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Power Science

Electric Motorcycle Inventor Crashes at Wired Conference 337

not5150 writes "The inventor of the electric 'KillaCycle" motorcycle was taken to the hospital for x-rays after demonstrating the vehicle to reporters. Bill Dube, a government scientist during the day and bike builder at night, attempted a burnout in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center during the Wired NextFest fair. Fueled by the "most powerful" lithium-ion batteries in the world, the bike accelerated uncontrollably into another car. There's a video interview (thankfully before the crash) and footage of Dube crashing."
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Electric Motorcycle Inventor Crashes at Wired Conference

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  • by deniable ( 76198 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:41AM (#20600343)
    My first thought was that he ran over the extension lead.
  • And a top speed of 158mph?

    At that rate of acceleration, you'd be at the top speed in less than 3 seconds. Then what? Then the engine gives out? Governor kicks in? The tires blow up?

    As for the driver in question. Stupid is as stupid does.
    • by Colin Smith ( 2679 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:48AM (#20600373)
      It's a drag bike. After you do the quarter mile you slow down & stop.
       
    • Well its not like you can only apply the power gradually like a petrol engine. My understanding is that when you turn an electric engine on, that's it, full power full torque.

      That thing is fast.
      • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:07AM (#20600453)
        Well its not like you can only apply the power gradually like a petrol engine.

        Of course you can. Do you have an electric fan? Does it always run at full speed? Or is there a little switch that lets you adjust the fan speed?

        My understanding is that when you turn an electric engine on, that's it, full power full torque.

        No. Electric motors can do that (which is nice in many applications), but they don't have to do that. It depends on how much voltage/current goes to the electric motor, and it's pretty easy to control voltage & current.

        • by SharpFang ( 651121 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @04:07AM (#20600681) Homepage Journal
          Yes and no.

          You can't easily apply gradually more power with high-power engines running on AC.

          There are numerous tricks like switching configuration of the coils, using high-power thyrystors etc. You can't just put some resistance because it would be enormously wasteful. Some railway engines use "convert 1-phase AC from the wire to DC, then convert back to three-phase AC of desired frequency" making them actually more efficient than running on 1-phase AC straight from the wire.

          But not in this case. The batteries produce DC. They can be switched one at a time to limit voltage(->torque) if it's a DC motor, or the conversion to AC can be freely configured providing frequency (->RPM) just as desired if the motor is AC.

          (also note using all kinds of resistors, pots and other "power drains" for limiting current/voltage when such powers are in use, are useless - they would have to dissipate (and waste) enormous amounts of power. Devices that limit the "average" voltage by dutycycle method ( x% of a milisecond on, 100-x% of a milisecond time off => x% power) are much better but not every kind of end-target device can accept this kind of power, plus it generates lots of electromagnetic noise from all the instant on-off action )

          Simply put, getting limiting voltage by a half in a 5V 10mA DC configuration is trivial - wasting 0.25W of power is not a problem. In 500V 10A DC configuration is very tricky. Dissipating 2500W is not really an option.
          • by pe1chl ( 90186 )
            plus it generates lots of electromagnetic noise from all the instant on-off action

            Listen to what he explains in the beginnig of the video, about using a Palm Pilot because it is immune to the electromagnetic interference....
          • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

            by codepunk ( 167897 )
            Actually most applications use PWM (Pulse width modulation) for dc motor control. Banks of high amperage switching transistors feed the dc motor with a high frequency on off pulse. By varying the
            pulse width you increase or decrease the speed of the motor.
          • How about controlling the frequency instead of the power? My electronics knowledge is a bit rusty, but AIU motor speed is pretty much locked to input frequency. Design the controller so that small throttle opening == slow change in frequency, and Bob's your uncle.
          • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

            by jsiren ( 886858 )
            This will depend on your definition of "easy"... if it means "in less than five passive components", then you may be right.

            Anyway, you mentioned the railway engine's AC-DC-AC drive. Now, to run on DC, just skip the first rectifier: you can run the inverters directly on DC. In fact, many railroads do just that. There are lower-powered inverters and motors available for lighter-duty applications. Did you know your average "brushless DC" CPU fan is in effect an induction motor with an integrated drive?

