About those handle bars - don't you feel exposed?
Posted on January 25th, 2010 by Grant - YikeBike
Which of the following two statements sound more likely in the event of a cycling accident?
- Cyclist saved from injury by handle bars in front
- Cyclist flies head first over handle bars
The steering stem crushing into your groin is hardly a crumple zone designed in safety heaven. If anything the handle bars in front are a mechanism for accelerating your head into an obstacle when a collision happens.
If I was traveling at 50km per hour there is no doubt a normal bike would be safer than a YikeBike. However YikeBike speed is restricted to go no faster than you can run (25km/h) and worst case you just step off the front. We have had very few people ever hit the ground when learning because it is so easy to jump off. A notable exception was someone wearing high heals who went to step off at speed - learning in high heals is not recommended.
We do think bikes are great and we will continue to love cycling but it doesn't mean a 120 year old design is the solution for everything. Yes the YikeBike feels different but it is surprising how quickly you get used to it - just like learning to ride a bike ;-)
Comments
Have you thought of marketing this for those who cannot walk far? I wonder if it could be given some type of status for the handicapped. My husband has bad knees and heart issues now that he is in his 70's. He dioes not go to fairs etc. Because of the long walks. This seems to be something you could put in a normal car and use as long as there are no balance issues. There must be others in the same situation.
Thanks for your comment. We may create a 3 wheel version some time in the future for this purpose
i use a fold up push bike (Dahon) but am considering yike bike.
If there's no handlebars, where do it put my GPS and coffee cup holder?
There are handle bars - they are just not out in front. Both could be clipped on the side.
Im Tania in charge of Sustainable projects in Mexico, concerned Schools, hospitals and hotels. I yike your Yikebike!!!
What do I have to do to represent your brand and commercialize it in my country.
Believe me it can be a really interesting market and will def araise the aware of sustantability.
Happy and Sincerely
It looks very funny. I just would like to know how it works with one hand on the handle and the other eating icecream, answering the mobile, waiving hello...?
While you can ride one handed it is not recommended because one hand is on the brake and one of the accelerator. It is easy to take one hand off briefly to wave (or any other hand gestures - not that mild mannered YikeBike owners would do such a thing)
Will the C of G be altered when standing or shifting your weight to the foot pegs similar to standing on the foot pedals of a bicycle when riding over a big bump? Steve
You can see how well the YikeBike handles bumps in this video
Fantastic idea, design and finished product. However, YIKES might be a better name if you are looking at a $4000 USD and up bike/scooter! Get thee to a mass production professional and get this price in 1/2. You will more than make up the difference AND give us something wonderful to use.
What is the anticipated range (distance) between charges and what is the acharge time from complete discharge to full charge?
The range is about 10 km and recharge time about 30 minutes
This bike would be eaten up like candy here. This is the eco-groovy capital of the universe! I need one of these!
Hello, I was wondering if there is an opportunity for our company to become a licensed dealer for YikeBike here in Los Angeles, California USA. If so please email me the info at the email address above. We are a machine shop, and we machine precision parts and components for many industries, also for new inventions and hobbyists, I have yet to seen a design like this one and am very impressed. I know we can do well if you allow us to sell YikeBike in a busy urban area dealership with a showroom and a test track. Thank you for your time and invention.
I am looking forward to take a test drive on an yikebike
If you sign up for our mail we will let you know when there are opportunities for test rides in your area
Please let us know when this is in the Indianapolis area.
Are you looking at any venture capital or other potential investors at this time?
Not at the moment - thanks
Hi wonderful YikeBike team, any plans to roll this out in Singapore and how does one become a dealer and service provider for this most impressive 'bike'?
i wnt 1
Will you add my name to a list of potential customers? I'd love to get a bike like this. Can't afford the asking price right now but I definitely think (or hope?) that once you start producing more of them, the price will come down. I would definitely love to own one.
