Presseservice Media Service News 2016:
Recumbent trike Gekko fxs
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The trike that fits everyone
A tricycle for short people:With the Gekko fxs, HP Velotechnik caters to
the whole family with a
new vehicle class, which stands for safety and a multitude of individual
adjustment possibilities
Friedrichshafen.
HP Velotechnik is set to reveal the
Gekko fxs at the Eurobike trade fair. This versatile multi-track vehicle
has a huge range of uses. Thanks to the new Triple-Vario design, the
trike can be adapted for riders with heights of 3'11" to 5'11" with just
a few simple manual adjustments. Not only does this make it an ideal
cycle that can grow with riders as they progress from childhood to
adulthood, it is also the first ever pedal powered vehicle from the
Hessian recumbent manufacturer to be aimed at a section of the
population that the industry often neglects: very short riders. The
Gekko fxs is furthermore a highly adjustable vehicle for use in the
therapeutic segment thanks to a completely redesigned set of
accessories. The versatile, foldable trike will be exhibited on the HP
Velotechnik stand (FW 300) in the west foyer of the fair in
Friedrichshafen, Germany. It can be tested by the public outdoors on
Saturday, 29 August.
How many bikes does a child need as it grows up? The answer of the
special bike manufacturer HP Velotechnik is very simple: just one! This
is made possible by the Triple-Vario design! As well as the frame being
extendible at two points, even the comfortable OrthoFlex mesh seat has
been given a dose of growth hormone by its designers.
The new technology is based on the company's original and successful
design technique with two characteristic wheels at the front (Tadpole).
The frame consists of a main tube and opens out at the front into the
bottom bracket boom. It ends at the rear under the seat, where the
folding joint is located, as per the typical HP Velotechnik design. On
the Gekko fxs, both parts can now be extended; usually this is only
possible for the front boom. The Kriftel-based company has designed the
innovative OrthoFlex seat to adapt to the flexible frame and the rider.
This is the first time that a seat can be infinitely adapted to any
rider's size.
The Vario elements are extremely easy to use and their function on the
magma-red trike is highlighted through the use of colour. Simply open
the blue quick-release lever and the components can instantly be
extended or pushed into each other. The Triple-Vario design makes the
trike the ideal vehicle for shorter users. Previous series models in the
special bike segment were designed for rider heights starting at about
5'3". However this meant that the non-tilting, ergonomically-optimised
vehicles were unsuitable for a large part of the female population (the
average height of women in Germany is just under 5'5").
For the recumbent cycle specialist, the topic of perfect ergonomic fit
in no way ends with the frame. The OrthoFlex seat is also highly
versatile. The seat angle can be adjusted to between 48 and 64 degrees.
And with eight individually adjustable upholstered sections, almost
anybody's back and any spine size can be precisely supported! Width
adjustments are therefore possible, as are adjustments in the lordotic
area (lower lumbar spine) as well as in the head area for small riders.
The reason why the specialists regard flexibility as particularly
important, especially at 'contact points', is simple: if riders are
uncomfortable, as upright cyclists often experience with saddles, they
will abandon the cycle and never get used to it. Short people, in
particular, often used to have to settle for solutions that were far
from ergonomically beneficial for their anatomy.
However, the Gekko fxs is considerably more than just an exceptionally
flexible special cycle. This is made clear by the high-quality basic
features: the cycle, which can be folded up in seconds, has a smooth
8-speed hub gear and disc brakes. However, these features are far from
set in stone by the manufacturer known for its modular systems.
Customised equipment options are virtually limitless. The sporty female
triker, for example, can equip her vehicle with 27-speed derailleur
gears from Shimano and install clipless pedals instead of the
ergo-pedals with heel and toe cleats.
Those who prefer a more leisurely approach can equip their vehicles with
a powerful 250 W electric motor and a second battery. The enhanced
premium model from GO SwissDrive comes with a reverse gear,
light-sensitive display and Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones,
among other features.
The Hessian company has further expanded the 'accessory options' section
of its modular system for the new Gekko concept. The trike is an ideal
adjustable solution for the therapeutic sector. The completely stable
vehicle already offers a high level of safety even for inexperienced
riders – with an additional advantage while cornering: you can always
see the precise width of the vehicle. For use with a disabled child, for
instance, HP Velotechnik has not only developed a novel guide handle for
co-steering with a built-in brake function but also introduced an
easy-to-use 5-point belt system for the new season. To round out the
enhancements, the company has furthermore developed special pedals in
children's sizes, which can be used to rest the lower leg.
According to the recumbent manufacturer, an application has been
submitted for a therapeutic appliance number for the Gekko fxs. In some
cases, this would make it possible for costs to be covered by health
insurance funds.
The basic version in the color Magma red retails at 3.990,– Euro; with
eletric assistance up from 6.640,– Euro. The Gekko fxs will be available
from specialist dealers from November 2015. For more informations please
visit www.hpvelotechnik.com or phone +49 61 92 - 97 99 20.
******** Technical data Scorpion fx ********
Basic model, other components on option
Frame: Gekko fxs (Alu 7005 T6) 10 years warranty
Color: Magma Red, other colors on option
Tires : Tryker by Schwalbe (20")
Seat: OrthoFlex mesh seat (air permeable) with 8 foam segments
Seat height / angle: 1'2" / 48° – 64°
Length of seat: 6" – 9"
Brakes: 2 × Avid BB7 disc brakes
Gear system Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub gear with twist shifter
Wheelbase: 3' – 3'3"
Length: 4'6" – 5'9" (adjustable for riders with height from 3'11" – 5'11")
Width/Track width: 2'9" / 2'7"
Weight: from 36 lb
Ground clearance: 4"
Turning circle: 15'3" m
Max. payload: up to 220 lb
Package measuring: 1'10" × 3' × 2'10" (L×B×H), with removed front wheels: 3'4" × 2'6" × 1'10")
Price: starting from 3.990,– €, with Motor from 6.640,– €
Available: from November 2015
******** Background information on HP Velotechnik ********
HP Velotechnik was founded by
Paul Hollants and Daniel Pulvermüller in 1993. Its production site in
Kriftel near Frankfurt employs 30 people (including four trainees) and
manufactures approximately 1,700 recumbents per year, making it the
European market leader.The bikes are individually built to order by hand
and sold via specialist bike dealers. Signs of growth are evident: The
recumbents are sold in Germany and Europe; increasing numbers are also
being exported to more distant regions such as U.S.A., Australia, and Japan.
HP Velotechnik has developed 14 recumbent models across the entire class
spectrum from everyday bikes to racers. All models are available with
powerful electric motors on request. Recently, the fullsuspension trikes
of the Scorpion class won three times in a row the renowned Eurobike
Design Award: In 2012 the speed pedelec Scorpion fs 26 S-Pedelec, in
2013 the mountain trike Scorpion fs 26 Enduro. and in 2014 the SUV trike
Scorpion plus 20.
Even as students, the company founders Hollants and Pulvermüller were
national champions with their cabin trike in the Association of German
Engineers’ 1992 JUTEC youth and technology competition.This provided the
foundation stone for their development from a garage laboratory to one
of Germany’s most innovative bike companies. During the last ten years,
HP Velotechnik was repeatedly named as one of Germany’s three best bike
manufacturers by the bike industry association VSF.
For further information, please visit www.hpvelotechnik.com
