M55 Beast

[DaveyB1981]

just seen this article - m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/21/...ropriately-named/&category=classic&postPage=1

Now, electric bikes are nothing new, but it has got me thinking. Would I ride one? would YOU ride one? what is the point of them?

As much as the geek in me would love a go on this machine, I do fail to see the point. Why have a machine that is meant for pedalling and place something on it that negates the need to pedal? I can understand for some people the desire to have a motor as backup, but I feel it would just make me lazy. With the 40mph top speed, where is the incentive to pedal faster?

The only use I can see is to suprise motorists. That would be pretty cool.

Am I missing something else?

Dave.

 

[Theseus]

Apart from being (IMO) pig ugly it also probably requires a motorcycle licence to ride on the road in this country. Motorcycles do that job better.

 

[HLaB]

I'm usually open to the concept of electric bikes, they're not for me but for other they are useful for some and will hopefully enlighten them as to the benefits of cycling; that's a true beast though

 

[TheDoctor]

Right. It'll do more than 15mph, which takes it outside of electric bicycle legislation, so it's a motorbike.
It'll therefore need brake lights, numberplate etc, and I don't see any way to fit them as it stands.
You'll never get it road legal.
Plus, I wouldn't be seen dead on it. It's fugly.
IMHO, obviously.

 

[Aperitif]

I like it! My visual taste buds must be different. It must make an interesting noise scuttling along at pace- maybe I would need to mount a playing card and peg so that the spokes made a brrrr noise when rolling!

 

[TheDoctor]

Appers, you're a sick, sick man...

 

[2Loose]

With all that suspension it looks like a great downhill - and back up again

- bike.