Testing the New 750-Watt Relaxed-Body eTrike on a Steep Hill

A Real Hill, a Real Rider, and No Script

Spec sheets are useful, but they only tell you so much. A motor rating, a list of gears and a line about brakes can't tell you how a trike feels when the road tilts up in front of you and your legs start asking questions. That's why we like putting new models on an actual hill with an actual rider and letting the ride speak for itself.

For this video, rider Jack Martin took out the new relaxed-body model, an electric trike built around an upright, easygoing riding position and a 750-watt motor. The plan was simple: climb a steep grade, play with the pedal assistance and the gears to see how they work together, then turn around and come back down to find out how the brakes and the frame behave when gravity is doing the pushing.

There was no elaborate route and no stopwatch. Jack narrated what he was feeling as he went, called out his speed and settings from the display, and gave his honest impressions at the end. What follows is a walk through that ride, along with some practical context on what his settings mean and how you can use the same approach on your own rides. If you're new to three-wheeled electric riding, it may help to browse our full range of electric tricycles as you read. Seeing how different models are set up makes it easier to picture where this one fits.

Jack opened the video by pointing to the motor: 750 watts. On a two-wheeled bike, that number already means strong help on hills and quick starts from a stop. On a trike it matters even more, because a trike carries extra frame, an extra wheel and often a loaded basket. All of that weight has to be moved, and on a climb it has to be moved against gravity.

A smaller motor will still get a trike up a hill, but it may ask you to contribute a lot more effort, especially on a steep pitch or with groceries on board. A 750-watt motor gives you headroom. Instead of the motor running flat out just to keep you moving, it has power in reserve, and that reserve is what you feel as smooth, unstressed acceleration.

That headroom also changes how a ride feels emotionally. When you know the trike can handle the hill ahead, you stop bracing for it. You can look around, enjoy the view and save your energy for the parts of the ride you actually want to work at. For many riders, especially those coming back to cycling after time away, that confidence is the whole point of going electric.

Power on its own isn't the full story, though. How that power is delivered matters just as much, and Jack's ride gave a good look at both: the raw pull on the climb, and the way the pedal assistance and gears let him shape it into something comfortable.

Setting Up for the Climb: Assist at Four, Gear at Three

Before he started up the hill, Jack described the grade as roughly 11 degrees. However you measure it, that's a steep road, the kind of hill that has most people on a regular bike standing on the pedals or getting off to walk.

He set the pedal assistance to level four and started in third gear, with the plan of shifting up to fourth or fifth as he found his rhythm. That's a smart way to approach a climb you don't know yet. A mid-to-high assist level gives the motor permission to do a good share of the work, while a lower gear keeps your pedaling light and your cadence easy at the start, when you're moving slowly and the trike is asking for the most force.

It helps to understand that these two controls do different jobs. Pedal assistance decides how much the motor adds to your effort. Higher levels mean more help each time you turn the cranks. The gears decide how hard each pedal stroke feels for your legs and how fast your feet need to spin to hold a given speed. Assist is about the motor. Gears are about you.

Jack summed up the benefit nicely before setting off: the combination gives you the flexibility to make the ride as comfortable as you want it. Some days you'll want the motor to carry you. Other days you'll want a workout. Having both controls means you aren't stuck with one experience.

Once he was moving, Jack shifted up to fifth gear while keeping the assistance at four. Partway up the hill, he called out his speed: 10 miles an hour on a steep climb.

That number deserves a moment. Ten miles an hour is a comfortable, brisk pace on flat ground for many riders. Holding it uphill on an 11-degree grade, on a trike, while in a higher gear, says a lot about how much the motor is contributing. In a high gear without assistance, that same climb would be a serious leg workout at a fraction of the speed.

Shifting up as speed builds is something many riders forget to do on electric trikes. With a motor helping, it's tempting to leave the gearing in one place and let the assist handle everything. But if you're in a very low gear while the trike is moving quickly, your feet end up spinning fast without pushing against much resistance, and you stop contributing in any useful way. Moving up a gear or two gives your legs something to push against, so your effort actually adds to the speed.

The rule of thumb is simple. Start low when you're slow or just getting going. As the trike picks up speed and your pedaling starts to feel too easy or too fast, shift up. If it starts to feel like you're grinding, shift down. On a trike with a strong motor, you'll often find you can run a higher gear than you'd expect, even on a hill.

