Simple Glide Dual-Motor E-Trike Review: An 11-Degree Hill Test

A Trike Worth a Second Look

Most of the time, when a new bike rolls into the shop, we can guess how it's going to ride before anyone throws a leg over it. Frame shape, tire size, motor placement and battery size tell you a lot. The Simple Glide was different. Jack Martin climbed on, looked down at the drivetrain, and said what a lot of us were thinking: he had never seen a trike set up quite like this one before.

The reason is simple enough to explain and a little harder to appreciate until you ride it. The Simple Glide runs two motors instead of one. That single design choice changes how the trike climbs, how it holds speed, and how far it can go before it needs a charger. Jack's plan for the day was straightforward: take it to a steep hill near the shop, ride it up on a low assist setting, ride it back down while paying close attention to the brakes, and then tell everyone honestly how it felt.

This article walks through that ride from start to finish. We've cleaned up the commentary, filled in some context on what each feature actually does, and added practical notes for anyone thinking about an electric trike of their own. If you prefer to watch rather than read, you can find this ride and plenty of others in our video blog.

On a typical electric trike, a single motor does all the work. That's perfectly fine for flat neighborhoods, boardwalks and gentle rolling streets. Where a single motor starts to show its limits is on long, steep climbs, especially with a heavier rider or a loaded basket. The motor works hard, the speed drops, and the rider ends up pushing harder on the pedals to make up the difference.

Splitting the job between two motors spreads that load out. Jack's first observation was that the dual setup creates a lot of power and a lot of torque, and torque is the part riders actually feel. Torque is the twisting force that gets you moving from a stop and keeps you moving when the road tilts upward. More of it means the trike doesn't bog down halfway up a hill. It just keeps pulling.

There's a comfort benefit here too, one that's easy to overlook. When the motors aren't straining, the ride feels calmer. You aren't listening to a motor whine at its limit, and you aren't feeling surges as the system hunts for enough power. Throughout the climb, Jack kept coming back to the same word: smooth. The acceleration was smooth, the speed held smooth, and the transition between pedaling and motor help never felt abrupt.

For riders who live somewhere hilly, or who have avoided certain routes because they dreaded the climb home, that combination of torque and smoothness is the main reason to pay attention to a dual-motor trike.

The 80-Mile Range and What It Means in Real Life

Power usually comes at a cost, and on an e-trike that cost is normally range. More motor output tends to mean a battery that drains faster. That's why Jack's second point surprised him as much as the first. According to Jack, the Simple Glide can go up to 80 miles on a charge. His reaction was a quick, genuine "It's incredible," and he put the number in local terms: far enough to ride from the shop down the coast to Oceanside and back.

It's worth being clear about what any range figure means. Range on an electric trike depends heavily on how you ride. Low assist levels, steady speeds, moderate temperatures and flat ground stretch a battery a long way. Heavy throttle use, high assist levels, steep hills, strong headwinds and heavier loads shorten it. An 80-mile figure is best understood as what the trike can achieve under favorable conditions, not a promise for every ride.

Even so, a high ceiling matters. It means an ordinary day of riding, whether that's errands, a long loop through the park, or a ride to meet friends for lunch, uses only a fraction of the battery. You stop doing mental math about whether you'll make it home. You can take the long way. You can say yes when someone suggests one more stop.

For many riders, range anxiety is the thing that quietly limits how they use an e-trike. They stay close to home because they're not sure how far the battery will carry them. A trike with this kind of range removes that hesitation. If you want to keep a spare on hand for extra-long days, we carry batteries and chargers as well.

Jack chose a test that would expose any weakness quickly. He picked a hill he estimated at roughly an 11-degree grade. For context, that's a serious climb. It's the kind of hill that makes plenty of riders on conventional bikes stand up on the pedals or simply get off and walk. On a trike, which is wider and typically heavier than a two-wheeler, it's an honest challenge.

Just as important as the hill was the setting he chose. Jack started the climb on pedal assistance level two. Most electric trikes offer several assist levels, and level two sits near the bottom of the range. In other words, he deliberately handicapped the trike. Anyone can make a hill look easy by cranking the assist to maximum and leaning on the throttle. The more useful question is how a trike performs when it's given only modest help.

That choice tells you something about how most people actually ride. Many riders spend most of their time on lower assist levels because it saves battery, feels more natural, and still gives them a bit of exercise. A trike that only climbs well on its highest setting isn't much use to those riders. Jack wanted to see whether the Simple Glide could handle a steep grade without being pushed to its limits. His promise to viewers before the climb was simple: watch how quickly and smoothly it accelerates and how well it holds its speed. Then he started up the hill.

