New tiny car thing in Wellington

[nzspokes]

It would be fun to ride past em and give a push sideways. If two were parked at the lights it would be like domino's.

[Gremlin]

I'd love to see how well it will come out in a crash compared to a proper late model sedan that undergoes the same crash. The kind of people who will buy it are the kind of people who buy toyota Priuses and think they're helping save the world.

To be fair, I think it will actually perform extremely well within the confines of it's design. It has a full nascar style roll cage and weighs somewhere around 1500kg, which is incredibly dense given it's size. 3News reporter drove in one, takes off pretty damn quick.

Not that I'm considering one, just respecting the engineering. If it's 1m wide, it's only fractionally wider than my BMW, which is around 955mm from memory. Should probably measure with panniers on, but I always assume I'm 1m wide.

Also, that $29,000 price tag is after it's in full production, cost of tech comes down etc, possibly including subsidy. Those prototypes (the orange one doing the rounds is owned by Google co-founder Sergey) are more like $400,000.

Oh... and Wellington for a factory?

[thehollowmen]

Load must not overhang 50cm from the centre line of the motorcycle.
Yes, my panniers are over width. A lot of motorcycles are over-width from factory.
I'm going to find links now.

EDIT: http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.n...sions#table231

I was never good at maths, but what?

[Big Dog]

Load must not overhang 50cm from the centre line of the motorcycle.
Yes, my panniers are over width. A lot of motorcycles are over-width from factory.
I'm going to find links now.

EDIT: http://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.n...sions#table231

Exclusions: Measurement does not include:

collapsible mirrors which extend no more than 240 mm from the body
direction indicators and side-marker lamps
ropes, lashings, straps, chains, and related connectors and tensioning devices that extend no more than 25mm from either side, and that are not permanently or rigidly fixed to the vehicle
the bulge towards the bottom of a tyre.


So wing mirrors and removable panniers are not included. Probably should go measure my bars. Pretty sure they are 900 including bend. On their own they should be alright but you never know by the time bar ends are on.
Also probably should check my shoulder width with gear on. I don't fit through doors.


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[avgas]

There's no way in hell I'd be wanting to take a four wheeler with that narrow a wheelbase (width) along the motorway when there's even a fiarly regular Wellington breeze. I've had my old Mini blown across a lane going past Ngauranga a number of years ago.

"240kmh top speed" ... in that thing?! Hell no!

I'd love to see how well it will come out in a crash compared to a proper late model sedan that undergoes the same crash.

It would be fun to ride past em and give a push sideways. If two were parked at the lights it would be like domino's.

I don't often use multi-quote.....but when I do, I like to collect all the under researched, biased, morons in one group.

It doesn't tip over, its 1500 kgs and a majority of it is under the seat.
It has a roll cage.....you know - like a race car.......you know the race cars where people don't die as often as they do in normal cars.
It travels at speed with weight down low. I will let you do the math on if that is safe.

Really kids. Stop thinking you know - and research.
Quick google found this old video (1999):


If you are going to discredit it - do it on something substantial.

Like the fact it is hideous and expensive.

[jonbuoy]

Most cars that have a proper roll cage need you to be strapped in a multi point safety harness tight to the seat and wear a helmet - otherwise that roll cage is just an anvil to strike your head on.

There is a video of one on you tube pulling a 13 second 1/4 mile time so it's not all bullshit. Not sure how many of those you can pull on one set of batteries.

[avgas]

Most cars that have a proper roll cage need you to be strapped in a multi point safety harness tight to the seat and wear a helmet - otherwise that roll cage is just an anvil to strike your head on.

This has a 4-point harness.....up to you if you want to wear a helmet. I don't know how special you are.

[MD]

I'm surprised so many are against it?

I would rather commute on a crowded motorway of Tangos than bloody Pajeros and Landcruisers and Explorers. It sure looked fast on that autocourse and may better a bike around it. Lets see, it's small and reduces congestion, useful 380km range, better than 95% of bikes, even tourers. It uses no fossil fuels, zero pollution, less parking space, safer than a bike, well you have some metal and roll cage around you, keeps you warm and dry. Where do I get one for wet days.

Oh yeah I also quite like the look of it.

[chasio]

... It uses no fossil fuels...

Its fuel use is hidden behind the grid so its use or otherwise of fossil fuels must be qualified by where the power comes from. If you charge it in Auckland, chances are it'll be indirectly using fossil fuels at Huntly, I believe. Unless you have your own generation facility e.g. PV, that is. At least NZ has good renewable supplies so it is more likely to be true here than most other places.

[jonbuoy]

This has a 4-point harness.....up to you if you want to wear a helmet. I don't know how special you are.

Not about being special - its about not caving your head in on a pole. Its the reason cars don´t come with roll cages from the factory.

[Swoop]

The news item showed it travelling along a road in Wellytown somewhere. It appeared to be taking up the lane it was driving in (making it impossible for another car to use it as well) but a bike could fit alongside easily.
I believe a previous poster has a very good point that motorcycle shops and motorcycle advocacy groups should be playing up merry hell over this "concept" of getting more efficient transport systems in place. FFS a scroter would be far better (cheaper, take up less space, easier to park, etc) than that mobility scooter with a roof.

[Gianz]

I'm surprised so many are against it?

I would rather commute on a crowded motorway of Tangos than bloody Pajeros and Landcruisers and Explorers. It sure looked fast on that autocourse and may better a bike around it. Lets see, it's small and reduces congestion, useful 380km range, better than 95% of bikes, even tourers. It uses no fossil fuels, zero pollution, less parking space, safer than a bike, well you have some metal and roll cage around you, keeps you warm and dry. Where do I get one for wet days.

Oh yeah I also quite like the look of it.

a part from your sense of aesthetics, I'd expect better from someone with an MV, this thing sucks cause it can't wheelie.

[GrayWolf]

I love the 'concept'....

if its performance is even 2/3 of what they are quoting, it would still deal to 80% of cars on the road off the line! That would satisfy the 'need for speed' of many riders.
It's nothing new as such, the Quaser, would be the first 'encased' Motorcycle concept in the 70's. Many bikers in the UK drove Reliant's in the winter (3 wheeled covered by a full bike licence). We now have the Canam's which are increasing in numbers.

Definately, if it even 'sniffs' like the WDC is thinking of supporting it, the local bike dealers should be able to 'cash in' as well. Sadly we all know that the idea of manufacturing will overshadow that....Delorean was a prime example in Ireland.

I'd agree, I'd rather ride among a few hundred of these than the urban tanks that are so popular.

[F5 Dave]

oh Well, if George Looney has one. . . .



Excess electricity generation is going to be fossil so that's a lie.

2 abreast is just silly except at walking pace & well you already have a problem & expect most car drivers to bang into each other if they are sharing a lane.

But yes. A vote for these rather than urban tanks that still seem popular.

Me? I'll probably still be in my Van (its ok, - there will likely be a motorbike or parts of one in the back being transported)

[James Deuce]

Saw a n00b on a CBR500R get a ticket for using a pay and display yesterday (he'd paid for it) and he just nutted off. Didn't want to understand that council bylaws mean he can't use them.

I understand his frustration.

Especially when some whack doodle fuckwit then tries to compare a shit car with a motorcycle and parks exactly the same way he did with no repercussions.

Fuck the trappings of authority with a 250cc chainsaw.