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By Bryan J. BallManaging Editor – BentriderOnline.comPosted on April 10, 2010 The Rover has been the target of a very aggressive and unique marketing campaign for the last month. TerraTrike’s numerous teaser pics and videos tossed around words like “Revolutionary” and “Game Changing”. Top TerraTrike dealers and at least one media member were even flown out to the company’s Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters for a sneak peak of the new trike. Guesses on our message board ranged from a full suspension titanium tadpole to a cheap sub $500 delta. The actual trike is somewhere in between but definitely the lower end guesses were closer to the truth. Does the Rover live up to the hype? Read on to find out. The Rover is definitely a pretty unique design. In its cheapest form the trike only costs $799 making it the cheapest high quality tadpole trike I’ve ever ridden. It’s 18” seat height is very high for a tadpole and makes it exceedingly easy to get in and out of. Its high-tensile steel frame uses a combination of square and round tubing that not only keeps the cost down but makes it more adjustable for leg length than any other tadpole on the market. It even fits children relatively easily. It also easily breaks down into a few small pieces that will fit into almost any trunk. It’s the first tadpole I’ve seen that uses no chain idlers at all. It has a 400 pound weight limit. Revolutionary? I don’t know but it definitely is poised to be a very high volume seller. I can attest that the Rover does look a lot better in person than in pics and that the clean but industrial look does grow on you. I’ve also watched a few members of the Rover’s target audience try out everything that TerraTrike has to offer and walk away with two of these trikes. They never mentioned the looks. But… “Pretty” is probably a word that will not be tossed about much when describing the Rover. Much of this is due to the square main tube. Square tubing usually equals cheap and to a point this is true of the Rover. Square tubing is cheaper to buy and easier to build with. Therefore it does play a part in the Rover’s low MSRP. However, I have to hand it to TerraTrike for making the most of the material’s attributes. The seat slides over a long area with a very simple seat mount that wouldn’t work as well on a round tube. It also makes taking the trike apart and putting it back together a breeze. And that big square tube does lend itself to all sorts of aftermarket shenanigans. Mounting accessories should be a breeze for anyone with half an ounce of ingenuity. And the trike’s modular design also means that this almost certainly not the last development we’ll see of this basic frame design from TerraTrike. The Rover comes in two versions. The $799 three speed model uses the venerable, old-as-time-itself Sturmey Archer 3-Speed hub. The $999 eight speed uses the much newer Sturmey Archer 8-Speed. Both of these hubs are about as reliable as taxes. Both models come with Zoom disc brakes and a 32 tooth crankset. As I stated earlier, the Rover is very easy to get in and out of. If you can get in and out of your average sofa, you can manage this trike. The bottom bracket is a few inches lower than the seat so numb feet and toes should not be a problem at all either. The Rover’s seat frame is the same as the one that comes on TerraTrikes other budget models but uses a different canvas seat cover. It’s not as breathable as the others in the line-up but upgrading is pretty inexpensive if that bothers you. Other than that, it’s just as comfortable as the seat on any other TerraTrike. The handlebars are also at a very comfortable height. Comfort and ease of use were obviously at the top of the Rover’s design priority list. When you first stomp on the pedals of a Rover, the first thing you notice is… nothing. With no idlers at all, this is by far the quietest tadpole I’ve ever ridden. There’s a quiet whir from the chaintubes but even that is much quieter than usual since the lines are so straight. There’s also not much rattle from the chain or anything else when you hit a bump. The Rover feels pretty stiff when pedaling hard although there is some flex from the seat mount. At 42 lbs, the Rover is hardly a featherweight and it’s not meant to be a performance machine. It’s definitely not but it did feel a bit quicker than I expected at first glance. The Rover is aptly described as “efficient” rather than “quick”. With an 18” seat height this trike is also not going to set any records in the slalom but I have to say that I was quite impressed with the handling. Hardish cornering yields a bit of uneasiness but it definitely did not feel at all “tippy”. Extremely hard braking did lift the rear wheel but the adjustability of the