A tricycle with fairings has an attraction of its own. The sense of openness and freedom gives a sense of thrill to the rider. The disadvantage however is the extra weight and the tendency of the fairing to trap heat inside, making the rider uncomfortable. Hase Bikes has found a way out for this problem with their new design KLIMAX 2K recumbent tricycle. They have used a foldable fairing made out of weatherproof fabric that can be taken off when not required. You can unfold and put it back in case it starts raining.
The KLIMAX trike has been made by using the best of everything, including an aluminum frame, Shimano Tiagra gearing with SRAM Centera shifters, Avid Elixir 3 hydraulic brakes, a Cyo headlight, and 20-inch wheels. It also has a front hub Protanium 180w electric assist motor. It is synchronized with the pedals and helps maintain the speed and support the rider climb steep roads. The trike is capable of top speeds of 24kmph. The fairing comes with the trike in a stow bag and can be taken out to attach to the point provided in the front.
The fairing unfurls like an umbrella and can be attached at the sides. The bottom however is open but there are fenders to protect the rider from road sprays. Hase is already working on the next model which would be much faster with top speed of 45kmph. They are incorporating a 500 watt motor in the trike. This motor will work independently of the pedals and will need to be licensed as a moped. The new and faster model should become available for sale towards the end of the year. The pricing of the new model has not been declared but one can make an educated guess because the current model is priced at $7,862.
Via: designboom
