Simple Glide Low to the Ground: Full Specs, Dimensions and Fit Guide

A Longer, Lower Take on the Simple Glide

The Simple Glide series has always been about one thing: putting a rider in a seat that feels more like a lounge chair than a bike saddle, then letting the motor and three wheels do the hard work. The Low to the Ground model keeps that idea and stretches it out. It is the newest member of the family, and on paper the change looks small. The seat sits roughly an inch and a half lower than on the other Simple Glide models. That is not a dramatic drop, and if you only looked at seat height you might wonder why it needed its own model at all.

The real story is the frame. It is noticeably longer, which pushes the pedals farther out in front of your body. That changes the whole riding position. Instead of sitting fairly upright with your knees coming up toward your chest, you lean back more and your legs reach forward toward the cranks. It is closer to a true recumbent posture, and for the right rider it is one of the most relaxed positions you can get on three wheels.

Dustin, our head fit specialist, has spent about 20 years in the bike and ebike business, and he walked through every measurement of this trike with a tape measure in hand. This article collects all of those numbers in one place and explains what each one means for you, whether you are trying to figure out if your legs will reach the pedals, whether it will fit through your side gate, or whether it will slide into the back of your SUV.

If you are still getting to know the category, our full lineup of recumbent electric trikes is a good place to compare this model against its siblings. But if you already know you want a laid-back ride and you are tall, keep reading, because this one was built with you in mind.

Let's get the most important point out of the way first, because it will save some people a lot of time. This trike is designed for taller riders. As a general rule, it works best for people who are 5 feet 11 inches and up.

Dustin is 5 feet 9 and three-quarter inches, and he demonstrated what that looks like. With the seat pulled all the way forward, he could reach the pedals, but it was a real stretch, and getting full extension at the farthest point of the pedal stroke was difficult. The position itself felt comfortable, he said, because you are reclined more than on the other versions. The issue is purely reach. If you are under about 5 feet 10, the pedals are probably going to feel too far away.

On the other end of the scale, this frame shines. Riders at 6 feet 1, 6 feet 2, 6 feet 3, 6 feet 4 and even 6 feet 5 or 6 feet 6 will find room to stretch out that they rarely get on a trike. Many three-wheelers are built around an average-height rider, which leaves tall people with their knees bunched up and their hips working at an awkward angle. Here, a long-legged rider can get proper extension with each pedal stroke, which is easier on the knees and makes pedaling feel efficient rather than cramped.

Height is only part of the picture, though. Inseam matters just as much. Someone who is 5 feet 11 or 6 feet even with unusually long legs may fit this trike better than a 6 foot 1 rider with a shorter inseam. We will get into the exact pedal-reach numbers further down so you can compare them against your own measurements.

There is also one exception worth mentioning for shorter riders. If you do not plan to pedal at all and simply want maximum comfort while riding on the throttle, pedal reach stops being a concern. In that case the deeply reclined seat and the adjustable handlebars can make this a very comfortable option regardless of your height. If you are not sure where you fall, our fitting quiz is a quick way to narrow things down.

Weight: A Solid 120 Pounds

Before getting into the tape measure numbers, it is worth knowing what you are dealing with in terms of heft. The Simple Glide Low to the Ground weighs 120 pounds. The battery is removable, and taking it off brings the weight down by about 8 pounds.

That is a heavy ebike by any standard, but it is right in line with what most electric trikes weigh. Three wheels, a long frame, a full recumbent seat, a motor and a battery all add up. The extra length of this model in particular means more frame material than you would find on a more compact trike.

In practice, the weight is not something you notice much while riding. A low, long trike with its mass close to the ground feels planted and stable, and the motor handles the job of getting it moving. Where the weight matters is storage and transport. If you plan to roll it into a garage, it is no problem. If you plan to lift it into a vehicle, you will want a second person, a ramp, or a hitch-mounted carrier rated for the load, and you will want to pull the battery off first to make the job a little lighter.

It is also a good idea to think about where the trike will live. A 120-pound machine that is more than seven feet long is not something you will carry up a flight of stairs every evening. Ground-level storage, like a garage, carport, or covered patio, is the realistic setup for most owners. If you want to keep the battery fresh and charged indoors, removing it is quick, and spare batteries and chargers are available if you want a backup for longer days.

