Reviewed by Adulttricyclereview.com
HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26, Posted on November 13, 2015
The HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 maybe the Holly Grail of trikes. If
you are looking for one of the softest riding, best handling trikes,
with over the top engineering and quality, you may have found your Holly
Grail. HP Velotechnik builds only top drawer quality products. HP
Velotechnik builds the Scorpion FS 26 in thir 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 fold 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. Most 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 gray, everything is painted the same color, boom
frame and swingarm. Second is the gray and white, where the frame is
gray and the boom and swing arm are painted white. If those two colors
do not strike your fancy, you can choose from 94 custom colors for an
up-charge of $189.00. 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 SRAM Dual Drive.
People love this system, one of the advantages is you can shift the
internal three speed hub while not moving. The SRAM Dual Drive Hub has
three internal gears and eight external gears for a total of twenty
four. Having the SRAM Dual Drive on your trike really cleans up the
looks of the front of the trike. With the SRAM Dual Drive there is no
need for a triple crank or front derailleur. The Second most popular
drivetrain is the 27 speed Shimano XT rear derailleur with the Shimano
Dura-Ace bar end shifters and Truvative triple crank. Third, is the Go
Swissdrive electric motor kit that comes with a Shimano XT Drive Train
and Bar End Shifters. For people wanting the most reliable and
maintenance free drivetrain, the Rohloff 14 speed internal geared hub is
the ticket. All the different drivetrains work well. You just have to
find the best one for your riding style. The Go Swissdrive system is a
500 watt Swiss made motor kit with a 36 Volt Lithium Ion battery. The Go
Swiss system is a pedal assisted system capable of reaching speeds of
28 Mph. The Go Swiss 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. A super convenient feature of the Avid mechanical brakes are
that each brake pad can be adjusted independently so you can realdy 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: 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. Thir 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.
Ride: ”Oh” 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 just 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.
Pros: Quality, attention to detail, soft comfortable ride, and just perfect handling.
Cons: A tiny bit heavier than other trikes at 40 lbs.,
rear rack will not accept a rack top bag, four weeks to get one made and
shipped from Germany.
