YikeBike--a sleek alternative to the Segway

John Chan | Sep 03, 2009

(Credit: YikeBike)

We've all seen pictures of the penny-farthing bikes from early last century. These are bicycles with a very large front wheel and a much smaller rear one. New Zealand inventor Grant Ryan has taken a very modern approach to the penny-farthing and created the YikeBike, a foldable electric two-wheeler for urban travel.

Fully electric, the YikeBike has no pedals for human-powered motion. What it does have are a motor and battery that will give you mileage of up to 9km in a single charge, at a top speed of 20kmh. One of the best things about this new device is its sub-10kg weight and collapsible frame. It's a far cry from the very bulky Segway and can be hand-carried onto buses and subway trains conveniently.

The YikeBike folded.
(Credit: YikeBike)

The YikeBike was announced yesterday and is expected to ship in 2010. On the downside, there's no guarantee your country's authorities will approve it for use on local sidewalks. Nonetheless, you can preorder one first from the company's Web site if you're keen. We have to warn you, though. This comes with one of the reasons the Segway never quite took off--an astronomical price tag of US$4,860.

Via The Design Blog