mattzees

Lots of fun! I took my first test ride on a Cattrike Pocket Trike today. I had the thing out for a good solid hour, and here are my newbie impressions:

1) You can blow for f--king knees out pumping one of these things. But that's probably true of all recumbents.

2) There is a lot of pedal-steer. You have to work on keeping your body from moving around.

3) It's very hard to avoid hitting something. Your wheels don't follow one track, they follow three. If you miss a manhole cover with either front wheel, you hit it with the rear.

4) Steering: VERY SENSITIVE at speed. It's like flying an airplane. You just pressure the stick, and you get quite a change.

5) Easy to flip. I didn't. But I could have.

6) Much lighter than expected.

7) If the front discs were hydraulic instead of cable-actuated, one lever could actuate both front brakes, and then the other lever could be used for a rear brake. I sense a modification coming on! Perhaps the steering tie rod could be drilled to distribute the fluid between both calipers? It's already hollow.

8) $2300 Hmmm...

Thanks to Bike Mike's on Frenchman Street in New Orleans for the test drive!


--Matt

megaman

1. True, spinning is easier and doesn't bother the knees.

2. If you relax, the pedal steer will go away.

3. That is a down side.

4. If you're not relaxed, steering will be like that.

5. You need to lean into the turns. I've taken 90 degree turns on my Road at 20 mph and never felt that way.
6. My Road weighs about 1/3 less than my EZ Sport.

7. It's easier to turn with independent brakes. Upon braking a lot of weight is thrown forward onto the front wheels and the rear brake wouldn't be of much use.

8. That price seems high for a pocket. The regular MSRP is about $1850. There must have been some extras on it.

Ric

Well first of Matt , if your trying to get a neg. responce from a Catrike owner that will be like pulling teeth that said I would like too comment on a couple of things that were said.

1) Yes you can blow out your knees if you don't ride a trike the right way, that's any trike not just the one you tested.

2) Catrike is known for its pedal-steer. They claim the 2005 they had it under control but I can tell you that it's not true and with respect to Cat some pedal-steer does come from the rider also. The one thing I can add about PS is that my Greenspeed and Hotmover are 150% better than the Catrike.

3) About hitting things, Most people when riding a trike are so intent on the front wheels and brakes that they tend to forget they have a back wheel, so if you just remember that it's back there you can miss 85% of the objects in the road.

4)The steering is VERY SENSITIVE on most trikes and I have to say I can flip any trike if I try although I don't know why anyone would.

5) The Avg.weight of the Catrike is lighter than most, most trikes are weighing in at around 40-45 lbs the Cat is around 30lbs. that is one of there claims to greatness.

6) If I were you I'd stay away from hydraulic brakes, they work Fantastic but maintenace wise there a pain in the ass.

7) If you want the MSRP check the Catrike site. the Pocket rings in at $2150 I believe.

megaman

Ric, you're right. I've got to try to remember not to quote prices for memory. While my memory is good, it's just not very long.

Beezodog

Their site explains the price as $2,150 plus shipping. Which might account for the additional $150 the original poser quoted (assuming also that any applicable tax is being tossed in).

lowracer1

I found that after adding a rotor crank to the catrike, the pedal steer went away. No dead spot in the pedal stroke, hense no pedal steer. Easy fix but expensive if you don't have the coin for a rotor crank.

jeff-o

You don't have to get rotor cranks, you could also try Rotor Q-rings. They're almost as effective as full-blown Rotor Cranks, but are much less expensive!

CATIN STEVE

I installed a Q ring on my 04 Catrike Road. It took about a 100 miles of using it before I realized how well it was working. I spin smoother and I can climb hills faster. I only replace my middle sproket because I use it 99% of the time. When I change to the largest sprocket it does not feel as smooth pedaling and I think something is wrong. I will replace the large ring in the near furture. If I had the money I would go for Roto Crank but that will have to wait.

FarHorizon

Hi mattzees - Tell me about Bike Mike's! I live in big BR, and thought my nearest bent dealer was somewhere in Mississippi! Does mikes carry other bents?

mattzees

Bike Mike's is a great little shop. I recommend them highly. They sell Cattrike and EasyRider and a couple of other bents as well. You should call them.