ugust 2018Paraphernautica
BY BRIAN K. LINDREST
@
THE GO-GO
GADGET BIKEWhen I was a kid my best friend Mike’s father
had a small Cessna plane that they used to
take on day trips and the occasional vacation.
Finding transportation on the ground for
two kids was always tricky, and I remember
when he bought his fi rst two motorized
scooters as a solution (or at least that is what
he told his wife). I think Mike and I put more
hours on those tiny weedwhacker engines
tearing around town than his family did on
any Cessna trip. Eventually enough noise
complaints were fi led, and when the cops
informed us the scooters were no longer
considered street legal, we were crushed. It
was back to pedaling our bikes around town.
Since those days, compact transport has
always fascinated me. I remember when I fi rst
came across Teddi Bear, a 55-foot Benford
Florida Bay Coaster. I was mesmerized by how
they fi t a Mini Cooper on the foredeck that
could be loaded and unloaded using the boat’s
crane. And that same interest has always kept
one eye on electric bikes, scooters, and other
odd stowable transport more fi t for a lazarette.
It was love at fi rst sight when I laid eyes
on Jupiter Bikes earlier this year at Barb
Goldworm’s FOCUS on Boating booth at
TrawlerFest in Stuart, Florida. All I could see
was a compact geometric conglomerate of
rubber and metal; my eyes grew wide as I
watched Barb artfully unfold this 16-inch-
by-20-inch mystery into a small rideable
machine. Unfolded, the unique frame consists
of two rings, like a giant pair of cartoon
eyeglasses, and the design defi nitely looks a
bit extraterrestrial, especially with the more
brightly colored models.
While Jupiter Bikes refer to their products
as “bikes,” they are more motorbike than
bicycle. Unlike electric bicycles, these tiny
machines are powered solely by a lithium-
ion battery built into the frame. There are no
pedals; you simply rest your feet on two studs
that protrude from the frame. The batteries
take two hours to charge, which is pretty fast
considering they are good for 10 miles, and
the bike can travel up to 15 miles per hour.
Before we go on, however, my editor-
in-chief said he won’t let this review publish
without me offering the story of my fi rst
ride. Here’s the cautionary tale: I hopped
on the bike and immediately crashed into
an A-frame barrier (thankfully it was a
lightweight one). While the Jupiter Bike
is pretty intuitive, the small frame andeven smaller wheels make balancing and
maneuvering more diffi cult than an average
bicycle. And it turns out that perfecting the art
of balancing a bike without pedaling takes a
little practice (at least it did for me).
I also didn’t appreciate how the smaller
wheels would be harder to control when
turning. I panicked, forgot which handle was
the brake, and accelerated into the barricade,
destroying my pride but luckily nothing else.
Barb was nice enough to let me try it again but
thought it best I ride in a straight line before
I experimented with turning again. (It should
be noted that aforementioned editor-in-chief,
Jonathan, did not have any of these issues
when it was his turn to ride.)
While the Jupiter Bike carries a hefty price
tag at $899, it is perfect for those looking
for a compact, truly stowable method of
transportation. A ride to the grocery store
or the local West Marine on a Jupiter would
be a breeze from any marina. The bike folds
up to fi t on just about any boat, and it is
sure to make you the talk of the town (just
make sure that is due to the bike’s distinctive
engineering and not because you’re leaving
a trail of knocked-down barricades or small
children in your wake).
http://www.jupiterbike.com — $899FREE
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