Name: Sun Seeker Eco Delta Electric Trike Review
Item: Sun Seeker Eco Delta Electric Trike
Author: Court Rye

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Sun Seeker Eco Delta Electric Trike Review

Sun Seeker Eco Delta Electric Trike Review

Sun Seeker Eco Delta Electric 500 Watt Geared Hub Motor

Sun Seeker Eco Delta Electric Trike Battery 36v 10ah

Sun Seeker Eco Delta Foam Grips Lcd Display Panel

Sun Seeker Eco Delta Sunrace Grip Shifter

Sun Seeker Eco Delta Long Back Style Bars

Sun Seeker Eco Delta 7 Speed Sunrace M30 Derailleur

Sun Seeker Eco Delta Electric Trike 3 Amp Charger

A recumbent electric trike with a higher seat, more relaxed bars and lower price point, the delta frame design positions one wheel in the front and two in the back
Highly adjustable seat angle and overall bike length for comfortable reach and pedaling, the chain guide, mechanical disc brake and parking brake work well
This is a conversion electric bike so wires aren't as hidden and the motor mount uses a torque arm to distribute force, it comes in several colors and ships ready to ride
No basket with this trike but the battery pack is removable, limited 7 speed drivetrain with off-brand components from Sun, display panel is not removable

Make:

Sun Seeker

Model:

Eco Delta Electric Trike

Price:

$1,835 ($350 Shipping, Fully Assembled Ready to Ride)

Body Position:

Recumbent

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2017

Total Weight:

72 lbs (32.65 kg)

Battery Weight:

7.2 lbs (3.26 kg)

Motor Weight:

9.4 lbs (4.26 kg)

Frame Material:

High Tensile Tig Welded Steel

Geometry Measurements:

42 1/2 – 63″ (126-160 cm) Wheel Base, 68 3/4″-82 1/4″ (125-209 cm) Overall Length, 30 1/2″ (77.5 cm) Width, 20 1/2″ -22 3/4″ (52-58 cm) Seat Height, 20″ (51 cm) Bottom Bracket Height

Frame Types:

Trike

Frame Colors:

Gloss Red, Gloss Blue, Gloss Black, Gloss Grey

Frame Fork Details:

High Tensile Steel, Rigid

Attachment Points:

Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 SunRACE M30, 13-32T

Shifter Details:

SunRACE Grip Shift on Right

Cranks:

170 mm Cranks, 38T Chainring, Chain Guide

Pedals:

Wellgo LU-207 Plastic Platform

Headset:

Sealed Mechanism Steel

Handlebar:

Chromoly Steel, Long Back Style

Brake Details:

Promax Mechanical Disc with 160 mm Rotor in Rear, Promax Linear Pull in Front, Wuxing Levers with Motor Inhibitor and Parking Latch

Grips:

Flat Foam, Locking

Saddle:

Alloy Frame, Padded Mesh

Seat Post:

Rans Style Seat Slide

Rims:

Alloy, 36 Hole

Spokes:

Front Stainless 12G Silver, Rear Stainless 14G Black

Tire Brand:

Kenda Kwest, 20" x 1.5"

Wheel Sizes:

20 in (50.8cm)

Tire Details:

40 to 65 PSI

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Adjustable Angle Seat with Removable Cover, Adjustable Length Boom, Plastic Chain Guide, Heavy-Duty Torque Arm for Motor Mount

Other:

Locking Removable Battery, 1.5 lb 3 Amp Charger, KMC Z Chain, Hold Up Arrow for Backlighting, Max Weight ~300 lbs

Motor Brand:

Electric Bike Technologies

Motor Type:

Front-Mounted Geared Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

500 watts

Motor Peak Output:

750 watts

Motor Torque:

21 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Electric Bike Technologies

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

10 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

360 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4 hours

Estimated Min Range:

15 miles (24 km)

Estimated Max Range:

35 miles (56 km)

Display Type:

King Meter, Fixed, Backlit, Monochrome LCD

Readouts:

Battery Level (5 Bars), Speed, Avg. Speed, Max Speed, Power Level (0-5), Odometer, Trip A, Trip B

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle (12 Magnet Pedelec Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)(Adjustable Speed, PAS Sensitivity, Current)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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The Sun Seeker Eco Delta is one of the more affordable recumbent electric trikes I’ve tested. It doesn’t offer quite as much power as some of the other conversions built by Electric Bike Technologies but their choices were smart… By that I mean, they went with a geared hub motor for more zip given the lower voltage 36 volt 10 amp hour battery. Many of the other Sun Seeker conversions I tested recently offered gearless motors with peak output around 1,000 watts vs. this one at ~750 watts but they also had 48 volt packs. That means more weight and more money! What you get here is an electric trike in the delta form which means it has one wheel up front and two in the back, like a traditional tricycle. The steering is slower and much easier to manage (less muscle required) than the recumbent tadpole trikes. Those are the ones with handles at the side down by your waist. They tend to have more complex steering mechanisms and be more difficult to mount. I love that the seat on the Eco Delta is positioned a bit higher up but that it’s still fully adjustable (the back rest swivels and the frame boom extends easily). Overall, it’s one of the few recumbents I’ve tried that didn’t cause my neck to feel tight after lots of riding. There’s no suspension but the canvas back rest combined with vibration-dampening long handle bars and average sized tires makes for a relaxed time.

