Inside the Largest Electric Trike Selection in California: A Model-by-Model Showroom Tour

A Showroom Built Around Three Wheels

I've been in the bike and e-bike industry for 20 years, and I've walked through more showrooms than I can count. In most of them, electric trikes are an afterthought. You'll find one or two three-wheelers parked near the back, usually in a single color, and a salesperson who would rather steer you toward a two-wheeler. Our location in San Clemente, California is built the other way around. Here, the trikes are the main event.

On the day I filmed this walkthrough, we had 12 different electric trike models lined up on the floor. Three or four more weren't there at the time, so all in, we carry about 15 to 16 different types of electric trikes. I'm nearly 100% certain that makes this the largest e-trike selection in California. If someone out there has more, I'd honestly like to see it.

Every one of them is available to test ride. That's the whole reason we keep them here. A spec sheet can tell you motor wattage and battery size, but it can't tell you how a seat feels against your lower back, whether you prefer your pedals underneath you or out in front of you, or how confident you feel the first time you take a corner on three wheels. Only riding answers those questions.

What "15 to 16 types" actually means

When I say types, I don't mean the same trike in a dozen paint colors. I mean genuinely different machines built around different riders. On our floor you'll find a compact folding trike, several four-wheel models, a semi-recumbent, a family of recumbent trikes with motors ranging from 500 up to 1500 watts, rickshaws that carry kids or adult passengers, a tilting tadpole trike that corners like nothing else on three wheels, and an electric tandem built for two riders. You can browse the whole lineup in our electric tricycles collection, but seeing them side by side is a different experience entirely.

Lining them up together makes the differences obvious in a way photos never will. You can sit on a semi-recumbent, walk six feet, and sit on a full recumbent. You can compare a three-wheel layout against a four-wheel layout back to back. A lot of people who walk in with one model in mind leave with a much clearer sense of what they actually need. Sometimes that's the trike they came for. Sometimes it's the one parked next to it.

Three questions worth answering before you visit

Whether you're coming in person or shopping from your couch, I'd start with these:

• How do you want to sit? Upright like a traditional trike, semi-recumbent with your pedals slightly forward, or fully recumbent with real back support and your pedals out in front of your body.
• How many wheels make you feel safe? Three wheels solve the balance problem for most riders, but some people simply feel more secure on four, and that feeling matters.
• What, or who, are you bringing along? Groceries, a dog, grandkids, another adult, or a riding partner who wants to pedal with you all point toward different trikes.

Once you've answered those, the field narrows quickly. I'm going to walk the floor in the same order I did in the video, model type by model type, and by the end you should know which corner of the showroom to head for first.

Can't make it to California?

That's fine. We ship anywhere in the country, and every trike comes with a 30-day test ride. If you don't love it, we guarantee your money back. We also have videos on every one of these trikes on our YouTube channel, along with a longer video where I go through the specs of all of them in detail. Think of this article as the walking tour and that video as the spec sheet. Between the two, you should be able to make a confident choice, whether you visit our San Clemente store or order from home.

The first trike on the floor is the Easy Transit. It's our compact, foldable electric trike, and it's the natural starting point for anyone whose biggest question is, "Where am I actually going to keep this thing?"

It's small, but don't read small as limited. The Easy Transit still has ample cargo space, and it runs a 750-watt motor, so you aren't trading away power to get the compact size. That combination is the whole appeal. A lot of riders assume they have to choose between a trike they can store and move around easily and a trike with enough muscle to be genuinely useful. With the Easy Transit, you don't have to make that choice.

Who the Easy Transit is built for

When people ask me about this one, it usually comes down to two things. Either they want to transport their trike, or they just want something small. Both are completely valid reasons.

Transport covers a lot of real-life situations. Maybe your favorite riding path is a drive away from home. Maybe you travel and want your trike to come with you instead of sitting in the garage. Maybe you split time between two places. In every one of those cases, a full-size trike that can't easily go in a vehicle turns into a trike you ride less often than you planned.

