To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Electric Bike Technologies. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Electric Bike Technologies products.
After covering so many bikes at Electric Bike Review, over time, they can start to blend tougher somewhat…So it is always fun and refreshing for us to see our 3 wheeled friends, the trike. Today we are checking out the Liberty Trike from Electric Bike Technologies. The Liberty Trike is a somewhat familiar face for those in the ebike world. Having been around as a favorite for affordability and mobility, the parent company has upgraded it bit by bit over the years to bring us the 2019 version we have today. So as just mentioned, it is quite affordable at $1,498, and it is indeed mobility oriented. That is thanks to the super low stand over height, narrow width, and portability for both short and long distance traveling. First, we will talk about that standover height. It’s very low to the ground and easy to approach. If you can get your leg over a single staircase step, then it should be okay for you to get over and onto the Liberty Trike. The wheels here are 16” which keeps things nice and compact as well. The overall width of the trike was kept narrow on purpose, to get in and out of small doorways and through skinny aisle or crowds of people, and this is something it does exceptionally well! The stem and handlebars are removable, as well as the battery, and the already compact trike can fold via the latch on the main frame tube to get it even smaller. I have heard stories of people easily stowing this in the trunk of a car, or even taking it on an airplane as we will talk about a bit more later. Seating on the Liberty Trike is nice and comfortable, thanks to the upgraded 11” wide saddle that now comes standard with a backrest. Pedaling is better too, the rear seat stay frame has been slightly changed so that now you have more heel clearance. Additionally, the crank arm itself has been refined to a longer American style crank so you get a more natural pedal motion, where as the older version, the pedaling action could feel like you were on a toddler trike. As you sit, you will see the simple controls, small grips, and the twist throttle on the right… I love that the handlebars have a rise to it so they come out and meet you nicely, even if you are taller. The stem is telescoping and easy to adjust as well as the seat with a quick release lever. For creature comforts, you get a nice chain guard to protect your clothing from getting eaten up by the chain. You also now get a front fender with a large mud flap to keep you dry and the dirt out of the way. One of the fan favorites is still here too, the rear basket. This is mounted on the battery rack and has nice strong tubing for carrying you bag or other items around. Another fan favorite is the many colors it comes in, there are 11 fun colors to chose from.
Driving the trike is a front hub-drive motor rated at 500 watts. This motor is encased in the wheel rim itself and has a torque arm to keep things stable and sturdy. Although the Liberty Trike is throttle only with no pedal assist, I really appreciate that it has a reverse mode where as most others don’t. It coms in really handy and it is setup in such a way that you can’t reverse during forward movement as a safety feature. The throttle here increases smoothly and you can control that level of power with 5 modes of throttle responsiveness. This is great if you need to dial it down for hanging out with a slow moving crowd at like a museum or something similar, yet you can dial it up and really get going for long stretches. The controller here is external which keeps battery replacement costs down, and it also makes maintenance easy. The same could be said about the external wiring here too. In the rear you have a 20 tooth sprocket, but the real interesting mechanical piece here are the brakes. In the front you have a Promax 300 160mm mechanical disc brake powered by the left brake lever and includes a motor inhibitor. However, to stop the rear, many appreciate the traditional style coaster brake. A coaster brake is where you stop the pedals (some people say pedal backwards) to engage the brakes. It feels natural to most, however there is no motor inhibitors on this rear brake, something I wish was present. There is a parking brake though, which is nice for loading and unloading.
Powering the trike is a 36v 8ah lithium ion battery pack. I love that this one has a metal enclosure to keep it protected. Also, the battery here has a handle and mounts securely on a sturdy metal plate. The battery is pretty lightweight so having it mounted in the rear makes turning easy. It is secured by lock and key and the key is also what turns the trike on in an ignition style. When I asked them about the lower 8ah rating, Electric Bike Technologies told me that it was actually done on purpose. For one, they riders found they weren’t using the full capacity of the battery on their average trips, and two, the 8ah rating meets federal regulations with the FAA so you can take the battery with you when you fly! This is nice since as a mobility trike, it stows away nicely, so it really makes the ultimate travel companion. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.
Operating the trike is simple. Once the battery is mounted, start by turning the key in the on position. From there, hold it ‘i’ button to turn on the display. The battery is shown across the top in 5 ticks, so 20% increments. Shown below that is you speed in MPH and the various levels of throttle assist you might be in, 0-5. To change the throttle assist, simply hit + or – button on the controls mounted on the left handle bar. Keep in mind, the throttle assist level controls the top speed too. This is great so if you are in a parking lot, or need to take it slow, you can have it… let’s say at level 2, and the throttle will go nice and easy without fast acceleration and keeps the top speed limited. Similarly, if you want to go full out, you can put it in level 5 and the throttle will act accordingly. Anyways, the display is not removable which is kind of a shame, but it is clear and easy to read. I also noticed there is a button on the left controls underneath that can act as a walk mode if you need to move the bike forward while carting it around.
