Long have a myriad of devices existed for motorcycle riders to communicate to one and other with.  For cyclists, though, it’s a bit different of a game, since they’re trying to reduce weight and drag as much as possible.  After all, they’re powered by their own legs, not a hefty, gas guzzling engine.

The HIOD One is a pocket sized device that not only connects you to your phone, but lets you chat with other HIOD One users.  In the box you’ll find a set of headphones, a noise canceling mic that attaches to your helmet’s strap, a voice box and a control unit with an OLED screen.  The control box straps to your handle bars, while the voice unit includes its own arm mount.

The whole get up pairs with your smartphone over Bluetooth, allowing you take calls as well as playback music on your smartphone.  It’s not entirely clear how it works, but you can communicate with up to five other HIOD One users directly, one at a time, provided they’re within a 400 meter of proximity using some sort of proprietary Bluetooth connection.  And if your smartphone boasts voice control, it’s compatible with that as well.

As of today, HIOD has yet to open their web shop.  But if you’re willing, you can enter your email address and they’ll let you know once it’s available for purchase.  We’re seeing an EU oriented charger in their unboxing video, so chances are it will launch there first, but since it is also USB based, it might be a moot issue.

Dare that we say electric motorcycles are become rather ubiquitous?  Okay, perhaps ubiquitous isn’t the correct word, so how about boring?

Earlier this week Volta introduced their production model electric motorcycle.  Distribution is expected to start sometime in Q2 of 2012 with a price tag of about $10,000.  Despite offering 3 different models (BCN Sport, City and Custom), all of them will include the same 35hp non aspirated power source and a trunk with capacity for a full-face helmet, as well as a mobile phone charger.  It’s a complete guess, but probably safe to assume that the custom version will be the most expensive, with the differentiating factor between each model being the aesthetics and finishes.

While Volta hasn’t announced any apps, they have told us that you’ll be able to administer charges, adjust power settings amongst other things directly from your smartphone.  If we’re to believe the company, they say that each charge will cost about $0.60 and the battery will last up to 5 years (1500 charges) where upon its capacity will diminish to 80%.

If you’re looking to purchase one, you’ll have to head to Europe, though we’d expect them to eventually arrive stateside.  Until then, you can always opt for a Brammo.

Volta Motorbikes unveils his first electric motorbike, the Volta BCN, in the coming EICMA 2011

The pre-reservation list will be opening at the start of 2012, and the first units will be sold during the second quarter of the year

Between 8th and 13th November, amid the backdrop of the Milan Fair (69th International Motorcycle Exhibition), Volta Motorbikes, an electric motorbike manufacturer created with the mission of providing new solutions for the pollution problems in big cities, will be presenting its star project: the Volta BCN. The first electric motorbike designed entirely in Barcelona has received the name of the Catalan capital thanks to an agreement with the City Council, which hopes to display the city’s aspiration to become a European benchmark in sustainable mobility and environmental respect. The Volta BCN combines design, a sporty feel, innovation and sustainability all in one. This goes to show that a practical and sustainable vehicle can also be dynamic, while boasting an urban image and high performance.

After months of work and perseverance, the Volta Motorbikes project has now come to fruition and is about to begin the production phase. Thus, during the first quarter of the forthcoming year, a pre-reservation list will be opened on the Internet; and in the second quarter, the first units will be released for sale, for an estimated price of €7,000. At the moment, Volta is putting the final touches on the shape of the Volta BCN distribution network and points of sale throughout Europe.

The fact that Volta bears the name of Barcelona forms part of the intention to help forge the image of a city that is capable of converting urban thoroughfares into a pollution-free public space, yet with no sacrifices regarding the mobility-related needs of the people who live there. And so, Barcelona is pushing to become a benchmark for sustainability in Europe, while at the same time reasserting its ambition to be a hub for design and quality.

The Volta BCN is different from other urban electric motorbikes, as it combines technology, design and a sporty feel, to afford users the opportunity to experience motor passion while also being respectful of the environment.

Volta Motorbikes envisages launching its product in Spain first, and will subsequently make the leap over to the international market, with its first appearance at the Milan Fair, the quintessential showcase for any new product in the two-wheel sector. As Volta Motorbikes Manager Marc Barceló says, “the Milan Fair is the ultimate test to assess the entrance of a new brand, and we hope to firm up our first orders with the European market during the days of the show”.

