YikeBike • Hacker News Board

Re: YikeBike

#51

Post by gojomo » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 6:27 PM UTC

maxklein wrote: post #7

Yikes, that thing will not sell. The core demographic that would use it are the same people that want to look the coolest. And I can't imagine anyone cool sitting on something as dorky. Another good idea killed by poor design.

I think that's exactly what their video is trying to address: making it seem cool before an initial superficial reaction to the unfamiliar seating makes it seem dorky. It's a steep task, though.

I think the Segway faced the same issue -- and an even simpler orientation for such personal devices, seated in a forward direction, is terminally uncool because it's so closely associated with the elderly and others with mobility problems.

I wonder, then, if units which are different for the sake of looking trendy could take off. In particular, whatever the safety issues, what if a personal motorized device expected the rider to face their body perpendicular to the direction of travel, like a skateboarder (able/cool), surfer (able/cool) or snowboarder (able/cool).

Would the rider then be sending a signal of 'fitness' even with their motor-assisted personal-travel, and could that then be the margin of approval that drives adoption where other units have failed?

Re: YikeBike

#52

Post by davidw » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 6:33 PM UTC

cwp wrote: post #39

davidw wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another comparison: My shitty commuting bike: 50€ | Range: unlimited | Top speed: a bit more than 30kph depending on how fast you can spin

I'm sure it compares favourably to the Yike, but the range on your commuting bike is not unlimited. How far can you ride before you have to stop and eat?

I can eat on the bike, actually. I did 210 km one day, a number of years ago, and only really stopped once (I had plenty of food that I ate as I went), but that wasn't with the city bike, for sure. Even the nice bike costs half of what this thing does, though.

Bicycles, on reasonable terrain (i.e. roads of some kind, or rideable trails) are the most efficient form of human transportation, in terms of energy / km.

Re: YikeBike

#53

Post by Poiesis » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 6:42 PM UTC

Kudos to all who are trying to make bike-like commuting practical. I'm looking forward to practical ideas.

Re: YikeBike

#54

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:18 PM UTC

oliveoil wrote: post #16

maxklein wrote: post #7

Yikes, that thing will not sell. The core demographic that would use it are the same people that want to look the coolest. And I can't imagine anyone cool sitting on something as dorky. Another good idea killed by poor design.

But the girl with the ticket in the ad seemed to be very charmed by the brave young man on a yike. ;-)

[deleted]

Re: YikeBike

#55

Post by modoc » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:21 PM UTC

herdrick wrote: post #41

modoc wrote: post #20

"How heavy is a YikeBike? The YikeBike weighs less than 10kg with a full battery and air in the tyres" And how much does it weigh with a drained battery and flat tires? :)

Less, actually.

Measurably less than "less than 10kg"? Yes, I understand that air at 30psi weighs more. Let's assume that the tires hold 3 liters of air (standard for a mt. bike, the yike looks like it holds a lot less actually). The 30psi will add 3.75 grams. Less than two pennies.

Re: YikeBike

#56

Post by Gibbon » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 7:40 PM UTC

This is what I said the first time YikeBike was posted on HN:

"tiny wheelbase + forward centre of gravity + unexpected obstacle = faceplant."

Re: YikeBike

#57

Post by joeld42 » Tue, Sep 08, 2009, 9:11 PM UTC

dammit when is apple going to release one of these so people think it's cool?

Re: YikeBike

#58

Post by thorax » Wed, Sep 09, 2009, 12:28 AM UTC

maxklein wrote: post #7

Yikes, that thing will not sell. The core demographic that would use it are the same people that want to look the coolest. And I can't imagine anyone cool sitting on something as dorky. Another good idea killed by poor design.

Would you ride it if it could hover?

Re: YikeBike

#59

Post by onoj » Wed, Sep 09, 2009, 12:37 AM UTC

It is a sad sad state of product design that the people who spent so much time designing and making it never rode a bicycle.

If they had they would know that even getting on this contraption would scare the daylights out of a seasoned cyclist(like me).

Not to mention that it is everyone's dream to look like an idiot at speed.

Re: YikeBike

#60

Post by maxklein » Wed, Sep 09, 2009, 5:07 PM UTC

thorax wrote: post #58

maxklein wrote: post #7

Yikes, that thing will not sell. The core demographic that would use it are the same people that want to look the coolest. And I can't imagine anyone cool sitting on something as dorky. Another good idea killed by poor design.

Would you ride it if it could hover?

I'd ride anything if it could hover, even a guy.