The bicycle has been defined as a 'vehicle with two wheels in tandem propelled by pedals and having a handlebar to control the movement'. Maintaining that same definition, designers are vying with each other to come out with more powerful variants of the good old bicycle. To add to its power and speed, they have adapted an electric motor too. All this, however, makes one wonder about the logic in trying to make the already 'green' bicycles eco-friendly by adding electric motors! The costs of some of these bikes are so high that the designers may have to sell them as electric 'motor'-bikes! Still, it is an interesting adventure to ride through some of the neatest electric bicycle designs.
Luxurious electric bikes
1. Grace One
Grace one
This bike looks graceful no doubt, but it is more of power than grace as you will find out when you take it for a ride. The looks are the first thing that will bowl you over. The redesigned frame is an improvement over the previous version which did very well in the market. Headlamps lie concealed in an aluminium encasing in the front of the bike and the seat is neat. The highlight, however, is the the integrated Li ion batteries which charge in less than an hour. They then kick up a rear, hub-mounted motor, which powers your cycle in tandem with your legs to move at speeds nearing 30 miles an hour! And you can do this speed for a range of about 31 miles. A real cool bike to own if you have about $6,000 in your wallet!
2. Black trail
Black trail
Engineered by UBC and designed by PG bikes, the Black trail is a super-fast bicycle designed mainly from carbon fiber. It has been designed only for the adrenaline rush that it delivers with its sheer speed. The electric bicycle can reach top speeds of 62 miles an hour and has a cruising speed of 31 miles an hour. The range at top speed is about 31 miles, while it goes up to 120 miles when cruising. The carbon fiber, titanium, magnesium and high alloyed aluminium that have gone into its construction, ensure that the bike is only 44 pounds. This is a limited edition version and one in 667 pieces. But none of these qualities justify its atrociously high price of $ 80,000.
3. M55 EVO-001 Luxury Electric Bike
M55
Taking the story of limited editions further, the M55 comes as one in 250 pieces - ever made. Priced for the premium market, the bike is constructed from a singly molded aluminium frame. The electric motor has been strategically positioned in the center for stability during the ride. Having a 250W capacity, the motor is capable of speeding the bike to 43 miles an hour. No wonder that the bike has been built with strong Brembo disc brakes to bring it to a halt. The intelligence behind the brakes will be appreciated further - when you realize that an off-street variant is available with a 1300W motor. The black frame gives the bike a cool look and a ride on it will definitely be a hair splaying experience!
4. YikeBike
Yike
Now, this is a bike that you will not fall in love with, at first sight. And that is what you would expect when you see someone riding a 'bike' with handlebars behind the bottom. The initial reaction will be more like 'Yuck'! But soon, it will get converted into a 'Yikes' as the YikeBike shows you some cool features that have been built into it. Neatly fold-able, the bicycle weighs less than 10 kilograms and is made of carbon fiber. A 1kW motor could have powered the bicycle to super speeds if not for the electronically set safety speed limit of 12 miles an hour. A built-in Li battery charges to nearly 80 percent in just 20 minutes and then gives a ride for about 6 miles at a stretch. Priced at $ 3,500, it is rolling in its home turf, New Zealand. Talk around, is that this can be a useful toy for bicycle polo.
5. The Picycle
Picycle
Shaped like the Greek letter Pi, the Picycle is electrically powered to move at top speeds of 30 miles an hour with an average cruising speed of 15 miles an hour. It is very light and looks real cool but it costs $ 3000. With a range of 27 miles, it would be a good and comfortable means to get to work and back home.
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