Here is where the "longer frame" description turns into real numbers. Measured from the front of the front tire to the back of the rear tire, the Simple Glide Low to the Ground is 84 inches long. That is seven feet even.

There is one more piece to account for. At the back of the trike there is a mount that sticks out past the rear tire. That is the hitch point where you can connect a trailer if you want to haul more than the baskets can hold. Measured from the front of the front tire to the end of that hitch piece, the overall length comes to 89 inches, or just under seven and a half feet.

Which number should you use? It depends on what you are measuring for. If you are checking whether the trike will fit in a garage bay alongside a car, or along a wall in a storage room, use the 89-inch figure, since that hitch mount is a rigid part of the frame and will not fold away. If you are figuring out how much space you need on a bike path or how the trike will feel turning around, the 84-inch tire-to-tire figure gives a better sense of the riding footprint.

Either way, this is a long machine. Dustin did not mince words about it: it is quite long. That length is the whole point of the design, since it is what lets the pedals sit far enough forward for tall riders. But it does mean you should measure your storage space before ordering rather than after. A tape measure and five minutes in your garage can save you a headache later.

Length With the Front Wheel Turned

A common trick for fitting a long bike or trike into a tight spot is to turn the front wheel sideways. That shortens the overall footprint a little, since the tire is no longer pointing straight ahead. Dustin tried it on the Low to the Ground to see how much space it saves.

The answer is: not much. With the front wheel turned, the length from the front tire to the back of the rear tire drops to about 83 inches, down one inch from 84. Measured to the back of the tow hitch area, it comes in at around 87 inches, which saves you about two inches compared with the straight-ahead measurement of 89.

So if you are trying to squeeze the trike into a space that is just a hair too short, turning the wheel might buy you the inch or two you need. But it is not going to transform where the trike can go. If your space is a foot short, turning the wheel will not solve it.

This is worth keeping in mind for transport, too. Some riders hope that by turning the wheel they can fit a trike into a cargo van, a utility trailer, or the bed of a short pickup. Plan around roughly 87 to 89 inches of length as a realistic minimum, and you will avoid surprises. If you need something more compact for transport or storage, a folding trike may be a better match, and we will mention a couple of alternatives near the end of this article.

The wheelbase is the distance from the front axle to the rear axle. On the Simple Glide Low to the Ground, it measures 66 and a half inches.

That is a long wheelbase, and it has a big effect on how the trike rides. A longer wheelbase generally makes a vehicle feel calmer and more stable at speed. Bumps and small changes in the road get spread out over a longer frame, so the ride feels smoother, and the trike is less twitchy when you make small steering inputs. For a relaxed cruising machine, that is exactly the kind of character you want.

The tradeoff is turning radius. A long wheelbase needs more room to make a tight U-turn than a short one. On a wide bike path, a quiet street, or a parking lot, this is rarely a problem. On a narrow sidewalk or a crowded driveway, you may need to do a three-point turn now and then, or hop off and roll it around by hand. It is a small adjustment, and most riders get used to planning their turns a little wider within the first few rides.

The wheelbase also helps explain why the trike is comfortable for tall riders specifically. All that length between the axles is what gives the designers room to put the seat low and the pedals far forward without the rider's weight ending up in an awkward spot. The result is a balanced, grounded feel, even with a big rider stretched out on board.

Width and Getting Through Doorways

Width is one of the most overlooked measurements when people shop for trikes, and it is often the one that causes the most trouble. A trike that is perfect on the road is no fun if it will not fit through the side gate, the garage door next to your car, or the doorway into your storage room.

The Simple Glide Low to the Ground measures 33 inches wide. If you measure to the outside edges of the tires, it is closer to 32 inches, but the axle nuts stick out a bit past the tires and add width. Dustin made a point of flagging this, because it is exactly the kind of detail that gets missed. When you are checking whether the trike will roll through a doorway, use 33 inches, not 32.

For context, many standard interior doors in homes are between 30 and 36 inches wide, and the actual clear opening is often an inch or two less than the door itself once you account for the frame and the door hanging in the way. That means some interior doorways will be too narrow. Exterior doors and garage entries tend to be wider, but it is worth getting the tape measure out and checking the narrowest point the trike will have to pass through before you commit.

