A New Kind of Ride for the Lineup
Every so often a bike rolls into the shop that makes everyone stop what they're doing and walk over for a closer look. The Rick Shaw is one of those. It's an electric trike with a passenger section built onto the back, and the name tells you exactly what the designers had in mind. This isn't a solo commuter or a grocery-getter with a big basket. It's a machine meant to carry people, and to make the person doing the pedaling feel good about it.
Jack Martin from our team took it out for its first real test, and he didn't pick an easy route. He went straight for a hill, then turned around and came back down the other side, which is about as honest a test as you can give a three-wheeler with extra weight behind it. Climbs show you whether the motor has enough in it. Descents show you whether the brakes and the frame can keep up. The Rick Shaw had to pass both.
What follows is a walk through that ride, from the first look at the cockpit to the last stretch of downhill, along with some practical thoughts on who this trike makes sense for and what to expect if you're thinking about adding one to your garage. If you'd rather browse first, you can see the whole category on our rickshaw eTrikes page.
","id":"c94bfbe6-e676-433f-ad7c-e97835ea5648"},{"layoutId":"bike-listing","variants":{},"bikes":[{"id":"563cc348-9948-4258-b7d4-83d8fd2ffa18","value":{"entry":{"entryId":"3cxCCJ696ANbddNt0S691u"}}}],"id":"67505de1-b5ab-431b-b4b5-3e10bcd78552"},{"layoutId":"paragraph-section","variants":{},"heading":"Why a Rickshaw-Style eTrike?","body":"Rickshaws have been carrying passengers around crowded cities for well over a century. The idea is simple: one person provides the power, and one or more people sit comfortably behind and enjoy the trip. What's changed is the power. Add an electric motor and pedal assist to that old idea, and suddenly the person up front doesn't need the legs of a professional cyclist to haul a couple of adults up a hill.
That opens up a lot of uses. Grandparents who want to take the grandkids to the park. A couple where one partner can't ride a bike anymore but still loves being outside. Resort and campground staff who shuttle guests around the property. Neighborhood ambassadors, wedding venues, beach towns, retirement communities. Anywhere people want to get from here to there at an easy pace and actually enjoy the scenery on the way, a passenger trike fits.
It also solves a problem that a lot of riders don't talk about much. Not everyone in a household rides at the same level. Some people are nervous on two wheels, some have balance or mobility concerns, and some simply don't want to pedal. A trike like the Rick Shaw lets everyone come along on the same outing instead of leaving someone at home. If that's what you're after, our collection of eTrikes built for passengers is worth a look alongside it.
The 750-Watt Power Unit
The Rickshaw runs on what Jack described as the typical power unit for this class of trike: a 750-watt motor. That number matters more on a passenger trike than on almost any other kind of bike. A solo rider on a light frame can get by with less. Once you add a rear seating section and the people sitting in it, you need a motor that can keep the whole package moving without straining.
Seven hundred and fifty watts is a sweet spot for this kind of riding. It's enough to pull from a dead stop at an intersection without a big wobble, enough to hold a steady pace on rolling streets, and, as the hill test showed, enough to carry the trike up a real grade at a comfortable clip. It isn't about top speed. A rickshaw isn't supposed to be fast. It's about having power in reserve so the climb never feels like a fight.
Pairing that motor with pedal assist means the rider decides how much of the work the motor handles. On flat ground you can dial it back and pedal more yourself. On a hill you can turn it up and let the motor carry most of the load. That flexibility is a big reason why riders who haven't been on a bike in years end up comfortable on a trike like this within a few rides. If you want a deeper look at how power and range play together, our batteries and chargers page is a good place to see what keeps that motor running.
","id":"06cc8ab2-081e-416d-bf02-3e44aec8f0e6"},{"layoutId":"full-width-image-with-out-bleed","variants":{},"image":{"assetId":"6GXraFrzr4lVvZysHLaMEx","options":{"backgroundSize":"cover"},"mobileAssetId":"","mobileOptions":{"backgroundSize":"cover"}},"id":"857157c5-dbd9-409a-af5b-fa12aa0ed282"},{"layoutId":"paragraph-section","variants":{},"heading":"Hydraulic Brakes: The Feature Jack Couldn't Stop Talking About","body":"If there's one thing that stood out on this ride, it was the brakes. The Rick Shaw has hydraulic brakes, and Jack said plainly that he'd never seen them on a trike like this before. He tested them before the ride even started and his reaction was immediate. They were, in his word, amazing.
