Yikes! This bike's hot

BY SAM MCKNIGHT

Last updated 05:00 14/11/2009

ONYERBIKE: Engineer Peter Higgins, left, and inventor Grant Ryan giving the YikeBike a whirl.

Relevant offers

A former Invercargill man's modern twist on a penny farthing bicycle has made Time Magazine's list as one of the top 50 inventions of 2009.

The YikeBike, invented by Dr Ryan Grant, has been chosen by the magazine as the 15th best invention of the year.

It's website says the YikeBike is "like getting your first Big Wheel all over again and you don't even have to pedal".

Dr Grant, who is based in Christchurch, yesterday said he had an idea his invention was going to be on the list but it was still "pretty cool" to see it featured.

Marketed as the world's smallest electric bike, the YikeBike can be folded into a bag the size of the front wheel, weighs only 10kg, has a top speed of 20kmh, and takes only about 20 minutes to charge to 80 per cent power.

The YikeBike is not featuring so well on the people's choice vote on the website, falling to 38th, but Dr Ryan hoped a little parochialism might change that.

To vote, visit www.time.com

Ad Feedback

- © Fairfax NZ News

Southland Times Homepage

Post comment

Name:	Required
Email:	Required. Will not be published.

Registration is not required to post a comment but if you , you will not have to enter your details each time you comment. Registered members also have access to extra features. Create an account now.

Maximum of 1750 characters (about 300 words)

I have read and accepted the terms and conditions
These comments are moderated. Your comment, if approved, may not appear immediately. Please direct any queries about comment moderation to the Opinion Editor at blogs@stuff.co.nz

Ad Feedback

News Headlines

RSS