Trice Monster

I’ve been on the hunt for a Trice Monster for a long time. ICE only made 17 Monsters. I guess it was considered too radical for most ICE customers to buy. Having owned 4 other Trice/ICE trikes, I was sure that the Monster was exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, ICE no longer makes custom trikes like the Monster so I was forced to approximate a Monster when I built the Pseudo Monster.

After a couple of years of scouring the internet and following many dead ends, I’ve finally been able to purchase a Monster. “neoloid” (BROL user name) in the UK finally agreed to sell me his very clean Monster. It was quite an ordeal setting up the payment, shipping and customs etc. but Monster 007 has made its way to Santa Barbara (Jan 2012) in great shape. Neoloid exercised great patience with the process and did a stellar job of wrapping and packing every piece. I was pleased by the condition of the trike. It appears to have very few miles. The paint is in excellent shape and all of the other pieces are surprisingly fresh for being 5 or 6 years old.

Back in the custom trike days at ICE, you could buy a frame kit which consisted of the frame, steering, seat, brackets and front wheels. The standard bike parts (drive train, brakes etc.) were provided by the buyer. Neoloid sold me the frame kit as he bought it and I supplied the standard bike parts. I gathered the necessary parts to get it together quickly. I decided to use the stock pieces that were provided such as the idlers and chain tubes. I bought a cheap rear wheel that will be replaced soon. I’ll probably end up rethinking the chain line, but I went with the stock configuration to get things going quickly.

Over the years, I’ve tended to buy and sell my recumbents pretty frequently. However, I learned a lesson when I sold my Trice XXL. Custom Trices are too fine and rare to let go of. I think that Monster 007 will be in my collection for a long time.

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Latest configuration with VTX seat, 406 front wheels, 10 speed drive train and carbon fiber components. I still have all the original parts in case I decide to restore it to its original state.

I finally got around to building some carbon fiber wheel covers for the Monster. It’s questionable whether they’ll help much at the lower speeds that I achieve, but I kind of like the way they look.

I recently put together this page of information and photos of the Monster to share with Chris at ICE. Some of the information is redundant but it has some more recent photos.

13 thoughts on “Trice Monster”

  1. Hey Michael
    I’m so glad that it arrived safely and that you are happy with how I looked after it and packaged it. I’m also happy that it has gone to a good home and someone who deserved it.
    Can’t wait to see how you end up speccing and I’ll drop by regularly to see how you are getting on.
    Cheers, Neil

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks. I feel very fortunate to have found a Monster after lusting for one for so long.

      Sorry. No pictures of me on the Monster. I’m not very photogenic.

      Reply ↓

      • After looking at these pictures, I completely understand why.

        Can you put somebody pretty on and take a picture? 🙂

        I want to see what somebody looks like with a seat that low (I have a hard time telling what seat angle really looks like without a body in it…)
        p.s. If you ship it to me, I’ll take a picture of myself in the seat!

  3. Hi Michael – Did you know that there’s another Monster for sale in the UK – it’s on eBay.co.uk – asking price is < $3K It's been listed for over 2 weeks now with no offers but has 44 watchers.
    Best,
    Geoff

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Geoff,
      Thanks for the tip. I’ve never seen one come up for sale before. That looks like a super clean Monster. The color is very unusual. I once had a Trice Meteor in that color. I won’t be buying it since I have a Monster and it sounds like shipping to the US, where I’m located, is not offered.

      Reply ↓

  4. Hi Mike,
    What’s going on!? – there’s a Monster for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Dade City FL – $3000 with rear wheel electric assist. They appear to be like London buses – nothing for ages then 2 appear at the same time 🙂

    G.

    Reply ↓

  5. Hi Michael,
    That Monster is still showing for sale and it’s been calling my name. If I spring for it I will have to sell my GS Aero (wife’s edict – only 3 trikes allowed!). You’ve had both Monster and Aero – if you had the choice what one would you choose from a functional perspective? How practical are they in comparison – I ride mostly smooth blacktop trail or good roads.
    Best, Geoff

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Geoff,

      I had the Greenspeed Aero for a few months. I’ve had the Monster for over 10 years. I prefer the ride and quality of the Monster over the Greenspeed. It’ll be the last recumbent that I sell when I can no longer ride. That’s just me. To be honest, the Greenspeed is a lighter and faster trike. You’ll be able to sell the Aero if you don’t like it and probably get another later on if you change your mind. They made only 17 Monsters. As you know they seldom come up for sale. But few people know what they are so many years later so maybe the Monster will be hard to sell if you don’t like it.

      Reply ↓

      • Thanks Michael – you make a good point regarding sell ability. I think I’ll stick with my Aero.
        Best, Geoff

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