Turning Up the Assist: From 12 to Nearly 14 mph

Next, Jack bumped the pedal assistance up from four to five. The change showed up right away. His speed climbed to 12 miles an hour, still on the grade, and then kept rising until he was at almost 14 miles an hour and still accelerating.

Then he mentioned something that tells you a lot about the motor: he wasn't pedaling at that point, and the trike was still pulling smoothly up the hill. He described the acceleration as nice and smooth, and the ride as stable.

There's a useful lesson in that sequence. On a steep climb, the jump from one assist level to the next can be the difference between holding pace and pulling ahead. If you find yourself working harder than you'd like halfway up a hill, it's worth tapping the assist up a level rather than gritting your teeth. You can always drop it back down once the road levels out to stretch your battery and get a little more exercise.

It's also a reminder that the top assist levels aren't only for tired riders. They're useful any time you want to keep a steady, confident pace through a difficult section, such as a hill near traffic, a climb you need to get through quickly, or a stretch where you'd rather keep your attention on the road than on your breathing. If having the option to ride without pedaling sounds appealing, you can compare models in our electric trikes with throttle control collection.

Throughout the climb, Jack kept coming back to two words: smooth and stable. Those are worth paying attention to, because they're what separates a pleasant electric trike from one that feels nervous or awkward.

Smooth power delivery means the motor ramps up gradually rather than surging the moment you press on a pedal. That matters on any bike, but it matters a lot on a hill. A sudden kick of power on a steep grade can feel unsettling and make it harder to steer a straight line. A gradual build lets you stay relaxed in the seat, keep a light grip on the bars, and let the trike do its job.

Stability is where three wheels really earn their keep. On a two-wheeled bike, going slowly uphill means constantly managing your balance, and small wobbles can creep in as you work the pedals. A trike doesn't ask you to balance at all. Whether you're crawling at a few miles an hour or moving along at 14, it stays upright and settled, which frees your attention for the road ahead.

The relaxed body position adds to that feeling. Sitting upright, with your weight back in the seat rather than pitched forward over the handlebars, you have a clear view and less strain on your wrists, shoulders and lower back. Combine that posture with smooth power and a stable platform, and a steep hill stops feeling like an obstacle.

For riders who put comfort at the top of their list, our most comfortable electric trikes collection gathers models built around the same idea.

Keeping an Eye on the Display

Near the top of the climb, Jack pointed out the display mounted at the handlebars. He described it as a heads-up display and noted that he could read both his speed and his current gear at a glance. He also checked the battery and reported that he was still at full charge.

That last detail is worth noting. After a long, steep climb with the assist at four and then five, the battery indicator still showed full. Battery readings can shift as you ride and the exact behavior depends on the system, so we wouldn't treat one climb as a range test. Still, it's reassuring to see that a hard hill didn't immediately drain the display.

A clear, easy-to-read display does more than show numbers. It helps you ride smarter. When you can see your speed, you can judge whether you need more assist or a different gear. When you can see your gear, you don't have to guess where you are in the range before a hill. And when you can see your battery level, you can plan the rest of your ride with confidence instead of worrying about whether you'll make it home.

A good habit is to glance at the display at natural pauses, such as the top of a climb, a stop sign or a turnaround point, rather than staring at it while riding. That keeps your eyes on the road while still giving you the information you need. If you ever need a replacement or want to understand the different units, you can see our ebike displays and batteries and chargers in the parts section.

Climbing is only half of any hill. The other half is getting back down safely, and that's where brakes and frame design really get tested. Jack turned around at the top and said he was looking forward to seeing how the disc brakes performed, describing them as really strong.

On the way down, the trike picked up speed quickly and smoothly. At around 12 miles an hour, he barely touched the brakes and the trike came to a stop. Later in the descent, he reached about 15 miles an hour and hit the brakes again, with the same controlled result.

Disc brakes are a big deal on an electric trike. A loaded trike with a motor and battery carries more weight than a standard bicycle, and more weight means more momentum to manage on a descent. Disc brakes use a rotor at the wheel and a caliper that squeezes it, which gives you strong, predictable stopping power without needing a hard squeeze on the lever. That's exactly what Jack described: a light touch and a confident stop.