BCN SPORT, BCN CITY AND BCN MY VOLTA

The Volta BCN, with 35 hp, will be available in several different models, yet as Barceló cites, all are founded on the same philosophy: “Volta aims to transmit the DNA of a brand with a sporty nature while also being efficient and environmentally friendly”.

In Milan, the company plans to present three models with the same power yet different aesthetics and finishes. The BCN Sport is an urban motorbike that projects a dynamic image with a personality of its own, without skimping on performance, quality or practical features. The BCN City offers a cosmopolitan design and targets those who wish to combine an elegant look with the spirit of sustainable mobility and practical, comfortable driving. The BCN My Volta is the customisable model, meaning that the motorbike can be adapted to the needs and preferences of the user in terms of the design of its finishes and accessories. The My Volta will offer customised ordering through an online tool that will be implemented with the new Volta website, coinciding with the brand’s presentation at the Milan Fair.

All of these models require the same A2 driving license and are the ideal choice for those who need a means of daily transport to get about in the city, while serving as a road of entry into the two-wheel world for new users.

€0.45 PER RECHARGE

With a full battery recharge cost of €0.45, this bike can recharge completely in just two hours when plugged into a 220-V household socket or at any public charging point. The Volta BCN has a range of approximately 70 kilometres and a lithium-polymer battery. After 1500 charging cycles, which is the equivalent of five years of daily recharges, the battery still has 80 % of its initial capacity.

One thing that we must point out about the Volta BCN is the quality of its components, as all of its parts are supplied by prestigious brands in the sector.

The motorbike comes with a trunk with capacity for a full-face helmet, as well as a mobile phone charger.Particularly worthy of note is the relaxed and comfortable position of this bike, which makes for agility and free movement when driving. Moreover, it includes the added feature of connectivity with mobile telephone devices, as well as a wide range of applications such as programming recharges and power setting limits, among others; a package that will be available when the first Volta BCN bikes reach the market.

I’d be inclined to say “yes”.

Now I’m just going to come right out and get the negative out of the way first.  Like other bikes I’ve been working on, the seat is bad.  Not just bad, but almost bad enough that I had the desire to burn it in a fire.  I like to use things with the equipment they come standard with for the bulk of my reviews, but in this case after using that seat for fifteen minutes, I had to switch it out for something more comfortable.  There’s literally no padding on it, which makes you feel like you’re sitting on a rock.  For a bike that’s meant to not always be ridden on smooth and paved streets, having a seat like that kills your rear with every bump you hit.

After replacing the seat however (and I’ll STILL never be able to understand why bike manufacturers make expensive bikes with garbage seats) things went much differently.  The Joe D24 comes standard with a pair of nice plush Schwalbe Big Apple tires.  These things are absolutely amazing when it comes to smoothing out your ride – it’s like having a set of shock absorbers built right in, and while you would think that bigger tires (bigger as in wider) would be slower, I haven’t noticed that in the slightest.  These tires roll just as easily as some of the more high end “slim” tires I’ve used on other bikes – very little friction and road noise.

Now the last folding bike that I rode had a “squishy” feeling to it – the frame wasn’t super sturdy, and tended to flex on big bumps.  That’s not a problem with the Joe D24 though, because Tern has gone out of their way to make sure that the frame here is completely solid.  They use a patented technology they call “DoubleTruss” to achieve this feat, which turns the rear of the bike into a three dimensional truss, just like what you would find on a roof.  This adds a lot of strength and rigidity to the frame, and makes for an extremely nice riding experience.

The stem on the Joe D24 is nice as well, allowing you to move the handlebars in really any number of ways.  They call this the “NVO Axis Stem”, and it’s pretty neat how it works.  With the Axis Stem, you can adjust height and angle with relatively no effort (simple hex bolts), which makes it accessible to riders of all sizes.  Even better?  The hex key you need to adjust the stem is actually housed IN the handlebar.

Speaking of the hex key, that’s also what makes the whole folding system here work.  Once you have that key out, all you need to do is loosen ONE hex bolt in the center of the bike.  Unlike some other bikes that have a lengthy process to get them to fold down, the Joe D24 is incredibly simple in that regard.   You loosen the bolt, and then push the FBL (Four-Bar Linkage) lever to split the bike apart.  Tern claims it can be done in under ten seconds – I routinely did mine in eight.

The last feature that the Joe D24 features are hand grips by Biologic, and they are exceptional.  I’ve not had a hand grip feel that comfortable on a sub-thousand dollar bike before, so it was extremely refreshing to find it here.  I would actually love to get these same grips for every bike I own – they’re just that good.

