Sun Seeker Eurus Electric Trike Review

The Sun Seeker Eurus Electric Trike is a professional conversion job by Electric Bike Technologies. These guys own ElectricTrike.com and E-BikeKit… they built the Liberty Trike and have a warehouse in Croydon Pennsylvania that I got to visit for several days. When we came to the Eurus model I was very impressed and felt like I found the sweet spot between performance and value. This trike has two disc brakes in the rear along with a linear pull v-brake up front so it’s easier to stop than the Eco Delta model (one step down). That’s a good thing too because neither of these trikes is especially light weight but the Eurus here can reach ~26 mph with its 500 watt geared hub motor and 48 volt battery (compared with a 36 volt on the Eco Delta). The frame is a single piece of Aluminum alloy vs. steel with sliding boom but the seat is still highly adjustable. You can slide it forward and back as well as tilting the back rest. One major down side to either of these Delta style recumbent e-trikes is that they are rear heavy and don’t have a cargo rack like the Tadpole trikes. Tadpole means two wheels up front and Delta means two wheels in the back by the way… So I really like how easy the Delta models are to mount and actually appreciate the higher seat (because my knees hurt if I squat too low) but they aren’t as stable and you just don’t have as much space for gear. One minor help are the two sets of threaded eyelets on the seat railing. They are positioned separately from the battery pack which is mounted on the seat support arms.

The battery pack on this electric tricycle hits the mark in some ways and gives me pause in others. Compared to many of the other trike models, this pack is very easy to get to. It’s not buried in a rack or basket and can easily be charged on frame. Just like the others however, you need to leave the key inserted in order to power on the ebike systems and if you’ve got the key attached to a chain it can bounce around. Still, because the pack is mounted completely behind the seat, the key isn’t really in the way. My concerns about the battery evolve around how it’s mounted to the bike frame. Instead of mounting directly to the thick frame tubing or a reinforced rack separate from the rider, it’s resting on the seat supports which are already doing work to hold the seat up (potentially a lot of work if the seat is at an extreme angle). In my time testing the trike this didn’t seem like an issue and I think the pack is probably fine at an angle… the battery box is mostly Aluminum and it has plastic end caps with a handle that felt solid. I guess it’s just something I haven’t seen before and more of a compromised solution than an ideal. That’s one of the trade-offs with any conversion ebike vs. a purpose built one, you end up with some compromises but it tends to lower the price point and bring unique features like higher top speed and open source battery options. You can actually map the battery curve using the display system on this bike for use with different sized packs from alternative manufacturers.

The battery powers a 500 Watt nominally rated geared hub motor that can peak around 1,000 watts. It’s very zippy but some of that torque is lost if the wheel spins out. Remember, this trike is rear heavy with both you and the battery way back above the wheels. I saw this only once during my test ride and it happened while riding over a pile of wet leaves. The motor is securely fastened to the front fork and built into a 20″ wheel with larger 12 gauge spokes and reinforcement eyelets. Actually, all of the wheels have nicer spokes and rims which reduces the potential for cracking and breaking situations. The max capacity that the trike can handle is 300 pounds according to the Sun Seeker website and given the roughly 10 lb motor and 10 lb battery you’re down to maybe 275 lbs with all of the electronics and mounts accounted for. The ebike wires are run along the main tube of the trike and blend well with the black and gray color scheme. I love that they used an oversized torque arm when mounting the motor because it really is powerful and this will keep the frame and dropouts from bending. Geared motors freewheel efficiently but produce a bit more noise than gearless. The weight of this motor tended to tip the front wheel to one side or another while I parked. It adds a bit of momentum while riding and requires a touch more arm strength for steering.

Operating the trike is straight forward with the key in the battery turned to on, holding the “M” button on the control pad (mounted below the left grip) then pulling the trigger throttle. I believe the trike can be setup with throttle and cadence sensor as the demo bike I tried had. It’s nice to pedal along and have an incentive to workout and stretch. The bike is comfortable and the cadence sensor is responsive, having 12 magnets, but the throttle option is more satisfying. I tended to start from zero using it and then pedal along, leaving the bike in a higher gear most of the time because shifting takes time and effort. The Eurus has 24 speeds which is really a lot for an electric bike. Since you can hit ~26 mph assisted with the electric motor system, those extra gears come in handy and I love that they upgraded to SRAM shifter hardware vs. the generic Sun Seeker brand found on the lower level trikes. Back to the display, it’s large and bright with a backlight option (just hold the up arrow for a few seconds). I like that it swivels but wish it was removable just in case you have to park outside in public or leave your trike outside at home. This is a larger ebike after all. The display gives you more than just battery, speed and power level. You can dig into the options for battery curve settings, top speed settings and even amp output which changes how zippy the throttle feels. The throttle itself is another area that I felt mixed on. They had mounted it between the grip and twist shifter which got in the way for me. It’s easy enough to move behind the grip twist but then you have to reach further to pull it. Note that the maximum power and top speed on this trike (in pedal assist or throttle mode) is governed by the power level you choose 1-5. My own preference is usually where you can adjust pedal assist but override with the throttle any time (since it is a variable speed throttle). Given the sportier feel of this trike, that might be a nice option to see in the future but for the time being, it’s not too bad clicking up once or twice on the left button pad to get that power.

