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SkiMotion scooter propels you forward with groin power

SkiMotion scooter propels you forward with groin power
The SkiMotion scooter gets both upper and lower body muscles involved
The SkiMotion scooter gets both upper and lower body muscles involved
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The SkiMotion comes in two sizes
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The SkiMotion comes in two sizes
The four-way pivot hub helps in getting your upper body involved in carving
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The four-way pivot hub helps in getting your upper body involved in carving
The SkiMotion folds up for transport and storage
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The SkiMotion folds up for transport and storage
The SkiMotion scooter gets both upper and lower body muscles involved
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The SkiMotion scooter gets both upper and lower body muscles involved
SkiMotion will launch in the United States in October
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SkiMotion will launch in the United States in October
The front wheel is sized up for stability and control
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The front wheel is sized up for stability and control
The SkiMotion comes in adult and child sizes
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The SkiMotion comes in adult and child sizes
The four-way pivot hub helps in getting your upper body involved in carving
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The four-way pivot hub helps in getting your upper body involved in carving
Both the legs and front tube fold up for transport
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Both the legs and front tube fold up for transport
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If there's a new way to apply manual power toward motivating a set of scooter or bicycle wheels, someone will think of it. We've seen stair stepper-style scooters, dog-drawn scooters, elliptical machine scooters, gravity-fired hike-a-bikes and countless other designs. The SkiMotion uses a butterfly leg motion, among others, and gets your upper body involved.

SkiMotion is a scooter with two individual legs that are independently linked to the front tube. The legs pivot outward for moving and collapse inward for storage and transport. The vertical front tube also folds down, making for a small, portable footprint.

SkiMotion says that the movements involved in powering the scooter are similar to inline skating, ski slalom and traditional kick scooters. In fact, the SkiMotion allows for five different styles of motion and exercise: butterfly, cambering, skating, ski motion and cross country ski training. Its listed top speed is 17 mph (27.4 km/h).

I took a SkiMotion out for a brief lap around a paved path, and I found getting started a little like doing half-splits. You extend your two legs outward, and the swivel-mounted wheels transform that energy into forward motion. The four-point pivot hub up front allows you to get your upper body involved, powering into turns and carving up hills.

The SkiMotion folds up for transport and storage
The SkiMotion folds up for transport and storage

The SkiMotion uses sturdy steel construction. Its 200-mm (7.9-in) front wheel is about double the size of each rear wheel, a design that SkiMotion says is aimed at stability and control. The bike is equipped with cantilever brakes on each wheel and includes two adjustable brake levers.

The SkiMotion is already available in Asia. It will launch in the United States in October. The adult version, which weighs 26.5 pounds (12 kg) and supports riders up to 200 pounds (90 kg) will retail for US$289. A smaller child's version (up to 155 lbs/70 kg) will also be available for $239. That price includes an optional set of LED rear wheels.

The video below gives you an idea of what's involved in riding a SkiMotion.

Source: Ride SkiMotion

3-Wheel Sports Vehicle SkiMotion. Best 3 Wheel Sports Vehicle

View gallery - 9 images
14 comments
14 comments
usugo
Where is the novelty? A pretty much identical device was available already a few years back! Just don't remember how it was called right now
Roger W.
Yep, just looks like a 'upgrade' of the old Flicker Scooter with a slight change to the cambering mechanism and re-position of rear wheels.... with a large increase in price.
Dspgo
I saw this at the Outdoor too.
At first it looked like the similar tricycle we have at home, so I was skeptical in the beginning. But I and the kids took a test ride and this was totally different in many ways and actually much easier to ride. Much of off-season training tool I thought it can be.
nutcase
The future of the human race depends on groin power. I would like to see this energy source exploited more fully. The groin-powered photocopier, the groin-powered powerpoint presentation etc. I'm looking forward to the first groin-powered elevator for more eco-friendy buildings.
Joseph Boe
The Human Race has always been dependent upon groin power....lol....think about it....
Joseph Boe
As many have noted, this "new" invention has been available in the United States since at least 2006. This SkiMotion is only cosmetically different from the Trikke seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgrHhAdw4F8
challengerpilot
Seems like good exercise but if you're looking for practicality, a bicycle would be better. The shortest distance between any two points is a straight line and you sure don't do that on this device. I also wish that the videomakers would concentrate on showing more than a half second snippet at a time of the method of propulsion...yes, I get it but it'd be nice to see for a bit longer They seem to be more focused on making the video a work of art. Having been a skier for 30 plus years, I have to say this looks like fun.
usugo
there you are! It was called Trikke. Thank you Boe So 0 points for Weiss, +1 point for the commentators! LOL
Joe F
@Joseph - a quick look at your video shows that the bike uses a different hub in the front. I don't know how much difference that makes but the article does mention. Not every product reinvents the wheel - some just make it roll better.
Gadgeteer
You guys are way too quick on the draw to try to prove others wrong without thinking things through. It's not the same as a Trikke. The Trikke has fixed width foot platforms. This thing lets you move your legs closer and further apart, like skating without ever lifting your feet.
Not that I'd want one. It just takes up too much space with the way you have to swerve left and right. Give me a good, old fashioned bicycle.
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