Editor’s Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The Bottom Line:  Tern might be the newcomer on the scene when it comes to folding bikes, but they’re reasonably priced, and paced with enough features to make everyone take notice.

Pros:

• The Joe D24 is extremely easy to fold in half (so much so that my nine year old son can do it), but still sturdy enough to ride
• The Biologic hand grips are extremely comfortable, and make shifting a breeze
• Those Big Apple tires blew me away with how well they worked on this bike – really changed my perspective on tires

Cons:

• The seat is utter trash – maybe some people don’t ever want to sit while riding, but when my legs get tired I like to rest, and you can’t rest on this seat.
• Tern bikes are very new, so finding a dealer might take some effort.

You can get the Joe D24 bike by Tern from any authorized retailer for the MSRP of $649

It’s another week, and time for another high-tech low-tech review!  Keeping with the theme of outdoor equipment that I started last week, we have the Mongoose Deception.  There’s a lot of people out there who are looking for a decent bike, but who don’t feel like spending a grand on a Trek, or a Dynamic (or multiple thousands on a Fuji).  These people are the ones who the Mongoose bikes are designed for – those who go into a big box store (a la Wal-Mart) and just want something either for casual use, or for fitness riding.  Unfortunately for them, the employees in those stores rarely know what the heck they’re talking about on most topics, so hopefully I can help you make a decision on whether or not this is a right fit.

The PR rep offered to send the Deception to a dealer to have it put together, but as a more “hands-on” person, I opted to have it sent directly to my house and do it all myself.  Now, if you have the option for free assembly I usually suggest customers take it – but if you want to know exactly how everything goes together there’s no better way to figure it out than by putting it together yourself.  It’s not that difficult either, as the rear of the bike (including the gear and chain assembly) is already pre-assembled.  Really all you need to do is get the front wheel on, get the front handlebars connected, and get the seat set up (oh and the pedals need screwed in).  It took less than 15 minutes once I looked at the instructions.

Speaking about the seat, the first thing you will end up wanting to change about the Mongoose Deception and really most ANY bike I’ve been testing) is the seat – it really isn’t very comfortable at all.  It’s an easy upgrade though, especially if you pick this up at Wal-Mart, because they have a few decent options for $20.  It’s really nothing against the bike – for some reason bike manufacturers just don’t like to put really comfortable seats on their bikes.  The next thing you’ll end up changing is the tires – while the ones that come included are perfectly fine, if you use this a lot on the road or sidewalk, you’ll notice they do cause a lot of friction.  For a casual rider or someone using this extensively for off-road riding though, that won’t be a real problem.

I really like the colors on it, as the green really stands out against the white, and the design aesthetics are quite nice.  It really feels nice and sleek – more so than some of the really high end bikes I’ve seen.  Something else that stood out to me (since I come from a machinist background) was the quality of the welds on the frame.  They’re all quite smooth and uniform, which really says a lot to me about the craftsmanship on the bike.  In fact, it’s not just the welds, but everything on the frame seems to be very high quality.  I weigh 270, and even when landing hard from some jumps the frame held up beautifully.

The brakes on the Mongoose Deception are a bit higher quality than I would expect from a $200 bike.  They’re disc breaks, and they work a lot better than the standard low end breaks that apply pressure to the sides of the tires while riding.  The only thing people need to understand, is that you may have to do some adjusting on the breaks to make sure they’re working as good as they should be.  It’s not like they’re hard to adjust or anything, but this is another skill you’ll pick up if you put the bike together yourself – I’ve heard stories from people who got bikes like this from a Wal-Mart and the people that put it together set the brakes completely wrong, so you’ll definitely want to check them out yourself.

While the Mongoose Deception doesn’t have a real suspension system (again, it’s a $200 bike, what do you expect), but the front fork does have a shock absorber in it.  While it may not do much if you hit a big pothole, it definitely does the job when hitting your standard bumps from riding around town.  The Mongoose Deception also has 21 speeds, and the whole derailer/shifter system works great – however I did make sure to tune it up myself before riding it.  Again, I’ve heard stories about people getting them from Wal-Mart and the shifter not working properly – I’m not trying to be mean here, but that’s par for the course when the bike assembler also has to do ten other jobs.  Jack of all trades, master of none and all that.  You should either learn to do it yourself, or spend an additional $15 or so at your local bike shop to make sure it’s tweaked perfectly.

