RE: Lit Motors C-1

[DreadUK]

WHAT AM I SAYING!!!!!!?

There's no damn Cops in London anyway, and speed camera's can't convict you for not wearing a helmet!

[TinyCappo]

JonRB said:

Richard A said:

The big thing that I don't get about these (though I have to admit that I haven't researched it yet) is that although we can see that it's great at staying upright what actually happens when you attempt to weave your way down a twisty road? Imagine barrelling into a tight right hander and the damn thing doesn't want to lean. How is it going to know that you want to corner hard / lean over?

I'm guessing that it will have speed and steering input going into an ECU that will identify that you're entering a bend. Also, I would imagine that at anything above walking speed the gyros will be throttled back as it will be generating its own gyroscopic forces just like a normal motorbike by then. It's a reasonable question to ask though.

Lit Motors on Facebook said:

The gyros enable a steer-by-wire system, allowing for motorcycle turning dynamics/leaning with a car-like interface for the driver.

[anonymous-user]

From the FAQ on Lit's site:


Is the C-1 street legal? What kind of license do I need?

Yes, the C-1 will be 100% street legal, and we’re working to make sure that only a standard driver’s license will be needed, with no motorcycle endorsement required. We’ll share updates on our progress with that as we near production.


Whether that is achievable here as opposed to in California remains to be seen. But if you could use one of these with a drivers licence and no need for a helmet, I could them really taking off as a commuter vehicle. Were my commute not short enough to do on a pedal bike, I'd have one in a shot.

[DUMBO100]

I can see that being popular in the Scottish summertime, it would keep the rain and the midges away

[BigCat74]

Hmmmmmmmm call me weird but I quite like it (both the idea and the product) if they can get down here to NZ for around $35,000NZDish I think I'd be quite keen for it as around town run-about. Maybe I'm just going a bit nuts??

[CrutyRammers]

So this is called a C-1 Lit, right? Good choice.

[ValveFloat]

Lit Motors on Facebook said:

The gyros enable a steer-by-wire system, allowing for motorcycle turning dynamics/leaning with a car-like interface for the driver.

Critically minded readers will note that the C-1 only leans like a motorbike in cartoons. In video, the prototypes stand tall at a stop and drive straight, but never turn. I want to believe, but I have yet to see video of the C-1 actually leaning into a turn (or even not-leaning into a turn, which would be even more remarkable). This is significant, and constantly overlooked, because this startup is covered by tech journalists, not motojournalists. The bottom line is, until there is actual video of it actually turning, it should be taken as very cleanly-rendered vaporware.

I certainly wouldn't escrow a nickel on it.

[andburg]

absolute bargain......

compared to a carver one!!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C449925

want a bit more crash protection and 2 wheel for less cash go buy a BMW C1!

[Atmospheric]

I have to say, I like it.

[anonymous-user]

ValveFloat said:

Critically minded readers will note that the C-1 only leans like a motorbike in cartoons. In video, the prototypes stand tall at a stop and drive straight, but never turn. I want to believe, but I have yet to see video of the C-1 actually leaning into a turn (or even not-leaning into a turn, which would be even more remarkable). This is significant, and constantly overlooked, because this startup is covered by tech journalists, not motojournalists. The bottom line is, until there is actual video of it actually turning, it should be taken as very cleanly-rendered vaporware.

I certainly wouldn't escrow a nickel on it.

Ooh, well lookee here. New user, from the USA, registered today and this is the first post.

I spy with my little eye Google alert + a hidden agenda.

So, what's your real interest in this?

[TinyCappo]

Greg66 said:

ValveFloat said:

Critically minded readers will note that the C-1 only leans like a motorbike in cartoons. In video, the prototypes stand tall at a stop and drive straight, but never turn. I want to believe, but I have yet to see video of the C-1 actually leaning into a turn (or even not-leaning into a turn, which would be even more remarkable). This is significant, and constantly overlooked, because this startup is covered by tech journalists, not motojournalists. The bottom line is, until there is actual video of it actually turning, it should be taken as very cleanly-rendered vaporware.

I certainly wouldn't escrow a nickel on it.

Ooh, well lookee here. New user, from the USA, registered today and this is the first post.

I spy with my little eye Google alert + a hidden agenda.

So, what's your real interest in this?

Elio motors?

[k-ink]

ValveFloat that is a miserable stance to take. Companies which are coming up with new ideas to the worlds problems should be applauded. Yes it is still in development as it is a new product. Hopefully one day all the majors like Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha etc will follow suit. I actually think this could be a real solution to make all our lives better. Most families would be fine with one of these plus a compact four seater hatch. Half the cars removed from the road will be great. Commuting in these would be a blast.

[JonRB]

k-ink said:

Most families would be fine with one of these plus a compact four seater hatch. Half the cars removed from the road will be great. Commuting in these would be a blast.