trike does let you keep your weight relatively centered to keep this to a minimum. There was virtually no brake or pedal steer and the direct steering was smooth and predictable. In short, there is nothing that should surprise or frighten a first time rider one bit. The turning circle is also the tightest I’ve seen in a tadpole trike. I think that in day-to-day practice this stat is a bit overrated but the Rover can turn on a dime when called upon to do so. In the past, I’ve not been much a fan of trikes with “only” eight or nine gears. I lived in the mountains. I didn’t know any better. Sales figures of recumbents and uprights alike indicate that hub gears are “the in thing”. Now that I live in a city with bike paths and not as many mountains, I find myself in my middle chainring 90{1603412a7d9e235bc2262b7f3ef07f27b0f0da4c7a911810d5b09776c009474c} of the time and am much less down on these simpler drivetrains. I rode the 8-speed for this review and found the 23-72” gear range to be just about pitch perfect for this type of trike. It can get up most hills just fine and it was never meant to be a speed demon. It cruises along at 17 or so miles per hour quite comfortably and that will be just fine thanks. And especially for the first time trikers the Rover is aimed at, it’s pretty hard to argue with the simplicity and reliability of an internally geared hub. And yes… It comes apart. It’s by no means a true folder but it can be broken down for transport and can fit into the trunk of almost any car. If you can do… well… anything around the house you can manage to break down a Rover. All of TerraTrike’s stock accessories fit the Rover so it can be kitted out to fit most needs. It also ships with an eight-color sticker kit to personalize it however you see fit. So there you have it… This is what we’ve all been waiting for. Is it a trike aimed at our core audience of enthusiasts? Not really but I could definitely see owning one as a commuter/utility trike. (It is very visible in traffic for a tadpole and well suited for city riding) Will it bring new masses to the market? I think so. It’s comfortable, easy to get in and out of, simple to operate, handles well, is well made, comes from a company with outstanding customer service and is relatively inexpensive. That’s a pretty good formula for something that is definitely, “very significant” if not outright “revolutionary”. TERRATRIKE ROVER Highs – Good handling, Very quiet, Exceedingly useableLows – Looks may have to grow on you

By John AxenRTR MagazinePosted on June, 2004 Unless you have been stranded on desert island for the last couple of years I am certain you have noticed the popularity of recumbent trikes has been phenomenal. They allow people with physical limitations or balance issues to enjoy the benefits of getting out in the fresh air and riding with other cyclists. Then there are those of us who have no limitations, other than mental, who are totally fascinated by recumbent trikes as well. Call it the “Big Wheel Syndrome”. I was always envious of the little kids roaring up and down the sidewalks on their big wheel trikes because they appeared to be having so much fun. The fact that I was fully grown limited any participation. Whatever the reason, recumbent trikes are definitely “in”!   Recently, there have been two trends that have captured the attention of trike enthusiasts all over the world. The first trend has been focused on simplicity such direct steering and lightweight frame materials. The second trend has been the development and increasing numbers of recumbent trike tandems. I am not certain who built the first trike tandem but up until recently there were just a couple companies offering them. The most recent entry into unique niche is the American made TerraTrike Tandem from WizWheelz and we have had the opportunity to play with it for the last couple months. Once the TerraTrike Tandem was delivered I took the time to take a walk around it and appreciate the craftsmanship and components. Yes, I truly had to walk around its 121.5 inch length and 35 inch width while it took up half of my two-car garage! The frame is constructed of large diameter 4130 TIG welded tubing and coated in a flashy metallic red with just a hint of gold flakes. Like the TerraTrike singles, the seat frames are separate from the main frame and are secured by a single bolt and a pair of adjustable seat struts. The TerraTrike Tandem has under the seat bars and center point steering by way of tie rods to the spindles. All three 20 inch wheels are built by Velocity, with Shimano cable operated disk brakes on the front. The cranks are FSA Gossamer Tandem triple 32/44/55t and FSA ISIS bottom brackets. The drivetrain is a combination of Shimano Dura Ace, 105, and LX components while the cassette is the Shimano 11-32t, 9-speed. I did not measure how many miles of Sachs PC59 chain was required but it must be considerable. Alloy brake levers and Shimano bar end shifters complete the controls. Our tandem came with IRC Metro tires but the specs now call for Kenda Kwest recumbent tires. By now I am sure you realize that this is a proven package of components. Let’s see how they function as a whole. Because the TerraTrike Tandem arrives at your doorstep fully assembled all you have to do is air up the tires, adjust the seats and bars before your first ride. Just setting up the chains alone could take hours so you have to be happy about that! Let me share something with you about tandem setup. After 34 years of riding all types of tandems I have learned that if you have a happy stoker you will be a very happy pilot. An unhappy stoker can make your life as the pilot quite miserable. So, you want to make sure your stokers position is properly adjusted first! Simply remove the single bolt that holds the seat to the frame and move the seat to the position that gives proper leg extension. Be careful to keep track of all the washers and replace them exactly where they were. You can make fine adjustments by the angle of the saddle as well. The last thing you do is set the angle of the rear bars to the most comfortable position and you will have a happy stoker! As the pilot your set up procedure is nearly the same but even more crucial in terms of access to all the controls. You don’t want to be searching for shifters or brake levers when the going gets tough! A good sturdy mirror is important and many tandem pilots use either eyeglass or helmet mounted versions. With both you can sneak a glimpse at your stoker and see if there is a smile back there. The TerraTrike Tandem comes with a pair of simple platform type pedals which may be adequate for riding around the block but I suggest you install your favorite pedals. Mount a pair of bottle cages and you are ready to roll! In one of our earlier issues we reviewed the 3.3 version of the TerraTrike single which we had an overall good impression. We did have some issues with the seat but I am pleased to tell you they have changed the shape just enough to make it much more comfortable. I was very thankful as I had rubbed a couple of raw spots on the back of my thighs and was not looking forward more raw meat! While sitting stationary all of the controls are easily reached and feel quite natural. The real test is out on the road. My son, Seth and I navigated the TerraTrike Tandem out of the garage the street and we aimed it in a straight line before settling into the seats. There is a reason for this. A wheelbase of 92 inches and a total length of 121.5 inches does not allow for sudden slow speed maneuvers. In fact, we soon discovered that the sharpest turns require a 16 foot radius. We could not do a U turn within the width of our own street! Once seated, feet secure in our clipless pedals, and mirrors properly adjusted, we headed down the road. It was immediately evident that this tandem likes to accelerate even though it weighs in at 60 pounds. Before we got to our first turn I goosed the disk brakes a few times to scuff the rotors. Initially they feel solid but the stopping power increases as the glaze worn off the rotors. We both thought was great that neither of us had to remove out feet from the pedals at the stop sign we did not have to balance the trike. was surprised that it did not take much effort to make that first 90 degree turn even though it does require more real estate than our two wheeled tandem. You simply have to pull out ahead a little bit before you tighten your turn in order avoid running your stoker up against the curb. Keep your stoker happy! After a couple of blocks and running through all of our gear range, which taps out at an anemic 102 inches, we caught up with a few of our fellow recumbent riders. Although it took a little bit more effort than a two wheeled tandem, we were able to keep up with them. The TerraTrike Tandem has a fairly sturdy feel to it even while under heavy pedaling and takes up the imperfections of the road quite well. We both thought the drivetrain to be a bit noisy but considering the length of chain and the number of idler wheels just to keep the tension I guess it isn’t that bad. Nearly 7 miles into our ride and climbing our first short but steep hill we had a mishap. Halfway up a ramp two of our idler wheels decided they wanted to go their own way and flew off the tandem! This was bad! Here we were stopped in the middle of the hill, facing uphill, and trying not to roll back down! One of our friends held us in position as we dismounted and then we picked up the tandem to take it to the side of the trail. Once the wayward idlers were retrieved we discovered that they had