Editor’s Score:

4 out of 5 stars

Great!

The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a great bike that will hold up to most anything you’ll throw at it, this is a nice, low-cost option – just make sure you know how to set it up properly, or are prepared to take it to a professional before you actually take it on the road.

Pros:

• Low cost bike that performs as well as some bikes that are much more expensive
• Extremely solid frame – I hit jumps for hours on this with no problems or strains (even when coming off a five foot landing)
• Disc brakes are a LOT better than the standard brakes, and prolong the life of your tires

Cons:

• There’s a lot to be desired in the seat – would it kill them to make it somewhat comfortable?
• The tires cause a lot of friction, which results in road noise, and a lot of drain on your speed
• Not so much a con of the bike, but for your own sakes, be aware of where you’re buying it, and have it checked out by a professional – you’ll thank me for it later

You can get the Mongoose Deception from Wal-Mart for $219.00

(UPDATE: In my haste to re-assemble the bike from my last trip – I didn’t have a bike rack then – I put the stem on backwards.  Pictures have been updated to fix that)

For those of you with a padded bank account and an insatiable thirst for adrenaline, we suggest that you take a gander at this here 9′ three-wheeled motorcycle, the Lean Mean Green Machine.  If nostalgia is kicking in, don’t be surprised, since this motorcycle is inspired by the 1970s big wheel toy that no doubt left you with a many road rashes and with it scares.

This toy come motorcycle is powered by an air-cooled, 80″ cu. Harley-Davidson v-twin Evo engine and can rocket the 3 wheeled death machine to 50mph; it produces up to 60hp.  The traditional steering wheel has been replaced by two handheld push/pull levers that control the two rear wheels via a directional linkage.  Accelerating and braking are as simple as pushing or pulling, while the 6-speed manual transmission is controlled using a foot lever.    Built into the frame is an 8.5 gallon tank that can achieve a range of 400 miles.  Anyone riding that kind of distance on this thing will have to have balls of steel and a metal reinforced back; did you see the seat?

No way in hell is the Lean Mean Green Machine street legal, but chances are you won’t care, especially when you’re dropping $75,000.

Hipsters has long resorted to placing their bike lock in a pant pocket.  Yeah, we get it.  You’re hip and too cool to carry a backpack or mount your U-Lock to your bike.  Talk about impractical if not just straight up uncomfortable.  And what happens if you take a dinger?  Chances are that the U-Lock will be stuffed up your butt leaving you with a rather uncomfortable feeling.

With the Küat Bottle Lock, hipsters and anyone with a water bottle rack on their bike can carry around a 5-foot 8mm cable, which is long enough to lock up you and your friend’s bike.  For any determined bike thief this will hardly prove a challenge, so we suggest using this with a ballsy U-Lock.  If anything it’s a great way to secure your rims, seat and whatever goodies you have attached to your fixie.

For added pizazz, Küat has included a small storage area at the bottom of the bottle, large enough to hold your keys, weed pipe or mustache wax.  When you’re ready to head home, the cable retracts back into the bottle, which we hope can be accomplished by rotating the top of the device.

The Küat Bottle Lock is available now for $34.

The Frankfurt Motor Show is a huge event for new cars and concepts, so Ford went one step further and used the show to unveil its new bike concept. No, not a motorcycle bike, but a bicycle.

Known for its four-wheeled vehicles, Ford thought it would be nice to add an electric bike to the mix (hence the aptly called E-Bike moniker) after noticing the abundance of scooter and bicycles in urban settings. As more and more urban dwellers seek alternate forms of transportation, Ford isn’t wasting any time on what could be the next big trend in the industry.

According to Axel Wilke, Director, Vehicle Personalization, Ford Customer Service Division Europe, the E-bike market is growing extremely fast with an estimated 30 million of them sold last year throughout the world. The E-Bike concept was created from the ground up by a Ford Design team led by Executive Design Director Martin Smith and cyber-Wear, the German brand behind the Ford Lifestyle Collection products. Developed to appeal to both men and women, the E-Bike builds on Ford’s design language to create a modern yet sleek bicycle. It also combines cutting-edge sensor technology from Formula One with the highest quality bicycle components, resulting in a more than stellar concept.

