This coming weekend, recumbent enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to look behind the scenes at one of Germany’s best-known recumbent manufacturers. On Saturday, September 5, HP Velotechnik will open the doors of its headquarters in Kriftel, Germany, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can tour the company, test its current bikes and trikes, and, perhaps most intriguingly, experience a prototype recumbent trike that does away with the conventional bicycle chain altogether.
For technology-minded visitors, that chainless prototype will likely be the star of the day. HP Velotechnik will have a prototype Scorpion fx 26 available on its company test track, giving riders the unusual chance to experience a recumbent trike using an alternative drivetrain concept before such technology becomes commonplace. As the press release puts it, major technical innovations capable of changing the bicycle industry do not come along every year, and riding without a chain could potentially be one of them.
The open house is about much more than one prototype, however. Visitors will be able to test all 19 regular models in the HP Velotechnik range, including a handcycle and the Delta tx, which received a Eurobike Award for bicycle design in June. Members of the company’s sales team will also be available throughout the day for individual consultations.
Another highlight should appeal to anyone who sees a recumbent as a vehicle for serious adventure. Swiss traveler Benjamin Probst will give his presentation, “To the North Cape by Recumbent and Self-Built Caravan,” at noon and again at 3 p.m. Probst will share the story of an eleven-week journey in which his recumbent pulled a caravan he built himself.
Visitors interested in how recumbents are actually developed and built will also have two opportunities to join a factory tour led by Paul Hollants, co-founder and managing director of HP Velotechnik. Hollants will explain the process a bike or trike goes through, from the first computer design to final assembly. The tour will also open doors to areas that visitors normally do not get to see, including the company’s photo studio and testing laboratory.
There will be plenty happening beyond test rides and factory tours. HP Velotechnik is organizing a bicycle-parts flea market, while children can take part in painting and craft activities. Food will be available from Taunus Alp’, and non-alcoholic cold drinks will be provided free of charge. The local ADFC Main-Taunus cycling organization will also be present with its bicycle coding machine. Visitors who bring proof of purchase and identification can have their bike coded until 1 p.m. for a small fee, while anyone joining ADFC that day can use the service free of charge.
HP Velotechnik recommends registering in advance to help the company plan the event, although visitors can also sign up for test rides on site. Waiting times for test rides are possible. Anyone wishing to ride one of the company’s S-Pedelecs, with pedal assistance up to 45 km/h / 28 mph, must bring a driver’s license, identification, and a bicycle helmet.
The HP Velotechnik Open House takes place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the company’s headquarters at Kapellenstraße 49, 65830 Kriftel, Germany. Registration and additional information are available from HP Velotechnik.