Overall I found the Liberty Trike to be a wonderful trike built with purpose and thoughtfulness. I enjoyed the easy going ride but also have a lot of appreciation for the practicality of it all. The trike may not be for everyone however, so let’s go over the tradeoffs here to see if it is a good fit for you. Some riders will be turned off by no pedal assist, but I found the throttle to be something I wanted to make a priority anyway. When turning tightly, you have to shift your weight since it is such a small vehicle, this may be annoying for some riders wanting to take things a bit faster. And finally, I love the back brake, but I wish it had a motor inhibitor like the front does. I feel it would make the whole process more natural. Even with those tradeoffs considered, there is a lot of practicality and it is hard to argue with a $1,498 price point. With stellar online reviews and a lineage of reliability, this trike will likely appeal to many of the right people. A big thanks to Electric Bike Technologies for letting me try out the Liberty Trike!
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Electric Bike Technologies Ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- A compact trike centered around mobility, portability, and reliability, thanks to its narrow wheel base, easy to use operation, folding aspects, and simple mechanics
- It is very low to the ground and easy to approach, if you can get your leg over a single staircase step, then it should be okay for you to get over and onto the Liberty Trike
- The overall width of the trike was kept narrow on purpose, to get in and out of small doorways and through skinny aisle or crowds of people, and this is something it does exceptionally well
- The stem and handlebars are removable, as well as the battery, and the already compact trike can fold via the latch on the main frame tube to get it even smaller, I have heard stories of people easily stowing this in the trunk of a car, or even taking it on an airplane
- Seating on the Liberty Trike is nice and comfortable, thanks to the upgraded 11” wide saddle that now comes standard with a backrest
- Pedaling has been improved, the rear seat stay frame has been changed so that now you have more heel clearance, also, the crank arm itself has been refined to a longer American style crank so you get a more natural pedal motion
- Fan favorites like 11 different color options, folding capabilities, and rear battery rack mounted basket are still here, part of what made the original such a success
- For creature comforts, you get a nice chain guard to protect your clothing from getting eaten up by the chain, you also now get a front fender with a large mud flap to keep you dry and the dirt out of the way
- The throttle here increases smoothly and you can control that level of power with 5 modes of throttle responsiveness, this is great if you need to dial it down for hanging out with a slow moving crowd at like a museum or something similar, yet you can dial it up and really get going for long stretches
- I love the coasting brake that allows you to brake traditionally by pedaling backwards, you also get a front mechanical disc brake with a motor inhibitor
- Battery has been kept compact and with a lower amp hour rating so you can fly with your Liberty Trike and battery while following FAA guidelines
- Cost has been kept down, despite the upgrades this year, they have been able to maintain the affordable $1,498 MSRP
Cons:
- The brake setup is nice, but I do wish the rear coaster brake had a motor inhibitor to cut power to the motor like the front brake does, sometimes I just want to use the rear brake by itself, I didn’t have any problems doing so, but it would add peace of mind to have it there too
- When taking tight turns or going at higher speed, you have to shift your weight since the setup is so compact and narrow, most of the time you may not need to worry about it, but for people wanting to go a bit faster, keep that in mind
- There is no pedal assist here, just a throttle for electrical propulsion, however, this was not a big deal as I felt the throttle was more appropriate anyway
- A lot of external wires, none internal, but this is actually good for maintenance and folding I guess
- A very minor gripe here, but I do wish it had nicer aluminum alloy pedals, plastic pedals were chosen, likely to keep costs down
Resources:
Mike Deason
5 years agoMy wife, who has MS loves this trike. It allows her to exercise her legs but the throttle will always get her home. The coaster brake is also something that works very well for most people. She has used it in stores, people are surprised to see it. It will climb steep grades. She keeps her speed under 12 mph. I would recommend 10 mph.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Mike! What a great testimonial, I completely agree about limiting the top speed. Thanks for sharing and I wish you and your wife happy rides and good health :)
ReplyD Ferrara
5 years agoI have owned a Liberty for almost five years, and find it a terrific work horse. You can take it right into stores, classrooms, libraries and meeting rooms. I load it up with art supplies, food for parties, even cases of beer and drive it right inside any place with handicap access. Last week, I discovered that the Liberty would be welcome in a Broadway theatre, according to the house manager. More importantly, Electric Bike Technologies is a great company to work with.
