Video demo after the cut

Inspired by a city scooter, the Voltitude bike has disc brakes and is rear-wheel drive; it has integrated front and rear LED lighting, and takes around four hours to charge with a power supply said to be around the same size as you’d have for a laptop. When folded you can trundle the bike along next to you, or hit the “walk” mode button and have it power along at up to 3.7mph (or roughly walking pace).

A five, seven or eight speed gearbox and up to 15.5mph top speed (with some pedal assistance) round out the key specs. Currently the Voltitude bike is being sold in limited numbers as part of a trial in Switzerland, but the company expects to broaden that to worldwide sales in September. No word on pricing, however.

[via Born Rich]

Firefly workshop has invented a cool DIY snowplow that is made from some wood and a couple old bikes. I could see this being the only possible use for one of those full size tricycles that I wouldn’t call you an idiot for driving. The builder of this plow appears to have cobbled a pair of normal bikes together.

The front of the plow is raised and lowered using a pulley and rope system. The guy uses the plow to push the snow down the drive into a few piles that can then be shoveled off into the yard. The contraption is a good way to get rid of the snow when it’s not enough for a show thrower, but too much for removal by hand according to the builder.

Via Make

The bubble provides some weather protection, but it also addresses one of the frequent criticisms of the C5 scooter, in that it was difficult to be seen while on the road since the C5 was so low to the ground. In contrast, the X-1 is 140cm high; there are also front and rear lights.

The real draw, though, is affordability. Sinclair Research reckons the X-1 can drive 10 miles for £0.10 (about sixteen cents), as long as you don’t mind helping out with some pedalling, though it’s not entirely clear how far the range is altogether. X-1 deliveries will kick off in July 2011.

[via The Register]

Video demo after the cut

There’s also a ski blade on the side, which can be interchanged with the front wheel just in case you get some heavy snow.

Of course, they don’t intend to actually offer the bike commercially; it’s just an eye-catching promotion to get you to think about bike insurance.  The BOND name apparently stands for “Built of Notorious Deterrents” but is an obvious nod to 007.

[via OhGizmo!]

The concept is called the TwoQuarter and gets electric power from a lithium battery pack that is in the black case on the rear of the bike. That battery appears to act as a fender as well to keep mud and dirt off the rider.

The bike can be folded in half and if you really need space it can be folded to a quarter of its original size. The battery pack can be charged for the AC outlet and is designed to help propel the bike uphill. When riding downhill the battery gets a bit of a recharge.

Plus, it’s got a name like Soopa Scoota, and that’s just awesome. You’re saying it out loud right now, aren’t you? We did it, too, so don’t feel bad. Apparently this design is about as concept as it gets, and the designer doesn’t know when, or even if, it’ll become a reality in the future, but we can keep our fingers crossed. It definitely looks like a strange mix between a motorcycle and a bike, and we imagine there’s plenty of daredevils out there that would love to race down a hill with their face only a few inches away from the ground.

If the Soopa Scoota does make it to the market, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear that it costs a few hundred bucks. Especially when you consider the “lightweight,” “aerodynamic,” and “extreme” features of the Soopa Scoota, how could it not be? And who wouldn’t pay for it, right? Let us know: would you ride this thing?

[via DVICE]

If you are well heeled and like electric bikes, we have one for your collection. The bike is from a company called M55 and it’s called the EVO-001. The bike features a single piece aluminum frame with an integrated battery pack and a motor.

The electric motor is placed for stability while riding. Two versions will be offered with a street legal version packing in a 250W motor and an off-road version boasting a 1300W motor. The bike can hit 43mph, though which version hits that speed is unknown. My money says the 1300W sport version though. To slow down the thing has Brembo disc brakes. The handmade bikes will be limited to 250 units and if you need to know how much it is, you can’t afford it.

The concept is called Bike 10 to 15 and looks like the bike Tron learned to ride before his parents bought him a light cycle. For some reason the thing also reminds me of what an Xbox branded bike might look like. The big feature of the concept is a seat that can be adjusted to any height along with the bar the seat sits on.

The frame also stretches horizontally to put the rider in the correct position. Any guy who rode a bike too big for them will tell you having that bar at the right height is important, particularly if you plan to procreate later in life.

I’m fortunate enough to live in a more suburban part of Los Angeles, so the only reason why I’d consider these would be rainy days (which we’re getting more of lately), and because I already own a road bike that could be used with this Instructables project.  It does look somewhat dicey, but less so than being hit by, say a car or something.

