Why early adopters rock
Posted on March 17th, 2010 by Grant - YikeBike
This may seem a little off topic but it is a bit of an explanation of why early adopters that take a punt on new technologies play such a vital role in a modern economy.
At a macro level economic growth is reliant on technological progress. The only way to grow the economy is for us to all work harder (yuck) or get more productive. This increase in productivity is made possible by new technologies.
At a micro level any new technology is inherently expensive because it typically uses leading edge materials and processes that have yet to benefit from mass manufacture. The way these new technologies make it to mass manufacture is for early adopters to buy them and love them. Early adopters make it possible to get to the step of mass manufacture where everyone can benefit from new innovations.
So by being an early adopter not only do you help accelerate the collective progress of society but you also get to own all the cool new stuff first :-)
Comments
The concept is really needed and I think that as it goes into a much larger production the price will come down. I live in Florida so the cold is not an issue but that will have to be addressed
I do drive a car to work because I live too far away to bike, but I'd use the Yike Bike for getting around on the university campus as needed, from the garage to the office, from the office to eating establishments, etc. If it's stable and can be slow enough, I'd like to use it to take my dogs walking or running because I have foot issues that cause problems with walking. I want to say "hurry" and get this marvelous machine from this point to the point where it has options and maybe better affordability so that I can have it.
This is cool! I want to have one!
I was reading over the article about the bike and I think it's a nice buy. I would love to try having this bike since in the first place I am an avid fan of bikes. Moreover, I would love to try it on and get a chance to feel it.
I want to have one! It looks comfortable to ride with and easy to handle.
what is the voltage of the battery?
40 Volts
OK i live in little rock, AND I KNOW THIS IS not avialble to USA yet.
is there ay way to buy this if i FLY TO Auckland?
do you have an actual shop there?
how long do i have to wait for the manufacturing?
Hopefully we will be selling in the US before too long so no need to fly here. Currently lead time is around 1 week but this is updated on the shop. Will let you know when it is for sale in the US. Thanks
I am so eager to one day have this. I never got a Segway because I couldn't afford one and the same would be true of the Yike Bike at this time. However, by the time there is a smaller design for women and a "trailer" for carrying loads such as I saw in the video, and by the time it becomes available in the U.S., maybe I will have saved enough. I do drive a car to work because I live too far away to bike, but I'd use the Yike Bike for getting around on the university campus as needed, from the garage to the office, from the office to eating establishments, etc. If it's stable and can be slow enough, I'd like to use it to take my dogs walking or running because I have foot issues that cause problems with walking. I want to say "hurry" and get this marvelous machine from this point to the point where it has options and maybe better affordability so that I can have it. I'd love to be the first one here with it but it's not quite developed enough for me yet. Someday though. Hint: I like the possible color choices, particularly the teal or slate blue color, on the mini-Farthing site. I do like black and would gladly settle for that but color options would be nice.
I want to offer yikebike in my country. I love it.
Another fantastic bike design out of Christchurch! John Britten would be impressed Im sure! Fantastic work Grant (and team), the design looks amazing and the finish is superb. As you have stated, the price is a little steep but this is expected in early phases and using Carbon is always pricey.
I would like to see the battery life extended, but I don't think there'd be room for a kinetic energy recovery system in your compact beast!
Just want to say good luck and I look forward to seeing one in person soon! Hopefully buying one too...
This "vehicle" looks really cool, however...
The center of gravity is obviously very high above the wheel center. This means that as soon as you hit an obstacle (ditch, pothole, or any object on the road) you will be sent like a missile, head first, into the ground. How can you counter this?
Lots of people think this would be the case but the YikeBike is surprisingly stable. Check out these test videos going over potholes, curbs etc.
How comfortable is the seat for female anatomy - or is there a female alternative?
And presumably it's knee length skirts only, or is that too long as well?
We have both males and females successfully riding the YikeBike but it is likely that we will do more specialised versions for both over time.