The trapezoidal frame is the heart of the E-Bike’s design and is made out of aluminum and carbon, which makes for a strong, but lightweight, frame. The electric drive system is hidden from view so that nothing looks cluttered, leaving a very clean and minimalist look. Its six-spoke V-design wheels further the sleek appearance.

The hidden drive system consists of a motor in the front wheel hub and a lithium-ion battery concealed in the frame. On a full charge the range is said to be 85 km on a full charge. It also features an integrated controller and patented magnetostriction sensor technology, which convert magnetic energy into kinetic energy, and vice versa. These sensors read the revolutions in the inner bearing and relay this information to the control unit within a hundredth of a second. Then, control unit starts or stops the electric motor, thus providing a seamless integration of the power of the legs with the power of the motor. And like a dashboard on a car, the E-bike has a handlebar-mounted display provides trip information and allows for the rider to select either Economy, Comfort and Sport support modes.

While the E-Bike Concept sounds pretty cool, we’ll all just have to wait if Ford actually produces it’s first electric bike since the company has no plans on producing the concept, but will continue to “study” it as it looks to other possible mobility solutions for the future.

Through the years we’ve seen some pretty neat bike gadgets. There’s the Firefly, which illuminates the rear of the bicyclist and increases the light’s intensity as a car approaches; the Hindsight, a HUD that provides a 24/7 view of what’s behind the rider; and the SEIL bag, which communicates with drivers as to what the rider is going to do (e.g. stopping, turning, etc).  This list is actually far more expansive, but these three are closely related to the Revolight.

It’s another Kickstarter project, but unlike some others that we’ve featured in recent, this one has already garnered significant movement.  And by movement, we mean $122,000 of green locomotion and they haven’t even completed their allotted funding time, with 13 more days to go.

So what is the Revolight?  It’s an LED ring of lights (white for front, red for back) that mounts to the bike’s rim using a set of specially designed clips.  A magnet attaches to the fork and communicates the speed and location of the wheel enabling the LED light to focus its direction of ambiance at the forward and rear facing part of the wheel.  The result is a highly visible set of lights for both motorist, other riders and the proverbial captain of the ship.  A small USB rechargeable battery attaches to the hub and sends power via a thin wire.

While there are three inventors (Kent, Adam and Jim) behind the Revolight, Kent appears to be “the inventor.”  The inspiration for the idea occurred after he went looking for a light that not only lit the way while riding his bicycle at night, but provided drivers with an almost 360 degree heads up of his presence.  Apparently, no product on the market achieves this, and based on our biking experience, and time spent in bike stores we’d have to agree.

To receive a set of Revolights you’ll need to pledge a minimum of $200.  Keep in mind, though, that they’re still a few prototypes away from production, so the chances of you seeing a finished Revolight this year are slim to none.

“Tron: Legacy,” as in the movie, may have come and gone, but it has left us with a wake of products that has done anything but satiated our need for more highly stylized CG action.  We’re not aware of plans for a sequel, but we’d be pretty giddy if there was such a movie in production.  But until our dreams of a trilogy are realized we’ll have to settle for this replica Light Cycle from Hammacher Schlemmer.

Now, keep in mind this isn’t the first replica Tron Light Cycle that we’ve seen.  Late last year we saw one from the Parker Brother Choppers.  In fact, we have a sneaking suspicion that they’re manufacture behind these, especially seeing as they cost the same price ($55k) and both use a Suzuki branded engine, albeit a different model.

As of our last posting we hadn’t obtained the same level of detail.  So safe to say a post, or in this case a repost – assuming our assumptions are correct – is justified.  This Tron Cycle is designed to be ridden at slow speeds.  You know, at shows, fairs, which in turn means it’s not designed for highway or open street use.  Heck, we don’t even know if it’s street legal.   On board is a a fuel-injected Suzuki 996cc, 4-stroke engine; a 6-speed constant mesh manual transmission, standard handlebars controls for throttle and braking; and a hubless wheel system made from former truck tires built up then custom-shaped to fit onto one of two counter-rotating rims spinning within each other, providing the broad-tired authenticity of the computer cycles.  Despite it’s low center of gravity there is a spring-loaded front and rigid rear suspension, which is further streamlined by the wet sump lubrication system that eliminates tubes and hoses for oil pick-up.

If you want one of these $55,000 beasts, you’ll need to call 800-227-3528.

A bike that shifts gears using your mind…ludicrous, right? Think again. Toyota Prius Projects teamed up with Boston-based Parlee Cycles to do a 10-week build and actually created a concept bike that shifts gears at only the thought. Parlee Cycles’ involvement is part of a series of design and technology projects from Toyota that are supposed to help extend the Prius brand to other realms besides hybrid cars.

