saw this really weird electric bike thing in town tonight

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I tried google to see if I could suss out what this bizarre little "vehicle" was but I don't even know what to enter in the search box.

The thing was about the size of an anorexic's coffin, obviously electric powered. Looked sort of like a small bobsleigh - all white, w/ a flashing red light at the back iirc. Seemed about as safe as train surfing on the underground. Seriously tiny profile and really low to the road, silent, and maybe top speed of 25-30mph. The driver / rider appeared to be prone, legs out in front but all within the bodywork of the thing.

I think I've seen the future - and it looked a bit silly.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Arfa__]

Something like this yeah?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/onlyinbritain/getty-clive-sinclair-c5-alexandra-palace.jpg?imwidth=450


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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[Riejufixing]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Absolutely nothing like either of those. It was tiny. Only a slim bodied person could fit in it. It's only about 18" off the ground - and no clearance is visible. Imagine a Cruise missile, with a small viewing slit.

Definitely the oddest vehicle I've seen. Like I said, I think it must've been electric powered but probably pedal assisted from a (very!) prone position.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Polarbear]

Something a bit like they use in these eco marathons?

https://whyhydrogen.linde.com/fileadmin/user_upload/keyvisual_meet_the_drivers.jpg

Maybe a one off home made but I presume if it can do 30mph it has to be registered.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Orennayar]

was it something like this? I saw one a few month ago in london that looked like what you described.
https://lonniemorse.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/varna-pir-20103.jpg

I think they're pretty much a regular horizontal bicycle (or whatever they're called) with an aerodynamic shell on top.
That sounds like a pretty cool idea for long rides in the open, not too sure about that in the city filtering between buses and lorries though
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DAS passed: 21/07/14
2011 YBR125(sold)
2009 XJ6N

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[c_dug]

I've seen a few people on recumbent bicycles in London, with little flags on a stick to give them half a chance of being seen at vehicle height.

Still not sure I'd much fancy it myself mind. Fibreglass splinters are horrible at the best of times, without them being smushed into my guts getting squished by a lorry whilst in that thing.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[SirFallalot]

[suburban myth]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers_Motors_NmG

Corbin Sparrow?

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

nowt like it - it only had two wheels

it was what orennayar posted but in white
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[BusterGonads]

A while ago I was following a recumbent bicycle which was doing 40 miles an hour on the A189 dual carriageway. I was amazed at the speed the guy was pedalling it at. 40 on the flat is some speed for a cyclist. he kept this up for a surprising length of time. I stayed behind him to see how long he could keep that up - until I got bored and passed him. This was before electric bikes were seen. My feeling was that the thing was pretty lethal. It could easily be missed by the kind of careless drivers who kill and seriously injure motorcyclists by pulling out on them (65% of mcycle deaths and serious injuries are caused by other vehicles failing to see them and pulling out in front of them or turning right across their path). I'd say you'd have a short lifespan riding one of these on the UK roads these days, with or without a flag on the back of it.

[thx1138]

Was it a drycycle?

https://www.drycycle.co.uk/

[Easy-X]

Yes, if you can get ~30mph on a standard race bike the 40mph on a recumbent sounds reasonable. IIRC when first invented back in the early 20th century they pissed the Tour de France and were banned the next year.

They're much more stable than a standard push bike I would imagine due to the longer wheel base but way to low to the ground to be safe with other road users.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Easy-X]

[chris-red]

[bhinso]

No.
FROM £15k.

Seriously, please take my money. I don't want it.

[Easy-X]

If you have that sort of money to burn surely one of these would be better:

https://www.engadget.com/2019/07/09/zero-srf-electric-motorcycle-review/
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Ste]

gtfo, that drycycle thing can't be for real.

Which dickhead decided that a four point harness is appropriate or necessary for such a contraption?

That's got to be one of the worst wiperless ideas I've seen in a while. I'd still want to have a go on one just because it looks funny but no one would pay £15k for one of those.

[RAYK47]

[chris-red]

Fucking hell that MUST be a piss take

[thx1138]

[BusterGonads]

[Easy-X]

Basically they're slipping it in as a standard ebike. For 15 bags I'd have thought they'd have at least gone for something ~1.5kW and get it tested as a quadbike. But then you're talking about ppl getting CBTs or motorbike licences whereas this can be "ridden" by anyone over 14 years old.

Who the fuck looked at this project and thought "yeah, I'll invest!!! Take my money"
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter