I'm loving this Piaggio MP3 scooter that has two wheels on the front. It uses a very trick suspension/steering set up to allow it to lean into angles just like a regular motorbike, though apparently it feels fairly different. The tripod stance also means it stands up by itself at slow speeds and stopped, negating the need for dragging feet for stability or a kick-stand.
The extra width also gives it a lot of presence which should be helpful on busy freeways. There is ample storage space under the front which makes it practical too.
Even though this is from Piaggio, the manufacturer of the original Vespa, the MP3 looks totally different from any other scooter out there, and not just because of the extra wheel. Especially in all-black it looks very menacing and not at all Roman Holiday cute. The front looks like Optimus Prime mated with a Stealth Fighter, and the back looks like a conventional scooter on steroids.
All that and it gets over 60mpg.
This is a great example of a storied company with iconic products in its past not being afraid to experiment and seek out new styles and new customers.
(Credit:
Newlaunches)
We have no idea what transportation vehicles will look like in 2025 but, if we ventured to guess, the "Embrio Advanced Concept" wouldn't appear anywhere on the list of possibilities. Call us narrow-minded, but we just don't see a one-wheeled motorcycle taking off for the masses.
Designed by Canada-based Bombardier Recreational Products, it sounds something like a mashup of a motorized unicycle and a Segway--for two people, if you can believe that. "The vehicle uses sensors and gyroscopes to balance up to two passengers on a large single wheel whilst driving," according to Newlaunches, allowing the rider(s) to turn by leaning left or right. And given that we're talking about the future, it will run on green hydrogen fuel cells, of course.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature, aside from the fact that it has only one wheel, is a small set of "landing gear" that descends at speeds under 12.5 miles per hour. Frankly, we'd feel safer riding something like the "Hyperbike."
(Credit:
Fareastgizmos)
The people at Japan's SolidAlliance are apparently as hard-working as their products are diverse. Think about it: This is the same company that produces disco ball mice, gold USB drives and UFO detectors. And those are only the things we know about.
What could possibly top those acts? Try a desktop replica of a motorcycle engine, complete with vibration and sound effects. You can even control the revs of the USB-powered engine hub by pushing the kick pedal, according to Fareastgizmos--perfect for that final stretch at work as you head toward the finish line for Miller time. We're certain that your co-workers, not to mention your boss, will appreciate it.
(Credit:
Carscoop)
No, we don't know why someone would want to outfit a motorcycle with a monster truck engine, but that's not important. There are even larger questions in life, such as why anyone would want to build a 31-foot motorbike. (Crave tends to ponder existential questions on the weekend.)
Regardless of the reasons, the two-wheeled "Rapom" is equipped with an 8.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, according to Spluch. Its Dr. Frankstein wannabe creator says the bike was the unholy offspring of "the unusual marriage of convenience and nativete."
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