Bicycles

Bike Balls bring bicycle nuts to all you bicycle nuts

Bike Balls bring bicycle nuts to all you bicycle nuts
The Bike Balls tail light should definitely get you noticed
The Bike Balls tail light should definitely get you noticed
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Bike Balls are secured against theft using an included zip-tie
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Bike Balls are secured against theft using an included zip-tie
If you think Bike Balls look funny in the dark, check them out during the day
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If you think Bike Balls look funny in the dark, check them out during the day
The Bike Balls tail light should definitely get you noticed
3/3
The Bike Balls tail light should definitely get you noticed
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If there are a lot of good ol' boys where you live, then you're likely familiar with Truck Nuts – rubber testicles that are hung from a pickup truck's trailer hitch. Well, a couple of Toronto-based designers have come up with something similar for bicycles. Known as Bike Balls, they actually serve as a tail light that catches motorists' attention by swinging merrily back and forth.

Bike Balls consist of a waterproof silicone, um ... sack, inside of which is a red LED module. Users turn it on and then switch between flashing and steady modes by squeezing a button at the top. When the LED is on, the translucent nature of the silicone causes the whole thing to light up.

The device is hung from one of the bike's saddle rails via an integrated strap, and secured against theft using a supplied zip-tie. As the cyclist pedals, the Bike Balls sway from side to side, supposedly drawing more attention than a regular hard-mounted tail light – the fact that they look like a certain something no doubt also helps them to get noticed.

If you think Bike Balls look funny in the dark, check them out during the day
If you think Bike Balls look funny in the dark, check them out during the day

Power is provided by two replaceable coin cell batteries that should reportedly be good for about 190 hours in flashing mode, or 100 in steady.

If you'd like to get a set of the balls for yourself, they're currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign that has already surpassed its funding goal. A pledge of CAD$13 (about US$11) will get you a Bike Balls tail light, when and if they're ready to hang.

You can see them in action – rather disconcertingly below a female cyclist – in the following video.

Source: Kickstarter


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5 comments
5 comments
Tom Lee Mullins
I believe they are illegal in some states. One guy had something similar on his car and had to remove them.
Deadpan
This is something that we as a society should be ashamed of for having on our vehicles, let us not bring this to bicycles as well.
fastlilpig
I'm going to join the fray here and agree that some things need to be left in the garage. Just because you've got a set of balls that glow, doesn't mean you really have a set of balls. Get a tail light and stop embarrassing yourself and those of us with kids that ask for an explanation of this ridiculousness. C'mon Gizmag, why even give these knuckleheads the publicity? Hang these things on your Christmas tree and explain them to your own kids.
nerdgirl
Insults the intelligence. Get a tail light.
Paul Petersen
Oh dear! I shudder to think what their headlight might look like!