Climbing on Pedal Assist Level Two

The climb itself is the heart of the test, and the takeaway is easy to summarize. The trike went up the hill without drama. Jack didn't stall, didn't struggle, and didn't have to reach for higher settings to keep moving. The dual motors delivered steady pull from the bottom of the hill, and the speed stayed consistent as the grade continued.

That consistency is what separates a good climbing trike from a mediocre one. Plenty of e-trikes can get a running start and carry momentum part of the way up a hill. The real test is the middle and upper section, where momentum is gone and the motor has to do honest work. A trike that holds its pace through that stretch feels confident. One that slowly fades makes the rider tense and tired.

Later, reflecting on the ride, Jack made a point that's worth repeating: he wasn't even using all of his available power. He had headroom left. That matters for real-world riding, because your conditions won't always match a short test. You might be carrying groceries, riding into a breeze, or feeling worn out at the end of a long day. Knowing there's more assistance available if you need it is a big part of what makes a trike feel trustworthy.

If hills have kept you off a bike, this is the part of the story that should get your attention. A steep grade on a low setting, handled smoothly, with power to spare, is a strong sign that the trike will handle the hills in your own neighborhood.

Partway up the hill, Jack pointed out the throttle on the handlebar. Pedal assist and throttle are two different ways of getting help from the motors, and understanding the difference helps you get the most from any electric trike.

Pedal assist adds motor power while you pedal. The harder or faster you pedal, depending on the system, the more the trike works with you. It feels a lot like riding a regular bike with a permanent tailwind. Throttle, on the other hand, delivers power on demand without pedaling. Twist or press it, and the trike moves.

Both have their place. Pedal assist is great for longer rides, fitness and conserving battery. The throttle shines in specific moments: getting started from a full stop, especially on a hill; crossing an intersection quickly; giving tired legs a short break; or simply adding a burst of extra push on a steep section. Riders with knee or hip concerns often appreciate the throttle most of all, because it takes the hardest part of pedaling, the first few strokes from a standstill, out of the equation.

Having the throttle mounted right where your hand already rests means you don't have to look down or shift your grip to use it. On a climb like this, that kind of easy access is a genuine safety and comfort feature. If throttle control is high on your list, you can browse our full e-trikes with throttle control.

Gears That Let You Choose Your Workout

One of the more practical things Jack demonstrated was how the Simple Glide's variable gears work alongside the motors. Gears are sometimes overlooked on electric trikes, as if the motor makes them unnecessary. In practice, gears are what let you decide how much of the effort is yours.

As Jack put it, if he felt like getting a bit more exercise, he could dial the gears up and feel the burn. Shifting to a harder gear means each pedal stroke takes more effort and covers more ground. Combined with a low assist level, that turns the trike into a legitimate workout machine. You're still getting help, but your legs are doing meaningful work.

On the other hand, when he just wanted to cruise, he shifted to an easier gear. Lighter gears let you spin the pedals with very little resistance while the motors handle most of the load. That's the setup for a relaxed ride, a recovery day, or any time you just want to enjoy the scenery instead of thinking about effort.

This flexibility is a big deal for riders whose goals change from day to day. Some mornings you want exercise. Some afternoons you just want to get to the farmers market without arriving sweaty. A trike with both adjustable assist and real gearing lets you make that choice on every ride, and even mid-ride, without needing a different machine. It's one reason riders who start on an e-trike for convenience often end up riding more for fitness than they expected.

After showing off the gears, Jack bumped the power up a notch. The assist controls sit on the left side of the handlebar, with simple plus and minus buttons. Press plus for more help, minus for less.

It sounds like a small detail, but control placement shapes how you actually use a trike. When the buttons are easy to reach with your thumb, you adjust constantly and naturally: a little more on the hill, a little less on the flat, back up again for the headwind on the way home. When controls are awkward, riders tend to pick one setting and leave it there, which wastes battery on easy stretches and leaves them underpowered on hard ones.

Having assist on the left and throttle on the handle means each hand has a clear job. You can change power levels without taking your attention off the road, and you never have to guess which button does what. For newer riders in particular, that simplicity takes away a lot of the intimidation that comes with electric bikes.

Once Jack added that extra level of assist, the trike's character shifted noticeably. His reaction says it all. He laughed out loud, said he loved it, and kept going. Sometimes the most honest review of a bike is the sound the rider makes when it surprises them, and this was clearly a good surprise.

