The YikeBike

via Designboom - Weblog

The YikeBike by inventor Grant Ryan and engineer Peter Higgins of New Zealand, is a mini-farthing bike designed to battle the increasing urban congestion of today. The carbon fiber frame is the foldable and weighs under 10kg. YikeBike's electronic motor allows you to travel at speeds up to 20 kph. The design means that your feet remain static on the footrests and your fingers work the accelerator and a brake.

The YikeBike can comfortably be ridden by anyone from 160cm to 195cm (5’3” to 6'5"). There is no need to adjust the seat because you do not pedal – your height relative to the seat is only important to how much your knees are bent when riding. the bike can comfortably take a rider (and personal effects) weighing up to 100kg.





The development of the concept can be found at www.minifarthing.com.

Chris Boardman: Intelligent Bike Concept

via Designboom - Weblog on 8/12/09

Cyclist Chris Boardman unveiled his latest cycle concept to the world's media yesterday. the new 'intelligent' bike counts calories as you pedal, plays music and uses a solar-powered motor when you get tired.

The carbon fiber frame has an inbuilt computer system, which incorporates an 'unbreakable' locking device that allows only the owner to open it via fingerprint recognition. Spoke-less wheels make the bike more aerodynamic while the tires will be puncture-proof with self-inflating tires.



'It could be built now if there was the will. All the technologies are already there, it's just that nobody's put them all together before.' Boardman said. He also added though that such a bike would not be financially feasible' for mass production for around another 20 years.

Super Green, Super Dangerous, Super Bike

via Yanko Design by Chris Burns on 7/2/09

So you’d like to have a tiny motorcycle. So you’d like to have a fast motorcycle. So you’d like to have a safe motorcycle. I am sorry you cannot have all three! What you’ve got here is a very fast, very dangerous vehicle. It’s called the Halbo, and it’s got a BMW stamp on it. It’s tiny and it’s got a front wheel motor combined with a sphere form rear wheel.

The target user for this vehicle is a “vibrant eco-minded young individual.” Speed on! It’s half the size of the “regular high end motorcycle,” and it’s full name is Halb Organismus.

Wild enough?

Also it’s electric powered. The front wheel is stationary, while the back… tail… turns left to right. It’s like flying an X-Wing! Or… like a motorboat! Or… anything with a stationary front end!

Designer: Pierre Yohanes Lubis

Future Duo-Wheel Transport BMW Halbo Pierre Yohanes Lubis

Anthony Cioffi: Electric Racing Bicycle

via Designboom - Weblog on 5/29/09

image courtesy anthony cioffi

anthony cioffi is a student at the art center college of design in pasadena, california.
he has sent us images of his thesis project, an electric racing motorcycle.


image courtesy anthony cioffi


image courtesy anthony cioffi


image courtesy anthony cioffi

Variable Frame Bike

via Yanko Design by Chris Burns on 5/22/09

The bike is up, then the bike is down. You sit on the bike upright in the city, then set it down to cruise in the suburbs. It’s intuitive. It’s wild. It’s a thesis project. It’s got a video to go with it. It’s already mocked up. The final version will have a battery and hubmotor for a little kick in the pants. Environmentally friendly city and country transportation in one bike.

Each frame is adjusted to the weight of the rider. The rider may ride in either mode forever, but if the rider wants to switch from one position to another, they’ve just to push the locking lever and lean forward or backward. The rider may change positions while continuing to ride the bike.

Info on the mockup movie, below:

This is the proof of concept mockup for a commuter bike with variable frame as part of the diploma thesis of the product-designers daniel knüpfer and stefan wallmann at anhalt university, dessau in mai 2008. In the concept, the frame can be locked by a lever on the handlebar, that feature is missing in the mockup. Also, the springs that help bringing the rider in an upright position need to be adjusted to the riders weight to balance the frame (making it possible to switch positions while leaning back or forth). these springs are too weak in this prototype, therefore the riders in the video need to push the backrest a little bit. only a very lightweight rider managed to bring himself up by simply leaning forward.

Vielen Dank, Deutschland.

Designer: Daniel Knuepfer and Stefan Wallmann

Bike Parkour!

via Core77 on 4/20/09

Via Mark Vanderbeeken comes this sweet, sweet footage.
thanks Mark!