been installed backwards and had no way keeping the rubber part of the wheel attached to the cartridge bearings. After reinstalling all of the idlers the proper way and re installing the chains we were off again. Starting off on a hill isn’t so bad on a trike but it definitely was not as fast as our two wheeler! It did not take long to recover from our little mishap and soon we were wishing for bigger gears on the flat sections. This tandem likes to fly! Although our first ride did not take us into the mountains we did get up to 35 miles per hour on one short descent and the TerraTrike Tandem felt quite stable and tracked in a straight line. In fact, I prefer how the Tandem handles over the 3.3 and 3.4 single models. I felt their wheelbases to be on the short side and a bit skittish at speed. The 92 inch wheelbase of the TerraTrike Tandem definitely tames the beast. During those initial rides we found that we had a difficult time navigating the entrances and exits of our bike path system. We had to dismount and carry the 60 pound behemoth through the access gates. This is no problem for a couple strong guys but may pose a problem for a child or small lady. We realized one more problem as we rode the bike trails. Quite often other riders would pay so much attention to us that they would veer off the trail. Fortunately no one was hurt! Once we had become accustomed to working together on the TerraTrike Tandem we ventured off the trails in favor of a more challenging route. As I had previously mentioned, the Tandem gets up to speed quite well on the flats. When we began to gradually climb we felt no noticeable major frame flex but we were aware of the drivetrain noise. This was no problem as we rode into the first major climb as our labored breathing soon masked whatever noise came from the chains! We were in the last gear, crawling up the pass, and thankful we could concentrate on pedaling and not balancing! At 60 pounds you will never set any speed records on mountain climbs. At the summit we began to roll down the other side with apprehension as this was the first major descent of any distance more than a hundred yards. I have to admit that I did not let our speed get over 37 miles per hour because we had 4 miles to descend and I was not sure how the Tandem would handle. Because of its length it does have some delay in responding to slight control inputs and you can get into a sway situation if you are not careful. I decided that our maximum comfortable speed should be 35 miles per hour as I felt I had fairly good control and could favorably react to most situations. I think we both had dry mouths at the bottom of those long hills. Admittedly, we have descended those hills much faster on our two-wheeled tandems. After riding the TerraTrike Tandem for a while I would like to share our impressions. The overall performance was quite good once I adapted to a very long trike. It rides quite smoothly, shifts and brakes well, and has relatively good comfort. Even though we never experienced any major frame flex we both felt that the seats had some minor side movement. Check your drivetrain often and carry the proper tools for repairs on the road. You will also want to have your wheels checked for proper spoke tension and make sure they are true, especially after you have some decent mileage on them. Here is perhaps the most important consideration before you purchase you own TerraTrike Tandem. You must have accurate X-seam measurements for both you and your stoker. There are 3 boom sizes available for the captain and 2 different sizes for the stoker. If you order your Tandem with a boom that is too short you will be sitting on the support tube for the stokers cranks and that is not comfortable. Another thing to consider is how you might want to transport your trike tandem. It will fit into most vans and even in some of the minivans if you remove the rear wheel. You can even carry it on a roof rack but that requires two strong people to muscle it up there. If you and your riding partner would like to spend some quality time together and don’t worry about speed records the TerraTrike Tandem from WizWheelz could be a decent choice. There are other tandem trikes available that may give slightly better performance but at $3,999 and fully assembled to your door, the TerraTrike Tandem is a good value.

