Bike
Ducati 1098 Streetfighter unveiled
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Ducati has officially taken the wraps off its new super-naked - the Streetfighter - and it's one mouth-watering package. The familiar Ducati trellis-frame houses a water-cooled 1098cc L-Twin putting out 155 horsepower, add an aluminum single sided swingarm, dry clutch, Brembo radial monoblocs, Marella electronic fuel injection, stainless steel 2-1-2 exhaust system and a weight figure of 167 kilos and you have a bike that backs its aggressive stance with performance topping anything the company has ever released without fairings. Read More
Seat-less bike design promises fitter children
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October 22, 2008 The “Taurus” is a futuristic bicycle concept from Julia Meyer which promises to keep kids fit through its seat-less design. The forward-leaning configuration means you stand on the bike in the optimum position for giving your leg muscles a solid workout as well as ensuring correct posture. Read More
No hands, no pedals: the electric self balancing unicycle
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While the unicycle could never be accused of being the most practical form of transport, one or two designs that have emerged in recent years (like the Unomoto and Bombadier's Embrio concept) have identified the potential of combining self-balancing technology with a format that is, well, inherently unbalanced. Known as the electric self-balancing unicycle or SBU, this new incarnation from Focus Designs makes the challenge 50% easier by incorporating a system of accelerometers and gyroscopes to control the forward and backward balance, leaving the rider to concentrate mainly on sideways movement. The other big difference from the traditional design is that there are no pedals or crank arms, just footrests to help balance while you glide along at up to 8mph while controlling speed by leaning forward and backwards. Read More
Urban cruiser: the A2B electric bike
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Yet another option for short-distance commuters who want to pollute less, avoid traffic snarls and keep fuel-money in their pockets, the aptly named A2B electric bike lets you cruise under electric power at 20mph for up to 20 miles on a single charge with an optional second battery doubling the range. Read More
The Innervision recyclable bicycle concept
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Industrial Designer Matt Clark is taking what is already the world's most popular mode of eco-friendly transportation a step further with his recyclable Innervision bicycle concept. The goal behind the project is to reduce costs and streamline the manufacturing process by using pre-molded plastic components rather than aluminum tubes for the bicycle frame, producing a lightweight and affordable product for the cycling masses that could be made from, or turned into, plastic products. Read More
Run while you ride on the elliptiGO bike
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The elliptiGO glide bike offers riders all the best elements of running and cycling in one machine. Whilst running is an excellent way to improve cardiovascular health and general fitness, many runners are plagued with back and leg injuries due to the high impact nature of the sport. Similarly, bike riders often suffer from shoulder and back injuries and saddle-soreness. When you ride the elliptiGO you use the same biomechanics of running but the impact is reduced and the upright position is a much more comfortable way to ride as well as providing greater visibility in traffic. Read More
The CarvX four-wheeled carving recumbent bike
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Vehicles with a carving or tilting mechanism to assist in steering through corners make a lot of sense. We can attest to the validity of the theory following our test ride of the virtually undroppable Piaggio MP3 scooter and we've seen numerous design platforms that incorporate this approach including the VenturOne plug-in hybrid , the Xnovo three-wheeler, Brudeli's Leanster and the Lumeneo Smera. Human-powered carvers have also been spotted on the drawing-board, but we've never encountered a concept design that applies this principle to a four wheeled recumbent bicycle - until now. Read More
Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker
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There's nothing like strapping on the earphones and cranking up your favorite tunes to help you through a serious bout of exercise, but in many outdoor scenarios, especially cycling, this can become a major safety risk by preventing you from hearing traffic noise and other potential hazards that might not be visible. This is the thinking that inspired Los Angeles entrepreneur Jeff Lotman to invent the Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker, a palm-sized unit that attaches to a bike or backpack and wirelessly transmits music and phone calls from Bluetooth enabled devices. Read More
