Electric Tricycle Showdown: MEIGI HERA vs Silverado, Which One Actually Fits You

We get some version of this question almost every week: "My knees aren't what they used to be, can I still ride an e-bike, or should I just get a trike?" There's no single right answer, but there is a right question, and it's not "which tricycle is more popular." It's "what does this bike actually need to do for me." Once you answer that, the choice between our two electric tricycles, the MEIGI HERA and the MEIGI Silverado, gets a lot easier.

These two look similar in photos, three wheels, a step-through frame, a basket up front or in back. But they're built for different riders, and mixing them up means someone ends up either underpowered on the hills around Tustin or paying for capability they'll never use around the neighborhood.

Who the HERA is actually for

The MEIGI HERA is the lighter, simpler of the two, and that's a feature, not a limitation. It runs a 350W rear-assist motor with a 36V 13Ah removable battery, good for roughly 25 miles in throttle mode and up to 35 miles if you lean on pedal assist. Top speed is capped at 15 MPH.

That low ceiling matters for the rider this bike is built for: someone who wants stability and confidence more than speed, riding flat neighborhood streets, the paths around a park, or a short loop to run errands. The step-through frame has a low 15 inch deck, so getting on and off doesn't require swinging a leg over anything, which is the single biggest complaint we hear from older riders about two-wheel e-bikes. The rear cargo basket is oversized at 19 by 15 by 10 inches and rated for 50 lbs on its own, on top of a 330 lb total rider and cargo capacity, so grocery runs are genuinely practical, not an afterthought.

If you're shopping for a parent or grandparent whose main concern is "will I feel steady on this," and whose rides top out at a few miles on quiet streets, the HERA is very likely the right call. It's priced at $1,499.

Who the Silverado is actually for

The MEIGI Silverado is a different animal. It steps up to a 750W motor with 80 N.m of torque, a 48V 13Ah battery, and a top speed of 25 MPH, roughly 30 miles of range in pure electric mode and up to 50 with pedal assist. That torque figure is the number that actually matters day to day: it's what gets a loaded trike up an incline without the motor bogging down, which is a real consideration if your route includes anything with grade to it.

The Silverado also adds a few things the HERA doesn't bother with: a front basket in addition to the rear one, a riding/reverse gear for backing out of tight parking or driveways without dismounting, a thumb throttle with a dedicated walking mode, and a 3 inch LCD display with a USB charging port. This is the trike for someone who wants an e-bike that can keep up with actual bike lane traffic, not just amble around a cul-de-sac, and who's willing to pay for that capability. It's priced at $2,299, marked down from $2,599.

The real difference, side by side

Neither bike is "better." The HERA is built to be easy and calm. The Silverado is built to be capable and quick. The wrong move is buying the Silverado because it has more features on paper when what you actually need is the HERA's low step-through and gentle pace, or buying the HERA to save money and then finding out its 15 MPH ceiling can't keep up with the rest of your route.

Things a spec sheet won't tell you

Both of these tricycles turn differently than a two-wheel bike, and that takes most riders a few minutes to get used to, especially leaning into turns versus the trike's fixed-width rear axle. Both have a genuinely low center of gravity that makes them feel planted at a stop, which is exactly why they've become popular with riders who felt nervous balancing a standard e-bike. Neither one is a toy: at 750W and 25 MPH, the Silverado in particular deserves the same respect you'd give any e-bike on the road, mirrors, visibility, and knowing the local rules for where Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles are allowed.

Both models are currently on backorder as of this writing, which is common with tricycles since they move in smaller volume than standard e-bikes. Give us a call before driving over if you want to confirm current stock or get on the list for the next shipment.

Come try one before you decide

Spec sheets can tell you wattage and range, but they can't tell you how a trike feels under you on a real turn, or whether the seat height works for your knees. That's the whole reason to come into the shop instead of ordering blind online: you sit on both, you take a lap in the parking lot, and you leave knowing instead of guessing. If we don't have your size in stock that day, we'll get you set up with a test ride as soon as the next shipment lands, and every tricycle we sell goes out the door fully assembled and adjusted for you, not shipped in a box for you to figure out.

We're also the shop Orange County riders come to when a tricycle bought somewhere else needs service, brakes, gears, electrical, doesn't matter where you bought it. If you already own one and something's not right, bring it by and we'll take a look.

ATB Bike
13842 Newport Ave #D-1, Tustin, CA 92780
(626) 652-7233
Mon-Sat 10 AM-6 PM, Sun 12 PM-6 PM
Stop in for a test ride, a repair estimate, or just to talk through which trike actually fits your riding. Or reach us first through our contact page if you'd rather ask questions before you come in.