Addmotor SOLETRI Two-Seater E-Trike can Haul Cargo and Passenger for up to 85 miles (Review)

One of Addmotor’s hidden gems, the SOLETRI M-366X passenger electric trike is definitely worth considering.

23:00 29 August 2024

One of Addmotor’s hidden gems, the SOLETRI M-366X passenger electric trike is definitely worth considering. It’s reasonably priced and comes with two of the best features hard to find in most other eTrikes: passenger seating and full suspension. 

Whether that’s a trip to the grocery store or a picnic with your family, the SOLETRI can facilitate. It’s got the right mix of power, safety, and comfort to support two adults, and anywhere they want to go. 

So let’s check out the best features and flaws of the SOLETRI M-366X two-seater electric trike. This review will help you figure out if you should buy or pass it up. 

Practical Use Cases for the SOLETRI E-Trike

This two-seater electric trike is just as versatile as the GRANDTAN or CITYTRI. However, the slight modifications might make it slightly different from other general-purpose and entry-level trikes out there. 

So before talking about the specs, it might be worth taking a little detour and discussing the practicalities of using the SOLETRI. 

Everyday Use Situations

The SOLETRI is chock-full of features that make it more than ready to take on everyday tasks. It’s built for anything from urban cruising to outdoor trails. 

Some of the more day-to-day situations that the SOLETRI can help you with are:

• Shopping for Groceries: The SOLETRI comes with a rear cargo basket and a waterproof bag. So right out of the box, you can start carrying groceries and other supplies. You don’t have to purchase or set up extra carrying racks or pannier bags. 

• Shopping for Fresh Produce: You can even carry fragile cargo (like eggs) and fresh produce easily with the SOLETRI. The full suspension setup absorbs the brunt of the impacts and vibrations that might damage the goods inside the rear rack. 

• Transporting Small Pets: The rear rack can also accommodate your furry friends with you on your travels. The SOLETRI can easily accommodate pet carriers. This means you can easily transport small dogs like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and even smaller pets. 

• Family Picnics: The extra passenger seat can let you enjoy the ride with another loved one. Besides, you can also ride comfortably with another person for 85+ miles on a single charge.

Professional and Occupational Uses

• Delivering and Transporting Food, Important Documents and Packages: The waterproof bag and full suspension guarantee this. You can easily transport sensitive cargo without the weather or road conditions affecting it. 

• Commuting to Work: The SOLETRI can be a great alternative to ditching your car when it comes to your daily commute. You can beat the traffic thanks to its smaller size. On top of that, you can carry everything you need like your work bag, laptop, gym bag, etc..

• Running Errands: Make your rides to the DMV, doctor’s appointments and dry cleaning pickups more fun. The SOLETRI can help you enjoy the outdoors while running errands.

• Carrying Tools and Equipment: The rear rack is perfect for carrying heavy-duty tools anywhere you want to go. You can easily take out the waterproof bag and carry rugged equipment like chainsaws, cordless drills and similar equipment. 

Cargo and Passenger Capabilities of the Addmotor SOLETRI Trike

One of the stellar features of the SOLETRI M-366X adult electric trike is the extended banana saddle. Unlike other Addmotor eTrikes, the SOLETRI doesn’t have a traditional bicycle saddle with a backrest. 

The banana seat might seem like a step back but it’s there for a good reason. The banana seat is long enough and provides seating capacity for an extra adult passenger. This means you can carry another adult with you just like a regular motorcycle. 

For context, the banana seat is about 23.5” long and 8.5”. This is roughly equal to the length of a standard motorcycle seat; so you have enough space for two people to sit on.

Payload Capacity and Storage

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The SOLETRI also boasts an impressive payload capacity of 450 lbs. That’s 350 lbs maximum for the rider and passenger at the front. The next 100 lbs is for any cargo you load in the rear rack.

Speaking of the rear rack, the SOLETRI two-seater electric trike has a spacious rear rack for carrying anything you want. 

The rack is about 20.5” long, 16” wide and 9.5” tall. Almosts the size of an average cooler. 