The YikeBike is great for loose clothing in general as all of the mechanics are hidden - but you are correct a long flowing skirt wouldn't be work so well
Why is the Yike Bike's range so low? 6 miles? Ugh. Less portable, sillier less futuristic electric scooters that can do triple that. Give it a bigger battery, and get it to that 18 miles mark, and I'll be your customer.
Check out the reason for the small range here. There will be battery extender packs available shortly and lots of options for people who want a heavier longer distance version.
Add a rack, let it ride for longer distance......and as the price drop down, could be mine ;). By now, doesn't fit a big city like Rome. Very nice idea.
Have you tried it in cold weather? I'd be all over this thing but I'm afraid that the range in cold weather might be half of normal making it not usable here in Colorado in the winter.
Great product thought!
Yes we have tried it in temperatures as low as -10 Celsius which is the design limit. The battery performance is worse than higher temperatures but the thing that makes the YikeBike a little different is that because it is so small it does not typically get left outside. When it is being used the battery is warm so the cold outside temperatures are not as large an issue as a for a vehicle that is left outside.
Its a relief to see this type of hybrid bicycle/powered two wheeler in this sophisticated guise. The key questions are of course
(1) The power rating of the motor.. This is what determines if it is a 'bicycle' in most administrations. 200W is the definition in the majority of countries, and simply doesnt allow for the full benefits of the performance envelope of such a vehicle to be realised. 750W is what most counties that have taken electric "bicycles" seriously have chosen as this provides the appropriate performance envelope (see the many transport and activity household travel surveys that pay attention to short distance options(data available offline if wanted)). I note that you have omitted this crucial item from your Specifications at this point ...
(2)The range: about 20km is needed to cover the functional short distance commute (see surveys again). I can see that the assumption that charging would be available at the end of each trip is an implied design criterion.. but...
(3) Security: the argument about the lack of a locking mechanism or provision is a bit odd. The largest set of trips that meet the performance envelope of this device is VFR and personal business.. in the former case OK, in the latter case NOT..
An elegant design like this could easily provide for an interlocking loop in the folding closure that would allow a steel cable to be used, or the haft of a padlock, and thereby provide the necessary security provision. Seems odd that this was not done. A full lock isnt needed after all.
(4) mobility enhancement: one of the 'obvious' applications is to provide mobility at the END of a trip.. and so many are now taken by air... so what is the airline definition of this device? is it a 'bicycle'? are the batteries acceptable for this type of shipping? The price point that you have set for Early Adopters suggest that this might be a lot more important in a purchase decision than it would be at a far lower (mass production) scale of sales...
(5) helmet etc: sadly the average drop from a bicycle to the ground (a key feature in helmet testing and field performance) is just the same as for a motorcycle...(evidence available offline if wanted, from mass data and in depth crash studies.. and since the renaissance of the excellent bicycle helmet (enabled by the quiet dropping/making optional of the penetration sub-standard in the generic family of helmet tests), their lightness, very good ventilation and good styling (no I dont like the feel of them ether but always wear one as a result of a very long association with helmet standards processes and analyses of safety).. so it would be best to simply leave this area to other fora for debate: it only distracts attention from the lack of a locking loop provision to leave ones helmet with the Yike and the major apparent benefits of the Yike v other "bicycles" !
(6) ergonomics: the responses in the blog provide some insight on the stability provisions in the design... clearly a margin must be allowed in your specifications for legal liability reasons.. but looking around me a mid age male with a fullish backpack is in more cares than not in your target initial markets(as your price and country choice suggest) likely to exceed 100kg...
one way of managing this (both legally and as a consumer assistance) is a small load cell with a readout of a green or red as an LED
Overall a neat design (or I would not have taken the time to respond) but a few questions left unanswered that would best be addressed early rather than late!
Sorry for delay in responding.
The reason for our powerful 1000 W motor is explained here. Basically it helps safety as gives more acceleration but it is speed limited
The reason for the short range is explained here - we also have extender battery packs for those who want to go further.