By Larry VarneyCo-Editor – BentriderOnline.comPosted on September 18, 2003 There are things in life that we regret doing, but there are also those things that we regret not doing. One of the latter for me the Fourth of July Parade in Carmel, Indiana in 2002. Mike McDowell of Valley Bikes in Carmel had announced it on the web, inviting everyone to stop by his shop and participate as a group. This seemed like it would be a fun thing to do. And, there would be the bonus of stopping by his store. There are three types of stores that I love to wander around in – computers, books, and bikes. Toss in the fact that this is a bike store with lots of recumbents – and quite possibly more recumbent trikes on display than anywhere else in the country – and, it’s located literally beside a rail-trail that makes it great for test rides. So, it’s hard to believe that I passed up the chance to participate. So when the word went out about this year’s parade, I made plans to attend. Those plans looked like they were going to be for nothing when I found out that I would be heading north into Michigan to pick up a WizWheelz TerraTrike 3.4 and a late-prototype WW tandem trike for testing. It seemed like it was going to come down to a choice between attending the parade or picking up the test trikes in Michigan. I was talking to a co-worker about this problem, and he suggested that I drive up to Michigan the day before, the 3rd of July, rather than Friday the 4th. I hadn’t realized that we had both days off for the holiday! So, off I went on Thursday, six hours from my house to the WizWheelz factory, chat with Ike Trikeman about the trikes, current and future, take some pictures – especially of the fenders, just to prove to people that yes, WW is going to be selling front fenders for their trikes – then head southwest for about 4 hours to Carmel, just north of Indianapolis. Lots of driving in one day, but that night when I finally went to sleep in the Red Roof Inn, I was happy: my van contained the new WW TT 3.4, and the even newer tandem trike – and, I was going to be in the parade! My friend Walt Smith also attended the parade. He’s a lot like me – almost any excuse to go to a bike store is a good excuse, and he was interested in the tandem trike as well. So, he was my stoker. The recumbent group organized by Valley Bikes was huge – there were at least two or three dozen of us out there. Most people brought their own recumbents, but Mike offered his trikes and 2-wheelers for those who wanted to use this opportunity to ride something new. The weather was warm and sunny, the crowd was loud and appreciative, and I had my first chance to ride the WW tandem trike. This was one weekend that I wasn’t going to wind up regretting some things that I hadn’t done. When I got home I began testing the two WizWheelz trikes in earnest. The 3.4 report is elsewhere in this issue. The tandem proved to be very popular – I know several couples who are interested in recumbent trike tandems, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to compare my observations with those of others. I love it when people agree with me, of course, but it’s often insightful to examine those cases when they don’t. One of those volunteer couples was David and Karen Martin. They are both strong riders, have ridden tandems before, and an interesting twist was that they are upright riders. Not only was I going to hear what they thought of the tandem as a tandem, but also what their feelings were about recumbents! Incidentally, I had given them one of those single-use cameras so that they could have people take some pictures of them on the tandem, but later I found out that the camera was faulty – the subjects showed up when you used the flash, but were almost completely invisible otherwise. And yes, all of their pictures were in the daytime, without flash. They made several rides over the following few weeks, with the longest being about 60 miles. I suspect that they would have wanted to keep it longer, but Karen was heading off to France – she was on a tour that included climbing Mt. Ventoux! And I was anxious to get it back and do some more riding myself. So, let’s talk about the tandem. Two things you notice immediately: this is a long vehicle. (Since this was a pre-production unit, the exact specifications may not be the same as the current, shipping models. Please check with the WizWheelz website for exact weight, measurements, etc.) And, the paint. It is a deep, dark shade of red, and everyone who saw it loved it. Some people have asked how I manage to transport it. Ignoring the obvious “just ride it”, I found that putting it in the rear of my regular-sized Chevrolet Venture mini-van was not a problem, so long as the rear seats are removed. I discovered that I could leave the boom on, as well as the rear wheel, and all I had to do was remove the bolts holding the rear seat “stays” so that the seat would swivel forward, then roll the trike in so that the rear wheel was between the two front seats in the van. I even had room left over the TT 3.4 and my luggage for the weekend. The tandem is quite similar in construction to the 3.4. But just lengthening the boom and adding a second seat wouldn’t have made for a very stable mount. So, upon closer inspection