HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Enduro Review

HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS Enduro

If you are looking for one of the softest riding, best handling trikes, with over the top engineering and quality, the Hp Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Enduro may be your Holy Grail. HP Velotechnik builds only top shelf quality products. The Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is built in their factory in Kriftel, Germany. It is built the German way, which is with no compromises or corners being cut. HP pays great attention to every detail on their trikes and bikes. After you ride the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro awhile, you will find that you just do not ride your two wheel bike anymore. The Hp Velotechink Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is very similar compared to the Scorpion FS 26 which shares the same frame, suspension and many parts.

Frame: The frame on the Hp Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is made out of aluminum that is TIG welding together. Their welds are consistent, smooth, and as close to perfect as it gets. The Scorpion FS 26 Enduro trike folds in half and is a flat fold style where the rear wheel folds over the top and settles in between the handlebars. The rear frame has a unique little bumper to keep the front and rear frame from banging together. Hp also has neat Velcro straps on the Enduro to hold the front and back of the trike together while transporting the trike. The quick release hinge is super sturdy and there is an extra safety catch on the bottom. The front suspension rides on both coil springs and an elastomer system. There is 6 cm of travel with the telescoping design on the suspension. The Scorpion FS 26 Enduro also uses a sway bar under the frame so the trike stays nice and flat while turning. It has a weight capacity of 308 lbs whereas most other companies rate their recumbents at 275 lbs for a maximum capacity.

Paint: The Scorpion Fs 26 Enduro comes in an awesome glowing yellow (we call it enduro green). If the glowing yellow color does not strike your fancy, you can choose from 94 custom colors for an up-charge of $219.00. The powder coat paint job on the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is a quality job. It is everything you would want in a paint job.

Drive Train: HP offers two different drivetrains to choose from. The stock drivetrain is a Sturmey Archer Triple Shift 30 speed with a bar end shifter shifter. People love this system with one of the advantages being that you can shift the internal three speed hub while not moving. The Sturmey Archer Triple Shift Hub has three internal gears and ten external gears for a total of thirty. Having the Sturmey Archer Triple Shift on your trike really cleans up the looks of the front of the trike. With the Sturmey Archer Triple Shift there is no need for a triple crank or front derailleur. The Second drivetrain option is the Pinion 12 Speed which is an encapsulated transmission which is extremely low maintenance and has a 600% gear range. Hp Velotechnik also offers the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro with two Shimano Steps drivetrains and a new system called the Neo Drive.
All the different drivetrains work well; you just have to find the best one for your riding style. The Neo Drive system is a pedal assisted system capable of reaching speeds of 28 Mph and has five power mode settings. You can adjust the computer to give you exactly as much power as you need. Other motor systems are available after market. Bafang motors or our favorite however EBO motor systems can be retrofitted on to the Enduro and have the benefit of more power and come with throttles compared to the Shimano or Neo Drive.

Brakes: HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 come stock with Shimano MT200 Hydraulic disc brakes. The Shimano brakes work excellent just like all of Shimano’s other bike products. Hp also offers the Avid BB7 Disc brakes which are my favorite mechanical disc brake system. The Shimano Hydraulic Disc Brakes stopped the trike consistently and had no brake rub. I have no issue with Shimano or Avid mechanical brakes and I am a big fan of both companies. The Avid BB7 Brakes are simple, reliable, and easy to adjust. Super convenient features of the Avid mechanical brakes are that each brake pad can be adjusted independently so you can really dial in your brake adjustment. Hp Velotechnik offers an upgraded Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc Brakes system. Both brakes can also be coupled to one brake lever for people with special needs.

Seat: There are a lot of seat options as well on the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro. The most popular is Ergo Mesh Premium. The Ergo Mesh Premium seat is a breathable padded seat that is comfortable and completely adjustable. There are multiple variations to the Ergo Mesh Premium seat that you can get so you fit comfortable on it. There’s the Ergo Mesh Premium extra wide low, Ergo Mesh Premium low, Ergo Mesh extra wide low and Ergo Mesh low. HP Velotechnik also makes a seat called the Body Link seat. The Body link seat is a low seat made out of a rigid fiberglass with a foam pad, or Air Mesh pad, fixed to it. The seat angle on the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro can be adjusted easily from 32 – 41 degrees. On the Ergo Mesh seat, there is extra padding on the sides of the seat. This side padding not only gives extra comfort, but also helps hold the rider in the seat better. I personally prefer the fit of the Ergo Mesh Premium seat. I felt the Ergo Mesh Premium was very comfortable and was contoured to fit my back nicely. The Ergo Mesh Premium seat is the only trike seat where the back and bottom are independently adjustable from each other. For people who want to sit very upright or very laid back, the adjustable feature can be a huge benefit Seat height is as follows: Ergo Mesh Low 32 cm, Body Link 29 cm. For 2021, HP Velotechnik has up the bar and now has the most advance padded seat on the market. ICE trikes had the best seat on the market but, with HP Velotechnik seats, the bar has been raised.