On the road, 33 inches is a comfortable, stable width. It gives the trike a planted feel in corners and helps resist tipping. It also fits easily on most bike lanes and multi-use paths. If you need a model that is easier to get on and off, or one that might suit a smaller rider better, take a look at our easy-to-mount eTrikes for comparison.

This is the measurement most riders care about, because it decides whether your legs will actually reach the pedals comfortably. Dustin measured from the farthest pedal position, meaning the pedal at its most forward point in the stroke, to the front edge of the seat.

With the seat slid all the way forward, that distance is 32 inches. With the seat moved all the way back, it grows to 37 inches. That gives you five inches of fore-and-aft adjustment, which is a generous range and a big part of why this trike can cover such a wide spread of tall riders.

Dustin's reaction when he slid the seat back was telling: at 37 inches, he said, it gets even crazier. With the seat in its rearmost position, this trike is built for very tall riders. Someone in the 6 foot 4 to 6 foot 6 range with a long inseam is going to appreciate that room, while most riders under six feet will want the seat at or near its most forward setting.

It is worth noting how comfortable the posture is once you are set up properly. Because the frame is long and the seat is reclined further than on the other Simple Glide models, you sit back with your weight spread across the seat and backrest instead of perched on top of a saddle. Your legs extend forward rather than pushing down. For riders with sore backs, tired wrists, or hips that do not love an upright bike position, that layout can make a real difference over a longer ride.

Seat adjustment fore and aft is straightforward, so you can experiment. Start with the seat forward, take a short ride, and slide it back in small steps until you find the spot where your leg is nearly straight at the far point of the pedal stroke, with just a slight bend in the knee.

How to Compare the Numbers to Your Inseam

Measurements are only useful if you can relate them to your own body, so here is a simple way to think about the pedal-reach numbers.

The 32-inch measurement with the seat all the way forward roughly corresponds to an inseam of about 31 to 32 inches. Why not exactly 32? Because the measurement is taken to the pedal, and your inseam does not include your foot or your shoe. Your foot and shoe add some reach once you are actually sitting on the trike, which is why a rider with an inseam a bit under 32 inches can still make the forward seat position work.

If you do not know your inseam, it is easy to measure at home. Stand barefoot with your back against a wall, place a hardcover book between your legs with the spine pressed up snugly as if it were a saddle, and have someone measure from the top of the book's spine straight down to the floor. That number is your inseam. Do it twice to make sure you get a consistent reading.

Once you have it, compare it to the range on this trike. If your inseam is around 31 to 32 inches, you will probably want the seat all the way forward. If it is in the mid 30s, you will land somewhere in the middle of the seat track. If it is 36 inches or more, you will likely slide the seat well back, and you may also want to raise the seat, which we will cover next.

If your inseam comes in under about 30 inches, this is probably not the right model for you unless you plan to ride on the throttle without pedaling. A shorter frame will give you a better pedaling position, and there is no shame in choosing the trike that actually fits your body. A good fit is the single biggest factor in how much you will enjoy riding.

There is one more adjustment on this model that Dustin almost forgot to mention, and it is a big one for very tall riders: the seat height adjusts up and down, not just forward and back.

In its standard position, the top of the seat sits 29 inches off the ground. To raise it, you loosen a bolt with an Allen key, lift the seat to the height you want, and tighten everything back down. At its highest setting, the seat sits at 34 and a half inches. That is more than five inches of vertical adjustment.

Raising the seat does more than make it taller. Because of the geometry, a higher seat also increases the distance to the pedals, giving long-legged riders even more room to extend. With the seat raised to its highest point and slid all the way back, Dustin measured 39 and a half inches from the seat to the farthest pedal position. As he put it, that is a long way from the pedals, and you would need a very long inseam to make use of it. But the option is there.

With all of that adjustment combined, Dustin's estimate is that this trike could accommodate riders up to about 6 feet 8 inches tall. That is rare territory for a three-wheeler, and it makes the Low to the Ground one of the more accommodating options out there for genuinely tall people.

