subject: Buying An Electric Trike [print this page] As gasoline prices have gone up and awareness of the dangers of global warming have spread, many people have chosen to leave their cars behind for short trips to the store or other errands. Walking or perhaps a bicycle is the choice most make instead of a car but this is not practical for some. They may have a disability or a balance issue that makes walking or riding a bike impractical. A good choice therefore is an electric tricycle.
An electric trike offers the mixture of pedaling and motoring for those that want some physical activity but might not be able to exert the effort needed to bike alone. The added wheel provides stability when rolling or standing still so they are easy to control. A basket, trailer or even baby seat can be added for shopping excursions or errands. Speeds can reach 12-25 mph.
So, how and where can you get an electric trike? A good place to start your search is Eclectric-Bike.com. This site has descriptions of a wide range of trikes with links to manufacturer's web sites. There are also advice and buying tips, conversion kits if you want to add a motor to an existing bike or trike and a wide range of options and accessories. You can also find repair information, links to manuals, advice and diagnostic tools. One trike featured here is the Gormier Electric Tricycle, with 24 inch chrome wheels, a 450 watt motor with 16 mile range, large seat and basket and 6 month warranty for $1,299 including shipping and handling. Other manufacturers listed here include BoomerBents, Palmer, Worksman and RunAbout.
You can also find a number of electric trikes being sold at Amazon.com. Prices at Amazon range from $999 for a Currie Technologies iZip Tripcruiser to $2,495 for a International Surrey Company EZ Rider. Amazon has excellent descriptions of the items being sold as well as customer ratings and comments.
There are a number of options to consider when getting an electric trike. Stability on these bikes is very good when standing still or going straight, but they can tip when going around turns. If this is a great concern, then a bike with a lower center of gravity is an important consideration. You can also look for large upright seat backs or even armrests. The electric trikes range will depend on speed when it is being used and other factors, but a good recommendation is to get a trike that will have double the range of normal use.
