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YikeBike

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The YikeBike is a folding E-Bike anounced at Eurobike 2009 and got into production in mid 2010. The YikeBike was invented by Grant Ryan, one of the founders of Eurekster and designed by a team in New Zealand over 5 years.[1] It was sold in over 40 countries.[2] Up to December 2019, 2000 YikeBikes were sold.

The bike when folded, it is small enough to fit in a carry bag, so it can be transported in an urban bus.

History

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The development of the YikeBike started in 2004 and was partly funded by the New Zeland Ministry of Science and Innovation.[3] In September 2009, the YikeBike was presented to the public at Eurobike in Germany by Project Garlic Ltd.[4], shortly after YikeBike was ranked 15th on Time magazine's 50 Best Inventions of 2009 list.[5] The bike was compared to the Segway, by the international press.[6][7] In 2010 the bike was awarded a Guinnes World Record for the "most compact electric bike" at the time.[8] In 2011 beside a carbon version, costing around $3,800 an aluminum version named "Fusion" was released with a price of around $2,000.[9] By May 2011 250 carbon YikeBikes were sold.[10] In 2013 a third version called "Synergy" was released.[2]

YikeBike featured on Discovery Channel's Daily Planet show.[11] Stephen Fry tested the YikeBike in season 1, episode 1 of Stephen Fry's 100 Greatest Gadgets. In 2017 YikeBike presented a electric skateboard, with up to 30km/h (or 24km/h)[12] that would be founded via Kickstarter but failed their goal.[13][14] Up to December 2019, 2000 YikeBikes were sold. Since December 2019 the owers wants to sell the company but up to March 2025, could not find a buyer.[15]

The Bike

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The YikeBike looks like a mini version of a penny farthing. It ahst a maximum Speed of 23 km/h (14mp/h) folds to 15x60x60cm (6x23.6x23.6 in) and weighs 11 to 14 kg (24.7 to 30.9lb. The vehicle has no chain, pedals, gear box, mechanical brake, cables or levers. These functions are provided by a 0.2 kW (0.27 hp) electric motor and controller. The bike has regenerative electronic anti-skid brakes. The tires are 24" (507mm) in the front and 12" (203mm) in the back. There are also built-in lights, indicators and horn for safety.[16] One charge has a reach of 6 miles (9,7km)[17]

Legality

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In Europe the YikeBike would not be classified as an bicycle but as an E-Scooter in some countries. In some countries like Germany or the UK the YikeBike would not be legal to drive on public roads.[18][19] In New Zeeland the YikeBike got delcared as a none motor vehicle in 2014.[20]

Awards

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  • 2010: Supreme Award for Product Design[21]
  • 2010: Gold Award for Consumer Product
  • 2010: International Design Award “Urban Sustainable Design” category
  • 2011: iF product design award

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kiwi Inventor Gives Bicycle Radical Redesign". Voxy. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Radical bike redesign". Science Learning Hub. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  3. ^ The YikeBike Story. Retrieved 2025-03-04 – via www.sciencelearn.org.nz.
  4. ^ "EUROBIKE | Routefinder by Messe Friedrichshafen - Issuu". issuu.com. 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  5. ^ "The YikeBike : 50 Best Inventions of 2009". Time Magazine. November 2009. Archived from the original on November 15, 2009.
  6. ^ "Klapprad für Tretfaule". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  7. ^ "Cyclo-therapy: Enter the YikeBike – the extraordinary lovechild". The Independent. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  8. ^ https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/94209-most-compact-electric-bike
  9. ^ Bloomberg Originals (2011-06-10). Folding Electric YikeBike Ignores Conventional Design. Retrieved 2025-03-04 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  11. ^ "YikeBike featured on Discovery Channel's Daily Planet show". Discovery Channel. December 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
  12. ^ Yikebike (November 2017). Yike Board Information.
  13. ^ yikebike (2017-09-11). YikeBoard Kickstarter. Retrieved 2025-03-04 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Yike launches electric YikeBoard". NZ Herald. 2025-03-04. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  15. ^ "The world's first super light folding electric bike | YikeBike". web.archive.org. 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  16. ^ "Specifications | YikeBike - The world's first super light electric folding bike". web.archive.org. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  17. ^ "The Commuter Bike Redesigned and Electrified". Pogue’s Posts Blog. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  18. ^ "E-Bike Rules and Regulations". Sensitivus. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  19. ^ "Country overview: E-scooter regulations in Europe". www.evz.de. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  20. ^ "Yike Bike (Declaration Not to be Motor Vehicles) Notice 2014 - 2014-au5811- New Zealand Gazette". gazette.govt.nz. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  21. ^ Advantage, Pure (2011-08-29). "YikeBike". Pure Advantage. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
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