            So, if

      • by mpe ( 36238 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @04:02AM (#20600663)
        Well its not like you can only apply the power gradually like a petrol engine. My understanding is that when you turn an electric engine on, that's it, full power full torque.

        You can vary the amount of power sent to the motor, it is also possible to have motors with switchable windings to give different torque and speed settings. In the case of a vehicle such as a car or motorbike an electric motor can be connected via the same sort of gearbox you'd use with an internal combustion engine. Indeed the only real difference between a regular motorcycle and an all electric one is that the latter wouldn't need a starter.
      • full power full torque

        Apart from what have been said already, I'd like to add that power is not the same thing as torque.

    • by RuBLed ( 995686 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:51AM (#20600399)

      0-60 in less than a second


      and vice versa
    • by somersault ( 912633 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:08AM (#20600455) Homepage Journal
      Remember aerodynamics too, 60-120 won't be as fast as 0-60 even with the same torque being applied. It does sounds awesome though, even if the inventor can't ride it
      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        if its a 3 phase short circuit engine, which is likely, the torque goes down quick as rpm goes up. When rpm=0 its basically a short circuit condition, it will pull whatever power it can get (and handle for a short period of time).
    • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:26AM (#20600537)
      You're erroneously assuming a constant acceleration: real-world dragstrip acceleration-time plots are anything but linear.

      As to the time, 0-60 in 1 second is standard for drag cars or bikes running in the 7s on the quarter mile.

      1/4 mile times like that are pretty good for an electric vehicle though.
      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by polar red ( 215081 )

        1/4 mile times like that are pretty good for an electric vehicle though.
        I don't think performance is the problem with electric vehicles (show me a train that can hit 575kph(360mph) that is petrol-powered ...)
        It's storage that's the problem, and on such short distances ...
    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by s-meister ( 580465 )

      Dear Richard Hammond,

      If those wacky producers and Clarkson ask you to test ride a motorbike, JUST SAY NO.

      Regards,

      A Friend

  • some pictures (Score:5, Informative)

    by juventasone ( 517959 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:45AM (#20600359)
    While the slashdot effect kills the video, there's some pictures and comments at gizmodo [gizmodo.com]
  • by BadAnalogyGuy ( 945258 ) <BadAnalogyGuy@gmail.com> on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:45AM (#20600361)
    As a professional stuntman, I can't stress enough how dangerous it is to perform these kinds of antics without appropriate training, preparation, and room.

    The fact that he hit a parked minivan tells me quite a bit about the kinds of stupid risks he was taking. He's lucky that he's the only one that got hurt.
    • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:59AM (#20600423)
      Performing burnouts on a motorcycle is not difficult. There's a little something called a clutch that makes it pretty safe. In the video you can hear him (or someone) say 'it actually stuck on', which I assume means he couldn't cut the power to the wheel.

      In fact, the only stupid risk he took was not wearing a helmet. What sort of a dick rides a bike without a helmet? (Hint: 'a freedom loving dick' is not an acceptable answer.)
      • by FireFury03 ( 653718 ) <slashdot@nexTIGERusuk.org minus cat> on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:23AM (#20600525) Homepage
        There's a little something called a clutch that makes it pretty safe.

        I suspect, being electric, this wouldn't have a clutch.

        In fact, the only stupid risk he took was not wearing a helmet. What sort of a dick rides a bike without a helmet?

        To be fair, he was attempting a burnout - going over the handlebars at high speed isn't usually a big hazard when you're stationary with the back wheel spinning.
        • by lavaboy ( 21282 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @10:44AM (#20603867)
          first rule of riding bikes: Dress for the crash, not the trip.

      • by heinousjay ( 683506 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:37AM (#20600571) Journal
        A dick who makes his own decisions and deals with the consequences.

        I'm aware that's a synonym for freedom loving.
        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          by Anonymous Coward
          A dick who makes his own decisions and deals with the consequences.

