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Flying bike

The World’s First Flying Bike launches in the USA, and people are in awe of the bike.

Motorcyclists always want something new and odd when it comes to innovation. Flying bike seemed a very long shot. Car drivers just get excited by getting cup holders and iPod docs but motorcycle riders want something unique that focuses on making the bike and biking even more enjoyable, faster, and safer.

Flying bike
Image Source: zeenews.india.com

From the world’s first petroleum-powered motorcycle to modern motorcycles with HD evolution Engines we have come a long way.

In the timeframe between the ’90s and 2000s when we were growing up the future of motorcycles or cars was portrayed with flying cars, bikes, and pods. Many people told of having flying cars by 2020 just like the science fiction movies depicted.

But due to the severe changes in climate and awareness about it was increasing and vehicular pollution was at its top the standard of future mobility deflected from flying vehicles to electric and clean mobility.

With these changes over the past years, one thing was evident if the major part of the R&D budget was going to move to make the whole mobility sector electric then there were not enough resources remaining to venture into the flying personal mobility space.

The flying bike and cars gave the impression of being a dream too far from the near future but some companies did not stop or get demotivated by the various reasons floating around and kept working to make this vision true. One such enterprise is a Japanese startup, AERWINS Technologies. They have built a flying bike or a human flying cluster of drones known as XTURISMO hoverbike.

Aerwins Technologies XTURISMO hoverbike was launched last week on Thursday, 15 September 2022, in Motown at the Detroit Auto Show 2022 which was held for the first time since the people were hit by the pandemic. The XTURISMO hoverbike can fly for about forty minutes and achieve a speed of 100 km per hour (62 miles per hour).

 The bike appeared similar to the bikes we have seen in the “Star War”. After this bike was unveiled, many people called it “the future of urban mobility”. You may not know but this same flying bike was first displayed during an Auto Show held in Japan last year in October.

The video of this Star Wars look-alike flying bike was widespread on the internet on social media platforms like Twitter. The people were indeed astonished after seeing it land after a flight.

Thad Szott, co-chair of the auto show is heard saying in the video, “I feel like I’m literally 15 years old and I just got out of ‘Star Wars’ and jumped on their bike.” “I mean, it’s awesome! Of course, you have a little apprehension, but I was just so amped. I literally had goosebumps and feel like a little kid.”

Source: indianexpress.com

How does the XTURISMO hoverbike Work?

This XTURISMO hoverbike utilizes two large central rotors backed by a 228 hp gas-powered Kawasaki motorcycle performance engine for thrust. Together with the main rotors, four smaller electric support rotors are also available on the motorcycle’s edges present on the outer side for maintaining stability.

At present, the hoverbike’s body which is a lightweight carbon fiber body weighs only 299 kg and appears to be 12 feet long. It also features an automatic control unit developed and designed to enhance safety.

Price and Availability

The XTURISMO hoverbike is expensive obviously because it is a flying bike that costs 777,000 USD which is roughly 6 crores INR. It is on sale in Japan already. Since Japan has strict rules for these vehicles so the bike is only allowed to fly over racetracks.

Despite that, Shuhei Komatsu, CEO, and founder of AERWINS stated that the firm is planning to sell a bit small version of this bike in 2023 in the United States. He also said that the firm is trying to cut down the bike’s cost to 50,000 USD for a small, electric model but it will take about 2-3 years for it to be ready. It will probably be ready by 2025.

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