ETrike Review: Riders w/ MS, Parkinson's, Neuropathy Test Ride Electric Trikes & Pick Their Favorite

Today, we’re going to have three riders each battling a chronic illness test ride these etrikes and choose their favorite. Stick around. Hey everyone, I’m Dustin, I have nearly 20 years of experience in the bike and ebike industry and today I’m joined by three riders that are all battling a different chronic illness and they’re going to try electric tricycles and see which one works best for their body and lifestyle. All right, so I’ve got Nikos, Andy, and Abby. Nikos is dealing with neuropathy. Andy has Parkinson’s, and Abby has MS which creates some challenges in mobility for them and other aspects. So today, we’re going to have them try all these different etrikes and see which one feels best for their body so they can get out and continue to enjoy bikes, enjoy the outdoors and also get exercise.

Dustin: I’m going to start over here with Nikos, we’re going to get to know him a little bit. So Nikos, you said you’re 74.

Nikos: Yes.

Dustin: And how tall are you? You’re pretty tall.

Nikos: 6’1”.

Dustin: 6’1”. Are you currently still riding bikes or not really?

Nikos: Not anymore. I tried it recently and it’s great but again this neuropathy affects my stability and my balance, and I also, 20 years ago, crashed my bike into the back of a pick-up truck and so I get a shoulder issues and I find that if I ride a regular bike for any period of time I get a lot of pain because I have…

Dustin: to hold it and the tension and yeah. And how does the neuropathy affect you then, is it like you lose feeling or?

Nikos: Yeah, it’s numbness, constant, you know 24/7, and also, you know periodic issues with sciatic, but it affects my balance even when I walk, I used to hike a lot, do really outdoor guy and I have trouble with ability, walking in a straight line but I love the outdoors.

Dustin: So the trikes might be a good option.

Nikos: Yeah, and I used to ride trail bike all over the place and so I missed it.

Dustin: Yeah, okay cool. Well, hopefully we’ll find something that will work for you. And Nikos lives in Laguna Woods, if anyone else out there is in the Laguna Woods Community, it’s a big over 55 here in Southern California, so hopefully we can reach more of your neighbors with this video. All right now we have Andy over here. And Andy’s got Parkinson’s and your 59, right?

Andy: 59, yeah.

Dustin: And when did you start having the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Andy: I was diagnosed seven years ago. I probably had a symptoms a few years before that. That you just brush off as getting a little bit old.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And how has it affected you on a daily basis.

Andy: Well for me it’s two differences. I have periods when my medications working which are called on times and there’s times where you’re taking your medication but it doesn’t really do the job. Those are off times so I’m having more trouble with off times and predicting like I can walk mostly normally when my medication’s working and then it shuts off and I start to limp and I get a lot of pain in my leg. My foot does wants to curl under, there’s just a host of issues. My balance is still pretty good but again, I have a hard time walking any distance. I was never a big bicyclist but I ran a lot.

Dustin: Okay.

Andy: This is my way to get out there now when I can’t do long walks or run. Or get on an ebike.

Dustin: So are you still riding bikes or have you ridden bikes recently?

Andy: I haven’t ridden a bike recently.

Dustin: Okay, okay.

Andy: Maybe two years ago.

Dustin: Okay. Do you still get out and walk those still?

Andy: I get out and walk some as much as I can.

Dustin:  Okay. And what is it for you, is it pain or is it numb?

Andy: Again, it’s pain in the knee, like I say, when I walk normally it doesn’t have any pain but when I start to limp, the limp causes the pain because it puts my foot in a twist and it just causes sharp pain. I wear this little knee band and it helps with the pain.

Dustin: Okay. So just try to manage it as best you can. Got it. Okay. And Andy is in Laguna Woods too so we coincidentally have neighbors here. Shoutout to all the Laguna Woods Residents out there. And Abby, lastly with you, you said you’re 53.

Abby: 53.

Dustin: And you are battling MS.

Abby: Yes.

Dustin: How does it affect you on a daily basis.

Abby: Well I have remitting, relapsing MS, which is the most common first diagnosis of MS that people receive. I was only diagnosed in 2022 but I’ve been having symptoms for almost a decade and it just wasn’t they all put together. Right, so for me it’s a lot of weakness and fatigue. I might start a day, like today, I feel awesome and I kind of want to like I have to be careful because I want to go out and do everything and all that but then I know that this is an energy zapper, and so I can start and I can feel great and I’ve been on a couple of bicycle trips my friends are super outdoorsy and so you know, we all go down to the beach and with our bicycles and stuff and they will go and I’ll end up stopping like a quarter of the way or halfway knowing that if I don’t, I’m not going to be able to get back or we’ll go and eat at a restaurant and then try to take the trip back and I’ll have to go get it in my car. So it’s just kind of for me, it’s more of being able to do things with my friends and being able to be included, you know not having to be different. I don’t want to feel different, I’m very young at heart and I always feel different and I don’t want people to have to worry about me. I don’t want to look different, I don’t want my friends to have to redesign their trips and they’re already doing that, you know, because they’re awesome friends, but for me, I just want to be one of the gang again. I don’t want anybody to have to worry about me. I don’t want to have to worry about myself. So I started looking at ebikes and it seems like a really wonderful option, and then to see the tricycles was like, oh yes, because I can’t rely on my body to if I can start out on aerial bike. By the end of the day I may not have the strength, you know, I have a lot of weakness on my side, some days my left side is kind of useless to me but my right side is usually pretty good. So it’s just sort of being able to rely from start to finish on something and I’m super excited to try these out.

Dustin: Cool. Well, I think we’ll be able to find something that will work for each of you. I’m pretty confident. Have any of you been on an ebike at all?

Abby: No.

Dustin: Okay, nobody’s been on an ebike. Okay. So let’s move down here. This right here we’ll start out with this is our Two Front Wheel. So this one has an independent steering where the front wheels tilt. So if you don’t think you’re comfortable on a two-wheel bike, you may not want to try this one because it does require you to hold the handlebars and steer. Now you have the support of the two wheels so it gives you more balance than a two wheel bike but it’s going to feel like a two-wheel bike more than these conventional trikes that we have down here. So totally up to you guys. Let me walk you through. Everything’s going to be about the same. So Abby, if you want to come in too and I’m just going to walk you guys through. On all the ebikes, you’re going to have a display. Most of them, the ones we have out here are going to be very similar to this one except a couple which we’ll explain when we get down there. You’re going to have a power button right here and this power button is going to turn on your display up here. Let me take this off so you can see even better. Okay. Now, the way ebikes work is you’ve got a pedal assist option and a throttle option. Okay. So, the throttle option on most of these is what we call a thumb throttle so it’s right here and this works like a gas pedal on a car except you’re using your thumb. Now the key to this is and please take this advice, is when you try it, it’s like a gas pedal in that you’ve got to ease into it. So don’t jump on and do something like this, it’ll jerk on you, okay? And you’ll get used to it, right. You can just kind of figure out, you know, and gradually give it a little effort. Now, if this is zero here, the throttle will not work, okay. So basically, zero just means you’re going to get zero assist from the motor. The minute you click this up to one, the throttle will work at full power, so you’re just dictating the power output by how hard or soft you press the throttle. Now, you’ve got five levels of assistance. These five levels of assistance are linked to your pedal assist. So as you pedal the assistance will kick in. You have to make about a full rotation and you’ll feel the motor kick in. Okay, so we’ll start you guys out in one just for the sake of getting used to it. At any point during the ride, you're able to put these up or down as you see fit. So you can go up to two down to one, it doesn't matter if you’re started or stopped, you can do whatever you want. If you ever pull the brakes, it’ll cut the motor. So if you’re ever feeling nervous or scared, pull the brake motor off. You'll be good to go, you know and stop pedaling as well. This one has a reverse option but we’re not going to use it on these two because we’re it’s actually a feature we’re going to remove for the future because these are not conducive to reversing but that’s what this switch is right here. So just leave that in the D. Okay.

Nikos: Question.