Small covers everything else. Some riders have tight storage, a shared garage, or a path from the door to the street that a big trike simply won't navigate comfortably. Others just prefer the feel of a compact machine. There's nothing wrong with wanting the smallest trike that still does the job well.

Small doesn't mean you leave everything behind

The detail I always point out is the cargo space. Compact trikes sometimes cut storage first, because it's the easiest thing to shrink. The Easy Transit keeps ample room to carry things, so it still works for errands, picnics, and everyday trips rather than only short spins around the block. Paired with the 750-watt motor, that makes it a practical everyday trike that also happens to fold.

What to check when you test ride it

If you come in, ask us to show you the fold, then try it yourself. Picture where it's going: the back of your vehicle, a closet, a corner of the garage. If transport is your main reason for buying, it's worth measuring the cargo area of your vehicle before you visit, so you can compare it to what you see in person.

Then ride it. A compact trike has its own feel, and you want to be sure that feel suits you. Bring whatever you'd normally carry, a bag, a jacket, a water bottle, and see how it fits in the cargo area. Small checks like that take five minutes in the showroom and save a lot of second-guessing later.

If folding and portability are high on your list, you can see the Easy Transit alongside our other folding electric trikes. And as with every model in this tour, there's a dedicated video on our YouTube channel and full specs on the product page if you want to dig deeper before you ride.

Moving down the floor, we get into our four-wheel options. When I filmed this, we had three different four-wheel models on display. The one missing was our recumbent four-wheel version, which puts you in more of a laid-back position with the pedals out in front of your body. So that's three four-wheel options on the floor and a fourth that's part of the lineup. I can't imagine you're going to find that many four-wheel choices under one roof anywhere else.

Why choose four wheels instead of three?

For a lot of riders, three wheels already solve the problem. You don't have to balance at a stop, you don't have to put a foot down, and you can start and stop without wobbling. But some riders still feel safer on four wheels than on three, and if that's you, this is a really, really great option.

I want to be clear about something here. Feeling secure isn't a small detail. If you're nervous on your trike, you'll ride it less, you'll avoid routes you'd otherwise enjoy, and you won't relax enough to have fun. The best trike for you is the one you'll actually want to get on. If a fourth wheel is what gets you out the door, that fourth wheel is worth it.

Who tends to gravitate toward four wheels

The riders I see drawn to this section usually fall into a few groups. Some are getting back on a bike after a long time away and want the most planted feel they can find. Some have ridden three-wheelers before and want even more confidence. And some simply look at a four-wheel e-bike, sit on it, and realize it just feels right. There's no wrong reason. You can compare every model in our four-wheel e-bike collection to see how the layouts differ.

And don't assume four wheels means boring. These are a lot of fun. Stability frees you up to look around, enjoy the scenery, and stop worrying about the ride itself.

Canopies for sun and shade

You'll notice some of the four-wheel models on our floor are wearing canopies. If you ride in strong sun, live somewhere hot, or just like a bit of shade overhead on a long cruise, a canopy changes the experience. We carry sixthreezero canopies as add-ons, so it's worth looking at one on the trike in person to see how it fits your riding.

The recumbent four-wheel option

If back support is a priority and you also want four wheels, ask about the recumbent four-wheel version. It puts you in more of a lay-down position with your pedals in front of your body, which is a very different feel from sitting upright. Since it wasn't on the floor the day I filmed, give us a call before your visit if that's the one you most want to try, and we'll let you know what's available.

How to test ride four wheels

My best advice: ride a three-wheel trike and a four-wheel model back to back. The difference is easiest to judge when you feel both within a few minutes of each other. Pay attention to how you feel at slow speeds, turning in and out of a parking spot, and starting from a stop. Those everyday moments are where the extra stability shows up most.

Next up is the Relaxed Body. This is a semi-recumbent electric trike, and it sits in an interesting middle ground. It resembles a traditional trike, so it doesn't look or feel unfamiliar, but the pedals sit out in front of you a little bit rather than directly underneath you.

