ANYterrain 4-Wheel Recumbent vs. EVRYjourney Recumbent Rickshaw: Which Electric Recumbent Fits Your Ride?

Two Recumbents, Two Very Different Personalities",

If you have been shopping for a laid-back electric ride with a real seat and a backrest, you have probably landed on two of our more unusual models: the ANYterrain 4 Wheel 750w Recumbent EBike and the EVRYjourney Recumbent EBike Rickshaw 750w. On paper they look like close cousins. Both put you in a reclined, chair-style seat. Both run 750-watt rear motors. Both roll on the same fat tires. Park them side by side and you would be forgiven for thinking the only real difference is that one has an extra wheel up front.</p><p>Spend some time on each, though, and their personalities split apart quickly. One is built around the rider, with a captain's chair, a swivel seat, reverse gear and baskets at both ends. The other is built around sharing the ride, with a rear passenger seat, a single front wheel that pivots tight, and a frame that can be configured for people or for cargo.</p><p>Dustin, our head fit specialist with about two decades in the bike and e-bike business, rolled both of them into the shop and went through them piece by piece. This article walks through everything he covered: the parts that are identical, the parts that are close, and the handful of differences that should actually decide which one belongs in your garage.</p><p>If you are still at the early stage of figuring out whether a recumbent is right for you at all, our full <a href=\"https://www.sixthreezero.mom/collections/recumbent-trike-electric\">recumbent electric trike collection</a> is a good place to see the range. If you already know you want a recumbent and you are torn between these two, read on

The ANYterrain recumbent is part of our 4-wheel e-bike lineup. Instead of a single front wheel, it uses two front wheels joined by a steering system that lets each wheel move up and down independently. When one front wheel rises over a root or a curb edge, the other stays planted. That linkage is the heart of the bike. It gives you a lean when you turn, it soaks up rough ground, and it makes the four-wheeler feel less like a cart and more like something you actually steer.

The EVRYjourney recumbent sits in our rickshaw collection. It is a three-wheeler with a single front wheel on a suspension fork, a recumbent seat for the rider, and a rear seat behind for a passenger. It was designed from the start for people who want to bring someone along, whether that is a spouse, a grandchild or a friend who would rather not pedal.

So the simplest framing goes like this. The ANYterrain is the solo explorer with a luxury seat and plenty of room for stuff. The rickshaw is the social ride with room for a person. Both can be pushed toward the other's territory with accessories, which we will get into, but that is the starting point.

Everything below is based on the bikes Dustin had in the shop. One detail worth knowing up front: the rickshaw he used was an earlier sample. A couple of things on it, like the display and the length of the handlebar stem, have been updated on the production version. We will flag those as they come up.

Start at the ground, because this is where the two bikes are most alike. Both use 20-inch by 4-inch tires in the rear and 16-inch by 4-inch tires in the front. The tread pattern is the same as well. The only difference is that the ANYterrain has two of those 16-inch tires up front while the rickshaw has one.

Four-inch-wide tires do a lot of quiet work on a recumbent. They spread your weight over a bigger patch of ground, which helps on gravel, packed dirt, grass and sand. They also act as a first layer of cushioning, since a fat tire run at sensible pressure absorbs small bumps before they ever reach the frame. On a bike where you are sitting low and reclined, that matters, because you do not have the option of standing up on the pedals to let your legs take a hit.

The smaller front wheels serve a purpose too. A 16-inch wheel keeps the front end compact and lowers the overall height of the bike, which keeps your center of gravity down. Combined with the larger rear wheels, it gives both bikes a slightly nose-down stance that feels stable when you settle into the seat.

Because the tire sizes match, maintenance and spares are simpler if you ever end up owning both, or if you are comparing running costs. Replacement tires for one will fit the corresponding position on the other. If you like the idea of fat tires in general and want to compare more models, our fat tire electric trikes page gathers them in one spot.

Both bikes use 750-watt rear-mounted motors, but they are not the same motor. The ANYterrain uses a motor designed specifically for multi-wheel rear ends, the type built to drive the rear axle of an eTrike. The rickshaw uses a rear motor of the more conventional kind. Dustin was clear that in practice they climb about the same. Torque on a hill feels roughly equal between them, so you are not choosing between a weak bike and a strong one here.

What does change the hill-climbing picture is weight. The four-wheeler is about 20 pounds heavier than the rickshaw. That extra wheel, the steering linkage, the bigger seat and the front basket all add up. On flat ground you will barely notice. On a long, steady grade, the motor and your legs are moving more mass, and that shows up as a bit more effort and a bit more battery used.

