You’re looking at the Schwinn Meridian Adult Tricycle and wishing you had the money to buy one. It is our number one, after all. But what alternatives are there that offer the same features? Something easier on the budget, perhaps. Then the best adult tricycle has to be the Tri-Rad Adult Unisex Folding Tricycle. Just like the best vehicles, the best tricycles don’t come cheap, however most of them are worth the price.
Why We Like It – Tri-Rad Adult Unisex Folding Tricycle
A middle-of-the-road adult tricycle with a 6-speed Shimano gear and average-sized rear basket. Pack up a basket for picnics or knock out a few chores.
- Strong, steel frame
- Built-in basket holds 54 lbs
- Foldable design for easy storage
- Caliper brakes are good, but cheap
Performance
Starting with speeds, the Mantis Tri Rad Adult Tricycle uses a 6-speed Shimano gear shifter that shifts smoothly between each speed. What’s nice is that you can take on a variety of inclines, unlike the Schwinn Meridian Adult Tricycle with its single speed. While the Schwinn brakes marginally better than the Tri-Rad, the Tri-Rad has good caliper brakes. They aren’t anything to write home about but since they’re caliper brakes, they tend to wear. Thankfully, caliper brakes are cheap and easy to replace (just like some diffusers like the one in our TT Star Aromatherapy Steel Car Diffuser review or our Syntus Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser review).
Design
The most important aspect of the Tri Rad Folding Tricycle is in its name: folding. You can effectively cut the length of the bike in half thanks to its folding feature. This made it really easy for us to store. Alternatively, you can leave it out and kick out the parking brake instead. As you may have noticed, it also has a basket in the back, unlike the Mobo Recumbent Bicycle. It’s a bit smaller than the Slsy Tricycle Three Wheeler, but it’s still large enough to handle 54 lbs of items. Better still is its strong, steel frame, which makes it heavier but tougher than aluminum.
Value
Given the performance of the Tri-rad Adult Unisex Folding Tricycle and its folding feature, we’re happy to give this our seal of great value. Best of all: you get what you wanted from the Schwinn Meridian Adult Tricycle at a cheaper price. It’s almost a $150 difference. The Mantis Tri-rad has a tougher frame and more speeds, and a basket for running errands. Still, if you wanted the same thing but with a bigger basket, we suggest the Slsy Tricycle Three Wheeler. You lose out on the folding feature, however.
Tri-Rad Adult Unisex Folding Tricycle Wrap Up
The Mantis Tri-rad Adult Unisex Folding Tricycle proved to be an overall great trike. Its strong, steel frame made it heavier, sure, but tougher. It’s built with 6 speeds for a variety of inclines and a medium-sized basket for quick trips and errands. The caliper brakes are good too, though they’ll be replaced every so often. For what you pay, you won’t be disappointed.
