Well, here's something a bit different. If you want to move a couple of kids around on an electric bike then there's a few ways to do that, but not many as elegant as this Butchers & Bicycles trike.

The main issue with a trike is handling: because you can't lean it into a corner, they're a lot less stable at even normal riding speeds in a turn. The Butchers & Bicycles approach to rectifiying this is to allow the whole trike to tilt.

It's a lovely, elegant solution to the problem and also beautifully engineered. The bike uses a wishbone linkage system; the tilt is limited so you won't fall off it at slow speed. A second linkage joins up the two front wheels to a standard handlebar setup. You get a Tektro hydraulic disc brake on each wheel.

The ABS box at the front has seating for two kids, and a three-point harness for each. You can also fit an Isofix child seat if you have a young child. There's no clambering in; there's a full-height door (with a child lock) at the front for easy access.

Assist-wise you get a 250W Bosch Performance Line motor and 400Wh battery. The transmission is an oil-free Gates Carbon belt drive, and at the back you get Nuvinci's constantly-variable N360 hub which offers infinite adjustment over a 360% ratio range. The Intuvia display on our bike was linked up not only to the motor but to a Supernova lighting system, which two E3 lights at the front and one at the back. That's an optional extra over the €5,395 (£4,100) base price. It's not cheap, this one...

You get a city-friendly build, with Schwalbe Big Ben tyres, alloy mudguards and a full-width kickstand. A chainguard would be nice, even with the belt, but that's not specced as standard. You do get a bungee cord phone holder though! And a cup holder.

It's a big machine, this. You'll need level-access storage or somewhere safe to keep it outside. It won't fit in most cars. It did fit in Mike's Renault Espace though. Just.

We'll be putting the trike through its paces over the next few weeks, so look out for a review soon.

Read more about the trike at http://www.butchersandbicycles.com/