Shorter riders within the recommended range will probably leave the seat in its lowest position. A lower seat keeps the pedals closer and keeps your center of gravity down, which adds to that stable, planted feel. To lower it again after raising it, just loosen the same bolts fully, let the seat drop back down, and retighten. Make sure the bolts are completely loose before you try to move it, and snug them firmly once you are done.

Handlebar Adjustment and Cockpit Measurements

One of the nicest features of this trike is how much you can tune the handlebars. That flexibility matters for every rider, but it is especially helpful for anyone who wants a deeply comfortable position for throttle riding.

There are several adjustment points. Near the base of the steering column there is a lever you can flip up to change the tilt of the stem and find the angle that suits you. On the handlebars themselves, there is a second release you can flip up, which lets you move the bars down or reposition them. There is also a hinge point that can tilt the bars further, though that one requires loosening a bolt first. Between these, you can bring the handlebars very close to your body for a relaxed, elbows-down position, or push them out for more room.

For shorter riders who are not planning to pedal, this is what makes the trike workable. You can pull the bars in close so you are not reaching at all, and simply sit back and steer.

Here are the cockpit measurements Dustin took. From the handlebar stem to the front of the seat is 19 and a half inches. He also measured from the stem to the front of the seat with the seat all the way forward and got 28 inches. Those two numbers reflect different measuring points along the steering assembly, so treat them as a general guide to how much room you have between your body and the controls rather than a single fixed figure. The top of the headset sits 30 inches off the ground.

The handlebars are 24 inches wide. That is a comfortable, moderate width that gives you good steering control without feeling like you are holding a beach umbrella. It also matters for storage. Since the bars are narrower than the 33-inch frame, they will not be the limiting factor when you roll the trike through a doorway.

If you hope to transport this trike in the back of a vehicle, the number to know is overall height. Measured from the ground to the top of the seat back, the Simple Glide Low to the Ground stands 52 inches tall with the standard seat.

That means your SUV, van, or truck cap would need at least 52 inches of vertical clearance in the cargo opening and inside, plus enough length for the trike itself. That is a lot to ask of most vehicles. Many midsize SUVs fall well short of that height at the rear hatch, and the 84- to 89-inch length rules out most of them anyway unless the seats are folded flat and there is a long cargo floor.

There is an upgrade that helps. You can swap the standard seat for our captain's chair, which folds completely flat. With the captain's chair folded down, the overall height drops to around 34 to 35 inches. That is a big reduction, cutting roughly 17 or 18 inches off the top of the trike, and it can make the difference between a trike that only fits on a trailer and one that fits in the back of a larger vehicle.

If transport is part of your plan, it is worth looking at the captain's chair and other options in our seat collection before you order. Pair the folded seat with a removed battery, and you have a lower, slightly lighter package that is much more manageable to load. You will still want help lifting a trike this size, but it gets a lot more realistic.

Tires, Step-Over Height and Frame Opening

The Low to the Ground rolls on fat tires of two different sizes. The front tire is 16 inches by 4 inches, and the rear tire is 20 inches by 4 inches. Four-inch-wide tires give you a big, cushioned contact patch, which smooths out cracks in the pavement and adds grip on loose surfaces like hard-packed dirt or gravel. They also run at lower pressures than skinny road tires, which adds another layer of comfort to an already relaxed ride. If you ever need replacements, you can find tires and tubes in our parts section.

Getting on and off is another area where this design does well. The step-over height, meaning how high you need to lift your leg to clear the frame as you get on, is 16 and a half inches. That is low enough that most riders can step over without much effort. The overall opening from one side of the frame to the other where you step through is 34 inches, so there is plenty of room to get your feet and legs into position before you sit down.

That said, a recumbent seat sits lower than a traditional trike saddle, so you are lowering yourself into a reclined seat rather than stepping up onto one. Many riders find this easier on the knees, since there is no climbing involved. Others, particularly those with limited hip or knee flexion, may find getting up from a lower seat takes a little more effort. If mounting and dismounting are a concern, it is worth trying a recumbent in person or talking through your situation with our team before deciding.

For riders who want to see how this compares with more upright options, our electric trikes for seniors and most comfortable electric trikes collections include models with different seating styles and frame designs.

A question we hear constantly about low recumbent trikes is clearance. If the seat is close to the ground and the frame is long, will it scrape on curbs, speed bumps, and trail obstacles?

