Is the Liberty Trike Freedom worth buying?
The Liberty Trike is a different animal. It is 31 inches wide at the rear axle, narrow enough for a standard 32-inch door, it has a reverse capped at 3 mph, and it comes apart into two pieces, the front one weighing 30 lb. Top speed is 12 mph on the 16-inch model. Think of it as a mobility trike you can also pedal. Liberty rates it for 420 lb. It ranks low in our formula for one reason: the battery is tiny (313 Wh, 8 to 20 miles), and at $1,698 on November 13, 2026 you pay for cleverness, not for watt-hours.
Buy it if
- You want one machine for the sidewalk and for indoors
- You travel by car and need pieces light enough to lift one at a time
- Balance or stamina is the issue, and 12 mph is all the speed you want
Skip it if
- You want to ride 20 miles on a bike path: any trike in our top five does it better
- You dislike coaster brakes: the Lectric XP Trike2 has hand-operated hydraulic brakes
What makes it a mobility trike?
Three things. First, size: 16-inch wheels and a turning radius Liberty puts at roughly 7 to 9 feet, so it turns around in a hallway or a store aisle. Second, reverse: press the lever and the trike backs up, limited to 3 mph. On an ordinary trike, getting out of a dead end means climbing off and dragging 90 lb backward. Third, the throttle: Liberty calls it throttle on demand, with five speed levels. You can pedal, but you do not have to.
The motor is a 750 W direct-drive hub in the front wheel, with 60 Nm of torque. A direct-drive hub has no internal gears, so there is less to wear out.
How does the two-piece frame work in practice?
The whole trike weighs 91 lb, about the same as its rivals. The difference is that you do not have to lift 91 lb. The frame separates, and the front half weighs 30 lb. Take off the seat, the basket and the battery, and the rear half becomes manageable too. Liberty says the two halves nest together compactly for transport.
If you or the person you are buying for cannot lift much, this is the only design in our ranking that takes the problem seriously. Everything else in this comparison is an 80 to 158 lb lift, or a ramp.
Video: "Installing Rear Wheels on Your Liberty Trike: Exclusive Tutorial", Electric Bike Technologies on YouTube. Not made by us; chosen because it shows the trike or the topic clearly.
What's in the box?
The trike, the 36 V 8.7 Ah battery, a 3 A charger (about 3 hours for a full charge, says Liberty Trike), the rear basket, the seat and seat post, and the manual.
How do you set it up, and what should the first ride be?
Liberty Trike publishes assembly videos, including one on fitting the rear wheels, shown below. Once it is together, set the speed level to 1 and practice in a driveway: forward, stop, reverse, turn. The rear brake works by pedaling backward, which surprises anyone who has only used hand levers, so try it at walking pace first.
What does it really cost?
$1,698 is the 16-inch model with no extras on November 13, 2026; the 20-inch model, which reaches 16 mph, is $1,798. An extra battery adds $348 and an extra charger $84. If you plan real outings, count the second battery as part of the price. Liberty's page offers $200 off when you buy two trikes.
Per watt-hour of battery, that is $5.42: the figure our tie-break uses.
What do we like, and what should you know?
- Splits into two halves; the front half weighs 30 lb
- Reverse, limited to 3 mph, for backing out of tight spots
- 13.5-inch step-over and a turning radius of about 7 to 9 feet
- 420 lb payload, rider and cargo
- 21-day risk-free trial for first-time buyers
The catch: 8 to 20 miles per battery, says Liberty Trike, and the low end is realistic for a heavy rider on hills. An extra battery costs $348. The rear brake is a coaster brake (you pedal backward), with a single disc at the front. There is one gear. And the trial has conditions: after 21 days, returns are for unused products only, minus a 20% restocking fee.
Where can you ride it, and how do you ride it safely?
