Designed by Igor Chak, here’s a futuristic motorcycle concept that adds a tinge of modern to the famous 1970s-80s Honda CB series. An eco-ride that definitely knows how to grab attention, his 2015 Honda CB 750 features more computers than our office and packs a 5-inch OLED multi-touch display that controls whatever needs to be controlled— from GPS to driving modes or diagnostics. The CB 750 concept features a carbon fiber, aluminum, and titanium unibody construction powered by a four-cylinder liquid hydrogen engine. This powerhouse is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission with electronic lurch and traction control– enough to force one hell of an adrenaline rush when getting this little monster roaring. Anyone at Honda reading this? We hope so, we’d love to see this one get the greenlight.
Now that your a Good Monkie and you ride your new shiny cooler than a rover bike, you need to make sure to protect it. If you don’t, there is a line of Drones out there looking to take it from you. When they see your bike, they don’t see a thing of beauty, no they see a quick buck. They will flip your precious two wheel friend like a $2 hooker to the first skanky john they can find. The thought just makes me sick to my stomach. I know this sucks and in my opinion is the worst part of being a good bike owner.
We all know a good bike, is one that cuts all the unnecessary weight, right? In fact the lighter they are, the more expensive and prized they become. So, when a good monkie has to turn around and buy 20 pounds of locks to protect their 5 pound bike, really really sucks. But that is life in the big city. So, until you move to some small country town or your own private island, you need to get your head into the keeping it lock up game.
Here is the problem. Most locks that seem to secure you bike really don’t. The bike thieving drones are ready to tackle most locks, cables and chains. So, what is a good bike monkie to do? Buy the best lock you can and use it properly. After the jump lock options and video to teach you how to lock your bike up.
This was the bicycle that featured in Basten Leijh’s Design Academy project. It’s a city bike which deals with all the problems bikes face today, and was bought by the international bicycle corporation ‘Giant.’ After appearing in a lot of exhibitions, and winning several prizes, it was called an icon of Dutch Design.
Yves Behar and Forrest North unveil Mission One, a sleek, powerful electric motorcycle. They share slides from distant (yet similar) childhoods that show how collaboration kick-started their friendship — and shared dreams. Yves Behar has produced some of the new millennium’s most coveted objects, like the Leaf lamp, the Jawbone headset, and the XO laptop for One Laptop per Child.
Move over Lance Armstrong, and forget the Tour de France. Prepare instead for the Tour de… Amsterdam? Well, not quite, but it is the hope of a small firm from Amsterdam, Bikedispenser, to help facilitate bike rentals in urban areas by installing bicycle dispensing machines. These machines would be located in various urban transportation hubs, such as train stations and parking garages, where people could quickly and safely rent a bicycle from the fully automated dispensing system. This would thus assist in integrating the use of bicycles into people’s daily commute. Along with the obvious physical benefits of cycling (exercise), this green, “G” idea would help cut down the carbon signature we so readily sign across the environment on a daily basis as we head to and from work.
Intrigued? Well, here’s the straight skinny (like we’ll be, once we start biking to work every day):
With the use of a chip card, the fully automated Bikedispenser rental station will give commuters access to new, state of the art bikes quickly. Within 15 seconds, the bike rental process will be underway and the commuter will be off to his or her destination. When the bicycle is returned, the system will once again recognize the commuter and finish the transaction. The bicycles will be placed in the clearly indicated depository and stored in a safe, indoor location.
There are a lot of emerging electric bikes out there, but most of them match cheap heavy steel frames bikes with equally cheap lead acid battery/ low powered electric motor systems. Yes, they might only cost $500 but believe me, they suck. Okay maybe saying they suck is too strong. They are fine if you are only going a few miles, once in a while. But when it comes to really replacing your car, with a bike, you might want something like the Scorpion FX.
The conveniently foldable touring trike has been designed by HP Velotechnik’s engineers especially with the needs of commuters and touring cyclists in mind. The seat height of the Scorpion fx is noticeably higher and more upright compared to its more sporty fellow Scorpion, offering great outlook and a good view in traffic. The higher seat also allows for an additional lowrider rack behind the seat. Its solid design allows for a safe transport of a pair of front panniers. Together with the robust rear rack, you can thus transport up to 50 kg of luggage in four panniers. For a stable ride, all racks are positioned close to your body and your trike’s center of gravity. Once you are loaded that high, you’ll value our optional 81 speed gear system that will give you your extra low gear when pedaling the really steep challenges.
Add Suzuki to the list of motorized vehicle companies trying to reduce carbon emissions. At the Tokyo Motor Show this year, Suzuki introduced its hydrogen-powered Crosscage concept motorcycle. A hydrogen fuel cell powers an electric engine mounted in the rear wheel and it has front and rear mono-shocks. The power delivery was designed by Intelligent Energy from the UK, but the bike design is definitely Suzuki. If you’re looking for specs, there aren’t any yet because neither Suzuki nor Intelligent Energy have issued a press release.