Turning Around for the Brake Test

A good climb is only half of a hill test. What goes up has to come back down, and on a steep grade the descent is where safety really comes into focus. Jack turned around on the same hill, the same roughly 11-degree slope, and this time said he would concentrate on his brakes.

Descending a steep hill on any bike or trike puts heavy demands on the braking system. The weight of the rider and the trike wants to accelerate, and the brakes have to control that energy for the entire length of the hill, not just for a quick stop. Weak brakes, or brakes that lose strength as they heat up, can turn a pleasant ride into a nervous one.

That's why Jack singled out the disc brakes. He described them as extremely powerful, with one important bonus: they don't fade as you ride. Brake fade happens when brakes get hot during long or repeated use and gradually lose stopping power. On a long descent, fade is exactly what you don't want. Disc brakes are generally better at managing that heat than many traditional rim-style setups, which helps them stay consistent from the top of the hill to the bottom.

His summary for riders was reassuring: you don't have to worry. Confidence on descents is something a lot of riders, especially those returning to cycling after many years, care about deeply. Knowing the brakes will be there every time makes it much easier to enjoy the ride rather than brace for it.

Jack added a practical tip that every new owner of a trike with strong disc brakes should hear: press lightly. These brakes really grab, he said, so there's no need to squeeze hard. Later in the ride he repeated the point, saying he could barely touch the brakes and they still did the job.

This is worth taking seriously, especially if you're coming from an older bike or a trike with weaker brakes. Riders who are used to clamping down on the levers can be surprised by how quickly powerful disc brakes respond. The right technique is gentle, progressive pressure. Start light, feel the brakes bite, and add more only if you need it.

Light braking also makes descents smoother. Instead of grabbing and releasing, which can feel jerky, you can feather the brakes and hold a steady, comfortable speed all the way down. Your hands stay relaxed, which matters on long descents, and the trike stays settled.

A good habit for any new rider is to spend a few minutes in a quiet parking lot or empty street testing the brakes at low speed before tackling hills. Get a feel for how much pressure brings you to a gentle stop and how much brings you to a firm one. That small investment of time pays off the first time you face a real descent. For more trikes with this kind of stopping power, see our collection of electric trikes with disc brakes.

Rock-Solid Stability on the Way Down

If there's one quality Jack kept returning to on the descent, it was stability. Heading down the steep grade at around 10 miles per hour, a pretty decent speed for a hill like that, he described the trike as having no wobble and no movement at all. He called it extremely safe and said it felt very comfortable as it picked up speed.

This is where three wheels really earn their keep. On a two-wheeled bike, balance is something the rider actively maintains. On a steep descent that can be stressful, especially at lower speeds or on uneven pavement. A trike's three contact points do the balancing for you. You aren't managing lean or worrying about a front wheel twitching sideways. You steer, you control your speed, and the trike stays planted.

Jack summed it up neatly: that's the beauty of a tricycle, complete stability. For many riders, especially seniors and anyone who has had a fall or worries about one, that sense of security is the entire reason to choose a trike. It's what makes hills, busy paths and slow-speed maneuvering feel manageable rather than risky.

Stability also pairs well with the strong brakes. A stable platform lets the brakes do their work without the trike squirming or shifting under you. The combination is what made the descent feel calm instead of tense. If stability is your top priority, our electric trikes for seniors collection and our most comfortable e-trikes are good places to start comparing options.

When the ride was over and Jack had a moment to collect his thoughts, his first impression came down to one phrase: he was impressed with the power-to-weight ratio. It's a term borrowed from cars and motorcycles, and it's a useful way to think about electric trikes.

Power-to-weight compares how much driving force a vehicle has against how much mass it has to move. Trikes carry more frame, an extra wheel, a battery and often baskets or cargo, so they're naturally heavier than a typical bicycle. A trike with weak motors relative to its weight feels sluggish, especially on hills. A trike with strong motors relative to its weight feels lively and capable.

The Simple Glide's dual motors are what tip that balance in its favor. Jack had plenty of power to get up the hill, and he wasn't even using all of it. That reserve is what a good power-to-weight ratio feels like from the saddle. The trike never felt like it was straining against its own weight.

For riders, this translates into everyday confidence. You can carry a full basket home from the store without worrying about the last hill. A heavier rider can expect the trike to perform rather than struggle. Two riders of very different sizes can share the trike and both get a good experience. If you plan to carry cargo or need extra capacity, take a look at our high weight capacity e-trikes and e-trikes with large baskets.