All things considered, this is a fun and capable electric trike. The seating position is comfortable but not as aggressive, you get the below-seat steering of a tadpole trike but don’t struggle as much to sit down and get back up after each ride. I’m not sure I really need all of the gears they offer but it would come in real handy for steep terrain or if the battery ran out… and I would like to bring the charger along to extend my rides but am not clear on where to store it. Maybe a front facing backpack or a custom seat bag? The thing is, the battery is already adding weight to those seat support arms and that makes me hesitate about adding even more. I like how all of the wires blend in and think the black and gray color scheme is professional but wish the trike had lights or a flag pole, even tires with reflective sidewall paint would make a huge difference. Definitely get some of your own lights going, maybe a helmet light to raise them up and be see. The Eurus is an exciting machine for the price and even with the $300 shipping fee, you’re getting a product from an ebike company that has been around for years and backs it up with a one year warranty. Big thanks to Electric Bike Technologies for partnering with me for this review.

Pros:

• Sportier than the Eco Delta model with a 48 volt battery pack vs. 36 volts… it can hit higher top speeds and has lower side mounted steering vs. a long bar
• I find that the Delta style trikes (with two wheels in the back) are easier to mount than the Tadpoles (with two wheels up front), there’s just more space to step over and sit down, the seat is also higher
• Given the rear-heavy design of this trike, I love that the back wheels are angled in… they have some camber which is designed to handle turns well
• You get 24 gears to shift through with this trike and that’s excellent considering the broader range of possible assisted speeds, the shifters are SRAM which is a step up from the Sun Seeker in house brand found on the Eco Delta
• The E-BikeKit motor, battery and display are all mounted securely and the wires are kept hidden, they blend in with the black frame accents and I love that they added an oversized torque arm up front to disperse some of the motor torque and protect the fork dropouts
• Highly adjustable mesh seat can be angled for a more laid back position or upright, it also slides forward and back a bit to optimize pedaling (the frame does not have an adjustable boom like some others but that makes it stiffer and higher performance)
• The wheels have reinforced eyelets and nipples designed to handle more weight and reduce the possibilities of cracking the rim, the front wheel has extra thick spokes to support the motor
• I love that you get all-wheel braking on this electric trike, two 160 mm mechanical disc brakes on the rear wheels and a v-brake up front, they aren’t as good as hydraulic but they performed well enough and that’s key if you ride faster
• Both brake levers have motor inhibitors so you stop more quickly and maintain control of the trike, I like that the left lever also has a parking brake latch
• If you already own the non-electric Sun Seeker Eurus, you can buy the motor, battery and display to add yourself and create an e-trike, the website has instructions and they will guide you along with excellent customer support, the warranty on this trike is 1 year complete
• I love that the battery pack can be charged on or off the trike and that it’s so easy to get on and off of the Eurus specifically, some of the other trikes are a bit more finicky based on where and how it’s mounted
• I like that you get two bottle cage mounting points on the seat frame (one on each side), this area is separate from the seat support arms which are holding the battery and they may not offer a lot of space if your seat is in the most upright position
• The display panel is large which makes it easy to read and it swivels to reduce glare and has a backlighting feature (hold the up arrow for a few seconds) but it’s not easily removable for parking in public
• The controller and display are custom programmed for this battery pack and show discharge more accurately as a result, you can go in and customize it yourself if you ever switch packs in the future and they also let you adjust the top speed and amp output to suit your preferences (and save those preferences)

Cons:

• This is a sportier electric trike that’s capable of reaching higher top speeds but isn’t quite as stable as the Tadpole style trikes (which have two wheels up front), the seat is mounted higher which is easier to approach but your weight isn’t as centered, this thing is more rear heavy in general
• Following from the point above, there’s no cargo rack on this trike, the Tadpole trikes all have a rear wheel further back and a traditional bike rack for use with panniers or trunk bag (great for carrying the charger along), in this case you miss out on that and the battery is mounted at an angle to the seat support arms (which didn’t seem as strong to me)
• With the added 9.4 lbs of the hub motor on the front wheel, steering is slowed and somewhat compromised, I noticed the steering rod rattled a bit on their demo bike, you can also spin out easier since much of your body weight is over the rear wheels and the motor is up front
• Be careful riding over tall obstacles because the derailleur drops down a bit in the rear (about as low as a traditional bicycle), it’s in the center vs. next to the wheel and is thus more exposed
• Keep in mind, shipping is not free! This electric trike comes fully built and ready to ride but it costs $300 extra, if you live near Pennsylvania I think you can drive and pick it up for free, you might need a small trailer or a truck to get it home though
• They key must be left in the battery pack and turned to “on” in order to operate this trike, if you have it on a keychain there can be some jingling as a result but it’s positioned out of the way on the Eurus here
• I didn’t love how they mounted the trigger throttle (in between the grip and twist shifter on the right side), they had to make some compromises since this trike has so many gears… you could reposition the trigger if you wanted, I feel like they should keep experimenting with different throttle designs to make them easier to use
• Definitely consider adding some lights and maybe a flag so cars see you, the frame only comes in this dark gray and black color and none of the tires have reflective sidewall paint, in my experience with low-riding recumbents you may be difficult to see by cars vs. a regular upright bicycle

Resources:

• Official Site: https://www.electrictrike.com/collections/recumbent-electric-tricycles/products/sun-eurus-recumbent-electric-trike
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/1USuyUX6PZ2Mhb716