Brand New Affordable Trikke T7

Originally published in TrikkeWord Magazine

In the beginning when Trikke started out, There were four main versions of the carving vehicle. We had the T5, T6, T7 and the timeless T8. The numbers represent the wheel size with a frame to match. A size for everyone in the family.

They were all polished aluminum beauties. There weren’t any color choices, except for the wheels. Over the years many of these models either changed or were replaced. With all the current carving vehicles in the Trikke line-up, It seemed now was the time to fill a gap. What gap you ask? A gap that brings performance, versatility and affordability to the entry level consumer. While there are a full line of standard fold-able Trikke’s available, one model that faded into the history books, the T7, has come back to us with a whole new look.

This Trikke T7 is now features an all solid steel frame, sports seven inch poly-urethane wheels and has no folding mechanism to speak of. You can still fold it, but you will have to remove the main axle every time you do it. The T7 is available in three designs, all having white as its base color. The accent details include black, blue and red. One will suit you just fine. My favorite is black. Also a plus with the T7, is the ability to run everything for 6-8 poly wheels and air tires. Now that’s versatility.

The fact that there is no folding mechanism means that this is one solid machine. I put this carver through the test and found it to be everything I could ask for and more. Sturdy through the turns, no flex in the frame and a smooth ride all together. Carving was just plain awesome.

I brought this carver to one of our LSM rides here in Southern California and let everyone get their hands on it for a test ride. The sound off was unanimous. “I like it”, “Sweet”, “Muy bien” and “Take off baby” to name a few.

Typically most models simply add the front fork and off you go. The T7 comes packed in a smaller than the average box and requires you to assemble every appendage. Assembly requires a bit more than we are used to with Trikke but no worries “How to Assemble your Trikke T7” is available in article or video form. Setup is simple, straight forward and thanks to the easy to read manual, a breeze to put together.

The T7 is a fun little cruiser even for a big guy like me at 6’3″ 220lbs. I highly recommend this carver and the fact that you can add air tires to it, makes this machine very versatile. I did make one modification to my T7, I mounted T78CS handle bars and found them to be more comfortable for someone my size. All in all, I give this Trikke carving vehicle five turns out of five. Nice job Gildo.

Originally published in TrikkeWorld Magazine

Get your hands on the new Trikke T7.

The all-new Trikke T7C is a fully convertible model that can accept 6-8 inch poly-urethane wheels and 8.5 inch air tires. This carving machine is presented at an affordable price from $169 to 179. Assembly requires a bit more than what we are used to with Trikke, but one needn’t fret.  The Trikke T7 shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes to set up (and that’s being generous).

For those with a phobia against assembly manuals, check out the video, (Trikke T7 “What’s in the Box” Assembly)

For those who need further clarification, here’s a step-by-step guide to building your new dream machine.

1. Lay out all the parts from the box. Account for the fork, handlebars, front structure, two trailing arms, three wheels and one main axle. You will also receive a tool kit consisting of two 5mm and one 3mm hex wrenches. Remove all zip-ties and packaging. Review the manual before starting, it only takes a couple of minutes. Once the parts are laid out, accounted for and tools are ready.
2. Assemble the front fork unit first by removing the axle from the fork and set the wheel in place. There are two spacers, fit one on each side of the wheel. Loosening the two upper mounting bolts, will allow the fork to spread open, making the spacer installation easier.
3. Do the same with the rear wheels. If you are having issues inserting the wheel axle, slip a wrench in the opposite end of the wheel to center the spacer in-between the wheel bearings. While you are doing this, try to slide the axle through the wheel. Make sure your spacers ore in place and bolt up tight.
   

   Parts to assemble upside down

4. At this point, lay the trailing arms and front structure (steering assembly) parts upside down to make your job easier. With the cambering mechanism yolk already mounted on the front structure, slide the trailing arm into place with the appropriate washers on either side of each cambering bushing.
5. Apply a dab of white lithium grease on the yolk ends, this allows the bushing less resistance while installing. Once the trailing arms are mounted, flip the trikke over and lay the brake cables underneath, keeping them out of the way for now. Raise the front structure to align the main axle bore. Insert the main axle through the bushings of the first trailing arm, front structure and the remaining arm. Use the provided 5mm hex wrenches to tighten the axle. Again it’s a good idea to dab the main axle with the white grease for easy installation. Note – If things are tight, loosen the yolk retaining bolt a few turns. This should allow the path of the axle to line up perfectly. Once the axle is in and bolted, retighten the yolk bolt.
6. Now that things are taking shape, insert the front wheel onto the steering end by aligning the push pin and tighten the two bolts with a 5mm hex tool.
7. Mount the handle bars slightly angled forward at about 30-45 degrees. Make sure the push pin on the fork is facing forward and wheel axle is behind the fork. Rotate the brake levers forward to a comfortable riding position.
   