Unlike the prior poster, I wish the trike went faster and the battery had longer range, although I can get 20 miles if the terrain isn’t too hilly. As it is, though, I use the trike for most around town trips, and find it very convenient.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoWonderful! Thanks for sharing a little bit about how you use the Liberty Trike! Sounds like a great way to get around, and it makes me smile to hear about all of the fun activities you’ve used it for. Just great, thanks again D!
ReplyAlex M
5 years ago300 WH limit by FAA is for “battery operated wheelchair and other mobility aid”, – not for an ebike. There might arise some debate with airport screeners on whether this thing with pedals is a “mobility aid”. Otherwise, the limit is max 2 batteries 160WH each. I really like this little thing, not sure whether backward local villagers who only saw mobility scooters on TV and have never seen ANY ebike or trike, will approve :). Btw, this 2019 review still lists old 36V*10 AH battery.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHmm, thanks for the tip about battery capacity, Alex! I’ll mention this to Mikey and ask about the correct stat :)
ReplyJeff
5 years agoGreat video review. Thanks for all the details. I’m curious what it looks like folded up. Is there a pic anywhere?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoGreat question, Jeff! Sorry about that. There is a folded picture from last year’s model (which is very similar to this year) with it folded. Check it out here, and just scroll through the pictures until you see it ;)
ReplyMark
5 years agoVery confusing combination of specs here.
Overall I can perhaps see this as a substitute for the other portable mobility scooters, that have very small wheels (only 5 or 6″ in diameter), and this being able to go a few more places than those same small scooters that only go 3 to 6 mphs, but can’t really see this being a typical e-trike where adults who want to go a lot of places like a regular bike could go, but having 3 wheels helps with someone who might have balance issues. It would be very heavy to try to pedal without using the motor, but also very awkward to pedal and use a throttle, so how would you get an exercise with this vehicle, assuming that would be the purpose of being able to pedal ?
In summary it seems like a very limited use mobility vehicle, and maybe for people with a lot of physical limitations who maybe want to go a little faster than what a portable scooter would offer, and maybe a tiny bit further.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Mark, you’ve made a bunch of really good points and shared some useful insights. Thanks for taking the time to do so… I like that the Liberty Trike exists, and it could be a great option for a specific group of people… gearless hub motors tend to be very durable and quiet. Maybe they needed this higher wattage to get the torque rating up, even if it is still a bit low compared to geared motors and mid-drives.
ReplyGary
4 years agoI have owned the Liberty Trike for a couple of years now. First, this is a mobility scooter. Period. You cannot peddle this thing faster than a few miles an hour. It is impossible to pedal on anything but flat or downhill surfaces. Look at the videos put out by the company. They only pedal for very short distances and even then the electric motor is doing the work. If you want a trike, please get a regular 3 wheeler with the battery and motor. Something with gears and bigger tires. If you just want to get around, buy a mobility scooter. The pedals were put on this bike as a joke or way to make it look like a bike. It is not a bike. It’s pretty, it’s nice, but it is a scooter that gets maybe 3 miles before the battery conks out. I really regret buying this. I wish I had bought a full-sized trike and either converted it into an ebike, or bought one that was already an ebike with gears and regular pedals.
ReplyVesa
5 years agoLiberty Trike Electric Tricycle looks exactly what I need. Where can I order it in EU?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Vesa! Great question, I reached out to the inventor of this trike, and founder of Liberty Trike to ask on your behalf. He said “At this time, we only ship to the contiguous USA and Canada, we get asked about Europe frequently and would love to sell there but are working on keeping up with demand here first so we can provide great support”
Sorry, this probably isn’t what you wanted to hear. Perhaps you can find a freight forwarding company or other creative way to get one over to Europe… or maybe there’s a similar product where you’re at that could be found by asking in the electric trike forums here.
ReplyWayne Harwood
5 years agoGood Morning Court.
It’s been awhile since we spoke, so I thought I would provide a rundown on what’s been happening. I don’t know if you remember or not, but I purchased the RadMini Ste-Thru about a year ago. Just over a month ago, I was hospitalized with two minor strokes that is affecting me with dizzy spells if I stand and walk. I’m getting better, but kinda doubt I will be riding a two wheeled bike again. If you recall, I purchased the RadMini Step-Thru. Great bike for the money, but perhaps non-usable for me now. Maybe my wife will take it over. Now, I am looking into perhaps getting an eTrike, like the one you have reviewed here from Liberty Trike. So far, the only downside for me, in comparison to Rad Power Bikes as a company, Liberty does not offer free shipping. Well, it does up till December 2nd. I know this might be a loaded question, but do you think this trike will last and perform like a Rad Power bike? Looking out for customer’s thoughts and reviews on this little trike. Perhaps there are owner group forums on this bike I could reach out to.
