If your looking for an adaptive all-terrain vehicle that can take you practically anywhere, two names you’ll keep hearing are the Bowhead Reach aMTB and the Exotek Exoquad.
Bowhead Reach & Exotek Exoquad
What are they?
The Bowhead Reach is an electric adaptive mountain bike designed for riders who want an active, dynamic and performance-focused off-road experience.
The Exotek Exoquad is an off-road wheelchair designed around stability, traction, confidence and accessibility.
So, which one is best?
At Adaptiv Mobility, we believe there is no single “best”. The best option is the one that suits your body, your lifestyle and the adventures you want to have – In this guide, we’ll compare the Bowhead Reach and Exotek Exoquad and breakdown the key differences.
Quick Comparison: Bowhead Reach vs Exotek Exoquad
| Bowhead Reach AMTB | Exotek Exoquad | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle type | Adaptive Mountain Bike | Off-road Wheelchair |
| Wheel configuration | 3 Wheels | 4 Wheels |
| Drive system | Electric – RWD | Electric – 2WD or 4WD |
| Top speed | Approximately 20 mph | Approximately 16 mph |
| Primary focus | Performance and technical riding | Stability and all-terrain exploration |
| Suspension | High-performance mountain bike suspension | Long-travel suspension |
| Terrain | Technical trails, tracks and mountain-bike terrain | Trails, grass, mud, gravel, beaches, snow |
| Riding experience | Active and dynamic | Stable and confidence-inspiring |
| Controls | Highly configurable MTB type controls | Adaptive control options |
| Ideal for | Riders seeking an adaptive MTB experience | Riders prioritising stability and accessibility |
The Bowhead Reach
The Bowhead Reach is an adaptive electric mountain bike designed to give riders the opportunity to explore the outdoors or enjoy the experience of adaptive mountain biking.
Rather than being designed simply as a mobility vehicle that travels over rough ground, the Reach is built around the idea of riding the terrain thanks to its unique articulated front suspension system – designed to allow the bike to move dynamically over uneven terrain while maintaining traction and stability.
It features a three-wheel tadpole configuration, with two wheels at the front, one at the rear and is powered by a high-output electric motor – designed for riders who want to tackle challenging trails, technical terrain and outdoor adventures alongside friends and family.
The Bowhead Reach is particularly suited to riders who:
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Want a high-performance adaptive mountain bike.
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Enjoy technical off-road riding.
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Want to ride with friends who use mountain bikes.
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Enjoy speed and an active riding experience.
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Want a highly configurable riding position and control system.
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Are looking for a machine designed around performance as well as accessibility.
The Exotek Exoquad
The Exotek Exoquad takes a different approach to adaptive off-road mobility as it is designed to give riders the confidence to explore places that may otherwise be inaccessible in a conventional wheelchair.
Instead of replicating the experience of a mountain bike, the Exoquad is designed as a stable, go anywhere an off-road wheelchair that allows riders to explore a wide range of outdoor environments. Available in two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive configurations with the 4WD option providing additional traction when riding on more challenging surfaces.
Its four-wheel design, wide tyres, comfortable seating and suspension system provide a stable platform for navigating uneven ground whilst its controls are designed to be intuitive to operate, making it appealing to riders who want to spend less time learning the characteristics of a technical adaptive bike and more time enjoying the outdoors.
The Exotek Exoquad is suited to a variety of environments, including:
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Woodland trails.
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Country parks.
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Gravel tracks.
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Muddy paths.
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Beaches.
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Countryside exploration.
Which Is Better Off-Road?
This is one of the most difficult questions to answer because the two machines approach mobility from completely different perspectives.
The Bowhead Reach is designed for riders who want to engage with the terrain.
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If you enjoy technical mountain-bike trails, want to ride at higher speeds and like the idea of tackling challenging terrain alongside friends, the Reach may be the more exciting option as its three-wheel design and articulated front end allow the rider to interact with the terrain in a way that feels much closer to mountain biking.
The Exoquad is designed for riders who want to confidently travel across it.
