you're not interested in 'bent bikes?

Retro Grouch 

Try bentrideronline. There was a pretty lengthily thread just yesterday on this very topic.

VegasTriker

The OP didn't seem to express a disdain for two wheeled models, just a heightened curiosity about trikes. +1 to www.bentrideronline.com where you will find a large following of both two and three wheeled recumbent owners. Most of the major bikes and trikes have reviews as well.

I'll PM you with my list of trike brands to consider and at least one to avoid from my personal experience and why I like the ones I like.

Recumbomatic

two wheels in the front = tadpole trike

Some of the big names are Catrike, ICE, HP Velotechnik, and Greenspeed.

BlazingPedals

And also Trident and Terratrike.

Sun (Sunseeker) sells a few entry models.

Leisesturm

Almost 1/2 way through the build time (30 days) for my two Performer recumbents to be completed. Then another week for them to be shipped to the West Coast. Just like the o.p. I've never tried a recumbent before but I have always had a hankering. Have lurked and contributed here for years gaining in familiarity, if not experience. An estate distribution has made it possible to realize a dream. Sight unseen, I am throwing the name Performer into the, list and putting my money where my mouth is to boot.

JanMM

Bikes, trikes or one of each?

VegasTriker

Of the three trikes I have owned, only one of them had a test ride before I bought it. The first one purchased was based on a magazine article and turned out to be a really big mistake. I bought it from the factory as a kit and assembled it myself. It was fun to ride but a disaster when it came to durability. The second one was a used Greenspeed GTO which is one of the finest trikes ever made and lasted me 9 years before I bought a Catrike 700 in 2013. I tried a friend's Catrike Expedition so I knew I would probably like the trike. The only question was would I like the more laid-back seating. It has been $3K well spend. I've enjoyed nearly 10K miles on it and am still happy with my choice. You take your chances and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

Leisesturm

Bikes. One tandem and one Highracer. At 60 my balance is still fairly good (on a DF, bents? Unknown.). Trikes look like fun, but in urban Portland they are a little wide. SWMBO doesn't know about the Highracer yet, she thinks the tandem cost $4K. She is blind but does not miss a trick. She will find the Saki, sooner if not later, and I will say it is for extra bent practice so I can be as skilled on the laid back tandem as I am on our upright ones.

JanMM

You've got some interesting times coming soon. Learning to ride not just a high racer, but a 'bent tandem too!
Good luck on keeping your secret.
It's just like like riding a bike, except different. It's just like riding a bike, except different. etc.

Leisesturm

How hard can it be? They say new challenges are good for old brains. I want to keep the Alzheimer's away and I am hopeless at learning languages.

cameratrike

Recumbomatic and BlazingPedals listed most of top brands and Performer is also a good entry model. I know some folks who also like TW Bent, an inexpensive Taiwan brand. My first trike was actually a TW-Bent Trident model (unrelated to the Trident brand) I bought from a friend. I'll put a vote in for Catrike as a good midrange price brand with great engineering and a variety of options including folding and suspension. I have a Catrike Expedition I bought used several years ago (replacing the TW-Bent) and have loved riding. No suspension or folding, just a really solid trike.

Leisesturm

Know why Performer recumbents are so reasonably priced? It's because you build them yourself! They are practically kits. You get the frame, wheels, and a big box of parts which includes a verrry long chain that you size and cut yourself. Chain breaker included. You also get tools. Nice tools, except for the chain breaker. They throw in a lot of extra stuff too. Mini pump (w/gauge), flag, f/r flashers, accessory mount, bottle cage and bottle. I'm impressed. Has anyone ever thought of using adult training wheels to learn how to ride one of these?

BlazingPedals

I hope that last was a joke. The term "training wheels" is an oxymoron. If you're having trouble learning, it'll help to get the seat as upright as you can. Upright riders tend to use a lot of body-weight shifting to help balance, which is unavailable to the recumbent rider. For bents, it's all in the steering.

VegasTriker

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.