   Final Brake Adjustment

8. Lay out the brake cable so they cross over each other, on opposite sides of the front structure, above the trailing arms. Route the cable around the front structure to the brake lever. Fit the brake cable head into the lever slot, making sure to associate the correct side. Slide the cable housing into the guide stay mounted along the backside of the front structure.
9. Turn your Trikke upside down to finalize the brake adjustment. Run the bare cable through hole on the canti-lever brake pad. Loosen the retaining cap with a 3mm hex tool. Remove one bolt and slip the cable under the retaining plate, then snug down the two bolts. Pull the cable tightly. The wheel should not move because the brake pad is making contact with the wheel. Bolts are slightly loose in order to pull the pad away from the wheel about an 1/8 of and inch. Now lock down the bolts.

Yesterday, police in Hawthorne, CA, hosted a meet-and-greet at a local McDonald’s, giving area residents a chance to get acquainted with the latest addition to the department’s lineup of patrol vehicles: three Segways.

Naturally, we at SouthBay Trikke thought this was the perfect opportunity to pay a visit to our South Bay neighbors, courtesy, of course, our own brand of ultralight electric vehicles, the Trikke Tribred Pon-e.

So bright and early in the morning, Sean Tice and I mounted our 48-volt Pon-e’s and carved our way towards Mickey D’s in Hawthorne at Rosecrans Boulevard, near the 405 freeway.

Once there, we cruised around the lot a few times, giving us a chance to make a grand entrance while scoping out our competition. Next, we tied off our three-wheel Pon-e’s adjacent to the two-wheel Segways and entered the joint like cowboys entering a wild west saloon.

“I knew you guys would be here!” said one Sergeant Chris Cognac after spotting us immediately. Sean and I smiled at one another. Did the Trikke gods send messages of our pending arrival? Had a secret society been at work behind the scenes? Or had someone been reading the Daily Breeze, the local paper that had just published a story about the Segwayed cops (complete with comments from SouthBay Trikke and some of our fans).

Right away, Sgt. Cognac wanted to see what these carving machines were all about, so we headed back outdoors, where the Segwayed cop met the Trikke. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both vehicles, agreeing that each had its own learning curve. Then Detective John Dixon, another Segwayed cop, joined us to add his perspective.

Both officers took me up on my invitation to mount the Pon-e and both found it to be comfortable and stable. All the while, passers-by ooo’ed and ahhh’ed at the array of electric assist vehicles. These machines caused quite a scene.

To show off the Trikke’s capabilities to the Hawthorne PD, I took a few spins around the parking lot, at one point hopping over the curb onto the sidewalk—a move the Segway dare not try, according to Detective Dixon.

Examining the differences in the two cruisers, the officers said their needs where best met by the Segway. To them, the Trikke’s ability to turn around in a tight space was up for debate. Hastily, I mounted my three-wheeler to show them the Pon-e was up for the job.

Whatever their flavor, the electric vehicle is here to stay and will be welcomed with open arms by both municipalities and consumers.

After a cup of joe and a muffin, we shook hands with the officers and said our goodbyes. As Sean and I mounted our electric thoroughbreds to head back to SouthBay Trikke, we couldn’t help wondering if we might someday see policemen on Pon-e’s, patrolling the streets of America.

Andy Pliska is president of SouthBay Trikke, official local dealer of TrikkeWorld.
Photos by Sean Tice, Trikke trainer from SouthBay Trikke.

Mike McVay's Talent Tips: Innovation and Research from Mike McVay on Vimeo.

The Beginning of a New Fashion Trend?

She could have had Harry Winston adorn her with a diamond encrusted necklace, or Gucci design her a little black dress, but for last night’s 36th annual Gracie Awards honoring women in the media, talent agent Heather Cohen of the Weiss Agency chose a different kind of fashion statement: a little black dress and a white Trikke Tribred Pon-e.

Courtesy SouthBay Trikke (official local dealer of TrikkeWorld Magazine), Heather arrived on the red carpet atop the electric-powered version of the human-powered Trikke ridden by former president Jimmy Carter on a recent segment on 60 Minutes.

And while Heather, like President Carter, loves to use the Trikke for exercise, for the Gracie Awards, she opted to rely on the Pon-e’s electric-powered assist, which allows for speeds as high as 18mph, as she pulled up to the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

After all, you don’t want to break a sweat while wearing heels and that little black dress.

