Slim's still a Believer.
Posted on 04/19/2010 7:56:22 AM PDT by bigbob
If you were among the millions who were disappointed by the hype of the Segway, take a look at this video. Could this 22 pound folding electric commuter bike actually be "IT"?
Unlike George Jetson's car, it doesn't fly, but it does fold up and fit into a bag you can carry in one hand.
Even the hardened anti-bike, anti-EV type will have to admit this is a pretty well engineered machine, and could be part of the solution for some commuters. I'd hate to climb hills or try to carry a sack of groceries on one though!
At 3,495EU ($4,700 USD), I think cheap clones will almost inevitably follow, as the patents on the pennyfarthing have been expired over a century now.
You will pry the YikeBike out of my cold, dead crotch.
No thank you, I think I’ll just keep my car.
That is pretty cool,
however I’d hate to ride that in NYC with Wheels: 20” front and 8” back. 8” back wheel! less than 4 inches of clearance at slow speeds, the potholes will eat the entire back wheel.
Slim's still a Believer.
It's still cool though!
prisoner6
A $500 bike can tow a baby or groceries and the user can get some exercise in the process.
WlBLk+nRp-bg~~_35.JPG)
Kiwi Ingenuity is a cliche down under. Very bright and inventive people (and GREAT rugby - Go All Blacks!). Gotta love it.
Laz, you know my wife?
prisoner6
For $4700 you can buy a decent used pick up truck and not be as vunerable to getting hit and squashed by a bus. Plus, can carry your sweetie in a truck along with a sheet of plywood or drywall. Try that on a Yike!
How many Segway’s have they sold?
New Zealand is a very pretty and quaint little Island. Charming and so detached from the reality of the rest of the terrible world.
This has "dork" written all over it.
This is actually a pretty big leap in transportation. They have knocked out a hell of a lot of obstacles. They still need to bring the price down to 500-600, then it would explode world wide.
prisoner6
Great - just won’t be able to ride it from October-April in Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, etc. etc.
I use my small electric bike to get around locally in Shanghai; it’s flat territory, crowded, and the commutes to the local grocery store are short. Works well in Shanghai, but would not be possible in my other home in Edmonds, WA (north of Seattle) - way too hilly, distances are further, and too much rain and wind.
Of course, I paid 1200 RMB for my electric bike (just under $200) and consider it a once-or-twice-a-week convenience for those quick trips to the grocery store or down to the bank. Anything more than that, and I’m in a taxi or the subway.
beautiful engineering and design.
looks like a sculpture.
great gadget for a dry climate.
or an excentric londoner in pinstrips and a bowler.
Where I live (IL) I holler “YIKES!” anytime I get on the bike when the temperature is less than 50! Thanks for the interesting array of comments, obviously we’re not of one mind on this and that’s a good thing!
Three bikes, four motor vehicles, skis, snow shoes, and a canoe provide transportation here.
prisoner6
Okay, where do I buy that last one?
22 pounds is still quite heavy for a lot of people, the traditional bicycle seat still kills off a lot of crotches, and the price is way too high. How much faster is it than, gulp, walking?
I can see how they came up with the name. Slam on the brakes because a car pulled out in front of you and YIKES! you’re launched onto the pavement.
I wouldn’t want a Segway - my back hurts if I stand too long. Also, you can’t fold up a Segway and carry it.
This sounds like a much more practical design.
3495 Euro ($4700) is a bit expensive. I’m sure the Chinese knock offs will be half the price.
If you are interested in finding a good bike trailer, however, an online search should turn up plenty.
I did research for my kids, but never found anything that would track very well. This would track well, as demonstrated in the video. Thanks.
THese guys did pay much attention to histry
The term safety bicycle was used in the 1880s for any alternative to the penny-farthing, later historians began to use the term in a more restricted way, for the design that was a direct ancestor to most modern bicycles.
Diamond frame is also sometimes used as a term for safety bicycles, even though this technically only refers a certain type of safety bicycle. The retronym upright bicycle is used to distinguish the style from recumbent bikes.
Yike Bike - Another word for “fatal face plant”
What is wrong with the “EZIP”, for example? At 450 USD, it won’t bust the bank or your face.....
Looks like you didn't pay much attention to history either.
Just borrowed from the research of others, eh?
Oh, man...I want one of those!
I’ve often considered getting a bike trailer. I go mountain biking into the deep bush, on abandoned logging roads, and I’ve thought it’
d be cool to take camping gear with me so I could camp out for several days, instead of always having to come home when it gets dark.
Do you have one of those?
Thanks...
Ed
You can get to some camp sites that would take forever to hike to and those trailers would probably carry more stuff that you could carry on your back.
Great for weekend camping in, as you say, the deep bush!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.