Make any bicycle an electric bike in 60 seconds simply by replacing the front wheel with ‘GeoOrbital,’ a gadget made by a team of engineers from SpaceX and Ford. Available in two sizes to fit 95% of all adult sized bicycles, the GeoOrbital is the simplest electric conversion kit yet, letting you keep that comfy bike you love while adding speed and power for faster commuting. Just snap off the front wheel of any bike, install the electric wheel in its place and you’re good to go.

Creator Michael Burtov says he got the idea while watching the science fiction film Tron. The glowing rims of the motorcycles in that movie are empty inside, representing what Burtov saw as a whole lot of wasted space. What could be put there instead? As it turns out, his answer is a futuristic spin on the orbital wheel, with an aerospace-grade aluminum unibody, a brushless DC motor, a Li-ion battery and a flat-proof tire.

No tools are needed to install it, and everything you need to power your bike is included in the wheel. That means when you go to lock up your bike, you can take the GeoOrbital with you for security and peace of mind. It’s been tested on hundreds of bikes in all different styles, even vintage models from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and is available in 26-inch or 700C (28 and 29-inch) sizes. It takes 3-4 hours to recharge, features built-in regenerative braking and reaches up to 20 miles per hour without pedaling. When pedaling, you can hit 30mph on the 26-inch and an incredible 50mph on the 700C.

The only part of the GeoOrbital that isn’t built into the wheel is the thumb-activated throttle, which you clip onto your handlebar. Boost yourself up hills or accelerate past clogged traffic when you want the power, or turn it off and pedal when you don’t. The wheel charges via USB, and when you’re riding, you can use the outlet to charge a phone or power a speaker.

After a wildly successful Kickstarter, the GeoOrbital is now available for pre-order to the public for $799.99, $150 off the retail price, with expected delivery in February 2017.

Minimalist frames, technology-equipped accessories, 3D printing and lots of multi-functionality make bikes more convenient, safe, fun and beautiful, as proven by these 14 cycling concepts and innovations. With modular parts, commuter-friendly features and designs that make racing more fun for casual cyclists, bikes get a functional makeover for the modern age.

Archont Electro E-Bike

Isn’t this bike a beauty? The Archont by Ono features the profile of a vintage motorcycle, but it’s an electric bicycle with a handcrafted stainless steel frame and 29-inch front wheel. The curvaceous cruiser has a 72-volt battery with a range of 99 kilometers and can go up to 80 km/h.

fUCI Bike: Fast Road Bike for Non-Racers

Most racing bikes are designed to the standards of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationle), the governing body of every major bike tour in the world, to keep the races fair. But not everyone who wants a fast bike wants to compete in official races, and there are lots of fun features their bikes could have without these regulations. Designer Robert Egger presents fUCI (eff UCI), which has a larger back wheel, electric motor in the hub, a storage space in the wheel and a smartphone mount.

Recoiling Plume Mudguard

This mudguard has literally got your back when it starts raining, keeping you from getting splattered. With a rubber mount stretching to fit any standard seat post size, the simple add-on absorbs shock so it won’t automatically fold up when you hit a bump. Resistant to rust and corrosion, it suspends over the real wheel or retracts within seconds.

Sno-Bike

Combining two entirely separate sports, the Sno Bike concept by Venn Industrial Design Consultancy features a Z-shaped tensile frame linking a rear wheel to a single ski controlled by the handlebars. How would it actually handle in real-life conditions? It’s impossible to say, since it’s just a concept, but it looks like fun.

Shibusa Bicycle with Swappable Electric-Assisted Parts

This sleek black modular bike can be boosted with electric components or made back into a regular bicycle just by swapping a few parts. The award-winning Shibusa design eliminates the bulkiness associated with many electric bikes for a “hassle-free commuter” offering plenty of flexibility. Modular components include a stand-alone bike light, battery pack, storage rack and charge monitor.

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The Modern Cyclist 14 Bold Bike Ideas Innovations

Pull up on the center of this electric bicycle’s frame and the whole thing instantly folds in half, making it easy to tote the smart-phone-connected bike virtually anywhere in the city. The Gi ‘FlyBike’ aims to revolutionize urban commuting with ultimate portability, zero maintenance requirements and an electric system that helps riders ascend tough hills. It’s crafted from ultra-lightweight aircraft grade aluminum, weighing in at just 37 pounds.

The three speed assistance propelling motor gets 64 kilometers (39.7 miles) per charge and can sync with both Androids and iPhones, offering up a GPS tracking system, hands-free navigation system and smart-lock anti-theft system. It’s got full-size 26” wheels, anti-puncture tires that still provide a comfortable ride, and a “trousers-friendly” non-grease belt drive.

