Electric folding YikeBike looks slightly ridiculous, but totally practical
09-07-09, 06:23 PM
#27
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I'm posting about this on this thread because it seems to have the most replies.
Is this a bicycle? Depends on your definition. It doesn't meet any current N.A. rules that I know of for bicycle or ebike or power bicycle. Whether it can later be classed as such later depends on the local authority. Not gonna happen in a hurry in N.A. they seem to be already pushing certification in Europe. Such things are better regarded there because they have such problems with traffic.
Is it useful? For it's intended market, probably. In Central London, this could be a winner. You can get a train into the heart of London, but unless your office is close to mainline stations, you still could end up with 2-3km to cover, Bicycle? How do you get it onto the train? Folder is the obvious answer, but even they are getting to be problematic, this folds way small. And many people don't want the effort. Taxis are expensive and sometimes not there, and even they have trouble with traffic. Buses are a pain. ( So are the trains really ) So, yes, there is a potential market.
Cost. $5,000 is aimed at first adopter, if it takes off, the price is going to halve pretty quick.
Some things that aren't obvious unless you did some reading are,
Acceleration, this thing doesn't go fast 20mph, but it gets up there quick. 1.2kw? Hell yes.
Braking, it's been designed to be idiot resistant. (There's no such thing as idiot proof ) Anti skid braking etc.
Easy to ride. From the way people at the launch party were taking to it, didn't seem like it takes any great skill.
Comfort. It's obviously meant for short trips, 20-30 minutes max, more like 15.
This thing doesn't come close to answering my commute, but I find it important because of what the technology implies for what will.
Is this a bicycle? Depends on your definition. It doesn't meet any current N.A. rules that I know of for bicycle or ebike or power bicycle. Whether it can later be classed as such later depends on the local authority. Not gonna happen in a hurry in N.A. they seem to be already pushing certification in Europe. Such things are better regarded there because they have such problems with traffic.
Is it useful? For it's intended market, probably. In Central London, this could be a winner. You can get a train into the heart of London, but unless your office is close to mainline stations, you still could end up with 2-3km to cover, Bicycle? How do you get it onto the train? Folder is the obvious answer, but even they are getting to be problematic, this folds way small. And many people don't want the effort. Taxis are expensive and sometimes not there, and even they have trouble with traffic. Buses are a pain. ( So are the trains really ) So, yes, there is a potential market.
Cost. $5,000 is aimed at first adopter, if it takes off, the price is going to halve pretty quick.
Some things that aren't obvious unless you did some reading are,
Acceleration, this thing doesn't go fast 20mph, but it gets up there quick. 1.2kw? Hell yes.
Braking, it's been designed to be idiot resistant. (There's no such thing as idiot proof ) Anti skid braking etc.
Easy to ride. From the way people at the launch party were taking to it, didn't seem like it takes any great skill.
Comfort. It's obviously meant for short trips, 20-30 minutes max, more like 15.
This thing doesn't come close to answering my commute, but I find it important because of what the technology implies for what will.
Last edited by coldfeet; 09-07-09 at 06:35 PM.
11-21-09, 12:43 PM
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FUN! Great to see something so different. The Yike may not be very practical but we might see that front wheel on all four corners of electric cars someday. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
11-22-09, 11:56 AM
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As the Yike doesn't have pedals, it would not be legal in any state in Australia. Technically speaking (and in some states legally speaking) all/any electric bikes must have working pedals that are able to propel the bicycle without any motor input.
As far as its practicability goes; the laughably short range makes it a non-starter in the Aussie urban environment, and it can only be used (in real-life terms) on billiard-table smooth pavements. It's interesting that the bloke in the promo vid doesn't turn any right-angled corners, or travel up any sort of gradient, or travel over grass or gravel. The tiny back wheel almost makes the Yike a glorified unicycle -- which are notoriously unstable in demanding conditions.
As far as its practicability goes; the laughably short range makes it a non-starter in the Aussie urban environment, and it can only be used (in real-life terms) on billiard-table smooth pavements. It's interesting that the bloke in the promo vid doesn't turn any right-angled corners, or travel up any sort of gradient, or travel over grass or gravel. The tiny back wheel almost makes the Yike a glorified unicycle -- which are notoriously unstable in demanding conditions.
11-22-09, 12:07 PM
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As the Yike doesn't have pedals, it would not be legal in any state in Australia. Technically speaking (and in some states legally speaking) all/any electric bikes must have working pedals that are able to propel the bicycle without any motor input.
As far as its practicability goes; the laughably short range makes it a non-starter in the Aussie urban environment, and it can only be used (in real-life terms) on billiard-table smooth pavements. It's interesting that the bloke in the promo vid doesn't turn any right-angled corners, or travel up any sort of gradient, or travel over grass or gravel. The tiny back wheel almost makes the Yike a glorified unicycle -- which are notoriously unstable in demanding conditions.
As far as its practicability goes; the laughably short range makes it a non-starter in the Aussie urban environment, and it can only be used (in real-life terms) on billiard-table smooth pavements. It's interesting that the bloke in the promo vid doesn't turn any right-angled corners, or travel up any sort of gradient, or travel over grass or gravel. The tiny back wheel almost makes the Yike a glorified unicycle -- which are notoriously unstable in demanding conditions.
11-22-09, 06:07 PM
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At that speed, might as well get a high quality folding bike. No need for plugging it in, is lighter, goes faster and is standard. If the balance is as bad as a recumbent, then it will never sell.
03-21-10, 05:11 PM
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03-21-10, 08:32 PM
#33
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As far as its practicability goes; the laughably short range makes it a non-starter in the Aussie urban environment, and it can only be used (in real-life terms) on billiard-table smooth pavements. It's interesting that the bloke in the promo vid doesn't turn any right-angled corners, or travel up any sort of gradient, or travel over grass or gravel. The tiny back wheel almost makes the Yike a glorified unicycle -- which are notoriously unstable in demanding conditions.
https://yikebike.com/site/blog/yikebike-testing-video
04-07-10, 09:01 PM
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This 'bike' isn't really a bike at all, cause i am sure after watching 3 different demonstration videos on the yikebike that you cannot pedal it. Watching the first posted video the guy looked reminiscent of a young Mr. Bean, and the bike being such new technology to most of us fits right in with seeing 'Mr. Bean' riding around on something silly!
However I did like the way you could fold it up and stick it under a desk and charge it. No one would even really know it was there unless they looked under the desk or saw the charging cord.
One further note, I believe from what I now know about E bicycles, this vehicle would be illegal in Canada. Too bad. (not that I have $5,000. that I don't know what to do with anyways...LOL)
However I did like the way you could fold it up and stick it under a desk and charge it. No one would even really know it was there unless they looked under the desk or saw the charging cord.
One further note, I believe from what I now know about E bicycles, this vehicle would be illegal in Canada. Too bad. (not that I have $5,000. that I don't know what to do with anyways...LOL)
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07-28-10 07:18 PM
