Murraldo
YikeBike has just posted a great new video on YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbxpJUWU7H0
Worth a watch!!
Riaanh
Sorry for posting a negative comment here, because I fully support the downscaling of our transport systems. - It is ridiculous that we take 2-3tons with us to go and buy bread and milk and everywhere else.
...BUT unfortunately another trend emerging in the developed world is the growing obesity problem. A large percentage of our population will probably not be able to carry a vehicle capable of supporting their own weight.
Scion
Something to cover the last km of travel from the train station to work is exactly what I'm hanging for. It isn't much of a walk, but carrying my backpack weighing in at about 7kg and wearing my motorcycle jacket, long pants and boots it gets awfully uncomfortable walking in 40 degree (centigrade) heat in summer. Something I could carry on the back of my pedal bike would be even better. I could ride my bike to the station then the electric to work. The main 2 problems are size and cost. $4,000 is a bit much. If I had that money I'd buy a better motorbike. It would need to be sub $1,000 to be a contender.
Mihai Pruna
the "Yike" part doesn't inspire much confidence
nulo
"The Yikebike still leads the pack" Why? Lighter, less bulk, ultra-portable, smarter and a lot cheaper you have the SBU V3.
Have a look http://focusdesigns.com/
Enjoy
Jim Sadler
Frankly I love these devices. But I see little chance of them amounting to much in the US for many decades. Picture NYC or any other large city. Now picture all of the people on the Yike bike. Now picture rain, snow, cold weather, very windy days, and then picture office and factories with every employee needing public transportation just until the weather improves. In other words the entire existing mess including a huge public transportation system must be kept fully functional and at the same capacity but with no riders on half of the days of the year. Then picture people needing to shop on the way home. A gallon of milk and a 25 lb. bag of cat litter on a Yike bike isn't going to work out well at all. So you leave work, get all the way home and now must own a more conventional to go out and shop. This simply is not a plan that can work.
Milton
Great article. I would have liked to have seen some stand-up electric scooters (like the GoPeds). As I believe those are the most ideal for commuting. Riding a Yike-Bike seems like a lot of fun, but some owners have told me that there is a lot of road-shock that travels right up into their spine. Perhaps a seat-post shock could be developed for the Yike-Bike and solve that problem.
Phillip Noe
I'd much rather have a Ryno! http://rynomotors.com/
[Ed note: See also http://www.gizmag.com/ryno-one-wheeled-scooter/20385/]
Roger Wildermuth
Leads the Pack? Have you forgotten the Trikke Pon-e? Faster, cheaper, and MUCH more stable!
Calson
There are hundreds of thousands of electric scooter on the streets of cities in China and they are far more functional than these design exercises by people in ivory towers. The scooters made in China use standard batteries that are easily replaced and recharged. The Chinese scooter make use of existing gas power scooter designs only with a battery in place of the motor and fuel tank. The Chinese scotters have room for two adults and provide for weather protection and provide a rack for carrying items needed for work or groceries picked up at a store.
What is also missing is any awareness of the need for supporting infrastructure. In China and in Europe scooters can use streets and special purpose roads that do not include cars and trucks. It is also practical to go from ones house to a light rail station or bullet train station and then across town or across the country and then resume the trip with the electric scooter.
There is no where in the USA with comparable infrastructure. No surpise as the transportation oversight is done by elected officials who are incompetent or corrupt or both, and by people who work in real estate or construction. Suburban sprawl did not happen by accident or by choice on the part of "home" buyers.