Building recumbent bicycles is a tough business. Bigger and older manufacturers tend to have larger, more consistently available Web sites; younger or smaller ones seem to change servers more often and generally have more trouble staying online. If you try a link on this page and get an error, I'd suggest you come back a few days later and try again. Brands with a G link icon are also represented by pictures on my gallery page. Models highlighted in yellow in tables are ones I think are especially good values.
ActionBent Recumbents (Redmond WA)
http://www.actionbent.com/
This value-price line includes two tadpole trikes; sold direct to customers.
Catrike Recumbent Trikes (Orlando FL)
http://www.catrike.com/
Tadpole trikes, three models
Challenge (Netherlands)
http://www.challengebikes.com/
New for 2008: a radical-looking tadpole trike.
Cycle Genius (Houston TX)
http://www.cyclegenius.com/
Phoenix "mobility extender" tadpole trike with chair-height seat and aluminum frame.
Greenspeed
(Victoria Australia) http://www.greenspeed.com.au/
Excellent sturdy low-slung tadpole trikes, several models. Not cheap.
Hase Spezialräder (Waltrop Germany)
http://www.hasebikes.com/
Five models of unique LWB delta trikes.
Hotmover (Christchurch New Zealand)
http://www.hotmover.com/
Tadpole trikes
HP Velotechnik (Kriftel Germany)
http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/
Scorpion tadpole trike and Scorpion fx folding trike with rear suspension. US dealers.
Inspired Cycle Engineering, Ltd
(Cornwall UK) http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/
Makers of the respected Trice tadpole trike; order through
Calhoun Cycle and other US dealers
Just Two Bikes
(Hugo, MN) http://www.justtwobikes.com/
Side-by side four-wheel tandem, front wheel drive trike
KMX Karts
(Portchester UK) http://www.kmxkarts.co.uk/
New manufacturer of tadpole trikes for kids and adults
Lightfoot Cycles (Darby MT)
http://www.lightfootcycles.com/
LWB/ASS bikes, delta trikes, 4-wheelers. These bikes were a bit heavy when they started out, and they still don't give weight specs on the site, but the "Lightfoot" two-wheel LWB models are looking good these days.
Natalia-Florence (Northern WI)
http://www.nfcycles.com/
These tadpole trikes appear to have a seat that slides on rails, unusual steering system
Redmount HPV (Norfolk UK)
http://www.redmount-hpv.co.uk/
TIG-welded aluminum tadpole trikes
Sherer USA (Corydon IA)
http://www.shererusa.com/
Innovative tadpole trikes with pedals on 18-inch reciprocating levers instead of conventional cranks (slogan: "Think outside the circle")
Sidewinder Recumbent Cycles
(Agoura Hills CA) http://www.sidewindercycle.com/
Unique tadpole trike with front drive and rear steer
Stein Trikes (Subotica Serbia)
G
http://www.steintrikes.com/
New manufacturer of tadpole trikes including Road Shark with 26-inch rear wheel, Nomad with rear suspension, and Magnum tandem trike. Several models offer choice of shell or mesh seats. US contact: Neighborhood Transportation, Winston-Salem NC
Stites Design
(Portland OR) http://www.stitesdesign.com/
Unique tall narrow front wheel drive Chameleon delta trike, the front part of which leans in corners like a bike
Sun Bicycles (Taiwan)
G
http://www.sunbicycles.com/
The EZ-1 line of value-priced recumbents, designed by Easy Racers, manufactured under license by Sun Bicycles, includes two delta trike models. For 2005 they added the new EZ-Tadpole SX and CX trike models.
| 2008 model | wheel- base | seat height |
weight | frame | wheels | shifters | comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EZ-3 trike | SX | 56.5 in. | 22 in. | 56 lbs | Steel | 20/16 | SRAM 3.0 21 | Basic delta trike |
| AX | 56 in. | 19.5 in. | 50 lbs | Aluminum | 20/20 | SRAM SX5 27 | ||
| EZ-3 USX trike | 59.5 | 18 in. | 65 lbs | Steel | 20/20 | SRAM MRX 21 | Suspension delta | |
| EZ-Tadpole trike | SX | 40 in. | 18 in. | 49 lbs | Chromoly/steel | 20/20 | SRAM 3.0 24 | Three disk brakes |
| CX | 47 lbs | Chromoly | SRAM X7 27 | |||||
Tri-Sled
(Victoria Australia) http://www.trisled.com.au/
Tadpole trikes, several models.
Windcheetah (Cheshire UK)
G
http://www.windcheetah.co.uk/windcheetah.htm
The original Ferrari of performance recumbents. US$4200 31-pound tadpole trike made of aluminum, titanium, carbon/kevlar. Unique center-line single-stick steering/braking control.
WizWheelz Recumbent Trikes
(Kentwood MI) http://www.wizwheelz.com/
Low-slung tadpole-style trikes with all 20-inch wheels; simple elegant adjustable design, all with dual disk brakes on the front wheels only.
| 2008 model | first year | seat height | BB height |
frame material | weight | load limit | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Path* | 2008 | 9.5 in. | 13.25 in. | Chromoly | 40 lbs | 300 lbs | $1000 |
| Cruiser | 1997? | 9.5 in. | 13.25 in. | Chromoly | 37 lbs | 300 lbs | $1400 |
| Tour | 2006 | 9.5 in. | 13.25 in. | Chromoly | 36 lbs | 300 lbs | $2000 |
| Zoomer | 2007 | 8.5 in. | 15.5 in. | Aluminum | 34 lbs | 275 lbs | $1800 |
| Zoomer Elite | 2007 | 8.5 in. | 15.5 in. | Aluminum | 34 lbs | 275 lbs | $2200 |
| Access | 2006 | 9.5 in. | 14 in. | 34 lbs | 250 lbs | $2200 | |
| Sport | 2006 | 9.5 in. | 14 in. | 33 lbs | 250 lbs | $2500 | |
| Race | 2005 | 9.5 in. | 14 in. | 31 lbs | 250 lbs | $3000 | |
| Edge AL | 2008 | 9.5 in. | 12.75 in. | 30 lbs | 225 lbs | $4000 | |
| Edge | 2005 | 9.5 in. | 12.75 in. | Aluminum & carbon fiber | 29 lbs | 225 lbs | $4500 |
| Tandem | 2005 | 9.5 in. | 13.25 in. | Chromoly | 60 lbs | 450 lbs | $5000 |
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