With regard to security the whole point is that it is small enough so you never leave it outside and is much less likely to be stolen. Most bike locks work on it just fine if you need to lock it up.
Yes the YikeBike is airline compliant - the only Lithium bike in the world that is.
There is significant scientific debate as to the usefulness of bike helmets. Yes it is the same distance to the ground as a motor bike but that is also true of walking - it is the speed that is the issue.
The average weight of a male in our target market is 80Kg so plenty of room for a backpack too.
Is it possible to safely add a trailer, for groceries, etc?
Have you considered designing one?
This is something we may offer. Check out this test we did - worked remarkably well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ7e5EJgF9I
I love YIKE! But if I may argue as Designer myself.
If the foot pedal was a little higher up and the seat would have a foldable part supporting the lower back (like on some Harleys)
The center of gravity feeling that we all humans have would be more at rest. As soon as one goes down or over a bump I am sure the feeling of falling forward may come to the senses(even if it is overcome) by the joy of Yiking:-)
The range is VERY short! 6miles is shorter than MANY roads inside town here in Canada or in USA even in Aukland NZ!
Maybe a detachable "carry on basket" as another comment listed should definitely be conceived. For the veggies and flowers from the Organic market. We don't want those in cramped in a back-bag.
TO other comments:
Yea in Sao Paolo you'd get "Yike jacked" in minutes for a good resale!
Yes the hight should somehow be adaptable!
The riding position is purposely upright and comfortable - only way to know for sure it to try one....
It is a remarkably stable riding position and you can see from this test video
Click here to see why the range is show short - there will be range extender packs for those that want it.
I am reading over all these posts and keep seeing the same complaint, the price! Personally I think it's great value for the money. Putting the development into perspective, this is made from carbon fibre, a very expensive medium, have a look at your local cycle shop and check the prices of a full carbon bicycle, radical! And in a lot of cases even more expensive. I can see mountain bikes worth 10k here in Germany, and people buy them with out hesitation in this bicycle mad country.
A huge problem here in Europe is theft. I can't ride my custom cycle here unless its a round trip of leisure with no locking up required. If I want to go to the local store I can't actually leave my bike anywhere safe, so I either roll in to the store with my bike if permitted, or worse still take the car.
When you equate the fuel savings, car parking costs or if you are like me, parking fines from expired meters it starts making good sense and the costs not so extreme after all.
This is cutting edge technology, check out the price of one of those ridiculous looking Segways, almost double! These are faster, have lights and portable!
Get with the program, its the deal, its the steal, its sale of the century!
I get this nasty "Why didn't I think of that?" feeling that all good inventors get when they see a peer do really well. Excellent product design and concepts; makes the Segway look like an antique.
I live in Nyon,CH now (Silicon Valley dot-com refugee) and life here is densely packed. The commutes generally involve both busses and trains but the busstops can sometimes be rather far apart in the outer towns. Geneva is also known as a large parking lot, in rush-hour, but bicycles and scooters have no problem splitting traffic.
I do see potential problems in some of the other cities here, like Lausanne, Neuchatel, and anywhere in the Valais. But then, that's where you fold it up and take the bus, non?
Your invention is an absolute revelation. I have no doubt this vehicle will become adopted worldwide, and when it does, it will make us completely rethink urban transportation.
If they ever drop to $3,000 CDN, I'll be the first to lay my money down.
Will the bike go up a 12% grade hill with a 75kg rider?
The current version can do a 10% grade with an 85kg rider so it might be close. It can go up pretty much every normal road we have found but 12% is very steep....
Now how cool is that? I'm very impressed.
However, scooting in and out of traffic without wearing a helmet just seems unthinkable to me. Why in God's name wouldn't you protect your greatest asset (you wear a jock to play contact sports)?
Cycling is not a contact sport in the countries we are selling in and cyclists typically don't wear helmets in Europe. Interestingly the serious accident rate is far lower in Europe than countries where helmets are compulsory.
As unlikely as it sounds "there is an active scientific debate, with no consensus, on whether helmets are useful for cyclists". There is actually significant evidence that shows why wearing helmets can increase risks for cyclists.