That small shift is the point. Moving the pedals forward changes your posture, and that's where the added comfort comes from. You're still sitting up and looking out the way you would on a classic trike, but you're pedaling out in front of your body instead of straight down. It's really, really nice.

Why semi-recumbent matters

A lot of riders I talk to are somewhere in between. A fully upright trike isn't quite as comfortable as they'd like on longer rides, but a fully laid-back recumbent feels like too big a jump. They want something that still feels like the trike they remember, just more relaxed. That's exactly the rider the Relaxed Body was built for.

It's also a good fit for anyone who's ridden a traditional trike before and wants an upgrade in comfort without relearning everything. The riding position is familiar enough that most people settle in within a few minutes.

What to pay attention to on a test ride

Semi-recumbent comfort is something you feel more than something you read about, so give yourself a real ride, not just a sit in the showroom. A few things I'd focus on:

• Your knees. Notice how they feel through a full pedal stroke with your feet slightly forward compared to directly below you.
• Your back and shoulders. Pay attention to whether the posture lets you relax rather than hold yourself up.
• Getting on and off. Do it a few times. It's something you'll repeat at every stop, so it should feel easy.
• Ten minutes in. Comfort problems often show up after a few minutes, not the first few seconds, so ride long enough to notice.

If you're still deciding between an upright trike and a full recumbent, sit on the Relaxed Body last. It often answers the question for people, because it shows them whether a little bit of a recline is enough or whether they want to go all the way.

You can see it alongside our other comfort-focused electric trikes, and as always, there's a dedicated video on our YouTube channel and full details on the product page.

Now we move into our Simple Glide models. These are a whole family of trikes rather than a single one, and they're great if you want that ultimate back support. We were missing one from this group on filming day as well: the recumbent full sit-down, lay-down version.

What makes the Simple Glide family stand out is the range. We have different motor sizes, starting at 500 watts and going all the way up to our 1500-watt dual-motor version with a dual battery. So you've got the whole gamut here if you're looking for comfort but you also want utility. You don't have to give up one to get the other.

Comfort first

The reason people come to the Simple Glide is the support. If your back is your main concern, or you simply want to sit in a seat that holds you instead of perching on one, this is where I'd send you. Real back support changes how long you can comfortably ride and how you feel when you get off. It's the kind of comfort that keeps you riding regularly instead of occasionally.

Choosing a motor size

With motor options from 500 watts up to the 1500-watt dual-motor setup, the natural question is: how much do you need? My honest answer is that it depends on how and where you ride, not on getting the biggest number on the page.

• Think about your terrain. Mostly flat paths and neighborhood streets ask a lot less of a motor than steep, repeated hills.
• Think about your load. Your own weight, plus cargo, plus anyone or anything you plan to tow behind you, all add up.
• Think about how far you want to go. Longer outings put more demand on the battery, which is part of why the top model pairs dual motors with a dual battery.
• Think about how much you want to pedal. Some riders want a gentle helping hand. Others want the motor doing most of the work most of the time.

If you're unsure, this is exactly what a test ride is for. Try the smaller and larger motors back to back on the same stretch, and you'll feel the difference right away. Plenty of riders find the smaller motor suits them perfectly. Others feel the bigger setup and never look back.

The hitch: more utility than you'd expect

Here's the part that surprises people. The Simple Glide models can take an additional cargo row attached to the hitch on the back. That extra row can be either a seat or a basket. Really cool. It means a comfortable recumbent-style trike can also haul more than you'd expect, or bring an extra seat along, depending on how you set it up.

That's the comfort-plus-utility idea in practice. You get full back support and a laid-back riding position, and you still have a real way to carry things or expand what the trike can do as your needs change.

Getting the most from a Simple Glide test ride

When you sit down, take a moment before you pedal. Notice how the seat supports your back and how your arms and shoulders settle. Then ride long enough to feel the motor work, especially if you're comparing sizes. If the hitch accessories matter to you, ask us to show you how the extra row attaches so you can picture how you'd use it at home.

You'll find the Simple Glide models in our recumbent electric trikes collection, and if the full lay-down recumbent version is the one you're most curious about, call ahead before you visit so we can let you know what's on the floor.

