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Staff Review:
"The Terratrike Zoomer is the sports car of the Terratrike line-up. The direct steering gives it the Ford Mustang feel versus a Lincoln Town Car feel. The angle on the seat is adjustable so you can sit as far back or forward as you'd like. This also has the upgrade option for a 26" rear wheel for optimum speed capability." - Krysti
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Product Category: Catalog -> All Trikes View/Compare all TerraTrike by WizWheelz Trikes
TerraTrike Zoomer
Current Availability:
Available Color: Ultra Banana (Several in stock)
- Can ship today
Customer Quotes:
 “I like riding BMX bikes, but I LOVE riding the Zoomer. It's fast and I can even do some tricks on it! It only took about an hour to perfect the sliding stop. And, thanks for letting me be in your video, that was AWESOME!”
- Willie of Sacramento, CA
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Owners Manual
Check out our new 26-inch rear wheel upgrade kit!
Our TerraTrikes are the most adjustable recumbent trikes in the world and adjustability equals comfort. Don't settle for the welded seat position other companies decide is best for you when you can dial in your seat recline angle, leg length, hand position and fore/aft seat position to locate your optimum center of gravity point between the three wheels. Comfort is the name of the game and adjustability wins!
• Lightweight 6061 Heat Treated Aluminum
• Adjustable Seat Angle and Boom Length
• Adjustable Handlebars
• Convenient One-Size-Fits-All Frame
• Stiff Aluminum Frame = Resposive Handling
• Shimano Sora/Altus Derailleurs
• SRAM MRX GripShifts
• Independent Disc Brakes
• Custom Aluminum WizWheelz Wheelset
• Welded Seat Pan for Increased Stability
• Clean Chain Routing (no plastic chain sleeves)
• Ultra Banana Powder Coat - High Visibility
Detailed Specifications:
Frame Material: 6061 heat treated T6 aluminum
Trike Weight: 34 lbs.
Front Wheel: 20" (406) / WizWheelz silver machine built
Rear Wheel: 20" (406) / WizWheelz silver machine built
Stock Tires: CST blackwall w/ reflective strip 20 x
Tube Valve: Presta
Wheelbase: 36 in.
Wheel Track: 27.5 in.
Total Width: 30.25 in.
Seat Height: 8.5 in.
Total Assembled Height: 9 in.
Total Length: 70 in.
Turning Circle: 12 ft.
Turning Radius: 72 in.
Gear Inch Range: 18-90
Gear Inch Range (with optional 27T Schlumpf HSD): 16-116
Ground Clearance: 3
Seat Angle: 35-70 degree Adjustable degrees
Seat Type: Mesh Seat/Aluminum Frame
Seat Width: 16 in.
Total Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.
Bottom Bracket Height: 15.5 in.
X-Seam Range: 37-51"
Number of Gear Combinations: 21
Shifters: Sram MRX Comp Gripshift 8 speed
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Altus
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora Triple
Front Brakes: Unique Mechanical Disc
Rear Brake: None
Brake Levers: Promax Linear Pull
Front Gearing: Alloy triple 170 30/42/52 Sealed Cartridge square spindle
Rear Gearing: Shimano MegaRange 11-34 8 speed
Chain Type: KMC Z72
Standard Color(s): Ultra Banana
Optional Colors: Custom Colors $199
Boom Type: Adjustable
Steering Type: Direct
Steering Pivot Type: Teflon Bushings
Ackerman Steering: Ackerman Compensation
Brake Steer: Some
Self Centering: Soft
Center Point: Yes
Pedals: Platform
Mirror: Optional
Flag: Optional
Fenders: Optional
Rack: Optional
Computer Sensor Mount: Optional
Idler: Delrin
Chain Tubes: none
Headrest: Optional
Suspension: None
Warranty: Lifetime
Country of Origin: Taiwan
WizWheelz TerraTrike Zoomer
Looking to purchase a Zoomer? We build and ship stock or custom models. Also checkout the Zoomer Elite.