Here's why that matters. Most bikes and trikes use mechanical brakes, where a steel cable runs from the lever to the caliper. Pull the lever, the cable tightens, and the pads squeeze the rotor. It works, but cables stretch over time, they pick up friction in their housing, and the feel at the lever can get vague. You end up squeezing harder to get the same stopping power, which gets tiring on a long descent.
Hydraulic brakes replace that cable with a sealed line of fluid. When you pull the lever, you're pushing fluid, and because fluid doesn't compress the way a cable stretches, the force goes straight to the pads. The result is more stopping power for less hand effort, and a much more predictable feel. You squeeze a little, you slow a little. You squeeze more, you slow more. There's no grabbing and no guessing.
On a passenger trike, that predictability is everything. You're not just stopping yourself. You're stopping a frame, a motor, a battery, a rear seating section, and the people in it. A jerky stop on a solo bike is a minor annoyance. A jerky stop with passengers behind you is uncomfortable for them and stressful for you. Jack's takeaway after testing them was that they still give you a nice smooth stop, which is exactly what you want when someone else is along for the ride.
Hydraulic systems also tend to need less fiddling over time, since there's no cable to stretch and readjust. If braking performance is a top priority for you, it's worth comparing the Rick Shaw with our other eTrikes with disc brakes.
Controls That Keep Your Hands on the Bars
Before heading out, Jack pointed out something that's easy to overlook in a spec sheet but makes a real difference on the road: every control sits right at the handlebars. You never have to lift your hands off the grips to change a setting.
That might sound like a small convenience, but think about what it means in practice. Say you're approaching a hill and want more assist. On some setups you'd have to reach down to a control panel or fumble for a button that's out of easy reach, taking a hand off the bars right when you need steady steering. On the Rick Shaw, the adjustment is a thumb press away. You stay in control the whole time.
For riders carrying passengers, keeping both hands on the bars is more than a nice touch. It's part of riding responsibly. Every moment you're fully in control of the steering and the brakes is a moment your passengers can relax. Jack came back to this point more than once during the ride. You don't have to take your hands off the bars at all, he said, unless you want to.
A Display You Can Actually Read
The display on the Rick Shaw got high marks too. Jack called the readings real easy to read, and that's not a given. Plenty of displays look great in a showroom and then wash out in direct sunlight, or cram so much information onto a small screen that you have to squint to find what you need.
On this trike, the essentials are right there at a glance. You can see which pedal assist level you're on, how fast you're going, and how many miles you've ridden. Those three numbers cover almost everything you need while riding. The assist level tells you how much help the motor is giving. The speed helps you keep a comfortable pace for your passengers. The mileage helps you plan your outing and keep an eye on how far you've gone.
At the end of the ride, Jack specifically mentioned how much he liked being able to check his speed and distance. It's the kind of thing you don't think about until you've ridden something with a hard-to-read screen, and then you never want to go back. If you're curious about the display options we offer across the lineup, you can see them on our eBike displays page.
","id":"54d68c5c-5168-4e7d-9f80-16be99eb3cbc"},{"layoutId":"full-width-image-with-out-bleed","variants":{},"image":{"assetId":"3MLR39oXj1VFchVKJE6c3M","options":{"backgroundSize":"cover"},"mobileAssetId":"","mobileOptions":{"backgroundSize":"cover"}},"id":"94aec171-26be-4c0a-adc8-2d2aa42769e3"},{"layoutId":"paragraph-section","variants":{},"heading":"Pedal Assist and Gears: Two Ways to Set Your Effort","body":"The Rick Shaw gives you two separate tools for controlling how hard you work: pedal assist levels and a traditional gear setting. They do different jobs, and using them together is the key to a comfortable ride.
Pedal assist controls how much the motor adds to your pedaling. Low levels give you a gentle nudge. Higher levels give you a strong push. For the hill test, Jack set it to level four because he knew a climb was coming and wanted the motor doing a good share of the work. That's a smart habit to build: shift up your assist before the climb starts, not halfway up when you're already slowing down.
The gears, on the other hand, control how hard each pedal stroke feels. A lower gear makes pedaling easier and lets your legs spin faster, which is ideal for climbing or starting from a stop. A higher gear makes each stroke harder but moves you further, which suits flat ground and cruising. Jack noted that the gear setting lets you decide how much work you want to put in, and that's exactly right.
When you combine the two, you can tune the ride almost any way you like. High assist and a low gear make a steep hill feel easy. Low assist and a higher gear on flat ground turn the ride into a light workout. Some riders like to get their exercise on the way out and lean on the motor on the way home. The Rick Shaw handles all of those approaches without complaint.
The Climb: Pedal Assist Four on a Real Grade
With the settings dialed in, Jack pointed the Rick Shaw up a hill he estimated at around 11 degrees. That's a proper climb, the kind that has plenty of regular cyclists standing up on the pedals. He picked it on purpose, as a fair test of how the trike handles a grade on that assist setting.
The first reaction came almost as soon as he started rolling: power. The trike pulled up the hill without hesitation, and Jack found himself moving along at about 12 miles an hour. On a grade like that, with a passenger section on the back, that's a very comfortable pace. It's fast enough that you're not crawling and slow enough that everything feels controlled.
What stood out wasn't just the speed. It was how calm the whole thing felt. Jack described the climb as very comfortable, and his tone through that stretch of the ride says as much. There was no laboring, no motor whining at its limit, no feeling that the trike was barely hanging on. It simply went up the hill.
For anyone who lives somewhere hilly, this is the part that matters most. A passenger trike that only works on flat ground is a passenger trike that stays in the garage. The Rick Shaw's 750-watt motor and pedal assist mean hills are just part of the route, not a reason to plan around. If you're shopping specifically for climbing ability, our high weight capacity eTrikes are also designed to handle heavier loads with confidence.
","id":"b0f0c0cd-2cc0-4729-b383-b1b09303471d"},{"layoutId":"full-width-image-with-out-bleed","variants":{},"image":{"assetId":"6FMBlVXBNU8JFIQqHT0rFq","options":{"backgroundSize":"cover"},"mobileAssetId":"","mobileOptions":{"backgroundSize":"cover"}},"id":"9165030e-d266-40e8-b705-1b0ca01c5f2f"},{"layoutId":"paragraph-section","variants":{},"heading":"Comfort for the Rider and the Passengers","body":"Partway through the ride, Jack started talking about something you can't really see in photos: how relaxed he felt. He praised the seats and the armrests and said the whole setup felt well thought out. Between the comfortable seating and the controls at his fingertips, he described the ride as very relaxed, and he made a point of adding that the passengers get the same experience.
That last part is easy to underestimate. On a rickshaw-style trike, the passengers aren't doing any work at all. Their whole experience comes down to comfort: how the seat feels, whether there's something to rest their arms on, how much of the road they feel through the frame. If the rear section is an afterthought, they'll feel every bump and every stop. If it's designed with care, they'll be chatting and pointing out the sights instead of holding on.
Armrests deserve a special mention. They give passengers a natural place to rest and brace themselves, which makes a big difference to how secure they feel, especially older riders or anyone who's a little nervous about being on a moving vehicle without their own handlebars. It's a detail that tells you the designers were thinking about the people in the back, not just the person up front.
Comfort is one of the reasons three-wheelers are so popular with our older riders. If that's who you're shopping for, take a look at our eTrikes for seniors and our roundup of the most comfortable eTrikes we make.
The Downhill Test
After the climb came the part Jack seemed most curious about: the descent. Going downhill is always a good test for a trike, he said, because you want to see how well it handles at speed. Three-wheelers behave differently from bikes. They don't lean into turns the same way, and with extra weight behind the rider, momentum builds quickly on a slope.
The hill on the way back down had a pretty steep pitch, and Jack let the trike pick up a decent amount of speed. This is exactly where the hydraulic brakes earned their reputation. He kept coming back to how smooth they were, and how stable the trike felt the whole way down. There's a world of difference between a descent where you're riding the brakes nervously and one where you trust the machine, and Jack was clearly in the second camp.
He also noticed something about the ride quality. Even on the way down, he said he wasn't feeling the bumps. A steep descent is where road imperfections are most noticeable, because you hit them faster and harder. A trike that soaks those up well is a trike that will be comfortable on the everyday streets most riders actually use, cracks and patches included.
By the bottom of the hill, the verdict was simple. What a fun bike, Jack said. That's not something you always hear about a utility vehicle, and it's a good sign. A passenger trike that's genuinely fun to ride is one people will actually take out.
","id":"4f2cbb6b-f732-454d-9e30-6f9e4a9d924d"},{"layoutId":"full-width-image-with-out-bleed","variants":{},"image":{"assetId":"5SHzZAfRfPXl1o9sYBVH0E","options":{"backgroundSize":"cover"},"mobileAssetId":"","mobileOptions":{"backgroundSize":"cover"}},"id":"7f3be0cd-48a6-4585-a69a-f09fd2981ea0"},{"layoutId":"paragraph-section","variants":{},"heading":"Riding With the Extra Section on the Back","body":"Jack was candid about one thing after the ride. He didn't know what to expect with the extra trailer section on the back. That's a fair concern for anyone considering a rickshaw-style trike. A long wheelbase and a passenger compartment change how a vehicle feels, and it's reasonable to wonder whether it will feel sluggish, tippy, or awkward.
