Riding the Simple Glide 500W Recumbent Electric Trike: Hills, Elevators, and a Coyote on the Trail

Why a Recumbent E-Trike Gets People Talking

Most people picture a tricycle as an upright machine: tall seat, wire basket up front, a rider perched on top. A recumbent trike flips that picture. You sit low and lean back, legs stretched forward toward the pedals, with your weight spread across a real seat back instead of a narrow saddle. Add an electric motor and you get something that feels less like a bicycle and more like a rolling lounge chair that can still climb a hill.

That is the idea behind the Simple Glide, a 500 watt recumbent electric trike we took out for a proper day of riding. We started with a walkaround of the controls, then went up a neighborhood hill, out onto the road, into an elevator, along some pavement with a second rider, and finally onto dirt trails where the ground got rough enough to show what the frame is made of. Somewhere along the way we also met a coyote, which is not something you plan for in a product test.

This article walks through all of it in the order it happened. If you are comparing options in our recumbent electric trike collection or just trying to figure out whether a laid-back riding position is right for you, the details below should help you picture what daily life on one of these actually feels like.

We will be honest about the quirks too. A front hub motor behaves differently than a rear one, the gap between assist levels is real, and loose dirt asks more of any trike than a paved path does. None of that is a deal breaker, but it is the kind of thing you want to know before you buy rather than after.

The first thing anyone notices on the Simple Glide is the seat. Calling it an office chair is not much of an exaggeration. It has a full backrest, generous padding, and a shape that supports your lower back instead of leaving it to fend for itself. When you sit down, you sink in rather than balance on top.

The seat is adjustable, and that matters more on a recumbent than on an upright trike. Because your legs extend forward to reach the pedals, the distance between the seat and the crank decides whether you pedal comfortably or end up either cramped or overreaching. On the Simple Glide you can slide the seat back or bring it forward, and the adjustment range is built to cover riders up to about 6'4". During the walkaround, the seat moved back and up without any tools or wrestling, which is exactly what you want if more than one person in the household will ride it.

Getting fit right is worth a few minutes of fussing. A good rule is that your leg should be nearly straight, with a slight bend at the knee, when the pedal is at its farthest point. If your knee locks out, slide the seat forward a notch. If your knees come up toward your chest, move it back. If you are unsure where you land, our fitting quiz is a simple way to check which frame styles suit your height and riding habits before you commit.

The low seat also changes how you get on and off. Instead of swinging a leg over a frame, you lower yourself into the seat much like you would a low chair, then lift your feet onto the pedals. For riders who find mounting a traditional bike awkward, that alone can be the reason to look at a recumbent.

Powering Up: The Full Color Display

To turn the trike on, you hold down the power button on the display for a moment. The screen wakes up in full color, which is a nice step up from the small monochrome readouts you see on a lot of budget electric bikes. On camera the colors looked a little odd under the lights, but in person it is easy to read.

The display shows the essentials without clutter. Battery level sits front and center, and on our test day it read full. You also get an odometer so you can keep track of how far you have gone, plus the current pedal assist level so you always know how much help the motor is giving you. That last readout becomes more important than you might think, because the difference between levels on this trike is noticeable, and you will find yourself checking it often during the first few rides.

A clear display is one of those features people undervalue until they ride without one. Knowing your battery level lets you plan a route home with confidence, and seeing your assist level at a glance means you are not guessing why the trike suddenly feels sluggish or eager. If you ever need to replace or upgrade the unit down the road, we stock e-bike displays as separate parts.

The buttons are laid out so you can change settings with your thumb while keeping your hand on the grip. Plus and minus raise and lower the assist level, and as we found out shortly, the same minus button is how you get into reverse.

Reverse is not something most people think about when they shop for a trike, and it is one of the features riders end up appreciating most. On the Simple Glide, you press the minus button on the display and keep stepping down through the assist levels until the screen shows an R. At that point the motor drives the trike backward at a slow, controlled pace.

Why does that matter? A trike is wider and longer than a bicycle, and a recumbent sits low with your feet out front. You cannot just hop off and drag it backward the way you might with a two-wheeler. If you pull into a tight garage, nose up against a wall, or end up facing the wrong way in a narrow spot, backing out on your own power without leaving the seat is a genuine convenience. For riders with limited mobility or strength, it can be the difference between a trike that is easy to live with and one that gets left in the garage.