Before that sounds like a clear win for the rickshaw, think about how you will actually load each bike. The rickshaw is designed to carry a second person. Put an adult in the back seat and you have added far more than 20 pounds. A solo rider on the ANYterrain will often be moving less total weight than a rickshaw carrying a passenger.

So the useful question is not which bike is lighter, but what will each bike weigh with you, your stuff and anyone else aboard. If you live somewhere hilly and plan to ride alone with light cargo, the rickshaw's lower weight is a real plus. If you plan to carry a passenger most of the time, the comparison flips. And if your routes are mostly flat, the 20-pound difference is unlikely to be the deciding factor at all.

Whichever you choose, the motor is there to help, not to do all the work for you. Both bikes pair that 750-watt motor with pedal assist and a throttle, which we will get to shortly, so you can lean on the electric help as much or as little as a given hill demands.

The front ends of these two bikes are where they part ways most clearly, and it shapes the whole ride.

The rickshaw uses a single front wheel on a suspension fork. When Dustin sat down on it, you could see the fork compress noticeably under his weight. That is the fork doing its job. When you roll over a crack, a speed bump or a rough patch of path, the fork travels to absorb it, so less of the jolt reaches the handlebars and the seat. It is a familiar, proven setup and it works well on the kind of mixed pavement most people ride.

The ANYterrain takes a completely different approach. There is no suspension fork at all. Instead, the two front wheels are connected so that when one moves up, the other stays down. Dustin demonstrated this by lifting one front wheel while the other stayed on the ground. On a rough trail, both wheels are constantly rising and falling independently to follow the shape of the ground. That movement is the suspension. Rather than a spring compressing, the geometry lets the wheels trace the terrain while the frame stays steadier.

The same linkage also gives the four-wheeler a gentle lean when you turn. That is a big part of why it does not feel like typical trike steering. A conventional upright trike can feel like it wants to push you toward the outside of a corner. The ANYterrain's leaning front end makes cornering feel more natural and more planted, closer to how a bicycle feels, without any of the balance demands of two wheels.

Practically speaking, if most of your riding is neighborhood streets and bike paths, both systems will serve you well. If you regularly ride dirt roads, park trails, grass or packed sand, the ANYterrain's front end is purpose-built for that kind of uneven ground. It is the reason the bike carries the name it does.

Here is where the rickshaw gets its moment. A single front wheel can be turned very sharply. Dustin showed this in the parking lot by cranking the bars and riding a near-perfect tight circle on the rickshaw. If you have ever tried to turn around on a narrow path, at the end of a driveway, or inside a crowded garage, that tight turning radius is a genuine convenience.

The ANYterrain, with two front wheels and its linkage, has a wider turning circle. In the same lot, its turn was noticeably bigger. It still turns well for its size, and the lean makes it feel smooth through the corner, but you will need more room to swing it around.

The four-wheeler makes up for that with something the rickshaw does not have: reverse. A switch on the handlebar flips the motor from drive to reverse, and the bike backs up under power. That means you can do a three-point turn the way you would in a car, back out of a parking spot, or reverse out of a dead end without climbing off and dragging the bike around. On a heavier bike, that is a bigger deal than it sounds. If reverse is high on your list, our reverse gear electric trikes page collects every model that has it.

One note from Dustin that applies to both bikes: when you are making those really tight turns, go slow. Any multi-wheel bike, whether it has three wheels or four, is safest through sharp corners at walking pace. Ease off the throttle, let the bike come around, and then accelerate out of the turn.

So the trade-off is simple to state. The rickshaw turns tighter but cannot back up. The ANYterrain needs more room to turn but can reverse its way out of trouble. Think about where you park, where you store the bike, and the narrowest spots on your usual routes, and you will know which matters more to you.

The most obvious visual difference between these bikes is the seat, and it is also one of the most important for anyone who chose a recumbent for comfort in the first place.

The rickshaw's seat is genuinely comfortable. It has a backrest, armrests and substantial cushioning. It reclines forward and back, and it slides forward and back on its rails, so riders of different heights can get the reach to the pedals right. It also comes standard with a seat belt. For most riders, this is a seat you can spend a long afternoon in without thinking about it.

The ANYterrain takes that a step further with what Dustin called a true captain's chair. It has armrests, a headrest, and roughly two more inches of cushioning than the rickshaw seat. It reclines too, and it can recline all the way flat, which is handy when you stop for a break and want to actually rest. It slides forward and back for fit, just like the rickshaw seat.

