Bicycles

Totable Pop-cycle forgoes a folding frame for one that slides

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The length of the Pop-cycle can be adjusted from a stowable 99 cm/3.25 ft (pictured) to a rideable 145 cm/4.75 ft
Popcycle US Inc.
The length of the Pop-cycle can be adjusted from a stowable 99 cm/3.25 ft (pictured) to a rideable 145 cm/4.75 ft
Popcycle US Inc.
The Pop-cycle also features a chain-driven 2-speed internal gearing mechanism
Popcycle US Inc.
The Pop-cycle is available in a choice of 10 colors
Popcycle US Inc.
The Pop-cycle can be rolled along when shrunken down
Popcycle US Inc.
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While there are now a great many collapsible bikes on the market, almost all of them get smaller by folding down. The Pop-cycle takes a different and reportedly better approach, by utilizing a slide-in/slide-out frame.

Manufactured by South Korean company Bokyong, the Pop-cycle is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign. It features a die cast aluminum frame, the different parts of which are bolted together – not welded. And yes, that frame slides.

The back end of the bike incorporates the seat post, crankset, chain drive and 16-inch rear wheel, along with a rather interesting 2-speed internal gearing system. That whole rear assembly can be slid fore and aft along a horizontal rail which extends back from the front end of the bike.

The Pop-cycle is available in a choice of 10 colors
Popcycle US Inc.

This means that when it's time to stow the Pop-cycle for transit or storage, the back end is slid all the way forward, making the bike as short as possible. Its handlebars and pedals are also folded in, making it narrower. According to the designers, the whole process takes just four seconds.

When it's time to ride, the bars and pedals are folded back out, and the rear end is slid back out to a length that fits the rider's body size. A lever is used to lock and release the sliding mechanism.

It should be noted that the seat and handlebar height can also be adjusted, resulting in a single model of the Pop-cycle that fits riders ranging from 150 to 190 cm (4 ft 9 in to 6 ft 3 in) in height. The bike reportedly tips the scales at 29 lb (13 kg), and can accommodate riders weighing up to 242 lb (110 kg).

The Pop-cycle also features a chain-driven 2-speed internal gearing mechanism
Popcycle US Inc.

Assuming the Pop-cycle reaches production, a pledge of US$468 will get you one – the planned retail price is $780. The bike can be seen in frame-sliding action, in the video below.

And this isn't the first Korean-made sliding-frame bike we've seen. Bygen's Hank Direct Bike is another example, and it utilizes a unique lever-drive drivetrain.

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Source: Kickstarter

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2 comments
PAV
I like the no weld/self assemble idea, however I am weary of the strength and reliability of a fastener approach. The handle bars collapsing is a clever setup. I suspect the footprint of this slider is greater than my folding bike, but the idea of adjustment from seat to handlebar distance is attractive. I would like to see some sort of stop in the slide that would help it remember your optimal position. The video talked about the gearing, but I wasn't clear on why they just didn't change the size of the one gear but rather added a third intermediary gear.
jerryd
Not as folded, small as regular folding bikes at 2x the price.