          And who drives up insurance costs for the rest of the riders who do wear helmets.
      • by Lloyd_Bryant ( 73136 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @07:00AM (#20601579)

        In fact, the only stupid risk he took was not wearing a helmet. What sort of a dick rides a bike without a helmet? (Hint: 'a freedom loving dick' is not an acceptable answer.)
        I take offense at your usage of the word "dick". To me, a "dick" is a person who, through malice, indifference, or stupidity, adversely affects someone else.

        So someone who permits a 10 year old to ride with him without a helmet is being a "dick". Someone who decides for himself not to wear one is at worst a "fool".

      • by rah1420 ( 234198 ) <rah1420@gmail.com> on Friday September 14, 2007 @08:31AM (#20602295)
        What sort of a dick rides a bike without a helmet?

        They call that sort of dick "organ donor."
      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by operagost ( 62405 )

        What sort of a dick rides a bike without a helmet?
        Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks.
    • Yep, when cars warm up their tyres before races don't they normally do it on a little wet patch where they have less grip? The tires on that bike are massive, so and the ground was dry.. he was being ever so slightly stupid......... so lucky to be alive!
    • by mpe ( 36238 )
      As a professional stuntman, I can't stress enough how dangerous it is to perform these kinds of antics without appropriate training, preparation, and room.

      Not only do the professionals put a lot of effort ensuring that things are a safe as possible for anyone involved they also have emergency equiptment and crew there for the unlikely event of something going wrong.
    • by hummassa ( 157160 )
      Nothing else should be said. I loved this thing, but I wouldn't get _near_ a bike that makes 0-60 in less then a second without a reinforced helmet and heavily padded/armored clothes.
    • by tgd ( 2822 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @07:26AM (#20601737)

      As a professional stuntman,
      Wow, that preface to a statement must be great for picking up women.

      And yes, I'm serious, not mocking.
  • KillaCycle? (Score:5, Funny)

    by kooky45 ( 785515 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:46AM (#20600367)
    Does what it says on the tin.
  • Finally (Score:3, Funny)

    by sc0ob5 ( 836562 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:54AM (#20600413)
    A product that can actually live up to it's name.
    • by Yvanhoe ( 564877 )
      Yeah, it may be funny, but the very fact that this event occurred gives him media coverage. Probably unintended side effect, but well deserved! I, for one, had never heard of the Killacycle. This is seriously cool stuff !
  • Idiot (Score:5, Insightful)

    by infonick ( 679715 ) * on Friday September 14, 2007 @02:59AM (#20600421) Homepage
    As a scientist, he should have known better than to not wear a helmet....
    • As a scientist, he should have known better than to not wear a helmet....
      As a fucking primate he should have known better than to not wear a helmet...
      That being said, good luck to the guy. Balls, money and heart where his mouth is and all that.
    • Re:Idiot (Score:5, Funny)

      by mpe ( 36238 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:28AM (#20600545)
      As a scientist, he should have known better than to not wear a helmet....

      Calling the thing "KillaCycle" probably wasn't the smartest of ideas either. It sounds more like the title of a low budget horror movie...
    • by Atario ( 673917 )
      But, being a scientist, I bet he learns from the experience. Like: when trying to burn out, keep that front brake pulled, dammit.
    • Too many of them think "it won't happen to me" and the end result is a visit to the hospital or worse. The number of motorcycle accidents that are single vehicle accidents is astounding.

      I know high level professionals who as soon as crossing the state border take their helmets off. Some ride around locally with party helmets (the fake looking ones or just skull caps). After all "THEY" are entitled to do as they see and "THEY" are not going to get hurt and "THEY" are too skillful to need it and "THEY" are
      • I know a highly skilled motorcyclist who forgot to take his padlock from the rear wheel and fell to the left side when trying to leave the parking spot. Please note that he fell at 0 Km/h velocity.