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: So is this similar to a regular bike, but I assume this is front brake and left brake, or…

Dustin: Yup. Front brake and rear brake. Also, one other thing I just want to mention on these two, primarily, use the rear brake, okay. On these two models right here, because we need to adjust these brakes a little bit more. So this one, they work good, but if you’re going to use the brake on this side, ease into it. Don’t clamp down like this. Which is really true for both of these because they're disc brakes so they stop really well. So you just want to make sure you’re kind of giving it gradual pressure. Again, like a car right. You’re not going to slam on the brake. I mean if you have to, you can. But ideally not. So moving up here, this is the derailleur which is like on a normal bike, right. So if you’ve ridden a bike that has gears, ebikes can have gears like regular bikes do. I’m going to put this down into gear one for you guys so when you start out it’ll be a little easier to pedal. Now this, you have to shift while you’re pedaling just like on a regular bicycle. This shifts it up and this shifts it down. Again, you don’t necessarily have to use it for the short amount of riding you’re probably going to do, but if you do and you get comfortable and you want to try it, it’s called the trigger shift, so this will push this up like I said, this will shift it down, and typically, you don’t want to shift it while it’s standing still. Any other questions? Now is the time before we ride. Also I think it’s best if on these two, I’ll have you guys try it without the motor on and then once you get, or if you feel comfortable on it we can put the motor on for you. I’ll do a quick demonstration if you want to. Okay, so on this one, kickstand is up. So a couple of things I like to do, number one is a lot of times starting with the throttle is a really good option so you can kind of do like this, and if you want to, as opposed to riding without the motor, you can also try that. Just sit here and give it a little bit, maybe keep your feet down and you can see if you’re going to be comfortable picking it up. And then, just know that when you start pedaling and you have it on level one, you will feel the motor kick in, shouldn’t be too alarming but as I start to pedal, now I make it there you feel, I feel it come on. You can see this one can make very steep turns. Also, when you get into stopping, I recommend shifting this to zero. If you can think of it, if not, I just recommend stop pedaling because when you’re coming into a like a tight space like this and you pedal, the motor is going to kind of accelerate you. So it’s better to back off the pedaling. And even if you have to navigate in the tight space, it’s better sometimes to use the throttle to sort of like you know, get to where you’re going. Let me just go ahead and turn around here. All right, I’m just going to circle around here. All right.

Nikos: I’ve got another question.

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: Seat heights. You know, like the mountain bikes are you know, regular two wheel bikes, the you know, the like seat and how you extend your legs is really important. How does this.

Dustin: Yeah, I mean, you know, I like to size it for a lot of the seniors we’ve done videos for, I mean there’s a way to size a bike for efficiency and power. And there’s also a way to size it for comfort, so I guess my point to you is whatever you feel comfortable with, because a lot of times when you’ve got the seat in the height which is best for the leg extension you’re higher off the ground and what I’ve noticed is a lot of you know our over 55, 60 riders, they’d rather be a little bit closer to the ground and utilize the assistance more. The other thing too is with the assistance, the efficiency of your legs isn’t as important because you’re going to get it, but again, you don’t want your knee to be super cramped and jammed up in there.

Nikos: Well, that’s the problem too, I got knee issues.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah. So whatever you know, feels best.

Abby: So if I start out at one because I’m feeling really great, go to dinner at the end of our ride, turn around, really have no energy at all, I can turn it up to three or four or something and get home?

Dustin: Yeah, you don’t need to be pedaling at all. Yeah, I use give a lot. And I mean, because I’m you know, yeah, I mean I weigh 230 pounds right, so a lot of hills are a big struggle and then so for heavier riders, we’re going to want to be for hills in level five a lot of the time you know. For lighter riders even on hills, you can get away with two and three. Because if you think about it, like if we have a 100 pound difference it’s a big impact on the motor and also the battery too. Does anyone want to go first?

Andy: I’ll take a shout at it.

Dustin: All right.

Abby: Go Andy. Wooh.

Dustin: Remember, this is a little bit different and I can raise or lower the seat. Do you want to start out without the assistance?

Andy: I’ll, let's start out without assistance and…

Dustin: Okay, so you just pedal like a regular bike. You really got to learn to trust those two wheels.

Andy: Just bringing it home.

Dustin: All right, do you want to try the assistance?

Andy: Yeah.

Dustin: And you’re welcome to go down here like on a little bit of a straightaway or back here it’ll be easier for you. There’s one, give that a shot and then if you want pump it up to two.

Abby: Wow, look at that. That looks like freedom to me. It's so exciting.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah.

Andy: The adaptation goes pretty quick.

Dustin: Yeah? And remember, try to use this brake more than this one. Let me see, is it this one? Yeah, the rear brake is going to be a little better for you. Do you want to take it around the full building or you better take it around? Yeah?

Andy: I’ll do it.

Dustin: Alright. It’s fun. I mean these are just different, you know, with the steering and…

Abby: Look at him go.

Dustin: Yeah. 

Abby: That’s so fun. I’m excited, I’m so excited.

Dustin: We got one of the hottest days of the year. I feel like…

Abby: Luckily there’s a great breeze.

Dustin: Yeah. Oh, he’s back already.

Abby: I wouldn’t know he had anything at all that he was dealing with, which is awesome.

Dustin: What do you think?

Andy: It was interesting getting used to the pedaling assist. I tried one and two.

Dustin: Oh, up to two?

Andy: To two.

Dustin: Yeah, but you got the hang of it. Easy to steer for you?

Andy: Yeah.

Dustin: And fun and easy to balance?

Andy: Right. It's just the first time, a few times you make turns, it’s some adjustment, but once I’ve done two or three turns, it kind of becomes intuitive.

Dustin: Got it. Yeah, you can get a lot of lean out of these two tires, you know. It’s different. Cool.

Andy: And give somebody else a chance.

Dustin: All right. Well that’s trike one so keep in mind how you like that one. We still got, one, two, three, four, five more to go. Abby or Nikos?

Abby: I would love to.

Dustin: Okay. Go ahead. Seat down a little bit. How tall are you Abby?

Abby: I’m 5’6”.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: Thank you for that. Is that pretty easy to do?

Dustin: Yeah. Okay, give that a shot. And then, do you have a pocket for that cord for the microphone or not? I just want to make sure that doesn’t get caught.

Abby: I can just tuck it in. No pocket. Is that better?

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: Okay.

Dustin: Ohh, kick it back. You had it, there you go.

Abby: Okay, thank you.

Dustin: Is the seat okay? Can you sit on it and get your feet down?

Abby: Yes, it's perfect.

Dustin: Okay good.

Abby: I don’t think I’d want it any higher.

Dustin: Okay, so do you want to start out at zero and just try riding it?

Abby: Sure and then just, yeah, that’s fine. Let’s see. I’ll keep trying. Just a second.

Dustin: Yeah. You’re good.

Abby: Okay. Luckily my feet go down so that’s great. Okay I’ll try again.

Dustin: I don’t know, I think you’re good. Yeah, try to go just up a little bit because this is more straight right here. Might be better for you.

Abby: I don’t know why I want to keep going that way.

Dustin: Let me take a look here. You’re good, let me just try it really quick. Something’s, what I don’t know what that squeaking noise is. All right, we had to make a minor adjustment here, we’re good to go and Abby is back for round two. Oh and I have it on.

Abby: Oh, actually, wow. Hey, that’s awesome. I think I just need to get used to the steering. But actually even the steering is much ease…

Dustin: You don’t have to lean, just turn.

Abby: Oh yeah, sorry, bike thing.

Dustin: Do you want to try going around?

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: Because getting on the straightaway back there may give you a little more freedom.

Abby: But with the assist on even on level one it’s like turning and everything is way easier. So like, that’s amazing. I’m so excited.

Dustin: She’s off. So the moral of the story is, don’t give up on the trikes, you’ll get it, I promise. Yep, going back and forth.

Abby: Wooo. This is awesome. Yeah, I think the key is just remembering that you don’t have to lean.

Dustin: Did you try just the throttle at all?

Abby: I did. It was awesome.

Dustin: Yeah, you liked it?

Abby: Yeah. It was fun and like you said, just ease into it but it was like woo, it was just super awesome so.

Dustin: And the assistance helped you stay up and balanced properly. Yeah.

Abby: And even like, I don’t have a lot of stamina like in my muscles, is just you know fatigue and stuff and pain but like so even halfway through because I don’t usually I wouldn’t normally ride a bike that required all of that actual work on my part, for that exact reason but this one, as soon as I get going it was like, Wow, and like halfway down the building I’m like, let’s go. You know, it was just so exciting. I can’t believe it, it’s so exciting and it felt so good to have like the breeze and I feel like I was riding a bike, you know.

Dustin: That’s awesome. Cool. Well you’re on your first one so we’ve got a whole bunch more to go here.

Abby: I’m so excited. Okay, let me put the thing down.

Dustin: I got it. Oh there you go. Perfect. All right.

Abby: Awesome, thank you.

Dustin: You want to give a shot Nikos?

Nikos: Sure.

Dustin: Okay, let me turn it around for you here, sorry. All right, do you want the seat up a little bit?

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: There we go, it’s a double seat post, so it allows for even higher. Yeah, that’s why it sticks a little bit. All right, try that. See that might be a little too high, I don’t know.

Nikos: No.

Dustin: Not bad actually.

Nikos: Not bad.

Dustin: You want it a little lower?

Nikos: Just about an inch.

Dustin: Okay. Okay, give that a shot.

Nikos: Yeah, that’s better.

Dustin: Okay.

Nikos: And so we’re on pedal and this is the front brake here. Maybe we could make the seat a little bit…

Dustin: Lower?

