Reverse or Conventional Tricycle? What I Learned from Riding 500 Miles on Both Types, It's Shocking!

A reverse trike has two wheels in front and one in back, and it feels a lot like riding a regular bike: you steer and lean through turns. A conventional trike has one wheel in front and two in back, so you can sit on it without balancing at all. If you can still balance and want a sportier ride, a reverse trike is a great fit. If balance is a concern or you want to stay seated at every stop, choose a conventional trike. In the video below, our CEO Dustin Gyger rides both and explains the difference.

Reverse trike or conventional trike? We'll help you decide. Hey everyone, I'm Dustin. I have 20 years of experience in the bike and e-bike industry, and we're gonna answer the question today: should you get a reverse trike or a conventional trike? All right, I've got the two front wheel e-trike from Sixthreezero, the reverse e-trike, and then I've got the EZ Transit conventional e-trike. Same model, with similar frames, but different wheel positions. This one has two in the front, this one has two in the back. Now, a lot of people out there are always talking about how they think a reverse trike is more stable than a conventional trike, and it's better. I'm going to explain a few things, the pros and cons of both, and then you can decide if it's right for you or which type of trike is best for your riding. Now, with a reverse e-trike, the Sixthreezero model has a tilting steering, so it leans to the side. Now, this is a really cool feature because you can corner really well. It also does add support with the two wheels, and it does balance on its own, but it doesn't infinitely... Let me find the balance point here. So it doesn't infinitely stay upright, right? If I touch this and the wheels start going, it's going to fall over. Now, which is why I have a kickstand, on a conventional trike, I hit it, and it stays stable. So now this is one type of reverse e-trike.

There are others that do have two wheels in the front, and they're more stable. Now, the difference with those is they're not gonna have this type of tilting steering. So they're a little more cumbersome and actually they're no more balanced in my opinion than a two wheel in the rear trike because they still like don't, flex and tilt like this, and so you have to ride much slower on those, in my opinion, than you can even ride on a conventional trike. So a reverse trike is not for somebody who's lost their balance. If you want something that you can sit on and balance, this is not the one for you. When you come to a stop on this, you're gonna wanna put your feet down to stay balanced. Now, when you're up and moving, the two wheels do help with balance, and they allow you to corner very sharply. So, if you want the added support of the extra wheel and you still feel comfortable being able to steer, it's a great option. If you have zero ability to steer and all you wanna do is ride, you wanna be able to balance and sit on the trike, conventional is the way to go for you. Now, you're not gonna wanna corner as fast, you're not gonna wanna go at as high speeds as you can go on the reverse e-trike, but it's going to be balanced. It's going to be easy to ride.

The one thing on a conventional trike is you do have to take turns slower, and you do have to learn the appropriate way to shift your body weight to keep both wheels on the ground at all times. Now, it's not difficult. It's a learning curve. I will say riding the reverse e-trike is more similar to riding a two-wheel bicycle than a conventional trike. So if you're someone who's been riding a two-wheel bike for many years and now you're transitioning to a three-wheel bike, there is a little bit of a learning curve. It happens to everyone because the way you shift body weight on a conventional trike is different than the way you shift body weight on a two-wheel bike. So if you can still balance and steer, going from a two-wheel bike to a three-wheel reverse e-trike with this tilting feature like on the Sixthreezero model will feel very natural, very intuitive, and very easy to steer. If you're going from a two-wheel bike to a conventional three-wheel trike, it's not going to feel as natural. You have to turn the wheels to go. The leaning of the body weight doesn't help steer the trike; all it does is help keep the wheels on the ground. So when you turn, you wanna make sure you lean and adjust your body weight appropriately to be able to keep the wheels down. But again, the leaning on the conventional trike does not steer it in any way, shape, or form. So, if you're somebody who has a physical disability, or really bad arthritis, you've lost your balance, don't opt for the reverse tilting e-trike, go for a conventional trike. We've had a lot of people buy the reverse e-trike, and they say they have some kind of physical condition and it's not right for them.

