As cities search for cleaner, smarter ways to move people and goods, Karbikes offers an exciting solution. This innovative company is reimagining urban mobility by combining the practicality of a small vehicle with the low carbon footprint of a bicycle.
I’d love to be wrong but I don’t think this format will ever find a market.
There doesn’t seem to be any tangible benefits over an electric cargo bike.
Once you exceed a 250kg system weight your pedal power input isn’t worth the extra weight of the drive train et cetera - you’re better off with more battery so obviously you’re just an electric car at that point.
The faring (and the extra width) creates a lot of wind resistance which, over a moderate distance really adds up and becomes a significant factor. You also need to wonder how many occasions this faring would make the vehicle usable when a rain coat wouldn’t. For example, if weather is a spectrum between 1 (calm & sunny) and 10 (cyclonic), then 1-5 you don’t need the faring and 8-10 it’s probably not safe to drive and 6 is just rain-coat weather.
The only benefit I can really see is that it’s more approachable for people that just don’t do bikes. For example, my cargo bike has a seat on the back that my kids love to ride on but my partner just won’t. It’s not because it’s uncomfortable but because she finds it embarrassing. I respect her feelings on the matter, and I think she would feel better about something like this.
Weather protection. That’s the crucial benefit over cargo bikes. Otherwise this is basically a cargo bike, they’ve just taken it to its logical conclusion.
Sure, but a pancho is a “solution” like a soft-top is a solution on a car. Normies want an enclosed space with a door that you close behind you, and honestly I see where they’re coming from.
On cost, that’s another matter, this model is obviously too expensive.
I should get a rain poncho at some point. Would ideally want one that works for cycling and walking, if it’s airy then it doesn’t need to be expensive goretex either so it would be more comfortable than a coat and cost less.
Dont those block your mirrors? Are you worried you might not be able to bail? I have a 2 piece I got for 6 bucks, but its hot and inconvenient enough I rarely use the pants unless theres a literal typhoon.
I can if I fuss with the snap but normally I don’t bother and look over my shoulder by default to double check on turns.
As for bailing, it just uses snaps and a bit of stretchy fabric. With force, they pop off (and if they didn’t, the force of me pushing mysef away from the handlebars would tear the fabric anyways). I’d probably be OK. You could also just not snap it and hang it over the bars. It’s not shaped like a normal poncho so it’d probably stay on.
Sorry, I thought we were talking about the motorbikes/motor scooters, the thing in OP is an electric bike, but priced 5x more than high-end electric scooters.
but I don’t think this format will ever find a market.
pedal power input isn’t worth the extra weight of the drive train
There are many countries where “having pedals” is the precondition for using the bike lanes. And then using the bike lanes gives you lots of advantage during heavy traffic in the cities.
Ewwww no. No no no no NO. Fuck no. I don’t want to share my bike lane with these things! They’re heavier than most motorcycles! That’s dangerous as all hell. A rear-end collision is likely to be deadly. Americans might be used to Surron being able to slap a couple fake pedals on their motorcycles to skirt the law, but that’s absolutely insane. The point of a bike lane is to reduce conflict between heavy vehicles and fragile road users, not to separate “pedal havers” from “pedal not havers”.
Thankfully in France - where they’re from - and presumably most of the EU, bicycles with too much power (here in Belgium it’s “speed pedelecs” which are capped at 4kW /45 km/h) are banned from all cycle lanes except where authorized by explicit signage.
The ability to pedal enables exercise and gives you accurate longitudinal position control for parking. A servo generator as a forward-backward interface complicates nothing compared to a car-like interface. If it doesn’t have that now, it will because it’s an old invention and the natural solution for all pedal-electrics to evolve to.
Fairing in velomobiles reduces wind resistance a lot compared to unfaired recumbent trikes of the same size. I believe this with doors on has the same drag as a regular bicyclist. Doesn’t even matter because electricity is cheap. Rain coat can’t stop the weather from hurting my face.
I’d love to be wrong but I don’t think this format will ever find a market.
There doesn’t seem to be any tangible benefits over an electric cargo bike.
Once you exceed a 250kg system weight your pedal power input isn’t worth the extra weight of the drive train et cetera - you’re better off with more battery so obviously you’re just an electric car at that point.
