Review By AdultTricycleReview.com
If you are looking for one of the softest riding, best handling
trikes, with over the top engineering and quality, the Hp Velotechnik
Scorpion FS 26 Enduro may be your Holy Grail. HP Velotechnik builds only
top shelf quality products. The Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is built in their
factory in Kriftel, Germany. It is built the German way, which is with
no compromises or corners being cut. HP pays great attention to every
detail on their trikes and bikes. After you ride the Scorpion FS 26
Enduro awhile, you will find that you just do not ride your two wheel
bike anymore. The Hp Velotechink Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is very similar
compared to the Scorpion FS 26 which shares the same frame, suspension and many parts.
Frame:
The frame on the Hp Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is made out of
aluminum that is TIG welding together. Their welds are consistent,
smooth, and as close to perfect as it gets. The Scorpion FS 26 Enduro
trike folds in half and is a flat fold style where the rear wheel folds
over the top and settles in between the handlebars. The rear frame has a
unique little bumper to keep the front and rear frame from banging
together. Hp also has neat Velcro straps on the Enduro to hold the front
and back of the trike together while transporting the trike. The quick
release hinge is super sturdy and there is an extra safety catch on the
bottom. The front suspension rides on both coil springs and an elastomer
system. There is 6 cm of travel with the telescoping design on the
suspension. The Scorpion FS 26 Enduro also uses a sway bar under the
frame so the trike stays nice and flat while turning. It has a weight
capacity of 308 lbs whereas most other companies rate their recumbents
at 275 lbs for a maximum capacity.
Paint: The
Scorpion Fs 26 Enduro comes in an awesome glowing yellow (we call it
enduro green). If the glowing yellow color does not strike your fancy,
you can choose from 94 custom colors for an up-charge of $219.00. The
powder coat paint job on the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is a quality job. It
is everything you would want in a paint job.
Drive Train:
HP offers two different drivetrains to choose from. The stock
drivetrain is a Sturmey Archer Triple Shift 30 speed with a bar end
shifter shifter. People love this system with one of the advantages
being that you can shift the internal three speed hub while not moving.
The Sturmey Archer Triple Shift Hub has three internal gears and ten
external gears for a total of thirty. Having the Sturmey Archer Triple
Shift on your trike really cleans up the looks of the front of the
trike. With the Sturmey Archer Triple Shift there is no need for a
triple crank or front derailleur. The Second drivetrain option is the
Pinion 12 Speed which is an encapsulated transmission which is extremely
low maintenance and has a 600% gear range. Hp Velotechnik also offers
the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro with two Shimano Steps drivetrains and a new
system called the Neo Drive.
All the different drivetrains work
well; you just have to find the best one for your riding style. The Neo
Drive system is a pedal assisted system capable of reaching speeds of 28
Mph and has five power mode settings. You can adjust the computer to
give you exactly as much power as you need. Other motor systems are
available after market. Bafang motors or our favorite however EBO motor
systems can be retrofitted on to the Enduro and have the benefit of more
power and come with throttles compared to the Shimano or Neo Drive.
Brakes:
HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 come stock with Shimano MT200 Hydraulic
disc brakes. The Shimano brakes work excellent just like all of
Shimano’s other bike products. Hp also offers the Avid BB7 Disc brakes
which are my favorite mechanical disc brake system. The Shimano
Hydraulic Disc Brakes stopped the trike consistently and had no brake
rub. I have no issue with Shimano or Avid mechanical brakes and I am a
big fan of both companies. The Avid BB7 Brakes are simple, reliable, and
easy to adjust. Super convenient features of the Avid mechanical brakes
are that each brake pad can be adjusted independently so you can really
dial in your brake adjustment. Hp Velotechnik offers an upgraded
Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc Brakes system. Both brakes can also be coupled
to one brake lever for people with special needs.
Seat:
There are a lot of seat options as well on the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro.
The most popular is Ergo Mesh Premium. The Ergo Mesh Premium seat is a
breathable padded seat that is comfortable and completely adjustable.
There are multiple variations to the Ergo Mesh Premium seat that you can
get so you fit comfortable on it. There’s the Ergo Mesh Premium extra
wide low, Ergo Mesh Premium low, Ergo Mesh extra wide low and Ergo Mesh
low. HP Velotechnik also makes a seat called the Body Link seat. The
Body link seat is a low seat made out of a rigid fiberglass with a foam
pad, or Air Mesh pad, fixed to it. The seat angle on the Scorpion FS 26
Enduro can be adjusted easily from 32 – 41 degrees. On the Ergo Mesh
seat, there is extra padding on the sides of the seat. This side padding
not only gives extra comfort, but also helps hold the rider in the seat
better. I personally prefer the fit of the Ergo Mesh Premium seat. I
felt the Ergo Mesh Premium was very comfortable and was contoured to fit
my back nicely. The Ergo Mesh Premium seat is the only trike seat where
the back and bottom are independently adjustable from each other. For
people who want to sit very upright or very laid back, the adjustable
feature can be a huge benefit Seat height is as follows: Ergo Mesh Low
32 cm, Body Link 29 cm. For 2021, HP Velotechnik has up the bar and now
has the most advance padded seat on the market. ICE trikes had the best
seat on the market but, with HP Velotechnik seats, the bar has been
raised.
Ride: This is where the Scorpion FS 26
Enduro really shines. After riding the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro, it is easy
to see why it has won trike of the year. With a rear wheel travel of 8
cm and 6 cm in the front, bumps just seem to disappear. I will go so far
as to say the HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is the most
comfortable riding trike that I have ever ridden. The Handling on the
Scorpion FS 26 Enduro was exceptional. HP Velotechnik prefers indirect
steering and so do I. The steering is light, predictable and everything I
could have hoped it could be.
The rear suspension did such a good
job at absorbing the road shock. Riding a trike off road, and anything
faster than a crawl, I think you will find suspension is pretty much a
must have. Riding the Enduro on some dirt roads and jeep trails through
the woods is more enjoyable to me than riding on pavement. I like the
quietness of no cars just cruising down dirt roads without having to
deal with traffic. I sometimes like to ride it off road right on the
edge of losing control sometimes because it’s just so exhilarating. Back
in the days of my youth I raced bikes all over the USA and have some
pretty good road rash scars to show for crashes. I look at those scars
and think they have much better stories to tell than getting tattoos.
The Enduro is on my very short list of favorite trikes. It is just fun
to ride and go fast down trails on. The Enduro uses a simple coil spring
design for the rear shock which worked very well. HP Velotechnik also
offers a Rock Shox Monarch air shock which can be a nice upgrade. The
Air shock can be tuned easily to your personal taste and rider weight.
The Scorpion comes with Schwalbe Smart Sam Knobby tires which are a very
good off road performing tire.
Accessories: Hp
Velotechnik offers the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro with a multitude of options
that is so large, it is mind blowing. The most popular accessories are
rear rack, neck rest, B and M mirrors, and water bottles. Other popular
accessories are safety flags and front and rear lights.
In Conclusions:
If you want a trike that floats over bumps, top drawer quality, and
fantastic handling you have found it. For other off road trikes you may
also look at the ICE Full Fat, Trident Terrain and Sun Fat Tad.