Bike Intermodal – A Folding Bike From The Space Age
Vishal Khan
Jun 14, 2014
This folding bike called the Bike Intermodal looks like it came right out of the space age, weighing just about 7.5 kg. Constructed from magnesium and aluminum, the bike can be compressed to the size of a briefcase and therefore be carried around with ease.
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A product of a pan-European development team, the bike was made with the help of a €1.58m research grant that was given to the team.
Aim And Prospect
The development team was aimed at creating a lighter folding bike that is increasingly compact, subsequently motivating more people to choose bikes over cars for public transport. Leaving aside the question of whether the current crop of folding bikes’ dimensions and weights are limiting the uptake of city cycling, Bike Intermodal’s claimed stats are impressive.
Dimensions And Make
At 7.5 kg the Intermodal is light and was designed to be even lighter in its future models, by incorporating grapheme into its making. Its folded dimensions of 50cm x 40cm x 15cm would certainly make it extremely compact too.
Folding Mechanism
Bike Intermodal’s own tests against 13 other unspecified brands showed that theirs was by far the most compact in all senses of the word. Using a folding mechanism similar to that used by aircraft landing gear, the bike achieves its small volume. As the wheelbase reduces and folds over, the skeletal handlebars fold down and in at the same time, and the bike becomes small enough to fit in a small backpack (50 x 40 x 15cm).
Rigidity And Use
The bike is fully extended and ready to use, and incorporates a weight-saving space frame using sail-grade cables that keep it rigid. According to developers, the bike, which is still yet to reach production, will retail for around €1,000 (£815), and a pedelec version will cost around €1500 (£1,200).