        He had all the protections in place, helmet, leather jacket and leather gloves, but his left elbow hit his left abdomen causing the spleen to rupture. He didn't notice anything, but half an hour later he started feeling incapacitating pain and passed out. He spent two weeks in the hospital and lots of time at

  • Is it just me, or did everyone get the motorcycle clip from "PeeWee's Great Adventure" stuck in their heads upon reading that description?
  • Just needed stiches (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:11AM (#20600473)

    from the comments on the linked page:

    I wasn't wearing a helment, because we did not intend the bike to even move!

    We were spinning the tire in soapy water. The tire unexpectantly gripped, (water ran out?) and launched the bike. I couldn't get it shut down as quickly as I would have liked. I had to release the front brake to fully untwist the throttle. I then managed to slow it down to about 20 mph.

    The positive message here is that when we crunched the battery pack, NOTHING happened. No smoke. No flames. Not even sparks. Not only are these cells more powerful, they are are the safest possible for automobiles.

    Also, there was NO ONE in front of the bike or in the possible trajectory of the bike.

    Bill Dube

    • by jd ( 1658 ) <imipak AT yahoo DOT com> on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:55AM (#20600631) Homepage Journal
      No sparks? No flames? Dudew, you should have added some pyros to the bike, even if you never intended it to move, to give people something to photograph. Same reason early computers were dressed in lights. Sheesh, talk about a missed opporutinity.
    • by fantomas ( 94850 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @04:09AM (#20600689)
      Best wishes, I hope you get better soon.

      But come on buddy, a little common sense, and remember you're a role model. *You* might have known what you're doing but lots of idiot teenagers would have been watching the footage of you doing this gig and other ones similar to it. They might take home the message that it's ok not to wear helmet and body armour. The fact that something did go wrong showed that you weren't completely in control.

      Please, even if you're happy taking those risks, wear a helmet and body protection. You wouldn't use DIY power tools at home without safety gear so why take risks with your superbike? You seem like a nice guy, stick around for a bit longer so you can pick up your Darwin award and don't encourage idiot teenagers (or adults) to think its ok to do burns on stationary bikes without protection. You've just proved that it's not safe...
      • by Dr. Cody ( 554864 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @05:48AM (#20601121)
        But come on buddy, a little common sense, and remember you're a role model. *You* might have known what you're doing but lots of idiot teenagers would have been watching the footage of you doing this gig and other ones similar to it. They might take home the message that it's ok not to wear helmet and body armour. The fact that something did go wrong showed that you weren't completely in control.

        Won't somebody PLEASE think of the CHILDREN!!!???
      • by frog51 ( 51816 )
        erm....of course I use power tools at home without safety gear! Wouldn't be half as much fun otherwise. Jeez.
        • by hey! ( 33014 )
          Well that's the problem. Safety measures aren't fun unless they are insanely complicated and cursedly inconvenient. Simple and relatively convenient measures, like putting on your safety glasses before sticking your nose next to the cutting tool in your milling machine to see how the piece is coming along, are ineffective because they don't have their own built in motivation.

          My wife has a story from her college days about some guys who decided to try making nitroglycerin. This is a process that obviousl
      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        The Anonymous Coward you responded to is NOT Bill Dube; he just quoted the man's comments. I'm pretty sure Bill Dube is not going to see your comments here.

        And your comment about being a "role model" is inane. Are you saying no one should take any risks because stupid people might copy them? Berate the man for endangering his own safety if you wish, but get off your high horse.
    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Woy ( 606550 )
      You can't both claim there was no one in the possible trajectory as a safety measure and wear no helmet. You either considered the bike could move or not.
      Cool bike, man!
    • Don't let the critics hold you back, Dube. A lot of us are cheering you on -- I love seeing people working on interesting projects like this. We need more sorts of urban transportation vehicles like this. And if it can make you rich all the better.

      That being said, you probably should change the name of the bike.
    • by ahoehn ( 301327 ) <{nh.eoh} {ta} {werdna}> on Friday September 14, 2007 @10:09AM (#20603383) Homepage
      The fact that you can run thie Lithium battery pack into the side of a car and have nothing happen to it is quite impressive.

