A Chopper Rises Up

World novelty from HP Velotechnik at Eurobike: Delta tx E-chopper becomes even more comfortable and practical with folding handlebars for super easy entry plus equipment for upright parking

Frankfurt am Main. HP Velotechnik is constantly expanding its product range for the Delta tx E-chopper, which was presented last year. These innovations can be seen for the first time in Frankfurt at the Eurobike trade fair (July 3-7) in Hall 8, booth B45. The now available Folding stem handlebar option makes getting on and off the comfort-oriented scooter trike even easier. According to the German manufacturer, this is now as easy as “open the door – sit down – close the door” in a car.

The second new product is much more spectacular. With the fourpiece set of Vertical parking stand plus the Anti-tip wheels, the bike can be set upright in a matter of seconds and with little effort, despite its weight of around 35 kilo (78 lbs). This way, it takes up significantly less space when parked. This is very useful, especially in confined spaces at home. But it is also an aspect that should not be underestimated in public spaces, for example in comparison with bulky cargo bikes.

A second advantage of the vertical parking, which is not quite so obvious at first glance, is that the 2.21 m (87″) long trike can be chained to a street light post, for example, in no time at all using the (optional) Frame lock supplied. Paul Hollants, one of the two managing directors of HP Velotechnik, says: “A trike as unusually locked upright as the Delta tx is likely to be much less attractive prey for bicycle thieves. Especially if such a thief has to do his ‘work’ at head height and in the field of vision of every passer-by.”

In a YouTube video, the manufacturer shows how the new features work and, above all, how the bike can be parked vertically in an instant with the right momentum. Further information on optional equipment versions can be found on the homepage at www.hpvelotechnik.com. In addition to the four available motor systems with fully automatic gearshift, this is above all the extended luggage storage space. The trike now offers a total of six storage spaces. With the additional Trailer coupling, a suitably light rider can set up to 90 kilos (198 lbs) of payload in motion. The Delta tx is available from specialist dealers from € 6,490.– €. With the new options, it costs 6,904,– €.

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******** Basic Information ********

Kriftel. With the Delta tx, HP Velotechnik presents a scooter trike with a high comfort seat and particularly easy access. The look of the tricycle, however, is different from that of the usual scooter trikes. The reason: the German recumbent manufacturer, known worldwide for almost two decades for racy sport trikes, transfers their form and technical language to a comfort cruiser with suspension and an electric motor. The result: a lifestyle chopper for everyday use and for every age group.

The Delta tx was developed specifically for people who want a lot of support and comfort when cycling and therefore need a stable, tipping-resistant vehicle with a low entry height. Managing Director Paul Hollants explains: “Our goal was to take the concept of a senior tricycle to the next level.” But during the test rides, he says, they quickly discovered that “there’s a lot more riding fun with this trike!” Whether cruising in the city or shopping with plenty of storage space for the purchases: “The Delta tx is very well received across generations. You don’t need to be at least a certain age to enjoy the casual riding position on a chopper.”

Appealing Design and Well-Thought-Out Technology

The design is just as convincing as the ride comfort: The Delta tx with its sprung rear triangle is an absolute lightweight (from 35 kg/78 lbs) in the e-scooter bike class. For transport, it can be split into three parts in a matter of minutes to save space. The prerequisite for this is a very clear, uncluttered design. The voluminous aluminum frame, together with the wide tires, makes a clear statement: a reliable, highly stable and solid vehicle that can also hold plenty of luggage. The platform carrier in the rear is designed for a payload of up to 25 kg (55 lbs) and transports full beverage crates, for example, with a low center of gravity.

According to Hollants, the inspiration for this new development direction is: “Many people today feel unsafe in traffic on the usual two-wheelers. Some find our low trikes too sporty. The Delta tx is the invitingly high alternative.” The sporty Gekko and Scorpion series feature two steered front wheels and a driven rear wheel. Commenting on the expansion of the vehicle range to include trikes with two wheels in the rear, Hollants says, “The Delta tx definitely does not mark a change in our philosophy of three-wheel design. To the contrary, it picks up on what has made us great: combining appealing design and well-thought-out technology with solid riding characteristics. Getting this combination in a tricycle with two rear wheels has recently been a frequently expressed wish from our dealers. Their specifications were incorporated into the considerations of our developers. They then worked on a wide range of variants with an open approach to technology. This ranged from quad studies and all-weather vehicles to the two-wheel rear design familiar for many upright tricycles,” reports Hollants. This comfort-optimized and highly versatile vehicle will appeal to new user groups for HP Velotechnik due to its uncomplicated accessibility

Relaxed Splitting Instead of Folding

With regard to both technical solutions and design, the developers were faced with completely new challenges, adds head of development Daniel Pulvermüller: “A central point was: As with the sport trikes, the trike should be able to be made very compact to take wherever you wish to ride, especially in the car.” However, the focus was not on folding in seconds, as with the solution for HP Velotechnik’s Gekko. Rather, with the Delta tx, the designers aimed for ease of disassembly into separate, easy-to-handle parts. “After the seat is removed via quick release, it only takes an Allen wrench to remove the handlebars and then disassemble the main frame into two parts.” The motor and battery remain in the front section. To disconnect the electrical connection from the control unit, one simply pulls two plugs. The additional advantage of this design: all switching units, displays, cables and pulls remain on the handlebars, which are attached to the luggage rack for transport. Another additional benefit of this solution is that after splitting you have two transport units besides the seat, on which the weight is divided almost equally.