We encourage you to use a helmet wherever you do not feel safe on the roads.
Great bike, great site but please show some photos/videos that include men (not just just women or children) smiling and wearing cool helmets.
Folks who have sat beside a formerly bicycling family member with a head injury in a neurological intensive care unit never ride without.
Accidents happen.
Thanks and best wishes!
Looks really cool and 2010 is definitely the year of electric transport
A lot of electric vehicles focus on regenerative braking, where braking power puts energy back into the battery.
Does the Yike use regeneration and if not, why not?
Surely every percent of power gained through recuperating the force of gravity (rolling downhill) would be beneficial?
Yes the YikeBike already has full regenerative braking
This new design really excites me, however, the average height of females around the world is not much higher than 5'3" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height). Therefore, a significant proportion of women (and man as well I suppose) will not be able to comfortably use the Yike Bike (myself, 5'2", included). I understand there's probably much more that factors into the bike's range, but nevertheless I think it'd be great to have the bike fit us shorter folk!
We will do one for shorter folks before too long. And one for larger folks (interestingly we have had more requests for this...). We have to start some where and the YikeBike we have fits over 80% of our target market in Europe.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW BAD I WANT ONE OF THESE! If the Yike Bike becomes available in the U.S. you guys will become millionaires in less than 2 hours! I would pay $5000 for one of these things! Please please pleassseeeeee bring these to the U.S. The Yike Bike would make a great gift for friends and family and myself!
I am a Seattle resident that has to deal with the constant stop and go on steep hills and in very slow traffic with very crunching time schedule. This very earth friendly transportation devise i believe would create a frenzy of purchases with great support from us "seattle-ites". There are many people here that would be willing to pay out $4500 over purchasing a $30,000 gas powered vehicle in such a condense area! Hope to see this innovative idea on the market ASAP. I know I want one!
Is the name of your blog a wink at the other fantastic New Zealand export, Flight of the Conchords? Either way-- I love the product, and not surprisingly, your site is just as well designed-- good stuff!
I yike it all!
Good luck, and I can't wait to see these in Canada...
Yes Bret and Jermaine were the inspiration for the blog name - check out this blog post. Very funny guys.
I think this is a great idea, but in perspective it's very expensive for developing countries, I think if mass production comes in to place it will be a first choice for many people living within 5 to 8 kms from work... Keep the good work... try to drop the price ;)
I live in Chicago, USA. I have been searching for the past 2 years for this exact device. I sold my car, and live downtown. I am ready to write a check today...
We hope you can sell this all around the world. I personally promote this for the love of mother earth.
a must have.
Incredible! Stupendous! Fantastic - If money were in abundance,I would buy one for all my family and friends. Great job! Thank you for making such an innovative useful mode of relativly green transportation! I look forward to owning one as soon as resouces allow. Thank you.
S Morrill USA
An ingenious and attractive invention, however it is not that much smaller than a Brompton when folded.
Positive points: good for the disabled or unfit (although a limited disability as if you fall off, what do you do?) and it is not a car.
Negatives: Not carbon-neutral, no panniers to carry the supermaket load (I can get £50 worth of shopping on my bike), does nothing for fitness (so you still have to go to the gym), you don't generate any heat to beat the cold weather, and you could buy 5-10 fold-up bikes for the current cost. I'd buy one as a gimick if it was £300 but after that I could give £3,000 to charity and feel a lot happier with where the money goes. I'm sure lots of over-rich westerners will buy one to be different though
The YikeBike is 1/3 the folded volume of the smallest Brompton. That is a huge reduction in size that makes it vastly easier to store, take on trains, put under desk, in you boot etc.
Great work!
Have you put anything together for distribution in France?
Is it an idea you might consider?
Whatever it is you decide I wish you the best of luck!
Jeff
Very nice product; I do suddenly want one!
Am curious - have you had any success trying to do a track stand on this? A bunny hop? (Both useful elements of my urban cycling experience).
