O.K., as I age I am getting the usual aches and pains that come with it, and it is starting to interfere with my bike riding enjoyment. So now I have been looking at recumbent trikes and have the usual sticker shock that bent newbs get I'm sure.

My question is this, is the recumbent hierarchy the same as with upright bikes? What I mean is, are there the same chasing after high dollar bike bling that goes on in recumbents too?

On uprights I was never tempted to buy like, say, a lightspeed rather than sticking with a mediocre mass produced bike like my tried and true Ibex. I enjoyed the ride immensely and never really felt like I was missing anything.

So, if I were to get something in the range of a cheaper Sun or Terratrike I wouldn't be getting the equivalent a Walmart upright would I ?

Is there a recumbent trike to just stay away from as in being shoddy Chinese or American crap?

I just like to ride bikes. There is no room for both ego and myself when I ride.

Why limit yourself to trikes? They are no more comfortable than recumbent bikes.

WalMart has sold a recumbent bike, but I don't see it listed currently. By all accounts, it is higher quality than your basic $100 dept store bike but then again it costs more than twice that. https://www.walmart.com/ip/20-Hyper-I...-Bike/10983235

I'm not aware of any really crappy 'bents on the USA market. Sun products have good reputations but are generally heavy.
As with all bikes, you get what you pay for and you buy what you want. Comparable-quality prices are higher largely because 'bents are made and sold in relatively small numbers.

I highly recommend test rides before buying a trike. There's more difference between trikes than traditional bikes. Of your two examples, Sun and TerraTrike, I think one line is to be preferred, but other informed riders would not agree.

You might enjoy looking through the BentRider Online Buyers Guide and forums. As JanMM suggests, there's also a wide variety of appealing bikes.

With Sun or Terratrike, you'd be getting a pretty decent ride.

Choices, choices. Damn, it's like starting my bike buying training all over again.

With df bikes I learned to get a decent frame, then get my components from ebay. I could, and did, build a couple very decent bikes on the cheap. My last build I called The 50%'er, because that's the discount, at the least, I got on new parts. A very healthy wintertime hobby.

If Greenspeed or Catrike would sell barebone frames plus steering, I know I could easily outdo them on components. And I love to build as well. Sigh.

I bought a Rans Enduro Sport frameset and that's pretty much what it was. I had to provide wheels, drivetrain, brakes and handgrips. Most of the parts came off of existing bikes but, even at that, I'm not sure of how much (if any) money I saved after buying tires rims and spokes, and a different handlebar, riser and fold down gizmo - all at full list price.

I never saw the frameset listed in any catalogue or advertisement - I just asked. Can't hurt. Dealers like Angletech offer their own component spec packages for recumbents from many manufacturers. I'm sure they are simply buying framesets and bolting on components they select themselves.

Unless they have changed their policy, Greenspeed would sell you a frame, steering parts, and seat. I have a friend who owns just such a custom built Greenspeed GTO. It has none of the parts my GS GTO has (brakes, derailleurs) and doesn't even have the Greenspeed logo on it because the paint was custom too. It was built by a bike shop in SoCal.

Well, I'm gonna have to look into that. Thanks for the info.

Framesets don't really save you money unless you've got a ton of the right parts sitting around at home. For most trikes, that would mean 20" wheels, chains, disc brakes, and lots of drivetrain parts. If you have to buy parts, going that route usually costs you more (although you might end up with a nicer build, too.)

There's going to be a large difference between a Sun and a Terratrike. I wouldn't characterized the Sun as 'Wal-Mart' level, but Suns have only two advantages, IMHO: 1 - they're built to support a 275+ pounder and 2 - any bike shop in the country who's willing can order one for you from their J&B Catalog.

Well, I checked the greenspeed website and they mention that they will sell you a "rolling frameset". I gather that means everything but the components. We shall see on the price tomorrow.

What really bugs me about the prices on trikes is, in spite of the high prices, the parts they use, from wheels to chains to derailleurs and brakes seem pretty much low end. Sora components on a $2000 bike?
Knowing the way I think, I am certain I would upgrade most of the replaceable parts. If you start with a decent frame, the components make all the difference between a smooth and reliable ride and one that is not.

I understand about trikes being mostly a "exotic" sort of machine, but still, the component list, for the most part, doesn't cut it.

I completely agree with the person about doing test rides first. I had money in hand and was all set to purchase myself a Cattrike Expedition. I walked in and proclaimed my intention and then I was asked if I have ridden one. My answer was no... So we walked outside and strapped me into one and I took off... very enjoyable and I was sold. Then the wonderful people at my local shopped stepped me through all the rest of the trikes, bents and longwheels... I was given a chance to ride them all and before you know it I walked out with a Bacchetta Giro 26... for my needs and desires it was faster and easier to climb with and I was also a little scared of the trike on the road with crazy drivers. So the morale of the story is to ensrue you have ridden everything first before you make a decision.

My mind got changed in 1/2 ... I love my Bent and now that I have it I might consider a trike next year but I'm happy with what I have so far.