      The Slashdot crowd is already familiar with exploding laptop batteries, and electric RC news groups are filled with horror stories of houses and cars burning down from LiPo batteries that "randomly" burst into flame. Just this weekend my brother-in-law and I flew our electric RC planes with LiPo packs in them. On the way back into the house, he dropped a battery pack on the sidewalk from about 3 feet in the air. It instantly started spewing smoke and flames, and kept going for about a minute. We were lucky that it was sitting on concrete.

      The moral of the story is, I wouldn't trust anything as volitile as the LiPo's that I use for RC sitting between my legs or in the trunk of my car. While the injury is unfortunate, the publicity of a safe LiPo might do good things for the KillaCycle.
  • by iamacat ( 583406 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:15AM (#20600487)
    The motorcyclist was using Sony cells and also suffered a bad burn to the groin.
  • Free press? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Alystair ( 617164 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:18AM (#20600501)
    This is actually very good free press for them, hope he recovers quick. Media loves accidents.
  • GLAYVIN! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Mad Martigan ( 166976 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:19AM (#20600511) Homepage
    That's why Professor Frink's motorcycle flies through the air [snpp.com] -- no cars to hit.

    -----

    Frink tests his new flying motorcycle.

    Frink: Hello, son. You want to try the flying motorcycle I just invented?
    Bart: No time.
    Frink: Okay.

    Later, Bart loses his skateboard in the wet cement.

    Bart: I could sure use that flying motorcycle now.

    Frink flies by.

    Frink: You had your chance. Whoa-hai.

    -----
  • by adamkennedy ( 121032 ) <adamk@c[ ].org ['pan' in gap]> on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:20AM (#20600513) Homepage
    "I'm normally the crew chief and the owner, I don't ride it."

    I was already going "oh dear..."
  • Killa-Minivan (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Nymz ( 905908 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:24AM (#20600529) Journal
    It doesn't matter if it'a KillaCycle, motorcycle, bicycle, or even a small car, because none of them are safe as long as they share the road with vehicles that are relatively so much more massive. If we want to realistically promote more efficient modes of transportation, then we should work to make the current hostile enviroments into safer ones.

    Before you flame, I'm aware he wasn't wearing a helmet, was showing off with a burn out, was riding an prototype vehicle, and that the minivan was a parked. But instead of addressing the rare occurance this incident was, I wanted to address a common occurance, and provide a solution that we could actually take steps toward achieving.
    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Omnifarious ( 11933 ) *

      I agree pretty strongly with you on this. From what I've read massive vehicles aren't any safer for the people riding in them, and a lot more dangerous for everybody else. Not only that, but a lot of people who drive them drive them because they think they're safer, then drive like idiots because they think they can't get hurt. Also, many people who get them are just generally really insecure about their ability to drive which will make them bad drivers even if they don't feel invulnerable.

    • by jamesh ( 87723 )
      It doesn't matter if it'a KillaCycle, motorcycle, bicycle, or even a small car, because none of them are safe as long as they share the road with other drivers who talk on cell phones while driving. If we want to realistically promote more efficient modes of transportation, then we should work to make the current hostile enviroments into safer ones.

      Before you flame, I'm aware he wasn't talking on a cell phone. But instead of addressing the rare occurance this incident was, I wanted to address a common occur
      • Look at me! I can make off topic posts to push an agenda too :p
        Why do you think innovations are being sought with these new top-of-the-line batteries? Why do you think people are trying to promote their usage and safe design in a motorcycle? There is a lot of interest in alternate fuels, and more efficient means of transportation. Please don't think the topic is to make fun of the designer crashing :p
    • Re:Killa-Minivan (Score:5, Informative)

      by TheJodster ( 212554 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @09:19AM (#20602873) Homepage
      I don't know if you can make the roads safe for motorcycles of any kind, unfortunately. I was a long time rider and cycle enthusiast. I had lots of good safety gear, lights all over my bike, etc. I had taken safety courses with hands on crash avoidance scenarios. Last year an idiot woman in an SUV launched herself from a side road like she was on a suicide mission to get across the four lane divided highway where I was riding. She crushed my leg which they nearly had to amputate; broke my ribs which consequently punctured my lungs; ripped a hole in my small intestine; tore my abdominal wall to the point where I now have a piece of kevlar mesh holding my organs in on the right side. It's been a year and a half and I almost walk normally now. I was wearing a full face helmet that hit the ground repeatedly as I flew through the median.

