Alternatively alternative

A scooter for a garden gnome..? (Orin O'Neill photo)

If you live in the United States or Canada and get around primarily on a scooter or motorcycle, you are partaking in alternative transportation. You’re a trendsetter, you’re a rebel. Or something like that.

In spite of this, there is no shortage of visionaries (or “visionaries”, your choice) who proffer alternatives to the alternative.

Lit Motors illustration

Behold the Lit C-1, the latest in a long line of enclosed scooter/motorcycle concepts. It’s rather attractive, offering the enclosed comfort of a car with the 2-wheeled je ne sais quoi of a motorcycle.

Lit Motors produced a video showing how the C-1 might work in everyday use.

 
Gizmag.com recently ran a story about the C-1 that offers considerable detail about it. Conceptual, mind, but detail nonetheless.

Its designer had this to say:

“We’re creating a safe motorcycle, and that’s never been done in the way that we’re doing it, where it’s also incredibly efficient” said (Lit C-1 designer Daniel) Kim. “We’re trying to open up safety to a huge market of 200 million motorcyclists, daily in the world. We have a huge market, and I think we could have a lot of impact.”

Oh, lordy.

Let’s set the 200 million-motorcyclist figure aside for the moment and consider why Americans ride motorcycles. Just about all of them would tell you its because you’re out in the very elements which the C-1 so completely seals off from its driver (you sure don’t “ride” the thing).

In fact, some riders rather like the element of danger. Others in other parts of the world don’t seem to give safety much thought, the places they live lacking a “safety” establishment that constantly beats the drum about how DANGEROUS motorcycles are!!!!

The C-1 is described as a having a gyroscope to keep it upright. This would make unnecessary the retractable feet most similar concept vehicles employ to make up for the fact one can’t put one’s feet down. This is also touted as a safety feature in the event of a crash.

However, watching the part of the video where the C-1 gets t-boned by a Nissan LEAF(!) is troubling because the result of the impact is to radically alter the C-1′s trajectory, which even the most skilled drivers might not be able to react to in time to prevent a collision with, say, a bus approaching from the opposite direction.

Never mind how the heck you’re supposed to turn the thing. A motorcycle (or a scooter, or a bicycle) turns by leaning into the corner. The video shows how fiercely the test mule resists doing that.

Most entertaining are the claimed speed/range figures quoted in the Gizmag article: at least 120 mph (193 km/h), with range for the higher-end model expected around 150 to 220 miles (241 to 354 km) per charge (emphasis mine). Really? Where are these people buying their batteries? A LEAF has 46 batteries and can only manage 50-100 miles/charge. Most electric scooters can barely go 20 miles.

You can learn more about Lit Motors by clicking here. The company claims to have taken twenty-five $250 deposits, “mostly from Europe.” However, at this point it appears there’s a gyroscope test device, a nice non-running mockup, and a lot of CGI. But no actual vehicle.

My advice, as always: Spend your $250 on a Basic Rider Course and some foul-weather gear. This is a great time to buy a scooter, the dealers are dealing.

Advertisement