Catrike will sell you what they call a "rolling chassis", which I think means the frame, built-up wheels, and other trike-specific parts. You add the drivetrain and tires. They've also added "R-type" variants with upgraded components to some models.

Do some research on Bentrider online about actionbent, TW bents and Performer recumbents. There are less expensive alternatives available.
I love recumbents and the idea of recumbents but in all honesty the value of them in terms of what you get for your money isn't the greatest.

I don't buy this. My Catrike, a 2006 Road, came with excellent components for the price of the trike. The Avid BB7 discs are top notch. Cane Creek headsets are fool-proof. The Sram X-7 manages shifting smoothly and with the exception of a little normal cable stretch, in 4,000 km has not needed any fine tuning. Original chain, very little stretch. I wore out the stock Primo Comets, which were not too shabby, and have settled on Schwalbe Marathon Plus all around. Awesome tires. There is nothing exotic about my trike. It's different but I am enjoying a smooth and reliable ride without the need to upgrade major components. There is nothing low end about a Catrike.
Bottom line, test ride everything in sight, and then go back again and test ride again. Mike

Check Lightfoot Cycles. I have 2 of their bikes and love them. They make a very comfortble and reliable bike. I would think thier trikes ride just as nice.

Most of the high cost of any recumbent is due to a couple of factors: the seat, the frame with more material than a regular bike, and the low production runs.

I'd agree with the other posters about trying any recumbents if you can and also searching on Bentrider Online.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

I want a Ranger really bad. Its a long ways down the road though.

As a "new' newbie (1980- not many trikes around) I built my own but later would buy used trikes getting newer ideas. Now trikes vary so much in design and price I would not know where to begin.

I have velomobile sitting on an EZ Tad frame since it easily holds 60 pounds (body/motor) and me ( a few more #s). I also bought a small Catrike Pocket (used) due to past experience with a Catrike Speed. That Speed "sold" me the Pocket. Great trike but surprising how diffrerent those 2 trikes are!

Like night and day: that old velomobile dwarfs the 26 pound Pocket and it is like climbing into a space capsule, and handles completely differently. But owning that Speed in 2003 sure helped. Try all you can!

Scylla,
Since you mentioned our trikes, let me help you with a little more info on our brand.

TerraTrike has consistently produced a high quality trike all the while trying to reduce the cost to consumers. We do this by slim lining production, constantly refining our buying power with component manufacturers and offering the recumbent trike rider a large range of options. Many riders who are initially getting into triking do not know or care what a 32 tooth chain ring is or does or the differences between BB5 or BB7 brakes. We offer them alternatives so they don't have to break the bank to get into a recumbent trike. 2 years ago we released the Path model at a never before heard of price of $999, and this year we have released the new Rover model at only $799. These are NOT cheap "Wal-Mart" made trikes. See our website for more info and proof.

Most certainty. Maybe even more so. Recumbent riders are extremely passionate and love to tweak their machines. However, we offer 12 different models starting at $799, so you can comfortably get into triking with any budget, and then customize or upgrade later if you so wish. Again, we want to bring more people to the party so to say.

There a lot of people that buy Ferraris. There are also a lot of people that buy Chevy's.

We do some of our production in Taiwan. Not China. There is a big difference. You go to china for cost, you go to Taiwan for quality. Unfortunately, this is onw of the ways we can manufacture trikes at a price point. However, we do also offer many models that ARE built in the USA. These come with a little higher price tag because of that, but again, we give the consumer the choice. Also, we've been in business for over 14+ years with very little issues with our trikes. In fact we warranty every model for it's lifetime because of that.

We have a motto that everything we do has to be better than Crap! Yeah we've got a trike at $799, but it feels like a trike of three times it's price. But again, don't take my word for it. Research it, and more importantly go ride one. Much like cars - everyone is going to be different.

Please feel free to contact me direct if you have ay further questions about our product.

Interesting, I didn't realize this was one of those forums that allowed self promotion/free advertising for the companies we all work for....

I didn't realize it wasn't.

Sometimes there's a fine line between advertising and answering questions. I think Chonkster tried to stay on the right side of the line.

Taiwan is free China. Mainland China is communist. Taiwan is known for its high quality machine tool industry. Communist China is known for low quality and for being a totalitarian state.

There is a huge difference in quality controls between taiwan and china but even in communist china there are hugh quality control differences even from factories across town. The good ones are run my north american companies that have their own people there constantly making sure everything is on par and above and then there's one where you get them on contract to churn out a product for the lowest cost and sold cheaply.

Well thanks for all the replies, but a trike is out of the picture right now. I had a chance to ride a high racer type bent and found I preferred the practicality of two wheels over three. Just my opinion.

Anyway I will just be buying the frameset alone, and choosing my own components. I have no doubt that I will save alot of money, plus get that warm fuzzy feeling from a self build.

I don't know where Bacchetta sources their frames from, but I suspect it's not a Chinese Nike type sweatshop.

Now it's time to lurk around the roadie and tourer threads for component ideas. And just when I've gotten used to the mountain bike peeps.