Audi Builds A Bicycle

Audi has recently delved into the bicycle making business, first by purchasing performance bike maker Ducati, and now by having a go at making its own bike. Although, this isn’t a bike for the average coloured gladwrap wearing, leg shaving bike rider because this is an electric bicycle.

Audi E-Bike

Like a conventional bike there’s a chain attached to some pedals which drive the rear wheel. But there’s also an electric motor located inside the central housing so the E-Bike can be driven with the electric motor or the pedals or both. In pure electric mode the bike can do 50kph which is impressive, or 80kph in hybrid mode which is, erm, alarming, even more alarming would be the lacerations on your shins caused by the wildly spinning pedals at 50kph, so luckily the crank arms lock into place when the electric motor takes over.

Doesnt look especially comfortable.. But looks cool.
Audi E-Bike  

There’s also a hilariously awesome Wheelie Mode, which uses all sorts of gadgets and gizmos to control power flow, adjust wheelie angles and stop you from falling off and making yourself look like a spanner, except you already do look like a spanner because you’re riding an Audi bicycle.. There’s also WiFi which connects to an iPhone app and logs your tricks.  

Stopping power comes from hydraulically controlled, vented disc brakes, which apparently cost $800 each. Ouch. The whole thing is made mostly from carbon fibre and plastic, even the wheels are carbon fibre, and all up it weighs just 21kgs. There’s also a 9 speed push button hydraulic gearbox for seamless gearshifts.

The price is unknown at the moment, however if a brake disc costs $800, I’m guessing it might cost slightly more than my old $100 Huffy..