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M55 announces availability of (very expensive) Terminus hybrid bike

M55 announces availability of (very expensive) Terminus hybrid bike
Budapest's M55 has announced the launch of the first two versions of its new Terminus luxury hybrid bike - one of which features a one-of-a-kind Biceps single-arm front suspension system
Budapest's M55 has announced the launch of the first two versions of its new Terminus luxury hybrid bike - one of which features a one-of-a-kind Biceps single-arm front suspension system
View 19 Images
Budapest's M55 has announced the launch of the first two versions of its new Terminus luxury hybrid bike - one of which features a one-of-a-kind Biceps single-arm front suspension system
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Budapest's M55 has announced the launch of the first two versions of its new Terminus luxury hybrid bike - one of which features a one-of-a-kind Biceps single-arm front suspension system
The control unit of old has been replaced with waterproof switches
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The control unit of old has been replaced with waterproof switches
The Terminus Biceps edition with a strange-looking, one-of-a-kind, single-arm suspension system at the front
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The Terminus Biceps edition with a strange-looking, one-of-a-kind, single-arm suspension system at the front
The Terminus also gets a new, lighter handlebar
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The Terminus also gets a new, lighter handlebar
Riders are said to very much appreciate the electric assist kicking in when faced with steep hill climbs
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Riders are said to very much appreciate the electric assist kicking in when faced with steep hill climbs
The Terminus Biceps edition with a strange-looking, one-of-a-kind, single-arm suspension system at the front
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The Terminus Biceps edition with a strange-looking, one-of-a-kind, single-arm suspension system at the front
The first run will have a White Brothers Groove 160 double-crown fork at the front
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The first run will have a White Brothers Groove 160 double-crown fork at the front
M55 says that its new Terminus hybrid bike has been primarily designed for cross-country (off-road) riding
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M55 says that its new Terminus hybrid bike has been primarily designed for cross-country (off-road) riding
The Terminus also gets a new, lighter handlebar
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The Terminus also gets a new, lighter handlebar
The M55 Terminus got its first public showing at the recent Top Marque supercar show in Monaco
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The M55 Terminus got its first public showing at the recent Top Marque supercar show in Monaco
The M55 Terminus Biceps edition on show in Monaco at the Top Marque supercar show
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The M55 Terminus Biceps edition on show in Monaco at the Top Marque supercar show
The M55 Terminus standard edition on show in Monaco at the Top Marque supercar show
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The M55 Terminus standard edition on show in Monaco at the Top Marque supercar show
Prince Albert of Monaco II being introduced to M55's new hybrid bike
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Prince Albert of Monaco II being introduced to M55's new hybrid bike
The Terminus benefits from Formula One braking technology in the shape of Brembo floating disc brakes at the front and rear
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The Terminus benefits from Formula One braking technology in the shape of Brembo floating disc brakes at the front and rear
There's a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 tandem gear hub at the rear
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There's a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 tandem gear hub at the rear
The control unit of old has been replaced with waterproof switches
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The control unit of old has been replaced with waterproof switches
Side view of that strange-looking Biceps single-arm front suspension
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Side view of that strange-looking Biceps single-arm front suspension
Close-up of the Biceps single-arm front suspension
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Close-up of the Biceps single-arm front suspension
Custom made M55 aluminum cranks and Syncros Meathook pedals
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Custom made M55 aluminum cranks and Syncros Meathook pedals
View gallery - 19 images

Late last year, we brought news of the development of a very exclusive hand-built, luxury human-electric bike from Hungary dubbed the Beast. The M55 designers had set themselves the task of creating the best hybrid bikes on the planet and gathered together the very cream of top notch components to build a unique and eye-catching prototype. Back in April, the folks at M55 felt that they had at last reached the end of the prototyping phase and were ready to launch the company's first commercial hybrid bike - signaling the slaying of the Beast and the beginning of a new era for Terminus.

Some five years after development began, M55's new flagship model hybrid bike made its first public appearance at the Top Marques 2011 supercar show in Monaco in the middle of April. Like the Beast before it, Terminus is built around an alien-like 7075 aluminum frame, Syncros 26-inch rims with DT Alpine II spokes, a DT Swiss 20mm Thru Axle hub at the front and a KMC X1 chain specially developed for the Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 tandem gear hub at the rear.

