Adult Trikes vs reg Bikes

[lordpyro]

I am debating between the two. The positives of the trike are that its easier to carry things on there, its stable so when you are 'unstable' you can relax a bit, and they are potentially not easy to steal - ie you can probably recognize your trike faster if someone was to ride away with it.

Negatives are that they may potentially be a bit heavy to ride around on the playa - or maybe a better word would be cumbersome.

Any thoughts? anyone ride one?

[Elorrum]

I love my trike!
less stress on shoulders and wrists, easy going on bumpy, or loose, terrain. slow or stop and no tipping over. sit and chat. Cargo wonderful. I have a three speed and in low gear, it is easy to pedal.

[FIGJAM]

If you have the space for transprt, bring a trike!!!

[CornMan]

The trike is overall just more fun. We've used ours to haul ice. It is in our camp's fleet of camp community bikes.

[trilobyte]

If you have a couple brain cells to rub together and use a lock, all bikes and trikes are pretty safe from theft. If not, they're all pretty easy for someone to make off with.

That said, I'm a HUGE fan of the trike. If you're up for the investment (they cost more than bikes), they're absolutely worth it IMO. After years of having bikes and never really having a great experience with them as a form of transportation, my girlfriend and I got trikes in 2011. Portable fold-up dudes, to be specific. They cost even more, but we wanted something that a) had a couple gears, and b) would fold up for easy transport in our van and use outside of Burning Man (we're city living apartment dwellers). I can't say enough good things about the experience. Stability, cargo hauling, comfort, you name it. In 2012 we stepped things up even more with electric assist hub motors, which were another great investment.

[Koi Kichi]

Do electric bikes or trikes need to be licensed or approved by Burning Man?

[tamarakay]

When I busted my thumb I used my camp mates trike to go to medical. Even one handed and in pain I was impressed. I want one.

[Elorrum]

I first thought of a pedal trike as the old old old lady vehicle that had perhaps a little dog nest in the back basket. Now I am over that. It's a great soft terrain vehicle. carries cargo without adding any stability problems. Perfect for Burning Man.

[Koi Kichi]

When I busted my thumb I used my camp mates trike to go to medical. Even one handed and in pain I was impressed. I want one.

I am seriously considering a trike. My balance is really bad. Crashed my bike about 50 feet away from the RV last year and sported a huge bruise on my knee for the rest of the week. Maybe we could start a new fad in BDC?

[FIGJAM]

Do electric bikes or trikes need to be licensed or approved by Burning Man?

No.

[VultureChow]

Well technically, I think throttle electric bikes are supposed to be licensed, though I've noticed it's not enforced. Electric assist only, though, is totally fine and unregulated.

[Canoe]

Do electric bikes or trikes need to be licensed or approved by Burning Man?

No.
Figjam is correct. No licensing or approval.
But, it could be subject to scrutiny at any time, at Gate or within BRC, for compliance with Nevada law. Particularly so if you're being a dick.

Well technically, I think throttle electric bikes are supposed to be licensed, though I've noticed it's not enforced. Electric assist only, though, is totally fine and unregulated.

Technically, subject to the laws of Nevada on electric bicycles, even though BRC is "off road".

Electric Assist means:
- you can pedal it - it must be able to be moved by pedal power alone (note that this doesn't say that YOU must be able to do so, if you have physical limitations)
- it has electric power (doesn't matter if it's pressure sensing on your pedaling force or by throttle, it's all available to assist your pedaling)

Under Nevada law there are power limits & max speed limits, and some other technical stuff, but then BRC has a 5 mph limit anyway.

Firstly, two or three wheels, no more, to be a "bicycle". Not four. (Some people get away with electric four wheeled "bicycle". Don't count on it.) (And if it is only pedal power, you can have any number of wheels you can make work.) Training wheels a la size for adult bikes might be an issue, if you're being a dick (if you're being a dick, you're a cop magnet). It's been said to make sure that only three wheels (front, back & one of the training wheels) can touch the ground at one time.

Note that you can register various "vehicles" if you have physical limitations, for that purpose, with NO requirement to have pedals.

The details have been covered before. Search eplaya.

[AntiM]

Our four wheeled bike is pure pedal power, we still get questioned at the gate now and then. Pisses me off to see folks with the electric assist on them cruising, because it can become an issue for the rest of us.

I had a crappy trike which I rarely used, it pulled hard to the right. We were out on base and bought a good one, going to light it up come spring. No electric assist on it, I looked at the kits, yikes, that's expensive. No wonder they get stolen. Even my crap one was stolen one year, but in a dust storm, found it abandoned behind Ranger HQ.

[mgb327]

I ride a 1972 3-speed Colombia 3-wheeler, basket in front and back. Best thing I ever did, it is just great. Plus, you always have a chair with you. Get the big old fat soft saddle for "sittin' "

[lucky420]

Are all 3 wheelers geared?

[Koi Kichi]

Do electric bikes or trikes need to be licensed or approved by Burning Man?

No.
Figjam is correct. No licensing or approval.
But, it could be subject to scrutiny at any time, at Gate or within BRC, for compliance with Nevada law. Particularly so if you're being a dick.

Well technically, I think throttle electric bikes are supposed to be licensed, though I've noticed it's not enforced. Electric assist only, though, is totally fine and unregulated.