Good brakes also change how you ride a descent. When you trust your brakes, you don't need to ride them the whole way down. You can let the trike roll a little, check your speed with short, firm applications, and stay relaxed. Riders who don't trust their brakes tend to grip the levers nonstop, which tires the hands and can make the whole experience more stressful than it should be.

If strong stopping power is high on your list, browse our electric trikes with disc brakes.

Why the Descent Felt So Settled

Jack described the trike as very stable on the way down, and at the end of the video he said he felt very confident coming back down the hill. That confidence comes from the same three-wheeled design that made the climb feel easy.

On two wheels, a steep descent asks you to manage balance, speed and braking all at once. Braking hard on a two-wheeler at speed can also upset the bike if you aren't careful. A trike's wider base keeps it planted, so you can focus on speed and line without worrying about tipping or wobbling.

There are a few habits that make descents on any electric trike even smoother. First, keep the pedal assistance low or off on the way down. You don't need the motor's help, and it can make speed creep up faster than you want. Second, start braking early and gently rather than late and hard. Third, slow down before turns rather than during them. Trikes handle differently from bikes in corners because you can't lean into a turn the same way, so taking turns at a sensible speed keeps the ride comfortable.

Finally, look ahead. The farther down the road you look, the earlier you'll spot cars, pedestrians, gravel or potholes, and the more time you'll have to react. Strong brakes are a safety net, but good planning means you rarely need to use them hard.

Jack's run down the hill showed what this looks like in practice: brisk, smooth speed, quick and easy stops, and a rider who looked relaxed the whole way.

Part way through the descent, Jack pointed out the basket on the back. As he put it, it's there for groceries or whatever else you need to carry.

That might seem like a small feature compared to the motor and the brakes, but for many riders it's the feature that turns a trike from a weekend toy into an everyday vehicle. A rear basket lets you run to the market, pick up a prescription, bring a picnic to the park or haul gear to a friend's house without needing a car. Because a trike is stable when stopped, loading and unloading is easy too. You don't have to hold the bike upright with one hand while juggling bags with the other.

The motor and the basket work well together. A heavy load is exactly the kind of thing that makes hills harder, and that's where 750 watts and a higher assist level pay off. Riders who've hesitated to carry groceries up a hill on a bicycle often find it becomes a non-issue on a powered trike.

A few practical tips when using a rear basket: pack heavier items low and centered so the load stays balanced, use a bag or bungee cord for anything that could bounce out on a bump, and remember that a heavy load will take a little longer to stop, so give yourself extra braking room on descents. You can compare options in our electric tricycles with a large basket and cargo electric trikes collections, and add storage with sixthreezero baskets or bags and panniers.

"How to Use Pedal Assistance and Gears Together",

One of the most useful things about Jack's ride is that it shows how pedal assistance and gears complement each other. Here's a simple way to think about using them on your own trike. On flat ground, a low to moderate assist level and a middle-to-high gear is usually comfortable. You get some help from the motor, you're still pedaling with purpose, and the battery lasts longer. If you want more exercise, drop the assist and leave the gear where it is. If you want an easier ride, raise the assist. Approaching a hill, shift down a gear or two before the climb starts, not halfway up when you're already straining. Raise the assist level at the same time if the hill is steep. As you settle in and the trike holds speed, you can shift back up, just as Jack did when he moved from third to fifth. In the middle of a long climb, if you feel yourself tiring, raise the assist before you lower the gear. That keeps your speed up and lets the motor take more of the load. Jack's jump from four to five took him from 12 miles an hour to nearly 14 without any extra effort from his legs. On the descent, lower the assist or turn it off, shift to a gear that feels comfortable if you choose to pedal, and let the brakes manage your speed. At the end of the video, Jack described this flexibility in his own words: he can shift up and down depending on how much work he wants to put into his legs. That's the real appeal of a well-set-up electric trike. You decide what kind of ride you want, every time you get on.

Based on Jack's ride, the relaxed-body model looks like a strong fit for a few kinds of riders.

If you live somewhere hilly, the combination of a 750-watt motor, multiple assist levels and a usable gear range means steep streets don't need to dictate where you go. Jack held 10 to 14 miles an hour on a steep grade, which is more than enough to keep moving comfortably.

If balance or confidence is a concern, the three-wheeled platform and upright position make a big difference. You don't have to worry about tipping at low speeds or when stopping, and the strong disc brakes give you control on the way back down. Riders exploring options for themselves or a family member may also want to look at our electric trikes for seniors and easy-to-mount eTrikes.