you’ll notice where WizWheelz has “beefed up” the tandem. I’ve included two pictures that show in particular the cruciform fronts of both trikes. You’re probably thinking, yes, they’re similar but different, but how did it ride? To put it simply, great – but not perfect. The seats are comfortable enough, but I think they either need to have a stiffer bottom or be elevated just a bit more above the boom. On some bumpy stretches of road, you could feel that boom. Of course, a simple solution for those who encounter this relatively minor problem would be to insert a small piece of foam rubber underneath the seat, or just a pad of some sort on the seat itself. And speaking of seats – right now the tandem is constructed so that small, medium or large people – as measured by their x-seams – can be accommodated in the captain’s position, but the stoker is limited to small and medium. If you’re nearing six feet or above, you may find the rear seat to be a bit cramped. If you’re considering this trike – and from what I’ve heard and read, many people are – check with WizWheelz to make certain that it will fit. Out on the road you notice one thing that is common to almost all tandems: they’re heavier than a single bike or trike, and that’s noticeable when climbing long or steep hills. On the flats, it’s not really much of a concern. This tandem will move along at a pretty good pace. There is no independent pedaling option, so you’ll have to coordinate your efforts with your partner. Speed is one thing, but how about stopping? The disc brakes are more than up to the task. There’s nothing quite as reassuring as knowing that the brakes will not only stop you very quickly, but they’re not going to be bothered by rain or heat-induced fade, like rim brakes are. One of my concerns about the tandem were the idler wheels. The chain passes on the underside of the idlers in both directions, and it seemed like there was a lot of friction. I’ve been told by WW that new idler wheels are on the way and will ease my worries. I would think that independent idler wheels for both directions of the chain would be a good idea. My first attempt at turning this tandem was in a small parking area behind Valley Bikes. And, let’s just say that while you do not need “40 acres to turn this rig around”, you won’t be doing u-turns on bike paths. On the road the turning circle is quite adequate for 90-degree turns. Let’s face it – this is a long trike! It’s on a par with other recumbent tandem trikes. And, check with WW again on this: word is that they’re working on something that will make the turning radius much sharper. There are provisions for two water bottles on this tandem. Perhaps I drink more than most people, but I’d like to see at least four. But with two seats you do have the option of adding at least one bladder, so that will help. And for carrying that bunch of stuff that I seemingly can’t live without, I recommend getting a rear rack as well, though WizWheelz does make a nifty bag that will hold your essentials – and maybe a bit more – and it fits on either the back or the underside of the seats. As I mentioned in my review of the TT 3.4, there are provisions for inserting a flag into the seat frame. One will fit in either the left or the right side – or both. And in this case, you could have four flags mounted! The provided flag is the same, stylish-but-invisible flag that is issued with the single trike. Everyone who rode the tandem enjoyed it. Like any tandem, it takes some getting used to, what with the increased weight and turning circle as compared to singles, and you need to work on communicating with your partner. But when you’re out on the road, it’s really enjoyable. I can understand why some people prefer the “freedom” of riding on their own, but now I can appreciate just how much fun it is to literally ride with a companion, and not have to worry about either having to slow down or speed up because of that other person. Throw in the tandem-specific benefits of having someone taking care of monitoring the cue sheets, handing the captain things to eat or drink, and so on – I can see where I would enjoy riding a tandem. And a tandem trike – what more could someone want! Bottom line: I highly recommend this trike. If you’re thinking of getting a recumbent tandem, it might be worth your while to check with WizWheelz about a test ride – you may find that a trike may suit you better than a 2-wheeler. And if you’re already a trike fan, compare the price and features of this tandem trike with others on the market. I suspect that one of the first questions you’ll ask is how soon can you expect delivery! TERRATRIKE TANDEM Highs – Price, Handling, Paint and general appearanceLows – Turning circle, Seat bottoms, Drivetrain friction, Flag is difficult to see from the rear