Cheers--
The YikeBike is not really designs for bunny hops or track stands. We can do stoppies - check out our test video
We absolutely NEED this in Brazil, specially in Sao Paulo (13 million people), where the traffic is becoming simply impossible.
By the way, we have the 2nd largest luxury market in the world (the 1st is USA, of course), so, I am SURE there will be MANY early adopters here!
Cheers!
My friend Patricia is so disappointed she can't get a YikeBike here yet. Hopefully you get enough interest from the US to begin selling them here soon.
Personally, I'd be interested in a pedal/electric assist version (to get some exercise while commuting) if you or another licensee can bring one out with a 15-20 mile range.
Great design! A friend forwarded me your link, which I promptly forwarded to many more, and I've been surprised by the number of replies I've gotten. You've definitely struck a chord.
That would be awesome if you could switch from manual to electric power! On flat surfaces, downhill, or slight uphill gradients you could manually pedal to get exercise/increase the mileage; and when you're faced with a steep hill or just feel like chilling you can switch it to electric and let the bike take over.
Anyways I'd love to see the yikebike come to the US.. But for cheaper retail ofcourse :)
Grant,
Your blog succinctly explains one of the key features of a free market: any new product has to pay for research and development AND all the startup costs for manufacturing. I have never been the first to buy new goodies: they cost too much and usually have problems that get ironed out in a generation or two. I'm a late adopter, always waiting patiently for prices to come down and quality to stabilize.
That said, I understand how important the early adopters are, and that without their willingness to pay a high premium to have cool new stuff, people like me would never enjoy the benefit of those goodies. Thank you early adopters.
The trickle-down effect is dramatic. In the U.S., poor people own microwave ovens, computers, DVD players, cell phones and MP3 players. All of these relatively recent inventions were extremely expensive when introduced, and only the wealthy - or fanatics - could afford them. But they made them available for the rest of us by paying off the initial developments costs. Bless all you early adopters, who benefit the poor (and frugal people like me), making us able to buy things that are both practical and fun.
And thanks to Grant and team for inventing the mini-farthing and YikeBike. I'll own one someday. When they're cheap.
I think if you married the concept of a Shuttle Bike, while in the design stage, you may come up with a short distance Aqua Bike, ideal for cities with congested bridges and boat ramps, like Vancouver, CANADA :-) SEE HERE: http://www.shuttlebike.com
I would like to see you guys YikeBike here in Brazil!!!
Great Electric Bike design I want to learn more about this innovative design. Can you provide a parts breakdown view sometime. The Battery and motor must be really small. What is the range of this bike? PHosphate battery interesting. This a killer design perfect for the American commuter in Seattle WA.
The range is 10 km but there will be additional battery options before too long.
what AC voltage are you using to charge the unit? 220? what's your anticpated battery life? For battery powered kids toys tend to die within a year or two. can the battery(ies) be changed out without too much difficulty?
The charger works on any voltage between 100 and 240. Our battery testing has got over 1000 charge and recharge cycles. Yes it will be relatively easy to swap out batteries and we anticipate that there will be a lot more options going forward.
how fast it go mile per hour 10 15 20 ?
15.5 miles per hour
I will admit it. I nearly fell over with excitement when I saw this page and the videos. Sure 4500USD is a lot of money, but early adopter prices are ALWAYS high. This is new technology from a venture funded company. What the hell did you expect? If it proves worthy (and I think it does) we'll let economies of scale start working when more and more people want these things.
Now that being said, I was looking at it and then looking at the weather in my city (Vancouver, BC) and it was very apparent that I still would not want to take this thing out when it's pouring rain unless I intend to dress in full rain gear. That cool carrying pouch that holds the bike made me thing that it could be re-designed into a fairing/rain cover. Maybe the pouch itself could be some kind of pod cover or poncho to fit over the user for rainy days.
Then you just done the poncho, get on the bike, ride, get off, take off the poncho and stow the bike inside. Woo ha. Efficiency 100%.