By Clayton Guy of Utah Trikes
For months now, I’ve been riding my TerraTrike Cruiser around the local trails and enjoying the experience. But when I had a chance to test the new Zoomer, I jumped at the opportunity. The TerraTrike Zoomer is the newest Trike by WizWheelz and is designed quite differently than the rest of their trikes in both frame and handling. The Zoomer has an entry-level price of only $1799, making it WizWheelz least-expensive aluminum trike. The Zoomer has a lot of great features like: quick release adjustable boom, aluminum frame, direct steering, and higher bottom bracket. From a distance, the basic design reminded me a lot of the Catrikes or I.C.E. trikes, but WizWheelz has definitely worked hard on this model by adding their trademark adjustability. With an incredibly sporty look and feel, WizWheelz is now providing a trike with a very fresh and new feel. The Zoomer is the perfect trike for the sports enthusiast or extreme triker; truly allowing you to zoom faster than the other entry level trikes.
Ultra Frame
 The Zoomer’s frame is painted a spectacular “ULTRA BANANA” yellow color. The decals look terrific--you'll be proud to show off this trike. The actual frame is made of lightweight 6061 aluminum and the welding looks top-notch. A distinct feature of the Zoomer, compared to the rest of the TerraTrike lineup, is that the bottom of the seat frame is welded to the frame, which adds to the rigidity and stability. Yet, like all the other WizWheelz trikes, the angle of the seat is still fully adjustable making the trike more comfortable to more trikers than its direct competitors. The aluminum fabrication of the Zoomer contributes to the trike's lower weight than the Cruiser or Tour trikes. Weighing in at only 34lbs stock but still keeping a high weight limit of 275 lbs, this trike has both sturdy construction and an easy-to-propel light weight.
The frame design is more complex than WizWheelz's other aluminum trikes, but it still offers an adjustable boom without adding excess weight. A new feature on the adjustable boom is a quick release exclusive to the Zoomer. This allows for any length trike to quickly adjust the boom length in seconds, making it easy to find your perfect length. The boom is marked, allowing you to give a test ride to someone and then move it right back to where you like it. I found that I like adjusting any trike I ride a few times before I reach that perfect level of comfort. The Zoomer makes those little adjustments very easy. I prefer adjusting the boom rather than adjusting the seat because it is so much simpler. Also, since it’s a free sliding boom, I can slide the length of the pedals to a perfect spot without being limited to preset increments. This also allows any rider to enjoy this trike with out have to make major modifications. The longer chain, required for the adjustable boom, eliminates cross chaining and gives you full access to all the gears.
Not only is the boom adjustable, the bottom bracket is a full three inches higher than the other WizWheelz models. I really love this feature, as the higher angled pedals allow me to go faster without excerting as much effort when compared to my Cruiser. This sharper incline seemed to give me more power, placing the pedals directly in front of my body.
Adjustable Seat
Besides the bright-yellow frame, the most prominent feature of the Zoomer is it’s black mesh seat. Unlike the other WizWheelz TerraTrikes, the base of the Zoomer's seat is part of the frame and does not pivot. Even though the base does not adjust, this is not a limiting factor. The base of the seat is attached directly behind the crossmember arms, putting the majority of your weight directly between the front wheels. This gives the Zoomer a great center of gravity for high-performance handling. As with all the WizWheelz trikes, you can adjust the recline of the seat to your own personal liking. The Zoomer's seat can adjust from 40 to 70 degrees. This is done by pulling the pins from the rear seat rods and lining up the holes to a new position. There are six positions total, so it’s pretty easy to dial in the right level. In combination with the adjustable pedal boom, this trike can easily fit anyone’s needs. The seat itself is comprised of a heavy mesh fabric that is strapped across the back and bottom of the seat. There are 13 straps total and they can be tightened to whatever level is the most comfortable for the individual rider. The mesh material breathes very well, and is comfortable enough to spend hours riding.
Gearing
The Zoomer has the same stock gearing of the Cruiser model, and you may eventually require some gearing upgrades to improve your top-speed capability. While the sprocket sizes and different ratios sound impressive, the 20-inch rear tire has the effect of reducing the top end gearing (see our article for details), resulting in a gear-inch range of 18-90. This stock gear range is adequate for zooming on the trails and general riding. In the highest gear you’ll have to pedal 85 rpm to hit 22 mph. If you pedal faster you can hit 34 mph at 120 rpm, but you may need some modified crank arms for that. After that, you’ll typically start “spinning out” and won’t be able to pedal any faster.