Honda's all-new 2009 CRF450R Motocrosser gets fuel injection
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Honda's CRF450R motocross bike has been hugely successful since its launch in 2002 - and although the bike is already recognized as the class leader, it's receiving a kitchen-sink included upgrade for 2009. Lighter, quicker, more powerful and with even tighter mass centralization for quick handling, the 2009 CRF450R also sports a Honda first - battery-free, programmable fuel injection that raises output power and control while dramatically reducing fuel consumption. Out of the box, Honda says it's two seconds faster around a supercross track than this year's bike. Read More
New functionality for Zoombak A-GPS locators
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Following the release of the basic GPS Locator product earlier this year, Zoombak has begun its roll-out of additional functionality with the release of "Mobile Location Requests", a feature that lets users find their Zoombak in real-time from any cell phone. Read More
Bike-pack: the bicycle that folds into a backpack
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This entry from Taiwan's International Bike Design Competition tickled our fancy; it's a smooth looking city bike that tucks and folds itself into a 5.5kg backpack or a nifty hand trolley so you don't have to leave it locked up anywhere. Read More
Montreal's high-tech public bicycle system
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June 23, 2008 Public bike systems are an environmentally friendly and practical urban transport solution, and in theory they benefit everyone in town, but sadly, most programs quickly fold when the bikes are routinely stolen or smashed by vandals. Montreal's solar-powered Public Bike System plans to use clever design, RFID and a membership system to see if they can keep a public fleet of bikes on the road. We wish them the very best of luck! Read More
Rare Tiffany & Co. bicycle up for auction
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Most noted for high-end jewelry, Tiffany & Co. was also a creator of unusual objects in the 19th century. One such item, a silver-mounted lady’s bicycle, is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams fine art auction house in Manhattan on June 4. Read More
Svepa city bike
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The Svepa bike design employs a frame made from an intelligent combination of plywood and aluminum to create an elegant, practical and eye-catching city bicycle built for two. Read More
Ingenious fold-up Swissbike
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Despite the obvious advantages of having a bicycle which can be folded for ease of transportation or storage, a compromise in performance compared with conventional bikes is inherent in many existing designs - usually due to smaller wheel sizes, less than ideal seating positions and structural instability. Although we've uncovered some outstanding examples of innovative, lightweight collapsible bikes over the years, only a select few have offered a combination of full-size performance and fold-up convenience. Joining this group is the SwissBike, a civilian spin-off of a platform first developed for use in military transport and parachute airdrop by Massachusetts based bicycle manufacturer Montague Corporation. The range is headed-up by the flagship SwissBike XO - a full size mountain bike with 26” wheels that folds down to a 36" x 28" x 12" size in under 30 seconds via a quick-release system that doesn't require tools. Read More
Shape-shifting bicycles to redefine the urban commute
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May 5, 2008 Shape shifting designs that provide convenient portability and storage options and push the boundaries of people’s accepted ideas of the bike came to the fore at the recent International Bicycle Design Competition (IBDC). The standout example was the third placed the Everglide concept, an innovative multi-purpose design that integrates a bicycle with a backpack. Read More
The Optibike OB1 electric bicycle: exclusive, long range, power assisted commuting
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April 24, 2008 Optibike's 2008 range of electric-powered bicycles will be spearheaded by the limited edition OB1, the signature bike of Optibike Inventor Jim Turner. The key component of the Optibike system - the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket (MBB) which drives through the derauiller gear system to optimize acceleration and range at all pedaling speeds - is now oil cooled and delivers 850 continuous watts of power. Add to this carbon fiber handlebars, brakes, derailleur, chainring and cable ferrules, a customized paint job, GPS satellite navigation, plus a wireless PDA interface that provides real-time feedback on remaining range, battery charge and motor temperatures, and you have yourself one high-performance urban commuter. Read More
3D motion capture technology gives Olympic triathletes the perfect fit
