My trike is designed for heavy off-road use and its construction matches it. Everything essential is made of high-quality class 7 aluminum alloy. The frame is designed for a maximum load capacity of 130 kg in the field (including larger jumps and impact on one wheel!). In normal operation, it can bear at least 180 kg.
The geometry was optimized in such a way that the abu trike handled both technical uphill passages and downhill with occasional jumps (of course where it fits the width of the route).
The trike is easy to assemble. Unlike commercial trikes like the Azub X or the HP Scorpion Enduro, I took a different approach to folding. The seat doesn’t come off, which really annoyed me on the Azuba, because it’s really not easy to hit! Instead, the rear part of the backrest may or may not fold down. If I have a small car, like a VW Golf or a Honda Cicvic, the folding process looks like this: First I remove the front wheels and then the rear. I release the rear shock absorber and turn the entire rear fork 180 degrees. If it still doesn’t fit in the trunk of the car, I still have to turn the boom with the pedals, but maybe only if I’m 2m tall and the boom is more extended. The wheels then fit nicely between the handlebars and the seat. The entire structure fits comfortably in the trunk. One key is enough for everything. Yes, the key (torx) of the protor quick-release fasteners are unfortunately unreliable. But I guarantee, assembly is easier than with the mentioned trikes, despite the fact that I have to perform more steps.
There are different wheel configurations to choose from, but I think the most common is the variant with 24″ wheels in the front with Maxxis DHF 2.4″ tires and 27.5″ wheels in the back with Maxxis DHR II 2.8″. The rear hub is designed as a 177mm SuperBost to be FAT wheels can also be installed. The front hubs are from Bitex with a 20mm axle. The rear hubs are also from Bitex (in the case of Shimano XT) or a Rolhoff shifting hub is installed. This can be driven by a classic chain or a Carbon Gate belt.
Steering is indirect with adjustable handlebars in three directions, i.e. lengthwise, tilt and width!
After the experience with Azuba, I decided to fit the steering with significantly oversized pivots, as it really pays off.
Depending on the size of the front wheels, it is possible to use a maximum travel of up to 42 degrees. This makes the trike quite agile.
The drive is handled by the classic Shimano EP8, specifically the EP801 motor and 1x12s Shimano XT gearing with Di2 digital gearing, which ensures easy downshifting when slowing down. For the supporters of hub shifting, I have a modified Rolhoff 14, unfortunately only mechanical, because I could not agree on cooperation with Bosch and so I am not able to offer E14.
For connoisseurs, there is a drive from Pinion in the form of an MGU, i.e. an engine with an integrated 12s gearbox. This solution is still new, so it is not verified, but I dare say it will be as good as other Pinion products.
The suspension is classic, i.e. a trapezoidal axle at the front with a very progressive negative deflection (larger than Formula 1) and a single-spoke fork at the back. Front travel is limited to 110mm. The back is 170mm. Damping is provided by RockShox Monarch RL oil-air shock absorbers. The rear shock can be remote controlled. Rocking on a three-wheeler of this design is hardly noticeable, so there is no need to deal with switching off the shock absorber. There was an effort to implement a stabilizer of the front axle, but it is at the expense of driving characteristics in the field, so stabilization does not take place and the trike leans a little in corners. However, thanks to this, a very radical negative deflection is manifested, and the wheel thus holds the track perfectly. Thus, it is possible to install large 24 or 26″ wheels without worrying about deforming the rim and cracking the spokes.
On the Tike, the front brake is mainly used and the rear brake is more or less only for skidding or braking. As a common brake configuration (Shimano XT) three brakes and three separate levers are intended. The front brakes are each controlled separately, and the rear brake is on another, third lever. Classic 4-piston brakes with metal brake pads and 230mm brake discs on all wheels. The second option is to use only two levers and thus connect the front brakes using a T-distributor. Such a combination may be suitable for some, but you have to count on a longer stroke of the lever, which for sure will not add much. But it’s an option.
The last option is to use the levers or the entire set from the company Hope, namely the Hope Tech 3 Duo double lever, which consists of two chambers and two levers. The latter is shorter and it will control the front brake. The second one is longer and will only control the rear brake. The advantage is that both the front and rear wheels brake in this way during normal braking. If I want to slide the rear wheel into a corner, or just apply the brakes, I simply press the longer lever. Perfect solution for me. Hope is a very high quality brand, so the brakes are at least as good as Shimano XT.
Seat! This is a little different than what you are used to. Looks are deceiving and so my seat is very comfortable. Nothing presses anywhere, everything is adaptable to any figure. I paid a lot of attention to the seat because it is the most important part of the trike. That’s why we ride it, that we can sit down comfortably and painlessly. Otherwise, I would ride regular bikes and not deal with tricycles 🙁
The seat is made of slats that can be adjusted in height and inclination. The lower ones are rounded (I make them according to the rider’s measurements) to perfectly support the buttocks and the lumbar area of the back. On the contrary, the upper part of the backrest is designed in such a way that the rider can lean comfortably and is not drowned in the seat, as is the case with the Azub X, for example. This helps in easier handling of the center of gravity. It’s hard to explain on the web. You just have to try it. The seat is really very adjustable. By adjusting the slats, I determine the basic “shape” of the seat. Then I can also change the tilt of the upper part of the backrest depending on whether I am in the field or on the road. The cover is made of breathable micro-rubber and an additional cover such as Ventisit is also included.