A gas-powered bike? We've got those. They're called motorcycles. Start slapping combustion engines onto your average pedal bicycle and you're taking one step backward for nature, and one giant backflip for mankind. It can reportedly hit speeds of up to 40 mph, and run on 120 miles-per-needless-gallon.
Sure, it looks alright. It's got a charming white-washed frame and the bike itself cost its British builder $25 at a flea market — a motor was slapped onto it. We can't help but match it up to the slew of other bicycle hybrid designs we see around here, and the idea of wasting gas in such a way — especially these days — is just silly.
Tomorrow's headline: DIY project to make your legs run on gasoline.
British Car Forum, via MAKE, via Boing Boing Gadgets
editor@dvice.com
By wintermute44 at 11:07 AM ON 10/15/08
Way to miss the point completely. If you'd bothered to RTFA you'd know that it was an homage to the first motorcycles... which looked exactly like this. (google images of the 1903 harley) Instead you just looked at the picture and jumped to, "backflip for mankind" This is the kind of lazy writing that just makes people read gizmodo...
By Aero at 11:49 AM ON 10/15/08
They've been around since the 30's, its called a whizzer: http://www.whizzermotorbike.com/NE5Brochure.htm
By puff3456 at 2:01 PM ON 10/15/08
"one step backward for nature" HAHAHAHA It's a gas powered bike and makes 120mpg, not a Hummer making 12. What would be a "backflip(sic) for mankind" is going back to just walking around or riding animals for transportation as your anti-fuel statement implies (not that it matters).
By Bob at 2:42 PM ON 10/20/08
Hi,
It is great. Wish we all keep our oil demand low and hence pollute less for future generation. I believe in renewable energy but this is also one way to help the planet in reducing GHG.
I would like to know about the company and possibility of getting license to manufacture them in third world and devloping countries.
Appreciated and looking forward to see many more products in future.
Thanks again.
With best regards,
Bob Pandya
By HoughMade at 1:29 PM ON 11/10/08
Any publicity is good publicity.
Believe it or not, I built this for the fun of it. I find my exercise elsewhere and own 2 cars. This is my hobby. Glad you thought it interesting enough to write about. I never claimed to be innovative, quite the opposite. Trying to justify one's hobby to someone who does not share the passion is impossible, so I will not try. Hope it gave you a chuckle or two.