Those extra two inches of padding and the headrest change how the bike feels on longer rides. Your head and neck have somewhere to settle, and your back and hips are cradled rather than just supported. If you have back, neck or hip issues that made you look at recumbents in the first place, the captain's chair is worth taking seriously.

That said, comfort is personal, and the rickshaw seat is far from basic. If you want to compare across our lineup, our most comfortable electric trikes page highlights the models where the seat is a headline feature, and our seats accessory section shows what is available if you ever want to change things up.

For a lot of riders, the hardest part of any bike is not riding it. It is getting into position and getting back out again. Both of these bikes are designed with that in mind, but the ANYterrain has a trick the rickshaw does not.

The captain's chair on the four-wheeler swivels. Pull a lever, and the seat rotates toward the side of the bike. Dustin showed the routine: spin the seat out, sit down facing sideways the way you would sit in a chair, then pull the lever and swing yourself around to face the handlebars. Getting off reverses the process. You never have to lift a leg over the frame or twist into position while balancing.

The ANYterrain also has a lower step-over height. On the bikes Dustin measured, the four-wheeler came in at about 13 inches, while the rickshaw measured about 17.5 inches. Four and a half inches does not sound like much until you have stiff knees or a sore hip, at which point it can be the difference between an easy step and an awkward one.

The rickshaw is still very approachable. Its recumbent seat sits low, and once you are in it, you are in a relaxed, supported position. But if mounting and dismounting are your main worry, the combination of the swivel seat and the lower frame makes the ANYterrain the more accommodating of the two. Riders who put this at the top of their list might also want to look through our easy-to-mount eTrikes with low step-thru frames and our electric trikes for seniors, where step-over height is a central consideration.

A practical suggestion: measure how high you can comfortably lift your foot while holding onto something, and compare it to those step-over numbers. It is a two-minute test that tells you more than any spec sheet can.

If you plan to run errands, haul groceries or carry gear for a day out, the two bikes come set up quite differently.

The ANYterrain arrives with two baskets: a large one at the rear and another large one up front. That front basket is something you do not find on the rickshaw, and it is genuinely useful. It keeps smaller items, a water bottle or a bag within easy view, while the rear basket handles the bulky stuff. For a solo rider, this is a lot of carrying capacity before you add a single accessory.

The rickshaw does not come with a front basket. In the back, it comes with the passenger seat rather than a basket. That seat attaches with four screws, so if you would rather use the rickshaw as a cargo hauler, you can take the seat off and mount a rear basket in its place. That basket is sold separately.

The rickshaw does have one storage feature of its own: space under the rider's seat. A small gate at the back flips down to give you access. It is not huge, but it is a good spot for a lock, a light jacket, a tire pump or anything else you want stowed out of sight.

If cargo capacity is your priority, the ANYterrain is better equipped from day one. If you want flexibility between passenger and cargo use, the rickshaw can be switched between the two. Either way, our basket collection and bags and panniers are where to look for extra carrying options, and if hauling is the main reason you ride, our cargo electric trikes and trikes with a large basket are worth a browse.

Both of these bikes can be fitted with a hitch, and that hitch opens up a lot of possibilities.

The hitch lets you attach an additional subframe to the back of the bike. On that subframe you can mount a basket for more cargo or a bench seat for a passenger. This is how each bike can borrow a little of the other's personality.

On the rickshaw, the passenger seat is already there. If you have someone riding in back and still want space for cargo, you can add the hitch and attach a basket behind the passenger. That turns the rickshaw into a genuine people-and-stuff hauler, ideal for a trip to the beach or the park where you are carrying a person plus chairs, a cooler or a bag.

On the ANYterrain, the hitch is how you add a passenger. Attach the subframe, mount a bench seat, and the four-wheeler can carry someone too. So while the rickshaw is the obvious passenger bike, the ANYterrain is not limited to solo riding.

On the rickshaw Dustin had in the shop, the hitch was not installed, but he pointed out the four mounting holes at the back where it connects. Production bikes come with the hitch attachment.

If carrying another person is a big part of why you are shopping, compare both of these against the rest of our eTrikes for passengers. And whenever you load a bike up with a second rider and cargo, keep total weight in mind; our high weight capacity electric trikes page is helpful if you expect to carry a lot.

Both bikes share the same adjustable stem design, and it is one of the better features on either of them. The stem telescopes in and out, it tilts, and it lets you bring the bars closer to your body or push them farther away. On a recumbent, where you cannot simply lean forward to reach the bars, this matters a great deal. Unclamp it, move the bars to the exact spot where your arms rest naturally, and clamp it back down.