You can charge your phone while you’re riding, and smart lights come on automatically after dark when the bike is in use. The FlyBike achieves a top speed of 15mph on the highest level of electric assistance, but you can go faster by pedaling if you’re not in a heavily-trafficked urban area. It takes about four hours to fully charge the battery using an ordinary power outlet.

A mobile app lets you control the lights, lock the bike automatically, loan it to a friend and keep tabs on its location. You can program it to lock automatically when it detects that your phone is 10 feet away from the folded bike.The Gi FlyBike is currently raising funds for production on Kickstarter, and the rewards that’ll get you one of your own start at $1,990.

All you need is an alien in a basket to make your biking experience just like a Spielberg film with this crazy flying bike and 13 other highly unusual, sometimes impractical bicycle designs. While some are just wild concepts, others represent truly innovative ideas for the future of cycling, from bending frames that function as built-in locks to extremely aerodynamic shapes and chainless drives.

XPloreAir Flying Bike

In a surreal scene straight out of ET, this bike can actually be flown right off the ground to an altitude of up to 4,000 feet. The XploreAir X1 Paravelo flying bicycle is a compact commuting bicycle that can be used like any other bike, or attached to a trailer equipped with a biofuel-powered fan. Get it going and the bike will lift into the air with the help of an attached fabric wing, traveling at up to 25 MPH for about three hours until the battery runs out.

Joules the Bicycle-Pedaling Robot

If you want to bike around without actually doing any work, and look as conspicuous as possible in the process, here’s an idea that’s right up your alley: Joules, the bike-pedaling robot. Perched on the back of a tandem bike, Joules essentially performs the same function that an electric motor would. Says the creator, “Joules came from a challenge to build an electric tandem bicycle powered by actually pushing the pedals like a person. Fun kinetic design was part of the intent, practicality was not.”

Bending Bicycle Frame is Its Own Lock

Is this the ultimate theft-proof bicycle? Thanks to an innovative ratchet system, the frame of this bicycle can actually be bent to wrap around a lamp post so it can be secured without the need for a lock or a chain. Ratchet the frame tight again to make the bike rideable in an instant. The bending capability also makes it easy to store.

Air-Filtering Bicycle

In cities like Beijing, riding a bicycle is a popular and practical alternative to fighting monstrous traffic every day, but then you’re breathing in all of the exhaust from those millions of vehicles. Artist Matt Hope found an interesting if not very attractive solution: a 5,000v air filtration system with a filter that’s powered by your pedaling. The clean air that passes through the filter is then sent through a hose to a fighter pilot mask on the rider’s face.

StreetFlyer Harness Bicycle

Pretty much the opposite of ultra-compact urban bicycles, the StreetFlyer is a massive three-wheeled contraption that gives you the feeling of flying by suspending you from a lightweight frame using a harness. You strap yourself in, get a running start and then use swimming-like movements to pilot the thing.

The Contortionist Folding Bike

The Contortionist Bike folds from full-size to the size of a single wheel in just twenty seconds. Once it’s folded, you can simply pull it behind you with the handlebars, freeing up your other hand.

Lunarctic Chainless Bicycle

The larger rear wheel and smaller front wheel of the unusual Lunarctic bicycle isn’t purely to give the bike an eye-catching look; it’s functional, too. The larger wheel provides stability, while the smaller one offers enhanced maneuverability. But the truly notable feature of this bike is the lack of a chain, making use of a belt drive instead.

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Flying Bikes Pedaling Robots 14 Futuristic Bicycles

Dubbed ‘Impossible’ for its ability to pull off the seemingly unreachable goal of folding down so tiny it can fit inside a backpack, this electric bicycle can be carried virtually anywhere. The design is based around circles instead of a single horizontal girder to spread weight equally across the frame. While there are plenty of folding bike designs, few of them are quite as small and lightweight as the Impossible, which weighs in at less than 11 pounds.

The seat and handlebars are set at similar heights so the front and rear wheels do equal work to bear the weight of the rider. Nearly the entire bike is made of carbon fiber to keep the weight as low as it can be, with a steel connecting box in the center of the frame ensuring that it’s strong enough to withstand everyday use and carry a rider weighing up to 180 pounds.

The riding saddle doubles as the carrying case, keeping the electric charger clean, dry and ready for use. The bike will ultimately be up to 60% customizable with options like colored removable covers. Folding and unfolding the Impossible is achieved in four simple steps. The bike features ten 3.6V batteries and a DC motor enabling it to travel up to 12.4 mph for 45 minutes, or at normal speed for up to 15.6 miles per charge. No pedaling necessary – the bike does all the work.

Beijing-based Impossible Technology is currently raising funds for the project on Kickstarter, with backers pledging $430 CAD or more receiving an all-white Impossible bike from the first production run. Additional designs and accessories will be available in the future.