During the walkaround we dropped into reverse and rolled backward with no drama, then stepped right back up into level one to move forward again. The transition is quick, and because it lives on the same button you already use to adjust assist, there is nothing new to learn. If reverse is high on your list, our collection of e-trikes with reverse gear gathers the models that offer it.

We put reverse to a much more practical test later in the day, in an elevator, and we will get to that shortly.

Twist Throttle, Kill Switch, and Pedal Assist

The Simple Glide gives you two ways to use the motor. The first is a twist throttle on the handlebar. Turn it and the trike moves, whether you are pedaling or not. It is handy for getting started from a stop, giving yourself a boost on a short climb, or simply taking a break from pedaling for a stretch.

Right next to the throttle is a kill switch, and it is a smart safety touch. Pop the switch out and the throttle stops responding entirely. Push it back in and the throttle works again. That is useful when you are parked, when you are walking the trike somewhere, or when someone less experienced is getting settled in the seat and you do not want an accidental twist sending the trike forward. It is a small piece of hardware that takes a lot of worry out of the equation.

The second way to use the motor is pedal assist, where the motor adds power while you pedal. You choose the level, and the higher the number, the more help you get. Pedal assist is where most riders end up spending their time, because it keeps you moving your legs while taking the strain out of hills and headwinds. Having both throttle and assist on one trike gives you a lot of flexibility. If a throttle is a must-have for you, take a look at our electric trikes with throttle control.

One thing we would suggest to new riders: start in level one and get a feel for how the trike responds before you move up. The jump between levels on this model is bigger than you might expect, and it is better to discover that on a quiet street than in traffic.

Stopping power comes from front and rear brakes, operated from the handlebar the way you would expect. Having braking on both ends gives you balanced, predictable stops, which is reassuring on a trike that can carry some speed downhill with motor assistance behind it.

If you are comparing trikes and braking is a priority, it is worth looking at the type of brake each model uses and how it performs in wet weather or on long descents. Our electric trikes with disc brakes page is a good place to compare options if you ride in hilly areas.

The handlebar on the Simple Glide is adjustable, and the mechanism is refreshingly simple. A clamp lets you loosen the bar, move it to where your hands fall naturally, and lock it back down. On a recumbent, this adjustment works hand in hand with the seat position. Once the seat is set for your leg length, you bring the bars in or out so your arms rest comfortably without reaching or bending awkwardly at the elbows. During the walkaround it took only a few seconds to get the bars where they felt right. After that, the only thing left to do was ride.

Tackling the First Hill

Our first real test was a decent-sized neighborhood hill, the kind that would leave most people standing on the pedals of a regular bike. We waited for traffic to clear, eased off with a little throttle, and headed up.

The first thing worth noting is how planted the trike felt pulling away. Even with some throttle at the start, the wheels stayed firmly on the ground. There was no lurching or lifting, just a steady push forward.

On the climb itself, the trike handled the grade with no trouble, and the most striking part was how relaxed the ride stayed. On an upright bike, a hill pulls you forward out of the saddle and puts strain on your arms and lower back. On the Simple Glide, the reclined position stays the same whether you are on flat ground or a steep street. You keep your back against the seat, keep pedaling at an easy pace, and let the motor do the heavy lifting. It is hard to think of a more comfortable way to get up a hill.

We climbed in pedal assist level five, which is plenty of help for a grade like that. Once we leveled out at the top, five was more than we needed, so we dropped back down. That is a good habit in general: use the higher levels when the terrain asks for them and come back down on the flats to save battery and keep the ride smooth.

The Simple Glide uses a 500 watt hub motor in the front wheel. Most electric trikes put the motor at the back, so this is worth understanding before you ride. With a rear motor, the power pushes you from behind. With a front motor, it pulls you forward from the front wheel.

In practice, the difference is mostly about feel. When the motor engages, you sense the front of the trike leading the way, almost like being towed. It takes a few minutes to get used to, especially if you have ridden rear-drive e-bikes before. Once you adjust, it feels natural, and there are some upsides. Steering stays light, and on a recumbent the pulling sensation pairs well with the laid-back seating position.

