Utah Trikes Reviews - Trike - WizWheelz TerraTrike Race

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As an avid fan of the WizWheelz TerraTrike Cruiser, I've been very excited to check out the higher-end TerraTrike recumbent trikes. Do they handle better? Are the upgraded components worth the extra money? The Race was WizWheelz's highest-end aluminum trike until the Edge Aluminum came into the scene. With the Edge currently on backorder, the WizWheelz Race seemed like a good trike to review.

When I first got into recumbent trikes, one of the main reasons I chose WizWheelz is the weight allowance on their chromoly steel trikes (Cruiser and Tour). I’m a big guy and, since I would be using the trike for commuting, I knew I needed something with a heavy weight limit. The WizWheelz Cruiser and Tour both sport a 300lb limit, so I chose the Cruiser. The more I rode my trike, the faster I got. I started upgrading my trike to make it handle differently and go even faster.

After many different accessories and upgrades, I finally reached the limit of what I could do to alter the Cruiser. I kept losing weight and knew that I would be able to graduate to a faster trike without being constrained by the trike’s weight limit. The WizWheelz Race was the obvious upgrade. It sports a much lighter 6061 aluminum frame and the highest level of components that WizWheelz offers.

The TerraTrike Race is in the same trike class as the Access and Sport with the main difference between them being the level of components used. The Race uses the highest level of components offered by WizWheelz and they are the same as those found on the Edge trikes. While this trike is called the Race, WizWheelz markets it as the “Perfect Sport Touring Platform.”

That’s a nice looking ride!

The Race is an incredible looking machine. The Electric Green paint job is fantastic, although the decals appear a little amateurish, especially considering the much higher-quality lettering of the entry level Cruiser and Zoomer trikes. I suppose decals are placed on the trike after the frame is painted because the Access, Sport, and Race all use the same frame but come in different standard colors. The appropriate decal is used depending on the color frame you choose. Decals aside, the all-black Velocity rims are probably the most eye-catching feature of the Race next to the frame.

        The price of the Race is $2999, which makes this WizWheelz’s third most expensive single-rider trike. With the Race’s 250lb weight limit it will appeal to more riders than the Edge, which only has a 225lb limit. While the Race, Access, and Sport trikes all use the same frame, the $400-$800 price difference is due to the higher-end components used on the Race.

Let’s start with the frame

        The Race’s frame is welded together and then heat-treated for strength instead of being made out of bent tubing. There is additional web bracing at the cross member for additional strength. The aluminum frames contributes to this trike’s light weight, and exceptional rigidity. I have found that the frame offers virtually no flex even under heavy load.

A nice set of wheels

        One of the most striking features of this trike are the hand-built Velocity Aeroheat wheels. They are black with black spokes and are perfect for handling the 100psi Schwalbe Marathon tires. While the standard aluminum WizWheelz wheels will accommodate high-pressure tires, I’ve always been afraid of bending the wheel with the tires at full pressure while doing my two-wheel tricks. The Velocity wheels are made to withstand much stronger forces. While riding the trike you can feel the difference when taking really hard corners. I found there to be no flex in the wheel even when taking extreme high-speed turns on two wheels. Of course, with wheels this nice, I think WizWheelz made a good choice pairing them with the Marathon tires. While not the absolute fastest tires available, the Marathons are made to be used a lot and withstand a lot of punishment. Besides being very fast, the Marathon tires feature built-in Kevlar puncture protection. When inflated to their full 100psi rating, these tires are very hard, and combined with the rigid aluminum frame the ride can get bumpy on some roads. To increase the comfort level, I inflated the front tires to 100psi and the rear to only 80psi.

Adjustable comfort

        Having a rigid frame on some rock-hard tires makes for a fast trike, but can make for a rough ride on some roads. Thankfully, WizWheelz has built comfort into their seat design. The Race uses the same mesh seat design that is found on all their other trikes. Except for the Zoomer and Edge trikes, this seat is exactly the same as the one found on all their other models. The seat is made from an aluminum frame that is covered with the mesh seat cover and fastened securely with several straps across the back. Within limits, you can adjust the seat tension to your own personal liking.

There are 4 holes on the bottom of the seat frame where the seat frame is secured to the frame of the trike. Unlike the Chromoly TerraTrike, there is only one seat-mounting hole on the frame instead of two. This means that the Race only has 4 seat positions. Further adjustment of the seat is made in the rear and determines the recline angle of the seat.

Since the seat can only be moved 100mm, further adjustment is made by sliding the boom. The adjustment is meant to be more for fine tuning than sharing the trike. Unlike the Zoomer, the Race’s boom does not have a quick-release bolt or boom-length markers. I found that I could adjust the seat to get the maximum seat recline by setting the rear seat supports to the shortest position and moving the seat as far forward as possible. This pulls the top-rear of the seat down. I made further adjustments for my leg size by sliding the boom.

