Triride
Italian manufacturers Triride specialise exclusively in handbikes, and are rightly considered the market-leaders. Their products feature their own electronics and motors that they have developed exclusively for their handbike models. This allows their handbikes to offer performance levels - whether that be speed, torque, power or range - above and beyond the competitors.
Each of Triride's handbikes is made to order with a range of configuration options. This allows them to be tailored to meet your requirements, rather than being "off the shelf" products with a "one size fits all" approach. The wide range of options includes matching handlebars and controls to your hand function, tyres and batteries to meet your lifestyle demands, or frame colours to complement your wheelchair. Electronic options include adaptive cruise control that can even keep you at a constant speed going downhill, and Triride's Intelligent Braking System, with both mechanical and hydraulic disk brakes are available.
Triride handbikes fit to almost every model of active wheelchair on the market, including those with swing-away legrests, and can be easily mounted and dismounted to allow for quick switching between self-propelling and powered driving, and also to allow for simple transport in a vehicle. Optional T-stands can aid with mounting and demounting, depending on your core strength and experience.
Triride MadMax
The name says it all with this handbike - it's for those after insane levels of performance. The MadMax features a chunky 16 x 3" tyre that provides a very comfortable driving experience - which is crucial, as this is a handbike you'll be taking everywhere. The 1500W motor provides great levels of torque and can propel you at a speedy 18.6 mph. This is backed up by the twin battery option that results in a ridiculous 50 mile range.
The result is a handbike that is utterly brilliant off-roading, whether you're driving up hills, through forests, or even muddy ground. Just make sure you've got a chunky pair of rear wheels on your wheelchair, and you'll be ready to go.
The trade-off is obviously that the MadMax is bigger, heavier and more expensive than other more conventional handbikes - but you get what you pay for, in terms of performance.
Our Verdict
There's almost nothing like the MadMax - only Triride's even bigger T-Rocks betters its performance - and the MadMax is truly outstanding in terms of what it can enable you to do.
If you're new to handbikes and have come straight to the MadMax, we would normally advise looking at Triride's Compact HT as well. We've found it offers all the off-roading that most people want, and is lighter and more usable in urban situations, as well as being cheaper too. However, if it's a true beast of a handbike you want for the highest speeds, longest ranges and roughest ground - the MadMax is the one to try.