I don't think the price is really that steep, especially when you consider a entry-level carbon fiber road bike runs about 2k or more. You also have to take into account that it had lights, turn signals, anti-skid brakes, charges in 40 mins, and can fold up. The only concerns I have is the range and motor life. A range of 6 mi seems especially short when the top speed is only about 15 mph, that's only about a 30 minutes of battery life.
Nice idea - thanks for that. Will see what we can do.
Congratulations on coming out with this brillinat innovation.
Have you performed any riding tests with disabled people? I'm recovering from a partial spinal cord injury. I use two canes to walk short distances, and a wheel chair for longer distances.
The YikeBike could probably be a solution for those who have lessened strength legs.
Any thoughts?
The current version would not work for this because it does require good balance and is set up in quite a sporty way so it is highly manoeuvrable. However we do have plans for a version with two back wheels that we think would be great as a wheel chair replacement.
Just wanted to say, brilliant idea, great to see something like this. Pricey but hey, lot of work went into it and I'm sure when you sell more it will come down, I'll wait until then but nevertheless very well done.
Hey I want to purchase this bike what will the rate.
Great idea, great design, very usefull, but i think the price it to big.....
If this product supose to change the vision of changing the world, reduce polution.....
Everybody want to make a lot of money very fast.....but not this way...........i better walk then.
Of course the cost is high. It is for everything that comes out new. A DVD player initially cost over $500, as did VCR and Beta(much higher even), flat screen TVs, computers...everything has eventually come down...even prescription drugs...how many of the list that I quoted do you have? How much did they all cost and do they actually get from from point A to point B?
just making a point...
himmmmmm - the point of the blog post was to explain why the first version of anything this not cheap. Like everything the price will come down but you will have to be patient. Check out www.minifarthing.com where you can sign up for a mass produced cheaper version when they come out.
Congratulations on inventing such a brilliant device.
As a friend of mine says, "It makes the Segway look old fashioned".
Please consider selling in the US. Although pricy it is in the same range as the Segway and I see several of them in my small town.
Attitudes in this country are changing and people are moving closer to their work and, wonder of wonders, there are even signs of rapid transit appearing.
When and where will these be available in Australia and how much will they be?
Congratulations on such a wonderful invention.
Sorry not sure when we will be selling in Australia - will keep you posted
What is the riding range and how much will hills effect this distance/time.
The initial range will be about 10 km but there will be range extenders on offer before too long. Hill obviously reduce range but it does have regenerative braking which helps charge down hill. We will try to post some more details on this when we have a finalised specification.
excellent. Brilliant ! Get them ready and I will buy one immediately. These kind of ideas will change the world, just what we need . Thank you for your hard work. I want one.
I love the Yike Bike!!..it's really great and economical..and also imaginative/creative...i'm really impressed with the crativity it took to engineer and design the yike bike!....my only problem is...not everybody can afford to cough-up 4,500$...i know that it's a fair amount of money,but for us poor people...it would take me about 3-4 years to save up that kind of money....i hope it will get cheaper soon because i sure would like to own one some day!....m
Guys, this product is fantastic! I read where you don't sell in America yet, but your website allows for ordering. Can one order from America and have one shipped here? I love the Yike Bike and wold like to own one one day.
Banjo
Anyone can put there full details on our website and those that do will have the first chance to buy when we are selling in new countries.
I love it! But I am not sure if it's for me, woman tall 1,57m, I cycle to work about 10km carrying my laptop, a bag, and sometimes an A3 folder case, often in heels. It works well in my bike, will it work in a YikeBike? I see no pictures of people carrying bags.
You are correct we need a video of people carry things. We use a small backpack and it works just fine. There will be different battery and size options in the future.
Agree with Tal.
I'd be happy to help w/ marketing.
This is a great idea. Congrats!
How does the bike handle in rain? Is it rain proof?
Thanks.
Yes it is rain proof. The frame acts as a mud guard so you don't get splashed when riding in the wet.