Nikos: It’s not lower, excuse me, higher.

Dustin: Higher.

Nikos: Back to where you had it.

Dustin: Okay. How did you like it?

Nikos: Oh, it’s a check, especially when you kick the power. Yeah, I’ve got you know knee issues and it just, yeah, keep the power in.

Dustin: How was the balancing for you, okay?

Nikos: Balance wasn’t bad at all. Just a little, you know, I’m not quite used to the distance between the seat and the bars. Used to being back having a longer frame.

Dustin: How was the balance for you?

Nikos: The balance is fine.

Dustin: Okay. Did you try the throttle too?

Nikos: I did, yeah. It was great fun. This getting started a little hard a bit but there we go.

Dustin: All right, so Nikos, what do you think? And now you had said you were a little scared of balancing or you weren’t on a two wheel bike because your balance but how did you feel on this?

Nikos: The balance felt very comfortable. The only thing is that I was having adjustment issues to the seat and knee position so I’m pushing more down rather than I’m used to pushing out, so it’s just a habit.

Dustin: So you like the pedals a little bit out in front of your body.

Nikos: That’s what I’m used to, but then I’ve had you know, semi-disability issues, you know, I played football or soccer so my knees aren't in the best shape. It took a lot of abuse and so I noticed when you know, starting to feel some strain as I was pushing, when it came in the uphill part, but then I kicked the drive in and it was like, Oh, Freedom.

Dustin: Nice.

Nikos: So it was easier to operate than I imagined and what a pleasure just some joy.

Dustin: All right, let’s move on. So this is the same thing with smaller wheels. It’s going to feel a little bit different. Andy, do you want to go first again? We’ll if you figure that one out now it’s a little bit narrower tire so I’ll be curious to hear what your guys’s feedback is. In a little bit different seat. Does that seat height feel okay?

Andy: Yeah, I’m okay with it.

Dustin: Yeah, he’s going quick. He’s not wasting any time now.

Abby: I love that you have so many options like I would never imagine that one company would have so many options for us, you know. It’s just amazing.

Dustin: Yeah. Different types of riders you know, different type of…

Abby: And different types of needs too, like maybe you need a smaller one.

Dustin: So what do you think of the smaller wheels?

Andy: The smaller wheels were fine. It does feel a little odd breaking but the rear worked.

Dustin: Oh yeah, use the rear brake. We have to adjust those to be more in line.

Andy: But once I tried the other one it’s so similar.

Dustin: Yeah? Yeah, yeah. Does it feel different or does it feel more nimble than that one at all or no?

Andy: I probably need to adjust the seat height a little lower for me.

Dustin: Lower?

Andy: But it seemed a little easier to turn.

Dustin: Easier to turn? Yeah.

Andy: It’s also, I’m getting used to turning.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Andy: I was able to play with the gears like in the beginning, you don’t want to do multiple things at the same time. So the first time I left the gear and this time I played with the gear up to five and back down.

Dustin: Oh okay. Good.

Andy: Did the assist to level two and three.

Dustin: So you’re getting a little more comfortable.

Andy: Comfortable making adjustments.

Dustin: Yeah.

Andy:  When you first do it, you want to have one variable.

Dustin: Right, right. I got you. Okay. Cool. All right Abby, are you ready?

Abby: I love a low bar.

Dustin: Oh, you probably want the seat a little lower.

Abby: I might have said that already but it’s so nice to have this low stepping.

Dustin: Yeah, make it easy right.

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: Okay, try that.

Abby: Wow, this feels so different. Oh my gosh.

Dustin: And just for the play byplay, she’s successfully navigating through food trucks, garbage cans.

Andy: Paint ball alley’s coming up.

Dustin: Hahaha. And she’s through the gauntlet.

Abby: Awesome. I love it. I love this one. This one is much easier for me.

Dustin: What’s that?

Abby: This one is much easier for me.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: Nimbler, a little easier to steer.

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: A little bit more like what you said, intuitive.

Dustin: Uh-huh, uh-huh.

Abby: So it's kind of yeah. I love it so much.

Dustin: Looks like a good fit for your size too.

Abby: Yeah, and I kind of like that it’s like that it’s smaller overall so it’ll be easier for me to like to take places or you know things like that. Yeah, I just love it.

Dustin: Cool. All right.

Abby: And it’s cool looking too.

Dustin: Yeah we try to do different color options, that’s sort of what we’re also known for as opposed to like the blacks.

Abby: And yeah. No this is way cooler.

Dustin: All right Nikos, let’s get you all set up here. Okay, try that, it might be too high, maybe not, I don’t know.

Nikos: Up a little more.

Dustin: Up a little more. Yeah.

Abby: I wanted to ask. How would I tighten the actual seat? It was kind of going this way.

Dustin: Oh yeah, we just got to tighten that clamp down.

Abby: Okay, is that something I do myself?

Dustin: Yeah.

Andy: Just twist it a few times.

Abby: Okay.

Dustin: Now, let’s see. Make sure to do that brake, yup. All these are available. This one is coming out later in the year but everything else we currently offer.

Abby: Awesome.

Dustin: So yeah. Are you trying to lift it?

Andy: I was just seeing how.

Dustin: Well, the back was going to be the heaviest because you got the battery.

Andy: That’s why I left the front and it's got a handle.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: So I see the battery but I don’t see the engine, is that silly to ask?

Dustin: So this big thing, right here.

Abby: Oh okay, it’s a motor. Yeah, sorry, I’m not very technical as far as these kinds of things. So a silly question.

Dustin: Well that’s kind of the cool thing about ebikes is that they’re not well depending on the type of ebike you get. They don’t have to look overwhelmingly ebike.

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: You know, there are other ones that they look more motorcycle than bike.

Abby: Yeah, definitely, I just love everything about it actually just the design and the colors. Colors are awesome. Yehey Nikos. Wooh.

Dustin: Oh, watch out for the cone there. What do you think?

Nikos: Oh nice. Fun. Nice to the light frame. Yeah. The steering’s a little bit different but I like the frame because it's easier to push.

Dustin: How did you compare these two in your mind, like, was there one you like better or worse?

Nikos: Well the different features. I like to drive on this one so I can see going, you know, faster feeds you know different terrains but the other one is just perfect for streets and more kind of regular use. And a light hand, light frame which is really really versatile.

Dustin: So if you had to just pick right now, out of these two, which is your favorite?

Nikos: I think I would go with this but because I think I could get used to it, just more practice. But I do like the light.

Dustin: Cool. How about you Andy?

Andy: I’d probably take this one, also looks better for a little bit of terrain, wider tires.

Dustin: Uh-huh.

Andy: And it seemed like it was more for speed.

Dustin: Okay. Abby.

Abby: I would take the smaller one.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: I love this seat and I had asked you earlier, you said we could actually if we started with this seat, we could upgrade to that seat if we felt like we needed it. It just provided more support and was kind of safe.

Dustin: You like the seat better.

Abby: Yeah, like I had a better foundation.

Dustin: Yeah. Okay.

Nikos: On the back. Back supports.

Abby: And so because it’s smaller, it’s just a little bit easier to maneuver for me and so I could see me just driving it into my apartment or you know putting it on my balcony even with a lot of ease not having to worry about that so much.

Dustin: Cool. All right. Well, we still got four more to try.

Abby: Yes, I’m so excited about that one.

Dustin: All right, so now, we are moving into…

Andy: People movers.

Dustin: Trike steering. Okay. So it’s going to feel very different than this one right here. Everything’s the same for the most part up here. Now your thumb throttle right here is on the right hand now. Okay, so that’s the big difference but everything else the pedal assist is here. You got a horn right here. Now this one, I’m going to start you guys in level one just because this one’s a little more difficult to pedal because of the added weight. And this seat doesn’t come with it. This is our upgraded seat which is even nicer than that one.

Nikos: Excuse me, what is the weight on these?

Dustin: So the first one is 70 pounds, the blue one. For the other one, I have actually not weighed to be honest with you. If I have to guess, I’m going to say about 80 pounds. Now if you’re transporting it, you can take the battery off which is going to remove 8 pounds and the seat is going to remove 2 pounds so you could take it down by 10 pounds.

Nikos: I think you know, one of those things is to go on a trailer. Do these trike have some sort of a parking brake?

Dustin: Yes. Yeah, all. The parking brake is right here. So you just push this in and then it locks the brake. These both do right here as well. And then just to show you guys really quick if you want to see, this is how this folds down. So folds like this and then the frame folds in half here. And this clicks up, and then from there you just fold it in half like that, and you can transport it.

Andy: Looks like it was a bad ass accident.

Nikos: That’s a good feature huh. I didn't notice that.

Dustin: And this cream one does too.

Nikos: It folds? Oh yeah, I can see. I didn’t notice that.

Dustin: That one’s obviously a little bit bigger.

