Bicycles

Halfbike II takes an oddball approach to transit

Halfbike II takes an oddball approach to transit
The Halfbike II hits the boardwalk
The Halfbike II hits the boardwalk
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The Halfbike II hits the boardwalk
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The Halfbike II hits the boardwalk
Like its predecessor, the Halfbike II keeps the rider in a standing position, with their pedaling motion driving the front wheel
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Like its predecessor, the Halfbike II keeps the rider in a standing position, with their pedaling motion driving the front wheel
Steering of the Halfbike II is managed through the two tiny rear wheels, which pivot as the rider shifts their weight
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Steering of the Halfbike II is managed through the two tiny rear wheels, which pivot as the rider shifts their weight
The Halfbike II folds for storage and transit
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The Halfbike II folds for storage and transit
The Halfbike II is available in black or white
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The Halfbike II is available in black or white
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Last year, architects Mihail Klenov and Martin Angelov introduced the world to their Halfbike. Its quirkiness apparently struck a chord with a lot of people, as it was successfully funded on Kickstarter. Now, they're raising funds for the new-and-improved Halfbike II.

Like its predecessor, the Halfbike II keeps the rider in a standing position, with their pedaling motion driving the front wheel via a chain. Steering is managed through the two tiny rear wheels, which pivot as the rider shifts their weight. The back wheels also contain the trike's single brake.

One of the things that made the original Halfbike particularly weird, however, was its vertical broomstick-like handlebar. On the Halfbike II, that's been replaced with a more traditional horizontal bar – albeit a very narrow one. That bar and the plywood section that it's mounted on fold down against the trike's aluminum frame for storage.

Steering of the Halfbike II is managed through the two tiny rear wheels, which pivot as the rider shifts their weight
Steering of the Halfbike II is managed through the two tiny rear wheels, which pivot as the rider shifts their weight

Additionally, the Halfbike II has a much more curved, organic shape than the first one.

The whole trike tips the scales at 18 lb (8.2 kg). A pledge of US$349 will currently get you one, when and if they reach production. The planned retail price is $599.

You can see the Halfbike II in action, in the following video. Should you be interested in another take on a little folding stand-up bike, check out the Occam Cycle.

Sources: Halfbikes, Kickstarter

HALFBIKE vs THESSALONIKI

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2 comments
2 comments
bergamot69
Love the concept of a highly manoevrable tiny footprint public transport friendly cycle for the last quarter mile of a journey (I suspect that the standing position would become fatiguing quite quickly).
My worry would be the effectiveness of the brake - since it operates only on the tiny rear wheels. Surely they can't provide enough stopping power to make it safe in urban situations- even when segregated from motorised traffic? And given the lack of reflectors, lighting mounts, etc, would this cycle be actually road legal?
John Kerher
When I look at this I think of a kids tricycle with a long handlebar. It really looks pretty dangerous to be honest, not sure what the stopping power is, but it seems like it would be poor since when your stopping most of your weight goes forward. This takes weight off of the back tire where the brakes are. On most vehicles your front brakes and wheels do most of the stopping, but of course with this trike that would be disastrous. Hmm?