Components

        At the end of the boom, the Race’s crankset is comprised of the FSA Gossamer crank assembly with MegaExo 170mm cranks. The stock chainrings are 30, 42, and 53 teeth. The derailleur used in the front is the Shimano Utegra Triple, which is controlled by the SRAM Grip Shift shifters. The Ultegra derailleur is very well made and is much stiffer than the lower-end shifters used on the other trike models. The adjustment screws make it easy to dial in the upper and lower limits, and the derailleur works perfectly with the SRAM shifter. Overall, I found the shifting to be very smooth and precise. Also, the Ultegra is spec’d to handle up to a 56T chainring, which I found to be no problem, and only required a minor adjustment to the derailleur position.

        The Race comes stock with Shimano SPD Clipless pedals. I, personally, like the SPD system a lot and see their inclusion on this trike as an indication that this trike is aimed at the more-than-casual rider. If SPD isn’t your thing, these pedals can easily be swapped for your pedals of choice. Also, these particular SPD pedals come with a removable, clip-in platform on one side so you can still ride without your Clipless shoes.

        The rear-end gearing is comprised of an 11-32 cassette and the SRAM X.9 derailleur. The X.9 is a long-cage derailleur, so cross chaining doesn’t happen as long as the chain length is adjusted properly. Getting the shifter to consistently go between 8 and 9 took a little bit of tweaking, but once adjusted I never had to mess with it again. The X.9 shifter is extremely well made and very strong. While not as smooth as an internal hub, I am able to shift from 9 to 1 fairly easily.

Gearing

        The Race’s stock gearing with 24/42/53 chainrings up front and an 11-32 cassette in the back give it a gear range of about 19 to 96 Gear Inches. This means for most riders with a high-average cadence of 85-100 rpm you’ll probably spin out at 25-28mph. The problem here is that this trike is so light that the top chainring becomes a limitation really quick. Fortunately, WizWheelz makes the Schlumpf High Speed Drive a standard option as well as an available upgrade to be made later. With the Schlumpf HSD, the gear range is a much more respectable 17 to 124 Gear Inches. The downside is that the Schlumpf option adds another $499 to the cost of the trike. For other gearing options read our Ultimate Gearing Modifications guide.

Idlers

        Like all the other WizWheelz trikes, the Race has two sets of idlers to route the chain along the bottom of the frame. WizWheelz uses a low-friction material called Delrin. Overall, the stock idlers work pretty well, but you will hear some noise from them as the chain slides over the power side idlers. If you are a masher you’ll find that the front power side idler won’t last as long as the other three idlers. You can increase the life of your idlers by periodically rotating them around (like tires). For the ultimate idler enhancement I fully endorse the Terracycle idlers, at least for the front.

Take a turn up ahead

        Riding the Race is a pleasure. The Race uses an indirect linkage steering mechanism that isolates the actual steering bar from the wheels. The tie rods connect from the wheels to a center plate connected to the steering bar. The offset of this plate determines the Ackerman effect, which reduces tire scrubbing and makes for great corning ability. The Race uses a kingpin steering arm that pivots through bushings. This is the same setup as all the other linkage-steering WizWheelz models. I find the steering to be very smooth and easy to control, but new riders often find the high speed handling to be wiggly. It is essential to have your wheels properly aligned. Also, a light touch is usually the best, even though you might want to grip hard to the grips. With some trikes, the steering geometry always pushes the wheels to go in a straight line. The Race will go where you point it, but when you let go of the handle bar it will not straighten itself out.

Stopping on a dime

        Although the online specs of the Race’s brakes are listed as Hayes HMX-1, the Race actually comes with the Avid BB5 calipers, rotors and lever assemblies. While the “Unique” brakes included on the lower-end WizWheelz do a good job of stopping the trikes, the Avid brakes are much easier to adjust. Instead of having to use an Allen wrench to reach through the spokes, you can simply turn the red adjuster knob to tighten the brake pads. This tool-less adjustability means that you are more likely to keep your brakes adjusted properly. Besides just stopping the trike, the brakes can be used to aide in high-speed turning. With practice you can flip the trike around fast by using a combination of turning and one-handed braking.

        There is no rear brake on the Race, but it is not needed. Depending on how far back your seat sits, a quick two-handed brake can result in the rear wheel leaving the ground. A rear brake would be cool for sliding around corners, but would not be worth setting up unless you could control it independently from the front left and right brakes. Perhaps a three-handled brake lever setup. Hmm…

        One thing that doesn’t come up when you talk about two-wheeled cycles is the need for a parking brake, but with three wheels on the ground they tend to roll away. WizWheelz has come up with a clever solution by using a Velcro strap. It is cheap and effective, but really stinks if you forget to bring the strap with you. An optional parking back lever with a push-button lock on it is available. If you’ll be commuting on your trike and using it for general purpose, this upgrade will be worthwhile.

