For anyone who can’t ride a bike or lacks the confidence to cycle, the road to freedom could be a three-wheel electric dream produced by UK maker Jorvik Tricycles. With customers aged 18 to 102, Jorvik has been breaking new ground for a decade in the e-bike sector and now offers a range with 16 models for either city and village everyday travel or more powerful off road activity.
Frames can be folding or rigid and popular customisable options include baskets and pet beds. An average battery charge costs from 10p to 15p for 30 miles. All designed and assembled by a team of 15 at its headquarters in Wheldrake, York, this year Jorvik opened a 6,000 sq ft showroom with an indoor test track which mimics a real-life road with traffic lights.
For those unable to travel, Jorvik provides a personalised home demo service and plans to widen its Try-Cycle immersive pop-up events. And commercial customers are also buying into the benefits with the tricycles now used to transport beach litter pickers in Blackpool and help clean Loughborough university’s campus.
Rapid social changes post-pandemic, as more people explore the outdoors and focus on health along with technological advances, have all had an impact on Jorvik’s sales. These are growing 20 per cent annually while turnover now stands at £5million. It’s been a bitter sweet achievement for owner and chief executive James Walker who started Jorvik after he failed to find a tricycle for his father, a keen cyclist whose balance had been compromised by Parkinson’s disease.
Faced with limited choice, outdated designs and no budget friendly alternatives, “it seemed to be a product left on the shelf with no hope of a good value second-hand market, so I decided to build one myself,” says Walker. “What began as a passion project inspired by my dad became a bigger business dedicated to inclusivity, quality and safety. “There is competition, but we stand out for our combination of a higher technical spec and affordable prices backed by the best customer service.”
As well as the benefits for older people, anyone with coordination problems or wanting to cycle safely with extra bags, “they are a great option too for commuters who don’t want the upkeep and costs of a car,” adds Walker.
“Our lightweight and rust-free aluminium alloy is three times lighter than steel, our brakes are finely tuned so they can be engaged with just one finger to achieve the best riding experience. All products are developed with user feedback.”
Taking the company name from the Old Norse word for York, the city, he explains, “is part of our team, we benefit from it attracting visitors coming from all over the UK and overseas such as Canada”.
Jorvik’s latest, most transportable JET-E16 (£2,999), a 16-inch wheel model is seeing huge demand. With easy turning and a lower step frame so riders can effortlessly hop on and off, “it’s our most compact model to date. You can fold it, ride it anywhere and it fits into most vehicles,” says Walker. A drawdown trade finance deal with HSBC has also made “a massive difference” enabling Jorvik, which sources parts internationally, to seize growth opportunities and avoid supply chain problems.
“We have the cash to bulk buy in advance, can keep on top of stock flows and maintain the best customer service with live updates and answer to any warranty or repair questions,” explains Walker who would welcome any aluminium frame maker in the UK getting in touch. Jorvik has just secured its first overseas partner in Germany opening the door is to smoother EU expansion.
The showroom become a popular draw for customers both domestic and overseas. “People do tests, make friends, bring their dogs, it’s a proper destination,” says Walker. “I won’t forget one lady with multiple sclerosis who told me how buying a Jorvik tricycle had been her last hope for independence. It’s outcomes like this that drive us on.” Jorvik’s ambition to become the iconic Brompton bike equivalent for tricycles seems closer than ever. Jorviktricycles.com
