14 Cool Concept Bikes

The future in bikes may be here, at least on paper. Our 2009 roundup explored 14 cool concept bikes. Revisit these design proposals, from folding frames to electric assistance.

CYKEL Electric and Pedal Bike by Brian Mcallister

As much fun as it is to bike around your city, West Coasters know just how hard it can be to pedal up steep hills and winding corners. The Cykel concept bike offers a modern solution meant to save you from getting exhausted. When the strain becomes too much, simply switch to electric power to assist you through the tough spots. Another clever feature proposed for this design is solid over-mold tires, intended to eliminate flats. That sounds rather appealing halfway up a hill.

24/7 City Pedelec by Philipp Guenther

Why replace your bicycle every couple of years when you could imagine something built around upgrades instead? That is the appeal of this unusually chunky concept. You’ll barely recognize the 24/7 City Pedelec as a bicycle with its solid frame and snazzy new tech from the centrifugal gear unit to the hydraulic brakes. The proposed modular frame would allow one-by-one upgrades. The last bike you ever buy? A lovely ambition, rather than a lifetime warranty.

City Bike by Ionut Predescu

If you think this thin streamlined bike looks delicate, you are not alone. The proposed combination of carbon fiber and Kevlar cables aims to balance low weight with strength. Those are design intentions, rather than results from our own road test. The balance between thin black cables and shiny white carbon fiber creates a unique and almost delicate aesthetic.

IziBi Folding Bike by Renato Gschwend

We always love a good space saver, and the IziBi Folding Bike climbs its way to the top of our favorite compact items fast! This sleek mountain bike concept folds in half, putting car boots and cramped storage spaces firmly in its sights. Bringing both wheels together also offers an interesting approach to parking, although a clever fold is hardly a guarantee against theft. For something so compact you wouldn’t expect that the IziBi proposes a carbon fiber polymer frame. Small package, decidedly big ambitions.

Green Shadow Bike by Mr. Onuff

Going green was never so literal. Aside from looking incredibly cool and futuristic, the Green Shadow concept bike proposes some cool tech as well. An on-board computer would track riding information and mileage. It’s nice to know an estimate of calories burned as well as how many miles you’re not driving.

Grasshopper Bicycle

Contender in the 12th International Bicycle Design Competition, the Grasshopper folds up into a tiny compact bicycle, but still never really gets terribly large even unfolded. The green accents and strange thin frame make it easy to understand why this bicycle project was dubbed the “Grasshopper.” The bike is meant for an urban lifestyle hence the small size and electric functionality. You’d probably find this little concept bike especially useful for the usually annoying transition between biking and riding the subway.

Taurus Seat-less Bike by Julia Meyer

The idea behind this unusual seatless bike is a more active riding position. Instead of parking your butt on a seat, you would lean forward into an entirely different arrangement. The fitness ambitions belong to the concept; looking futuristic does not establish posture or workout benefits. Plus, you’ll look like you came straight out of the future on such a weird new bike.

ORYX Time Trial Bike by Harald Cramer

Without knowing a thing about engineering or aerodynamics, it’s easy to imagine the ORYX Time Trial Bike hurtling straight out of the future. Speed and efficiency are the ambitions behind its unusual shape. The wheel suspension and crank located on the inside are intended to streamline the bike. Improved shock absorption without sacrificing traction was another design goal. Even changing wheels gets a proposed shortcut: a clever push button release.

One Folding Bicycle by Thomas Owen

We’ve already professed our love for collapsible bikes and One approaches the problem of space in an entirely new way. It folds down from a full-sized bike to something you could probably fit in your luggage. The appearance of the bike itself really inspires images of the future with smooth curves and asymmetric design.

Locust Folding Bike by Josef Cadek

Straying from the white and silver staple colors of modern design and letting us know that the future might not actually be void of color, the Locust impresses with bright green and yellow in another interesting folded bike design. Everything, from the frame to the handlebars, is round making it easy to roll the entire bike up into a compact ball. The design was achieved by replacing the chain system with a belt system with outer toothing.

BauBike by Michael Ubbesen Jakobsen

Inspired by Bauhaus design, the epitome of modernism, the BauBike makes artistic use of clean lines and geometric shapes. Creating a functional ride and a piece of art through design, the frame plays with squares, triangular geometry, and a determined refusal to look like everybody else’s bicycle. The extra open end piece over the back wheel gives you room to add an extra seat or basket.

Backpack Bicycle by Chang Ting Jen

It may not get any more compact or convenient than a bike that folds up and fits on your back. While it’s hard to believe the practicality of a Backpack Bicycle, the original proposal put its weight at just over 12 lbs. Whether that feels convenient on your shoulders is another question entirely. The bike would make a great travel companion offering the freedom of cycling through a city without the hassle of chaining your bike or dragging it through attractions.

The Everglide

Sure, a lightweight compact bike is great to have while you travel, but what about a lightweight compact bike that charges your gadgets while you pedal? The Everglide concept proposed backpack storage and pedal-powered charging for a cell phone or MP3 player. Yes, MP3 player: this is a wonderfully specific vision of the future from another era.

ThisWay Recumbent Bicycle by Torkel Dohmers

ThisWay Recumbent Bicycle looks something like a cross between a bicycle and a car and for good reason. Its built in roof is meant to keep you dry in the rain. Front and rear LED lights were part of the proposal, too, although lighting alone cannot promise visibility in every situation. While it may not do much in terms of keeping you warm you have to imagine that any more weight over its proposed 26 lbs and you’ll need an engine.