Marking the Spot: The X Bike Concept
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.14.07
The X Bike is a folding bicycle concept from MAS Design, who worked on the Strida bike project, and were commissioned by the same company to come up with a small wheel idea. Unlike another of their folding bike creations, which we'll post on soon, this one never came to market, but looks like it contained some intriguing features.
We quote from their website:
• The frame – two main frame elements fold in a scissor action by a skew joint. This allows the wheels to fold side by side.
• Steering – this was by auto-tensioned cables via variable ratio pulleys. These provide a good steering feel to hub-centre steering.
• Drive – this was by internal belt or miniature chain.
• Construction – this uses injection-moulded long fibre carbon and glass shells ultra-sonically welded together. Fusible core, foam and gas injection technologies were also used.
• Tyres – solid tyres were developed as an option with PU versions performing better than pneumatic equivalents.
See also BuyGreen: Small Wheel Folding Bikes.
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- Bike to Work Without Looking Like You Did
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- Trend Watch: Multi-Modal Commuting with Folding Bikes
I don't know, that bike looks like a back injury waiting to happen
The wheels look like stroller wheels. I can design a bike that requires no wheels.......will you blog about it, too?
looks very uncomfortable
Looks fantastic!
Looks like a couple of other tiny bikes that I have seen ... and with the same problems, mainly the fact that all of the bikes this size are problematic when it comes to actual use!
Cool So simple
A bike with just 2 tubes - 1 less than a triangular Strida. next would be a 1 tube bike - unicycle anyone ?
Looks like The wheels are 8" pnuematic .. same as Pacific Carry Me .. which rides well.
Are regular bikes really so bulky and inefficient that this bike is needed? mmm....
I would love to give this a test ride. Perfect for bus/commuter train intermodal transport where bringing a bigger folder isn't possible and you only need one or two miles to get where you need to. The only thing is I would imagine it's very pot-hole sensitive.
And gearing?
As far as comfort goes, by looking at the angles it seems like the seating position is very 'standard' looking. Maybe they could put it next to a Specialized Sirrus and compare them side by side.
By the seat post /seat pin going out of the tube at such an angle, you get arm's length adjustment with leg length adjustment.
vsk
Hi... Mr. Warren McLauren,
Not sure if you will see my comment this post has been written close to one year ago. I understand you said that the X Bike never hit the market. However, some of my friends said that they've seen it been auctioned online. I am kind of interested in purchasing an X Bike. I was wondering if you have any additional information on this. Thanks :)~