5 self-balancing motorcycles

1. Lit Motors’ C-1
Way back in 2012, Beijing-based firm Lit Motors unveiled the self-balancing C-1 which blended the most convenient aspects of both two- and four-wheel machinery. With only two inline wheels, the C-1 was as wide and therefore as nimble as your average motorcycle. However, the use of two horizontally mounted gyroscopes in the rear of the vehicle negated the need for the rider to put their feet down to stable the vehicle when stopped, which enabled Lit Motors to create a fully enclosed, climate controlled and lockable two-wheeled machine. It’s powered by two high-torque, hub-mounted electric motors in a bid to maximise cabin space and, while it leans like a conventional motorcycle, purists will be turned off by the use of a steering wheel instead of conventional handlebars.

2. BMW’s Vision Next 100
The self-balancing aspect of BMW’s Vision Next 100 was just one of many technological and safety advancements the firm wanted to showcase in the 2016 concept. For BMW, the concept was imagining what form motorcycling might take in the next 100 years and so for it, the gyroscopic-induced self-balancing system was used as a way riders might get around the necessity of protective clothing in the future. During the concept bike’s reveal, design director of BMW’s motorcycle division Edgar Heinrich said: “Its self-balancing system will help protect the rider at any time,” he said. “Any late reaction from the driver will trigger and the vehicle will balance out. In the future, motorcycle riders will be able to enjoy riding without protective gear.”

3. Ryno Motors’ RYNO
The American-built RYNO went on sale in America in 2013 and was the ultimate in personal mobility. A single-wheel, self-balancing, electric-powered machine weighing just 72kg and taking up little more room than a standing human, the RYNO should have been a worldwide hit. Working the same way a Segway does in that you lean forward to accelerate and lean back to decelerate, the gyroscope is working both with and against you to ensure you and your one wheel aren’t toppling too far in either direction. The RYNO could travel up to 24km one a single charge with a top speed capability of 16km/h. It has a carrying capacity of 120kg (yes, there’s room for panniers) and takes just six hours to fully charge from a standard household socket.

4. Thrustcycle’s GyroCycle
It has been eight years in the making but Hawaii-based Thrustcycle Enterprises will release its self-balancing GyroCycle to the American market this year. While the machine itself is fully enclosed, unlike the aforementioned C-1, the rider is still in the elements like a regular motorcycle. The final version will be powered by an oil-cooled 8500-watt electric motor produced by American electric power specialist Zev, and will have range of 129km and a top speed of 120km/h. Though still unconfirmed, Thrustcycle is predicting it’ll have a price tag of $US20,000 ($A26,500) or less.

5. Honda’s Riding Assist concept
Honda used the 2017 CES Show in Las Vegas to whip the covers of its self-balancing motorcycle but, unlike the other four machines in this list, it doesn’t use gyroscopes to achieve its balancing act. It’s what Honda calls the Riding Assist concept and it borrows technology from other Honda developed products like the Asimo robot and Uni-Cub mobility scooter. Cleverly, it balances the motorcycle in much the same way as a rider would at low speed — through the handlebars. Below 5km/h, the electronic steer-by-wire system disengages the bars from the front fork, increases the rake to lower the bike’s centre of gravity and takes over the steering. “Most riders can manage their bikes just fine,” Honda’s Lee Edmunds said. “This would be for those who want to relax a little bit and not stress out about falling over, if they’re older or a little shorter in stature or the bike is heavier. This takes away that anxiety.”