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Its four-wheel platform and optional 4WD system make it well suited to riders who want to explore different types of terrain without necessarily needing the same level of active involvement required by an adaptive mountain bike. The Exoquad offers a more stable and confidence-focused experience with the ability to quite literally go anywhere.
In simple terms:
Bowhead Reach: “I want to ride off-road.”
Exotek Exoquad: “I want to explore off-road.”
Of course, both machines can do both. The difference is the experience they are designed to provide.
4WD or Articulation
3 or 4 Wheels
The Exoquad has four wheels, providing a naturally stable platform. This can be particularly appealing to riders who value a strong sense of security when travelling across uneven ground.
The Bowhead Reach uses three wheels and an articulated front suspension system that offers a dynamic riding experience, meaning the rider interacts actively with the machine and the terrain.
The Exoquad prioritises: Stability – Traction – Confidence
The Bowhead Reach prioritises: Agility – Performance – Active Riding
We get asked this one alot!
Although you can use the Reach to explore beaches and surrounding coastal paths, the Exoquad’s wide tyres and four-wheel configuration typically provides a better platform for navigating sandy and uneven surfaces thanks to its 4WD configuration providing additional traction.
Its also important to consider the type of sand you are likely to encounter as firm, compacted sand near the waterline is very different from deep, loose sand further up the beach.
If technical trail riding is your priority, the Bowhead Reach is likely to be the more natural choice.
It has been designed specifically around the concept of adaptive mountain biking, making it particularly appealing to riders who want to tackle challenging trails and ride alongside mountain bikers.
The Exoquad can also tackle uneven and challenging terrain, particularly with its 4WD configuration, but its focus is more on stability and accessibility than replicating the experience of mountain biking.
Our view:
For technical mountain biking: Bowhead Reach.
For general all-terrain exploration: Exotek Exoquad.
This depends heavily on the individual rider.
The Exoquad is designed around an intuitive, accessible riding experience. Its four-wheel configuration provides a stable platform, while its controls can be adapted to suit different riders.
The Bowhead Reach offers a more active riding experience with the rider being more involved in how the machine moves through the terrain.
For some riders, this is exactly what makes the Reach so appealing – For others, the simplicity and stability of the Exoquad may be preferable.
There is no substitute for trying both.
Range is one area where it is difficult to make a direct comparison as battery range is affected by numerous factors. Rather than focusing solely on the manufacturer’s maximum range figures, we recommend thinking about how you actually intend to use the vehicle.
Ask yourself:
How far do I want to travel in a typical day?
Will I be riding on flat paths or challenging terrain?
Is the majority up or downhill?
Will I need to use 4WD regularly?
The answers to these questions are more important than comparing two headline range numbers.
Choose the Bowhead Reach if you want:
An adaptive mountain bike experience.
A more dynamic and active riding style.
To tackle technical trails.
To ride alongside mountain-bike friends.
Higher-speed off-road riding.
A highly configurable adaptive platform.
Performance and agility.
Choose the Exotek Exoquad if you want:
A stable four-wheel platform.
A confidence inspiring riding experience.
The option of 4WD.
To explore a wide variety of terrain.
A vehicle that is intuitive to operate.
To explore beaches, countryside, woodland and trails.
Stability and accessibility as your top priorities.
So, Bowhead Reach vs Exoquad: Which Is Best?
There is no universal winner – Instead, think about the type of rider you are.
When choosing an adaptive off-road vehicle, it is easy to get caught up in specifications but the most important question is:
Which machine works best for you?
Your physical abilities, seating position, transfer method, core control, hand function and confidence all affect which vehicle is the right choice alongside what type or terrain you want to ride or explore.
Someone who wants to spend weekends riding technical mountain-bike trails may have very different requirements from someone who wants to explore beaches and country parks with their family.
Try the Bowhead Reach and Exotek Exoquad
Whether you’re interested in the performance-focused Bowhead Reach or the stable and versatile Exotek Exoquad, we can help you understand how each machine could fit into your lifestyle.
Book an experience day or get in touch and talk to us about your mobility requirements, the terrain you want to explore and the adventures you have planned.
We’ll help you understand your options, answer your questions and arrange an opportunity to experience the vehicles back to back for yourself.