TrikExplor 220 Performance Recumbent Bike — Full Suspension, Under-Seat Steering
The 220 is the quickest machine in our lineup — a two-wheel recumbent road bike built for riders who love road-bike speed but not road-bike posture. You sit back in a supportive fiberglass seat, push through a Shimano Tiagra 2×10 drivetrain, and full suspension at both ends smooths the road underneath you. No weight on your wrists. No pressure on your sit bones. No craning your neck to see ahead.
Two honest things before you fall in love. First, it has two wheels — you need to be able to balance a bicycle, and the under-seat steering takes a little practice. Second, it fits riders 175–195 cm tall, and that's a safety line, not a suggestion: on two wheels you put a foot down at every stop, and that only works if the frame matches your legs. If you're under 175 cm, one of our three-wheel recumbents will serve you much better.
Still here? Good. The 220 rewards the right rider like nothing else we make.
Who the 220 is for
It's for you if:
- You are 175–195 cm (5'9"–6'5") tall
- You ride a road bike now and want to keep the pace but lose the hunched posture, sore wrists, and stiff neck
- You can balance a two-wheeler and don't mind a short learning curve
- Your riding is mostly pavement: fitness rides, commutes, long weekend roads
It's not for you if:
- You are under 175 cm — the frame won't adjust that far, and we'd rather tell you now
- Balancing two wheels is a concern — our three-wheel recumbents remove that question entirely
- You want motor assist — the 220 is pedal-only and we don't make an electric version
- Your routes are steep mountain climbs — the road gearing is tuned for flat to rolling terrain
Which TrikExplor is right for you?
| You want speed on pavement, and you're comfortable on two wheels | You're on the right page — the 220, US$2,899 |
| You want stability, or you're under 175 cm | Folding recumbent trikes — three wheels, no balancing, from US$1,699 |
| You want to carry cargo or ride off pavement | 4WD recumbent quads — four fat tires, electric drive |
| You want a motor | M009FD / M-009FE electric trike — pedal or electric, your choice |
Full suspension, at both ends
An RST suspension fork up front and a DNM air shock at the rear take the sting out of rough pavement, expansion joints, and gravel shoulders. The rear shock is air-adjustable, so you set the firmness for your weight and the road you're on. And because the 220 ships on Schwalbe Big Apple balloon tires, you get a second layer of cushioning on top — suspension and big soft tires together iron out roads that would rattle a pure racing machine.
Under-seat steering: honest first impressions
Your hands rest at your sides, in a natural position, with the bars below the seat. It's relaxed on long rides and it keeps your view wide open. The honest part: the first ten minutes will feel wobbly. Most riders find an empty parking lot, wobble for about ten minutes, and then it clicks — after that it feels as natural as any bike you've ridden.
A real road drivetrain
Shimano Tiagra 4700, 2×10 speeds, with a 50/34T compact crankset and an 11-25T cassette. Up top, there's enough gear to push hard on open road. At the bottom, roughly 27 gear-inches — fine for rollers and moderate grades. We'll say it plainly: if your everyday riding is steep mountain climbing, this gearing is not built for that, and we'd point you to our wider-range trikes instead.
A wheelset that wants to go fast
The MEROCA 451 aero wheelset runs straight-pull spokes and 120-engagement hubs — quick to pick up when you put power down, and happy at speed. The 451 size keeps the bike compact while rolling like a bigger wheel.
Hydraulic disc brakes
Shimano hydraulic discs with 160 mm rotors. One-finger braking, consistent in the wet, and no rim wear. On a bike this quick, good brakes aren't a luxury.
The seat you sit in, not on
A fiberglass hardshell seat with adjustable recline and an adjustable headrest, finished with a breathable sandwich-mesh cushion. It supports your whole back, so long rides stop being something you endure.
One modular family, built in our own factory
TrikExplor is built on a modular idea: one engineering platform that becomes many different recumbents. We launched the family with the machine most riders should start with — the stable three-wheel trike. Then came the four-wheel quads, for cargo and rough ground. The 220 is the newest branch: two wheels, built purely for speed and distance on pavement.