I agree. What does the average commuter actually *need* from a vehicle?

1. transport just yourself. (Yes, car sharing exists but the majority of commuting is just 1-up).
2. easy to park
3. allows you to travel in your ordinary clothes (so enclosed is mandatory).
4. keeps you safe in the event of a shunt
5. is an affordable alternative to a car

If this vehicle (or one like it) achieves all its goals then I'd say its the future of face-to-face commuting. I'd certainly consider one.
And let's be honest here - teleworking is all very good but most business is still conducted face-to-face or bums-on-seats.

[k-ink]

JonRB said:

And let's be honest here - teleworking is all very good but most business is still conducted face-to-face or bums-on-seats.

True. But take a typical company in london with a huge office. How many of those people are sat in near isolation at a computer all day? I bet quite a lot. Yes there will be key people in meetings, or meeting clients, out and about etc. But a large bulk of people are just staring at a monitor all day. These people (like me) can start by working a few days at home and coming into the office only when necessary. Perhaps for a once a week catch up. Or not at all. Then just meet up for friday drinks after work If companies can get half of their staff to work remotely they can halve their office rental costs for a start. It just takes managers who are comfortable to try something new. Ok it is no longer new as I've been doing it a decade. But it must be the future. Commuting on the whole for desk / computer jobs is daft.

[JonRB]

k-ink said:

True. But take a typical company in london with a huge office. How many of those people are sat in near isolation at a computer all day? I bet quite a lot. Yes there will be key people in meetings, or meeting clients, out and about etc. But a large bulk of people are just staring at a monitor all day. These people (like me) can start by working a few days at home and coming into the office only when necessary. Perhaps for a once a week catch up. Or not at all. Then just meet up for friday drinks after work If companies can get half of their staff to work remotely they can halve their office rental costs for a start. It just takes managers who are comfortable to try something new. Ok it is no longer new as I've been doing it a decade. But it must be the future. Commuting on the whole for desk / computer jobs is daft.

Oh, I don't disagree with you. But after 20+ years in the IT industry, I haven't seen much of a move away from the 'bums-on-seats' mentality in the majority of my clients and I don't really see that significantly changing, much as it makes sense for it to.

So, if we take the pragmatic view of things being as they are, rather than how we'd like them to be, then I'd say that something like this would make a lot of sense as a personal commuting vehicle.

Edit: I think part of the problem is that when even colleagues view "Working From Home" as a euphemism for "Bunking Off and Slacking" then it's hardly surprising that Management have a similar view, sadly.

[hedgeperson]

Well, I ordered mine a long time ago so if it does ever show up I can let you know my thoughts.

Personally - as well as somewhat inevitably, I guess - I believe it's brilliant.

Cheers,
Hedge

[lockup]

This is perfect for me. I have a 50-60 mile commute which I can take via A/B roads or motorway, ending in a congested town with restricted parking. This costs buttons to run, will be good fun down the smaller roads, safer than a motorbike, will not require me to dress up like the Michelin man and is easy to park.

It will not have the lane-splitting or overtaking ability of a proper bike (reduced visibility, increased length and width), but it will make better progress than a car.

And no range anxiety.

I don't mind "looking like a tt" if I get to work earlier and save £15 a day on fuel.

[Blackpuddin]

k-ink said:

JonRB said:

And let's be honest here - teleworking is all very good but most business is still conducted face-to-face or bums-on-seats.

True. But take a typical company in london with a huge office. How many of those people are sat in near isolation at a computer all day? I bet quite a lot. Yes there will be key people in meetings, or meeting clients, out and about etc. But a large bulk of people are just staring at a monitor all day. These people (like me) can start by working a few days at home and coming into the office only when necessary. Perhaps for a once a week catch up. Or not at all. Then just meet up for friday drinks after work If companies can get half of their staff to work remotely they can halve their office rental costs for a start. It just takes managers who are comfortable to try something new. Ok it is no longer new as I've been doing it a decade. But it must be the future. Commuting on the whole for desk / computer jobs is daft.

Boris could make a name for himself by persuading London-based companies to move outside the M25, converting as many of their office buildings as possible into residential, and turning London back into a city to live in rather than work in. That would greatly mitigate the morning rush hour as folk would be moving out of the hub, not into it, and there'd be a softened evening rush hour too as residents wouldn't have to be back home by a target time, as they do in the mornings. In such a scenario vehicles like the C-1 would make perfect sense for new London citizens looking for parking – which of course would be overnight near their residences, rather than during the day.

[Europa1]

CrutyRammers said:

So this is called a C-1 Lit, right? Good choice.

Have just spluttered coffee all over my keyboard.

[Blackpuddin]

Here's a reporter vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb51CvptTt4
From about 5 mins you can see it going along at walking pace but apparently perfectly balanced despite only one gyro working.