One of my favorite features on the Eco Delta is also a source of concern. It’s the big, bright display panel (that’s backlit if you hold the up arrow for a few seconds). This thing is mission control, it shows your speed, power level, ride stats and battery bar… And this is one of the gripes. While it shows 10 little bars, only the main sections appear and disappear depending on battery capacity so you really only get 5 bars. That 20% increment can mean a lot when you’re far from home. And while I love that the display swivels to reduce glare (especially relevant given how close it comes to your face on this trike) it is not removable. That means it may take more sunlight, rain water and scratching at the bike racks than if you could take it along with you. Many other, more expensive, ebikes have removable displays like Bosch, BionX, and Impulse but at least the E-Bike Kit battery used on the Sun Seeker here can be taken off. And for those who are concerned about the display, consider a small black sack or knit glove… but don’t leave it on if it’s wet or it could trap condensation :)

Turning this trike on is a two step process and it starts with the battery pack. You can charge it on or off the bike but then slide it onto the rear mount rails, insert and turn the key. The key is required to be left on the trike during operation and has a nice folding head but might jingle if connected to a keychain. From here, hold the M button on the control pad (near the right grip) and look for the display to flash to life. I like that Electric Bike Technologies mounted the control pad close to the grip but opted to make the trigger throttle the closest because it’s the more useful interface. Once you’ve selected a power level, either the trigger throttle or cadence sensor allows you to activate the motor and zip away. Many times, I’m reviewing sporty ebikes geared towards riders who want MORE speed but it sounds like the Eco Delta often appeals to those who are looking for the stability of a trike and lower speed neighborhood riding. This is a great platform for getting outside and stretching, sitting in a way that’s comfortable and steering without having to stretch too much or get a sore back and neck. I loved how easy it was to sit down on this compared with many other tadpole style trikes.

I’ve listed a whole bunch of pro’s and con’s for your consideration below. Keep in mind that this is a professional conversion e-bike. It’s a bit less expensive at face value but does require $350 shipping which basically gets it to you in a “ready to ride” state. I’ve seen this company doing stand alone conversion kits for many years and in fact you can see some of them reviewed here, so if you’ve already got this recumbent or just like to set things up yourself, they do sell the exact same kit and even have instructions on how to install it back at ElectricTrike.com. Overall I was very pleased with my experience on this bike and definitely prefer to get help (and am willing to pay slightly more) for a well-done conversion. Everything from the wire management to the oversized torque arm was well thought out. I did have a couple of hicups with pedal assist (and that’s why it is only shown briefly in the video) but the bike was converted on short notice just for me during a visit to Pennsylvania (at their headquarters in Croyden). I got to meet the founder, Jason Kraft, and his engineering and support team. They may not make all of the parts used on this thing but they do assemble it and do offer several customization options. It’s neat to see and if you’re someone who appreciates that kind of thing and is looking for a unique bicycle that will keep you stable, help you manage your speed and offer good support I feel like this would be a good choice. Big thanks to ElectricTrike.com for partnering with me for this review.

Pros:

One of the most affordable electric recumbent trikes, you don’t get as many gears or as much power but for neighborhood riding and short urban trips it’s great
The long handle bars, higher mounted seat and tricycle design (as compared to tadpole with two wheels in the front) make the Eco Delta easier to mount and less aggressive to ride, it’s like a more efficient and more active version of a tricycle
Highly adjustable frame and seat designed to accommodate a wide range of riders, tall or short, I like how the seat can be very upright to spot traffic and relax the neck or way back for maximum aerodynamics ;)
Available in several fun color choices including the bright red in the photos and video above, I tend to go bright to stay visible but the black wires blend in nicely with the black accents
I love that the chainring has a plastic guide to reduce drops and that there are two extra-long plastic tubes to protect the chain and keep your pants clean when riding
Zippy geared motor provides instantaneous torque, is compact and light weight but isn’t as quiet or durable as some of their gearless motors, I think it’s a “pro” here because the battery voltage is lower at ~36 volts so you maximize power with a geared motor
Extra thick and sturdy spokes on the front wheel (to support the motor weight and power) along with a large torque arm to distribute force into the fork, supporting the dropouts
Both the battery pack and charger are encased with Aluminum making them tougher, the charger is a bit faster at 3 Amps and only weighs ~1.5 pounds, I like that you can charge the pack on or off the bike frame
You get a responsive 12 magnet cadence sensor for pedal assist as well as trigger throttle operation with lots of power and speed settings to choose from, additionally you can set a maximum speed for riders who want to feel safe
Both brake levers feature motor inhibitor “cutoff” switches that stop the power when pulled, it’s a great safety feature and I like that the right brake lever also has a parking brake latch
Electric Bike Technologies closely maps their battery discharge rates to presets in the controller so the display is very accurate AND they leave it open so you can use other batteries in the future and map your own

