YikeBike

Not sure if this is a repost. (Edscoble?)

Anyway...

*Released at EUROBIKE on September 2, 2009, the “YikeBike” by the Kiwi design team is a radical electric bicycle that just weighs 9.8 kilograms and folds to 67×56×12 cm to fit in a backpack. Featuring a small powerful 1.2 kW electric motor and controller that replaces chain pedal, gear box, mechanical brake, cables or levers, the YikeBike is gonna be the first bicycle on the market with electronic anti-skid brakes. Looking like a mini version of a penny farthing (mini-farthing), the vehicle also integrates lights, indicators and brake lights on a hard carbon light platform, ensuring the safety as well ease of the ride. *

*Intended for city journeys of up to 9km, the bike is capable of reaching a top speed of 20km/h, thanks to the high power brushless electric motor. In short, the zero emission bike not only allows a safe and brisk ride on cramped city roads, but also lets the users play their part in sustaining the environment. The YikeBike costs $4860. *

Banker steez!

Face plant in T-3 seconds...2...1...

Anti-skid brakes = no good for fixed gear riderzz.

Not sure if this is a repost. (Edscoble?)

Anyway...

*Released at EUROBIKE on September 2, 2009, the “YikeBike” by the Kiwi design team is a radical electric bicycle *...

 *... In short, the **zero emission bike** ...*

FAIL.

Just because it doesn't have a combustion and exhaust mechanism, doesn't mean it's power can be automatically considered emission free. Twats.

Brown coal fail.

And only 9k @ 20kph? Oh well, at least it's not another car.

I also concur on the faceplant problem. With a centre of balance like that I would imagine that a lot of London's famous London potholes would unseat a lot of riders.

this looks shit..

rocket powered sinclair c5 ftw

If it has anti-lock brakes then I suspect it won't break hard enough to topple you forwards. Pot-holes may be a different matter, but he looks like his weight is pretty central to me.

What I don't get is how it has anything to do with bikes. Why name it the YikeBike when it's more like a Segway or electronic trike? Electrike? No, that's rubbish. Or is it brilliant? Can't tell.

Did I really just write "break hard enough" instead of "brake hard enough"? It's been a long day...

Hope this hasn't been posted already. YikeBike.

über scheisse

... just thinking.... I wonder what would happen if you had to stop it in a hurry?

Looks rather unstable even in their carefully controlled marketing video. How much punishment will that rear-folding front wheel take before collapsing.

Put it on real pot holed/uneven roads and it would get much more interesting especially trying to look behind as well.

Goes in the same bin as the C5.................

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread28774.html

...and this thread is officially dead.

What I don't get is how it has anything to do with bikes.

Well it has 2 wheels.

So does this.