The other quick comment is that somehow the steering makes me uneasy. I guess it's just bc I like leaning forward and resting my hands on regular bike handles. I guess I'd have to learn how to find balance in different ways.
Thirdly, what about cargo space? I often have a backpack or otherwise need to carry something... Would be nice to have a little basket to put a backpack... And related to this... I also have a kid and on a regular bike I installed a child's bike seat. I guess this is not an option now for you all but it's something to consider in the future.
BTW, I think Washington DC would be a great place to sell your product. Possibly other places in Boston, too... But downtown DC gets crazy busy and it's a fast way to get around. I biked or walked for 3 miles every day instead of taking public transportation or driving.
The main way we carry things when riding is with a back pack which works very well. Really only designed for one person not carrying a lot else.
Awesome!
Bring them to San Diego! I'll help you sell them (for free)
Also, I'm an ER nurse- any reported injuries yet?
Nothing major yet - it is very easy to just step off the front and is highly visible with the lights from all angles.
Hi,
I was wondering if you plan on selling those in Canada ?
Thanks !
Yes we will sell in Canada but sorry we are not sure when yet.
You have a great new concept for a bike, and I congratulate your energy and ingenuity.
However, for a successful venture pricing is a critical part of the total evaluation of the product.
I'm sure it will sell and will be the talk of the town at any price.
But the price for a product of that kind of service should command an instant success at a
level not more then $1,000.
I say all of these with great respect, and my best wishes to you for full success
with this great design and for any future invention ideas you might have.
Respectfully,
Jaco Mar
There will be cheaper versions in the future. The first version is a very high performance piece of engineering. Just like Tesla where the first product was high performance and high priced there follow up is less expensive and not as high performance. More to come....
Exciting product!
I think Coronado California would be the perfect place for these!
I am not a marketer but would love to help expose these in San Diego/Coronado!
Hello from South Florida USA,
Your webpage was just forwarded to me from a friend, and I am delighted to see the Yike Bike in photos and videos. I have owned a few Segways since their inception, and they have been very practial here in South Florida where we experience year round mild weather with flat terrain. I use the Segway to run errands close to home, eliminate the use of petrol fuel on short trips, and I assume your bikes would provide similar results. I will continue to check in here and follow your venture, and maybe someday I'll see one of your bikes here in the States.
Some of the greatest inventions come from "garage mechanics"
Steve W in Boca Raton Florida
Hi I'm from mexico. I'd like to know where could I buy one...and how much does it cost in mexican pesos.
Sorry we are not selling in Mexico yet - will let you know when we are.
Holland is the only country in the world where there are more bikes (20 million) than people (17 million). There are dedicated cyclepaths in every city.
So you best bet would be to sell it here, Holland is ready for the YikeBike!
greetings from Amsterdam, Holland
the price. If the price were more in line with high quality electric scooters of similar performance like say the Currie eZip 1000 Fusion Electric Scooter at $500 then the Yikebike would have a chance to really take off. At its current price I could get a nice used car instead and still have enough money left to pay for the difference in energy usage for a year.
You could buy a nice second hand stereo instead of an iPod too..... there is a price to be paid for portability - you can't take a car on the train with you or store it under your desk and in a cupboard. However the price will come down over time - check out mini-farthing site
Hi !
I´m from Denmark and i was thinking the same thing, how do i get too sell the Yikebike in Denmark ?
I see great opotunities in this bike and there might be a market among the sailors who ofen has small folding bike on board, but not as smart as this one !
Good luck and best regards Bo
How come in any of the photos or videos your not wearing helmets? Particularly those filmed in Christchurch where its a legal requirement.
R
Our target markets are in Europe where cyclists generally don't wear helmets and they have much lower injury and death rates per km than in New Zealand.
Hey! My name is Lucia and I live in Valle de Bravo, a small town near Mexico City.
I saw the video on TV and I REALLY want one. The problem is: Valle has only bumpy, stoney streets, an I on't really know if the Yike can be used here...
