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That's a wheel shaped cowling with a skateboard wheel at the bottom. You can see the wrinkles in the fabric they've used to make the 'tyre' before he gets on
I think the wheels are (intentionally) fully cowled so you'd not be able to see the wheel moving (the back wheel doesn't have the 'fork' surround part so the 'wheel' surface that you can see CANT rotate). the creased fabric looks like it covers a slot at the front. if that is the case what happens if you pick up a few small stones? Surely it would just hoover up road debris until it jammed.
Definitely has a motor and those wheels are not rotating at all.
Pedals definitely don't look connected - he doesn't start off moving with a pedal stroke, just pushes off with the pedal at 6 o clock.
They've fully funded via kickstarter and now taking orders via indiegogo.
2 words, pot hole.
1 word.
Kerb.
I saw this on facebook a while back and I asked them about how their wheels work on their facebook page - no answer.
I'm guess it is a bit of an evolution on this design http://www.gizmag.com/sada-hubless-folding-bike/31932/
I.E have some spokeless rims, which will either be really heavy or will bend or a combination of, because there are no spokes to distribute the loads, then connect it to the bike using some rollers which will probably have lots of friction and impart massive bending stresses onto the rim, particularly on the front while cornering.
The CycloTron might could be a more useable design than the Sada (or might not), as there could be several bearings hidden inside those carbon outers to distribute the loads on the rims.
Perplexedly long wheelbase on the cyclotron too.
the wheel design is awful, if you hit a curb with either wheel you are going to smash the cowling. This bike is hilarious.
In the daytime riding video he seems to be really babying it, I reckon the front wheel is sketchy as ****. The loads on the bearings must be ridiculous and I think it keeps binding.
Potentially lethal, lean it over too far when cornering, and you'll go from tyre to cowling, at which point you'll just slide, at best into a hedge, worse, under a bus.
I reckon the front wheel is sketchy as ****. The loads on the bearings must be ridiculous and I think it keeps binding.
Or does the cowling keep hitting the ground - they ride it incredibly slowly and pretty much in a straight line so that they dont have to lean the bike at all.....
[s]Potentially[/s] lethal, lean it over too far when cornering, and you'll go from tyre to cowling, at which point you'll just slide, at best into a hedge, worse, under a bus.
FTFY
Assuming it's a pneumatic tyre this happens sooner if you run at low pressure. Or get a puncture. And of course checking your tyre pressure is made all the more difficult as the wheel's completely cowled so you can't see it and can't easily test it.
Thinking about it, I can't quite think how a conventional tyre tube works with a spokeless wheel. Where does the valve sit?
I'm increasingly convinced this is a TV investigation to demonstrate the credulity of people on Kickstarter.
The tyres are "airless" so you don't have to worry about pressure or punctures. Of course there's a reason why nobody uses solid tyres...
hexhamstu - Member
http://ksr-video.imgix.net/assets/013/050/612/0dbf1a5cfa893d7704c6da8e17e65dca_h264_high.mp4
😯
This thing belongs in a parade or something maybe, but nowhere else.
If this can get funded, I'm starting a kickstarter for luxury tallbikes.
just because you can...
...doesn't mean you should
This is worth a read regarding similar, if less outlandish claims.
http://redkiteprayer.com/2016/07/consumer-protection/