Our main tip is to be smooth with power when turning sharply or riding on loose surfaces. Because the front wheel both steers and drives, a big burst of throttle in the middle of a tight turn will be more noticeable than it would on a rear-drive trike. Ease into the power, and the trike responds in a calm, controlled way. If you are curious about how different drive layouts and frame styles compare, the Choosing A Bike section of our Bike Advice blog digs into those decisions in more detail.

Pedal Assist Levels: Where the Real Differences Show

Back on flat ground, we spent some time cycling through assist levels to see how each one felt. The pedal assist on this trike is strong. In level two, it felt like the motor was doing a good share of the work even on level pavement, which is great if you want an easy cruise and less ideal if you are trying to get a workout.

We dropped down to level one to compare, and the change was striking. There is a big difference between one and two. Level one gives you a gentle nudge, enough to soften the effort but still asking you to pedal for real. Level two feels like a different trike, with a much more confident shove behind every pedal stroke. After a short stretch in one, we went right back to two because, honestly, it felt great.

That gap is worth knowing about. If you want a lot of control over how much effort you put in, you will probably spend most of your time switching between one and two on flat ground and saving the higher levels for climbs. If your goal is maximum comfort and minimum strain, you can leave it in two or three and let the trike carry you.

Later in the day, a second rider worked her way up through three and four and found the same pattern. Each step up gave a clear, satisfying boost. She also noticed that you can shift up manually as you pedal, which makes it easy to fine-tune how the trike responds as the road changes.

When we hit a slight uphill while sitting in level two, we gave ourselves a quick boost with the throttle rather than changing levels. Call it being lazy, but that is really the beauty of electric trikes. Whatever the road throws at you, you have a way to get yourself through it without strain.

One pleasant surprise was how tightly the Simple Glide turns. We made a full turn without coming to a complete stop, which is not always easy on a longer recumbent frame. A good turn radius makes a big difference on narrow paths, in parking lots, and anywhere you need to change direction without making a three-point turn.

From there we took it out on the road. Riding a low trike in traffic is something people often worry about, so it is worth describing how it actually felt. We felt safe. The trike is stable at every speed, there is no wobble or balance to manage at a stop, and because you are sitting securely in a supportive seat, you can focus your attention entirely on what is going on around you. With three wheels on the ground, stopping at a light or waiting for a gap in traffic is completely relaxed. You do not need to put a foot down or hold yourself upright.

That said, a low seat does mean you sit below the eye line of many drivers, so a few smart habits go a long way. Wear bright clothing, use lights even in daylight, and consider adding a tall flag if you ride in busy areas. A good helmet is a must on any ride, and we carry sixthreezero helmets designed for exactly this kind of everyday riding.

Once we found a quieter stretch, the trike settled into what it does best. It is fun just to glide along. The ride is smooth, the position is relaxing, and you start to understand where the name comes from. On a nice day, it is the kind of ride that makes you wish you were heading to the beach.

The Elevator Test

If you live in an apartment or condo, the question of how you will get a trike in and out of an elevator is very real. So we tested it.

Our first approach was to back into the elevator. After checking that nobody was inside, we lined up, dropped into reverse, and rolled in. It worked, but backing into a small space takes a little care and some looking over your shoulder.

The easier option turned out to be driving in forward and reversing out. We pushed the call button, pulled straight in, reached back to press the floor button, and when it was time to leave, pressed the minus button until the display showed R and rolled out backward. Getting in and out of reverse is quick, so the whole process felt simple.

This is where reverse goes from a nice-to-have to an everyday tool. Without it, you would need to climb out of the seat, wrestle the trike around in a cramped space, and probably hold up other people waiting for the elevator. With it, you stay seated and handle the whole thing in a few seconds. Before you buy any trike for apartment living, measure your elevator door and interior, and check the trike's length and width against those numbers.

Once we were out, we were good to go, and it was hard not to grin. Not many vehicles let you ride from the street, into a building, and up to your floor without getting off. If storage and tight spaces are a concern, it is also worth looking at our folding electric trikes to see whether a smaller footprint suits your home better.

For the next part of the ride, a second rider took over. She is tall, and that is exactly why her impressions are worth sharing. Taller riders often struggle with traditional bikes. Frames that are too small force a cramped position, and even on the right size frame, the forward lean of a standard bicycle can strain the back over a long ride. She mentioned that on other bikes, her back usually starts to hurt fairly quickly.

