Interesting New Gyro-Balanced Motorcycle

Adam-NLV

Well-Known Member
Well that's the interesting part, it balances when it's Not in motion. That means your feet stay off the ground.
I got a feeling this may be pretty big in countries where people can't afford expensive cars.:car:
 

a_smerek

Member
Its a cool idea, but you really have to think about how practical the whole gyroscope and 2 wheel idea really is. You could just eliminate it and make it a 3 wheeler. In countries where money is an issue just buy a honda cub. Although cool, it really offers nothing unique and the fact it can self balance is awesome but about as useful as a segway scooter. $12k for this is expensive, when you consider you can buy a real bike for that money, and don't need to be crammed in a cockpit or limited to poor performance and a useless self balance mechanism. Put your foot down at a stop, thats not a big deal now is it? I appluad the ingenuity, and still think its pretty cool even if not practical in todays terms
 

Adam-NLV

Well-Known Member
Its a cool idea, but you really have to think about how practical the whole gyroscope and 2 wheel idea really is. You could just eliminate it and make it a 3 wheeler. In countries where money is an issue just buy a honda cub. Although cool, it really offers nothing unique and the fact it can self balance is awesome but about as useful as a segway scooter. $12k for this is expensive, when you consider you can buy a real bike for that money, and don't need to be crammed in a cockpit or limited to poor performance and a useless self balance mechanism. Put your foot down at a stop, thats not a big deal now is it? I appluad the ingenuity, and still think its pretty cool even if not practical in todays terms
It's not practical? It oozes practicality....This idea is a game changer! Your missing the big picture...This cycle fits in small places, protects you from the elements and can be handled by anyone regardless of their physical stature, it just may revolutionize transportation, especially in poorer parts of the world.
 
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69ST

Well-Known Member
Conceptually, it's kinda Smart car-meets-Segway, very imaginative. Naturally, it'll be a niche vehicle, largely for reasons a_smerek mentioned, plus others...like winter weather. That said, I can envision some practical applications, in our domestic market, primarily as a commuter vehicle. I'd not expect many bikers to embrace this machine. However, an enclosed cockpit does keep the wind & rain at bay, the self-balancing act will make it appealing to non-bikers and, unlike the Smart car, the operating cost will likely be low enough to offset the relatively high purchase price.

By motorcycle standards, this isn't all that quick or fast. Still, 0-60 in 6 seconds flat and 125mph top speed should deliver a 14-second quarter mile at about 100mph which, while not blindingly-fast, is hardly slug-like.


IMO, the marketing equation will change dramatically over the next decade. At present, most of us consider our little bikes, at 90+mpg, to be grin-inspiringly cheap to operate. Fact is, that translates into the same fuel cost per mile as a 20mpg vehicle circa 2000. Gasoline prices have since quadrupled. When they merely double, yet again, most of us will be spending $500+ a month on gasoline. That's more than enough to make vehicles, such as the $40K Volt, the cheaper alternative. Imagine how the numbers will balance-out for something like this two-wheeler, at less than 1/3 the price and a fraction of the operating cost.
 

OLD CT

Well-Known Member
The picture looks real cool from the side with the inventor.However,when you see the video of all angles with the woman driving it you will see the body of it looks VERY girlie.Not my cup of java.To each their own though.This LIT C1 makes the CT70 look more like a man's bike now instead of a kids bike.
 
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a_smerek

Member
It is interesting you brought up the volt RX. I got to drive one on the weekend. Cool car! The main problem is, when you run the numbers. If I buy a new civic for $23k, even if the fuel price doubles right now, it will still take about 8 years for me to make up the fuel savings to justify the volt, by which time the volt may need batteries anyways. What do those cost? Hard to say right now. I've heard estimates from $4k-$12k today. Down the road they should be cheaper but this is pure speculation. When you consider the cost these new technologies are not quite there, but at least headed in the right direction. A colour tv was once a luxury item too, as these things mature we will see improvements and that always is a good thing. It is always good to see someone trying something new
 
Well, Boyz, I retired early but I can't sleep, so I'm having a beer with Wingnut, and we decided to resurrect this thread from the dead... WTF, I have a FrankenBike, so the whole resurrection thing works for me, LOL. Now, I'm thinking I need this sort of modification on my little offroad thrasher, to gain clear advantages which I shall elucidate in my usual manner.

1) ENCLOSED COCKPIT: no more chowing down on trail dust or picking boulders the size of Rhode Island outta my teeth.

2) KICK@$$ STEREO IN ENCLOSED COCKPIT: think Pink Floyd & The Mighty Zep cranked LOUD while jamming down trails.

3) POLAR A/C IN ENCLOSED COCKPIT: comfortable year-round riding in the mountains and desert, WOOHOO!!!

4) GIMBALLED & GYRO-BALANCED CUP HOLDER IN ENCLOSED COCKPIT: no more beer spillage while riding.

5) GYRO-BALANCED MONKEYBIKE: no need to throw leg out like a Vegas Hooker while making turns at speed in the dirt.

6) GYRO-BALANCED MONKEYBIKE: ability to work throttle and steer with my feet, the same way I do when sailing.

7) GYRO-BALANCED MONKEYBIKE: no more road rash... er, I mean dirt rash... CLEAR OBAMACARE WINNER!!! [No $5000 deductible!!!]

8) FULL WET BAR IN ENCLOSED GYRO-BALANCED MONKEYBIKE COCKPIT: eliminates the need for pesky liquor store runs.

9) REVOLVING CIRCULAR WATERBED COMPLETE WITH DISCO LIGHTS AND BUNGEE CORDS IN ENCLOSED GYRO-BALANCED MONKEYBIKE COCKPIT: might need superior suspension elements on this one, LOL.

Okay, the last two "advantages" were suggested by Wingnut, that crazy fool... I try my best to keep the varmint in hand, but it's a losing battle. "I'm tellin' ya, Boyz, he's gonna drive me to drinkin'... if he keeps on drivin' that... hot... rod... er... GYRO-BALANCED FREAKIN' MONKEYBIKE!!!" LOL. Damn. Alright, I guess that's it for the moment, I hafta slash and Wingnut is firing up my bike for a midnight alley ride, that goldurned varmint... I told him not to pull those midnight alley runs, the thrasher being a green sticker dirt bike and all. Little Wing will wind up spending the night in the drunk tank, and I'll hafta shell out to reclaim the thrasher from the impound lot. Maybe that dude who designed the gyro-balanced bike can add some stealth technology, AYE??? :red70:
 
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