At $35 in parts and apparently less than 4 hours or so to make, it looks to be something for the more venturesome, so YMMV, indeed.

[Instructables via Gizmodo]

“Leveraging ADI’s accelerometer technology, Cannondale was able to create the first-ever suspension bike that can remain fully rigid on smooth surfaces for pedaling efficiency while seamlessly opening up to maintain comfort and stability,” said Stanley Song, advance projects engineer for Cannondale Bicycles. “The accelerometer also provides insights into the bicycle system that would otherwise be unattainable. For example, by sensing free fall and the duration of the fall, Simon knows when a mountain biker jumps off a rock. ADI’s accelerometer effectively allows Simon to ‘read’ the terrain in advance and preemptively adjust the suspension settings in real time.”

The programmable settings on the Simon electronic suspension system with ADI’s high-g ADXL78 accelerometer are controlled using a handlebar-mounted joystick and LCD display.  As an avid cyclist myself, this is something to look forward to in the near future.

The carbon fiber frame sits around spokeless wheels which reduce aerodynamic drag, and the concept uses puncture-resistant tires which can self-inflate.  While it might all sound far-fetched, according to Boardman the technology is actually out there just waiting to be put together.

“It could be built now if there was the will” he told reporters recently.  ”All the technologies are already there, it’s just that nobody’s put them all together before.”  Still, he doesn’t expect mass production of such a cycle to be financially feasible for another 20 years.

[via DesignBoom]

Only a very small fraction of the streets have dedicated bike lanes and that is understandable seeing that the cost of installation is anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 for mile. Luckily LightLane projects a very vivid virtual bike lane just behind you on the road itself.

Now that there is a clearer indication of the bike lane at night cyclists can have a bit more confidence while taking to the streets after dark. It is clear in the picture that the large red lighting effect given off by the LightLane will make drivers more aware to your presence than a traditional single blinking red light would. Though it is only a concept now, it would really help cyclists who brave the roadways at night.

The bike itself will take whatever watt your pedaling at and double it in output. Powering the 250 watt motor is a Toshiba SCIB supercharged battery that will provide roughly 15 miles of riding on a single 45 minute charge. The battery is guaranteed to last for 3,000 charges but has been tested up to 6,000 with 85 percent capacity. That is really great compared to the 500 charges that competing bikes boast.

These Pedal Assisted Bikes are available in the $3,000 range, which these days seems a whole lot more affordable than a car, insurance and gas.

Electric bikes have made their way into our lives and they really seem to be taking off. Now I have only seen one in person, but it seemed like an even effortless way to get some basic exercise. These bikes are especially popular in Japan where Yamaha has announced the release of 3 new models.

Yamaha already offers a number of electric bikes in Japan. They just announced the PAS Lithium S, the PAS CITY-S and the PAS CITY-F, all of which will all be released on February 5th. There are little differences between the bikes such as size, color and weight. All three of the new bikes are priced at $1,200 and will include the lithium-ion battery. You can ride an estimated 39km when riding in standard mode, 21km in power mode and 67 km in auto-eco plus mode on a single charge.

Cy.Fy is compatible with the iPod and mounts on your handlebars. It transmits music via a Bluetooth transmitter, meaning your music player can stay in your pocket. It features a rechargeable battery and is water resistant.

It is also compatible with cell phones and other mobile devices with Bluetooth. The standard version of the Cy.Fy costs $180, while the iPod model costs $200. So the next time you go for a bike ride, maybe this nifty little speaker can help you groove and still hear the sounds of traffic around you.

[via Gadget Lab at Wired]

This LED accessory just clicks onto the wheel of your bike. Pretty simple stuff. In fact, each wheel only has one LED on it. But by means of a microchip, each LED flashes in a strobe-like fashion according to how fast you’re pedaling.

Designed by Moritz Waldenmeyer, this clever little device was sold on a bike in Germany in an auction for a whopping $3,700! I mean, a strobe happy face is cool and all, but not thousands of dollars cool. I’m thinking under $50 at the most? Any way, maybe some of you inventive cyclists out there could create your own version of this. It’s a thought, anyway.

[via Gadget Lab at Wired.com]

This little string of electric bikes could make even the Osbournes look like the Brady Bunch. I just can’t get the visual of a line of baby ducks out of my head.

The design was made by Jiang Qian. Who designed the bikes so that they could be either ridden alone or linked together to make the chain shown here.

