If you love cycling, then you really shouldn’t let any waterbody stop your love for pedaling. Obviously, a regular bicycle can’t let you pedal on water and therefore, if you really want to continuing cycling on water, well then, you have to look to the Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 Hydrofoil Bike. Also quite obviously, pedaling on water takes a lot more effort than it is on land, more so if you are expect to ride the waves hydrofoil technology has to offer and hence, Hydrofoiler XE-1 is actually a pedal-assist watercraft. So, yeah. Hydrofoiler XE-1 is basically the answer to pedal-assist bike for water. Absolutely brilliant. I think that’s one of the things missing from my life.
Dream up by New Zealander entrepreneur Guy Howard-Willis, Manta5 was brought to life by bicycle designer Roland Alonzo and it is set to take on your local lake or sea come this November. For how much? Well about that, it is not disclosed yet, but my guts tell me that this thing here is going to fall into the Big Boys Toys category which means, it is not going to be anywhere near affordable. The upper section of the Hydrofoiler XE-1 looks like a sleek version of a stationary exercise bike while the lower section has two carbon fiber hydrofoils for lifting duty.
There’s a 400W motor between the carbon fiber reinforced nylon propeller and the pedals that will augment your cycling action to spun and thus propelling you and the ride forward. This new breed of watercraft is normally buoyant and you will want that because, you don’t want this to sink to the bottom of the lake the moment you drop it onto the water. The entire construct tips the scales at 44 lbs (20 kilograms) and it is designed to be broken down so that it can be transported in a regular car. But really, it only involves removing the hydrofoils.
Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 Hydrofoil Bike is designed for riders who weighs 154-220 lbs (70-100 kilograms) and it runs off a removable battery which is good for an hour run per charge. Top speeds come in at between 9 and 12 mph (15-20 km/h), depending on how hard you push your legs. Speaking of which, how hard your legs need to work can be determined by adjusting the amount of electrical assistance the motor provide you with.
Pre-sale is expected to happen sometime late this year after its public reveal mid of next month, with delivery to happen in late 2018. But that’s in New Zealand. International availability will only happen much later, after rolling on in Kiwi land. Scroll down to see the prototype in action.
All images courtesy of Manta5.
