Bicycles

Spokeless Cyclotron lights the way for futuristic riders

Spokeless Cyclotron lights the way for futuristic riders
The Cyclotron features spokeless wheels with Tron-like lighting
The Cyclotron features spokeless wheels with Tron-like lighting
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The lack of wheel spokes allows you to attach storage or seats to the bike
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The lack of wheel spokes allows you to attach storage or seats to the bike 
Cyclotron calls its child seat the cocoon
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Cyclotron calls its child seat the cocoon 
The folding basket costs extra
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The folding basket costs extra
Cyclotron might look cool, but it's also practical
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Cyclotron might look cool, but it's also practical
One of the add-ons for the storage mounts in Cyclotron's wheels
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One of the add-ons for the storage mounts in Cyclotron's wheels
The two riding positions available on Cyclotron
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The two riding positions available on Cyclotron
The Cyclotron is made of carbon fiber
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The Cyclotron is made of carbon fiber
Keyword here in "integrated."
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Keyword here in "integrated."
Somewhere between a stealth bomber and a time-trial bike, the Cyclotron design is seriously cool
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Somewhere between a stealth bomber and a time-trial bike, the Cyclotron design is seriously cool
The wheels are enveloped in carbon fiber
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The wheels are enveloped in carbon fiber
A look at the Cyclotron application
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A look at the Cyclotron application 
The frame in profile
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The frame in profile
The bits and pieces that make up the Cyclotron
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The bits and pieces that make up the Cyclotron
Carbon fiber has been used for the bike's construction
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Carbon fiber has been used for the bike's construction
The laser line lights are a safety feature
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The laser line lights are a safety feature
The designers have clearly channeled Tron in their final shape
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The designers have clearly channeled Tron in their final shape
The Cyclotron features spokeless wheels with Tron-like lighting
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The Cyclotron features spokeless wheels with Tron-like lighting
View gallery - 17 images

Modern bikes are lighter and more efficient than ever before, but their basic design is rooted in the past. Cyclotron is trying to change that with a hubless carbon creation, complete with lighting fit for a sci-fi film. It's not just a different look for the sake of it, though, with Cyclotron saying its bike is versatile and smart enough to revolutionize what we expect from the humble two-wheeler.

There's a lot going on with the Cyclotron's frame, but we're going to start with the basic construction. The team behind the bike says the bike's space-grade carbon sandwich is wrapped around a lightweight core structure, allowing them to use fewer layers of carbon and less resin without impacting on the overall strength and rigidity.

The shape itself is faintly reminiscent of current time-trial bikes, albeit blockier, although the company is adamant it's been modeled on the aerodynamic form of ultralight gliders and stealth jets. Unlike your average stealth bomber, this frame can be customized with decals if you want.

The Cyclotron is made of carbon fiber
The Cyclotron is made of carbon fiber

Whether it's a two-wheeled Blackbird or not, there are a few other benefits to the frame design. While some manufacturers hide their cabling inside the frame, the derailleur and chain are usually exposed. That's not the case here, with the drivetrain fully enclosed and protected from the elements, although we're not sure how that setup will go when it comes time for the annual service suggested by the company.

Ditching the spokes and running with solid polymer airless tires might make for a unique design, but it also frees up some space where the spokes used to be. Cyclotron wants to use that space for cargo or children, making its bike more practical than it would otherwise be. At the moment, there are three accessories available for those utility slots, including shopping baskets and a clever snap-in child seat.

In keeping with the futuristic frame design, there's a futuristic powertrain available for this sci-fi bike. As well as more traditional 12- and 18-speed manual setups, there's a electronic sequential gearbox available. Shifting in less than 0.2 seconds, the gearbox works at standstill or under full load and can shift for itself. Electric gearbox-equipped bikes will weigh just 11.6 kg (25.57 lb), making them 100 g (3.5 oz) heavier than the manual 12-speed version, but 200 g (7 oz) lighter than the 18-speed manual.

The designers have clearly channeled Tron in their final shape
The designers have clearly channeled Tron in their final shape

Enough of the boring practical bits, what the story with those lights? When darkness falls, a sensor automatically activates the LED wheel halos and laser-lane display, in an attempt to make the rider easy to see on unlit streets in the dead of night. We'd say it works, too, with those Tron-style wheels being hard to miss. Power comes from an integrated lithium-ion battery good for eight hours that is charged by an inbuilt dynamo, although the battery can be charged from a wall socket as well.

All this functionality is controlled through the Cyclo App, which hooks up with the 10 Bluetooth sensors scattered around the bike. After learning your riding habits, it'll give manually geared riders up-and-downshift suggestions, while electronic geared bikes get fully automatic shifting through the app.

There's a huge amount of information available to riders, with everything from cadence and time to power, speed and calories burned can be accessed through the app. This information can be harnessed to create a training program through the Cycle Coach, but you'll need to pay €10/month (US$11) extra to unlock that function. If you're paying extra, it's probably also worth stumping €3/month (US$3.30) for GPS tracking, which allows you to find the bike if it's stolen.

The lack of wheel spokes allows you to attach storage or seats to the bike
The lack of wheel spokes allows you to attach storage or seats to the bike 

The team behind Cyclotron is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, where the project has raised more than €64,690 (US$71,500) of its €50,000 ($55,250) goal with 12 days left.

Pledges start at €1, but you'll need to stump up €899 (US$993) to get in line for the 12-speed manual bike, while €1,299 (US$1,450) is the minimum you'll pay for an 18-speed model, and €2,599 ($2875) the current asking price for the electronically geared version, although just 10 remain at that price.

If everything goes as planned, the bike will be delivered to backers in June 2017.

Source: Cyclotron

View gallery - 17 images
19 comments
19 comments
Paul Anthony
Sweet! I want the Trike in an electric with one raised seat in tandom with the driver! Oh, and lots of storage for rides to the grocery store.
Kevin Ritchey
It's really a shame that the lower cost opportunities are limited to so few as the mere public exposure created by supplying them to more would pay off in huge dividends in the future. Vendor/manufacturer costs must be considered of course but the tradeoffs would be exponentially positive over the long term, Even I could afford one then.
wle
SO many silly aspects to this thing...
too much friction on hubless wheels
awful ride with airless tires
it is too long
wle
Lardo
Yea... no.
unklmurray
WOW, I WANT ONE of the trike versions,this will completely abolish hub drive electrical power units.........LOL :-)
bobflint
The fact they are even thinking of putting a child inside the "Halos" says it all...
Milton
What they show is such a crude prototype that I cringe for all the people who threw money their way. I wish them the best of luck turning this project into an "add-to-basket" product, but I sure wouldn't put my money on it happening.
dugnology
uuuh, are there actual wheels on this bike?
S Michael
NO... doesn't look good. In the photos, the tires are flat. Why? This is pure BS. Why waste our time with this ugly, non workable stuff.
JonSmith60606
Not practical and I see many design flaws. For example on the three person bike where do the passengers legs and feet go?
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