Grace is called the world's first E-Bike

Build an aluminum electric bike with euro-fighter and Formula One parts, power its 1300-watt motor with lithium-ion batteries, and you have Grace in motion. The company is calling Grace "the world's first and finest E-Motorbike," and while we beg to differ with that slogan — we've ridden a few profoundly exciting electric bikes ourselves — we have to admire the stylish build and cool power of this conveyance that looks like it came from the next century. And this is beyond just a bicycle — it's almost fast enough to be called a motorcycle.

Because this is all very high-tech and handmade in the company's Hanover, Germany shop, you'll have to plunk down €5877 ($8742) for the privilege of gracing yourself with this electro-bike when it ships in January. But then, the company claims that Grace is somehow 'really cheap compared to a car.' Maybe they have a point. If your commute is moderate, that might be true, with Grace's 18 to 31-mile range (depending on your weight), 40mph top speed, and one-hour battery recharge time. If it just went a bit faster and lasted a little longer, we'd call it amazing.

[DVICE]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »

Yamaha unveils EC-f electric scooter concept

The annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan is once again playing host to a number of cool concept vehicles, one of the most interesting being the new EC-f scooter from Yamaha. The electric-powered vehicle is designed to serve as a commuter bike for city dwellers hoping to make their drive to work a bit greener (ecologically and literally).

Constructed using lightweight aluminum, the scooter runs on a lithium-ion battery and can easily be plugged into a normal electrical socket for recharging. No word on a release date for this concept, but the design alone is enough to generate excitement for its upcoming release.

[DVICE via Telegraph UK]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »

Gyrowheel Gyroscopic Bicycle Wheel Will Eliminate Training Wheels [Bicycles]

As a child, learning to ride a bike vexed me to no end. While my friends zipped around the neighborhood on two wheels, I plodded along on four, thanks to an embarrassing set of 'training wheels.' Good news: They're doomed.
And it's all thanks to this ingenious gyro-equipped bike wheel. Like the Seqway before it, the Gyrowheel uses, well, a gyro, to maintain balance long enough so that a child can comfortably get the feel for bike riding—without those tiny little wheels messing with their self-esteem.
As you can see in the video, even with a few slaps on the side the wheel remains upright. I too was skeptical at first, but when the video depicted a bike 'ghost riding' across the exhibit floor, I was sold and my childhood was immediately envious.
The 12-inch Gyrowheel will drop on December 1, while a 16-inch version should arrive by Spring 2010.
[Gizmodo via Gyrowheel via OhGizmo]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »

B-Cycle: the GPS-Equipped Bike Sharing System I Want Right Now [Bikes]

Denver is the first city to be hope to B-cycle, a Trek-developed bike sharing system equipped with awesome goodies like GPS route tracking.

How does it work? Well, there are B-cycle stations all around Denver. Once you have an account, you can grab a bike from any of them. When you're done, you can then drop it off at any other station. The GPS unit inside the bike (there's no nav screen, it's hidden inside the bike itself) tracks your route and lets you check it out online when you're signed in.

It's a pretty awesome idea, with custom bikes made just for the system by Trek. It's pretty reasonably priced, too, with a single day costing and a year costing plus daily hourly usage fees.

They're currently finishing the details on the next batch of cities, although they're mum on what those cities will be. You can vote for your city on their site if you want to try to get it near you.

[Gizmodo via B-cycle]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »

Rear-View Helmet Has Eyes In the Back of Its Head [Safety]

The folks behind the Reevu MSX1 figured out a clever way to give bikers eyes in the backs of their heads without the need for any fancy pants electronics. By glancing up, the wearer can see what’s behind them, thanks to a mirror arrangement that bends light around your noggin like a periscope.

It seems to tick all of the right safety boxes as well, with webBikeWorld rating it as a high-quality helmet and adding that it is “built like a tank.” At it is not cheap, but no good helmets are.

Price: 384$


[UberReview via WebBikeWorld via DVICE]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »

Video: The craziest simulator in the world [Simulator]

It’s Friday, and that means only one thing: stupid videos, and lots of them. So, allow me to oblige. This here is a video found on a Brazilian Web site showing “the craziest simulator in the world.” Quite.
[CrunchGear]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »

ThermaHelm: Helmet Cools Biker's Brains In Case of Accident [Bikes]

Here's a pretty simple idea that may save a lot of lives: A motorbike helmet that cools down the rider's head in case of impact. According to the manufacturer, their new ThermaHelm prevents overheating and swelling of the brain.
They also claim that there are head injuries in 80% of all motorbike accidents. When that happens, the brain usually starts swelling. Traditional helmets act as insulators, and the brain's temperature may increase to the point in which it can cause death or permanent damage. The ThermaHelm prevents this by firing a chemical reaction on impact, which activates a layer that cools down the biker's head.
[Gizmodo via ThermaHelm]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »

Kolelinia Lets You Ride Your Bicycle Over the Air [Bikes]

Kolelinia—a system that allows you to ride your bike above the traffic—looks like a crazy idea until you check out the engineering behind it. Then you will realize that it's not only cool, but it can work too.
Here's how it works.
Kolelinia has two elements, a half-pipe—this is where your bike's wheels run—and a cable above that pipe. The cable is at the same height as your bike's handles, and it provides stability and safety while you fly over the cars. The cable connects to the bike's handle using a special hooking device. This divoce also has a hole for a carabiner, so you can use a harness and safety line for extra safety.
On first sight, it looks like the props for a circus act. But unlike in the circus, Kolelinia doesn't involve any risk thanks to the safety cable system. It may seem convoluted, but it's actually quite simple, and a much better and safer option than having to deal with the dangers of traffic, or flying with stranded extra-terrestrial beings.
[Gizmodo via Kolelinia via ArchDaily]

Read more from this post in Gadgets online »