Cruzbike Truck/Trike

[CruzRider]

Found out through YouTube that another Cruzbike model is here. It is an add-on to the T50, but it fills big gaps in the product line (electric and trike)

Truck Electric Cargo Trike Attachment

What is the Cruzbike Truck? It's electric. It hauls. It's comfortable. It's rugged. It's the most fun we've ever had on three wheels. This powered, tilting, cargo-hauling beast is a tilting trike made from a bike (Cruzbike T50 Gen 3) plus a purpose-built 750W electric power pod (Cruzbike Truck...

cruzbike.com

Looks like a very well engineered product. Kudos to the team on a second launch this year!

 

[Frito Bandito]

A friend and I were discussing recumbent tilting trikes after catching wind of this the other day and 1 of the trikes I had seen here in Japan had a different tilting mechanism. This one looks alright though.

 

[Mathew Fy]

It seems they have been working on this for years. I wonder if the attachment will be available to retrofit an S40.

Cruztrike???

has anyone tried converting Cruzbike to a delta trike? Flevotrike wanna be maybe.

forum.cruzbike.com

 

[CruzRider]

It seems they have been working on this for years. I wonder if the attachment will be available to retrofit an S40.

I had seen this older design at cycle con. The new Truck design looks more promising in that the front is what tilts. Very simple and clever.
Seems a little bulky for a S40, but seems pretty modular and could work.

 

[RayB]

A non ebike version might open up some possibilities as well.

 

[Velocivixen]

I’d like to try that on my Q45!

 

[Crawgator]

Looks pretty cool!

 

[Robert Holler]

This is a current version T50 attachment ONLY - no plans for any other models - the attachment mechanism is 100% frame specific. Designing and making these for cross models was not possible, unfortunately. So it is a N+1 thing.

 

[Ninosmits]

Hello,

I’ve been riding a Flevo-trike for a few years now. The bike dates back to 1995 and shares the same tilting characteristics as the Cruzbike Truck. When cornering, the cargo box stays on two wheels while the front section of the bike tilts to the left or right. I fully restored the bike last summer. A tilting, articulated frame rides fantastically.
See my restoration project here:

Flevo-trike restauratieprojectje afgerond

 

[Ninosmits]

I’ve started a new restoration project—this time on an original Flevobike, one of the very first ones ever made.
If you’d like to follow along, here’s the URL:

Nieuw Flevobike restauratieproject gestart...

By the way, I’m really happy with my Cruzbike S40; I ride it every day. Unfortunately, the importer here in the Netherlands has stopped carrying them, though I was lucky enough to get my hands on one. Riding a Flevobike is a completely different experience—it feels more like floating. The handlebars are essentially superfluous, serving only as a mounting point for the brake and gear shifter; you steer by shifting your weight. The learning curve is incredibly steep; it took me about three months before I felt confident enough to ride in a busy city. But once you’ve mastered it, it’s fantastic, and you won’t want to ride anything else. For really fast rides, though, I take the Cruzbike.

 

[Greg S]

I’ve started a new restoration project—this time on an original Flevobike, one of the very first ones ever made.
If you’d like to follow along, here’s the URL:

Nieuw Flevobike restauratieproject gestart...

Really interesting bike and project! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ninosmits]

Really interesting bike and project! Thanks for sharing.

Hi Greg,

This is a “modern” Flevobike type “bike” from 1995

 

[Greg S]

Hi Greg,

This is a “modern” Flevobike type “bike” from 1995

I've used under seat steering in the past (HP Velotechnik Speedmachine). Although I did get to the point where I could ride it comfortably it did take a while.

Not sure how I'd get on with it on e.g., an S40 or V20c. Probably a pretty steep learning curve!

Edited to add: from looking at it more closely (plus a deeper dive into your restoration project) I see that the under seat "handlebars" really are only to mount brake levers and steering is done exclusively via leaning.

Now that'd really take some getting used to!

Also: that chainring size is just crazy! Complete non-starter where I live (8-12% grades common).

 

[Ninosmits]

Hi Greg,

10 to 12%? Yes, that is a downside of this bike; you can't really climb with it. Even with a front tire that has plenty of tread, it tends to slip because of a lack of traction. But here in the Netherlands, we only have "Dutch mountains"—so a Force 6 headwind isn't a problem, provided the terrain is flat. Bridges and overpasses are fine, of course, but 10 to 12% is impossible. Even here in the Netherlands, very few people can ride this type of bike. A lot of people give up after just an hour. But you just have to persevere. Practice in an empty parking lot. Once you get the hang of it, it’s amazing. It really can't be compared to any other under-seat steering recumbent. The headset is located beneath the seat, which makes steering tricky. But once you’ve mastered it, it’s fantastic. I learned when I was 63; I’m 68 now, and I can do anything with it. Oh, and they say it might delay Alzheimer’s because your brain has to form all sorts of new connections while you’re practicing. Well, I don’t know if that’s true, but if it puts it off by even a week, that’s a bonus!