Drawing on the Prius’ performance and drivability, Parlee created “an aero road bike” that they called “PXP.” The foundation for the PXP was to include features from a time-trial bike with that of a road bike so that the end result would be designed for both performance and distance. To provide it with such aerodynamic ability, carbon fiber was used to minimize weight even though it’s not the most environmentally conscious material on Earth. But Parlee still practiced conservation (something that Prius stands for) by reusing all the scraps that weren’t used. Parlee then added a seat that was fitted with a wireless transmitter that would allow rider to shift the bike’s gears using a smartphone.

Once the bike’s frame was made and the seat’s transmitter worked properly, the team enlisted DeepLocal to help with the advanced technology part. They came up with a “neuron helmet” that uses electrodes to pick up neuro-electrical activity, which then signals an electronic gear shifter that’s mounted under the bike seat to switch gears at only the mere thought of having them switched. But, of course, it’s not something that will happen on the first time. With training, the person riding the PXP bike can learn to properly shift up or down with just the thought. But what the bike doesn’t go into is what happens when outside factors start to impact the user and their thoughts, so there’s a lot that still needs to be developed and addressed to really achieve a mind-reading bike.

For the 10^th week of the project, the group tested their final product, which successfully worked. While they achieved their initial goal, the bike is far from being mass produced for consumers, with no plans on releasing anything like it in the near future. But you never know with technology these days!

Toyota also involved John Watson, of renowned cycling blog of ProllyisnotProbably, to cover the build on his site. Read about each week on ProllyisnotProbably.com! All photos by John Watson.

Bike Fixatation’s DIY kiosks could easily be mistaken for a Coke vending machine.  And while they do sell snacks and drinks, they’re a fair bit more than that.

They just opened their first location in Minneapolis. It’s a self service bike Kiosks (it accepts coins, bills and credit cards) that features a bike lift with tools, an electric pump and a vending machine that includes not only food and drink, but tubes, lights and patch kits.  Strangely enough we’re hearing that it is only open from 6am to midnight, but that might be more a result of the location than the actual machine.

They’re currently planning to open a second location in Minneapolis, but here’s hoping they make their way to other major cities, such as LA, Boston and New York.

Read

Greener transportation is all the rage these days, as everyone is trying to reduce their carbon footprint. And let’s not forget how technology is pushing the boundaries for new, innovative ideas and concepts within the transportation sphere. Daymak’s Shadow eBike is one of these interesting concepts. Designed as a solution for easier and greener transportation in overcrowded metropolitan areas, the Shadow eBike is the first wireless power-assist electric bike in the world.

To make the eBike wireless, Daymak uses a ISM 2.4 GHz wireless system, using frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology, which may prevent interference. This means the bike has no brake, gear cables or any wires on its frame, thus eliminating any chances of accidents due to short circuiting or the like. All of the bike’s circuitry is inside the frame, with the wireless system connected to a what the company calls “Daymak Drive,” which controls the electric motor (either a 250W or 350W motor), magnetic regenerative brakes, throttle and pedal-assist functions. All these are located in the front wheel of the bikes, which also houses a 36V 10AH Lithium battery, rechargeable USB port, charging port and an LED battery power display. So really, all the important stuff is located inside the front wheel, which features a custom-made fork to hold it since there aren’t any conventional bike forks wide enough to hold it all!

While users can easily pedal their way around town, the electric motor and lithium-ion battery provides energy for up to 15 miles, but using the pedals increases the range to about 25 miles. The battery recharges in about 5 hours, and it can be recharged for 750-800 cycles. Thanks to its built-in USB port, the Shadow eBike can also act as a generator and charge any of your other electronic devices, such as your phone, MP3 player and anything else you’d like to take on your ride.

With modern design cues and its bright yellow color, the Shadow eBike will definitely turn heads as you take on the concrete jungle! Pricing is set to be at $1,999 and you’ll have to send an inquiry regarding availability.

Created as a solution to the congested ways of urban living, the YikeBike provides an aesthetically pleasing and fun mode of transportation for urban city dwellers. Similar in purpose as a Segway, but designed in a totally different manner, the YikeBike is touted as the “cooler” way to get around.