A Lot of Luggage, a Low Center of Gravity

When developing this very special scooter trike, another aspect was right at the top of the list of requirements, Hollants continues: “We wanted the Delta tx to be able to accommodate a whole lot of transport goods with a low center of gravity.” In this respect, the ample space in the back between the rear wheels was reserved from the outset for a generously dimensioned transport basket. A standard German beer crate even fits easily on this practical mid-height platform. But the Delta tx can do much more: If the backrest is fitted with the optional Bag holder, a standard, large bicycle bag can be attached. In addition, two handlebar bags can be carried to the right and left of the airy mesh seat. These are clipped onto the Side bag mounts offered by HP Velotechnik as accessories using the Klickfix system. Alternatively, a Trailer hitch can be used instead of the platform rack to tow a child or cargo trailer with a straight drawbar. Then the Delta tx can even set 40 kilos of transport load in motion and a correspondingly light pilot can even move 90 kilograms with his trike.

Maximum Seating Comfort

With all the innovations, however, HP Velotechnik also uses its expertise in seat technology developed over many years. Both mesh seats, ErgoMesh and ErgoMesh Premium, can be mounted on the Delta tx. An outstanding feature of the Premium seat comes into its own here: with it, the backrest and seat surface can be adjusted independently of each other. For a bike with the highest comfort requirements, this is the perfect complement. Continuous adjustability on the trapezoidal profile of the frame allows both the ErgoMesh and the ErgoMesh Premium to be adapted to the user’s body size and preferred sitting posture. Both seats are available in two heights and widths. And for more, they can be individually adapted to the shape of the back using Orthoflex padding technology. In addition, HP Velotechnik offers selected accessories for the Delta tx, such as the WingBling, a turning indicator that meats the German traffic regulations and ensures greater safety on the road. The Delta tx comes in the colors Blue flash or Sparkling iron gray and is available in bike shops starting at 6,490.– € (US$ 7,450.–).

******** Background HP Velotechnik ********

HP Velotechnik, founded in 1993 by Paul Hollants and Daniel Pulvermüller, manufactures approx. 2,000 recumbents per year in the factory in Kriftel near Frankfurt with 50 employees (including six trainees) and is thus market leader in Europe. The bikes are built individually by hand according to the customers wish and sold in specialist bicycle shops. All signs point to future growth: HP Velotechnik exports more and more bikes and trikes to more distant regions such as Australia, Japan, or South Africa. This successful business strategy was honored in 2017 with the “Hessian Export Prize”, which is jointly awarded by the State of Hesse and the Hessian Chambers of Crafts and Industry and Commerce. Most recently, the recumbent bike manufacturer received an award from the German Social Democratic Party (SPD): The grouping of the Working Group of the Self-employed in the Party presented the “AGS Award for Innovation 2019” for the “innovative mobility” of the bikes.

HP Velotechnik has developed 15 recumbent models that cover the entire range from everyday bikes to racing bikes. All models are available with powerful electric motors on request. Recently, the models from the Scorpion series caused a sensation, winning the renowned “Eurobike Award” design prize three times in a row. Most recently, in 2013 the trike Scorpion fs Enduro and in 2014 the Scorpion plus 20 as a therapy trike. The last time the Scorpion fs 26 S-Pedelec won this award at the world’s most important bicycle trade fair Eurobike was in 2018 as a vehicle in the fast class with pedal assistance up to 45 km/h.

Even as schoolchildren, the company founders Hollants and Pulvermüller became national winners of the JUTEC Youth and Technology competition of the Association of German Engineers – the foundation of the development from a garage laboratory to one of Germany’s most innovative bicycle companies. Since 2006 HP Velotechnik has been awarded as one of the three best bicycle manufacturers in Germany by the industry association VSF several times.

A Chopper Rises Up

World novelty from HP Velotechnik at Eurobike: Delta tx E-chopper becomes even more comfortable and practical with folding handlebars for super easy entry plus equipment for upright parking

Appealing Design and Well-Thought-Out Technology

Relaxed Splitting Instead of Folding

A Lot of Luggage, a Low Center of Gravity

Maximum Seating Comfort

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