Abby: This will be great for commuters, like if I want to go into work, on the train, and then like yeah, you don’t have to worry about Uber, you can just take this. That’s awesome.

Dustin: Andy is ready to go on this baby.

Abby: Okay. Go Andy.

Andy: A little narrower handlebars than I’d expected.

Dustin: Uh-huh. It’s helpful for the steering on this one. So if you want to release the parking brake, just pull it. Yep. And you’re good to go.

Abby: Oh my gosh, look at that.

Dustin: Just be ready on the brake if you need it. Brake, brake. Hahaha. Yep there you go. You see, you got to turn.

Abby: Yeah, there’s a truck.

Dustin: Just easy on the throttle a little bit.

Andy: I will.

Abby: He’s raring to go. I see that one for like going on taking on the RV with my friends and then I was talking because I have three dogs.

Nikos: The dog or the kids in the back, right.

Abby: But they fit in one car seat next to each other and that would be so awesome. That would be perfect.

Nikos: Yeah, I have a big golden doodle.

Dustin: So you can see what he’s doing here, number one if you get on there and use the throttle, just go easy on it until you get the hang of the steering. He’s really gunning for it which is making me a little bit nervous. He’s right by the cars too. Yeah, and you see how you got to really turn. So he’s not turning. Yeah, see, there you go, right.

Abby: I think it just takes some getting used to.

Dustin: Uh-huh, uh-huh.

Andy: It’s going to take longer to get used to the steering.

Abby: Yeah, you want to lean, like..

Dustin: Yeah, so don’t lean, turn, turn, yep, yep, and just ease on that throttle.

Abby: Maybe save it for hills. I’m a little bit nervous about this one.

Dustin: Yeah. Well you got to…

Abby/Nikos: Just go straight and slow at the start.

Dustin: And just remember, you have to turn and just go slow. Just go slow and you’ll be fine. He’s really kind of jumpy on the thing which I think is making it a little harder.

Abby: I kind of like that the throttle is on the right hand side. Just because that’s my better side, so I have more reliability on that for me.

 Dustin: It’s powerful too huh. So definitely different, right?

Andy: And you can definitely feel the suspension.

Dustin: Uh-huh, uh-huh.

Andy: Like it's got a cushion. For me, it takes longer but not too long, at the end, I was getting a little bit better.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah. Who wants to go next?

Abby: I will.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: Like I said, I’m a little bit afraid of this one but I love it so much that I want to try.

Nikos: Stable.

Abby: Yeah. I don’t think I can tip it even if I do something really wrong.

Dustin: This is the lowest the seat goes with the current seat post so…

Abby: Okay. A little bit higher but it’s still doable.

Dustin: And once you get on, you don’t have to balance. So you can just sit on the seat, like just sit down.

Abby: Really?

Dustin: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Now you’re good. So you can put your  feet on the pedal. There you go.

Abby: Wow. Okay, yeah. I didn’t believe you to be honest.

Dustin: So my recommendation is let off the brake and then just tap that one with your thumb but don’t jerk it, gradually in. Yeah. Now kind of stay at that speed and get used to the turning.

Abby: Okay.

Dustin: And I’dl recommend, yeah.

Abby: Actually, I think like the other one is easier with it engaged.

Dustin: Get ready on the brake if you need it too.

Abby: I got it. I’m right here, it’s nice that it’s right here.

Dustin: I think you’re going to find that as we move through all the trikes, you’re going to get better at it.

Nikos: Right. Yeah.

Dustin: That’s also probably, you know it’s the biggest and heaviest one we have, so I’m throwing you guys into that first. But you know the lighter ones are probably a little bit easier to just first get the hang of. She’s going deep into the cut over there.

Abby: Hi, trying this out. I know, it’s so cool isn’t it?

Lady passerby: Yeah. I was gonna put… I have a big basket though, oh in front. Oh, it’s adorable.

Abby: I think I’m fitting my three dogs here.

Lady passerby: Yeah, I was gonna say that. Yeah, yeah, I have a bulldog. That’s adorable.

Abby: I know.

Lady passerby: I love it.

Abby: I love it too. Awesome.

Dustin: I get stopped all the time when I’m out. I have three kids under the age of eight. I can fit all three of them there going down to the beach and whatnot.

Nikos: Yeah, that’d be fun.

Dustin: Yeah. We’ve had a bunch of grandparents, they take the grandkids out and they come over.

Abby: You know, actually, that's pretty fast. I actually think that this is silly but I didn’t even pedal and I could just focus on the throttle and the steering. Oh now a little bit but it’s nice that it engages automatically. Oh my gosh it’s awesome. And it’s great that it engages because for me, sometimes my hands are my worst part so I don’t have to use the throttle like on up there if I don’t need it. I can just pedal once and it engages. And I love that I don’t have to worry about falling over at all. Like I don’t even have to give a second spot to it.

Dustin: Exactly.

Abby: I really love that and I love the fact that I could put my three dogs at the back and we could just be like the coolest people.

Dustin: You want to try to take on a passenger on the back?

Abby: Me? Are you sure? Hahaha.

Dustin:Let’s try. Here I will go on the back. Just go slow, because I want you to feel how you probably won’t even notice the difference.

Abby: I know but I might…

Dustin: Don’t be scared, it’s okay.

Abby: Are you sure?

Dustin:. Yeah. You won’t even tell that I’m back here and actually, it may balance it more for you. Go ahead, just give it a try.

Abby: Thanks for trusting me. You want to go around the building?

Dustin: Just go straight. Yeah.

Abby: Actually, I went a bump over there and it was pretty cool. It’s pretty fun.

Dustin: Yeah, you can turn, just turn left. See, it’s not even, you don’t really notice it.

Abby: Actually it does feel a little bit better for me. I didn’t think it could be better but it does. You're right. This is amazing. This is like a whole new world honestly that sounds really silly.

Dustin: But this one’s a lot of fun.

Abby: It is, and you can have people back there.

Dustin: Yup.

Abby: And it’s like you can have anything back there. Oh my gosh, I love this so much.

Dustin: We just got caught up in a little traffic jam back here but…

Abby: Yeah. Oh my gosh and I love that I can turn my mind off of the balancing part and just put it like a world of difference. It’s amazing, I love it.

Dustin: Cool.

Abby: Thanks for trusting me.

Dustin: Yeah. Zero.

Abby: Okay. Awesome.

Dustin: All right Nikos, are you ready?

Nikos: Sure.

Dustin: Let's get this right here. Okay.

Nikos: All right. What do you think, should we raise the seat a little bit or is that…

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: There we go.

Dustin: Okay, try that.

Nikos: Too loose, I don’t know. What do you think?

Dustin: All right. I think it moved a little.

Nikos: Oh yeah, I’m kind of beefy.

Dustin: No, it’s okay. I didn’t clamp it down. Let me see. Okay, here we go. All right, that should be good. There we go.

Nikos: And excuse me throttle is this one right?

Dustin: Yeah, yeah.

Nikos: Okay.

Dustin: It’s in zero so let me put it in one.

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: And I’m just  going to kind of.. Remember just stay away from the cars over here.

Nikos: Right.

Dustin: So, it’s a little different right? Yeah, let me move this. That’s all right. It’s all right.

Nikos: I’m having a little trouble with this one just being so I’m used to my handle over at arm length so just having…

Dustin: Too close to your body?

Nikos: Way too close to my body, yeah.

Dustin: Can you sit back on the seat a little more? There you go. Try pedaling. Here, let me try something here. Okay, try pedaling. Don’t do the throttle.

Nikos: Yeah, and I just, it’s just the…

Dustin: Is it hard with the pedal position?

Nikos: Yeah because I’m hitting them, it’s like they’re straight underneath me rather than….

Dustin: Little back out in front?

Nikos: Yeah, actually this is feeling a little uncomfortable.

Dustin: Okay. We can pass on this one.

Nikos: I think I’m going to pass on this.

Dustin: Okay, fair enough. All right. Okay. Does anybody want to try to be a passenger?

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: Do you want to try to be a passenger?

Abby: Oh yeah, I will.

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: Okay, hop on. I will drive you around.

Abby: I think it will only be fair.

Dustin: All right, let me know when you’re ready.

Nikos: Okay.

Dustin: Surprisingly comfortable, isn’t it?

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: What do you think about being back there?

Nikos: Oh, it looks like fun. Kids would love.

Dustin: You’re 6’1” so you have decent space. Oh here, let me unbuckle you. Anybody else want to try to ride on the back? Do you want to? All right.

Nikos: And there’s no way to move this? I guess that would be in the way of the back.

Dustin: You can get seat posts that do bring it back a little bit. Okay, all right, you want to hop on Abby?

Abby: Yeah, definitely. Awesome, there’s a seatbelt. Wohoo. Awesome. Wow, this is super comfy. See my knees I can fit right here, and I’m 5 feet so probably pretty average. Awesome.

