Lure of the Yike Bike

[gbrandwood]

Originally Posted by homey

oh crappo!... can someone fix this video, i can't get it to load and i really want to see the thing in action

Don't know what happened to the link

[homey]

thanks Brandwood for finding a new link

Clearly this vehicle has many advantages with superior maneuoverability and is surprisingly stable for what looks like a ride on the handle bars of a bicycle. Unfortunatly I would never buy one for more than the cost of a good bicycle simply because it's all wrong to look at. There is nothing remotely appealing that meets the eye. Imagine yourself mounting or walking this across a busy intersection, you would look more like an idiot than we do now.

for practicality and functionality
for aesthetics and a free hand

homey says no thanks

[Isidore]

Originally Posted by homey

thanks Brandwood for finding a new link

Clearly this vehicle has many advantages with superior maneuoverability and is surprisingly stable for what looks like a ride on the handle bars of a bicycle. Unfortunatly I would never buy one for more than the cost of a good bicycle simply because it's all wrong to look at. There is nothing remotely appealing that meets the eye. Imagine yourself mounting or walking this across a busy intersection, you would look more like an idiot than we do now.

for practicality and functionality
for aesthetics and a free hand

homey says no thanks

If you read the publicity material on their website they advise against use on anything steeper than a 5% gradient! The other serious issue is braking performance. They only show it competing against a bike on wet grass, where it wins only when the bike is using only its back brake. This translates a a minimal level of retardation which would be quite unsafe in the real world. A seg will outbrake a pushbike on tarmac, a much more realistic braking test. The yikebike looks fun, but the present design is not a real transport solution.

[Tx-Rider]

It looks uncomfortable to me.

[homey]

Originally Posted by Isidore

The yikebike looks fun, but the present design is not a real transport solution.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the highly polished finish product and the effort and skill it took to produce Yikebike as an invention. I only wish I had people and support to present my inventions to industry this well. There was a massive amount of work to get this a far as it is and my hats off to the people who made it happen. It's really just a shame it looks so silly and I'm not about to look any more ridiculous moving down the sidewalk than I do now. For the money one must have something mysterious with a little style. Yikebike is going to have a harder time gaining market appeal in the US than a Segway does, don't buy stock in this motorized bicycle company.... looks sell over function every time.

[GlideGuy]

Originally Posted by Tx-Rider

It looks uncomfortable to me.

+1 very awkward seating position, IMO.

[Isidore]

Originally Posted by GlideGuy

+1 very awkward seating position, IMO.

The problem they have is that to avoid a really spine crushing ride, they have to put the rider almost directly over the front wheel, to put as little weight as possible on the very small rear wheel. This means that the centre of gravity is very high up and very far forward. This in turn means that any steep slope or heavy braking and you will 'take a header' in penny farthing terminology- you will do a face plant, or at least you will come off the front. Can't see a simple way round this while maintaining the unique selling point, the fact that it folds and can be carried over your shoulder.

[KSagal]

I would stop short of calling names of what people look like on this device, as that is clearly in the eyes of the beholder.

I will say that it holds no appeal to me, in large part because it just does not look comfortable nor graceful to me.

Furthermore, with a balance point being so high and forward, compared to the small front wheel, and tiny rear wheel, and the issues listed in previous posts.

It seems to me that hard braking on a step downslope is the same as forcible dismount.

This is a two wheel vehicle, not unlike a bike, but the geometry while interesting, does not seem that stable, and the videos of people trying it seem to confirm that.

I wish them luck, if it is a good product. I am curious enough to want to try a ride on one, but not much more. Mostly, I want to try one so if someone wants to bring it up in conversation, I know what I am talking about.

[Gihgehls]

At least if you tip forward, you can't go over the handlebars. The default riding position is already over the handlebars!

Also, if you have to dismount fast there is no LSF to get tangled in.

[KSagal]

Originally Posted by Gihgehls

At least if you tip forward, you can't go over the handlebars. The default riding position is already over the handlebars!

Also, if you have to dismount fast there is no LSF to get tangled in.

Yes, but if you don't get your feet off the pegs fast enough, the machine will land on your back, as you skid on your face.

What is the forward max speed of this thing anyway?

Also, many of us have not only experienced the downhill brake thing, but what about the resistance at the wheel? A couple inches of sand or snow? How about a wheel in a grate, or against a curb? What about the far side of a pot hole?

I am thinking about the fact that the machine must slow down to a degree when it falls into, and then climbs out of a pothole. The rider is effectivly on top and in front of the machine, so when it slows down fast, there is a good chance for an airborn rider. Unless the machine speeds up quickly to catch up to the rider ( as in the case of the segway) then the problem increases.

How do you control the speed of this unit? Is it with a hand grip on the handlebar that is under your butt? IF so, how much control will you have if your butt is no longer on the seat that is on the handlebars?