The Terminus Biceps edition with a strange-looking, one-of-a-kind, single-arm suspension system at the front
The Terminus Biceps edition with a strange-looking, one-of-a-kind, single-arm suspension system at the front

Fox MXR air shocks at the rear offer some comfort from rough terrain, gears are selected via a Rohloff twist gear shifter and Formula One braking technology in the shape of Brembo floating disc brakes at the front and rear help bring the bike to a stop.

The designers have replaced the control unit with waterproof switches and included a new, lighter handlebar. The Terminus provides a electric assist to pedal action rather than motor-drive only, with a built-in rotation sensor detecting when the rider needs a little help from the electric motor. M55 says that the bike has been designed primarily for cross-country (off road) use and riders are said to very much appreciate the electric assist kicking in when faced with steep hill climbs.

Buyers get to choose the power of the integrated brushless DC electric motor (from 250 to 1500 W) and can opt for a 17, 18 or 19-inch frame size. Onboard power is provided by A123 Polymer Li-ion battery cells and all the wiring is hidden within the frame. The maximum speed is said to be between 40 and 67 kph (25 - 42 mph), depending on rider weight and chosen gear ratios.

Riders are said to very much appreciate the electric assist kicking in when faced with steep hill climbs
Riders are said to very much appreciate the electric assist kicking in when faced with steep hill climbs

The Terminus will be made available in five very limited runs of 55 pieces each. The first run will have a White Brothers Groove 160 double-crown fork at the front. The second will be a Biceps model featuring a strange-looking one-of-a-kind Biceps single-arm front suspension system. The third is currently being described as a "tailor-made" edition, designed in collaboration with customers. Beyond that, there's no information available. Every bike will come with a special gold plate dedicated to the owner - which gives the first hint at the kind of customers M55 is aiming for.

The M55 Terminus is currently doing the rounds of shows and exhibitions in Europe, including the recent Salon Privé in London and Amsterdam's upcoming Miljonair Summer Fair - which is yet another clue to the likely customer base for this luxury hybrid bike. Yet another would be the price tags of US$36,200 for the White Brothers edition, US$40,900 for the Terminus Biceps and US$37,700 with a custom paint job - too hefty for anyone but rich playboys methinks.

M55 told us that orders are currently being taken (although there is currently a delay of a couple of months before the Terminus is shipped) and that a donation of EUR 555 (US$794) from every purchase will be made to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation's environment preservation activities.

Source: Wired

View gallery - 19 images
8 comments
8 comments
Jabboson
I recently purchased a Stealth bomber (http://stealthelectricbikes.com.au/) which trumps all of the features of this thing for a fraction of the price....



bas
This is the type of bike that one would hang on a wall as a ´tech-art´ statement. Maybe they should supply a glass box with the bike to keep it dust free. For me here too much was redefined.
SamD
1 Jabbosen.
There\'s nothing there that is much better than my ten year old Aprilia Enjoy that has been rebuilt with a new controller and batteries. And it cost me less than 1 percent of the Terminus list price. Spend some of the balance on solar batteries and give the 30k in change to charity or green research.
Another gimmick divorcing the joy of simple cycling from the masses.
Vasuki Nag
This looks too bulky to be a bike. Stop wasting time promoting these expensive bikes, when the same is available in in the market place for a fraction of the price! There a lots of light weight electric and human/electric hybrid bikes starring from $350.
Lee Bell
Quite frankly I think it\'s very ugly and ridiculously overpriced for what it is. Who supposed to buy it OIL tycoons that would never ride it to begin with and just park it beside their million dollar car? Where could you ride it? There is no bike rack I\'ve ever seen that would be safe to lock it up!
fenriq
What an ugly, ugly bike. I love a usable bike and usually don\'t care so much about looks (I ride a Suzuki V-Strom if that helps clarify things) but these bikes are ridiculously expensive and ugly as hell.
Besides, for $40k, I could buy 5 fully kitted out Ibis Mojos and those are both incredibly awesome bikes and they look awesome too.
These bikes are made for people who want to look cool and more money than brains.
flibb
They\'re having a laugh aren\'t they, aren\'t they?
Will, the tink
So out of touch with reality, it\'s ridiculous! The proof is the fact that range is not even mentioned! Only those that seek the best that money can buy (when money is no object) would even entertain such a contraption!