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April 18, 2008 The Retul 3-D motion capture and analysis technology system for cyclists promises fast and accurate data collection to aid in bike fitting, avoiding injury and ultimately, better bike design. The active system, which uses infra-red LEDs (light emitting diodes) placed on the body in specific skeletal locations, will be used by the US Triathlon team in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics. Read More
Sunny Day: fold-up solar-electric bicycle concept
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April 17, 2008 Featuring an adjustable streamlined solar panel on the front stem, the Sunny Day compact solar electric bicycle design by Larry Chen recently took out the Grand Prize in the 12th annual International Bicycle Design Competition. Read More
Pedal power delivers clean water to the developing world
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April 9, 2008 A staggering 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, with an estimated 5,000 children per day dying from water-related diseases. In response to this global crisis, a group of inventors from the US developed the innovative and highly commendable Aquaduct Mobile Filtration Vehicle - a tricycle which uses pedal power to both transport and filter clean drinking water. Read More
Genius rear shock bike control system
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February 29, 2008 The Genius range of mountain bikes from Scott were designed with a variety of riding levels in mind, from crossing the Alps to a leisurely tour with friends. One of the standout features of the bikes is an adjustable rear shock system that is easily operated via handle bar levers. Read More
The dog-powered recumbent trike
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February 12, 2008 First came the dog-powered scooter, now inventor Mark Schuette has developed a dog-powered recumbent trike that employs the same "dog behind a steering wheel" configuration with the added stability offered by a sit-down trike design and twice the steering power and braking power of the scooter. Read More
Cannondale's new Scalpel XC racer features zero-pivot swingarm
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Already the dominant bike in cross-country racing, the Cannondale Scalpel has received some significant upgrades for this year's model. The most fascinating is the company's decision to do away with a chainstay pivot on the rear suspension – instead employing a unique bending carbon fiber unit that uses its designed-in flex to improve bump handling and stiffness while increasing rear suspension travel to 100mm. Combined with Cannondale's amazing single-sided Lefty fork and a host of other new developments that see the bike's overall weight drop by 10%, the new Scalpel is quite a stunning piece of engineering. Read More
Safe Turn: the fully-automatic indicator for cyclists
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January 22, 2008 Environmental and health factors have been a catalyst for increased numbers of cyclists in metropolitan cities with bike sales exceeding that of cars in places like Australia in recent times. With more recreational and commuter cyclists sharing the roads with automobiles it follows that rider safety - and technology that enhances it - is more important than ever. The Safe Turn Indicator is a compact (40 mm/1.6 in) and lightweight (19g/0.67oz) bicycle light indicator designed to fit your glove or wrist that consists of three LEDs which flash in a similar fashion to a vehicle or motorbike indicator and emit the same orange light. Using an internal tilt switch to pick-up the change in angle rather than motion-detection, the product differentiates itself from other indicators on the market by virtue of its ability to automatically switch on when an arm is raised to execute a normal hand signal for turning and remain flashing until the arm drops back down. Read More
Factor 001: BERU f1systems previews high-tech carbon chassis bicycle
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Performance engineering specialist BERU f1systems has provided a glimpse of its intriguing new project - the Factor 001 bicycle. Best known for its involvement in Formula 1 racing and as a supplier for supercars like the Bugatti Veyron, the company's latest innovation rolls advanced electronics into a high-tech package that includes carbon chassis, ceramic brakes and bespoke drivetrain. Marked by square, clean lines and its completely metallic finish, the prototype is designed primarily as an advanced training tool, with stored biometric data such as heart and respiration rate available for downloaded for post-training analysis. Read More
Pedal-powered supercomputer: MIT Cycling team sets new record
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December 15, 2007 Cyclists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have set a new world record in Human Powered Computation (HPC). The team of 10 used bicycles to power a SiCortex SC648 supercomputer drawing 1.2 kilowatts of electricity, riding non-stop for 20 minutes to achieve the feat of the largest HPC in history. Read More
