I purchased the eCatrike Max from Zach Kaplan Cycles. Multiple recumbent bicyclists and regular bicyclists in various Meetup bicycling groups specifically and personally recommended Zach Kaplan Cycles. The experience was stellar from beginning to end. Zach Kaplan Cycles knows what they are doing and guided me to purchase the appropriate bicycle (eCatrike Max). I must add that Zach Kaplan Cycles was extremely responsive and professional. Not surprising that they earned 5 stars. read more

Zach has a deep knowledge of recumbent bikes and a good understanding of athletic people and their needs.

I got the GoSwiss Drive hub motor fast and at a good price. After restringing for 700c I put over 1,000 miles on it. I had never ridden on one with all three phases but I knew the old one was only doing ~ 350 watts from various calculations. Just stay in the lowest assist for maximum range and exercise. read more

Zach Kaplan Cycles - Unidentifiable rims and frame. - Bikes Near Me

I recently took my recumbent tricycle in to Zach for a tune-up. The experience was stellar from beginning to end. Zach knows what he is doing and explains why certain service is or is not needed. It was nice to be treated with respect. He did not try and upsell service that was not needed. In fact, just the opposite. He explained that the trike wouldn't need additional tune-ups for quite some time, but told me what to watch for with regard to tires, chain, and the mileage I might expect to need replacements or repairs. I will be using Zach for any future service needs, and based on his professionalism and courtesy during my service visit, I will definitely be coming back to Zach Kaplan Cycles when it is time to purchase my next recumbent. read more

I used to be an avid bicyclist for a number of years before time and old injuries caught up to my body. Unfortunately, my mind is still young at heart. When I fairly recently started researching recumbent trikes, I was a bit overwhelmed by the various options and "how-to's" out there. I had finally nailed it down to a particular trike brand, AZUB, before I realized it would be a while to save up for a model which matched my specifications. On a whim, I reached out to Zach to inquire if he had any used AZUBs for purchase. He replied back the same day and mentioned he had one as well as several new. I figured the pricing would still be a bit beyond my budget. Super glad I was wrong as Zach sold me my gently used demo 2016 AZUB TRIcon 20" in almost new condition. I live in Virginia and was a bit concerned about the cost of having the trike shipped from Zach's shop in CA. I was pleasantly surprised even with the shipping costs, the trike still came in under my budget. Not only do I have a fantastic trike (the one I would have ultimately gotten anyway, should I gone with a "starter trike" instead) but Zach's patience, professionalism and obvious vast experience and knowledge via email and phone helped me realize I'm in good hands as I start my newfound triking chapter. I hope to eventually consider electric options and when I do, I'll be reaching out to Zach. Perhaps I'll get to thank him in person someday! Bottom line: whether you're a new triker or have been triking for years, Zach's the one to hit up! Thanks again, Zach! read more

Zach Kaplan Cycles - My AZUB TRIcon 20" - Bikes Near Me

I bought a recumbent 8 years ago from Zach Kaplan. I have been satisfied with my purchase ever since. I moved to Oregon a few years ago and had my bike tuned up in Portland. They knew Zach, and made their high opinion of him clear. This week I had a technical question and needed the opinion of someone I trusted. I emailed Zach. He responded the same day. Not only did he remember me, but he knew my bike and gave me the insight I needed. Zach is not only clearly knowledgeable about the products he sells, but he believes in them. It seems when you deal with Zach you are his customer for life. I trust Zach Kaplan. I advise you do too. read more

Just a quick follow-up: some years after buying the 'bent I mentioned in my first review, I decided to to get it turned into an e-bike if I could. Zach delivered in spades, again. He guided me to a system that I've been happy with for years now (I still ride it!) and the more I try other e-bikes or talk with their riders, the more convinced I am that Zach got me the best system for my needs that existed. Well, except as far as I know, it didn't even exist until Zach designed and installed the system for me. That is, he took a stock upgrade system and fitted it to my bike, despite the fact that at the time of the install, no one had built that particular combo before. It still works great. I still love to ride it. I still recommend Zach very highly. read more

If you're looking for a recumbent trike, Zach is THE GUY. The guy you want to talk to, ride with, and buy from!! He makes the whole process easy! If you're thinking about a trike, shoot him an email and he can set you up with a test ride and work with your size and budget. We bought 3, best purchase ever read more

I bought a Scorpion FX trike from Zach about a year ago. I walked in expecting a few recumbent bikes, and found a few dozen (at least). Zach didn't extend my price range, but I did. Once I sat on the Scorpion I was instantly in love, end of game. Configured for my exact needs (low speed, low gears, very high weight capacity, comfy seat, foldable) I'm thrilled with the trike. Last month I went back for some special chain rings and cranks. Zach was extremely helpful in the process of picking the right ones. He didn't do it for me, he led me to understand the parameters so I could intelligently choose for myself. He's a low-pressure guy but friendly and extremely knowledgeable. He put on the new chainrings and cranks for me while I watched and worked on other bits I forgot needed maintenance. Zach is scrupulously honest and charges by fractions of an hour so you need never worry about over-paying. Overall, I wouldn't buy a 'bent from anybody else. You just can't go wrong with Zach Kaplan. If he had business cards I'd hand them out right and left... read more

Zach is a one-man-band specialist dealer for recumbent bicycles (a.k.a. "bents"). As far as I know, he's the only dealer selling recumbents in the Bay Area. He also does a lot of ultra-long rides (double centuries and more), so he knows the bikes in and out. He carries Bacchetta bikes (http://www.bacchettabikes.com), ICE HPV (http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/), HPVelotechnik (http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/index_e.html) and sometimes has second hand bikes of various makes. This is a one man show, and I don't know if Zach does this full time. The shop is only open on request (weekdays only!), so make sure to call ahead. It's definitely worth the effort of going though - when I went it was $25/hour to get Zach's undivided attention. This included not just good ideas and helpful advice, but also any setting up required for test rides (adjusting a recumbent bike to fit a rider is somewhat more involved than for an upright). The fee is refundable on purchase, which I think is entirely reasonable. (If you don't really know what recumbents are, you could do worse than check out http://www.bentrideronline.com/ ) read more

I went to Zach to check out recumbent bikes. I found Zach incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. I know nothing about bikes and biking but Zach was patient with me and never gave me the impression I was being too slow or too stupid. I told him my budget and he never tried to get me onto a bike that would stretch that budget. Finally I purchased the Bacchetta Bella-ATT.... A beautiful bike! I look forward to improving and tweaking my bike with Zach in the months to come. I'm happy to pay for his time, there is no doubt that his time and knowledge are valuable. read more

I've been working with Zach since 2011. I bought a catrike Trail from him in 2011. I bought an HP Velotechnik scorpion FS 26" Pedelec in 2016. I have nothing but good things to say about Zach. He's very organized, personable, knowledgeable, and helpful. I had a bad stroke in 2007 and I had to switch from upright mountain biking to recumbent trikes. I bought the HP Velotechnik to replace the Catrike because it has full suspension and a battery operated electric drive. This HPV will get me back to the trails and keep up with friends. It takes a little bit of adaptation to make the trike work for my disability, but it's fairly straightforward and not too expensive to make it work. Zach has always been more than willing to help me make these adjustments and trouble shoot with me. Go buy your trike from Zach, I know you will have a great experience too. Thanks so much for all of your help Zach! read more

I spent a few hours learning about trikes and test driving some models (make sure to set up an appointment). Zach let me take the bikes for a spin through the neighborhood and was able to show me the different accessory options I could get with the different bikes. He was very patient and not pushy at all, something I appreciated. I will be recommending Zach Kaplan Cycles to friends. read more

Zach's work ethic and customer service are fantastic. It was well worth the trip from San Francisco to Alameda to visit his shop, and I'd recommend anyone in the area to him. I have balance and back issues that make an upright bike a challenge, and was recommended toward a recumbent trike. I came to Zach knowing next to nothing about recumbents. I wanted to take it aboard Muni Metro. That meant it had to fold, conveniently. There was really only one model that did it, and Zach had it: the Gekko fx. I rode one of them around the area near his shop, and liked it. He patiently talked me through folding it, and then ordered one for me, complete with accessories like lights, reflector, rack, flag and bags. He delivered it to me, with everything installed. All I needed was a set of locks and a helmet, which I picked up down the street from home. When my (new) Gekko arrived, I had difficulty folding it. Zach investigated thoroughly, and found a couple of flaws from the factory's assembly of it. He fixed those for me, at no cost, and made a tweak to make the fold easier for me. It helped a lot, and I really enjoy my rides. I've put a couple dozen miles on it now. When I'm ready for routine maintenance (brake work, etc.), I'll go back to Zach without a moment of reservation. read more