[via slipperybrick]

The speaker case is water resistant so your iPod can sit safely inside, it attaches to your bike frame with a mounting bracket and it can accommodate larger iPods. It’ll fit most bike frames and has a wireless RF remote that mounts onto your handlebars so you can control your music.

Of course the best part is that it’s detachable so you can take where not even your bike can go. You can purchase one for your bike for around $80.

Bike to Beach Bicycle Speaker for iPod [via OhGizmo!]

Recharging is courtesy of a special bike rack, which automatically tops up the RoboScooter’s power pack whenever it’s hung back up.  The project envisions a one-way rental system similar to that operating in Paris (albeit using normal, pedal-powered cycles there), where patrons would swipe a credit card on the rack, take a bike and ride to their destination, then leave it at another rack ready for the next user.

Maybe most useful for long-term viability, the RoboScooter only requires 150 different parts, significantly reducing production costs and maintenance.

MIT RoboScooter [via BornRich]

The people at Cervellum, however, seem to think it’s exactly what a bike needs. The Cervellum Bike Digital Rearview Mirror has a 4 hour battery life and will let you see what’s going on behind you while you enjoy your ride. I guess maybe it might be good to see if there’s a car coming up, but I think you could hear a car just as well.

This device will cost you $200 when it’s finally release. Cervellum is working on a GPS and heart-rate monitor too and those actually seem like good ideas. I think they’d be much more useful on a bike.

Cervellum Bike Digital Rearview Mirror [via BeSportier]

This is no different, the handle bars fold down, the back wheel folds up, all is good right? Till you get to the part in the imaginary instruction booklet where it tells you that you need your FeliCa enabled phone to start it.

Now, I will go ahead and admit I don’t have the slightest clue what FeliCa is, I get so far that it is more or less proprietary to the country of Japan, maybe the entire oriental region, where they are about 10 years ahead of us in terms of wireless services, but using a phone, to start your slightly-larger-than-a-briefcase electric bike is just plain nuts. Furthermore, there are claims of the bike having access to the Internet, maybe so it can go all Johnny Number 5 on your ass some day in the future.

Yamaha Designs the Stupidest Commuter Prototype Ever [via uberreview]

There is also and included Bluetooth headset from Cardo that works great for in-helmet communication between you and the device. Apparently the Bluetooth headset is kind of a moot point since most people that can afford an $800 GPS unit for their motorcycle can probably afford a helmet with integrated Bluetooth.

The unit is also apparently very rugged and can even stand some water, up to a foot of it for 30 minutes to be exact. There are two different models, I am assuming both are European, but I gather that one has maps and languages for all of Europe on it, that one is the $800 one, and the other has only maps and languages for a given region on it, that one goes for a $101 less.

Born To Be Wild: TomTom Rider 2^nd Edition Is Out [via gizmodo]

He was a pretty great guy, at least as far as most Catholics were concerned. Anyways, OCC, the guys famous for their hit TV show and their amazing theme bikes have gone and made a bike in his memory. I have dubbed it the Pope Bike 2k7, I have no idea what they are calling it.

Their one saving grace is that they are kissing the 60 grand it cost them to make goodbye and donating the whole thing to a Christian charity. The bike includes a gas tank that is covered in the image of the great man himself and of several scenes from his life, other religious imagery, the PJP2’s coat of arms and the colors of the Polish flag. Since there is no chance I am ever going to become pope, let me say that if I were the pope, I would have come down and smitten the person who even thought of remembering me with a motorcycle, but I guess that’s why he was the pope and I have no chance in hell.

The bike will go on eBay August 26^th. I must say though, that Pope John Paul II was one of, if not the greatest man of our time, regardless of your religion or lack thereof he did many great things during his life not only for the Catholic/Christian religions but for the world as a whole.

Pope’s Image to Adorn a Bike [via bornrich]

The bike comes in various colors, and is made to fit the greatest range of possible drivers possible. So it fits all types of riders, how does it drive though? Well luckily there is software built into it that is user configurable to allow for adjustment between and apparent inverse relationship between speed and distance. So a novice rider can get on and configure it for max distance and take it easy just getting the hang of riding. At the same time an experienced rider can configure it for top speed and make good use of the fast acceleration and respectable top speed.

Alright, so for the gearheads, some more stats, naught to 50MPH (top speed) in 6 seconds and naught to 30MPH in 3.8 seconds. Three hour recharge time from 0-100%, and a flat torque line, which means all of the torque is available from 0MPH.