Where the two differ is the shape of the handlebars themselves. The rickshaw uses a figure-eight style bar that sits straight out in front of your body. Dustin said he really likes it. It looks a little different, and it puts your hands in a relaxed position directly ahead of you, almost like holding a steering wheel low in your lap.

The rickshaw he had was a sample with a shorter stem neck. Production versions have a longer neck, which lets you bring the bars even closer to your body. Keep that in mind if you see photos or videos of the earlier version and wonder whether the reach will suit you.

The ANYterrain uses a more traditional handlebar with grips out to the sides. If you are coming from a regular bicycle or an upright trike, this layout will feel more familiar. It also gives a little more leverage for steering, which suits the four-wheeler's front end.

Neither shape is objectively better. Some riders love the tucked-in, wheel-like feel of the rickshaw's bar; others prefer the wider stance of the four-wheeler's. If you are unsure how either will fit your arms, shoulders and height, our personal fitting tool can help you sort that out before you buy.

Once you are seated and settled, the way you actually drive these bikes is nearly identical.

Both have a thumb throttle. Press it and the bike moves without you pedaling at all. That is useful for getting started from a stop, crossing an intersection quickly, or simply taking a break from pedaling on the way home.

Both have five levels of pedal assist. In this mode, the motor adds power while you pedal, scaled to whatever level you have selected. Level one is a gentle nudge; level five does a large share of the work. Most riders settle into a favorite level and move up or down for hills and headwinds.

Both also have seven manual gears, just like you would find on a traditional bicycle. These work alongside the electric assist. Shifting to an easier gear on a climb keeps your pedaling cadence comfortable, while a harder gear on flat ground lets you hold a good speed without spinning. Using the gears and the assist together is what gives you the most control over effort and battery range.

Both bikes have color displays, horns, rear turn signals and integrated front and rear lights. The rickshaw sample Dustin used had an older display, but production models now use the same color display as the ANYterrain. On the controls, you have buttons for lights, turn signals, flashers, horn and assist level, plus the shifter and throttle. The ANYterrain adds its drive-to-reverse switch. If you ever need a replacement or want to understand how our displays work, the e-bike display section of our accessories store covers them.

If having a throttle is a must for you, and for many recumbent riders it is, you can see every model that has one on our electric trikes with throttle control page.

Stopping power is identical in kind on both bikes: they each use hydraulic disc brakes.

Hydraulic brakes work by sending brake fluid through the lines. When you squeeze the lever, the fluid pushes the brake pads closed onto the rotor. Compared with cable-actuated brakes, hydraulics generally respond faster and need less hand effort for the same stopping force. They also adjust themselves automatically as the pads wear, so you are not constantly tweaking cable tension to keep the lever feel consistent.

On a recumbent, especially one that might be carrying a passenger or a full load of cargo, strong and predictable brakes are not a luxury. You are moving a fair amount of weight, and when you need to stop, you want it to happen without drama. Both of these bikes deliver that.

The ANYterrain also has a parking position, which Dustin used at the end of his reverse demonstration. On both bikes, he locked the brakes before stepping away during the walkaround. Getting into the habit of locking the brakes whenever you stop to mount, dismount or swivel the seat is a good one, especially on a slope.

If disc brakes are on your list of must-haves, we keep a dedicated page of electric trikes with disc brakes so you can compare across models.

Measurements matter more than most people expect with bikes this size. They decide whether the bike fits through your gate, sits comfortably in your garage, fits on a trailer, or squeezes onto a bike path past other riders. Dustin ran the tape on both.

Length surprised him. He expected the four-wheeler to be longer, but it was the other way around. The ANYterrain measured 88 inches from front to back, while the rickshaw came in at 91 inches. Three inches is not a dramatic difference, but if storage space is tight, it is worth knowing that the rickshaw is the longer of the two.

Width surprised him again. The rickshaw is about 32.5 inches wide at the rear, and the ANYterrain is about 30.5 inches, so roughly two inches narrower. For a bike built to carry a passenger, that extra width at the back makes sense from a stability standpoint. A wider rear track helps keep the bike planted with someone sitting behind you.

Seat height, measured from the ground to the top of the seat, was close: about 29 inches on the rickshaw and about 28 inches on the ANYterrain. The four-wheeler sits slightly lower.

Step-over height is where the gap is biggest. The rickshaw measured around 17.5 inches, while the ANYterrain came in at about 13 inches. Paired with the swivel seat, that lower step-over is a big part of why the four-wheeler is easier to get on and off.