Working with Zach was truly a pleasure. He's a soft-spoken guy with a huge breadth of knowledge and experience. This isn't just a business but a passion for him. He was never ever pushy and patiently fielded my many questions. It was very clear at the get go he wanted to help me find the best bike to fit my budget and my riding needs. In the couple of hours I spent with him, he gladly configured bikes of different models and sizes for me to try out. He came out riding with me to check the fit and my technique. I had done plenty research before making an appointment with him and he was an excellent sounding board. He came with many outstanding recommendations and my great experience was no different. I ended up buying a two-wheeled recumbent but he's an expert in tricycle recumbent too. read more

Experienced recumbent riders know Zach from his many contributions on the bentrideronline.com forums. Local riders know him as an expert rider purveyor of mid-to-high-end recumbents. If you are interested in this activity, you owe it to yourself to schedule an appointment with Zach! He's another great benefit of living in the Bay Area. Zach takes the "consultative sales model" to its logical extreme -- you initially hire him as a consultant to teach you about skills and options. Fear not, the very reasonable consulting fees are discounted from your first bent purchase. I love this model because it aligns the interests of seller and customer and enables Zach to spend considerable time and offer generous test ride opportunities. Trust me, this is the way to go. Try it and you'll be glad you did. Most highly recommended. read more

While doing research about recumbent trikes, Zach's name kept popping up in the forums and search results, so per his shop website, I emailed him for an appointment to test ride some bikes. He replied the same day, and soon we had a meet set up for that weekend. His shop has numerous recumbents to check out, both 2-wheeled and trikes. I was looking to test an HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 S-Pedelec. Since there wasn't a demo model for that particular configuration, Zach let me test ride 2 related trikes to get a feel for what an S-Pedelec would be like -- a Scorpion FS 26 non-motorized version, and a Scorpion FX with the GoSwiss drive installed on it. I rode around the nearby neighborhood with both bikes, and when I returned to the shop, I asked a ton of questions about the bikes, accessories, different cranksets, seats, etc. Zach was patient and answered each question I had with his many years of experience. We spent 2 hours total chatting and trying the bikes. He's a huge resource of information if you are curious about Recumbent bikes, especially if you are in the Bay Area. read more

Your reviews here steered me towards Zach, and yes, he really is very good. He recommended recumbents for me based on my height/weight and had several on hand for me to try. Had a great test drive session, he let me try 4-5 bikes and reset/readjusted every one (I am not a tall person). Answered all my questions about options and features, showed me all my different choices for lighting, panniers, gears, mirrors, wheels etc. Zach also has great followup communication, and overall had a hassle free transaction. Would highly recommend. -Q read more

I live in New York and have shipped my Bacchetta Giro to Zach twice for assembly prior to rides down the coast. The bike was ready as promised. He was super friendly, very knowledgeable and happy to share his expertise. If I lived in the Bay area I would not go anywhere else to buy a recumbent. In fact, I'd love to hang around his shop and learn from him. You can learn a lot from Zach. He's even inspired me to keep my bike clean! read more

I had Zach at Zach Kaplan Cycles install a new set of cranks and chainrings which I purchased from him on my recumbent bike. He was the only shop in the bay area that I found who could get the exact cranks and chainrings that I was looking for. Usually, I do all the work on my bicycles myself so I was a bit hesitant to allow someone else to work on my bike. Zach allowed me to stick around while he did the work and, upon further conversation with him, I was put at ease. If I need work done on my recumbent again I will return to Zach. read more