Dustin: I think what I’m going to do is go this way and then we’ll circle back round.

Abby: Okay. Oh my gosh. Awesome. Oh my gosh that was so fun.

Dustin: Andy, do you want to be a passenger or not?

Andy: Sure.

Dustin: Oh yeah.

Abby: Do it Andy, it’s so fun. Okay. Thank you.

Dustin: All right.

Abby: I feel like I should pay you and tip you. Awesome. Oh, you go to the other, I think you can go either way.

Andy: Onward James.

Dustin: All right, let’s do this. Driving Mr. Andy.

Andy: The view never changes.

Dustin:  Hahahahaha. All right, fun isn’t it?

Andy: Yeah.

Dustin: And believe it or not, it can fit two adults back here before. So tight fit but…

Abby: Two friendly adults.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: That’s awesome. I love that so much.

Dustin: And then, I’ll show you down here. This is the little compartment.

Andy: Oh, I like that.

Abby: Awesome.

Dustin: You can put stuff with you if you go to the store or whatever.

Andy: You can also put a cobra in there.

Dustin: Yeah. You can remove this and we also sell a basket so you could replace the seat. So if you don’t always want to have it for passengers.

Andy: Right.

Abby: Is it easy to take and put it on?

Dustin: It's four screws so it takes, you know, some tools or whatever. Yeah. But it is not hard, you know.

Abby: That’s great.

Dustin: Yeah. All right. So Nikos, if you have to choose, you’re probably going to stick with your cream one as your favorite so far I guess.

Nikos: Yeah, but I was noticing also, that I didn’t, that the handlebars I think it’s just being crunched up like this if I could.

Dustin: So you kind of like that handlebar position better.

Nikos: But also I see that these are adjustable as well.

Dustin: Yeah. So yeah.

Nikos: But then the bar would be really high. But I guess you could modify them right?

Dustin: Yeah, yeah. And Abby, what about you?

Abby: I think two different things right. And I think luckily I could probably afford to for the price of one other electric bike so which is really an awesome thing and still have and some money left over but I would choose this one to keep at a friend’s house at the beach and then I would choose this one for my home because it’s just more compact and that one I wouldn’t have to worry about you know, moving it in and if I needed to put on a ramp it would be super simple and so I think that, you know, that’s a given but so I would take both.

Dustin: We actually have a Youtube video, where one of our customers came out here on an RV trip from Atlanta and he brought his Rickshaw out on the rack.

Abby: Nice, yeah.

Dustin: And this was when they stopped at you know RV parks and whatnot. This was their mode of transportation.

Abby: Yeah, I was mentioning that because a lot of my friends, it used to be our summer thing, you know, I’ll get it, put it in the RV and either get to the place and rent bikes or take bikes on the carrier. I kind of missed that you know, but a lot of places you go like national parks and stuff you know, you park and then everybody goes on a bike and so it’s if you don’t, if you can’t do that, you miss out on a lot and so I mean, I think I would probably take both there too and just figure out how to get them all in.

Andy: The solar array back here to charge it.

Dustin: Are you sticking with your cream as a favorite?

Andy: This one’s been, I’m still not used to steering this one.

Dustin: Okay.

Andy: I don’t have enough confidence, I think the learning curve is an hour.

Dustin: Yeah, you’re right.

Nikos: I think a little bit of that handlebar design is getting used to.

Dustin: Okay, let’s move on to this one. So this one’s a little bit similar to that one, a little bit shorter but we still got the fat tires. Now we’ve got a wide cruiser bar. We’ll see how you like this one Nikos. It’s a 750watts motor. This one has a rear differential, so in theory, it helps bring power to both rear wheels, not in theory, it does, so it can help with traction. You guys can see if you feel a difference at all. So it’s going to steer. All the trikes now are going to feel more similar to this one but you may find it as we move down the line, it gets easier for you.

Nikos: So we have more practice on trike.

Dustin: Also the smaller tires are going to feel different than the bigger tires. And each their own you know, some people, like some, and some people like others. Okay, you’re good. That seat’s probably really low for you actually.

Andy: Yeah, you can raise it up.

Dustin: Yeah.

Andy: I have short legs but not that short.

Dustin: Okay. All right, go ahead. Is it good, bad, higher, maybe higher? Good? Okay. So this one is a little bit different you can see. Now one thing with this one is actually a twist throttle.

Andy: So we have to make sure he got enough juice.

Dustin: Yeah. So you’re in level one. Okay so, change levels this way, up or down. Yeah, hit the plus or minus.

Andy: I do it.

Dustin: Now, you’re two. Yep. Three.

Andy: I’m 123.

Dustin: Haha, yeah. So you’re just going to twist your wrist back to use the throttle. Oh you know what, the kill switch is hit, so now, you can do it.

Andy: Oh wait, I just killed it again.

Dustin: Just be ready on the brake. Looks like he’s maybe driving this one a little bit easier. All right. Yeah, it seemed like you picked up this one quicker. Do you want to make another lap?

Andy: I’ll make another lap.

Dustin: All right.

Andy: I’ll go the other way.

Abby: He’s going so fast.

Nikos: Oh boy, he likes to fast.

Abby: Yeah.

Abby: He’s like a hot runner.

Dustin: You know, that’s my number one tip I always say to people. I’m like, you know, just take your time, get used to it.

Abby: I don’t know anymore that you could actually ride that fast like that I would want to go, so it’s fine with me.

Dustin: I actually made a video and I said the number one thing that causes accidents on ebikes is over confidence which I think is true for…

Nikos: Anything.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah. But yeah, just get used to it, make sure you’re comfortable and you know, but I think that feeling of “oh, hit the throttle, I can go”, you know, it feels so fun you know.

Abby: Kind of you need a test track to do that. Just take it out to the test track, get it out of your system. Have fun. Yeah. And then just go back to the regular speed.

Andy: It’s a little bit odd with the mini throttle.

Dustin: What’s that?

Andy: The throttle, because it’s not a full length throttle, it’s a little bit harder to turn with just the finger.

Dustin: Oh yeah, okay gotcha.

Andy: But it got used to steering yet by the time I got to the third or fourth one, I’ll have the steering done.

Dustin: And how do you think it balanced nicely?

Andy: It balances fine. Yeah.

Dustin: Yeah.

Andy: It’s got a lot of power.

Dustin: Yeah. Okay. All right Abby.

Abby: All right. Again, I love the low entry.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: I think they all have them actually except the Rickshaw which is still doable, just a little higher. Okay. And this one I don’t have to put any energy in the balance again. I love that.

Dustin: Yep. So this is a twist throttle. So, yep, you just, yep.

Abby: Wohoo. Yep. Thank you. Woohoo. Awesome. Oh wow.

Dustin: What do you think?

Abby: Well, okay so, I love this one the best so far.

Dustin: Really?

Abby: Because it’s kind of got the best combination of all of the options for me personally. Because it’s super stable, so I don’t have to worry at all about tipping over or putting the brake on or anything like that. I don’t have to worry about wanting to lean and not. And then the steering is super responsive so it just feels better to me. I don’t know how to describe it, it’s just everything kind of, is like the best so far for me on this.

Dustin: Cool, that’s great.

Abby: It doesn’t feel heavy, it just feels perfect pretty much. Awesome, I love it.

Dustin: All right. Let’s see if Nikos, let’s see if this one’s a little bit easy.

Nikos: More comfortable.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: And I do love the handlebars actually, it’s pretty fun to feel like you’re on a cruiser.

Dustin: You like the handlebars?

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: Yeah, it feels better already.

Dustin: Okay. Too low for the seat or is that good?

Nikos: Let’s see. Probably raise up a little bit.

Dustin: Okay. All righty.

Nikos: Yeah, that’s good.

Dustin: So keep one hand at least where you know, you’re ready to brake it all times.

Nikos: Right.

Dustin: So this one’s the twist throttle.

Nikos: Right. Yep.

Dustin: Nice and easy.

Nikos: Kick down the gears so, you do?

Dustin: Yeah, you push that.

Nikos: Like in motion or?

Dustin: Yes. Yeah. Do you want me to shift it down for you?

Nikos: If you would please.

Dustin: Yeah. That would be easier for you to get going. I’m a professional trike rider at this point. All right.

Andy: So the obvious question is when do you come out with the quad?

Dustin: Might be here quick. Might be here in the future. Turn. Brake, brake, brake.

Andy: Don’t take out the blue car.

Nikos: Haha. It takes getting used to, yeah.

Dustin: Yeah, it’s different.

Nikos: Yeah, I’m still like I said, habits. Yeah. Not used to this handlebar design.

Dustin: Try pedaling, it might be a little bit easier than worrying about the throttle.

Nikos: Okay.

Dustin: So just pedal.

Nikos: Hmm. I wonder why I’m having so much problem with this.