Liberty Trike's figure: 12 mph forward on the 16-inch model (16 mph on the 20-inch), 3 mph in reverse. Federal product law (15 U.S.C. 2085) describes a low-speed electric bicycle as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with working pedals, a motor of less than 750 watts and under 20 mph on motor power alone. Where you may ride is set by your state and city (see the PeopleForBikes summaries): check yours. This isn't legal advice.
A trike doesn't lean, so slow down before every corner. Hold a brake lever while you get on or off. The CPSC says to stay present while the battery charges, use the maker's charger and wear a helmet on every ride.
Liberty Trike Freedom specifications
| Motor | 750 W, 60 Nm of torque |
|---|---|
| Drive | Front hub (direct-drive) motor |
| Battery | 36 V 8.7 Ah (313 Wh) |
| Range (brand figure) | 8 to 20 miles per battery (Liberty Trike) |
| Top speed | 12 mph forward on the 16-inch model (16 mph on the 20-inch), 3 mph in reverse |
| Total payload | 420 lb, rider and cargo |
| Trike weight | 91 lb; it separates in two and the front half weighs 30 lb |
| Stand-over height | 13.5 in |
| Rider height | Not stated |
| Tires | 16 in |
| Brakes | Front hydraulic caliper with a 160 mm rotor, rear coaster brake |
| Parking brake | Not stated |
| Rear differential | Not stated |
| Gears | Single speed |
| Pedal sensor | Not stated |
| Throttle | Lever, with 5 speed levels |
| Suspension | Not stated |
| Seat backrest | Included (shown on the brand's product photos) |
| Baskets | Adjustable rear basket |
| Folds | Folds and separates into two halves |
| Reverse | Yes |
| Certification | UL 2271 (battery) |
| Delivered | Assembly videos on the brand's site |
| Warranty | 1-year warranty on frame, fork and electronics |
| Returns | 21-day risk-free trial for first-time Liberty Trike buyers; after that, unused products can go back within 30 days minus a 20% restocking fee |
"Not stated": not on the pages we read on November 13, 2026. Range, speed and payload are Liberty Trike's own figures.
Why 7.9/10? The score, criterion by criterion
Each criterion is scored out of 10 from the published figure; what the brand doesn't publish scores 2. The full method is public.
| Price, against the catalog median (20%) | 7.0/10 |
|---|---|
| Stability and brakes (20%) | 4.0/10 |
| Battery energy in watt-hours (15%) | 3.2/10 |
| Stand-over height (10%) | 9.2/10 |
| Total payload capacity (10%) | 8.8/10 |
| Warranty (10%) | 4.0/10 |
| Comfort and carrying (10%) | 6.0/10 |
| Return or trial window (5%) | 5.5/10 |
How much is the Liberty Trike Freedom, and where do you buy it?
$1,698 on Liberty Trike's own US store on November 13, 2026. Price of the 16-inch model with no extras on November 13, 2026; the 20-inch model was $1,798 and an extra battery adds $348.
One step up, the Lectric XP Trike2 750 is $1,699 for 9.6/10. We link to the brand's store because that is where we read the price and the stock.
What should you ask Liberty Trike first?
- How far will it take a rider of my weight on one battery?
- What exactly do I pay if I return it during the 21-day trial?
- Does the 1-year warranty cover the battery?
- Should I choose the 16-inch or the 20-inch model for my height?
Which trikes should you compare it with?
The two trikes closest in price: Lectric XP Trike2 750 ($1,699, 9.6/10) and MaxFoot MF-30 ($1,699, 8.7/10). Put all three side by side.
Head-to-heads: Lectric XP Trike2 vs Liberty Trike Freedom. Its closest rivals, compared with each other: Lectric XP Trike2 750 vs MaxFoot MF-30.
Rankings with this trike: best electric trikes, electric tricycle for seniors, folding electric trike, electric trike for heavy adults.
Guides that mention it or help you decide: are electric trikes safe for seniors, how to transport an electric trike.
Where do these figures come from?
- libertytrike.com/products/liberty-trike-16, read November 13, 2026
Not medical or legal advice: rules vary by state and city, and your doctor knows your health.
