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Bombardier's Hot Wheel

Anonymous Chris writes "Following the release of the Segway, Bombardier (the makers of such things as Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles) announce their prototype Embrio - a motorcycle-like unicycle that uses gyroscopes to balance itself and runs off hydrogen fuel cells. It also features a landing gear that automatically retracts once you reach 12 m.p.h. The story is at Forbes. You can also get more information directly from their website."

15 of 358 comments (clear)

  1. Perfect... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is just the perfect thing for everyone who already has a motorcycle, and has been routinely frustrated with their inability to donate organs.

    1. Re:Perfect... by tinrobot · · Score: 4, Funny

      The question is, then, what extra benefits does it add over a motorcycle

      For one, your replacement tire budget is cut in half...

  2. yeah.. by temojen · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because those segways were selling like hotcakes we thought we'd get in the market too.

  3. Any bets... by FullCircle · · Score: 4, Funny

    Any bets that front wheel was added after Segways with dead batteries started dropping people on their faces?

    --
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  4. Breaking news. by illuminata · · Score: 3, Funny

    This just in, thousands of anti-abortionists are protesting outside of Bombardier headquarters, claiming that the Embrio was meant to stay in the womb.

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  5. Room for one more? by morganjharvey · · Score: 4, Funny

    From the manufacturers page:

    the EMBRIO uses a complex series of sensors and gyroscopes to balance one or more human passengers on a single wheel.

    Judging by the picture on the same page, I'm really rather curious where the "or more" would fit.

    1. Re:Room for one more? by Ancient+Devices+King · · Score: 2, Funny

      They don't want to discriminate against those with multiple personalities.

      --
      -"It seems like you're trying to exploit a security hole. Would you like help?"
    2. Re:Room for one more? by zurab · · Score: 4, Funny

      Have you been to a circus lately?

  6. Wait a minute... by temojen · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let me see... one wheel... rider above wheel... "a high-performance braking system,"

    Dental insurance?

  7. Excellent! by Shonufftheshogun · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hordes of clowns have been waiting YEARS for innovation in the unicycle industry.

  8. Re:Yikes! by basingwerk · · Score: 2, Funny

    That is why they are "aimed at the 18 to 45 age group" (from their web site). They don't expect users to survive longer than that.

    --
    I stole this .sig
  9. um by argStyopa · · Score: 2, Funny

    "a guess at what transportation in the year 2025"

    By then they'll have phased out a few things like:
    - the weather
    - sand and gravel on roads
    - need to carry anything more than a briefcase or purse?

    The future is going to be WAAY cooler than I thought....

    --
    -Styopa
  10. Re:Fun design. What's the point? by kinnell · · Score: 3, Funny
    The design is really, really cool. But other than that, I don't really see the advantage of this

    Loads of free publicity?

    --
    If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
  11. Segway parallel is interesting.... by TygerFish · · Score: 3, Funny

    In a sense, you can call the Bombardier concept vehicle the perfect followup to the segway in the sense that the Bombardier concept vehicle and the Segway are both big sellers in an alternative universe.

    In this alternative universe--where mechanical complexity is viewed as the most esthetically pleasing art form--the Segway's problems are completely negated by the fact that it is an expensive, non-functional item.

    In quantum anomaly MH-16607G, the fact that the Segway is too complex to be functional and robust enough for it to be a commercial product in our universe is one of it's greatest selling points and, in quantum anomaly MH-16607G, the Bombardier concept vehicle is a brilliant product, available today as an empty shell that opens to reveal a seven-hundred and sixty page bound volume of Rube Goldberg cartoons which give the owner some clue as to how the thing might be made to work decades ahead in the future.

    In the America of MH-16607G, the Bombardier concept vehicle outsells the segway three two one.

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  12. Re:Yikes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    car is metal around meat. motorcyle is meat around metal.