Reviewed by Adulttricyclereview.com
The highlights of the Trailmate’s Desoto Classic Trike is its low step through frame, easy pedaling gearing and western style seat. The Desoto Classic is available in three versions: freewheel, coaster brake and three speed coaster brake along with three wheel sizes 20″, 24″ and 26″. Trailmate also gives you four standard colors to chose from: blue, red, lavender, green, and they can also do a custom painted color for an up-charge. Trailmate has the frames made in China and packages the trike in USA for shipment to their dealers.
Frame: The frame is made of steel that is TIG welded together. The welding is good, smoother than the offering by Sun Bicycles on their comparable trike. The paint on our test trike was adequately sprayed on, the paint was evenly applied but lacking a bit of depth and shine. The frame come in two parts and is a pain to put together if you are installing a coaster brake or three speed. The frame has a 250 Lbs limit which is about the same as other trikes we are reviewing. If you need a stronger frame with a higher capacity, check out the industrial trikes and heavy duty trikes. We have seen a lot of Desoto Classic with bent chain guards. This is not a problem with the chain guard just a problem with the trike user. Many people for some reason feel they need to step on the chain guard to boost themselves up onto the seat. The chain guard was never designed for this and hence the bent chain guards.
Gearing:
The gearing on the single speed freewheel version is easy and most people will find it not too difficult to pedal. Trailmate offers a coaster brake kit where you can stop the trike by pedaling backwards a quarter turn like a bike you rode when you were a kid. Trailmate also offers a three speed kit which is preferable and very nice. The three speed kit gets you a coaster brake so you can stop the trike with pedaling backwards, and it has one gear that is easier to pedal and one that is harder to pedal than the single speed version so you can adjust to how you like to pedal.
Braking: The three speed coaster brake kit worked very well and stopped our trike easily. The coaster brake is ideal for people who may have some arthritis in their hands, low hand strength or just feel safer with the coaster brake. All Trailmate Desoto Classic’s trike come with a front hand brake which can stop the trike just fine by itself.
Seat:
The Western style seat was wide and comfortable and appealed to us. The Western style seat from on the Desoto Classic and the seat on the Sun trikes were very similar. We had numerous people ride both seats and the seats were liked equally as well.
Ride: The ride was good but we did not care for the steering so much. The fork is raked out very far compared to other trikes we are reviewing and gave the Trailmate a less steady and precise feel.
Other Stuff: Trailmate offers the Desoto Classic with a vinyl coated rear basket, front fender, reflector set, flag and front brake with parking lock. Options include rear fenders, coaster brake kit and three speed coaster brake kit, mag wheel upgrade, heal supports foot straps, and a lifetime frame warranty. Weight 66-71 lbs.
Pros: Trailmate has been building the Desoto Classic just about forever. It is a proven well constructed trike with a large western seat. The seat is more adjustable than the seat on the Sun Traditional
and wider than the seat on the Low Step. Available in single speed freewheel, single speed Coaster brake and three speed Coaster Brake, 20″, 24″ or 26″ wheel and four colors. If you live by the ocean, the Trailmate can have plastic mag wheel which not only look cool but do not rust. Comes with a vinyl coated rear basket, alloy rims and chrome plated front fender 66-71 Lbs
Cons:
If you get the coaster brake kit or three speed kit it add a high level of complexity to get the chains and frame adjusted properly. Wimpy looking fork compared to the other trike and raked way out made it less responsive compared to the Sun traditional or Low Step.