      I got a twelve day stay in an ICU, four major surguries, four months in the hospital, a year of rehab, more than a half million US dollars in medical bills, and pain that I would never wish on anyone. She got a ticket for failure to yield right of way and a new SUV.

      If you want to ride a bike on the highways in the U.S. beware that the consequences of the bad judgement of the drooling idiots you share the road with is extremely high. The helmet will ensure that you remain concious throughout the ordeal... if you are lucky... and if you aren't, at least your wife, kids, parents, or whatever will be able to have an open casket funeral.
  • Other Videos (Score:5, Informative)

    by gbickford ( 652870 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:42AM (#20600591) Homepage
    Here is a mirror of video of the crash: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2984983237984172859 [google.com].

    There are a lot of videos of the thing in action at http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=KillaCycle [google.com]. The thing is clearly [google.com] not [google.com] a scooter [google.com]

    It's really a bummer that he decided not to wear a helmet.

  • *I*, for one, want one!
    • man... do i want one...

      Too bad the batteries are sooo big, it's a hell of a drag bike but i don't think it's a very agile circuit runner.

      Still, this gets my hopes back up. Up until now I could've never imagined a blazing fast motorcycle that runs on electricity. By the time I hit my mid-life crisis I hope they've marketed some of these ;-)
      • by dwater ( 72834 )
        >By the time I hit my mid-life crisis I hope they've marketed some of these ;-)

        yeah, and banned those stupid cars too! (or was it a van?)
  • by Futselaar ( 1103511 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:51AM (#20600617) Homepage
    For a while, we have had electric cars and motorcycles that could go fast and reasonably far. Being able to crash them stupidly was probably the final thing needed to make them a success. And now that electric bikes have grown up to this level, linux on the desktop cannot be far off, can it?
    • by arivanov ( 12034 )
      Both had happened before.

      The first cars to break through the 100km/h barrier as well as the first cars to break through the 100mph barrier were electric. They also crashed nicely on quite a few occasions. If it was not for the first world war which rapidly accelerated petrol engine development and allowed it to overtake the electric and steam competition we would have been all riding in electric vehicles today.
  • hmm. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by apodyopsis ( 1048476 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @03:56AM (#20600637)
    sure as hell emphasizes the difference between an inventor, scientist and engineer...

    ..and a professional stunt man who will ensure adequate clearance zones, safety margins, appropriate safety gear and at least apply a basic safety audit before carrying out a start stop on such a potentially powerful bike.

    I'm still waiting for my live action Akira bike
    http://www.burningart.com/meico/moto/akira/ [burningart.com]
    http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fplusd.itmedia.co.jp%2Flifestyle%2Farticles%2F0404%2F02%2Fnews040.html&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8 [google.com]
    http://negatendo.net/kmc/en_neo_fukuoka.htm [negatendo.net]
    ..that would be my number one fantasy vehicle from a movie. (or maybe a land speeder :-).

    And the eye candy who was hired to sit on the bike was quite nice. Sorry that's amazingly un-PC of me and I apologize. :-(
  • by Anonymous Coward
    offer words of encouragement to our latest Darwin hopeful. There's always next year. If electric motors can't get the job done think...rocket engine.
  • Killacycle (Score:2, Interesting)

    Worse....
    Name.....
    Ever!
  • ...kills (well almost). And this is in the news because...?


    • by hey! ( 33014 )
      Because now that the beast has been shown to be dangerously powerful, people are going to want one.

      Seriously, when the tires grabbed that sucker looked like it was shot out of a slingshot.
  • No helmet? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by beavis88 ( 25983 ) on Friday September 14, 2007 @08:15AM (#20602131)
    Seriously, this guy is smart enough to design and build this bike in his spare time, but not to buy a fucking helmet??

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