For more information contact Kate LaRue at The Weiss Agency 310-230-1518. For information about SouthBay Trikke, visit www.southbaytrikke.com or on twitter@SouthBay Trikke.

The blue planet we call home became a little greener this past week with the release of the new 2011 Tribred Pon-e’s, fresh from the Trikke Tech stables with some subtle changes and helpful improvements.

The repackaging is the first noticeable change. Talk about 95% pre-assembled and good to go. Twenty minutes after opening up the box, you’re ready to hit the road.

A longer package means the hub motor and fork assembly are already mounted for you. No more figuring out how to plug in the nervous system of your Electric Powered Vehicle. All wiring connections have been removed from the customers’ responsibility. This Pon-e is completely tested and tamed at the factory.

Tribred 48V Pon-e

Unleashing the Pon-e from its coral, aka the box, is easy. To unfold your carving machine, depress the locking pins located behind the cambering unit on the inside of the trailing arm. Bring your Pon-e to a proud stance by lifting the front structure to its final resting place. The throttle and brakes are already set and waiting to come alive.

The Tribred’s fairings (or wings) come standard on the new breed, their appearance reminiscent of the alien in the movie Alien. To forgo the front fairing, just removed its four bolts. The matching covers on the trailing arm are also easily detachable.

The hub motor on the Tribred’s two models (250-watt, 36-volt and 350-watt, 48-volt) come on rather quickly. Before you know it, you’ve got power.

The 48-volt battery is long and does interfere with the fairing when first sliding onto the guide. Once installed, insert the key and bring this baby to life. Each Pon-e battery is individually keyed for security.

To start your EPV, depress the green button on the throttle for 5 seconds. The lights on the throttle will tell you this Pon-e is ready to ride. New on the current breed is a 2-3 second delay on acceleration. This avoids the burnout that eats up tires when the throttle is in the hands of less experienced jockeys.

The hi and lo selector switch (marked 1 and 2) allow full control over the speed of the Tribred. Lo speed ranges from 10-12 mph; hi speeds go upwards of 18mph.

I found the 48-volt Tribred to be strong, stable and extremely fun to ride. Solid cambering bushings give the Pon-e a firm stance.The carving is smooth, even with no power to the motor. Handling is controlled and the Pon-e easily returns to center.

New for 2011 is a plate with a bolt hole added to the right trailing arm. This is for the all-new Trikke trailer. That’s right, now your Pon-e has a carriage to pull.

The 48-volt battery comes equipped with a fast charger. Re-energizing the battery takes 2.5 hours with the 3.5 amp charger. The 36-volt battery needs five hours charge time with its 2.5 amp charger. The current flavors for the 2011 36-volt Tribred Pon-e are blue clear coat and yellow clear coat. The 48-volt model comes in flat black or white.

The Pon-e’s tires are heavy duty with a front directional, 10.5 inch motorcycle-grade tread leading the way. Two 9.5 inch tires manage the rear with excellent traction. Rotors are bolted to the rim for the disc brake assembly. Stopping is very responsive with quality calipers and brake pads.

Riding a Tribred around town is convenient for daily tasks. The added weight and firmness can also add a new dimension to your work out. We’re talking transportation, fitness and fun in one awesome package. With zero emissions, making it perfect for a planet in peril.

Word is these Pon-e’s are popular and going quickly. If you’ve ever thought of grabbing the reins to this hearty horse, you had better act soon, you might miss the ride.

Along with the usual long line of cars and trucks — a couple of city sized RVs and a massive horse trailer were also winding their way up — which I assumed was the reason for the slow going — but then a Tow Truck with a seriously crumpled car (looked like a roll-over) came barreling down.

An incredible snow event began in the early morning hours and continued to drop powder – the entire mountain was mostly in ‘white out’ conditions – all day long! I’ve seen all kinds of snow drop on Ski Apache – yesterday, it was like a giant box of Cream of Wheat had been shaken all over. Just the day before – although there was a massive amount of snow pack – it was slushy and made for some sticky Skking.