I did find that due to the higher bottom bracket it was easier for me to keep around 22-23 MPH with the same effort I would to go 15-18 MPH on the Cruiser. For those who will be zooming around at 10-16 MPH the stock gearing will be a great fit for you and leave you some room to shift in both directions.
At the low end, the Zoomer’s gearing is about 17 gear inches, which is lower than most mountain bikes. Climbing hills is usually no problem once you learn the technique. I find I still need pretty good head start and have to think “keep spinning, keep spinning,’ because unlike a bike, where you can stand on the pedals and use gravity to help push the crank, on a trike your best approach is to gear down low and spin your way to the top.
The stock Zoomers gearing is comprised of three chainrings in front and eight sprockets in the back. While technically there are 24 combinations possible, some of the gear ratios overlap. In the front, the chainrings are 30, 42, and 52 teeth. The front derailleur is a Shimano Sora, which is the same hardware that is on my Cruiser. I’ve found this setup to work great and have never had any problems shifting. I have had to adjust the derailleur once. Luckily, adjustment is fairly easy and the derailleur is easily accessible.
The rear cassette on the Zoomer is the Shimano MegaRange 34. It is an 8-speed cassette with sprockets ranging from 11-34 teeth (vs. 11-30 as per the WW site). This is as wide of a range as you can get without going to an internal hub. The rear gears shift with a Shimano Altus derailleur, which performs fine. Sometimes shifting skips gears going from 1-2 depending on which front gear I'm in, but overall I have no complaints.
I should mention here that you can get upgraded gearing on the TerraTrike Zoomer Elite model, which has a nine-speed cassette, better derailers, and bar-end shifters. We have more details on that in our Zoomer Elite review.
Chain Line
WizWheelz's approach of getting power from the pedals to tje rear wheel is to route the chain under the seat with two sets of idlers. Other trike manufacturers have tried to minimize their idlers to one set and use Teflon tubing for the remaining chain management. After riding the Zoomer a few hundred miles, I don't think the idlers present any problems.
If you see excessive wear, or your front idlers seem a bit noisier than you'd like, you can upgrade to the Terracycle Idler kit. That’s an expensive solution though. All the new Zoomers come with the new Delrin idlers, and after a few hundred miles they still look nearly new. Also you can replace the Delrin more than five times before you would pay for one set of the Terracycle Iders.
Comfortable Tires
The Zoomer comes standard with CST 40-psi tires and can be upgraded to the Schwalbe Marathon tires or any of our other Schwalbe tires. With only 40 psi, the CST's gives you a nice comfort ride. They are not the thickest tires though and can lead to more flats compared to the Marathons. The Marathons have a Kevlar lining, its been my experience that they do not allow flats. Also, while the CST's give a nice comfortable ride, the upgrade to the Marathons will give you faster ride.
Going through a door
On of my favorite things about the Zoomer compared to the Cruiser is how slim it is. With the Crusier and Tour width falling at 34 inches, the Zoomer is 4 inches thinner. At only 30 inches, this is just enough to allow you to roll you Zoomer though a standard door. This feature allows me to commute to work and not have to ask someone to help me bring my trike into the office. I can just roll it along. The length of the Zoomer is 70 inches, which is right in the middle compared to all the WizWheelz Trikes.
Front End
The Zoomer comes with standard platform pedals, which are familiar to most people and easy to figure out. Platform pedals may be fine at low speed pedaling around the neighborhood, but if you're a fast zoomer eventually your foot may slip off the pedals. Fortunately, clipless pedals aren’t tremendously expensive, but in most cases you will need special shoes. However with the higher bottom bracket your feet do stay on the pedals better. But you can typically spin faster with clipless pedals or toeclips, and get your speed up 2-3 MPH with out much more effort, because you use your full foot rotation to power the bike.
Shiny Wheels
The Zoomer comes with WizWheelz-branded 20-inch (406) aluminum wheels on the front and rear. They are lightweight and can support a variety of tires. They were designed for the stock 40-psi tires but we've ran them with 110-psi tires without any problems. Be careful though, a harder tire can run the risk of bending the rims should you hit anything hard. I’ve found the wheels to be plenty strong even with trying some stunts.
Brakes
The Zoomer has two front disc brakes and no rear brake. The front brakes provide all the stopping power you’ll need. In the Zoomer’s standard configuration each front brake has it’s own brake lever, which promotes an effect called “brake steer.” At high speed you can use a combination of steering and one-sided braking to make very fast turns.