Who This Trike Makes the Most Sense For

Based on this ride, the Simple Glide's strengths line up clearly with a few kinds of riders. The first is anyone who lives somewhere hilly. If your neighborhood, your route to the store or your favorite park includes grades that wear you out, the combination of dual motors, throttle and strong brakes directly addresses that problem.

The second group is riders who want to go far. An 80-mile ceiling on range opens up long coastal rides, all-day outings and multi-stop errand runs without worrying about the battery. If you've been limiting your rides to stay within a comfortable distance of home, this kind of range changes the math.

The third group is riders who value stability and safety above all else. That includes seniors, riders returning to cycling after a long break, people with balance concerns, and anyone who simply prefers not to think about tipping over. The three-wheel platform, combined with powerful brakes that respond to a light touch, makes the trike feel secure on descents and at speed.

Finally, there are riders who want flexibility in how hard they work. With adjustable assist, a handlebar throttle and real gears, the Simple Glide can be a gentle cruiser one day and a fitness tool the next. That makes it a good fit for couples or households where riders have different goals, and for anyone whose energy level varies from day to day.

If you're still deciding between styles, our buyer's guide breaks down the differences between trike types, and our easy-to-mount e-trikes are worth a look if getting on and off comfortably is a priority.

Jack's test is a good excuse to share a few habits that make hill riding easier on any e-trike, including this one. First, shift before the hill, not halfway up. Moving to an easier gear while you still have momentum keeps the drivetrain happy and stops you from grinding to a crawl.

Second, raise your assist level early. It's much easier to add power at the bottom of a climb than to try to recover speed in the middle. You can always drop back down once the road flattens out. With plus and minus controls right at your thumb, this becomes second nature after a few rides.

Third, use the throttle strategically. If you have to stop partway up a hill, at a light or for traffic, a little throttle helps you get rolling again without a hard push on the pedals. That's one of the most useful jobs a throttle can do.

Fourth, on the way down, brake early and gently. As Jack showed, strong disc brakes don't need a hard squeeze. Light, steady pressure keeps your speed comfortable and the ride smooth. Look ahead, and slow down before curves rather than in the middle of them.

Finally, treat your first few hills as practice. Pick a quiet street, ride it a couple of times, and get comfortable with how the trike responds to assist changes, throttle input and braking. Within a ride or two, hills stop being something to dread and start being part of the fun. And of course, wear a helmet every time. If you need one, we carry sixthreezero helmets.

Making Sure It Fits You

A trike that performs beautifully for one rider might not be the right match for another. Height, inseam, mobility, the way you like to sit and the kind of riding you do all affect which model will feel best. That's why we put so much emphasis on fit before you buy.

Our fitting process is designed to match you with a trike based on your body and riding style. You'll get real advice from a real person rather than a generic recommendation. It's a good step to take if you're weighing the Simple Glide against other models or trying to figure out whether a dual-motor trike is the right call for your needs.

We also know that the best way to judge a trike is to ride it where you actually live. Our 30-day test ride gives you time to take it up your own hills, down your own streets and on your own errands. If it isn't right, we'll cover return shipping. If you're nearby and prefer to try before it ships, you can also visit our store for a test ride.

When your trike arrives, it comes mostly assembled, and our assembly instructions walk you through the rest. Our free shipping and warranty pages cover the details, and if spreading out the cost helps, we offer financing options as well.

By the end of the ride, Jack's verdict was easy to read. He was impressed with the power going up, impressed with the stability coming down, and impressed with how little effort the brakes needed to do their job. All in all, he called it a great trike, and more than once he simply called it fun.

That last word deserves attention. Specs and features matter, but what keeps people riding is enjoyment. A trike that climbs without strain, holds a steady speed, stops confidently and feels completely stable on a steep descent is a trike that makes you want to go out again tomorrow. The Simple Glide's dual motors provide the muscle, the long range removes the worry, and the three-wheel platform with strong disc brakes provides the peace of mind.

If hills, distance or balance have been holding you back from riding as much as you'd like, this is a trike worth putting on your short list. Start by exploring our full lineup of electric tricycles, get fitted to find your best match, and take advantage of the test ride period to see how it handles your own routes. For more rides, reviews and honest first impressions like this one, keep an eye on our Bike Advice blog and the product reviews section. We'll keep testing new trikes on real hills and telling you exactly how they feel.