Filed under: Emerging Technologies, On Two Wheels, Lightweight
Derbi DH 2.0: looking to mountainbikes for inspiration
Click on the image to view more shots of the Derbi DH 2.0
Small-bore motorcycle maker Derbi, a company who's name is literally "DERived from BIcycle," has launched a new concept bike known as the DH 2.0. Derbi refers to its concept as "a machine taken to the minimum to achieve the maximum," a phrase which we can really get behind. Using an air-cooled single cylinder 4-stroke engine displacing 100cc's and an automatic transmission, Derbi believes that the machine would have very low emissions and very high fuel mileage. That engine can be removed from the frame, leaving a downhill mountainbike chassis for when the motor is not needed. Most of the components appear to have been taken from the mountainbike shelf, meaning that the DH 2.0 weights just eighty-eight pounds. The frame is made from aluminum and holds the gasoline. This is an interesting concept, and one which we think could really go somewhere.
Gallery: Derbi DH 2.0
[Source: Derbi via The Kneeslider]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ping 2:58PM (5/13/2008)
I hope 88 pounds is with the engine, otherwise it'd be a pretty useless mountain bike.
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steven 3:39PM (5/13/2008)
Nah, it is GREAT for those downhill mountain bike races! This one actually looks like fun. Forget taking the motor off. 4-5 HP @ 88 lbs would be a blast! You could get a good 130-140 MPG with that combo.
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jon 3:47PM (5/13/2008)
looks like an improvement on the madass 50/125 design. i've been wanting a madass 125 for a while now, but this would probably edge it out if it went to production.
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Paul 4:01PM (5/13/2008)
I'm wondering about barreling downhill engineless with a frame full of gasoline. Makes for some pretty interesting crashes...
I'd rather see (at least as an option) an external, removable tank and stuffing the frame full of Li-Ion cells (perhaps removable) along with regenerative disc brakes and a mini-freewheel generator. Would make getting back up to the top of the mountain quite a bit easier for a full day of fun and would make for a very usable (truly) hybrid bike.
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George Krpan 5:44PM (5/13/2008)
It's a step in the right direction.
Modern mountain bike suspension and brakes are amazing.
It's total overkill for the street.
How about a street version with one half hp "through the gears", no suspension, and a sub 40 lb weight?
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davewin 6:27PM (5/13/2008)
Finally! I've been wondering for some time why not slightly upsize a bicycle to make a motorcycle instead of trying to lighten existing motorcycle designs. All they need to do is make an electric version that looks as good.
The reason electric bikes haven't caught on in the US yet is because they are priced too high for mass market appeal and no one has built one that looks good (and tough).
This sounds like a winner.
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Luke 6:44PM (5/13/2008)
I've been thinking about a lightweight 4-stroke motorcycle with off-road capability lately. I'm short (5'4") so a lot of the normal dirt-bikes look like they'd be uncomfortable.
This thing would fit the bill. This one probably wouldn't be vetoed by the girlfriend, either.
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Luke 6:50PM (5/13/2008)
I, too, would be open to an electric version!
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Kevin Nugent 6:53PM (5/13/2008)
That seem hot . they could actually go somewhere with that idea
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Chad 7:40AM (5/14/2008)
Check this out for an alternative.
http://www.e-mtb.com.au/
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pacman 9:26AM (5/14/2008)
It will have to be cheap to sell. You can buy a scooter for $2k or an Asian Motorcycle for around $3k. This is a bad mountain bike and a slow motorcycle so it better do something well. A scooter gets 80-100mpg and a motorcycle will get you 45 on a Harley and close to 80 on a small Honda. This thing better get well over 100 to overcome its deficiancies. Does look cool but its looks alone dont matter.
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Nate 10:08AM (5/14/2008)
The batteries required to replace the fuel would weigh a lot more than gas. Part of a mountain bike's performance, even downhilling, is it's handling, which is largely tied to weight. There is very little steering going on, more leaning. You would need heavier suspension, possibly rims.
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Ryan 12:25PM (5/14/2008)
Makes me think back to the Honda MB5, which was a lightweight 50cc two-stroke bike. Couldnt really call it a scooter, or a motorcycle, or a moped. It was just a cool, fun, efficient machine. An idea whose time has come again.
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CNCMike 12:47PM (5/14/2008)
Here is an electric that is somewhat affordable and looks really good too.
http://www.electricmotorsport.com/store/ems_electric_motorcycle_gpr-s.php
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John B 4:42PM (5/14/2008)
Here is an electric alternative that works nicely. It can be fitted on pretty much any bicycle.
http://www.bionx.ca/
http://www.greenspeed.us/bionx_motor_bike_kit.htm
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