Skyrider X1 Shows The Flying Motorcycle Dream Isn’t Dead Yet

Remember the old Friday Fudge columns we used to run on… well, Fridays? Every few months, we’d have another tale of a Gyro Gearloose type who was trying to sell a new motorcycle-aircraft hybrid. It turns out that dream is still alive, with the Skyrider X1 debuting at CES in Las Vegas this month.

The Skyrider X1 is actually a projected developed by Chinese EV manufacturer Kuickwheel, which means that yes, this is also an EV—a motorcycle that can turn into a helicopter. It’s an enclosed two-wheeler that looks a lot like Toyota’s old three-wheeler i-ROAD concept. There are two wheels on the Skyrider X1, unlike the i-ROAD’s three wheels, but the Skyrider X1 also has two outrigger wheels for stability. In other words, don’t expect to be lanesplitting, but no worries! You can take to the skies instead.

The Skyrider X1 basically converts from a motorcycle into a drone, with four arms that unfold out from the roof, each bearing two rotors. Up, up and away, like Superman—thanks to a 10.5 kWh battery, you’ve got 25 minutes of flying time. Or, if you’ve opted for the 21 kWh battery, you have 40 minutes of flying time.

Or so the PR says, anyway.

RICTOR Flying Motorcycle: Skyrider X1

If you don’t have your pilot’s licence, take note that the Skyrider X1 has automated take-off and landing routines built-in, and it sounds as if the machine can also chart and follow an automated flight path through the air as well—although there’s an option to manually fly the cycle/aircraft as well.

Asking price? We’re unsure. Release date? We’re unsure. Realistic chance of this ever coming to Canada? Probably nil. And that might be a good thing.

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