Ryder Drover Review: The Fat Tyre Electric Trike That Carries Everything

Most trikes come with a basket. The Ryder Drover comes with two crates, 180kg of carrying capacity, 4-inch tyres and a three-year warranty on the motor, frame and battery. It's the trike for people who intend to actually use the thing: shopping, dog, grandkids' gear, a run to the hardware store.

What it's like to ride

The 20 x 4.0" puncture-resistant Kenda tyres on double-wall rims are the first thing you notice. They roll over gravel, grass and broken footpath without fuss, and they give the Drover a wide, planted feel that nervous riders find reassuring. A suspension fork takes the sharp edges off the rest.

The Bafang 48V rear hub motor puts out 65Nm of torque, which is plenty to pull a loaded trike up a hill with the rider barely working. Five levels of pedal assist let you dial in how much help you want, and the 720Wh LG battery is good for up to 80km depending on how you ride. A colour LCD shows speed, assist level and battery.

Braking is Tektro hydraulic disc, 180mm rotors, with a push-button parking brake. In practice: light lever effort, strong stopping, and the trike stays put on a slope while you load the crates. The rear differential lets the two rear wheels turn at different speeds around corners, which is what keeps a trike from feeling like it wants to tip or skip in a tight turn.

Carrying things

Front crate 33 x 25 x 14cm, rear crate 50 x 42 x 20cm, and a 180kg maximum load for rider plus cargo. That's the most carrying capacity of any trike in this size class we stock. Mudguards are standard, and the front and rear LED lights include a brake light.

Getting on and off

Three wheels, no balancing, ever. The low step-through means you walk up and sit down rather than swinging a leg over. Seat height adjusts from 81 to 102cm, which suits a wide range of riders but does mean shorter riders should test it to be sure they can get both feet down. Overall length is 188cm and width 79cm, so check your gate and shed before you buy; this is a full-size trike, not a folder.

Who it suits

• Riders who want a trike as a car replacement for local errands
• Heavier riders, or anyone carrying heavy loads (180kg total)
• Local routes with gravel, grass or rough paths
• Anyone who values a long warranty: 3 years on motor, frame and battery, 10-year frame guarantee

If storage is tight or you need to transport it in a car, look at the folding Ridewave Wallaby Plus instead. If you want the lowest price in the Ryder range, see the Ryder Mover.

For OTs, physios, support coordinators and support workers

The Drover is a strong option when a participant's goals include independent shopping and carrying their own gear, or where the rider's weight or load rules out lighter trikes. The push-button parking brake and the high carrying capacity are worth noting in an assessment. We can bring one to the participant's home for an at-home test ride, do a joint visit with you, and provide a written quote and supporting information for the plan.

We're not an NDIS-registered provider, so we work best with self-managed and plan-managed participants. Agency-managed? Get in touch anyway.

👉 Book an at-home NDIS test ride
👉 How we work with NDIS participants and support teams

Key specs

Full specifications and current pricing: Ryder Drover Fat Tyre Electric Trike.

Try it

Every Drover is built, tuned and test-ridden in our Alphington workshop before it leaves, with the first follow-up service included and warranty and parts handled here. Delivery is available around Melbourne, and freight to the door Australia-wide.

📍 2 Wingrove Street, Alphington
📞 (03) 8542 9500
📧 info@graceandpace.com.au

Related: Ryder e-bikes and trikes: the range explained · Electric trikes for seniors · All electric trikes