When fresh powder accumulates, my Skki just flies down and around as if on some anti-gravity cushioning device. Since so much snow was dropping — I took a mogul run, and this time I popped over the humps at speed — pulled up and caught more air than ever. I pushed my skills hard – (with so much powder, it’s actually fun to fall!) – but, no matter how far I pushed the risk factor – I stayed on my Skki – and hardly had to step off all day. From up higher, looking down through a break in the blizzard — the resort looked like a human ant hill! Hundreds of Boarders and Skiers were taking advantage of the epic conditions. What I’m digging about my Skki – is how it can absolutely hold the ICE – with Apolo Ono-like grace and agility — and how it plows through the thickest powder – or just over the top – like a speed boat! When I took up Snowboarding – I was in heaven – finally able to enjoy a Winter Sport. When I grabbed a Skki and took to the two southern most Ski areas in the Northern Hemisphere — I found THE perfect machine for me. I can go all day without cramping in my legs. My knees don’t bitch at me later (as much!). No more stumbling and scooting and rebinding – no more badly caught edges and out of control pinwheeling. I love how I can ride my Skki aggressively or gracefully. The season will soon come to a close and Ski Apache will transform into a hiking and biking venue. The memory of my Rides of March will stay with me as I get back on my street Trikkes. I got more than the usual amount of curious bystanders asking about the Skki — and handed out a bunch of SBT cards and Stickers! For many — seeing how the Skki rides – either with motorcycle like speeds or graceful snow dancing — they’re hot to try one too. I’m hoping to hit the slopes once more (at least!) before all the snow melts. The Mountain Gods have graced Ski Apache with over 212 inches of snow accumulation (so far) this season — and I’m just a lucky SOB to be here, now – with my new ride! (With all the Flying I’m accomplishing on my Skki — next year, I’m definitely going to need those Toe Straps!!!)

The Jogo by Trikke is offered at $99 and will fit kids up to about 60″ comfortably, typically ages 4-7. Your kids will love this little cruiser. The braking system has been improved for easy lever action. Much easier than the original T5. The wheels lend themselves to the original Trikke design, shaped like the St. Louis Arc with much less of a convex curve. This allows the rider to move more fluidly. The steering feels looser allowing easier and faster turns. The added touch of the Jogo fairing lets kids to put their favorite stickers all over it. The New Jogo will be available in May 2011. Check out SouthBay Trikke to get yours.

Wilson Wong "The Silverlake Trikker"

Here’s a great review I’d like to share from one of our loyal customers, Wilson, aka Silverlake Trikker. Thanks, Wilson!

Why go to Andy and the good folks @ SouthBay Trikke?
 In a word, KNOWLEDGE! These guys know what they’re doing! Like most people, I saw a commercial, got interested, then saw one at Sports Chalet and made the purchase.

Not knowing the difference, I filled the tires with air (80 psi.) and I was off on my journey. Or so I thought! After two months of carving, I needed new rubber all around. I started my search with Trikke.com. They referred me to SouthBayTrikke.com. Within minutes, they contacted me with answers to my questions. That same day, I was able to arrange a meeting time to get the tires I needed installed!

Upon meeting Andy, One look at my T8 and he already knew. . . the assembly of my Trikke was all wrong! Brakes were installed loosely and rattled (we all know what that’s like), The front wheel hub was installed but was off centered and loose as well. Then there was the Handle bars! Andy explained the how and why they were mounted wrong and where they should be mounted. I left his shop with a brand new Trikke! Well, that’s what it felt like.

It’s nice that Sports Chalet and Dick’s Sporting Goods is displaying and stocking the Trikke at their stores. It’s great exposure! But if you or anyone you know is interested in purchasing one of these bad boys, Call Andy and his team! They’ll set you up right the first time and have you rockin’ and rollin’ before you know it!

Thanks Andy! Since my tune up and tire change, I now ride at least two hours a day (or night), have lost about 20 lbs. and feel great! Folks around the Silverlake reservoir have been asking “what is that?” and besides talking it! I’ve also been giving them your card or directing them to your website. If they get half the customer service I received, I’m sure they’ll leave not only with a trikke under their feet but a smile on their face.

Brake Cable Re-route

Keeping your Trikke brake system working properly is a must. Avoiding any pinch points can greatly improve the reliability, performance and life of your cables. The tightest point on any vehicle brake system is usually the cross-over made at the top of the front structure.

To eliminate this high stress point, re-route your brake cables so they cross over at the bottom instead of the top. This will avoid stressing the ferrules, damaging the cable ends and give your carver a nice clean look.

There is no need to re-adjust the cable tension. Simply lift the upper cable sleeve and remove from ferrule saddle. Remove the lower cable so both are now free from the front structure. Lay one cable over the other so your cables are now crossed at the bottom. Re-install your cables in the reverse method just used.

If you are having trouble lifting the cable out, it may help to de-pressure the tires allowing more play to get the cable free on scrub brake systems. For those with disc brakes, two turns counter-clockwise on the disc pad will allow enough space to free the cable. Use a three mm hex-tool on the actuator arm pilot hole to adjust the pad. After the cable is re-installed, adjust the pad to the original position.

This little change will improve your brake systems response and preserve the life of the cable. Not to mention it looks really cool.

If you till have questions? Call Trikke Andy for help (310) 803-0445.

Carve Diem’