Review: Speedmachine S-Pedelec – Recumbent.news 04/2025
HP Velotechnik in the news: The following text is an excerpt from the online magazine Recumbent.news written by chief editor Honza Galla. We recommend to visit their website and read the full original review there. For documentation purposes we store the text on our site.
HP Velotechnik Speedmachine S-Pedelec: A New Era of Speed and Comfort
There aren’t many electric two-wheel recumbent bikes on the market, especially those that fall into the S-Pedelec category—bikes that can go up to 45 km/h in Europe and 28 mph in the US. Among the major, well-known recumbent brands, the HP Velotechnik Speedmachine S-Pedelec is actually the only available option. So what’s it like to ride? What are the benefits of a high-speed electric recumbent, and what challenges does the extra speed bring?
You won’t find traditional recumbent reviews on Recumbent.news. There’s a simple reason for that – I could easily be accused of being biased (if you’re curious why, check out the “About” section). So I won’t attempt a full review of the Speedmachine S-Pedelec. Instead, I’d like to focus on what it’s like to live with such a bike and how it fits into everyday life. And there’s a lot to talk about.
Background
The Speedmachine is a model that HP Velotechnik has offered for many years and is essentially their fastest model. Though it falls into the low-racer category – with the rider sitting low in a rather reclined position – it is not a race bike. That’s because the rear and optional front suspension take a toll on pedaling efficiency and add extra weight. So it’s more of a fast touring bike – ideal for commuting, quick afternoon or weekend rides, or even multi-day road trips. It can be equipped with racks for two sets of panniers and offers fast travel in complete comfort.
The Most Stable Recumbent Bike
My first memory of the Speedmachine goes back to the early days of my recumbent riding career. It must have been around 2006 during the HPV Cycle Vision races in the Netherlands, held at the Zandvoort circuit. There was a small recumbent exhibition as well and we stayed overnight in one of the pit boxes. During the day there was the “Snail Race” organized in our box – a slow riding contest where the goal was to ride 10 meters / 32 ft as slowly as possible on a two-wheel recumbent.
At night the exhibitors stored a lot of their demo bikes in the box. About five of us started our own version of the snail race, testing one bike at a time. We averaged our times and the winner? The Speedmachine. I joke that it’s the slowest recumbent bike out there, but the truth is, and I really mean it, that the Speedmachine is the most stable one. By far.
The S-Pedelec Challenge
Let’s move on to the electric version – specifically, the fast one. As you may have figured out by now, the Speedmachine is a unique bike that combines both speed and comfort. After the success of their Scorpion S-Pedelec trike, HP Velotechnik decided to create another high-speed model, this time on two wheels. Of their three two-wheeled recumbent models, they chose the Speedmachine. No surprise there – adding an S-Pedelec motor completely transformed the bike’s character.
For many people, e-bikes still feel like cheating, and fast ones even more so – more like motorcycles. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I see it as a fantastic alternative to the car, especially for daily commuting or trips that would otherwise require a car or public transportation. It may not be the first choice for laid-back weekend rides, but it still has its fans. For example, well-known California recumbent dealer Zach Kaplan often uses S-Pedelecs for brevets, centuries, and double centuries – non-competitive 100- or 200-mile events.
Commuting to Work
I used the HP Velotechnik Speedmachine S-Pedelec to commute to work – 12.4 miles (20 km) each way. Although many people think I’m a cycling fanatic who rides thousands of miles a year, that’s not really the case. I work long hours and have family responsibilities, so I usually combine train rides with a Tern folding bike (which I can take on the train for free). I ride the full distance by bike about 20 or 30 times a year only. And sometimes, if I am in hurry, I need to take a car.
For many, commuting by bike is a peaceful way to start the day or clear their heads in the evening. Not for me. On my way to work, I’m often mentally preparing for the work to come or am in hurry for meetings. Any delays stress me out. On the way back, I sometimes enjoy the ride, but usually end up battling headwinds or being late for some family stuff – every pedal stroke adds to the pressure. I use a non-electric multi-purpose recumbent, which I use not only for commuting, but also for touring and family rides.
As mentioned, sometimes I also drive a car, which is the fastest option. By car, it takes me 20 minutes door to door, wind or no wind. The train takes about 40 minutes, and biking takes about an hour, plus additional time for showering and changing clothes because I arrive sweaty. A standard EU legal e-bike (limited to 25 km/h / 16 mph) doesn’t help much – it’s no faster than a regular bike and just as sweaty.
Then I got on the S-Pedelec and everything changed…