The Zoomer's design makes it easy to slide and drift around corners. You can slide into a stop. You have a lot more control due to riding almost directly over the front axle. It’s not as easy as some of the other TerraTrikes to get it up on two wheels. Mainly because the trike is more narrow, causing you to lift more of your own weight. But I’ve been able to do it with a little more effort.
The Zoomer’s brakes are listed as “Unique Mechanical Brakes” They do the job, and that is to stop the trike. I’ve had no problems with the brakes rubbing or stopping the trike. My only criticism is that you have to stick an Allen wrench through the spokes to get the job done. The Zoomer Elite solves this issue by using Avid BB5 brakes which can be adjusted with your fingers.
Steering
The Zoomer features direct steering, which means the handles are directly connected to the wheel kingpins. So when you turn the handles 10 degrees, the wheels turn 10 degrees. At first this took awhile to get used to, having mostly ridden the other TerraTrikes with linkage steering. But, within only a few minutes of riding the Zoomer I had the hang of it. I wasn’t sure if direct steering was for me. But after riding the Zoomer for about a week and then switching back to a linkage steering trike I want direct steering on all my trikes now.
Having direct control over the wheels makes me feel that I am more in control. Like me and the trike are one. When you turn the wheels on the Zoomer, the trike moves up a little due to the steering geometry. At slower speeds, or when completely stopped, this makes it a little more difficult to turn than a linkage-steering trike. This is mainly due to the lack of leverage on the Zoomer's stock handlebars. At higher speeds, steering is easier, but our Zoomer handlebar modification is something I definitely recommend. The turning on the Zoomer is so sharp that the inside wheel can actually rub the seat if you pull it all the way. This happens because nothing is limiting the turning the radius except the seat. While this never has happened to me during a ride, it is something I noticed during assembly.
Like all the TerraTrikes, the Zoomer features full Ackerman steering adjustment. To minimize tire scrubbing when turning at high speed and increase maneuverability at low speed, the inside wheel turns at a slightly sharper angle than the outer wheel. Ackerman steering will increase the life of your tires, reduce drag, and give you a more accurate driving experience.
Safety issues
Many people new to trikes are concerned with their visibility to cars. Recumbent trikes tend to sit very low, and the Zoomer is no exception. The base of the seat is only 10 inches off the ground, which makes riding very exhilarating, but also puts you lower than most drivers’ eye line. With the Ultra Bannana frame you are more likely to be seen than with other colored trikes. Also, since most people have never seen a trike, drivers tend to give you the whole lane and slow down as they pass you.
When you are riding in traffic in town you will probably want to increase your visibility. Besides bright clothing and a helmet, you should consider a flag. Even by making yourself more visible, you should always assume that no one sees you and stay aware of your surroundings. The Zoomer does not come with any mirrors, but the twist grip shifters make it easy to add a mirror. If you don’t have a mirror I wholeheartedly recommend adding the Mirrycle Mirror.
If you enjoy the occasional night ride you’ll want to add a headlight and/or taillight. A taillight can be added easily enough to one of the rear seat stays, but more optimal placement will be on the back of the seat or on a rear rack if you have one. The front headlight will require an accessory mount affixed to the front derailleur post.
Extra Features:
 While the Zoomer features some entry-level components, the lightweight frame and sporty design make it handle more like a high-end trike, especially with our steering modification. At no point in my rides with the Zoomer did I feel like I was riding a budget vehicle. Perhaps this is why WizWheelz has had such success in selling the Zoomer. It practically sells itself. While direct steering is not for everyone, I really enjoyed the tight turns and more sensitive reaction.
To use the Zoomer as a commuter vehicle, or even for day trips, you’ll need to add some storage capabilities. At a bare minimum, you’ll want to add our aluminum rack, and then a bag or panniers. Due to the frame design the chain does ride above the frame behind the seat and thus not allowing you to use the Utah Trikes Commuter Bag. But, we’re currently working on the Utah Trikes Zoomer Bag, which will offer the same features as the Commuter Bag and work great with the Zoomer.
 The Zoomer does not come with any mounting holders for a water bottle holder. Due to the adjustable boom WizWheels was unable to put holes in the frame. We now offer a water bottle cage clamp that lets you put a bottle on the seat frame.