On the Simple Glide, that was not an issue. Within the first minute she was talking about how comfortable the seat was and how pleasant it felt just to pedal along. The reclined position takes pressure off the lower back, and the adjustable seat gave her enough room to extend her legs comfortably. By the end of her ride she said she thought this was how she wanted to ride from now on, which is about as strong an endorsement as you get.

Comfort is the whole point of a recumbent design, and it shows in moments like this. If comfort is your top priority, our most comfortable electric trikes collection is a good starting point, and you can also browse replacement and upgrade seats if you want to fine-tune an existing ride.

She also noticed how easy it was to start and stop. The pedal assist makes getting going effortless, and because the trike stays upright on its own, coming to a stop requires no thought at all. That combination is a big part of why these trikes appeal to riders who have gotten out of the habit of cycling.

The Small Details: Grips and Handling

Sometimes it is the small stuff that makes a ride feel premium. Our second rider kept coming back to the grips. They have a leather-style finish with stitched detailing, and she found them genuinely nice to hold. She compared them to a bike she had ridden recently that left residue all over her hands, which made the whole experience unpleasant. On the Simple Glide, the grips stayed clean, felt good in the hand, and added to the overall sense that the trike was built with comfort in mind.

Grips might seem minor, but your hands are one of only three contact points with any bike or trike. On a recumbent, your back and seat handle most of your weight, so your hands rest lightly on the bars. A grip that feels good means you can keep them there for an hour without fatigue or irritation.

Accessories can push that comfort even further. A bag or pannier lets you carry water, a jacket, and the things you pick up along the way without reaching awkwardly. Our bags and panniers and water bottles are easy add-ons for longer outings.

One of the most interesting observations from our second rider was about how she approached hills. Her instinct on a climb was to tense up and prepare to work hard, the same mental bracing most of us do when we see a slope ahead. With pedal assist and the throttle on her side, she found she could let that go. Instead of gearing up for a fight, she just relaxed and kept pedaling.

That shift is easy to underestimate. For a lot of riders, hills are the reason they stop cycling, or the reason they plan routes around flat ground. When a climb stops feeling like an ordeal, your whole map opens up. Streets you used to avoid become part of your regular loop, and you arrive at the top feeling fine rather than winded.

She bumped up the assist on one climb just to enjoy it, and by the top she was laughing and calling it her favorite hill she had ever gone up. Hearing someone describe a hill that way says a lot about what a good e-trike can change. If you are newer to electric riding and want tips on using assist levels efficiently, the eBike section of our blog has plenty of practical advice.

Off-Road: Hard Pack, Bumps, and Loose Dirt

For the final part of the test, we left the pavement behind. A recumbent trike is not built to be a mountain bike, but plenty of riders want to explore park trails, fire roads, and packed dirt paths, so we wanted to see how the Simple Glide handled it.

On hard-packed trails, it was no issue at all. The trike rolled smoothly across flat ground and climbed easy grades without complaint. When we hit a hard-packed straightaway, it simply cruised, and it was genuinely fun to fly along.

Things got more interesting when the terrain turned bumpy. We rode over stretches of seriously uneven ground, the kind that is not really ideal hard pack. Here, the trike's elongated frame paid off. The longer wheelbase keeps it balanced and lets it take the bumps nicely, so you feel the terrain without getting thrown around. Being seated low with a full backrest also helps, because you are not perched on top of the bumps the way you would be on an upright trike.

Loose dirt is a different story, and it is worth being clear about. The looser the surface, the more challenging it becomes for any e-trike, and the Simple Glide is no exception. Climbing a loose section required pedal assist and some patience. With a front motor, it also helps to apply power smoothly so the front wheel keeps its grip. It made it through, but if your regular rides involve a lot of sand or gravel, that is worth factoring into your decision. Riders who plan to spend most of their time on soft or rough surfaces may want to compare our fat tire electric trikes, which are designed with wider tires for extra traction and float.

Partway through the trail ride, we spotted a coyote just ahead. It is not every day a product test turns into a wildlife encounter. We slowed down, gave it room to do its thing, and proceeded with caution. The coyote seemed more interested in getting away from us than anything else. It was probably more scared of us than we were of it.