Now we get into our rickshaws, and this is one of my favorite sections of the showroom. When I filmed this, we were missing two of them from the floor.

The first missing one is our recumbent rickshaw with a captain's chair for the driver. Again, it's really comfortable, with more of a lay-down position and the pedals in front of your body. The second is a double-motor, double-battery version. On the floor that day, you could choose between a 1000-watt mid-drive and a 750-watt single-motor version.

Who you can bring

The back of the rickshaw can carry up to three children or two adults. That changes what a trike is for. It's no longer just your ride; it's a way to share the ride. These are a lot of fun for passengers, whether you're bringing your kids, your grandkids, or whoever it may be.

I think about the riders who use these most. Parents and grandparents who want to get the kids outside without loading everyone into a car. Couples where one person loves to ride and the other prefers to sit back and enjoy the view. Caregivers who want to bring someone along who can't ride on their own. In every case, the rickshaw turns a solo activity into something you do together. You can see every passenger-ready option in our electric trikes for passengers collection.

Picking a motor setup

With a 750-watt single motor, a 1000-watt mid-drive, and a double-motor, double-battery version in the lineup, there's a rickshaw for different kinds of riding. The more weight you carry, and the more hills you face, the more the motor and battery matter. Two adults in the back on a hilly route is a very different job than a couple of kids on a flat boardwalk.

A mid-drive puts its power through the drivetrain near the pedals, which feels different from a single hub motor, so if you're weighing those two, ride both. If you regularly plan to carry a full load or ride long distances, the double-motor, double-battery version is worth asking about.

Even more room with the hitch

All of our rickshaws have a hitch on the back. You can attach an additional row of seating or an additional cargo basket, so you can bring more people or more stuff with you. That makes these some of the most versatile trikes we sell. A family day out with a cooler, beach gear, and the kids is well within reach.

Canopies for your passengers

You can also add a canopy to the rickshaw. Your passengers are sitting still while you pedal, so shade makes a real difference to how much they enjoy the trip, especially on bright, hot days.

How to test ride a rickshaw

If you can, bring your passengers. Riding a rickshaw empty tells you about half the story. Let them climb in, see how they fit, and take a lap with them on board. You'll learn a lot about how the trike handles with weight in the back and whether your passengers are comfortable. If the captain's chair recumbent is the one you have your eye on, give us a call before you come in so we can check what's available.

You can browse the full lineup in our electric rickshaw collection.

Next we get into our tadpole trikes. The tadpole layout puts two wheels up front and one in the back, which flips the traditional trike design around. On filming day, we were missing the fat tire version, but the model on the floor is the one I want to talk about, because it does something very different.

This is a tilting option. It leans as you go through a turn, and that makes it an extremely agile e-trike. It corners really well. It's totally different than a regular traditional trike, and once you've ridden one, you understand why people get hooked on it.

A trike for riders who want to have fun in the corners

Most trikes are designed around stability first. This one is designed around feel. If you want to corner aggressively and have a lot of fun out there on three wheels, this is the one. It's the trike I'd hand to someone who rode two-wheelers for years, misses that sensation of carving through a turn, and still wants the security of a third wheel at a stop.

An honest note on balance

I'll be straightforward: you need a little bit more balance for this one. Because it tilts, it asks more of you than a traditional upright trike does. That's not a flaw. It's what makes it so much fun. But it does mean it isn't the right choice for every rider.

If your main reason for wanting a trike is maximum stability, or if balance is something you're working around, I'd steer you toward one of the more planted layouts earlier in this tour. If you're comfortable on two wheels and want three wheels for convenience, confidence at stops, or carrying things, the tilting tadpole could be a perfect match.

Test riding a tilting trike

Give yourself a few minutes to get used to it. Start with gentle, wide turns at an easy pace and let yourself feel how it leans. Then gradually tighten the turns as you get comfortable. Most riders who are steady on two wheels figure it out quickly, and the grin usually shows up around the third or fourth corner.

