Choosing the Best Electric Bike for Adults: 10 Tips

Generally speaking, most adult tricycles are safe and stable, which is great for all riders. However, if your goal is to select the right electric tricycle for a senior, there are some specific details you must pay attention to. The best electric tricycles for adults come with features designed to make their rides smoother, safer, and more enjoyable, but you must have a good understanding of what those features are and how they work. 
Here is a list of the ten most important factors to consider if you are to select the best adult tricycle for any elderly rider.

1. A (Moderately) Powerful Motor

When buying an adult tricycle for a senior, go for a model with a moderately powerful motor. In other words, the motor must be powerful enough to power the tricycle over challenging terrain but not so powerful as to put the elderly rider in a risky situation. Powerful motors are great, but they may also require more control, which might not be suitable for every senior rider.

• Most adult tricycles use hub-centric motors, usually in the front or rear wheel. These motors are perfect because they offer a smooth and quiet ride. 
• Mid-drive motors are also good, but they are a lot pricier.

So, how powerful should the motor be? Look anywhere from 250W to 500W for moderate power. If you’re in a hilly area or you think the rider might prefer some extra speed, a 750W motor provides more oomph without the potential of putting the rider in danger.
Beyond that, a stronger motor is not advisable, especially if the rider in question is really “elderly”. 

2. A Long-Lasting Battery

The whole purpose of purchasing an adult tricycle is to enable an elderly  rider to travel as far as they wish, and battery power plays a crucial role in achieving that goal. You want a tricycle with a battery that is efficient, longer-lasting, and gives the bike sufficient range per charge.

• Most modern electric tricycles use lithium-ion batteries, which are perfect for adult riders, especially those who will be doing some long-distance riding.
• Check that the battery has about 48V and around 10-20 Ah capacity. Such batteries generally provide a good balance of range and power.

Also, ensure that the tricycle offers sufficient range. Range is distance per single charge, and it often varies depending on factors like riding style, terrain, and level of pedal assist. However, any range between 25 and 50 miles should suffice.

3. Pedal Assist and Throttle Modes

Pedal assist is a crucial feature if you are choosing the best electric tricycle for a senior rider. With pedal assist, the rider can use varying levels of motor assistance, meaning they can control the amount of energy spent on pedaling.
Of course, pedaling can be a good exercise for an elderly rider, but excessive pedaling will just wear them out and ruin the riding experience. The Pedal assist feature helps limit the amount of physical effort they need to put in and enables them to go further without getting fatigued. 

Look for a tricycle with a thumb or twist throttle. It lets the rider power the tricycle with the motor alone, giving them a break from pedaling altogether when and if needed.
Also, the more the levels of pedal assist, the more freedom the rider has, and they can take on different kinds of terrain. Ideally, you want five levels of pdeal assist. Electric tricycles from dedicated suppliers like Viribus often offer five.  

4. Sturdy Frame and Durable Wheels

The frame Material of the tricycle matters, even more so when the rider is an elderly person. The material the frame is made of impacts the weight, stability, comfort, and ease of handling of the adult tricycle.

Look for a tricycle with an aluminum alloy frame. Aluminum alloy is durable and rust-resistant, but it is also lighter than steel. This way, the elderly rider would not have to exert themself too much just to get the tricycle to move. 

Pay Attention to Wheel Size

Choose a tricycle that comes with 24" or 26" wheels. These are good for added stability and comfort over bumps. You may notice that the front wheels are smaller (maybe about 20"), but that helps with the overall balance of the tricycle. 

Wide Tires are Preferable

For adults, you want a tricycle with tires as wide as possible. A dedicated fat tire tricycle like the Viribus Fat Tire Electric Tricycle would be great, but any tricycle tire 2.3 inches or wider should offer enough traction and a smoother ride.

5. Quality Brakes

Safety must be an important priority if you are buying a tricycle for an elderly rider, and the type and quality of the brakes make a big difference. Before making your final decision, you must check and ensure that the braking system is efficient, capable, and responsive. 

• There are different types of brakes, and some of them have proven to be pretty consistent.
• Hydraulic or mechanical disc brakes are a good sign on an adult tricycle. They offer strong stopping power, especially for heavier electric tricycles, and kick in straight away even if a rider is going at higher speeds.

Choose a bike that has a parking brake. Electric trikes are often heavier, and any elderly rider would have a hard time if there were no parking brakes to prevent the bike from rolling on inclines or during loading/unloading. 

6. Comfortable Seat

Most people pay little attention to it, but if you are buying a electric trike for an adult rider, you must make sure the seat is padded and adjustable. A good seat makes for a comfortable, relaxed ride, especially on longer trips. It would also be preferable if the seat was wide and had a system for back support. 
 If they are going to be riding on uneven roads or trails, you must ensure the tricycle has a good suspension system. A front or rear suspension absorbs shock on bumpy terrain.

 

7. Safety Features

In addition to the braking system, there are other safety features on electric tricycles that could be crucial for the safety of adult riders. One of these is the lights. 

• Go for a tricycle with bright front and rear LED lights. LED lights are known for being effective at improving visibility for both day and night riding.
• Make sure a loud horn or bell is handy so the rider can alert others on busy paths or roads.

8. Ample Storage Options

When choosing an electric bike for adults, keep in mind that most elderly riders would want to carry groceries, work supplies, or other kinds of gear in their tricycle. So, a sturdy rear basket is actually an essential feature for most older riders. 
If the tricycle includes additional storage storage up front for easy access to essentials like a water bottle or phone, that would even be better.

9. Adjustable and Ergonomic Handlebars

Whichever electric tricycle you choose for an elderly rider must be of a comfortable height and the appropriate size. Fortunately, most modern tricycles come with adjustable features like handlebars and seats. 
It is hard to decipher the right size tricycle for anyone, never mind elderly riders. So, go for one with adjustable features so they can customize it to their liking later. 
Ensure the grip is comfortable and padded to reduce hand strain, which is especially helpful on longer rides.

10. Range of Gears

A muti-gear system would do good to any adult rider. The power to go as far as possible, and even take on moderately challenging routes can be a great boost for someone facing mobility issues. 

A 7-speed (or similar) gear system is common in adult tricycles and helps when tackling hills, especially combined with pedal assist. This combination would be perfect for an elderly rider.

 

Recommended:  Check out the Trigo Electric Bikes!

Viribus’ Trigo line is the most widely acclaimed line of Viribus electric tricycles, and it constitutes three models: the Trigo Electric Tricycle (released in 2021), The Trigo Plus (released in 2022), and the latest, the Trigo Pro Electric Tricycle (which was  released in 2023). 
What sets these Viribus tricycles in the Trigo line apart is that they are specifically designed to meet the riding needs of adult riders, enabling them to cover more distance than before while keeping them comfortable and safe.

Every decision during the manufacturing process, in terms of the motor, battery, levels of pedal assist, throttle, frame, seats, handlebars, and even the overall physical appearance, is made to cater to elderly riders. 
Viribus has provided a detailed introduction to the Trigo Electric Tricycles, which covers and compares all the features and specifications each model offers. This guide will help you select the perfect model the match the riding needs of any adult rider. 

Make sure to check out more safety tips for riders of adult tricycles, and some maintenance tips to keep your trike in great shape!