zec00 goes into production

From fantasy to reality, Gizmag.com is reporting that the futuristic-looking Japanese handmade zec00 electric bike is now available for sale, at the equivalent of $A97,000.

The zec00, made by Tokyo firm Znug Design, was first seen out and about as a prototype three years ago. It has a strange-looking hub steering setup and a fantasy design which is right up Japan's futuristic alley. The front of the zec00 is bulbous and layered at the front – culminating in a massive tinted screen – before moving into a minimalist rear: basically a seat, shock, swingarm and belt-driven wheel.

The hub steering has been designed to accommodate the battery’s weight, "maintaining steerability without changes in riding posture".
The wheelbase is massive, 1830mm, which also will have some say in "steerability" , while the bike uses the excellent Zero Motorcycles motor found in that firm's Zero SR.

The SR is appreciably lighter than the eco00, by 92kg, but the Japanese machine should still have plenty of mumbo off the lights with 144Nm in its arsenal – more than enough on the car-saturated Tokyo roads. Znug Design quotes a top speed of 160km/h and a range of about 160km before the lithium ion battery requires recharging. There's also regenerative braking.

Only 49 zec00s will be hand-made, and it's possible to for buyers to customise the colour (see attached image for inspiration).