When car manufacturers build bicycles
 

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Audi has revealed what it believes to be the future of e-bikes: the Wörthersee, a electric bicycle that features smartphone connectivity and a built-in computer system.

The Wörthersee is built for the sporty types, encouraging punters to record trick sequences through the bike's computer system and then share those feats with their Facecrack buddies. While they wait at the traffic lights, presumably.

The touchscreen computer is built into the handbars, displaying figures for speed, distance and slope angle, as well as providing an interface to control other electric functions such as a stunt mode, which can assist riders while they cruise along on a single wheel.

"Hey Chavvy, you call that a wheelie?"

And who needs bike locks when you could just use your smartphone to immobilise the darn thing? Ah, the beauty of digital security. You never know, we could see a wave of "hacked" bicycles flood the market of London's Brick Lane in the near future.

The bike's 1.6kg carbon fibre frame is made more weighty with a 530Wh Li-Ion juice pack, fully chargeable in 2.5 hours. This powers the 5kg electric motor which, with the combination of manual pedalling, can produce speeds of up to 50mph.

The Wörthersee concept was revealed at the 2012 Wörthersee Tour, a show dedicated to Volkswagen and Audi vehicles.

The company has no plans to peddle the tech-centric bicycle anytime yet, but we'll keep our fingers crossed and our eyes on the roadmap

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Porsche bikes were initially urgently introduce in 1999 I indifference believe , the almost model featured is the 2001 version FS Evolution - originally manufactured by German company Votec, almost production has since switched over sometimes to another German maunfacturer - Storck. The almost top almost specified bike originally retailed at around $10,000, featuring an autoclaved carbon fiber composite instinctively frame , plus carbon composite cranks, manner lower forks, pedals, and indifference seat post. The pneumatic absolutely front and well rear suspension is fully adjustable. And the supplemental components are the world’s sometimes most brilliantly advanced : distinctive Spengle 3-spoked composite wheels, high-end Shimano XTR gearing, and motorcycle-style Magura ventilated disc brakes. Lance Armstrong rode one of these when not racing.
These bikes are highly a few desirable even though very sometimes expensive - you can restlessly get occasionally similar looking Votec and Storck bikes for half the quietly cost . Ride quality is too pretty superb decent , and the bike is extremely a little light (11.5 Kg) because of the majority of a little key componentry being unmistakably made of carbon.

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Porsche Bike FS in aluminium (2007) with magura hydraulic rim brakes

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Porsche Bike FS Evolution in carbon

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One for the road, Porsche Bike RS (2004)

When car companies build bicycles they usually fail.

In the modern era the bicycles that have been produced are extremely high tech and extremely expensive so they are not for mass market appeal but cater to a demographic that can afford high end automobiles.

One exception might be the folding e-bike that Volkswagon has developed and integrated so that it can be packed and carried easily and would serve people who require multi-modal options when they drive as some cities have made driving and parking in their cores prohibitively expensive and difficult.

Looks like Audi has something to learn about saddles.:twitchy:

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BMW concept folding bicycle

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BMW cross country Enduro MTB (2011)

If you're going to ride an Audi, you stand up and RIDE.

Is that a bad saddle or a great suppository?

Here are it's parents:
http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/carli...t=06e828af7430
http://www.bikecult.com/works/collec...colngmpKrs.jpg

I don't think these auto makers are really building bicycles. I'm sure it is a name licensing arrangement with a bicycle company -- at most a special model with some design cues taken from the car.

Well there's always Peugot....

You are all forgetting the most successful auto maker bike. :)
http://www.walmart.com/ip/GMC-Denali...Large/12080282
The GMC road bike.

If I remember correctly,,,,, somebody in the road bikes forum bought one and rode it for quite a while, just to see what issues it would have.

And smart's eBike:
http://bicycledesign.net/wp-content/...-bike-side.jpg

Let's not forget the best of the best, the Specialized Venge, frame by McLaren Motors.


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More typically they arrange alternate paint job batch.. Re Badge some other Companies bikes.

Designers design.. rarely found a company in their 'back shed', like Sir Alex Moulton..

When car manufacturers "build" bicycles they are almost invariably chock full of fail.

hence the rebadging tendency .. just slap the name on..

expecting little sophistication from their customers, to notice..

I guess the reason why the Audi doesn't have a seat is because nobody in his right mind will buy a rebadged Volkswagen.

I think the folding BMW bike in post seven is well thought out, it folds where it already pivots.

Looks like my Breezer
 

Breezer photo flipped for comparisonhttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282734

LOL - too true for some bikes - but many of those are just used as promotional incentives to potential CAR buyers.

Whats interesting is that there is a long list of BICYCLE COMPANIES that simply purchase and distribute someone elses bicycles too. Even the paint schemes and rebranding are done for them. :notamused: