How to Maintain a Recumbent Trike?

• Posted on 17 February 2025
• 0

Owning a recumbent trike, particularly an electric one, is just the start of an exciting journey, but proper maintenance is key to keeping it in top shape. Regular care, like lubricating the chain, checking brakes, and inspecting key components, ensures a smooth and safe ride. Whether you're in need of a tune-up or have specific concerns, it's important to stay on top of maintenance. This guide offers helpful tips on how to properly care for your trike and keep it performing at its best for years to come.

Buying a recumbent trike is just the beginning of your great journey into the world of recumbents. A trike offers many advantages, especially if it's an electric trike, but just like any piece of equipment, it requires proper maintenance. So, how do you take care of your recumbent trike?

In general, maintenance your trike is not much different from servicing a bicycle, but there are certain parts that require additional attention due to the specific design of all trikes. This applies to any price range, from low-end to high-end models.

The most attention should be given to the chain, as it is the longest mechanical part of the tricycle that is constantly in motion, thus requiring continuous monitoring and maintenance. We recommend lubricating your chain every 200-300 miles to ensure it lasts as long as possible, and also checking its condition at a shop that services trikes every 500-700 miles.

Next are the brakes, which are crucial for the safety of any bicycle. They wear out more quickly if you're using an electric assist, as the brakes have to stop more energy each time. With an e-trike, you’re always riding a bit faster and often applying more load. Therefore, you should check the brake pads every 300-400 miles, or if you like speed, every 200-300 miles. Simply take a flashlight and shine it on the brakes—you'll be able to see the wear level. If that’s difficult, contact us, and we’ll do it for you for free.

It’s also very important to keep an eye on your housing, especially if you have a folding trike and travel frequently. Like the chain, it’s a long component that undergoes significant wear due to its length. Therefore, visually inspect your bike, and if you see signs of friction on the hose, it's better to replace it, as this can negatively affect gear shifting or braking.

Pay close attention to your tires, how the gears shift, how firmly the brakes hold, and whether the spokes are secure. If you have any questions, feel free to call or visit Freedom Folding Electric Bikes. We have extensive experience working with recumbent trikes. Your trike will be in good hands. Also, if you are out of Colorado, we’d be happy to work on your trike if you send it to us via mail. After servicing, we’ll ship it back to you.

In addition, we recommend bringing your trike to a service center for a regular check-up at least once every six months, and also for a full tune-up before the start of the active season. If you're in Colorado, bring your bike to us for service from January to April to be fully prepared for the new season. This will give us enough time to thoroughly inspect everything and make any necessary repairs, as there's never enough time during the busy season.