Developed by a group of entrepreneurs, engineers and dreamers, they all wanted to create something that would provide the simplest way to get around with the smallest wheel that would provide a stable, safe and comfortable ride, as well as being small enough to travel anywhere in an populated city.

The result is the YikeBike, a modern take on the old school unicycle, which utilizes state-of-the-art technology, industrial design and a new and unique way of getting around. While it may look as if it’s a children’s toy, the YikeBike is anything but.

You sit on it as you would a chair, and place your feet on pedals that sit on each side of the 20-inch large, front wheel (the back wheel is 8 inches). Its handle bars are to your sides and also act as hand brakes (stopping power comes by electric anti-skid and regenerative brakes that will yield you and the YikeBike on nearly any surface). While it may look uncomfortable at first, it’s only natural that you’d put your hands down to your sides when sitting in an upright position that the YikeBike requires in order to safely and properly ride one.

With its one-kilowatt electric motor that emits zero emissions, you’ll also leave no carbon footprint, making it a great alternative to a motorcycle or car. But don’t expect to be a speed demon on a YikeBike because it tops out at 14.3 mph, just enough speed to get you cruising the city.

Its LiFEPO4 rechargeable battery allows for a 6.2-mile range and has a 120-minute recharge time with a standard charger, but an optional fast charger drops the time to only 50 minutes. However, if you add another battery pack, you can get 12.4 miles and two additional battery packs ups the range to 18.6 miles on a single charge.

An advanced LED light system is always on so that you can be seen at all times, day and night. Just like any other bike, turning lights, brake lights, rear lights, turning signals and hazard lights are standard features on the YikeBIke.

Originally created out of carbon fiber components back when it was unveiled in 2010, it weighed only 22 pounds, which made it the lightest electric bike in the planet. But because it had a carbon fiber frame, the price tag made it run about $4,000.

As a way to make it available to the masses, a new, more affordable option is now available for under $2,000. The YikeBike Fusion may be lower priced, but design and quality have not been comprised. The Fusion still features everything that the original carbon fiber version possesses, but uses conventional materials that are more appealing to both cost-conscious and energy-conscious consumers. It’s only two pounds heavier, but can still be easily folded for convenient handling and storage as the carbon fiber version. It takes only about 15 seconds to fold or unfold both YikeBike versions.

Whether you like the lighter carbon fiber option or want the more budget-friendly Fusion, there are also a multitude of accessories and options, such as a variety of colors to choose from (red, silver, white, green and blue thus far); a specifically designed storage bag; extender and replacement batteries; and fast chargers.

Here’s a video of the YikeBike in action from a previous post! To order your very own YikeBike or to check out more info on it, visit their site here!

Pardon us if we don’t hold our breath while we debate if this BMW powered hover bike is real.  But that’s the word on the street.  It sports a 1,170cc 4-stroke BMW boxer engine that powers a pair of rotors.  Its inventor, Chris Malloy, says that it can achieve a top speed of 173 MPH and hover at over 10,000 feet.  Say what?  That just doesn’t seem viable, but we’re not scientists, so who are we to say.  Nonetheless we’re tossing in our skepticism card.

The bike is reinforced with a Kevlar carbon fiber and foam core frame, and complemented by exotic Tasmanian oak propellers.  Much like a motorbike, the controls are mounted on the handle bars, allowing its rider to control pitch, eleveation, speed and direction.

Malloy estimates that the Hover Bike will cost about $40,000 once and if it heads into production.  Personally, we’d love to see this thing go head-to-head with the Martin Jetpack, which has already achieved numerous test flights and more importantly viability.

Via: Gearpatrol

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Yesterday we saw a new spin on the bike lock that called for the handle bars of the bicycle to double as a lock.   Today, Kickstarter project TiGr has caught our attention with their titanium bow like lock.

It can rap around the bike’s frame, wheel and any secure object that isn’t more than 5.5-inches thick.  At one end is a locking mechansim and they say that it’s designed to stand up to thieves and their handy cutting/picking tools, though those of you in London or any major city that is home to heavy bike theft know that there is no lock that is completely theft resistant.

Compared to other locks on the market it most certainly has advantages. Presumably it’s pretty light weight compared to those U-Locks and it can fix to the top tube of the bike with Velcro for easy transport.

John Loughlin, the dude behind the design, is currently looking to accrue $37,500 to fund his project – he’s already at 33k. If you pledge more than $100 you’ll score one of your own, though you’ll need to add $15-30 for shipping.