Thanks, Court
ReplyAll the best.
Wayne
Court
5 years agoHi Wayne, great to hear from you! Sorry to hear that your health is limiting use of the RadMini… but glad your wife or a friend might get to enjoy it! I feel like Liberty Trike is a solid option. They aren’t as large a company as Rad Power Bikes, but this is such a custom and awesome creation! I really like it… and if you don’t expect to be very hard on it, or store it out in the elements, I suspect it will hold up well over time. I do have a forum setup for Liberty Trike but it’s not super busy. There’s a whole e-trike forum over here, and another area for Electric Bike Technologies here ;)
ReplyWayne Harwood
5 years agoHi Court. Thank you for responding, and I appreciate the forum links. As far as riding again, I won’t give up hope. There is still the possibility that I might be able to ride a two wheeled bike again, but as my physical therapist said, “hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”
I’m glad to see that your company is going strong. There are a few that are reviewing bikes, but none like what you do. You’re still number one, Court.
norrie
5 years agoCan I buy it in Canada, and when will it be Available? Thanks
ReplyCourt
5 years agoGreat question, Norrie! I’m not completely sure, but their website has contact information and I bet they’d get back to you soon. My guess is that they can ship to Canada, but it could add a bit of time and cost. Please reply back with what you find out and whether you get one of these!
ReplyWAYNE
4 years agoFirst time looking at anything like this. My wife and I are 66 with limited mobility. Two questions:
Thanks
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Wayne! Pedal assist describes when an electric bike motor will activate automatically when you pedal, no throttle required! The Liberty Trike does not behave this way… you must twist the throttle near the right grip in order to get motor support. This requires a bit more hand effort and isn’t as “automatic” but can be safer and also smoother because the motor only goes as strong as you twist. I hope this helps!
ReplyCarlos Alvarez
4 years agoI’d like to get one of these for 2021, can you please help me?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Carlos! I’ve deleted your personal details from public view but am responding here to let you know that I do not sell the Liberty Trike, I just review them here to help people make a choice. My goal is to be independent and impartial in my reviews. If you would like to buy one, try visiting their website and emailing or calling them since it appears you are outside the US.
ReplyJustin Logan
3 years agoHello, we extend our kind interest to make purchases on some items in your facility. Before we proceed, kindly let us know the kinds of credit cards you accept and do you have a pos machine and do you allow private pickup by freight forwarders ? Hope to read from you soon.
Best Regards,
ReplyJustin Logan
Court
3 years agoHi Justin! I only provide information and reviews about electric bikes here on EBR. If you’re interested in buying a Liberty Trike, I suggest contacting the manufacturer through their official website here. I hope this helps, and I hope you are well :)
ReplyMC Ben Elli
3 years agoOh, give me a break
ReplyJoel
2 years agoI got this for my wife a couple of years back. She loves it. It’s 50 lb, not 80 ( maybe 80 is the shipping weight?). Come apart in 2 halves for very easy transport. I put my folding bike and her trike in the back of the Forester. Easy fit. And off we go! RAD just came out with a carbon copy trike with close to the exact same attributes, but it’s nearly $1,000 more than the Liberty. I like RAD. I have a RAD mini and love it. But I’d take a long look at Liberty Trike before spending 40% more for the RAD Trike.
ReplyCourt
2 years agoFair enough! I covered this particular Liberty Trike in 2019 and hand weighed it at 80lbs myself, perhaps yours is a newer version with a lighter hub motor. I know the gearless direct drive ones can weigh a lot. Rad, and many others, have released trikes with hub motor front wheels and similar power ratings. There’s a whole list of them that I’ve covered here. Each one offers something different, be it cargo racks, suspension, motor type, branding and style, or price and availability. What I love about the Liberty Trike is that it’s one of the first purpose built products that was sold and supported by a US based company. I know the founder, Jason Kraft, who is a very smart and hardworking guy. I knew the Liberty Trike was special the first time I saw it, and I was grateful that he took the risk to build it. I appreciate how narrow and light it felt (even if I weighed it at 80lbs both times). Here’s my very first review from 2016, which shows some of that excitement! Thanks for your testimonial, Joel! It sounds like your wife loves the bike :)
Reply