His answer, after a climb and a steep descent, was that it was extremely smooth. The rear section didn't drag the ride down, didn't make the trike feel unstable, and didn't get in the way of the experience. It just came along for the ride, which is exactly what it should do.
A few practical notes if you're new to this kind of trike. Give yourself a little more room when turning, since the overall length is greater than a standard bike or trike. Take corners at a sensible speed, because three-wheelers stay upright rather than leaning, and your passengers will appreciate a gentle turn. And practice a few starts and stops in an empty parking lot before your first ride with passengers. It takes very little time to get the feel of it, but those first few minutes build a lot of confidence. If you're also hauling gear rather than people, our cargo eTrikes offer a similar idea built around storage.
Who the Rickshaw Is Made For
After watching this ride, a few kinds of riders come to mind right away.
The first is the family that wants to do things together. A grandparent pedaling the grandkids to the ice cream shop, a parent taking two children to the beach, a couple heading to a farmers market. The Rick Shaw turns those trips into an outing instead of a chore.
The second is the household where one person can't ride on their own anymore. Maybe it's a balance issue, a recent surgery, or simply age. A passenger trike lets that person keep enjoying fresh air and a breeze without having to pedal or steer. For a lot of couples, that's a big deal. It means the evening ride doesn't have to end just because one partner's riding days on two wheels are over.
The third is the business or community use. Resorts, campgrounds, retirement communities, event venues, beach towns, and downtown districts all have people who need to get short distances in a pleasant way. A quiet electric trike with a comfortable rear section is a great fit, and the 750-watt motor means hilly grounds aren't a problem.
Finally, there's the rider who just wants something different. Not everyone needs a reason. Some people see a rickshaw trike and smile, and that's enough. If you're comparing options for riding with a partner, our tandem eTrikes are another way to share the ride, with both people pedaling.
","id":"1a5cabf3-dff0-45cd-8561-df5167d5a87d"},{"layoutId":"full-width-image-with-out-bleed","variants":{},"image":{"assetId":"4YohZmRuQ1cLwkLUP69Wp0","options":{"backgroundSize":"cover"},"mobileAssetId":"","mobileOptions":{"backgroundSize":"cover"}},"id":"d557d5a8-77a5-4047-9418-09f28f2c9ac3"},{"layoutId":"paragraph-section","variants":{},"heading":"Tips for Getting the Most From a Passenger eTrike","body":"Jack's ride highlighted a few habits that make any passenger trike more pleasant, and they're worth spelling out.
Set your assist before the hill. Jack chose pedal assist four ahead of the climb rather than waiting until he was struggling. Building momentum early is much easier on you and the motor.
Use your gears alongside the assist. Drop to an easier gear for climbs and starts, and shift up on flat ground. The motor works best when your pedaling cadence stays comfortable.
Brake early and smoothly. Hydraulic brakes are powerful, and a light touch goes a long way. Start slowing a little earlier than you would on a solo bike, and let the brakes do the work gradually. Your passengers will feel the difference.
Keep an eye on your display. Checking your speed helps you hold a pace that keeps passengers comfortable, and watching your mileage helps you plan the trip back.
Gear up. A good helmet is the simplest safety step there is, for the rider and passengers alike. You'll find options in our helmets collection. And if you'll be riding in sunny weather, our canopies can add some shade. Finally, talk to your passengers. Let them know when you're about to start, stop, or turn. It sounds obvious, but a quick heads-up makes everyone more relaxed.
Final Thoughts From the Ride
Some test rides end with a long list of pros and cons. This one ended with Jack sounding genuinely happy. He loved the brakes and said they make a huge difference on this trike. He loved being able to read his settings at a glance. He was surprised by how smooth the ride was with the passenger section behind him. And he summed it up plainly: he thinks riders are going to like it, and that it's excellent.
That's about the best endorsement a new model can get from someone who rides a lot of trikes. The Rick Shaw takes a very old idea, the rickshaw, and makes it practical for everyday riders with a 750-watt motor, easy controls, a clear display, and hydraulic brakes that make even a steep descent feel calm.
If you're curious, the best way to find out is to ride one yourself. Every sixthreezero trike comes with our 30-day test ride, so you can try it on your own streets and hills. Bikes ship free, arrive mostly assembled with step-by-step assembly instructions, and are backed by our warranty. If you'd like to spread out the cost, check our financing options. Not sure the Rick Shaw is the right fit? Our fitting consultation and buyer's guide can help you narrow it down, and you can always explore the full lineup of electric trikes. For more rides like this one, head over to our video blog.
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