Ride: This is where the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro really shines. After riding the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro, it is easy to see why it has won trike of the year. With a rear wheel travel of 8 cm and 6 cm in the front, bumps just seem to disappear. I will go so far as to say the HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Enduro is the most comfortable riding trike that I have ever ridden. The Handling on the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro was exceptional. HP Velotechnik prefers indirect steering and so do I. The steering is light, predictable and everything I could have hoped it could be.
The rear suspension did such a good job at absorbing the road shock. Riding a trike off road, and anything faster than a crawl, I think you will find suspension is pretty much a must have. Riding the Enduro on some dirt roads and jeep trails through the woods is more enjoyable to me than riding on pavement. I like the quietness of no cars just cruising down dirt roads without having to deal with traffic. I sometimes like to ride it off road right on the edge of losing control sometimes because it’s just so exhilarating. Back in the days of my youth I raced bikes all over the USA and have some pretty good road rash scars to show for crashes. I look at those scars and think they have much better stories to tell than getting tattoos. The Enduro is on my very short list of favorite trikes. It is just fun to ride and go fast down trails on. The Enduro uses a simple coil spring design for the rear shock which worked very well. HP Velotechnik also offers a Rock Shox Monarch air shock which can be a nice upgrade. The Air shock can be tuned easily to your personal taste and rider weight. The Scorpion comes with Schwalbe Smart Sam Knobby tires which are a very good off road performing tire.

Accessories: Hp Velotechnik offers the Scorpion FS 26 Enduro with a multitude of options that is so large, it is mind blowing. The most popular accessories are rear rack, neck rest, B and M mirrors, and water bottles. Other popular accessories are safety flags and front and rear lights.

 

In Conclusions: If you want a trike that floats over bumps, top drawer quality, and fantastic handling you have found it. For other off road trikes you may also look at the ICE Full Fat, Trident Terrain and Sun Fat Tad.

Pros:

  • Quality
  • Attention to detail
  • Soft comfortable ride
  • Just perfect handling

Cons:

  • A bit heavier than other trikes at 45 lbs
  • Long lead time for a custom made trike

Best Place to Buy:

Your local HP Velotechnik bike dealer or www.industrialbicycles.com

Hp Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Enduro Folded
Hp Velotechnik Scorpion Fs Enduro Front Supsension
Hp Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 Hinge

Trike Detailed Specifics

Seat

  • BodyLink seat height: 29 cm (12″)
  • ErgoMesh seat height: 32 cm (13″)
  • ErgoMesh HS plus seat height
  • : 43 cm (17″)
  • Seat angle: 41–49° adjustable
Wheels and Tires
  • Front wheel size: 20″ (ISO 406)
  • Rear wheel size: 26″ (ISO 559)
  • Max. tire width: 5 cm (2″)

Measurements

  • Bottom bracket height: 40–45 cm (16–18″)
  • Ground clearance: 12 cm (5″, statically compressed)
  • Wheelbase: 128 cm (51″)
  • Track width: 78 cm (31″)
  • Width: 83 cm (33″)
  • Length: 187–231 cm (74–91″)
  • Turning circle: 5.51 m (18′) outward
  • Folded size: 123 × 83 × 62 cm (49 x 33 x 25″)
  • Dismantled size: 93 × 74 × 54 cm (37 x 29 x 22″)

Specifications

  • Bottom bracket standard: BSA 68 mm
  • Suspension travel: front 6 cm (2.4″) / rear 8 cm (3.1″)
  • Weight: from 20.5 kg (45 lbs) incl. pedals
  • Payload: max. 110 kg (242 lbs) off-road, max 309 lbs on-road
  • Frame material: Aluminum 7005 T6 heat treated
  • Swing arm bearing: maintenance-free
  • Rider height: ca. 1.62 – 2.00 m (5’4″ – 6’7″)