I found Zach Kaplan while researching recumbents about a year ago. It seems each time I wrote to someone with a question regarding a style or make of bike, they all said the same thing, "You're in the Bay Area? Go see Zack!" And so I did. The shop is filled with a large variety of recumbent bikes and trikes. As it happens, he carries the brand I was interested in, and as an added bonus, I got to confirm my research and choice by riding a number of other bikes. Each in a different configuration with respect to shifting, gearing, brakes, seats, etc. Over the course of several months Zach and I kept in frequent touch, while my decision process continued. I will tell you this, and it is the reason I bought a bike from Zach. I knew I would after our first visit. If you have questions, no matter how simple, or complex, you will get a detailed, accurate, and timely response from Zach. I ordered a bike made in Germany to my specifications, and could not be happier with my choice, due in part to Zach's extensive knowledge. After the sale, I am just as pleased with the shop. I've had a few follow-up, after the sale questions, and received the same amazing level of service. Go visit the shop, you will be happy you did! read more

I could not have imagined a better experience buying my trike. Zach is super knowledgeable about recumbents, he was incredibly patient answering all my questions, letting my try out all different models, and helping me make the right choices. At no point was Zach pushy, he was simply trying to understand what the best trike would be for my needs. I ended up with a Scorpion FX with a Rohloff, and I absolutely love it! When picking up the trike, Zach spent another hour with me, making sure everything was tuned exactly right. Awesome, thanks Zach! read more

I was pointed in the direction of Zach as I was learning about recumbents. He is very knowledgeable and has been in the business for many years. I tested several of his bikes and, while I did not end up buying from him (went with a different bike model) I later on bought a seat bag from him, and he applied my test ride credit to it, something he truly did not have to do, and I was not expecting. That, in addition to patience, punctuality, and responsiveness, coupled with deep knowledge about the subject makes Zach a vendor you want to do business with. I expect to buy a bike from him in the future, that's for sure :-) read more

Hi there folks; I first came across Zach Kaplan Cycles, about a month ago, after doing more and more research on recumbent bikes and trike's, his name kept popping up on the Internet, so I visited his website, ...called and talked with him, I was very impressed! so I made an appointment, and man did I hit the jackpot with Zach, ...he is the most knowledgeable of anyone I've ever talk to about recumbent bikes, trikes, trikes and more trikes! I talked his ear off, and he so nice, and answered every question I threw his way, after the first hour ...it was clear, I was with the Trike Guru!! No pressure, total help with my choice, Zach fit me into the trike of my life! Here it comes ...OMG! Feels very precise, Thanks again ...I am so jazzed with my HPV! P. Nelson read more

I have been riding my trike for a while now, and loving it. I went to see Zach today for a recommended maintenance visit. I learned so much, having ridden the trike so much now and talking with Zach about trikes and bikes while we BOTH worked on the Scorpion. This has become an art form for me. read more

Zach did an excellent job helping me to get fitted to the right bike for my needs. Was happy to let me try multiple different bikes(and trikes) and was great in getting the trike I selected set up for me. Would definitely recommend him if you are thinking about getting a recumbent bike. Make sure you schedule plenty of time though, it's worth it. read more

"I purchased my recumbent from Zach. On my first appointment, Zach taught me how to ride a recumbent. He taught me in what seemed like less than 20 minutes. Of course I knew how to ride a bike, but I was concerned that I would not be able to ride a recumbent. I have to say that the $25 an hour Zach charges for a consultation is a bargain. And, just as he states on his website, the full consultation fee is applied to your purchase, if you purchase a bike from him. Based on my experience doing business with Zach, I would recommend him without reservation." read more

I just finished an inaugural ride on my new recumbent and I am euphoric! The bike fits me like glove and its performance was perfection. I attribute this fantastic experience to Zach Kaplan, owner of Zach Kaplan Cycles. When you purchase a recumbent from Zach it truly is a journey! Zach NEVER pushes you to buy a recumbent, but patiently takes the time to answer your questions, analyze your needs as a cyclist, and ultimately spends the amount of time necessary to customize your recumbent, so the bike is built to work for you. I have been riding a recumbent since 1998 after a serious bike accident and Zach played a significant role in educating me about the benefits of riding a bent. It is because of Zach, I have continued to enjoy cycling. My new P-38 is the third recumbent I have purchased from Zach and each time I bought a new bike I have received the same excellent service. He understands the structure and design of recumbents and he is very creative when customizing a bent to fit your needs. I love that he quickly responds to any questions you may have via email and is always patient and genuinely concerned about his clients purchasing the optimum recumbent for their style of riding. If you want to purchase a recumbent Zach Kaplan has the knowledge and expertise to help you find the perfect bike- I would never buy a recumbent anywhere else! read more