• Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
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    10 months ago

    I could gripe about how “futuristic” in headlines is a synonym for “angular design motif”.

    I usually read it as “less functional and less practical”. LOL

    Is it an ebike or a motorcycle? I don’t see any place for storage, cargo, panniers, a u-lock, or even a water bottle and some tools.

    When, why, and where would you use it?

    The photo showing what looks like a rear rack is lacking a lower attachment point for panniers. Useless.

    It’s as if the people who designed these “futuristic” e-bikes have no idea what they are used for and threw practicality out the window.

    • lud@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      To be fair a bikecycle doesn’t need any of those things you named. Of those things my bike only has a holder for a u-lock and that’s the holder that was included with the lock. Originally it didn’t have that.

      I rarely bike these days since I have to travel too far, so I walk to the train instead. But when I did I just used a backpack, I never felt the need for anything else.

      In fact it has way more storage than my bike those. Looks like you can put stuff “inside” the frame.

      It’s basically a dirtbike or mountainbike, what would you even transport using it? You could absolutely put a water bottle holder on it if you wanted.

      • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
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        10 months ago

        I think it depends on use case, but I’d be willing to bet that most people who use a bike or e-bike on a regular basis are doing it for more than simple transportation without utility.

        I’d never want to spend thousands on an e-bike if it can’t even carry groceries. But that’s just me.

        But it does look they are offering an e-mountainbike and some kind of e-bike for urban use.

        Segway has been doing a ton of experimenting over the last two years. Even their e-scooter offerings are pretty far-reaching, offering models that aren’t even allowed in 99% of cities. LOL

      • litchralee@sh.itjust.works
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        10 months ago

        To be fair a bikecycle doesn’t need any of those things you named.

        It doesn’t need those, true, but it also refuses to accommodate those. And that’s the problem: so-called futuristic design often goes hand-in-hand with bad design. Bad in the sense that things which used to be possible, and could be added with minimal effort, just aren’t there anymore. And it’s not like there are now zero people wanting panniers and racks.

        There are bike designs which are extremely minimal, but they do so to focus on some overwhelming design goal. Performance is one such common goal. But here, what is the goal of this minimalism? A lack of rack standoffs is a net loss to the consumer. Having options would be a net gain, even if unused.

        Needs can change, bikes get bought and sold, and ultimately a bike with a narrow focus and feature set just won’t be appealing for a mass market audience. It’s a strange marketing choice if the goal is to move product.

        I suppose I’m now griping about futuristic design after all lol

        • lud@lemm.ee
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          10 months ago

          The first one is like a mountainbike and is obviously not intended for commuting or shopping with. I have never seen a mountainbike with any cargo or storage capabilities since that would be stupid.

          I don’t know what rack standoffs are.

          I suspect the rack is designed the way it is because of the huge suspension travel of the back wheel.

          And really who uses panniers? What do you use them for? They just seem like a pain to use when backpacks exist.

          Sure both bikes could have more features and maybe they will, it’s a prototype. But do they really? The first one is a dirt/mountain bike and the second one is a commuter bike. Neither really needs extensive storage or bag capabilities. A water bottle holder would be nice but also not really needed.