Reviewed 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 may be your Holy Grail. HP Velotechnik builds only top
shelf quality products. HP Velotechnik builds the Scorpion FS 26 in
their factory in Kriftel Germany. The Scorpion FS 26 is built the German
way, which is with no compromises or corners being cut. HP Velotechnik
pays great attention to every detail on their trikes and bikes. The
Scorpion FS 26 will convert you. After you ride the Scorpion FS 26
awhile, you will find that you just do not ride your two wheel bike
anymore.
Frame: The frame on the Hp Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 is made out of aluminum which is TIG welding together. The welds are
consistent
and smooth and as close to perfect as it gets. The Scorpion FS 26 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 Velotechnik also has neat Velcro straps on the Scorpion FS
26 to hold the front and back of the trike together while transporting
the trike. The quick release hinge is super sturdy; the hinge has an
extra safety catch on the bottom. The front suspension rides on both
coil springs and an elastomer system. The suspension is a telescoping
design with 6 cm of travel. The Scorpion FS 26 also uses a sway bar
under the frame so the trike stays nice and flat while turning. The
Scorpion FS 26 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 has two standard paint jobs available. First is the Cosmic Gray frame with a black boom and
swingarm.
Second is the matte orange with a black boom and swingarm. If those two
colors do not strike your fancy, you can choose from 94 custom colors
for an up-charge of $199.00. The powder coat paint job on the Scorpion
FS 26 is a quality job. It is everything you would want in a paint job.
Drive Train: HP Veloetchnik offers seven different
drivetrains to choose from. The stock drivetrain is a Sturmey Archer
Triple Shift 24 speed with a grip type shifter. People love this system
with one of the advantages being you can shift the internal three speed
hub
while not moving. The Sturmey Archer Triple Shift Hub has three
internal gears and eight external gears for a total of twenty four.
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 most popular drivetrain is the Sturmey Archer Triple Shift with
Bar End Shifters which gives you a total of 27 speeds. Our favorite
drivetrain is the SRAM 30 Speed with the bar end shifters, the shifting
performance is very good. Hp Velotechnik also offers the Scorpion FS 26
with two Shimano Steps drivetrains and a new system called the Neo
Drive. The Shimano Steps Moters and the Neo Drive can be paired with the
Rohloff 14 speed internal geared hub as well. 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. The Neo Drive system has five power mode
settings. You can adjust the computer to give you exactly as much power
as you need.
Brakes: HP Velotechnik chose my favorite
mechanical disc brake system the Avid BB7. The Avid BB7 stopped the
trike consistently and had no brake rub. I have no issue with the
mechanical brakes and I am a big Avid fan. They 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. Other brake options are Shimano
Hydraulic, and Tektro Hydraulic. HP Velotechnik can also couple both
brakes, to one brake lever for people with special needs.
Seat: There are a lot of seat options as well on
the Scorpion FS 26. The most popular is Ergo Mesh High. The Ergo Mesh
seat is breathable and comfortable. Their seats are the Ergo Mesh High
extra wide, Ergo Mesh low and Ergo Mesh low extra wide. 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 can be adjusted easily
form 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 seat. I felt the Ergo Mesh seat was very
comfortable and was contoured to fit my back nicely. Seat height is as
follows: Ergo Mesh High 40 CM, 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. The new Ergo Mesh Premium seat 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. ICE trikes had the best seat on the market but with HP
Velotechnik seat the bar has been raised.
Ride: This is where the Scorpion FS 26 really
shines. After riding the Scorpion FS 26 it is easy to see why the
Scorpion FS 26 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 this is the most comfortable riding trike that I have ever
ridden. The Handling on the Scorpion FS 26 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. The
simple coil spring design worked very nicely on our test trike. HP
Velotechnik
also offers a Rock Shox Monarch air shock which is a nice upgrade. The
Air shock can be tuned easily to your personal taste and rider weight.
The Scorpion comes with Schwalbe Tryker front tires, which have a very
good roll and still offer a good amount of flat tire resistance and
comfort.
Accessories: Hp Velotechnik offers the Scorpion FS
26 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,
water bottles, and mudguards. 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. One
might compare the HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 to the ICE Adventure 26 FS.