Uniquely designed STRIDA folding bicycle collapses in six seconds
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Portabilty, comfort, performance and strength - these are the key factors that come into consideration when delving into the world of folding bicycles. Using a unique design described as the "first completely new bicycle geometry in 95 years", the STRIDA folding bicycle appears to deliver on all counts. The STRIDA consists of a light-weight aluminum triangular frame that folds into a compact, stowable form in just six seconds with power transfer to the rear wheels via a silent, clean Kevlar belt, meaning low maintenance and no grease on your business attire when you arrive at the office. Read More
The 85cc mountainbike
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November 30, 2007 Design students from Colorado have come up with a mountainbike that incorporates a Kawasaki KX85 engine to bring a new dimension to the idea of lightweight motorcycle - around 125lbs, or just under 57 kilos. Read More
Electrobike Pi: your pedal power gets an electric boost
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Electric/pedal power hybrid bicycles make a lot of sense as commuters. With a small amount of battery power to augment your pedaling efforts, you can achieve extra speed and distance while leaving a minimal environmental footprint and paying next to nothing per kilometer. The Electrobike Pi is a fine example of the state of the art: packed with nifty technology in a design marked by its distinctive arch frame, the Pi is speed limited to 20 mph when powered by the 36V/500 watt electric motor alone - slotting neatly under the maximum power and speed figures allowable in California without a motorcycle license - and you can travel around 25 miles without troubling the pedals. Read More
The Matra MS1 “Human Electric Hybrid Motorcycle”
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Matra Manufacturing & Services (Matra MS) has turned its attention to the production of Light Electric Vehicles with the latest offering from a company renowned for its past achievements in the automotive design arena – including a stint in Formula One in which it won a world title along with wins in the Le Mans 24 hour race - being the MS1, a “Human Electric Hybrid Motorcycle” shown recently in Paris that is expected to hit the market in the spring of 2008. Powered by a 1kW Motor Wheel, the MS1 has its maximum speed limited to 28mph (45 kmh) in electric mode and can travel up to 62 miles (100 km) - depending on type of battery - on purely electric power… and if you run out of juice there is always the ever-reliable pedal-option. Read More
Cannondale's Quantum Leap in bicycle design: the ON concept
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Early forms of the bicycle emerged as early as 1791 when one Monsieur de Sirvac is said to have added a second wheel to a child's hobbyhorse. The “draisienne” – which was propelled by riders pushing their feet on the ground - was invented in Germany around 25 years later and the basic design platform we recognize today took shape at the end of the 1800’s with the addition of pneumatic tyres, derailleur gears and hand-operated cable-pull brakes, but if this radical prototype from urban solutions company Cannondale is any indication, the continuing evolution of the bicycle as we move into the 21st century might yield some very surprising results.
Navitas bicycle trailer concept offers 3-way power generation
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August 16, 2007 British designer Paul Smith has come up with an interesting bicycle trailer concept that produces its own renewable energy. The Navitas bike trailer is designed to generate power in a number of different ways, combining both solar panels and a unique vertical wind turbine to offer cyclists a range of energy options with which to power lights or even run small appliances like mobile phones and laptops. Read More
BMW release Junior Cruise bicycle
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August 8, 2007 BMW has released the Cruise Bike Junior - a new bicycle designed for five to eight year-olds that introduces riding (and the BMW brand) to children on a machine that is reliable, sturdily built, and ergonomically sound. The Cruise Bike Junior has excellent safety credentials including child-friendly pedals with inbuilt LEDs, brake cables integrated into the frame for an unencumbered, sleek look, plus a three-brake system for plenty of stopping power. With its high-strength AL6061-T6 aluminum frame, front suspension, an easy to operate twist-shift SRAM i-MOTION three-speed rear hub and integrated 3D BMW logo setting off the Metallic Shell paintwork, along with a nifty black/red saddle, the BMW Cruise Bike Junior has already been awarded the prestigious international red dot design award for 2007. Read More