Two caveats. The rickshaw measured here was a sample, so small details may differ on production bikes. And Dustin has filmed more detailed measurement videos for each bike individually; you can find those through the product pages or in our video blog. Before you buy, measure the doorway, gate or storage area the bike has to live in, and compare it against the published specs.

A few smaller details came up during the close-up walkaround that are worth knowing.

On the rickshaw, the battery mounts on rails and comes off easily. Turn the key to release it, slide it out, and take it inside to charge. To put it back, line it up on the rails and click it into place. Being able to charge indoors is handy if you store the bike somewhere without an outlet, or if you live somewhere with cold winters where batteries prefer to be kept warm.

The rickshaw's motor sits down low at the rear. On the ANYterrain, the motor is also in the rear but positioned a little farther forward than on the rickshaw. Both placements keep weight low, which helps stability. Should you ever need a spare, our batteries and chargers section is where to look.

Up front on the rickshaw, there are four bolts that serve as the mounting point for a canopy. A canopy for this model is on the way. If you ride in strong sun or want some protection from light rain, that will be a welcome addition, and it fits the relaxed, cruise-around character of the rickshaw nicely. Keep an eye on our canopies page for availability.

None of these details is likely to make the decision for you on its own, but they round out the picture of how each bike will fit into your routine.

Before getting into recommendations, it helps to put the comparison in one place.

What they share: 750-watt rear motors with similar climbing torque; 20-inch by 4-inch rear tires and 16-inch by 4-inch front tires with the same tread; thumb throttle; five levels of pedal assist; seven manual gears; hydraulic disc brakes; color displays; horns; rear turn signals; integrated front and rear lights; telescoping, tilting stems; reclining, sliding recumbent seats with armrests; and hitch compatibility for an extra basket or bench seat.

Where the ANYterrain stands out: two leaning front wheels that act as suspension and smooth out cornering; reverse gear; a captain's chair with a headrest, extra cushioning, full recline and swivel for mounting; front and rear baskets included; a lower step-over of around 13 inches; and a slightly narrower, shorter frame.

Where the rickshaw stands out: a built-in rear passenger seat that converts to a basket mount; a much tighter turning radius; a front suspension fork; under-seat storage; a figure-eight handlebar positioned straight out in front; a canopy mount; a lighter overall weight by about 20 pounds; and a wider rear track for passenger stability.

Laid out like that, the decision usually becomes a question of priorities rather than quality. Both are well-equipped bikes. They are simply tuned for different kinds of riding.

Here is how we would think about it, based on the kind of rider who usually ends up happiest on each.

Choose the ANYterrain if you mostly ride on your own and want the most comfortable seat we offer in this category. Choose it if getting on and off a bike is a challenge, since the swivel chair and low step-over make a real difference. Choose it if your rides include dirt paths, grass, gravel or uneven park trails, where the leaning front wheels shine. Choose it if you want to carry a fair amount of stuff without buying extra baskets, and if you value being able to reverse out of tight spots. If you would like to add a passenger later, the hitch and bench seat give you that option.

Choose the rickshaw if bringing someone along is the main point. It was built for passengers from the start, and the rear seat, wider track and seat belt reflect that. Choose it if you need a tight turning circle for narrow paths, cramped driveways or a small garage. Choose it if you live somewhere hilly and ride with light loads, where its lower weight helps. Choose it if you like the idea of under-seat storage and an upcoming canopy, and if the forward, wheel-like handlebar position appeals to you. And remember that you can swap the passenger seat for a basket on the days you are hauling groceries instead of grandkids.

If you are still on the fence, ask yourself one question: on a typical ride, who or what is going with me? If the answer is usually just you and some gear, the ANYterrain is probably your bike. If the answer is usually another person, the rickshaw likely is.

For a broader look at how these fit into our entire lineup, browse all of our electric trikes or read through our ultimate bike buyer’s guide.

Reading about two bikes only gets you so far. The best way to know which recumbent suits you is to sit in it, try the seat, reach for the bars and take a few turns. Our fitting tool is a good first step for narrowing down fit and riding style, and you can always visit our store to try both in person.

If you buy online, you are covered by our 30-day test ride, so you have time to ride the bike on your own streets and paths and make sure it is the right call. Both bikes are also backed by our one-year warranty on parts and labor. And if the price is the sticking point, our financing options can spread it out.

Once your bike arrives, our assembly instructions walk you through the final setup, and our bike advice library has plenty more on getting comfortable, riding safely and making the most of an eTrike.

Whichever one you choose, you are getting a recumbent built for comfort and real-world use. The rest is just deciding whether your ride is better with four wheels and a captain's chair, or three wheels and a friend in the back seat.