Dustin measured three key points. The frame itself sits 12 inches off the ground, which is a healthy amount of clearance for a trike in this class. The lowest point of the pedal, at the bottom of its stroke, sits 6 and a half inches off the ground. The rear chain derailleur sits about 6 inches off the ground.

Those lower numbers, the pedal and the derailleur, are the ones to keep in mind. They are not unusual for a bike or trike, since every pedal has to come fairly close to the ground at the bottom of its rotation, and derailleurs always hang near the rear axle. But they are the parts most likely to touch something if you roll over a big rock, a tall curb, or a deep rut.

In real-world riding, Dustin has taken this trike on hard-packed trails, and clearance has never been an issue. Graded dirt paths, park trails, gravel shoulders, and the usual mix of driveway lips and bike path transitions are all well within what it can handle. Where you would want to slow down and pick your line is on rough, rocky trails or when crossing anything taller than a standard curb. Approach those at an angle and at a walking pace, or simply go around.

The fat tires help a lot here. Four inches of rubber at lower pressure soaks up small bumps and keeps the trike rolling smoothly over terrain that would rattle a narrow-tired bike. Between the long wheelbase, the wide stance and the big tires, the trike feels composed on the kinds of mixed surfaces most riders encounter on a typical weekend outing.

Cargo Space: Front and Rear Baskets

The Simple Glide Low to the Ground comes with two baskets, one up front and one in back, so you have room for groceries, a picnic, a jacket, or whatever else you need to bring along.

The front basket mounts near the front of the trike and is the smaller of the two. It measures 11 inches from front to back, 13 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. That is a good size for things you want to keep within easy view: a water bottle, a phone, a small bag, sunglasses, or a light layer for when the evening cools off.

The rear basket mounts behind the seat and offers noticeably more room. It measures 15 inches from front to back, 17 and a half inches wide, and 10 inches deep. That is enough for a couple of grocery bags, a small cooler, or a backpack. Since it sits low and behind you, heavier items ride well there without affecting the steering.

Between the two, you get a useful amount of cargo capacity without adding any extra equipment. For a lot of riders, that is enough to turn the trike into a real errand vehicle rather than just a weekend toy. Quick trips to the market, the post office, or a friend's house become something you can do on three wheels instead of in the car.

If you need more room or a different layout, we offer a range of baskets and bags and panniers. And if hauling is one of your top priorities, our electric trikes with a large basket and cargo eTrikes are worth a look as well.

Beyond the baskets, the Low to the Ground comes ready for a few practical extras.

First, the frame is preset to accept a canopy. If you ride in strong sun, a canopy makes a huge difference in comfort. In a reclined position, your face and upper body are angled toward the sky, so midday sun can be more intense than on an upright bike. A canopy adds shade over the seat area and can extend your riding season in hot climates. You can find compatible options in our canopy collection.

Second, the rear of the frame has a hitch attachment for a trailer. This is the piece that adds those extra five inches to the overall length. If the baskets are not enough, a trailer opens up a lot more hauling capacity, whether that means bigger grocery runs, camping gear, or even taking a pet along for the ride. Keep in mind that adding a trailer makes the whole setup much longer, so plan your turns and parking accordingly.

Third, there are wheelie bars at the back. On a recumbent with the rider's weight positioned low and toward the rear, there is a small chance under hard acceleration or on a steep climb that the front end could lift. The wheelie bars are there to prevent that, acting as a backstop that keeps the trike from tipping backward. It is a simple safety feature, but it adds a lot of peace of mind, especially for new riders getting used to the motor's power.

Together, these details show how the trike is intended to be used. It is not just a leisure machine for short loops around the block. It is set up to be a comfortable, practical way to get around, carry what you need, and stay protected from the elements.

Quick-Reference Spec Sheet

Here is every measurement from Dustin's walkthrough in one place, so you can check them against your space and your body without scrolling back through the article.