If you want a car-free way to run errands, the rear basket and the motor's extra power make short shopping trips practical, even when the route home includes a climb.

And if you want exercise on your own terms, the assist and gear combination lets you dial the effort up or down depending on how you feel that day. If you're carrying more weight, whether that's the rider, the cargo or both, it's worth browsing our electric trikes with high weight capacity as well. Not sure which category you fall into? Our fitting process matches riders with models based on body and riding style, and the buyer’s guide walks through the main decisions step by step.

A Few Safety and Care Notes Before Your First Hill

Whatever trike you ride, a little preparation makes hill riding safer and more enjoyable.

Wear a helmet every time, including on short trips. If you need one, take a look at sixthreezero helmets.

Check your brakes before each ride. Squeeze the levers and make sure they feel firm and stop the wheels cleanly. With disc brakes, listen for rubbing or squealing and look for anything stuck in the rotor.

Check your tire pressure regularly. Properly inflated tires roll more easily, which helps battery life, and they grip better when you brake on a descent.

Start with a full battery before tackling a big climb, and get to know how your trike's battery indicator behaves over a few rides. That way you'll learn how much charge a typical hill uses on your route.

Practice on a gentle slope first. Try different assist levels and gears, practice braking at different speeds, and get a feel for how the trike turns. Once those basics feel natural, steeper hills become much less intimidating. If you're setting up a new trike at home, our assembly instructions cover the details, and our warranty page explains what's covered down the road.

What Riding Uphill Actually Asks of a Trike

It's easy to watch a video like this and assume any electric trike would make the climb look easy. In reality, hills are where differences between models show up fastest, so it's worth understanding what's going on underneath you as the road tilts up.

Every climb is a tug of war between three things: the total weight being moved, the steepness of the road, and the power available to fight both. On flat ground, most of your effort goes into overcoming rolling resistance and wind. On a steep hill, the biggest job by far is lifting rider, trike and cargo upward. That's why a hill that feels manageable with an empty basket can feel very different with a week of groceries on board.

A motor with more power can keep doing that lifting at a useful speed rather than slowing to a crawl. When a trike slows too much on a climb, two things happen. First, the rider has to work harder to keep the pedals turning against heavy resistance. Second, low speed on a steep grade simply takes longer, which means more time spent working and more battery used to get the same distance. Holding a steady pace, the way Jack did at 10 to 14 miles an hour, is often more efficient as well as more pleasant.

Technique still matters, even with a strong motor. Keep a steady, even cadence rather than pushing hard in bursts. Stay seated and upright so your weight stays centered over the trike. Use the gears early so you never end up grinding in too tall a gear at walking pace. And remember that on a trike you never need to stop pedaling to balance, which means you can ease off for a moment, catch your breath and let the assist carry you without losing your footing.

If you ever do need to stop partway up a hill, a trike makes that much less stressful than a bike. You can come to a halt, rest with your feet on the pedals or the ground, and start again without worrying about falling over. On a powered trike, starting again in a low gear with a higher assist level gets you moving smoothly.

Jack's ride is a good example of all of this working together: enough power to keep the pace up, controls that let him fine-tune the effort, and a stable platform that let him stay relaxed from bottom to top.

At the bottom of the hill, Jack wrapped up with a short, honest summary. He called it a very smooth ride with strong acceleration on the climb. He said he felt very confident coming down, thanks to good brakes and a solid braking system. And he said the gears were just right for his kind of riding, letting him choose how hard he wanted to work.

That's a fair summary of what the video shows. The 750-watt motor handled a steep grade without strain, pushing the trike to nearly 14 miles an hour uphill. The pedal assistance and gears worked together the way they should, giving Jack real control over his effort. The display kept his speed, gear and battery level easy to read. The disc brakes stopped the trike with a light touch on the way down. And the rear basket adds the kind of everyday usefulness that gets a trike out of the garage more often.

Above all, the ride looked relaxed, which is exactly what a model built around a relaxed riding position should deliver. If hills have kept you from riding as much as you'd like, or if you've been looking for a stable, comfortable way to get around town with room to carry things, this is a trike worth a close look.

You can explore the full lineup of electric trikes, and every purchase comes with our 30-day test ride so you can try it on your own hills. For more ride footage and practical tips, browse the Bike Advice blog.