Besides that, you also get a free waterproof bag where you can safely store anything from groceries to camping gear. 

Also, the waterproof bag clamps into the rack via velcro straps. This means, you can easily remove the bag whenever you need and even put an actual 20-25 quart cooler in its place if you need to. 

Accessibility and Ease of Riding

The SOLETRI is a fully step-through electric trike. Which means, it’s easier for anybody to mount and dismount. This adult electric trike doesn’t have a crossbar so riders don’t have to lift one foot too high off the ground to get in. 

The step-through frame is a handy accessibility feature. It ensures seniors and anybody with limited mobility can ride the SOLETRI easily. Besides, riders wearing skirts and dresses can also ride. 

In terms of actual dimensions, the standover height is about 17” off the ground. Also, the seat height is about 32.5”. These measurements mean the SOLETRI can easily support riders within a height range of 5’2” - 6’4”. 

Also, the eTrike has a wooden footrest. The footrest is almost a crucial component since it allows you to keep your foot off the pedals. You can coast along on full throttle and even rest up on the trike easily thanks to this wooden footrest. 

Comfort and Ergonomics

The SOLETRI has compromised on the backrest in favor of passenger seating. That said, it has improved comfort and ergonomics on several other fronts; the full suspension setup is a great example. 

What’s great about the full suspension setup is that the SOLETRI has more than just a front fork. This 3-wheel electric bike also has shock absorbers on the rear wheels. 

This dual-rear shock absorber setup does wonders to improve comfort and stability. They cushion the rider, passenger and cargo from any vibrations and keep things smooth everytime. 

Preventing Wheel Lift and Tipping Over

On top of that, the dual-rear shock absorbers compress and retract independently. This means they prevent wheel lifting and keep the trike fully stable. 

You can feel this difference when riding through rocky and uneven terrain. The two rear wheels, even when they’re at different elevations, make sure to keep the trike from flipping over. 

Addmotor SOLETRI: Things to Know Before Purchasing

All good things aside though, the SOLETRI does have a few things you should know about. They’re not complete deal-breakers, just a few optional features you’ll want to bear in mind before committing to the SOLETRI. 

Don’t worry though, for most of the things missing in the SOLETRI, you can definitely find a viable alternative with Addmotor electric trikes.

So some of the things to look out for are:

 

• Lack of a Backrest: If you are used to the GRANDTAN Trike or any other eTrike with a backrest, you’ll need some time adjusting to the SOLETRI. Because of the passenger-capable banana seat, the SOLETRI doesn’t have a backrest. 

• Doesn’t Have a Dedicated Passenger Seat: Unlike the GREATTAN L, the SOLETRI doesn’t come with a dedicated seat for a passenger. With the SOLETRI, you’ll have to share the banana seat, which can be uncomfortable for adults during long periods of riding. Also, the banana seat won’t work for children and passengers with mobility issues. 

• Non-Foldable: Although much more capable than the CITYTRI, the frame on the SOLETRI is not as compact and foldable. You’ll have issues finding parking for the eTrike, especially in busy urban areas. Also, the SOLETRI isn’t as easy to store and transport. 

• No Trailer Tube Support: The 450 lbs payload capacity is nice and all but sadly the SOLETRI can’t pull a cargo trailer. So if you’re looking to carry more cargo, or drag a kid’s trailer, the GRANDTAN or GREATTAN would be of help. 

• Doesn’t Support Dual-Battery Setup: Unlike the GREATTAN L, the SOLETRI doesn’t have space for you to slot in an extra battery. So essentially, you're stuck with the 85+ mile range unless you carry an extra battery with you and swap the batteries while on the road. 

Wrapping Up

The Addmotor SOLETRI is one of the more overlooked Addmotor electric trikes. This is because other options like the GRANDTANs and GREATTANs have stolen the spotlight. 

In any case, the SOLETRI can be a more cost-efficient yet powerful eTrike. Its full suspension setup and two-person banana seat more than makes up for its shortcomings.

So all in all, the SOLETRI is great for everyday riding and transporting an extra family member. Just note that you won’t have the same back support as the GRANDTAN or other Addmotor electric trikes.