August 26th, 2008
Gallery: Zach Kaplan’s HP Velotechnik Scorpion
This is my 2006 HP Velotechnik Scorpion which has replaced my Earth Cycles Sunset as my commute vehicle. I’ve ridden it 5662 kilometres so far, mostly commuting and errand running. —Zach
The specifications are as follows:
- Frame: HP Velotechnik Scorpion 7075 aluminium, orange
- Size: one size fits most
- Seat: HP Velotechnik BodyLink
- Rear shock absorber: DT Swiss SSD 225
- Brake levers: Magura Marta hydraulic
- Brakes: Magura Marta hydraulic with 160 mm rotors
- Headsets: TH Industries
- Shifter: Rohloff
- Chain tensioner: Rohloff
- Crank: Tracer 155 mm with Rotor Q-Ring 53 tooth chainring and double guard rings
- BB: Shimano UN-72 68 x 107 mm
- Cog: Rohloff 17 tooth
- Chain: SRAM PC-991 Hollow Pin
- Front wheels: Alex X-101 406 mm 36-hole rims, DT 2.0 mm SS spokes with brass nipples, HP Velotechnik tricycle hubs
- Rear wheel: Alex X-101406 mm 32-hole rim, DT 2.0 mm SS spokes with brass nipples, Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 CC EX, silver
- Tyres: Greenspeed Scorcher 40-406
- Skewer: Delta Axelrodz bolt type
- Grips: Johar high density foam
- Pedals: Bebop SL
- Rack: HP Velotechnik custom tubular aluminium
- Front mudguards: SKS on HP Velotechnik mounts with 3M yellow reflective tape
- Rear mudguard: SKS with 3M yellow reflective tape
- Headlights: Busch & Müller Ixon IQ Speed
- Taillight: Dual Vetta TSL-C taillights running off single 4xAA battery pack, Busch & Müller DToplight XS Permanent
- Cyclecomputer: CatEye Mity 3, orange
- Bags: Arkel Tail Rider black rack top bag, FastBack System LS hydration pack, Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic orange panniers
[Zach is the proprietor of Zach Kaplan Cycles in Alameda, California. —ed.]
6 Responses to “Gallery: Zach Kaplan’s HP Velotechnik Scorpion”
A great looking machine, Zach; very advanced and refined. But how secure do you feel locking it up on the street, or is that not the kind of errands you use it for? Can a trike be insured for theft?
I don’t feel secure locking any of my cycles up on the street so I normally bring them inside with me. My most frequent errand is going to the post office and I’ve been bringing my bikes and trikes inside the post office for years. Everyone who works there knows me as the one who brings the recumbent inside and they notice if I’m riding a different recumbent than I normally do. Most of my other errands are visiting people where I can bring the trike into their place. I only use my Kryptonite New York lock for two types of local errands. One is going to the Trader Joe’s supermarket which is in the Alameda Town Centre shopping mall where there are security guards all over the place. The other is going to the Alameda Library which is right next to the Alameda Police Department.
For a price you can insure anything against theft.
The Scorpion is one my favorite trikes. And the twin rear lights really make a difference! One question: could you tell us what are the differences between using a recumbent 2-wheeler vs. a trike for commuting?
On my commute the recumbent trike has the following advantages over the recumbent bike it replaced:
1. Don’t have to unclip and clip into the pedals at traffic lights and stop signs.
2. Quicker getaway when the light turns green because both feet are already clipped in.
3. Don’t have to worry about falling down due to cracks in the road, wet metal in the road or sand in the road (never happened with my previous commute bike but I always had to be very alert to the road surface to prevent it from happening).
4. Motorists give more passing room and seem to notice it more because of the width.
5. Can brake very hard while simultaneously swerving to avoid a potential collision (doing so on a bike could result in loss of traction and falling over into traffic).
The trike has the following disadvantages compared to the bike it replaced:
1. Slower.
2. Won’t fit in the elevator where I live.
3. More difficult to carry up the stairs where I live due to the width and added weight but I’ve developed a technique which hopefully won’t cause long term back damage from the lifting.
Hi Zach
I also own a scorpion fx and love it mainly for the comfort. I have not been able to track down a light mount for the front but see from your photo that you have a great set up. Can you tell me where/how to find something similar? I live in UK. There doesnt seem to be anything on the HP website or have I missed it?
Thanks
Margaret
Margaret:
The headlight mount on my Scorpion is fabricated from a no longer made Haluzak headlight mount which I modified and clamped a Nitto headlight mount to. So not an off the shelf part.
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