Recumbent - The Recumbent Of The Future

Its a recumbent... but completely enclosed and upright!

More info can be found at:


http://www.redtop.se/ThisWay.html


A closer look:





A look from the front:





Sideview:




With Helmet/Luggage Box Attachment:





Convertible version:

Needs a shell. We 'bent eccentrics are happy with the present day. Converting more riders (out of their cars) will require some weather protection. The model here offers a nice prototype. It looks pretty compatible with an aerodynamic shell.

But where are the gears?

They're hidden by the chassis.... which also doubles as an enclosed chaincase! The design mixes the HPV, recumbent, CF and motorcycle design aspects. It should be quite fast on the ground with the small wheels
and it looks cool!

Looks heavy.

That bike looks wonderful. Thank you for the pictures. I can't help thinking it might make a most awesome e-bike.

Appearances can be deceiving. It would be built with lightweight composites and aluminum and of course it could be set up with a motor kit as an e-bike. Why not?

How would seating be adjusted? The concept model doesn't look like it's adjustable

I think the seat slides along rails so it could be adjusted to the height of the rider. More likely, the chassis can be shortened or lengthened to fit the rider's body precisely. CF's come in one size fits all and I think this is a variation on the concept, so it can suit riders of different heights.

and it only cost 2 children!?!?! WOW : D what a deal!

Anybody notice the brakes and rotors are on the frames right side, not left.
DH

Its equipped with disk brakes. That should be plenty of stopping power on any terrain.

Its a recumbent... but completely enclosed and upright!

Very similar to this solar/electric bike, but completely enclosed?? I don't think so.

http://www.trendhunter.com/photos/26404/3

and just how are the handlebars supposed to turn with a bent steertube?

The seat isn't all that adjustable, and tall riders would end up with the seat up high, which would run them out of head space; so the design would require a lot of frame sizes, and a lot of belt sizes to accommodate them. Not good for keeping production costs down.

I wonder how you replace the belt? Making the frame open along the bottom would weaken the structure in a high-tension area, so I'm guessing the belt would have to be pushed up through the frame with a long stick, and the BB removed to get around the trapped chainring.

I'm looking at is as a commuter and wondering where the lights are (I want a good, bright head and tail light), how I'm going to carry all my stuff, and how it will handle in a side wind, as in when you get passed too closely by a bus, semi truck, etc. How easy is it to maneuver in traffic or tight space? How easy is it to lock up?

I'm also looking at how easily it can be worked on. How easy is it to replace the cabling, and chain (belt)? What kind of routine maintenance would I need to do on it? What parts are proprietary and, therefore, only available from the manufacturer?

It's really not enclosed, and there's no way to keep the windshield clean for bad weather riding. For the minimal protection, the extra weight of the top is waste.

This design has (at least) 2 serious flaws, so I suspect it'll remain vaporware for the foreseeable future:

1. The crank is too low. Assuming 20" wheels and 170mm cranks, the pedals would be about 2" off the asphalt causing serious heel strike, especially when leaning at speed.

2. While shallow head tube angles are fine, the designer neglected the need for fork offset (rake) to alleviate the excessive trail in this design - as shown, expect VERY heavy fork 'flop' if not corrected.

This design has (at least) 2 serious flaws, so I suspect it'll remain vaporware for the foreseeable future:

1. The crank is too low. Assuming 20" wheels and 170mm cranks, the pedals would be about 2" off the asphalt causing serious heel strike, especially when leaning at speed.

2. While shallow head tube angles are fine, the designer neglected the need for fork offset (rake) to alleviate the excessive trail in this design - as shown, expect VERY heavy fork 'flop' if not corrected.



Yeah, but it does look cool. ;)

Yeah, but it does look cool. ;)So does a rattle snake.

So does a rattle snake.
Who is straddling a snake, even conceptually?

Seriously, it's only a concept. All the criticism is, though, quite constructive and if the designer incorporated this kind of feedback, the thing might be further along to some form of practicality. We need the dreamers, and their critics, to drive innovation.

Who is straddling a snake, even conceptually?
.

http://www.terratrike.com/snakeskin.php

I don't know if it 'advances the breed,' so to speak, but I admit, it does look cool. It was probably designed by an art student, not an engineer.

Could a u-joint or a CV type joint account for the bent headset? Two sets of brakes and one lever? Maybe some kind of proportioning valve? I think the hidden drive line is powered by a NuVinci crank. It's the latest in non-exisistant technology. My favorite part is the uber close rock trapping tire schredding fenders.

I can never pass up a chance to play with photoshop. I’m not very good, but it’s fun.

My thoughts of improvement would be a larger functional windshield. A seat that can adjust so the dealers do not have to stock pile different sizes. Last would be to make it a all electric vehicle. All that molding would be just too heavy to pedal around.

I wondered it the bike were shaft-drive....until I saw the bright shiny chain on the rear wheel in a couple of these shots. With experience in fabricating composite structures, one could replicate the convertible version fairly easily (maybe using the lost-foam method for the curved parts?)

Speaking of the chain.....yes, that's the tremendous feature of this bike, isn't it? No chain to brush ones leg against. Heck, you can hardly even tell it's there.

If Santa Claus drove a recumbent bike, this is the one he'd drive.

It looks more like a toy for a kid. There is something about it. It lacks Macho! It looks "Safe". Its like, what would you rather be seen in, a Volvo or a Lambrogini? I am trying to figure out how I would stow it in my car or truck? This bike concept would work well as a beachcruiser, or something you rent out at Venice beach or ride on a golf course or fairground or senior citizen's home. It has that futuristic look to it, but I can't see everybody showing up to a meet with one of these. One is enough! Then we paint the thing yellow. Does anybody see "Big Bird" here????

I agree with you!

:love: