my Hase Kettwiesel Tour Recumbent Trike

Hase Kettwiesel log 2 (new trike)

Summary

This page is about my Hase Kettwiesel Tour recumbent trike and what modifications etc. I have made to it.

(See Hase Kettwiesel for an introduction to the trike, along with pros/cons and further links.)


May 2008: Buying it

Still riding the old Kett every day to work since March 2003, but now I fancy a new one (disc brakes would be a big plus: the hacked V-brakes on the old one are OK but...).

Spot an ex-test trike discounted and available 'locally' at Die Radgeber in Mainz: disc brakes, 21 speed, sober grey.

The old one will be passed down the family line and/or I will get a hitch to allow pickup/drop off of kids.

...

Fitting computer: moved over from old Kett

(Cateye Mity: to come: photos of sensor mount and computer mount)

Or see computer mount and sensor mount (both in German, but photos are enough to get the idea !!)

October 2008: Fitting Garmin Edge 305 GPS

Note unit mounted on cut-off handlerbar extension and cadence sensor mounted on the steering rod: both fitted using the standard Garmin mounts.
Hase_GarminUnit Hase_GarminCadenceSensor

Although when you steer the sensor moves away from the magnet it works fine except going round hairpin bends. I guess you could use any magnet, and you could find a stonger one to work better, but the original is good enough for me.

(The cadence sensor also includes a megnetic wheel sensor which of course does not work: but I noticed it can easily be unscrewed from the cadence sensor mount exposing the wire that I guess could then be extended and the wheel sensor DIY-mounted on the front fork.)

January 2010: Those disk brakes ...

Hase fit the Avid BB5 disc brakes which worked fine when I got them, but the pads wore out quickly and they are hard to adjust. This forum thread contains a discussion on the topic, the consensus seems to be to upgrade to the BB7s (currently Euro 50 retail).

If you are buying a Kett, I suggest paying the shop for an upgrade: the mounts points and levers are compatible so the shop should upgrade for only the price difference of the calipers (currently Eur 20-30) and it is only a 5 minute job for them !

(I just noticed on the Hase website that all the current Ketts use either BB7 or Magura brakes.)

February 2010: Reflections on Snow and Ice

The Kett has been very nice during the last 5/6 weeks of snow, ice and slush here in Darmstadt. It is great not worrying about falling off on the ice (a neighbouring cyclist fell on ice and broke a bone) but you still need to get the tyres through the snow, and with a trike that means 3 tracks instead of 1 with a 2 wheeled bike. Luckily the main cycle paths here are usually cleared quite well, and what was left never quite stopped me !! However I did slightly modify my commuting route to keep on some main cycle paths instead of quieter or shorter routes.

February 2010: Fit BB-7

I bought and fitted BB-7 calipiers as drop-in replacements. They work great now, I will see how they go !

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