It is a good reminder that trail riding comes with its own set of considerations. Wildlife, uneven ground, and limited cell service all make it smart to ride with a little extra awareness. A trike helps here in one specific way: you can stop instantly without worrying about balance, keep your hands on the controls, and wait calmly until the path clears. There is no need to unclip or put a foot down. You just sit tight.

A few basic habits make trail rides safer. Let someone know your route, carry water, keep your phone charged, and give animals plenty of space. If something blocks the trail, slowing down and waiting is almost always the right call.

Tips for Your First Week on a Recumbent E-Trike

If you are new to recumbents, the first few rides are mostly about building familiarity. Start in an empty parking lot or a quiet street. Practice starting from a stop in level one, making slow turns in both directions, and braking gently with both levers. Then try reverse a few times so it feels automatic before you ever need it in a tight spot.

Spend some time getting the fit right, too. Small seat and handlebar changes can make a big difference on a recumbent, so do not be afraid to adjust after your first ride. If your knees feel strained or your arms feel stretched, move things a notch and try again. Many riders find their ideal position only after a few outings.

Next, explore the assist levels deliberately. Ride a familiar loop once in level one, once in level two, and once in level three. You will quickly learn which setting matches your mood and your route. Use the throttle for short boosts and starts, and keep the kill switch in mind whenever you park or hand the trike to someone else.

Finally, keep an eye on the battery readout and charge after each longer ride so you always start with a full display. If you ever need a spare or replacement, our batteries and chargers page lists available parts. A little routine care, like checking tire pressure and brake feel every week or two, keeps the trike riding the way it did on day one.

After a full day of riding, a clear picture emerges of who will love this trike. It is a strong match for riders who value comfort above everything else, especially those who experience back pain on upright bikes. The supportive seat and reclined position make long rides far more pleasant.

Taller riders benefit from the generous seat adjustment, which accommodates heights up to about 6'4". Riders who live in apartments or have tight storage will get real use out of reverse, both in elevators and in garages. And anyone who has been avoiding hills will appreciate how the strong pedal assist and throttle take the dread out of climbing.

It is also a thoughtful option for older riders who want stability and an easy way to stay active. Three wheels mean no balancing at stops, and the low seat makes getting on and off simpler for many people. Our electric trikes for seniors collection includes other models worth comparing if mobility is a key factor, along with our easy-to-mount e-trikes.

Where should you think twice? If you mostly ride on loose dirt or sand, a fat tire model may serve you better. If you prefer a commanding, upright view of traffic, a standard upright trike might feel more natural. And if you have never ridden a front-drive e-trike, give yourself a few rides to get used to the pulling sensation.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Before choosing any e-trike, it helps to think through a few practical questions. Where will you store it, and how will you get it there? Measure doorways, gates, and elevators. How will you use it most often: errands, exercise, leisure rides, or a mix? What terrain will you cover regularly? And how important are features like reverse, throttle, and seat adjustability for your daily routine?

It is also worth looking at the support side of ownership. Check the warranty, understand shipping, and look at what assembly involves. If cost is a concern, financing options can spread the purchase out over time.

For a broader overview of everything to consider, our Ultimate Bike Buyer’s Guide walks through frame styles, sizing, and features in depth. And because no review can replace actually riding, our 30-day test ride lets you try a trike at home on your own streets before deciding it is the one.

The Simple Glide 500 watt recumbent electric trike makes a strong first impression and backs it up on the road. The seat is about as comfortable as it gets, the controls are easy to learn, and features like reverse and the throttle kill switch show real thought about how people actually live with these machines. It climbed hills while keeping its rider relaxed, made a tight turn without stopping, handled an elevator with ease, and cruised through hard-packed trails with a balanced, confident feel.

It has its quirks. The front hub motor takes a little getting used to, the jump between assist levels one and two is significant, and loose dirt slows it down. But those are things you learn and adapt to within a ride or two, not flaws that get in the way of enjoying it.

Most of all, the Simple Glide delivers on the promise of its name. It makes riding feel easy. Both of our riders finished the day smiling, and one of them was already talking about this being how she wants to ride from here on out. That is the best measure of any trike. If you want to see more rides like this one, browse the Video Blog on our site, or explore the full range of electric tricycles to find the right match for the way you like to ride.