The lack of a transmission makes it feasible to park the bike inside just like a regular bicycle because there is no concern for fluid leakage or emissions as there are none of either.

The boys at Brammo Motorsports have done it again, I think I want one.

Enertia Bike [via brammo]

Make sure to check out the video after the cut!

Part of the DIY Rally 2007, the Propeller Trike uses a 7ft prop and salvaged bike parts.  The propeller blades actually light up at night, thanks to embedded LEDs.  I guess that’s one way to stop small children from trying to walk into them!

Popular Mechanics [via Slashdot]

Folding bikes are nothing new, in fact the concept has been available for many years – perhaps most notably by Brompton, who have been selling collapsing bicycles since 1976 – and each finds its own balance between wheel-size and folded-size. Larger wheels make for a more comfortable ride and, usually, greater pedalling efficiency, while smaller-wheels are less suited for travelling any significant distance but can invariably fold down to a far more compact package.

The A-Bike, as is obvious from the photos, falls definitely into the latter category; its 6-inch wheels perch almost comically at the end of each aluminium limb. What you lose in visual gravitas you gain in portability, however. It weighs just 12 pounds (5.5kg) and, when folded, measures 26 x 12 x 6 inches (67 x 30 x 16 cm); small enough to fit into a reasonable rucksack or, alternatively, the collapsing bag Sinclair Research supply.

It’s a straightforward concept. You’re not supposed to see the A-Bike as the sole replacement for your commute; it’s meant to bookend the journey, preferably done by public transport. Take the train into the city, then finish off the short trip to your office – and, because it’s always fun to ride around indoors, to the lift and then to your very desk – on the bike. Cheaper than a taxi and healthier too.

Unfolding the A-Bike takes – with a little practice – around ten seconds, struts stretching out and handlebars locking into place. It all feels surprisingly sturdy; I was expecting something flimsy and suitable only for kids, but once you’re used to the tiny wheels riding is oddly fun. The brakes are progressive and effective, while the numerous reflective panels give at least a vague sense of visibility to other vehicles. What you’re definitely visible to are pedestrians; the A-Bike is not a vehicle for the shy or retiring, and you should expect at least a couple of questions from curious bystanders on each trip (and, on the flip side, a few people pointing and laughing).

Personally, my commute takes me thirty-five minutes and I park right outside the office, so the A-Bike was never going to replace my car. Living close enough to local shops to make me feel guilty driving there, however, repurposed the bike as basic urban transport when we needed more milk or the paper. Storage was never an issue thanks to the A-Bike’s clever folding trick; standing up in the corner of the hall, the enclosed chain and crankhouse means no grease or oil rubbing off on walls or carpets (or trouser legs, for that matter).

Oddly enough, while I expected my cycling friends to most appreciate the A-Bike, they turned out to be the most critical group. A saddle which is, admittedly, not the most comfortable long-distance (or even really medium-distance) perch, the lack of gears and a perceived sense of frivolity seemed to offend their day-glo sensitivities. Far more enthusiastic were the non-cyclists: some saw it as an ideal addition for the car boot, another thought it useful for their motor-home, while young people flocked to it as a replacement to the push-scooter. Few were put off by the £149.99 price-tag ($298), although how many of them will actually go on to buy the bike as opposed to seeing it as a luxury or a frippery is unknown.

In the end, only you know whether the A-Bike suits your lifestyle or not. If you regularly commute into work or school and have a shortish walk at either end then perhaps the saved minutes biking would make it worthwhile to you. Similarly, if you live in town and have neither the space nor the inclination for a car or full-sized bike, then the A-Bike could be an easily stored and fun alternative. It’s one of those things that could easily be written off as a toy, but having tried it myself it’s anything but; yes, it’s entertaining and it gets attention, but I’d like to think that this latest invention of Sir Clive’s will last more like the Sinclair ZX than the ill-fated C5.

Many thanks to Mayhem UK for the loan of the A-Bike.

[rating: 3.5]

Gear manufacturer Shimano has obviously decided to cash in on that eco-concerned but bike-ignorant market sector, and the Coasting system is their first strike.  Basically a three-speed automatic transmission for a bike, it takes all the complicated “first you flick this lever, then that one, but never stop pedalling while you do it!” madness out of the whole business.

Several big-name bike manufacturers, such as Raleigh, Giant and Trekbikes, are showing models using the Coasting system, although there’s little word on pricing so far.  Who knows, if I see one in a store I might just have to take it for a test-ride.

Shimano Coasting [via Hemispheres via Neatorama]