I have chronic leg nerve pain and use slow three & four wheeled mobility scooters to get around. Can you attache a couple of small wheels to the back wheel so that the Yike Bike could operate with stability at a slow speed like a mobility scooter inside a shopping mall, supermarket, airport or fairgrounds?
We are looking at developing a 3 wheel version in the future.
You mention not wanting to leave a bad impression by going through stop signs. How about wearing helmets? Based on the speed I see you going on those vids, if for some reason you hit something or lost control, it would be lights out. Even if you aren't required to wear them where you live, it sets a good examle for your company to be concerned for riders safety. Of course people will choose to or not, but as the manufacturer, shouldn't you set the example? Just trying to help out! Oh, by the way the introductory vid didn't say how long the charge lasts...can you add that? Great idea, hope it turns out to be the next ipod!
this is real genious, great looking product
I wish you the best of luck. and realy hope to see it here one day
Tal Fuchs
Israel
Wonderful concept. Great design. Terrific outcome. Congratulations and best of luck. Hurry to the US.
Good day,
The Yike Bike is a genius idea guys, congratulations on this invention. It looks perfect for getting short distances to work, or to the public transit. I'd love to have one.
I am sure you thought of it, but I think supercapacitors would be a perfect energy storage solution for the Yike. They are more efficient and have a much longer life than any battery. They have a slow self drainage, but that is OK with daily recharging anyway.
I can't wait to see the Yike Bike in Canada, and have the price come down to my range. Understandably, they are expensive at first to pay for the R&D.
If you are looking for a distributor in Canada, I'd definitely be interested in distributing them here.
Best of luck on this,
Cheers,
Roger Zimmerman, P.Eng.
Owner,
Roze Company
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
www.rozecompany.com
Yes super capacitors are on the list of things we are looking at.
Can you design something that fits on the yike bike in which to put things? I already have an electric bike. It's wonderful partly because I have a detachable "basket" at the front and at the back panniers on either side and a lockable top box. Thus it can carry a lot without the rider noticing the extra weight. Fully loaded: 12 bottles of wine, 4 orange juice cartons, two bunches of tulips, 4 kilos of potatoes, 1kg of tomatos, 2 fish, a loaf of bread, cheese, swimming towel & costume and a laptop PC.
If the yike bike can do that, I'll get one.
We use a small back pack for laptops etc but it is not designed for carrying much larger loads. We may make versions for heavier loads with bags at a later date.
I live in a fairly hilly coast city...the video shows the Yike operating on flat roads. Has it been tested on hills and how do a variety of inclines affect handling, speed, turning etc?
Check out the hill testing in this video
Thanks...adds a lot more to the picture of what it's capable of handling. Looks good. I'll keep checking in for 'future' developments and, ultimately, availability here in Canada.
when will this be available in united states and how much will it be????
Sorry not sure when we will be able to sell in the US yet and not sure what the price will be there.
Get that price range down and it'll sell like hotcakes, guys. hope to see it available en masse soon!
Make a manual pedal version
Check out www.minifarthing.com - we started with a pedal version and this may be an option down the line.
I think this is a wonderful invention - elegant. Kudos. I only wish our bloated American transit "system," entirely based on autos, were better adapted to this cool vehicle. Sadly, most Americans live too far from work, rely too heavily on highways, and have such poor public transit that a vehicle like this is not practical for most here. Clearly, this design will be readily adopted in places like Europe that already have mass transit and pedestrian-based commuting. In such locales, I can see the Yike Bike reducing private vehicle congestion. Sigh. Great invention.
Is there a plan for a head light & taillights?
The YikeBike has built in front lights, tail lights and side lights.
What happens when you come to a stop sign? Is it easy to put your feet down and stop? In the video the riders seem to go through lights and signs, which wouldn't work in my area!
GREAT idea. Best of luck!
Not sure what videos look like we are going through stop signs??? Certainly not the impression we want to give. It is very easy to stop and just like a normal bike you put your foot down to balance when you come to a stop. Check out this video.
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