Upgrading the Zoomer
Buying the Zoomer is great if you are looking for a fun ride. As I mentioned ealier, if you are looking at zooming faster than 20 MPH, I would recommend some basic upgrades. Here are some modification you might consider: Schlumpf High-Speed Drive, Shimano SPD pedals, Terracycle idlers, WizWheelz Rear Rack, Rear Rack Bag, Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tires, Mirricycle Mirrors, Cycle Computer, and Mueller Windwrap fairing.
Zoomer or Zoomer Elite
With only a $300 difference between the Zoomer and Zoomer Elite, many people that are considering one model will think about the other. While the components on the Elite are better than the regular Zoomer, for most people test riding it really comes down to the shifters. The Zoomer uses grip shifters and the Zoomer Elite uses bar-end shifters. Which you like best is up to you. You can also use our TerraTrike Customizers to choose your own custom Zoomer/Elite package and we'll build it for you.
Overall Findings
Considering the Zoomer’s affordable price, extreme adjustability, weight capacity, fast ride, light weight frame, durability, and ability to be upgraded, I consider the Zoomer to be one of the best-valued trikes currently available. I like it so much that I gave the Cruiser to my wife and got a new Zoomer for myself. The stock Zoomer is perfect for daily commuting and even longer weekend rides. Depending on your commute you could save $60-$200/month triking to work instead of paying for gas. For any kind of serious touring you'll need to add the rack at a minimum. The Zoomer can accommodate a wide variety of riders because it is very adjustable. It is one of the thinest trikes, so if you are of a larger girth it may not fit you right. At only $1799 it’s a hard deal to pass up! So, come on in for a test ride and judge for yourself.
Zoomer Review Summary
First impressions:
I love the "Ultra Banana" yellow of the Zoomer--it just screams "look at me." The direct steering gives this trike a clean looking front end. The profile is very sporty.
Frame:
The aluminum frame is a great. It is very strong and has a good weight limit, while not making the trike weigh too much.
Seat:
The seat is extremely comfortable and will accommodate most riders. When adjusted properly the rider can go all day without any pain.
Adjustability:
The boom adjusts quickly allowing any rider to dial in their comfort level. Makes it easy to share.
Gears:
The stock gearing provides a gear-inch range of 17-90, which means most riders will max out at about 20 mph. Great for cruising around town, but you may eventually want to upgrade to a faster gearing option.
Tires:
The stock tires provide a nice smooth ride and will be a very comfortable choice for most riders. If you are looking for more speed, or live in a puncture-prone area, you’ll want to consider upgrading to a faster, more thorn proof tire or using Kevlar liners.
Dimensions:
The Zoomer at only 30 inch wide is great since you can go through doors without a problem. Also it allows you to drift around corners.
Front end:
The bottom bracket height is right around 15 inches, it changes some as you move the boom in and out. The higher boom allows you to have more power with less effort.
Pedals:
The Zoomer comes with standard platform pedals.
Wheels:
The stock WizWheelz aluminum wheels are fairly lightweight and durable enough. They are strong enough to handle a variety of higher-pressure tires. They may need truing after a few thousand miles.
Weight:
At 34 pounds stock weight the Zoomer is neither the heaviest or the lightest trike. As soon as you add racks, bags, and other accessories, this trike’s weight can easily surpass 40 pounds. With a total weight capacity of 275lbs you can load a lot on this trike.
Components:
The stock drive train components are entry-level Shimano stuff but they do work well. If you use your trike more than casually, you may want to upgrade down the road.
Steering:
The direct steering of the Zoomer is very responsive, but the stock handlebar configuration lacks leverage. We recommend our handlebar upgrade to everyone.
Safety issues:
The bright yellow of the Zoomer helps you stand out in traffic but I would suggest adding a mirror so you can see others. Also to be more seen you will want to add a flag.
Bare-minimum Upgrades & Accessories:
Clipless Pedals – Reduce fatigue and risk of accidental foot slippage.
Mirrors – Always assume that nobody can see you, so make sure you see them.
Flag – Increase your visibility
Bottle holder and clamps – You need water when riding.
Rear fender – If you ever ride through a puddle and don’t want water splashing your back.
Overall Value:
At $1699 I think the Zoomer is an awesome trike and an awesome price. With the adjustable boom it allows for multiple height riders to easily share as well.
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