The Yerka “unstealable” bike we reported on last November is now seeking funding through Indiegogo, a crowdfunding website similar to Kickstarter. They’re seeking $50,000 and with 44 days remaining, have raised $30,826. The unique bicycle was designed by three engineering students in Chile who had all been victims of cycle thieves.
The Yerka has a split down tube that extends up to 8in out, and the seat tube then slides through the two extensions to secure the bicycle to lamp post or railings. It’s an ingeniously simple design and looks to be very easy to use. We can’t imagine how stiff the bicycle might be during normal riding conditions with a down tube that has been cut in half.
“The main goal of this project was to produce the most secure bicycle system ever created without affecting the integrity of the frame itself,” says the company. “We realised that performance and comfort can be achieved together which is why the beauty of Yerka’s design is in its simplicity. By thinking out of the box we came up with a concept that merges everything into one sleek design.”
There are additional security features such as anti-theft wheel nuts. The frame is made from high tensile steel with 45mm deep section aluminium rims and 28mm Kenda tyres and weighs a claimed 11.4kg (25.13lb) for a size large.
A Yerka bike will cost $399, or the frameset on its own will be $199. You can support the company with just $5 funding, or $39 and you get a t-shirt. They’re looking at a July/August production and hope to ship the first bikes in October.
Check it out at www.indiegogo.com/projects/yerka-the-unstealable-bike
4 thoughts on “Yerka “unstealable” bike seeks funding on Indiegogo”
Ok, someone’s got to ask. It
Ok, someone’s got to ask. It is “unstealable” because one wheel is purple and the other cyan and no-one in their right mind would be seen dead on it?
Small correction from the
Small correction from the claims in the video: If the locking mechanism is broken it renders the *frame* unusable, not the whole bike as claimed. All of the other components can still be sold on.
That said, the concept is OK in my view. You would certainly never forget your lock. I do wonder, however, what the tubes that form the locking parts are made of and how easy they would be to cut through. I cut down an aluminium seatpost last night with a very blunt hacksaw and it was hardly a challenging task.
This is good. Obviously it’s
This is good. Obviously it’s not unstealable, but it’s going to deter thieves if they have to break the thing they’re trying to take and therefore can’t sell it on. Wheels and saddle look like they could get lifted still.
Or just get a cheap fixed and
Or just get a cheap fixed and a decent D lock. Its not that tricky