They’ve got a new infomercial out which I just saw today. I originally saw these advertised on TV a few years ago, and seriously thought about buying one, but didn’t, as it wasn’t a “necessity”.
Now I’m thinking about it all over again. I really need to get into better shape, and this looks like a fun/effective way to do it.
Anybody have experience/opinions?
I think they look pretty nifty too, but they’re very expensive. There are cheaper knock-offs but they’re pathetically small and more toys than vehicles. If I got one I’d have plenty of places to ride it within my neighbourhood but not beyond since, unlike a bike, I can’t ride it on main roads. In the end, I decided… very cool, but not worth the price. Kinda like a PS3.
Razor makes a trikke? I wonder how Trikke feels about that; I’d assumed that they’d trademarked the name.
Yeah, the top-o-de-line Trikke is the T12 Roadster, which they list for $439. Nice, but a bit more than I want to spend at this point. I’m looking at the T8 Convertable (takes either polyurethane or pneumatic wheels, and weighs in at only 20 pounds). The list price on their website is $319, but their current promotion is offering limited quantities at $149. I can afford that.
Any idea about the legality of riding on roads? Roads do not require motorized vehicles (witness bicycles), so I didn’t know about that. A good clear road, empty of traffic, would be ideal. I wouldn’t want to get pulled over, though.
I don’t know about roads, but I’ve seen people using them on bicycle paths.
Sure, bicycle paths. I’ve got plenty of those around where I live.
A paved road with no traffic would be the best, though. I’m just not sure what the laws are for that.
Thanks, Contrapuntal, but I’m not looking for a knockoff.
I’m looking for experience and testimonials of the real thing that isn’t biased by being employed and/or compensated by the company.
Honestly, is no-one riding these things?
I used to have a trikke when I was a little kid, but as I got older I graduated to a bikke. 
That wasn’t a graduation, it was a lateral transfer.
Don’t believe everything you’re told.
I might invest in one of these; I used to ride pallet trucks in much the same way (much to the annoyance of the health and safety rep) when I worked in a warehouse.
Heeheehehehheeheehee!
Yep, third shift pallet jack races. I usually lost. But I did well in garbage can lid frisbee.
So other than scooter syle push offs which they don’t show riders doing) how do you get up to speed on a flat surface or go uphill in one of these?
I’ve never seen one in person, but they look interesting. If you do get one, I’d be interested to hear about your experience with it.
With a sort of ski-slalom action; throw your bodyweight to the left whilst steering slighlty to the left, then throw it to the right whilst steering slightly to the right. It doesn’t necessarily take a Trikke to do this - the same general method of propulsion can be done on a skateboard, although the Tikke is somewhat optimised for it.
To add to the above, the genuine Trikkes have a system of joints and hinges that make the action a bit more like rollerskating; you can see it quite clearly in the video on this page:
There’s a video here. It’s the same principle as inline skates: lean towards one side and push down on the opposite side leg, and it creates a forward force.
Since they don’t travel in a straight line but rather a continus S curve they would be dangerous to ride on a street where you you might/could/will weave in front of a car.
Using them on a bike path will piss off every other user of said path as you will take up the entire damn path with your weaving from side to side.
In my experience Trikke riders on bike paths drove their Hummers to the bike path to get their exercise. IOW flaming self absorbed assholes, who don’t understand that some one might want to pass them.
With that said, they look fun, the problem is finding a place to ride them where it is safe, and won’t inconvience other users of said path/street/sidewalk/whatever.
I’ve done the pallet truck thing, too (also worked in a warehouse for a few months, once).
It is as Mangetout and scr4 say. It’s kind of the same method that snakes use to propel themselves forward.
Rick: They’re claiming that the thing can work on a narrow sidewalk, which would not involve swerving into opposing traffic (thus avoiding weaving in front of a car).
In your experience, “Trikke riders on bike paths drove their Hummers to the bike path to get their exercise”? Where do you suggest that they drive their “Hummers,” then? Somewhere that doesn’t inconvenience you, but you can inconvenience them?
Remind me again who the “flaming self-absorbed assholes” are, please.
I will certainly post it. They’re currrently closed for the weekend, but I’m thinking that their current discount is probably the best deal I can get on one. If I order/receive one, I’ll post here or start another thread on it (their website mentions 3-4 weeks for shipping).