About a year ago, GamersNexus published a critical review of the Trikes LUCA L70 case, highlighting numerous design, build quality, and assembly issues that made the $240 case problematic. Key complaints included poorly routed SSD cables, conflicting drive bracket mounts, short front IO cables, the need for screwdrivers despite toolless claims, fragile rubber cable grommets, inadequate power supply clearance, and a poorly designed power button. In response, Trikes halted the case’s release and provided a detailed PDF outlining the changes they planned to make, showing a commendable willingness to address the criticism.
The reworked case showed improvements in several areas, particularly with the addition of rivets on the glass panels to prevent chassis deformation during shipping and a screw added to secure the glass panel, which could be removed for daily use. The power button was redesigned to be more user-friendly, and cable grommets were made from stiffer material to prevent them from being easily pulled out. The company also extended the USB Type-C cable by 10 cm to improve routing and adjusted SSD mounting holes to avoid cable snagging, addressing many of the original design flaws.
However, some issues remained unresolved or only partially addressed. For example, the toolless design was compromised by the inclusion of flush screws intended for transport reinforcement but still requiring a screwdriver, and the problematic captive screw design for the power supply shroud was not fixed. Additionally, the motherboard tray still had embossing that could cause screws to thread improperly. Some factory quality control problems persisted, including a bent hinge on the front panel and loose motherboard standoffs, raising concerns over manufacturing consistency.
Trikes also chose not to change certain features, such as the obstructed airflow at the case’s bottom due to modular fan brackets and an aluminum base that reduced intake air, arguing these choices were part of the case’s aesthetic and modular design philosophy. They acknowledged a minor thermal impact but believed it was within acceptable limits. Other rejected changes included the tight power supply enclosure and the awkward front cable cover and SSD mount, which the company recommended users avoid for drive mounting.
In conclusion, while the LUCA L70 remains a case with some fundamental design compromises, Trikes’ efforts to listen to feedback and implement many changes have improved the product significantly from its original state. The case now meets a baseline level of functionality that it lacked before, making it a more viable option for buyers prioritizing aesthetics. However, at $250, it faces stiff competition from better-performing cases in the same price range. The true test for Trikes will be their next case release, where they can apply lessons learned to deliver a product that better balances design, build quality, and usability.