You have to be the judge of your physical ability and what you're capable of, but sometimes you also may need to come to terms with whether a three-wheel bike is the best option with the two wheels in the back versus this one. Now, if you can ride this one, it is a lot of fun. I've done a lot of videos on it. You can corner aggressively, and it's very easy to steer. But again, if you've lost your balance, and you want something. Also, if you don't wanna have to put your feet down every time you stop, the conventional trike is the way to go as well. The other thing I will say is you obviously can get a lot more cargo space because the two wheels in the back allow for a bigger spot for a cargo basket in the rear. So if you wanna bring your dog with you, something like that, I recommend a conventional trike just because of the stability and the space that you'll allow for them. If you have any additional questions or comments,reach out to us at theteam@sixthreezero.live or call us at 310-982-2877. And we also offer a 30-day test ride on your e-trike policy. If you don't love it in the first 30 days, send it back. No questions asked, no money out of your pocket. In addition to that, we're going to warranty everything for a year. If anything goes wrong in the first year, we take care of its parts and labor. And lastly, join our community. We have a Facebook group with thousands of members it. Join the group before you purchase to ensure you're making the right choice. You can talk to our existing riders in advance of you picking your e-trike. Then when you have yours, post in the group, make friends, and finally download our app to track your rides and compete on our leaderboard. It's a lot of fun too. So thanks for sticking around and don't forget, it's your journey, your experience. Enjoy the ride. Whichever trike you’re leaning toward, it helps to see the two side by side before your first ride.

Reverse Trike vs Conventional Trike at a Glance

Here’s how they compare on balance, turning, stopping and cargo.

Reverse trike (tadpole trike)

• Two wheels in front, one in back
• Feels like riding a regular bike: you steer and lean into turns
• Corners well at higher speeds
• You put your feet down when you stop
• Basket usually sits in front
• Best for riders who can still balance and want a sportier ride

Conventional trike

• One wheel in front, two in back
• Stays upright on its own, so there’s no balancing
• Take turns slowly and steer with the handlebars
• You can stay seated at every stop
• More cargo room in the back, even for a dog
• Best for riders with balance concerns, arthritis or limited mobility
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Our Electric Reverse Trikes and Conventional Trikes

• Two Front Wheel 750W E-Trike: tilting steering for stability over bumps, hydraulic disc brakes, a folding frame and a removable battery. Fits riders 4'11" to 6'4", up to 350 lbs.
• Fat Tire 750W Reverse: two front wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and a foldable frame, up to 350 lbs.
• Easy Transit 750W Folding: the conventional trike in the video. A 13.5" step-over, a fully folding frame and room for riders up to 350 lbs.

Reverse Trike vs Reverse Gear: Not the Same Thing

“Reverse” in reverse trike describes the wheel layout, two in front, not a gear for backing up. Reverse gear is a separate feature that lets you back out of a driveway or parking spot without pushing. Our Two Front Wheel trike has a reverse function, and several conventional trikes have one too. See all our reverse gear electric trikes.

FAQs

Is a reverse trike more stable than a conventional trike?

It depends on what you mean by stable. A reverse trike corners better at speed, but you steer and lean to stay balanced. A conventional trike stays upright on its own, even when you stop.

Can seniors ride a reverse trike?

Yes, if they can still balance and steer comfortably. Riders with balance loss, severe arthritis or limited mobility usually do better on a conventional trike.

Can a reverse trike handle hills?

Our Two Front Wheel e-trike has a 750W motor that can power riders up to 300 lbs uphill and around town.

Which trike is better for carrying a dog or groceries?

A conventional trike. It has more cargo room behind the rider. On a reverse trike, the basket usually sits in front.

Do reverse trikes fold?

Ours do. Both the Two Front Wheel and Fat Tire 750W Reverse have folding frames, and so does the Easy Transit conventional trike.

Can I try one before I commit?

Yes. When you buy directly from us, you get a 30-day test ride, and we pay return shipping on e-trikes.