A shot of the XTurismo Overbike. Photo: Handout
Source:
https://scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3165815/back-future-heres-4-hoverbikes-you-can-actually-fly-2022 Luxury
Back to the Future? Here are 4 hoverbikes you can actually fly in 2022: channel No Time to Die with the Triumph Tiger Bond Edition or splurge US$777,000 on the new XTurismo Limited Edition
- NFTs, e-learning, mRNA vaccines … 2021 popularised plenty of technologies that sound like they’re straight out of a sci-fi film, but nothing says ‘the future’ like hoverbikes
- The DAB Motors Concept-E RS Burberry Edition is high fashion and limited to just 20 units, while the XTurismo Limited Edition is 75kg lighter than the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special
The XTurismo Overbike. Photo: Handout
NFTs, e-learning, mRNA vaccines … 2021 popularised a bunch of innovations that sound like something straight out of a sci-fi film. But nothing says “we’re living in the future” like some form of flying personal transport – in this case a hoverbike.
Hovering cars, bikes and boards are not new. Many minds were blown when Marty McFly commandeered a hoverboard in the film Back to the Future II – released in 1989. In the real world, the Dubai Police announced in 2017 they were going to adopt hoverbikes to help them “protect and serve”, alongside the Lamborghini Aventador, Bugatti Veyron and other supercars and superbikes in its extremely well-kitted-out garage.
Here are some of the coolest hoverbikes we’ve selected for you.
1. XTurismo Limited Edition by A.L.I. Technologies
If you’re in the market for a hoverbike that can be bought commercially and is available to order today, then there’s this: the XTurismo Limited Edition by Tokyo drone start-up A.L.I. Technologies that costs US$777,000.
The hoverbike debuted at the Fuji Speedway racetrack in Shizuoka prefecture in October 2021. A month later, the company reached an agreement with Yamanashi prefecture, a mountainous, sparsely populated region, for testing of its “social implementation”.
Weighing 300kg, the XTurismo Limited Edition uses carbon fibre-reinforced plastics for its airframe components to reduce weight. By comparison, one of the most popular Harley-Davidson models – the very much terrestrial Street Glide Special – weighs about 375kg.
As for performance, the XTurismo uses four battery-powered motors and an internal combustion engine supplied by Kawasaki Motors, to propel a rider for up to 40 minutes, at a maximum speed of around 100km/h on a single charge. The flight experience is supported by Nvidia’s Jetson AGX Xavier, an AI computer for autonomous machines. The Nvidia Jetson platform has been used for drones and other UAVs because of its low-power and high-performance GPU.
The XTurismo Limited Edition will be available to customers by mid-2022 – although A. L. I Technologies is only making 200 of them, so you’ll need to get in quickly to claim one for yourself.
2. DAB Motors Concept-E RS Burberry Edition
DAB Motors Concept-E RS Burberry edition. Photo: Handout
Hoverbikes may be cool, but the Concept-E RS Burberry Edition, designed with the luxury brand and limited to just 20 units, is high fashion. Besides the Burberry Emerson TB logo on the side panels, there are monogrammed handlebar grips and customised rims. The brand’s environmental commitments mean the Concept-E RS uses a 10kW electric motor – equivalent to a 125cc engine. Wannabe riders can stop by any of Burberry’s flagship stores to see the bike IRL, and can buy through Burberry or DAB Motors’ websites.
3. Triumph Tiger Bond Edition
Triumph Tiger 900 Bond Edition. Photo: Handout
Want to feel like you’re living in your own action film? Then the new Tiger 900 Bond Edition by Triumph might be more your speed. They partnered with the James Bond franchise to produce a model inspired by the Tiger 900 Rally Pro, featured in stunts in the latest film, No Time to Die. Limited to just 250 bikes, the Tiger 900 Bond Edition features a matt sapphire black paint scheme and 007 graphics, including a start-up screen with an 007 animation. The exclusive, elusive feel is finished off with blacked out detailing throughout.
4. Ducati DesertX
Ducati DesertX. Photo: Handout
Prefer Dune to Bond? No problem, we’ve got you. The new DesertX is made for your wildest off-road dreams, powered by a 937cc liquid-cooled Testastretta 11-degree desmodromic valvetrain engine, delivering 110 horsepower at 9,250rpm, with a maximum torque of 92Nm at 6,500rpm. This is the first modern Ducati with a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear, which also inspired the bike’s capsule collection, 21/18. Bringing style to go with the substance, the collection includes a suit, jacket and helmet, all in the bike’s colours.