Frequently Asked Questions - General

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.