A true Bike Monkie knows finding the perfect bike is only the first step to creating the perfect bike experience. To be a serious bike monkie, you need the entire car replacing package, which includes things like bags, lights, locks, rain gear, a helmet and yes a horn.
A horn on a bike? Yes, a horn, not a bell, not some digital ring tone emitting toy, you will need a real horn. Something that will blast the ear drums of all those drones who still think they need to drive 2 tons of steel, to pick up 20 pounds of groceries. The best lo-tech horn on the market seems to be the Airzound by Delta Cycle. The Airzound mates an air horn with a small water bottle size plastic bottle to hold the air. The horn attaches to your bikes handle bars with a large Shocking Orange button right under your thumb, ready to be used and easy to see. The air bottle simply straps to your bike frame. You can buy the horn for around $24 on Amazon or $40 on Delta Cycle site.
No offense to well-meaning electric scooter boys and girls out there, but Brammo’s Enertia may finally be the real deal when it comes to electric two wheelers. It seems appropriate, if unfortunate, that it also comes at a very real-deal price.
Debuting early next year (with a full roll-out later in 2008), but already boasting plenty of reviewer rides behind it, the Enertia screams quality even as it glides almost soundlessly down the street. At a top speed of 50 mph, no less. Cruising at a more modest 25, the bike can go some 45 miles before needing a recharge. Two hours plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet charges the bike’s six lithium phosphate batteries to 80 percent capacity, with a full recharge requiring three hours’ juice.
Given the U.S. average commute of 29 miles at substantially faster clip (we hope, for sanity’s sake) than residential-zoned limits, the Enertia isn’t really meant to serve the average commuter.
If your a G/Style queen, this might just be the electric bike for you. The French have come to your rescue, jumping in the electric bike market with the E-Solex 2, which has a blood line running back over 60 years. The first version was the VeloSoleX a 50cc gas fueled motorized bicycle, which rolled out in 1946 in Paris. The new E-Solex drops the gas motor for an electric one, with 400 watts of power pushing this bike up to 21 mph in fast mode. There is also an option to run in eco mode, which brings the speed down to around 16 mph and will get you driving distance of 37 miles before needing a charge. The battery is a rechargeable Lithium-ion, which keeps the weight down and enables quick recharging.
This sexy little electric bike cost around $2100, but we couldn’t find it for sale in the United States yet. Maybe someone should bug their local bike store to carry oh so sexy thing of a bike. I think this would be a hit with college and high school students, who know how to live a G Life.
Another Hybrid motorcycle type of vehicle, which just might appeal to the masses. This one comes from Peugeot. A fairly big automaker in Europe, has come up with the HYmotion3. This machine provides some protection from the weather with a glass canopy and also allows the drive to have some fun, with its ability to really lean in to the curves. The HYmotion3 is also extremely fuel efficient, recording 118 miles per gallon.
Here is the official press release:
Occupying a half-way house between the world of the scooter and the car, the HYmotion3 compressor is a highly original proposal designed to facilitate urban mobility. Attractive thanks to its dynamic, streamlined and futuristic style; it is an interesting concept combining numerous benefits (size, safety and comfort) with “HYmotion” hybrid/petrol technology. This new generation technology creates a three wheel drive vehicle, benefiting safety and driveability and combining economy with an environmentally-friendly specification (CO2 emissions of only 47 g/km in the combined cycle, zero in electric only mode).
The HYmotion3 compressor concept is a means of transport with no affiliation to a particular type of vehicle. With its three wheels and its streamlined body, it is something of a missing link between two worlds which to date are quite distinct: that of the scooter and that of the car. With an electric motor in each of its two front wheels, coupled at the rear with a petrol engine, it brings into play very innovative hybrid technologies allowing each of its wheels to provide motive power.
In a world of intensifying urban traffic where everyone is trying to save time, where oil prices are skyrocketing and the environment is more than ever a priority, design departments are vying in ingenuity to develop solutions for the future.
Giving full rein to their creativity and expertise, two separate Peugeot teams converged on a similar idea and finally worked in tandem to develop a particularly original project: the HYmotion3 compressor.
This new CAF-E Motorcycle Hybrid design by Tim Cameron, is just a concept design, may soon go into production. The engine is mated with an electric motor via electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. This sends power to the rear wheels through the shaft drive.
The entire system is similar to a Hybrid Synergy you would find in your average Toyota Prius. But in this case, it’s pumping the bike with that extra power to drive it faster.
We will keep a look out for the real thing when it rolls out some day. But our guess is that, this thing is going to cost you dearly. Think high $80 to $90k. Which completely destroys and “G” bragging rights it might be after.
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