Contrary to popular belief, three-wheeled bicycles are not just for kids. While training wheels are an incredibly useful addition to bikes for little ones while they’re learning to transition into two-wheeled cycling – we’re here to pose a controversial question. Is the transition from three-wheeled to two-wheeled biking even necessary? Should we stick to thrice the wheeled power?
Rather akin to the arbitrary primary school achievement of gaining a ‘pen licence’, marking one’s official transition from scrappy writing to joined-up cursive, who’s to say we ever really needed to graduate to what is essentially an unnecessarily difficult version of the very same thing? Pencils allow us to make neat, easily erasable mistakes. Similarly, tricycles allow us to retain balance and stability and remain safe while reducing our carbon footprint.
Thus, we’re making the case for a return of the tricycle. A brilliant means for adults to enjoy a day of cycling with the whole family, commuters with hefty cargo to cycle to work comfortably, and elderly individuals to get some fresh air and exercise – let us elaborate a little further on why it’s time to trade in your fixie for an electric tricycle.
Firstly, let’s debunk the myth that tricycles are childish and unstylish. If actors such as Helena Bonham Carter and Kate Winslet can whiz around in tricycles and cargo bikes with their little ones in tow, who’s to say you can’t? In fact, from 2008 onwards (when such starlets were first spotted on tricycles), there was a distinct move towards the bike becoming the new family car. A mere 15 years later, the only difference is a vast improvement in their practicality, thanks to the increased accessibility of battery-operated e-bikes making transporting kids easier than ever.
Tricycles are also cropping up more and more across London as low-cost alternatives for deliveries being made by small businesses, and even larger companies such as DHL. Freddie’s Flowers is a prime example of this fact, and you’ll often see brand representatives hopping on a three-wheeled cargo bike to ensure all their precious flowers are delivered.
What’s more, tricycles are a brilliant way for grandparents and elderly relatives to get back on their bikes without the instability. From exploring the countryside to seamless Sunday errands, especially when it’s complete with e-assist, tricycles help our senior friends feel more confident when cycling.
So, without further ado, we’ve rounded up the best electric tricycles for adults to buy in the UK. Keep scrolling to keep rolling.
Best electric tricycles for adults to buy in the UK at a glance:
- Best for small business owners: Raleigh Pro Electric Cargo Trike - £5950, Raleigh
- Best for comfort and versatility: Jorvik Elite Low Step Through Electric Folding Tricycle JET-E - £1999.99, Jorvik
- Best for the whole family: Cube Trike Hybrid Family 750Wh 85Nm Electric Bike Swamp Grey/Reflex - £5999, Electric Bike Sales
- Best for happy campers: Alpine Electric Bikes - Electric Explorer Trike - E Tricycle - £2749, Alpine Electric Bikes
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Raleigh Pro Electric Cargo Trike
Best for: small business owners
Front-facing cargo tricycles offer stability that you wouldn’t normally get with a hefty three-wheeler. Rather than being constantly concerned about whether the cargo at the back of your trike is being aggressively tossed around by lumps and bumps in the road, or has somehow broken off from the back of your bike completely – front-facing cargo will keep your mind at ease and focused on the road ahead at all times.
The rear wheel is a decently-sized 26 inches, while the trike’s overall frame size measures 50cm. With a 900 litre capacity and a design that equips this tricycle to handle heavier maximum loads of 100kg – it’s safe to say that this three-wheeled e-bike can certainly go the distance. With a battery that has a 43-mile range, built-in lights and mudguards, as well as a mid-engine 250Wh Yamaha motor to help you along your merry way – this e-trike is top of the range for a reason.
Though this model is currently out of stock online due to its sheer popularity, as we await further production you might want to have a look at Raleigh’s Stride 2 family cargo bike – which, though not a tricycle, is an equally fantastic option.
Buy now £5950.00, Raleigh
Jorvik Elite Low Step Through Electric Folding Tricycle JET-E
Best for: comfort and versatility
Though we wouldn’t go so far as to class this tricycle as ‘cheap’ – it is by far the most inexpensive option in this round-up and can even be financed via Klarna or DivideBuy.
As Jorvik puts it, this fantastic foldable model offers “all the benefits of an e-bike with the stability of three wheels”. The low step-through design makes this bike accessible to people of all ages and abilities, while the LED display screen allows you to flick through assist modes and check battery levels with the utmost ease.
Fold-away storage and the anti-theft lockable battery also make this trike a brilliant option for city dwellers who are tight on space, or those who commute into the office but don’t have anywhere to store their three-wheeler during work hours. Equipped with front and rear storage baskets, a Bafang 250w brushless front motor and a 36V lithium-ion battery, it’s safe to say that this trike doesn’t just score highly in the style department.
Choose between 20” and 24” wheels and browse Jorvik’s handy ‘rider height’ photos to help determine which size to go for. Perhaps the most attractive element of this e-trike, however, is the fact that it arrives at your doorstep 90 per cent assembled. That’s right, no knowledge of bike anatomy is required.
Buy now £1999.99, Jorvik
Cube Trike Hybrid Family 750Wh 85Nm Electric Bike Swamp Grey/Reflex
Best for: the whole family
Designed specifically for families with young children, the Cube Trike offers a protective backseat for little ones, functioning as a superb substitute for the car when it comes to school runs and playdates. This bike has also been optimised to cope with heavier loads thanks to an innovative gravity casting method, in which liquid aluminium is moulded into complex frame sections so that the structure itself is better equipped to deal with stresses and strains.
Powered by a 740Wh powerpack and complete with integrated LED lights as well as a large central display for your ride data, the Cube Trike is set to be your family’s new favourite mode of transportation.
Buy now £5999.00, Electric Bike Sales
Alpine Electric Bikes - Electric Explorer Trike - E Tricycle
Best for: happy campers
An incredibly sturdy option for hikers, trekkers and camping enthusiasts, the Alpine e-trike offers a newfound sense of balance and stability for cyclists who often find themselves on rockier roads. Featuring extra chunky 20” tyres, as well as front suspension forks and a suspension seat post so that you can master all terrains, Alpine’s electric explorer trike also has a low step-through height of just 36cm for easy hopping on and off.
The ability for users of all heights and mobility levels to use this trike is further exemplified by the adjustable handlebars and seat. Plus, thanks to the balance afforded by a three-wheeler, users won’t have to place their feet back on the floor until they’re done with riding.
We’re particularly big fans of the easily accessible 36V long-range (33 miles) vertical battery and the fact that it can be fully recharged from zero battery in just five hours flat.
Buy now £2749.00, Alpine Electric Bikes
