Would You Ride a Motorcycle Lite?
It weighs only 88 lbs, wears a single-cylinder 100cc four-stroke attached to a mountain bike-like frame, and might someday push the boundaries of what we call a motorcycle. Derbi's DH 2.0 concept was unveiled at Barcelona's MotOh show according to MCN, and apparently there's a strong possibility this wisp of a bike might make it to production.
While bicycle-based scoots like the hydrogen-powered ENV represent alternative fuel motorcycle possibilities for the future, Derbi's DH 2.0 is a bike you can wrap your head around, sort of a Whizzer for the 21st century. And though there will always be a market for the other end of the spectrum (such as heavyweights like the Suzuki C109R), I'm thinking a pint-sized runabout like the DH 2.0 could carve itself a new niche.
What do you think?
Photo © Derbi
Comments
Where do I get one!
Love new ideas, but wouldn’t buy one as long as I can pedal a regular mountain bike.
Lots of us “old dudes” started riding on “nifty, thrifty Honda 50’s”, and before us, Whizzers.
Bring it on, they’ll sell like crazy!
Have a look at Mr Honda’s 1st bike…it was 1948, Japan was in ruins and he put a small generator engine on a bicycle…the rest is history.
This is far more advanced - but, put the 2 side by side and the similarities are striking.
Sooner or later someone will build a truly innovative, user friendly, mass marketable ‘green’ MC. Is this it? Maybe not, but let’s wait a year when gas is $8 a gallon (2$ / litre).
Almost 50 years ago I bought a Ducati Diana mark 3 for the track. And I still remamber the initial street break in miles after many many other bikes.
way to go!
if the price is not right leave it in the vault.
I’d buy one yesterday if it was street-legal, but I wonder if just 2 disc brakes are enough to slow this beast.
Nice idea and good aesthetic lines. Yeah, I’d own and ride it. Too bad they do not give us more concrete details. Will it be street legal? With all the addons: lights, signals, instrumentation, mirrors it will not look or weigh the same.
Wouldn’t be seen dead on it!
I think, if its reasonably priced, it will sell like hotcakes for short hops. I’ll order one today (if priced right).
HT
My first bike was a Briggs & Stratton 2.5 HP bolted to a modified (8th grade metal shop)bicycle frame. I,ve had a ball on 50cc scooters in Mexico and Bermuda. I have watched mountain bikes evolve with front and rear suspansion and disc breaks. I absolutely would buy one of these.
I THINK I’D RATER RIDE A MOPED !
For those of us who never owned a full size motorcycle and now are in retirement years this would give a thrill we always dreamed of.
It rocks and students would be going x-games with something that sweet looking. Although for now, I like pedaling too.
My first thought was “moped” (like another reader). I can see this in Europe and third-world countries selling quite well. I can even see it selling to college students in cities, where one can easily get around on city streets (ie: 30-40mph). But for anything else, what do you do with it? I live in the country and when I want to go riding on the back roads near our house, I’ll take my bike, thank you. One more thing - how fast does it go and what is the tank size?
Back in the 50’s I rode an Imme in Germany. A good thrifty ride with zero handling and bad brakes. Preceded that with a pre-war 2-cycle NSU. Followed it with an AJS which was totally OK except for the repair prone electrics.
looks like fun:) cruz around town supin gas. 9″ mtb Dh brake in front 8″ travel i wonder if theyd let me take it up the lift in colorado n ride the dh trails . . id get it for shure! looks sweet too
JUST WISH MORE , WOULD RIDE AT LEAST THIS.
MAYBE AT SOME BAGS.