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It’s a little-known fact that, before they built the first StreetMachine over 10 years ago, Daniel and Paul dabbled with recumbent trikes. That’s the only reason I can think of to explain how - from a standing start - they’ve produced the best recumbent trike I’ve ever ridden...
I had my first test ride a few years ago at the IFMA show in Cologne - borrowed a Scorpion prototype for an hour ;-) First impressions were how light it is for a trike - the aluminium frame and BodyLink seat definitely help with that, even with the back suspension. It’s also much easier to get onto than other tadpoles because of the swept-forward crossbeam - as an experiment, I tried getting on without using my hands, and it’s not hard.
On the shiny indoor tarmac of the test track, cornering was superb - leaning into the corners and really pushing it, all three wheels scrub equally in corners - the weight distribution is perfect. For a tadpole, the turning circle is very good - unlike on lots of tadpoles, the handlebars miss the wheels completely - safer, and it means that the wheels can turn a lot farther.
Speaking of the wheels, they’re all very quick to remove - the back one is a standard quick-release of course, and a very clever allen key fitting lets you take the front wheels off in seconds without touching the disc brakes. Certainly quick enough to help pack the bike away, or fix a puncture more easily.
Unusually for a trike, the Scorpion can easily do double duty as a serious touring bike or a fast race bike. The back suspension and rear carrier make it very comfortable and mean that you can carry two large panniers or HPVelotechnik’s own recumbent panniers - but the Bodylink seat is reclined and supportive enough for fast powerful riding, and with slick tyres and lighter components it’s a very fast and fun trike.
Underseat steering: The Scorpion’s bars miss the wheels completely - safer and more manouverable than other tadpole trikes. The bars are tough enough to lean on if you have to...
Disc braking: Twin front discs are extremely powerful, and I couldn’t detect any brake steer at all - it also doesn’t nosedive even under very hard braking. Normally each front brake has it’s own lever, and a gearshift lever operates the rear parking brake...
Rear suspension: The Scorpion’s suspension is the same design as on HPVelotechnik’s other bikes - a swingarm which doesn’t bob under pedalling, and soaks up the bumps and vibration - very important on a trike where you can usually steer the front wheels around obstacles...
BodyLink seat: HPVelotechnik’s own design, and now used on most of their bikes, the BodyLink seat is very adjustable. Top and bottom halves move independently, so you can adjust the length, angle and curve of the seat. Also shown: the optional headrest and Airflow cushion...
Gearing: There are several different gearing possibilities on the Scorpion - standard derailleur gearing (Deore or XT), DualDrive combined hub gear and derailleur, or Rohloff hub gear.
New: Combine derailleurs and a DualDrive for 81 gears from 12 to 124 inches...
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2008: Our demo trike has arrived! I briefly tried one on an indoor test track in Germany last September, but on the open road it’s even better. One thing that I didn’t realise is how manouverable it is - because the wheelbase is longer than most tadpole trikes, it’s not only less likely to nosedive under hard braking, there’s also no problem with the bars interfering with the front wheels. This is the only tadpole trike that can be u-turned on the pavement in front of our shop.
2010: I’ve now got a demo Scorpion fs in the shop ;-)
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Last updated on:
29 January 2012
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