You live in a vast country where crumbling Soviet infrastructure alternates with gaudy skyscrapers of the new rich. Then chances are you’ll get Mad Max-esque inspiration for a brutalsky e-bike that can handle the pockmarked Russian countryside roads.
That is the story of the creator of the all-road tricycle, Aleksej Rejndzjer. Originating from Saint Petersburg, also the birthplace of Vladimir Vladimirovich, that other world-famous, or is it gradually infamous, Russian. And remarkable, his creations certainly are. For example, his tricycle.
The tricycle, devised by Rejndzjer, has two front wheels and a rear wheel driven by an electric motor. An unusual design, but very effective on mud roads, such as are common in the Russian countryside. The two front wheels keep the vehicle stable, while the rear wheel overcomes bump after bump with tremendous force.
The floating suspension of the front wheels dampens the shocks of the road. This allows you to reach higher speeds than is possible with a standard two-wheeled vehicle.
In short: you really want this steel steed when you are on the road with your cargo to a neighboring village and the local driver has pushed back the budget for the road. Which sometimes happens.
What you see here was a fairly successful experiment. The engine temperature was maintained during the ride. In subsequent editions, Rejndzjer plans a larger and, above all, wider rear wheel and mudguards around the wheels, so that he does not have to clean them every time. So it’s no wonder that this experiment generated a lot of oh’s and aah’s in the hacker world.
Brutalsky e-bike
Do you still have some euros to break? Then you can order a real custom electric bike for a relatively low price from the brothers Aleksej and Andrej, in his shop. Electro Customs† In Russki, so take a quick course on Duolingo or use Google Translate. For a mere two thousand to six thousand euros you are the proud owner of a mega-brutalsky electric tearing iron with a maximum speed of 50 km per hour or higher and a huge battery, which even Igor Kalashnikov would tell you to. And unfortunately the bikes are only delivered in Russia, so it’s handy if you pick up your jewel personally in Saint Petersburg.
Would you rather shop a little easier? Then buy a decent Swiss Stromer. Or a cube. A little less brutalsky, which is a pity, but German solidity from a Bavarian bicycle fanatic. And you know for sure that you get a first-class mountain bike for competitive prices, which also remains under control in the middle of a spectacular jump. Because otherwise it is real do svidanya in the intensive care unit.
†