Frequently Asked Questions

One of the key aims of the YikeBike design was to make it very safe and safer than a bicycle:

• Electronic anti-skid brakes give it smooth braking and a short stopping distance.
• Built in brake lights and indicators mean you don't have to take your hands off to signal.
• The rider is in an upright position to allow better visibility in traffic – easier to both see and be seen.
• Short wheel-base means it is more manoeuvrable.
• Speed limited so that it can never go faster than 20 km/h.
• Super-fast acceleration to allow you to avoid trouble if necessary.
• Distinctive  sound so people know you are coming.
• Built in lights that are on all the time, making you more visible to others.
• The handlebars are at the side rather than in front so in the event of  an accident or need for an emergency stop the rider’s head or body is not catapulted into an obstacle.

For more on safety see this blog post

The advantage of starting with a blank sheet of paper was that we could apply the necessary engineering principles to provide a very stable ride, right down to the tracking of the steering. The best way to see just how easy it is to ride is to look at the videos of people riding for the very first time.

Most people learn in the first few minutes that they lean differently (and more intuitively!) than a when on a bicycle. After 10 minutes they can’t stop smiling. However, just like learning to ride a bicycle, we recommend you practice until you are very confident before going out into traffic or other congestion.

With a bicycle you stretch forward to reach the handlebars – there is nothing inherently natural about that, it is just what you are used to. The upright position on a YikeBike is remarkably comfortable and safer too because it is easier to both see and be seen. At a top speed of 25 kph you are never going fast enough for wind resistance to be an issue (and the electric motor is doing the hard work anyway).

Check out this blog post for more information

The YikeBike is the first in the world to have electronic anti-skid brakes, giving smoother braking and a shorter stopping distance than a bicycle. It is likely that you will jump off the front of a YikeBike in an emergency braking situation – this is very easy as there are no handle bars in the way.

Check out this test video that shows the YikeBike braking in different scenarios.

The YikeBike is different from other vehicles and we do not know how countries and local authorities will classify it in terms of legislation, licensing, insurance, and helmet laws. You can ride the YikeBike on private property. Whether you could also ride it on public streets or bikepaths or footpaths remains to be seen, and if you choose to do so it is at your own risk. We have designed the YikeBike to be safer than a bicycle - with anti-skid braking, speed limited to 25 kpm, turn-signals, and upright riding position, so our hope is that authorities will recognize the inherent safety and classify the YikeBike as a bicycle or e-bike. If you agree, please make your voice heard with your local or national authorities.

For more on why we chose to make the YikeBike safe rather than road legal see this blog post

You should use a cycle helmet when riding a YikeBike, just as you would use one when riding a bicycle.

Each of the latches has been designed with safety in mind to minimize the chance of failure:

• the rear leg has been designed so the bike can be ridden even without the latch being done up (not recommended through)
• the seat latch is a double acting over centre mechanism. This is the only latch that has ever broken in testing and because it only causes the seat to go down a few inches this did not cause the riders to hit the ground. This has been redesigned and tested to destruction at double the force 
• the front wheel latch has no force on it in normal riding position but it is under load on braking - it is a double acting over centre cam mechanism to avoid unlatching. This braking and accelerating has been tested over 10,000 cycles with a 100 kg load. 
• the handle bars would feel loose if the latch became undone but the YikeBike would still be ridable.

The YikeBike is electronically limited to 25 kph. It accelerates to top speed in just a few seconds.

This depends on the amount of battery discharge, but a typical time would be 20 minutes for 80% charge. A full charge takes 40 mins.

It depends upon your electricity supplier, but in most cities the cost to charge would be less that € 0.10 equivalent.

The YikeBike can comfortably be ridden by anyone from 163cm to 193cm (5’4” to 6'4").

There is no need to adjust the seat because as you do not pedal – your height relative to the seat is only important to how much your knees are bent when riding.

The YikeBike can comfortably take a rider (and personal effects) weighing up to 100kg. Beyond this weight we do not warrant performance.

Over time we may make different sized ones - particularly for children.

The YikeBike's turning radius is tighter than a bicycle due to the smaller wheel base.

See this test video for a demonstration.

The YikeBike has latest Lithium Phosphate (liFePO4) batteries that are good for at least 1,000 charges.

We will share the exact details when they become available closer to the start of YikeBike production.

With a bit of practice, folding takes less than 15 seconds.

The YikeBike is designed to be super small when folded up so does not have a carrier or pannier bags. You can use a standard backpack while riding. The maximum total weight of the rider and bag is 100kg.

No – because you can fold it up and take it with you there is no need to leave it outside where it can be stolen.

‘Carbon fibre black’ is the only colour that will initially be available for a YikeBike. After initial production has begun we will look at different colours and options to accessorise your YikeBike.

The main frame acts as a mudguard for the front wheel and the end of the frame does the same for the back wheel – so, no, you don't get wet or dirty from the wheels. All the electronics of the YikeBike are shower proof so you can ride in the rain.

See the end of the test video for a demonstration in the wet

The YikeBike weighs around 10kg with a full battery and air in the tyres.