Upgrades

        If you like to tweak and modify your trike then you’ll find that a lot of the work has already been done on the Race. To truly appreciate this trike you’ll want to keep it stripped down, light weight, and avoid bolting a bunch of accessories to it. I do recommend adding the Commuter Bag to hold water and provide some cargo capability. I also recommend adding at least one modified mirror if you’ll be riding in traffic or on roads at all. If you do want to tweak things, then some upgraded gearing options will help you get the most out of this speed machine.

Access, Sport, or Race?

        Depending on your budget, and how much you might want to upgrade your trike later vs. having a high-end out-of-the-box experience now, you may be looking at any of these three machines. All these trikes weigh practically the same and have the same steering geometry. The Race has the biggest speed advantage primarily due to the Velocity wheels and support for the high-pressure Marathon tires. If you start with an Access or Sport, the aftermarket Velocity wheels will run you about $500+, before you add the faster tires. The derailleurs on the Race are much better quality than those found on the Access.

Are you ready to Race?

        The Race brings a lot to the table, but it won’t be for everyone. The aluminum frame provides a great base for this trike, but if you wanted to ease into it and upgrade components down the road you could start with the Sport or Access. Ultimately, you’ll save money getting the Race initially, over upgrading a lower end trike with the same hardware as that found on the Race. WizWheelz has chosen a great set of wheels and components and everything works great together. If you’ve ever had problems with lower-end derailleurs, you’ll really appreciate the Ultegra and X.9. Those considering getting the Race to actually race will definitely need to consider upgrading their gearing options. The Schlumpf and other options are available to increase the top-end gearing but they will add to the cost of the trike. If your trike budget is in the $3,000 range, I don’t think you’ll find a better trike setup.
View our Race Video!

WizWheelz Race Review Summary

Trike:
WizWheelz TerraTrike Race Aluminum Trike
First impressions:
Stunning Green paint job is sure to catch some looks
Cost:
At $2999, the Race is not an entry-level trike, but considering the level of components used it is a good value.
Frame:
Made from 6061 heat-treated T6 Aluminum, this frame is incredibly strong and light weight.
Wheels:
The Velocity AeroHeat wheels are awesome. They are light-weight, perfectly true and incredibly strong. And, oh, did I mention they look really cool?
Tires:
The Schwalbe Marathon 20x1.5 100psi tires have great puncture protection with built-in Kevlar liners. They are good fast tires, suitable for commuting, touring and even racing.
Seat:
Comfortable mesh seat offers a lot of adjustability, and is very comfortable.
Front end:
The bottom bracket hardware is top-notch stuff and will provide years of trouble-free service. The SPD pedals are a nice feature, but you will need to buy shoes to take advantage of them.
Adjustability:
The seat offers 100mm of adjustment and can be reclined 40-70 degrees. The front boom tube is adjustable, but does not offer a quick-release adjustment bolt. The steering bar can be twisted to the most comfortable angle. According to WizWheelz, the Race should fit riders from 5’2” to 6’2”.
Gears:
The gear range with the stock gears is about 19 to 96 Gear Inches. The Schlumpf drive is available, to increase the range to 17 to 124 Gear Inches, but it will add an additional $499. The Ultegra and X.9 derailleurs are very nice and offer consistently smooth shifting.
Dimensions:
The Race is 33” wide and has a wheelbase of 38.5”.
Weight:
The Race weighs 33lbs. The components are premium quality stuff made with lighter, higher-quality materials.
Brakes:
The Race has Avid BB5 calipers that do not require tools to adjust. Brakes are extremely good.
Steering:
The indirect linkage steering works well and provides for a very comfortable ride.
Safety issues:
The standard Electric Green paint makes this trike stand out, but you’ll still want to increase visibility when riding in traffic. The Race does not come standard with mirror or flag.
Accommodations:
The cruiser comes with a brazed-on bottle holder mounting holes, but does not come with a bottle holder. It does not come with a rack, but standard racks can be easily attached. Mounting a headlight or bike computer may require that you get an accessory mounts.
Bare-minimum Upgrades & Accessories:
Mirrors – Always assume that nobody can see you, so make sure you see them.
Flag – Increase your visibility
Commuter Bag – Add storage and beverage holders without having to install a rack.
Rear fender – If you ever ride through a puddle and don’t want water splashing your back.
Overall Value:
When you sum up the costs of the upgraded wheels, brakes, derailleurs and other front-end hardware the Race presents an excellent value over the Access or Sport trikes. If you want a very fast trike, and need a weight limit over 200lbs, then the Race is the trike for you. We can custom build your Race with many different options, just check out our TerraTrike Race Customizer.

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