Can it be sent to Mexico?
thanks!! :)
ps: we also have steep heels, does it work here??
I'm sorry guys, this is some very neat technology here but it will fail just the way Segway failed: most cities are not designed for this kind of transportation, and people are not ready for this, it won't work on sidewalks, it won't work on streets in most busy urban areas. Plus, it won't be able to handle regular big city hazards such as potholes, steel plates, steep bridge ramps, etc. Our cities are too car-centric and too paranoid. It's also too expensive for a wide adoption so it will remain a niche without any significant political power to make changes to urban infrastructure to accommodate it. Segways was outlawed quickly in many cities outside of parks. NYC still doesn't allow ebikes. We're stuck in a car culture :( Good luck though!
Adam
I'm sorry, had to slip in here. Adam seems to be a real optomist. I wouldn't say that Segway failed, and I have high hopes for the Yikebike. I can't use one, I have a power chair that does the job, just no where near as fast. I wish more American cities would start looking at modifying infrastructure to allow wheelchair access to more places for people in my situation. If a power chair/wheel chair can do it, the Yikebike should be able to do it better. I'd love to see lanes on a highway that are for Yikebike only.
The good thing about the YikeBike is that you don't need to change a city for it to work. It is not designed for sidewalks and can easily handle potholes etc. It is designed to go anywhere a bicycle can. While US cities are particularly suited for cars only that is not the case everywhere. This is one of the reasons why we have launched the YikeBike in Europe where some cities up to 50% of commuting is done on bikes. Sure the price will come down like all new technologies as we explain here.
Hi Grant,
Have just seen your amazing invention in Te Karaka No45 and I am absolutely gobsmacked with what you have achieved. I look forward to seeing more of your inventions as they come on stream.
Kia Kaha
Michael
Any chance you can get more than 10Km range out of them? I'd need about 20Km to get me wherever and back. I live in Sydney, Australia, where the road is not a safe place for cyclists. Unfortunately. So how do they handle bobbling up & down kerbs onto the pavement/sidewalk. Cheers
We are looking at offering extended battery ranges. More information on the range is here. The YikeBike is designed to go on roads and can happily go up and down kerbs - see video demo
Are these legal on sidewalks and bike paths? It seems like their electric motor makes them more like a moped than a bicycle.
The YikeBike is designed to be safer than a normal bicycle and to go anywhere that a bike does - mainly on the road rather than the side walk. However in most countries it is currently not legal to ride YikeBikes on the road but we are working with authorities in different regions.
good morning, what happens is that I susana quieroun yike bike and I think it is only in europe and I ask that you yike favortraigan the bike to mexico
We could not find any information about the Max. weight the bike can carry.
100 kg is the maximum weight of rider and any bags.
I'm concern about the power of the yikebike since I live in Quito, a city on the hillsides of Ecuador - Southamerica. Most of the city lies on steep slopes that maybe this wonderful bike (yike?) won't be able to manage.
Thanks!
The YikeBike is designed only for mild hills and will we give more specifics about that as we finalize the production specifications. You can see hill testing in this video
¡Hi!
Well i saw the video and i be inaccuracies because your invention is so great!!!
I never seen something like that but i have a question i from mexico and like everithyng country we have a lot problems whit ruhs hour and my doubt is when your invention could arrive to mexico? and finally how much will it cost?
greetings Hiram Jaimes
postscript; excuse my typos
Sorry we are not selling in Mexico or North America yet.
Hi Im from Mexico, I just want to ask If I can get one YikeBike here in Mexico, and how much it cost... (sorry my english not excelent)
Im Tania in charge of Sustainable projects in Mexico, concerned Schools, hospitals and hotels. I yike your Yikebike!!!
What do I have to do to represent your brand and commercialize it in my country.
Believe me it can be a really interesting market and will def araise the aware of sustantability.
Happy and Sincerely
Me
www.be-green.org
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