Dustin: Oh here let me help you out. Let’s do this. There you go. Now put your left foot on that pedal. There you go. Now you can push.

Nikos: Hmm. I don’t see why I’m having a problem with it.

Dustin: Here, how about this, point the bike over here, because it is a little flat. You don’t have anything to worry about.

Nikos: And let’s just walk over.

Dustin: Okay, try easing into the throttle. Put your feet on the pedals. There you go. Now just ease into that throttle. There you go. Turn to the right, to the right.

Nikos: Huh. Why am I hearing some problems with that?

Dustin: So that’s what’s really interesting is that you said you had balance issues, but you got on the two front wheel, no problem, because it was a little more intuitive but then this one it’s a whole rewiring of how you’re used to riding.

Nikos: Yeah, yeah. It’s totally different.

Dustin: You want to keep trying or move on to the next?

Nikos: Well it’s… Huh, I don’t see the problem with that. Get my brain wrapped around it. Having a balance, I don’t have a balance issue. Just trusting it you know.

Dustin: There you go. Just keep going slow. Now turn to the right. Turn the handlebars. There you go. Turn the bars, there you go.

Abby: Yey. You got it.

Nikos: Man, I just got to get used to it.

Dustin: Did you feel more comfortable towards the end?

Nikos: Yeah, it’s just that covering through.

Dustin: Right, right, right.

Nikos: Interesting. So yeah, I think, just getting used to it is. Practice, practice like anything else.

Dustin: Well you figured it out towards the end there.

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: So you’re still going to probably stick with your cream one as the favorite? The first one.

Nikos: So far, yeah.

Dustin: Andy, how about you?

Andy: The cream one’s still a favorite but that’s a close second.

Dustin: This one is?

Andy: Yeah.

Dustin: Okay. All right. We’re getting closer to the end here. Okay. So this one, we call our Easy Transit. Now this is folding as well. Smaller tires for a little lower to the ground. I think you’re going to find the steering on this one’s a lot more nimble. So a little bit different.

Andy: A little less power?

Dustin: Actually, the power is the same. Okay go ahead and jump there. Seat height okay?

Andy: Yeah.

Dustin: Handlebar height okay?

Andy: Yep.

Dustin: Okay. All right, so now, we’re back to a thumb throttle on the left hand there.

Andy: All right, give it a go.

Dustin: We’re here for an hour or so, by the end, they’ve picked it up you know.

Nikos: Right, right.

Abby: Do you offer that like if somebody is brand new and they would like a little session or something?

Dustin: They could. I mean not everyone is local. We ship nationwide, you know.

Andy: This one’s definitely nimble.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah. Little zippier, a little easier to turn.

Nikos: So you ship nationwide?

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: Do you have to assemble like a bike person to assemble it or..

Dustin: Yeah. Usually you can have a mobile mechanic do it or for a lot of these bigger trikes, I mean they come virtually fully assembled. We ship them in a big box. Like this one for example, you just unfold it, you have to put the front wheel on but all the rear assembly, the you know electronics, it’s all done.

Andy: Next.

Dustin: Was this one easier to steer?

Andy: Yeah it was. This is easiest to steer so far.

Dustin: Uh-huh. Okay. All right Abby, are you ready?

Abby: I am.

Dustin: Okay. So you’re back to your left hand on the thumb throttle. Hopefully it’s okay.

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: Oh, and one thing I didn’t show you Andy, you don’t have to do it now but this reverse on this one actually works. So if you were going into a tight space or..

Andy: You’re in the Supermarket in the shopping lane and you got to go backwards to the meat department.

Dustin: That’s right. Elevators.

Nikos: Elevators yeah.

Abby: Oh yeah.

Dustin: Or bringing it in indoors. Like if Laguna Woods you were going to drive it somewhere, you know, you need to like whatever park it inside. You know, and just put it back in reverse and you’re good to go. Okay.

Abby: Thank you.

Dustin: Now that you guys have gotten a taste of electric trikes and bikes, can you see how fun they are to have?

Nikos: Oh, absolutely.

Dustin: Actually for a community like yours, I think they’re…

Nikos: Oh the ideal.

Dustin: So great, especially if you do use the pool, or the facilities a lot, and it’s mostly flat there right?

Nikos: Yeah, a little great but for the most part, the upper part is hilly but the lower part’s pretty flat.

Andy: This is our second place and the first place was pretty much flat. We’re up at Baha’i off where it goes over that hill and all the way down, there’s some serious hills.

Nikos: But actually I spent some time on as you can tell my plates in Southern Utah and St. George and this huge senior community, and a lot of people on two wheel electric bikes.

Abby: Okay, this one is my new favorite.

Dustin: All right, what do you think?

Abby: I love it. This one is definitely my new favorite.

Dustin: Yeah?

Abby: Yeah because it’s got the compactness but it’s got the same like feel as the Rickshaw like as far as like stability and then it’s just it so easy like I feel like I could jump on this and just with a few  minutes like I would just feel very very comfortable. It feels the most like a regular bike to me except I don’t have to pedal which is amazing, so yeah.

Andy: It looks to me that it’s so low in the back with a chain and the gear that it could.

Dustin: Yeah, I mean we never had it happen. I mean if you’re riding on pavement, I think you’ll be okay. Maybe on a trail or something.

Abby: I actually really love how close to the ground it is. I feel very secure. And it feels very much like I could just do anything and I wouldn’t even have to worry about it. You know where some things I think I would be like I don’t know if I could really go there like either up that hill or around that turn or whatever and like this I wouldn’t even have to worry. So yeah, I love it.

Dustin: Good to know. All right, okay. I can tighten that.

Abby: Sorry about that.

Nikos: Let’s see if I can manage this one.

Abby: I think you totally can. Actually you were doing good on all of them. You just took a minute. That’s okay, I almost crashed into the car for the first time, remember?

Dustin: Okay, see how that height feels. I don’t know we might have to go a little higher, maybe not.

Nikos: Maybe a little higher.

Dustin: Okay.

Nikos: I think I’m having a little trouble with my leg length. Too long a femur.

Dustin: Oh, long legs. Yeah. Okay, try that. Maybe too high, I don’t know. Oh it’s pretty good actually. Brake, brake.

Nikos: Why am I having that issue?

Andy: Break it before you brake it.

Nikos: Why I want to.. I forgot what I’m doing wrong here.

Dustin: Just concentrate on keeping the wheel straight.

Nikos: Yeah and excuse me. On this one?

Dustin: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Abby: Oh, slow down. Brake, brake.

Dustin: Okay. Well. We’re going to have faith that Nikos makes it around.

Abby: Yes. It’s like the suspense in a movie. You’ll make it.

Andy: You hear a crash and see a puff of smoke, there’s a problem.

Abby: I don’t think you can see this puff of smoke though.

Dustin: I think he’ll do it. It seemed like he got more control of the speed, so I think he will be better off.

Abby: Yehey! Wooh!

Dustin: Here he comes.

Abby: Great.

Dustin: Yeah. It really is understanding how when it starts to veer, you got to you know, you got to keep it straight.

Abby: Yehey Nikos, you did it. It doesn’t draw attention and make people think that you’re different, you know, like I could be with all my friends and nobody would have a clue, which I love so much.

Nikos: Bad habits. It is something.

Dustin: You’ve got a hang of it though.

Nikos: Yeah, yeah. I’m just like over steering and I think if I had the handlebars out in front of me and also the seat design and like falling off.

Dustin: Do you want to try to move the handlebars?

Nikos: So I think if I move the handlebars.

Dustin: Yeah. You want me to try it for you here. We can adjust it pretty easily if we can dial it in a little better.

Nikos: And also this you know, the saddle seat design, I’m used to a narrow seat and so it’s messing with my. It’s making me chip my hips, you know. Yeah, you got much more…

Dustin: Better? Okay.

Abby: That’s great that that’s so easy.

Dustin: Let’s try something else too. Go ahead and get off for a second. I’m going to… Yeah, I’m going to give you this seat to try.

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: I personally like the seat too.

Nikos: Yeah ‘cause this is more like a motorcycle you don’t have to move your legs.

Dustin: Yeah. Let’s see. Okay, try that. There you go, he’s getting it now. Just enjoying that back bench while…

Abby: Yeah it’s very comfortable. If you don’t want me here, I can…

Dustin: No, no, you’re good. That’s what it’s there for. All right, here he comes, I think we’ve made some positive adjustments.

Abby: Absolutely. Yeah, that looks much more comfortable for him.

Nikos: Yeah, much better.

Dustin: Much better yeah.

Nikos: Yeah. It’s just that things look more normal.

Dustin: You look more comfortable.

Nikos: Yeah, feel more comfortable.

Dustin: And the driving was easier for you? Steering?