The faring (and the extra width) creates a lot of wind resistance which, over a moderate distance really adds up and becomes a significant factor. You also need to wonder how many occasions this faring would make the vehicle usable when a rain coat wouldn’t. For example, if weather is a spectrum between 1 (calm & sunny) and 10 (cyclonic), then 1-5 you don’t need the faring and 8-10 it’s probably not safe to drive and 6 is just rain-coat weather.
The only benefit I can really see is that it’s more approachable for people that just don’t do bikes. For example, my cargo bike has a seat on the back that my kids love to ride on but my partner just won’t. It’s not because it’s uncomfortable but because she finds it embarrassing. I respect her feelings on the matter, and I think she would feel better about something like this.
Weather protection. That’s the crucial benefit over cargo bikes. Otherwise this is basically a cargo bike, they’ve just taken it to its logical conclusion.
The problem with these fabric cabins is they add to wind resistance. You tend to get more wind in bad weather.
Weather protection on bikes is a solved problem, theres panchos and various types of covering that doesnt cost >10x more than a new motorbike.
Frog Toggs are nice and cheap too.
Sure, but a pancho is a “solution” like a soft-top is a solution on a car. Normies want an enclosed space with a door that you close behind you, and honestly I see where they’re coming from.
On cost, that’s another matter, this model is obviously too expensive.
I should get a rain poncho at some point. Would ideally want one that works for cycling and walking, if it’s airy then it doesn’t need to be expensive goretex either so it would be more comfortable than a coat and cost less.
I got a cheap one for like 16 bucks that goes onto the handlebars: 10/10 would recommend!
Dont those block your mirrors? Are you worried you might not be able to bail? I have a 2 piece I got for 6 bucks, but its hot and inconvenient enough I rarely use the pants unless theres a literal typhoon.
I can if I fuss with the snap but normally I don’t bother and look over my shoulder by default to double check on turns.
As for bailing, it just uses snaps and a bit of stretchy fabric. With force, they pop off (and if they didn’t, the force of me pushing mysef away from the handlebars would tear the fabric anyways). I’d probably be OK. You could also just not snap it and hang it over the bars. It’s not shaped like a normal poncho so it’d probably stay on.
Most bikes don’t have mirrors
Sorry, I thought we were talking about the motorbikes/motor scooters, the thing in OP is an electric bike, but priced 5x more than high-end electric scooters.
All mine do.
So I have good news for you ;)
There are many countries where “having pedals” is the precondition for using the bike lanes. And then using the bike lanes gives you lots of advantage during heavy traffic in the cities.
There’s your market.
This doesn’t really respond to my point though - a cargo bike is superior in every regard, and has pedals.
Ewwww no. No no no no NO. Fuck no. I don’t want to share my bike lane with these things! They’re heavier than most motorcycles! That’s dangerous as all hell. A rear-end collision is likely to be deadly. Americans might be used to Surron being able to slap a couple fake pedals on their motorcycles to skirt the law, but that’s absolutely insane. The point of a bike lane is to reduce conflict between heavy vehicles and fragile road users, not to separate “pedal havers” from “pedal not havers”.
Thankfully in France - where they’re from - and presumably most of the EU, bicycles with too much power (here in Belgium it’s “speed pedelecs” which are capped at 4kW /45 km/h) are banned from all cycle lanes except where authorized by explicit signage.
The ability to pedal enables exercise and gives you accurate longitudinal position control for parking. A servo generator as a forward-backward interface complicates nothing compared to a car-like interface. If it doesn’t have that now, it will because it’s an old invention and the natural solution for all pedal-electrics to evolve to.
Fairing in velomobiles reduces wind resistance a lot compared to unfaired recumbent trikes of the same size. I believe this with doors on has the same drag as a regular bicyclist. Doesn’t even matter because electricity is cheap. Rain coat can’t stop the weather from hurting my face.
Weather doesnt really hurt until you get to what, 70 mph?
And if youre going that fast, wear a proper helmet.
When it’s cold enough, or just raining freezing cold water, biking hurts.
Doesn’t increase width and height
I believe that’s incorrect
So don’t bother with pedals.
If the weather is bad enough to “hurt” I don’t think you’d be riding around on one of these either.