If the fat tire version is the one you want to try, call ahead before your visit. You can compare both in our two front wheel electric trikes collection.

Finally, at the end of the floor, is our bicycle built for two: the EVRYjourney electric tandem. This is where you and another rider can pedal together, go out for rides, and get some exercise side by side, or rather, one behind the other.

I've been out on this one, and I love it. There's something about sharing the pedaling that's completely different from riding next to someone. You're working together, you're talking the whole way, and you're arriving at the same place at the same time.

Two kinds of riders who love the tandem

The first is the rider who wants to bring someone along who can't go out on their own. Maybe that person can't ride solo anymore, or never learned, or just isn't confident enough to handle their own trike. On the tandem, they can still pedal, still get exercise, and still be part of the ride, while you take care of steering and control from the front.

The second is simpler: you just want to enjoy riding with a partner and have some fun. Couples, friends, a parent and a grown child, whoever. It's a great shared activity, and the electric assist means you don't both need to be the same fitness level to enjoy it.

Tandem versus rickshaw: know the difference

People sometimes ask whether they should look at a tandem or a passenger trike, so here's the simple version. With the tandem, your partner pedals with you and is part of the effort. If you want someone to ride along and simply relax, a passenger-style trike is the better fit. If you want them involved in the ride itself, getting exercise and pedaling together, that's the tandem.

Test riding a tandem

This one is best tested with the person you plan to ride with. Come in together, decide who sits where, and take it out for a proper lap. Talk to each other about how it feels. Start slow so you both get used to the rhythm of pedaling together, and you'll know pretty quickly if it's right for you.

I've made lots of videos on the tandem that are on our YouTube channel if you want to see it in action first. And you can find it in our electric tandem trikes collection.

That's the full walk-through of the floor. Whether you're in California, local to San Clemente, or nowhere near us, my invitation is the same: come by and test ride any of these. We keep them out so you can take them, get a feel for them, and make the right choice on the electric trike for you.

Matching the layout to the rider

If you skimmed straight to this section, here's the short version of everything above:

• You need it to fit in a vehicle or a tight space: start with the compact folding trike.
• You want the most planted, secure feeling possible: try the four-wheel models.
• You want a classic trike feel with a bit more comfort: try the semi-recumbent.
• You want ultimate back support, with motor options for comfort or utility: try the recumbent trikes.
• You want to bring kids or adult passengers: head to the rickshaws.
• You love carving through turns and are steady on two wheels: ride the tilting tadpole.
• You want to pedal together with a partner: take the tandem out.

If you're still torn between two or three options, that's normal, and it's exactly why test rides matter. If you'd like help narrowing it down before you come in, our fitting process is a good place to start.

Buying from home without the risk

Not everyone can get to our store, so we've set things up to make buying online feel as safe as buying in person. We ship anywhere in the country, and every trike comes with our 30-day test ride. If you don't love it in the first 30 days, send it back. No questions asked, and no money out of your pocket.

We also back everything with our warranty. If anything goes wrong in the first year, we'll take care of it, parts and labor.

Talk to real riders before you buy

Here's one of the most useful things you can do, and it costs nothing. Join our community before you purchase. We have a Facebook group called sixthreezero Pedalers. Join the group before you buy, talk to existing riders, and ask them anything. Those are the people who can tell you how a trike holds up day to day, what they'd do differently, and what they love. It's one more way to make sure you're making the right choice.

Then once you have your trike, post in the group. Share your rides, ask questions, and make friends. A lot of our riders tell us the community ends up being one of their favorite parts of owning a sixthreezero.

Track your rides

Finally, download the sixthreezero app to track your rides and compete on the leaderboard. It's a fun way to stay motivated and see how much riding you're actually doing.

Questions? Reach out

If there's anything I didn't cover, leave a comment on the video or reach out to us. You can email the team at theteam@sixthreezero.com or call us at (310) 982-2877. We're happy to help you figure out which trike fits you, which ones are on the floor right now, and when's a good time to come in.

Thanks for taking the tour with me, and don't forget: it's your journey. Enjoy the ride.