Nikos: If I change this seat design when I pedal it’s knocking my body on and that’s making it over steer. Modification that’s all. You know I better you know, yeah. A different body, that's all. Yep. But that corrects it and then it feels, then I can put my instincts in gear but, yeah, but I like the lightness of it and..

Dustin: Were you getting the steering down a little bit better?

Nikos: Oh, much better. I was you know, I don’t have to over steer because that’s what I was doing, I was trying to control when it didn’t have to. It’s just feeling like I'm  falling off. And that’s the seat design you know because I when I lift my leg up shifting my body weight this way and that way, so it’s just, but it’s correctable.

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: But it’s instincts and habits you know, because I was riding a bike since my 20’s.

Dustin: I get it. Okay.

Nikos: But I like the lightness of it.

Dustin: Yeah. Now, are you still going to stick with the first one as your favorite?

Nikos: Well, I don’t know because I like the lightness of this and I do like foldability because you know, I take the train sometimes, up and down the coast.

Dustin: Oh okay.

Nikos: So to be able to fold and have something modular that I can get around.

Andy: This one folds too.

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: Yeah. So I don’t know, this is my second choice. But I think, for first, utility I could modify one and also put it on the back of the car and take it somewhere. Take it with me to Colorado or whatever. You know, without having to think up and down. Oh no, this is coming. This is replacing the other one.

Dustin: Near the top or at the top?

Nikos: I think we’re just you know modifications design and then practice. Yeah.

Dustin: And Abby, you’re with this one now?

Abby: I am.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: I would still like to get both that and the Rickshaw.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: I think Rickshaw is just going to be in there no matter what, just so cool.

Dustin: Got it. And Andy, where are you at now?

Andy: Still the first one, I like the bigger tires.

Dustin: Okay.

Nikos: Yeah, great.

Dustin: Okay cool. I have something special in store here now. We got our office chair, our Simple Glide. So this one is unique among all of them. We’re back to a twist-throttle here. It has an automatic hub, the production ones are going to have a seven-speed derailleur here. Go ahead and turn the battery. Okay. Andy, are you going to go first?

Andy: Yeah.

Nikos: And what’s the idea behind this pedal design?

Dustin: Well, these are block pedals that I, these are actually add-ons I put to bring the pedals closer to the rider’s body. You can take them off. And if you want, you can also slide the seat back, it’s up to you Andy what feels good.

Andy: I’m okay.

Dustin: And then, so press it down. Yep. And then, we can also adjust these very easily right here. So you can find whatever you like. You can also go like that.

Andy: Let’s try this.

Abby: Cool. It’s like you’re a chopper.

Dustin: Like that? Okay.

Abby: That’s awesome.

Dustin: Plug this.

Abby: That definitely has a lot of stuff.

Andy: The chopper.

Abby: Yeah.

Nikos: Yeah.

Abby: With the ergonomic seats.

Dustin: Yep.

Andy: Where’s my glass chairman? Haha.

Abby: This in production? Is the seat going to look like this?

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: It is?

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: Coloring and everything?

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: It looks like a back seat or a car seat.

Dustin: Oh really?

Andy: With the sunlight, I can’t see the display. I don’t think I need to.

Dustin: Yeah, you’re good. Here, let me pop this out. There we go. So it’s a twist throttle again.

Andy: Right.

Dustin: This one is pretty zippy so ease into the throttle as you get going. So this one was really designed as something that could be a mobility device.

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: Wow, he’s really coming in hot.

Andy: Yeah. But it is working.

Dustin: Yeah. So it’s really designed to be dual and the idea was if there are riders with MS who maybe want to still move their legs but can’t propel the bike, it’s a good way to get exercise.

Abby: Yeah. I love with all these that you have the option. You know, you can start out with moving your legs and then, whenever you need to, you can just go use the throttle, and it’s totally electric. He’s got to be a daredevil in real life like. Maybe he’s a surfer or something.

Dustin: What do you think?

Andy: It’s interesting. Not my favorite.

Dustin: No?

Andy: The twist throttle with the brake here is very easy for my dexterity.

Dustin: Got it. So you like the thumb throttle better.

Andy: I like the thumb throttle and I like the thumb on the left.

Dustin: Okay.

Andy: With the brake on the right better than having to eventhough you’re going to let go of the throttle, use the brake. With Parkinson, I have a lot of slowness.

Dustin: Okay.

Andy: So this is not as comfortable as the other.

Dustin: That’s good to know. Okay.

Andy: But I’m assuming you eventually can have choose a throttle choice.

Dustin: It’s hard for the production to choose. I mean you could always replace the throttle, you just have to take this whole piece off and you could put a thumb throttle on there.

Nikos: Right.

Andy: The little wheel doesn’t appeal to me. It doesn’t give you that sense of stability.

Dustin: Okay, okay.

Andy: It makes it nimble but there’s a trade-off between the stability and nimbleness.

Dustin: Got it. Got it. This one, we have a little bit of elongated frame and we raked out the fork.

Nikos: Right.

Dustin: So we try to give the stability…

Andy: I’m not saying it’s unstable.

Dustin: Yeah.

Andy: It’s just not as quite as stable as the big two wheels in front.

Dustin: Got it. Cool.

Andy: And also wider, you know.

Dustin: All right. Do you like the speed of it though?

Andy: Yeah. Hahaha It’s comfortable. It probably could be the most comfortable grip here, just the throttle, and that’s just personal.

Dustin: Got it. Cool. All right Abby, are you ready?

Abby: All right, I’m ready.

Dustin: Let me pull this seat forward for you.

Abby: Thanks.

Nikos: Well you can move it up and back.

Abby: Yeah, that’s really cool.

Andy: The next stop is the fully recumbent version.

Nikos: Yeah, exactly.

Abby: This is pretty cool actually.

Dustin: Yeah and truthfully, I mean, tell me if I’m wrong, I like the seat being right about here.

Abby: I don’t want it any lower because it would be hard to get in and out of, and it would take so much energy just to do that, that I probably wouldn’t do it.

Dustin: That was my thought. And you know, you can put this up.

Abby: Oh yeah, look at that. That’s awesome.

Dustin: And it’s kind of at a bend down height where you can slide on easily.

Abby: And its got that lower entry again.

Dustin: Yep.

Abby: And so, actually, can we move the seat a little bit back? Can I move back just a tiny bit or does it have to go back?

Dustin: You can. Yeah.

Abby: Just a tiny bit and maybe try that.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: Let’s see. Oh it’s right there, that’s awesome. You don’t have actually to get off.

Dustin: Actually, you have to do it while you’re on it.

Abby: Oh, that makes sense. Oh yeah. That’s better I think.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: Okay. 

Dustin: Put your armrest down there. And do you like the handlebars there or do you want, let’s play around with it. Let’s see.

Abby: I feel like I’m on a chopper. No, I mean, I don’t know if I will be able to sustain that though is the only thing. Maybe a little bit lower would less strain.

Dustin: Yeah. I like them here, personally.

Abby: Yeah. I feel a little bit like a chopper but that’s good actually. This would be more sustainable for me when you put in there.

Andy: You might have to put the seat back.

Abby: Actually, not for me, it’s pretty perfect actually.

Dustin: That’s why you think moving the seat up would be better for you, because it might relax your arms a little more.

Abby: I’ll just try and see.

Dustin: Sure, sure.

Abby: We’ll figure it out. This one, oh it’s on three. I’ll just keep that. I’ll start it on one and then just go from there.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: Okay, here we go. I love this too.

Dustin: I was going to say it, I bet you you’re right.

Abby: Actually let’s see. I think you were right.

Andy: It kind of has a look like somebody married an office chair and a lawn mower.

Abby: You were right.

Dustin: Oh, she stopped, something happened?

Andy: You just adjust your chair.

Dustin: Oh.

Abby: I’ll figure it out. Do I pull up or down? Sorry, you were totally right 100%.

Dustin: What happened?

Abby: No, you were right, I just needed to move the seat up, so I was going to try to do it, you know, but I just…

Dustin: Go ahead and sit dow. And then just twist this down. You can slide yourself forward.

Abby: I think that’s about right. All the way up?

Dustin: Yep.

Abby: Okay cool. You you’re right.

Dustin: Now put your foot like this. Yeah, on there.

Abby: Oh, that feels way better. Thank you. Okay cool.

Dustin: Now, you knid of got the bars right there and they’re more relaxed.

Abby: And I feel like everything is totally relaxed and I can totally just see being at anywhere. Actually I was going to say, the beach but this oh, it’s awesome.

Dustin: All right, go for it.

Abby: Like cream to matte, instead of white.

Dustin: What’s that? Oh the seat?

Abby: Makes me feel a little old to be honest but it’s so comfy.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: I think you might be right. This is my new favorite.

Dustin: It’s really easy to steer isn’t it?

Abby: It just feels like I don’t have to, I can just get in and everything is right where to be. And I can totally relax back, you know, we’re kind of towards the end of our day here and so I’m not totally at where I was when we started you know so I love that I can actually just relax back. I mean that’s silly but it’s something to think of.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah. Because you get more tired.

