Some people have wished they could have a trike that was as comfortable the GTR Touring Trike, have the better performance of the GTS Sports Tourer, and be able to pack it down into two suit cases like the GTC Suitcase Trike.So our latest GTO Touring Trike is just that! We have in fact combined the best features of the GTR Touring Trike, the GTS Sports Tourer, and the GTC Suitcase Trike into one trike!
The GTO has the high backed 40 degree seat of the GTR, which most people find the most comfortable, the dropped frame of the GTS, to give a lower centre of gravity, with the better road holding and handling of the GTS, and yet it packs down into two suitcases like the GTC for transport, travelling or storage. It also has more ground clearance than the GTS, due to new, more compact steering mechanism. One of the best parts is that it costs less than the GTC, due to the fact we have used only ONE S&S coupling in the design, instead of the three used in the GTC. This has been done by using two hidden M8 cap screws to hold the rear of the seat in place, instead of the two rear S&S couplings, resulting in a lighter and neater design - see pictures below. Like the GTC, the pack down ability of the GTO allows us to ship by FedEx to your door, for almost half the price of the GTR. Both in the USA or Europe.
The GTO was developed from a prototype used by Paul Sims for racing at the annual National HPV Challenge at Canberra, ACT, Australia.  For these practical Human Powered Vehicle events a machine must be practical as well as fast, because in addition to the normal road race, criteriums, drags races, slaloms, sprints, and hill climb, there is also a shopping race, and an off-road race! The winner is the rider who gains the most points, using the same machine for ALL events.  Thus Paul built a lowered GTR with a nose cone fairing. He was the 1st recumbent home in the off road race,  and was successful in winning the event overall in 1999 - for details see - http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/community/ozhpv/  
Thus the Greenspeed GTO Touring Trike, is a light, but strong machine, suitable for touring, everyday commuting, and for taking away with you on overseas holidays :-) 
To pack the trike down, the seat is detached by removing the bolt from the front of the seat, and removing the two cap screws from the rear of the seat. Then the wheels and the crank extension are removed, and the frame splits in two, by undoing the large coupling just behind the handle bars (see below) The handlebars then fold down, and the main "X" of the frame fits in the suitcase with all the steering and brakes still connected. The rear of the frame, and crank extension fit around it, then the three wheels fit on top. This leaves only the seat which will fit into a second smaller case, along with your clothes and other baggage. Thus you can travel by plane with two normal suit cases, and no one will even know you are packing a trike, much less charge you for excess baggage.
There is a video available which shows how the similar GTC trike is dismantled, packed, and then re-assembled. Please email us for a free copy. We are also in the process of writing an extensive manual for the GTO. Here are details of the ASSEMBLY  & PACKING processes.