Manufacturers are continually trying to push the boundaries with designing hybrids between motorcycles, scooters and cars. The spectrum ranges from four wheel motorcycles to the scooter-with-roof types.
The BMW C1 was in the scooter/motorcycle category, released in 2008, with a roof and windscreen wipers. As it had seatbelts you didn’t need to wear a helmet in most countries (solving the problem of helmet hair!). However the C1 didn’t sell well. There are now reports that BMW are road testing their prototype the Cx. The Cx is much more a motorcycle than a scooter, with additional features like a removable roof.
These motorcycle/scooters seem to come up against opposition from the motorcycling community. It seems that if you are a motorcycle driver, you are not going to get a motorcycle/scooter. However scooter drivers and new riders may prefer this hybrid to the full on motorcycle.
What do you think? Would you consider a hybrid?
(Source: motorbiker)
I took a C1 home as a test ride a few years back and was very impressed with it... the reason they didn't sell was their price... (oh, and I also found out there there was a loop hole in UK law that meant you were unlikely to get fined for not wearing a crash helmet riding one.
I also had an extensive test ride on the Vetrix electric (maxi) scooter, which was very impressive...apart from the 50mile range and the re-charge time...
Electric bikes/cars are just not practical because of the re-charge time - however there is a very simple solution, one that we use daily... that is "exchangable batteries"... imagine, you go into a fuel station, and there is an automated mechanism that removes your dead battery and installed a fully charged one - you could then drive/ride an electric vehicle anywhere in the same way as you can a petrol vehicle... however to do this all the car/bike manuracturers and the fuel supplies (esso/shell/etc) would need to talk to each other and come up with a standard battery and automatic loading/unloading mechanism... (it's not rocket science! so why don't they just do it?)
Interesting that someone whose garage houses 7 motorcycles would consider getting a motorcycle/scooter hybrid!
That's a brilliant idea! I agree it would take a lot of time to get all the manufacturers and fuel suppliers to agree on a model, but there would be gains for all sides. Perhaps it needs one manufacturer and one fuel supplier to collaborate, and if it's a success they'll all jump on the bandwaggon.
Thanks for the comment :)