The folded dimensions are 150mm by 600mm by 600mm. The total folded volume is 43 litres.

The folded YikeBike is considerably smaller than a typical folding bicycle and the fact that all of the mechanicals are enclosed reduces the risk of marking or staining clothing or furniture.

Currently the YikeBike can travel a distance of 10 Km. More information on the range in this blog post

The YikeBike has been designed to require very little maintenance.

YikeBike has arranged a full service agency in Europe. All servicing is handled via courier, and the courier fee is included for all warranty service.

Please remember to keep the box that your YikeBike is delivered in so it can be re-used for servicing.

Customer satisfaction is our top priority.

We don’t recommend this other than repairing or replacing tyres according to the procedures in the instruction manual.

Details of the warranty are yet to be finalised. You will also benefit from the consumer protections where you live.

Production starts in July and if you order now your YikeBike will probably be delivered in September or October, given the growing number of reservations already made for YikeBikes.

The price for the YikeBike depending on your country of residence is as follows:

• € 2,635 Euros excl. shipping, duty and taxes.
• ￡2,255 excl. shipping, taxes and duty.
• approx. USD $3,425 excl. shipping, taxes and duty.

You can leave a deposit of 100 Euros on our website to reserve one. YikeBike has arranged a fully service agency for your YikeBike in Europe. All servicing is handled via courier, and the courier fee is included for all warranty service.

For more on the cost of a YikeBike see this blog post

The YikeBike is currently for sale in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and New Zealand.

The reason we are not selling in other countries is that we are going to give a very high level of service and it is not possible to do that everywhere at once.

Click here to book a test ride on the Yikebike.

YikeBike understands and empathizes with internet/email users personal privacy concerns.

We would like to state our policy:

• Under no circumstances will we sell, rent or give your private information including name, address, email to third parties.
• We collect name and address information solely for the purpose of the delivery of goods.
• Occasionally we email previous customers special event invitations which we think they may be interested in. On each of these communications, we provide a means by which the recipient may choose to never receive these emails again.
• Individual users are not identified in Website statistics. These statistics are used to improve the site and monitor traffic.
• If you would like to view, modify or delete the information that we hold on you as a user of this website or customer, write to us through our contact us form and we will be happy to co-operate.

YikeBike team!

Yes it is totally refundable up to the day you confirm your purchase (approximately two months before delivery).

A mini-farthing (www.minifarthing.com) is a new class of bicycle (like mountain bike, road bike, racing bike) and YikeBike a brand of mini-farthing.

Being electric, the YikeBike is very energy efficient and is as clean as the electricity you charge it with. Further, the YikeBike encourages public transport use because it works so seamlessly with it.

There is simply no comparison between taking a YikeBike or a car. Instead of taking 1-2 tonnes of stuff with you from A to B you only need to take 10kg.

Check out our blog for why the YikeBike is greener than cycling.

Once we have started delivering the YikeBike to market we will consider other options.

The mini-farthing design is available for licensing to well-resourced companies to produce variants, please refer to www.minifarthing.com.

The YikeBike does not fit within bicycle specifications, but we have designed it to be safer and more manoeuvrable than a bicycle so it should be able to be used anywhere you use a bicycle.

There are commonly specific rules and regulations around taking bicycles on public transport. There are no specific laws around a YikeBike. However, given the size of the folded form is smaller than many bags, you should go for it.

Check out our blog on how the YikeBike gives you ten times the freedom on public transport.

Like a bicycle the YikeBike works best in mild climates, but with care can be used any time you would use a bicycle. It is designed as a commuting device and we strongly advise you do not to try racing or mountain biking on a YikeBike.

The details of any financing option are a work in progress. We will have more information as we are near full production.

Sorry not at this time. We are initially going to be selling YikeBikes directly to customers via our website in just a few European countries and New Zealand, because we want to learn about the costs of warranty, servicing, and logistics.

As we grow, we may in the future consider the distribution and retail model. 

We are a private company and not publicly traded.

Hera – a still mostly undiscovered super-star in the making.

Check out www.herasings.com.

Hera has a cameo in our promotional video as the person who gets the traffic ticket.

Thanks Hera!

We started with a blank sheet of paper and addressed the needs of urban commuting:

• light-weight for carrying;
• compact and clean for transport and storage;
• decent size front wheel for bumps and curbs;
• better visibility through upright riding position;
• shorter wheel base for better maneuverability;
• electric drive to prevent working up a sweat.

We also addressed a number of safety issues such as:

• shorter stopping distance (the YikeBike has anti-skid brakes);
• tighter cornering for emergencies;
• better acceleration;
• a limited top speed of 25kph;
• a riding position that is upright and unencumbered by handle bars in the event of an emergency stop or accident.

Yes, mini-farthing is interested in talking to well-resourced potential licensees and would be happy to share their ideas on potential variants. Check out www.minifarthing.com.

It is designed and currently assembled in New Zealand.

We have sourced the best parts from around the world, including: Japan, USA, England, Germany, France and China.