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Toting around the good old bike lock is a pain in the ass, and literally if you resolve to the hipster methodology (they stick it in their back pocket).  So it only makes sense to integrate the lock into the bike’s components.

The Senza Bike Lock makes dual use of the handle bars. They can be removed and locked together to form the equivalent barrier of protection of that of a U-Lock, which is commonly used to deter thieves.  A double whammy is delivered because cutting the lock means damaging the handle bars, which are an integrate part of a bike’s usefulness.  The design, and we have to stress that it’s just a design, also calls for a rear wheel lock that is fixed in place and clamps closed to prevent the spokes from rotating or passing through the would be gap if it were unlocked.

Caveats?  In order for the locks to be sturdy enough to ward of thieves they’d have to be hefty in build, which means unwanted weight.  And despite the fact that it’s convenient to have the lock with you at all times, there are “rides” when you don’t require such an apparatus and thus the weight is unjustified.

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All electric cars might suffer in the range department, but motorcycles, that’s a different story. Not only are they generally less expensive, but they’re faster and lighter, making them ideal for electric power.
The SORA is one of the first all electric bikes that we’ve had the pleasure of laying eyes on that boasts a range of 300km (180 miles) and a top speed of 200kmh (120mph). An integrated range system automatically manages energy consumption to insure that you arrive at your desired destination and the 5.7-inch touchscreen GPS system adds another level of tech flare to the whole package.

A regenerative braking system is present as is “the world’s first ever electric motorbike seat”, which apparently lets you change your position on the fly. The design is striking and as you can see there is only a suspension system supporting the rear wheel, while the rest of the bike is crafted from carbon fiber fairing and aluminum.
To completely recharge the bike you’ll need to be able to spare 8 hours. Reasonable considering that’s how long most humans sleep.
If you wanna take a test drive you’ll have to head up to Canada. No word on price at this time.
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The Camelpak is a brilliant product that distributes the weight of the water over the runner or rider’s back and provides quick and easy access to the liquid via a tube mounted on the shoulder strap.  But the down side, especially on a searingly hot day, is that  your back will cook and the sweat won’t dissipate.  While it won’t lead to little more than discomfort and perhaps even “surfer’s rash”, it’s enough of a distraction that it could hinder your performance.  

The VelEau is designed specifically for bicyclists and places a 42oz container at the rear of the bike, just below the seat, complete with storage for tools.  Tubing, much like the Camelpack, is routed along the frame to the handle bars, where upon the rider can gain quick access to the spout, which is held in place with a set of magnets and a retractable tethering system so no thought has to go into replacing it into a holster, unlike a water bottle.

Word is that it will be available for $79.99 this July.

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Bike garages are nothing new to Japan, as we saw a few years ago, but New York City is still kicking around the good old bike rack.  That is unless one design group, New York’s Manifesto Architecture, has their way.

They’re calling for a bike garage, named the Bike Hanger, that, as the picture details, fits next to a building.   Commuters ride in and hoist up the bike into what is a translucent holding bay.  To avoid the power requirements and significant infrastructure build out, riders will be required to jump on a stationary bike to energize the carousel system.  

We’re just left wondering how you retrieve your bike in an orderly fashion.  Our best guess?  Each bay is tagged with a number which is provided to the rider.  But since it’s a human powered system, the lines to collect your bike at quitting time would probably be horrendous.

Via: Gizmodo

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There’s nothing wrong with the scooters of today, although most are gas guzzlers and emit unwanted emissions.  The best alternative is a bicycle.  It’s carbon free, works under your own power and is relatively cheap when compared to any motor counterpart.  But for many the prospect of pedaling is a no go.

Enter the Volitude scooter.   It will only be available in Switzerland, though perhaps some finagling could get you one shipped State side for a hefty price.  Nonetheless, it’s rechargeable machine that runs on electricity and can travel 20 to 40km depending on your pedal input and the terrain.  It can reach a speed up to 25kmh, which is about 15mph.  

But what makes this electric scooter truly notable is its ability to fold up into a cubical worthy size, or at least that’s what we’d like to think by looking at the pics.  It’s a bit too heavy (40 to 50lbs) to be carried thanks to all the components, but a handy “walk speed” lets you drag it along with what we assume is with ease.  Completing a full charge take 4 hours and there is a set of hydraulic brakes, rear and front LED lights and your choice (we assume) of a 5,7 or 8 gear sequential gear box.

Price and an official release date will be announced this September.

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