Abby: Everyday, you know. So I just feel this would be great at any time and in any good day, not so good day, I could still use it you know.

Dustin: Yeah.

Abby: And that’s super wonderful, I’m just so thankful that you’re thinking of us.

Dustin: Yeah. I guess, that’s an important thing is not everyday is the same for you physically.

Abby: Yeah. And even I can start off with some day and then after the afternoon by the afternoon, it’s kind of turning into not so good day, they’re all good but just kind of you know.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Abby: They all, scale is good.

Dustin: I get you.

Abby: Just having to think about that ahead of time is one of the adjustments to kind of have to make with MS especially probably other things as well, it’s just natural you know, with MS. So having something you can use no matter how you feel at the beginning of the day, you don’t have to worry about the end of the day and what are you going to do if you can’t ride back or whatever. I mean this is just, I love it so much. And you were right, above the seat it’s so comfy. New favorite.

Dustin: Cool. All right. But you still want the Rickshaw?

Abby: I do. Yes. That’s on the list.

Nikos: What is the function of the wheels on the back?

Dustin: If you want to tip up to move it or just stability if you were to go over a curb or something, you know.

Andy: If you get the optional 1,000 watt motors, it’s a wheelie bar.

Dustin: Yup. That’s right. All right Nikos, are you ready?

Nikos: You see this very great low rider here yeah.

Abby: We didn’t actually talk about the batteries yet, like so, if I charge it, like if I did take it on a trip with an RV and I charged it fully in the morning and was going around like approximately all day and stuff like would it be able to get me home from the cafeteria at the end of the night?

Dustin: So, the range is always going to depend on three different factors. One is the terrain and the hills. Two is the body weight of the rider, so the heavier the rider, the less you’re going to get out of the battery. And three is the combination of how you use the throttle and the pedal assist and then what levels. Soall of these are up to 50miles but you know, getting 50 miles means you’re using the pedal assist intermittently in level one or two. You’re cranking at level five and pedal assist hard straight, it’s going to be around 8 to 10 miles. And if you just throttle only, all the way, it could be up to 20 miles. I’ve done that before if it’s on flat ground. Again, so it really, there’s a lot of variables that play into the range that you get.

Abby: So you would absolutely work though because, I mean at the most, eve if you hit all the trails and everything and still go to the cafeteria for dinner, hit Curry Village and go back that’s maybe 12 miles, like maybe, and it’s you know, a little bit of hills but not really, so this will be perfect.

Andy: It looks like on some of these designs there’s room the daisy chain batteries together or have a spin.

Nikos: Is that a possibility?

Dustin: If you could figure it out. I don’t know how that would work. I mean you could put a spare. This actually one’s going to have a front basket so you could take an extra battery. Yeah. Do you want to hop on?

Nikos: Yeah.

Dustin: Go ahead and play with it wherever you like it.

Nikos: Right here.

Dustin: Okay. You sure you don’t like, because I like them down, like try this, I just want to..

Nikos: Okay.

Dustin: No?

Nikos: Let’s see. Just right there.

Dustin: Okay. I personally, I don’t know, I like it that right there so you’re not working as hard with your shoulders and your arms but you know, to each their own.

Nikos: Yeah. I just have extensions on the sides.

Dustin: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then just make sure you got the pedal like this. You want to be on that part. There you go.

Nikos: Remind me, this is the throttle.

Dustin: Yep. Just esae into that throttle. Hit the red button. Yep. Now you’re good.

Abby: See, that doesn’t look like a shower seat to you? Maybe because you don’t use a shower seat.

Dustin: True. I don’t. Yeah. Well, it is an office chair. I mean, it’s an actual office chair.

Abby: Okay. So you can actually paint it to be like this, the color of the frame maybe like the back of it.

Dustin: Like you or me? Somebody could, I guess.

Abby: Yeah.

Dustin: We can’t because it’s like a white plastic. That’s how we get it but if you wanted to paint it, you could.

Abby: I like that office chair too.

Dustin: Yeah. That one is like a full on. I have a feeling this is his favorite.

Abby: Yeah. I think so.

Nikos: Oh yeah. That’s my favorite, that’s comfortable to go all day in this.

Dustin: Easy to ride isn’t it?

Nikos: Very easy to ride and just the support of my back is just so comfortable. But yeah that’s it, that’s my favorite. Yep.

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: Just comfortable and yeah fun still.

Dustin: And you get the forward pedaling too, which is probably easier on your knees and hips.

Nikos: It’s easier on my hips. Yeah.

Dustin: And the steering seemed to be easier for you.

Nikos: Everything is easier.

Dustin: Yeah. Wow, okay. Cool.

Nikos: That’s definitely my favorite.

Dustin: That’s kind of why I saved this one for last because a lot of times, it ends up being the overall pick. All right, so let’s just go through now and get our final selection. So Abby give us your first pick and your second pick. We know the Rickshaw, no matter what.

Abby: Yes, absolutely. It’s just kind of one of those things that’s like totally involves everybody you can involve other people and that’s fun for me. First pick is probably that one. Can I do three?

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: So first pick is that one.

Dustin: So it’s called the Simple Glide.

Abby: Okay. The Simple Glide is my favorite.

Dustin: Okay.

Abby: But it’s a little bit bulky just for me for like I said, if I was putting in my apartment or something. It’s probably easier to either go. Like I still love the blue one, it just takes a little bit more upper body like ability, and this one kind of has a doll, so I, between those two, honestly, I like the foldability of this one. I may actually be able to figure out how to get it in my car or in my you know, I have a little SUV and that would be super fun you know. And then I can save up for the rounds and all that stuff and then get the Rickshaw.

Dustin: Cool. All right. And Nikos this is your choice.

Nikos: Well this is for the Street, not for trail.

Dustin: The first one?

Nikos: For trail, yeah, yeah. I think yeah, for off-road, you know, stuff that would been more versatile but for streets up and everyday general use and commuting, this is. Yeah. That’s my choice.

Dustin: Cool and Andy, sticking with yours still?

Andy: It’s close. That’s first choice, this is the second choice.

Dustin: You like this and that one you like because you felt balanced and you like the bigger tires.

Andy: I like the bigger tires and the stability.

Dustin: So I’ll go down the line, so the front one is our Two Front Wheel Reverse Etrike, and we have the fat tire version and you know, regular tire version. The Rickshaw, the ebike Rickshaw. This one is our Simple Step-Thru Fat Tire Etrike, obviously with a low step-through frame. This is our Easy Transit Folding Etrike. And this is our Simple Glide 500 watt. We call them our recumbent. Kind of a semi-recumbent but again, I like the seat height, I think it’s easier for people to get on and off as opposed to being very low to the ground, you know.

Abby: For hills and stuff like that, this even, though you said 500 watts versus like 750, this would still be okay for most neighborhoods and stuff.

Dustin: Yeah. I mean for you know, bigger hills and probably for like Nikos and I, I’ve actually taken this up, we have a pretty big hill out here. All these get me up the hill. You’re going to move at a quicker pace with the 750. And actually on the Easy Transit, it’s lighter, so it moves even quicker eventhough this is a 750 and that’s a 750 as well, just a little bit heavier of a bike, and then the two on the end are 750s, you zip up, no problem, you know. But this one’s actually surprisingly powerful too as you guys probably all experienced. Really zippy yeah.

Abby: Yeah, really powerful.

Nikos: I think the weight, you’re not just carrying the body design here.

Dustin: Yeah.

Nikos: I think I could see, you know, if I had changed the saddle to a more, you know, saddle it let’s your hips move rather than that. Yeah. Straight up and down kind of thing.

Dustin: It’s interesting because like a lot of people like that seat, I don’t like it personally either, I like more of the narrow cut for that bike but we have one of these bigger ones like on the Rickshaw. I like that saddle better. So it is kind of dependent on the frame and the bike and the you know the configuration. Cool, we’ve got our choices. Three different riders, three different conditions and they all made their choices.

So if you want to see any more about each of the trikes in the video, they’re linked in the description. And if you have other questions or comments, please reach out to us at theteam@sixthreezero.com or call us (310) 982-2877. Also don’t forget, we offer a 30-day test ride your Etrike policy. If you don’t love it in the first 30days, send it back, no questions asked, no money out of your pocket. We’re also going to warranty everything for the first year. If anything goes wrong in the first year we’ll take care of it, parts and labor, no questions asked. Lastly, join our community. We have a thousands of members in our Facebook group called sixthreezero pedalers. You can talk to existing riders before you make your purchase to ensure you make the right choice, then when you have yours, post in the group, make friends. And then download our app to track your rides and compete on the leaderboard. So thanks for sticking around, and don’t forget, it’s your journey, your experience, enjoy the ride.