Different wheel counts, same DNA — and every one of them is designed, welded, and assembled in our own factory in Zhengzhou, China, then shipped directly to you. No dealers, no middlemen: you buy from the people who built it, and you can email those same people when you have a question.
Getting it home, and moving it around
The 220 does not fold — it's a full-length performance machine. But as our own photo shows, it rides happily on a standard car hitch rack, which is how most owners take it places:
When your 220 ships, we do about 80% of the assembly at our factory. The remaining 20% is straightforward bolt-on work at home — no specialist skills required, and we're an email away if you get stuck.
See it in motion
The rider in both videos is one of our own engineers — 195 cm tall and 110 kg, right at the top of the fit range and at maximum load. We ride what we build.
Full walkaround and riding footage
A quick taste, short format
Full specifications
| Frame | 6061-T6 aluminum main frame, steel rear fork |
| Front suspension | RST suspension fork |
| Rear suspension | DNM dual-chamber air shock, rebound adjustable |
| Seat | Fiberglass hardshell, adjustable recline & headrest, breathable cushion |
| Wheelset | MEROCA 451 aero wheelset, straight-pull spokes, 120-engagement hubs |
| Tires | Schwalbe Big Apple, tan-wall, 20″ (451) |
| Crankset | Prowheel 50/34T compact |
| Cassette | Shimano HG500, 11-25T, 10-speed |
| Derailleurs | Shimano Tiagra 4700, front & rear |
| Shifters | microSHIFT bar-end (TT) shifters |
| Chain | KMC X10 |
| Brakes | Shimano hydraulic disc, Avid G2 160 mm rotors |
| Steering | Under-seat steering (USS), adjustable |
| Headset | VP internal headset |
| Pedals | Alloy platform, sealed bearings |
| Rider height | 175–195 cm (5'9"–6'5") |
| Max load | 110 kg (242 lb) |
| Colors | Red · Blue · White · Black — all in stock |
Warranty, in plain words
- Frame: 5 years. If it cracks under normal use, we replace it.
- Drivetrain and brakes: 2 years. Quality defects — we replace the part.
- Wear parts are not covered: tires, tubes, chain, cassette, chainrings, brake pads, seat cushion. The good news: these are standard bicycle parts your local shop stocks, and they fit without modification.
Questions, answered honestly
I've never ridden a two-wheel recumbent. How hard is it?
Expect about ten minutes of wobbling in a parking lot while your brain rewires its balance instincts — the steering is under the seat, so your arms don't do what they're used to doing. Then it clicks. After the first ride or two, most owners say it feels more natural than an upright bike. If you're not sure you want to learn, a three-wheel recumbent removes the question entirely.
I'm under 175 cm. Can you adjust one to fit me?
No — and this is about safety, not sales. On a two-wheeler you support the bike with a foot at every stop, and under 175 cm the seat sits too high off the ground for that to work safely. We'd rather lose the sale than have you receive a bike that doesn't fit. Take a look at our trikes instead; they adjust over a much wider height range, and you never need to put a foot down at all.
Can I add a motor to it later?
No. The 220 is pedal-only, and the frame isn't designed for a motor or battery — we don't offer an electric version and don't recommend converting one. If you want assist, our electric trikes are built around their motors from day one.
Is it good in the hills?
It depends on your hills. The lowest gear works out to about 27 gear-inches — comfortable on flat terrain and rolling countryside. For long, steep mountain climbs, especially with a heavier rider, it's honestly not the right tool. Our trikes carry wider-range gearing for exactly that kind of riding.
How does it ship, and how much assembly is left?
We ship worldwide from our factory in Zhengzhou, China. The bike arrives about 80% assembled in a protective box; the final 20% is simple bolt-on work at home. If anything is unclear, email us — we answer.
Can I fly with it, or fit it in a car trunk?
No — it doesn't fold, and at full length it won't fit in a trunk or a standard airline case. It does fit a car hitch rack (see the photo above), which is how most owners travel with it. If compact storage or air travel is the priority, our M320 folding trike was built for exactly that.
Not sure the 220 fits you?
Email trikexplor@gmail.com — tell us your height, your weight, and the roads you ride. We'll tell you honestly whether this is your bike, or point you to the one that is.