• Weight: 120 pounds (about 8 pounds lighter with the battery removed)
• Recommended rider height: roughly 5 feet 11 inches and up; may fit riders up to about 6 feet 8 inches
• Length, front tire to rear tire: 84 inches (about 83 inches with the front wheel turned)
• Length, front tire to tow hitch: 89 inches (about 87 inches with the front wheel turned)
• Wheelbase, axle to axle: 66.5 inches
• Width: 33 inches including axle nuts (about 32 inches at the tires)
• Seat height: 29 inches standard, up to 34.5 inches at the highest setting
• Seat front to farthest pedal: 32 inches with the seat forward, 37 inches with the seat back, 39.5 inches with the seat raised and all the way back
• Overall height to top of seat back: 52 inches
• Height with folding captain's chair upgrade: about 34 to 35 inches with the seat folded
• Handlebar stem to front of seat: 19.5 inches; stem to front of seat with seat fully forward measured at 28 inches
• Top of headset: 30 inches
• Handlebar width: 24 inches
• Tires: 16 x 4 inches front, 20 x 4 inches rear
• Step-over height: 16.5 inches
• Frame opening: 34 inches
• Frame ground clearance: 12 inches
• Lowest pedal clearance: 6.5 inches
• Rear derailleur clearance: about 6 inches
• Front basket: 11 inches front to back, 13 inches wide, 10 inches deep
• Rear basket: 15 inches front to back, 17.5 inches wide, 10 inches deep
• Extras: canopy-ready frame, rear trailer hitch, wheelie bars

A practical tip: print this list or save it on your phone, then walk through your garage, gate, and vehicle with a tape measure. Checking width at doorways, length in your storage spot, and height in your vehicle takes only a few minutes and will tell you right away whether this trike fits your life as well as it fits your body.

If you have looked at the other Simple Glide models, the differences on the Low to the Ground are easy to summarize. The seat is about an inch and a half lower, the frame is quite a bit longer, and the seating position is more reclined. Everything else about the experience, from the motor-assisted cruising to the comfortable seat, carries over.

The question is which tradeoffs fit you. The standard models have a more compact footprint and a slightly more upright position, which makes them a better match for riders of average height and for people who want something a bit easier to store and maneuver. The Low to the Ground trades some of that compactness for leg room and a more laid-back posture. For a rider who is 6 feet 2 and has always felt folded up on three-wheelers, that trade is well worth it. For a rider who is 5 feet 7, it is not, unless they plan to ride on throttle alone.

A helpful way to decide is to think about your most common ride. If it is a relaxed cruise along a bike path or a long, easy ride where you want to stretch out and pedal comfortably, the extra length is a benefit you will feel every time. If your rides involve a lot of tight turns, narrow sidewalks, or frequent loading into a vehicle, a more compact model or one from our folding eTrikes lineup may serve you better.

It is also worth browsing our full electric tricycle collection if you are still early in the process. Seeing the range of styles, from upright step-through trikes to recumbents and cargo models, makes it easier to recognize exactly what you want in a three-wheeler.

Is the Simple Glide Low to the Ground Right for You?

After going through every measurement, the picture is clear. The Simple Glide Low to the Ground is a long, stable, deeply comfortable recumbent eTrike built first and foremost for tall riders. If you are 5 feet 11 or taller, or if you have a long inseam, it gives you the kind of leg room and pedaling extension that is hard to find on three wheels. The adjustable seat, both fore and aft and up and down, stretches that fit all the way up toward 6 feet 8.

It is also a practical machine. Two baskets come standard, the frame is ready for a canopy, a trailer hitch adds hauling capacity, and the wheelie bars and fat tires add stability and confidence. Clearance is good enough for hard-packed trails, and the long wheelbase delivers a calm, smooth ride.

The tradeoffs are size and weight. At 120 pounds, 33 inches wide and up to 89 inches long, it needs ground-level storage and some planning for transport. The folding captain's chair upgrade helps a lot if you need to fit it into a vehicle, bringing the height down to around 34 or 35 inches.

If you are on the fence about fit, the best step is to try it. Our 30-day test ride lets you ride the trike at home on your own routes, and if it is not right, you can send it back. Every model is also covered by our warranty, and we offer free shipping nationwide. If you are near Southern California, you can also visit our store and try it in person before buying.

Still have a question about a specific measurement? Reach out through our contact page, or take our fitting quiz for a personal recommendation. And for more guides like this one, browse the Bike Advice blog. Getting the right fit is what turns a good trike into one you will want to ride every day.