Cons:

Unlike some of the other Sun Seeker electric trikes, the Eco Delta does not come with a rear basket for stowing gear, just the battery pack
Being a conversion product, the wires for the motor and battery aren’t internally routed so they stick out and don’t look quite as nice
Interesting brake design… one mechanical disc brake in the rear and one v-brake up front, it works well enough but isn’t as easy or powerful as hydraulic or two rear disc brakes
The display panel is really beautiful looking but cannot be easily removed when you park the bike, this exposes it to more weather and potential vandalism
There are no integrated lights on this bike so consider picking a set up and adding them yourself, this isn’t as low as some of the tadpole trikes but a tail whip LED flagpole might also be worth adding so cars see you
The battery case is tuff but made from an older style which requires that you leave the key in while riding… if you have a keychain and other keys attached it can dangle and be vulnerable but if you don’t have a keychain then the key becomes easier to lose, consider using a small carabiner like these, I do like that at least the key folds :)
Be careful when sliding the battery pack off the rear rack because the key may collide with the seat back supports, I believe you need to unlock the pack then take the key out first to avoid bending it
For some riders, the recumbent “feet forward” may be easier to slip off of and have a foot go down or drag, consider foot pedal straps in that case, metal BMX pedals for improved grip or even clip in shoes and pedals
The support rails for positioning the seat back both have bosses for adding water bottle cages, mini pumps or locks! This helps to make up for the lack of a basket or rear rack
Power output is limited by the level you choose even though the throttle itself is a variable speed trigger, for some this is a good safety design and for others it may feel annoying to click up each time you want to go faster while also pulling the throttle

Resources:

Official Site: https://www.electrictrike.com/collections/recumbent-electric-tricycles/products/sun-seeker-eco-delta-electric-trike
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/BvwNycjWTYALqX9s9

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Nirmala

8 years ago

I always want to add to any review of a tricycle that it is important to remember the limits on handling with three wheels. A regular bicycle will lean into corners, but a trike will not. This means that at the limits of a trike’s cornering ability, it will start to tip over. It is no fun ending up rubber side up :)

The higher seat on this model is easier to get in and out of, but it also means a higher center of gravity, which makes the trike more prone to tipping. That is why this trike has the top speed limited. There are delta trikes and also tadpole trikes that have better handling than this one, including some models by Sun Seeker that are also sold as electric trikes by electrictrike.com, but all trikes have their limits. When I reviewed the trike conversion of a KMX Typhoon on the forum here, I did not mention that I was able to get the trike up on two wheels if I tried by pushing it in corners. And that was with a very low seat on a tadpole style trike, although that trike also would easily hit 33 mph under electric power only, so it was a very high powered trike.

Whatever ebike you ride, it is good to know the bike’s limits as the higher speeds available means that you can spend more time riding at or near those limits.

Court Rye

Great points Nirmala, and thanks for posting your review on the forums… I just added a link so others can check it out. I’ll write more about handling and speak to it in the future (but several more Sun Seeker reviews have already been filmed and are similar).

Dan

6 years ago

I have a couple of sun trikes EZ3’s that I’d like to convert to electric is there a kit that I can buy? The front wheel is a 16 x 1.5

Eric

Hey Dan, if you go to electrictrike.com they have conversion kits they sell. you can check them out and email them questions. hope this helps.

Cynthia Shropshire

5 years ago

I’m interested in purchasing the sun seeker eco delta electric trike. Please contact me via email or text.

Court

Hi Cynthia! I’ve passed your info along to the company that makes and sells the Sun Seeker Eco Delta. Hopefully they will reach out to you directly, but otherwise, here is their official website with a contact form and phone number for you to try.

Rebecca

3 years ago

I’m interested in purchasing the sun seeker eco delta electric trike. Please contact me via email.

Thanks Rebecca, I think you can order the bike from their official website here, or contact them directly! I only do reviews here and don’t sell bikes. Good luck :)