Technically, subject to the laws of Nevada on electric bicycles, even though BRC is "off road".

Electric Assist means:
- you can pedal it - it must be able to be moved by pedal power alone (note that this doesn't say that YOU must be able to do so, if you have physical limitations)
- it has electric power (doesn't matter if it's pressure sensing on your pedaling force or by throttle, it's all available to assist your pedaling)

Under Nevada law there are power limits & max speed limits, and some other technical stuff, but then BRC has a 5 mph limit anyway.

Firstly, two or three wheels, no more, to be a "bicycle". Not four. (Some people get away with electric four wheeled "bicycle". Don't count on it.) (And if it is only pedal power, you can have any number of wheels you can make work.) Training wheels a la size for adult bikes might be an issue, if you're being a dick (if you're being a dick, you're a cop magnet). It's been said to make sure that only three wheels (front, back & one of the training wheels) can touch the ground at one time.

Note that you can register various "vehicles" if you have physical limitations, for that purpose, with NO requirement to have pedals.

The details have been covered before. Search eplaya.

Thanks for the information. I'm not "handicapped" but at 70 am somewhat physically challenged. It took about 50' on my bike last year to hit a dust hole causing me and the bike to fall over. I sported significant bruises on my knee and shins for the rest of the week and ended up trying to get around mostly on foot. So I'm trying to figure out what will work better this year.

[Canoe]

... hit a dust hole causing me and the bike to fall over. ... trying to figure out what will work better this year.

You'll love a trike for that don't fall down aspect. And you can brake suddenly without having to worry about balance; great for mixing with crowds on foot.

Trikes tend to have narrow tires, so they can't go through dust/sand like fat bike can, but there's usually someone around who'll help drag something out of the dust back to the good stuff. A Fat Trike would be nice, but could get very expensive very quickly. But there may be new products coming out. Or get a Walmart Mongoose Beast, to get the tires & wheels for a trike build; or add the adult sized training wheels to a Beast...

Fat Trike, Geoffs Bike & Ski Iowa City.jpg

[Canoe]

FatTire Terra Trike.jpg

Inspired Cycle Fat Trike.jpg

Inspired Cycle Fat Trike - raw.jpg

[FossaFerox]

Just don't forget transportation logistics. Bikes are very easy to pack, trikes are much, much harder. But yes, if you can afford one and get it out there, they're awesome.

[Elorrum]

My trike has a very low profile frame when it is disassembled, and I put it in my car (focus hatchback) a few years running after taking the wheels off, and the back axle off, and the handlebars, and seat. Last year, I got a rack for the back of the car, and it still was too wide to put it on with the back axle assembled, a bit too long too. I didn't have to take it apart as much, just took the wheels off, and the back axle.

[Koi Kichi]

Love this design. I hate the pedals that are directly below the seat. I usually end up with my heals on the pedals instead of the ball of my foot. Not exactly safe when I can't stop myself from falling over when I hit a dust pocket. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Older ladies love Burning Man too!

[Bless]

My buddy was in a bad motorcycle accident right before last year's burn and dislocated his shoulder. If it wasn't for an adult tryke, he wouldn't have been able to get around at all.

[lvictory23]

If you have a couple brain cells to rub together and use a lock, all bikes and trikes are pretty safe from theft. If not, they're all pretty easy for someone to make off with.

That said, I'm a HUGE fan of the trike. If you're up for the investment (they cost more than bikes), they're absolutely worth it IMO. After years of having bikes and never really having a great experience with them as a form of transportation, my girlfriend and I got trikes in 2011. Portable fold-up dudes, to be specific. They cost even more, but we wanted something that a) had a couple gears, and b) would fold up for easy transport in our van and use outside of Burning Man (we're city living apartment dwellers). I can't say enough good things about the experience. Stability, cargo hauling, comfort, you name it. In 2012 we stepped things up even more with electric assist hub motors, which were another great investment.

Can I get the info on the trikes you guys bought if you still have it? I've been looking for a while but would love to see what you got.

[Meat Hunter]

I have a full size adult trike with 2" tires and baskets on front and back. It is a really grand layout especially at night when all the lights and LED light strings are turned on.

But, with only one speed and with 190 lb. me on it, I originally found it impossible to peddle across grass, extremely difficult to peddle very far on pavement that has even the slightest bit of grade and tiring to peddle very far even on a flat paved surface.

Thinking how large the event is and how much I would have to peddle, there was just no way that I would have any fun on the playa with my trike in the original off-the-shelf configuration.

In preparation for my first burn in 2014, I added an electric drive kit to it and I have never looked back. Adding that electric drive kit was one of my best BM decisions.

I have a small ice chest in the back basket and carry all my personal items in the front basket. On occasion, I have found a weary soul out on the deep playa struggling to walk to the city and I have had them sit on the ice chest in back and given them a ride back to the city with no real strain a'tall on my electric drive.

Not all electric drive kits are all the same. Some might last one burn (if you are lucky) and others will last you for years. In my opinion, you get exactly what you pay for.

My electric trike is now heading to it's 4th burn and I have not had one single problem.

If you would like specifics about my trike, please message me and I will pass on everything that I have learned about making my adult trike an absolute pleasure to ride on the playa.

[krly]

lvictory23, here's one http://tridenttrikes.com/