Sinclair X-1

Milfred Cubicle · Post by **Milfred Cubicle** » 23 Nov 2011, 5:09pm

I've just stumbled across the Sinclair x-1, the spiritual successor of the (in)famous Sinclair C5. It looks brilliant. Does anyone know if it is going to go into production? Sinclair's website says available in 2011, for a r.r.p. of less than £600. Velomobile it is not, but at that price, it never will be. I still like the idea of a weather protected machine, without the pricetag of current faired recumbents. Any thoughts....anybody seen a prototype on the road...?

Alex L · Post by **Alex L** » 23 Nov 2011, 5:32pm

Heard about it a couple of weeks ago.

The machine has been dubbed the X-1, and deliveries are expected next summer, according to Sinclair's website.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/04/sinclair_x1/

cycloret · Post by **cycloret** » 23 Nov 2011, 5:38pm

It doesn't sound promising from the review I've just read, it's rather heavy and underpowered. With only two wheels, when coming to a stop I'd be concerned that I wouldn't get my foot to the ground fast enough before it toppled over.

Nettled Shin · Post by **Nettled Shin** » 23 Nov 2011, 5:46pm

I was quite excited when I saw it... a faired recumbent with battery assist for £595?

The Register review points out that it would be very difficult to lock it to anything, and that it needs windscreen wipers.

Why does some of the blurb state "it can be driven in UK by anyone over age of 14"? Are kids not allowed to use electric bicycles?

gentlegreen · Post by **gentlegreen** » 23 Nov 2011, 7:42pm

Whenever he brings out one of these things, they should gaffer tape him to it and make him ride it on real roads during the rush hour for a week.

531colin · Post by **531colin** » 23 Nov 2011, 8:17pm

gentlegreen wrote:Whenever he brings out one of these things, they should gaffer tape him to it and make him ride it on real roads during the rush hour for a week.

He should be made to ride that thing over Blubberhouses Moor when its sleeting horizontally up there.

vjosullivan · Post by **vjosullivan** » 23 Nov 2011, 10:36pm

Actually, I'm very impressed. They are not many people who could come up with a design that combines the power of a bicycle with the exposure of a motorcycle and the manoeuvrability of a car.

Interesting combination of enclosed bucket seat and (no) rear mirrors.

(The report describes it as a "battery assisted bubble chopper", so I fully expect to see one doing lejog this summer. A double lejog/jogle in 10 days in one of these? Now that would be impressive!))

PW · Post by PW » 23 Nov 2011, 11:21pm

Send for Mick! :lol:

snibgo · Post by **snibgo** » 24 Nov 2011, 12:43am

Nettled Shin wrote:Why does some of the blurb state "it can be driven in UK by anyone over age of 14"? Are kids not allowed to use electric bicycles?

Correct. (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/32)

Note that the "next summer" referred to is the one just gone. Sinclair Research say "delivery estimated July 2011". (http://www.sinclairzx.com/spec-x-1.html)

I have glimpsed one, in Cambridge, ages ago. (One year ago? Two years? I forget.)

Nettled Shin · Post by **Nettled Shin** » 24 Nov 2011, 8:52am

snibgo wrote:
Nettled Shin wrote:Why does some of the blurb state "it can be driven in UK by anyone over age of 14"? Are kids not allowed to use electric bicycles?

Correct. (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/32)

Seems a bizarre bit of legislation. Young people, who aren't allowed cars, would seem a group who could most benefit from electric bikes. And after all, they can't go over 15mph, so where is the increased danger?

Post by Si » 24 Nov 2011, 9:12am

I think that when it comes to transport Sinclair is a very good ideas man, just not so good at implementation. The C5, for instance, would have been great if it had been designed/built properly....a bit ahead of its time perhaps but it should have had major benefits: cheap to buy and cheap to run compared to a car, doesn't require balance like a bike, gives the rider a healthy workout if desired unlike a car, produces much less pollution than a car, takes a lot less parking space than a car, more protection from the weather than a bike, etc etc. If it had worked properly and been introduced at the right time it could have been a good answer for urban travel for those still not willing or unable to use a bike.

Post by **Mick F** » 24 Nov 2011, 9:34am

PW wrote:Send for Mick!

I wonder if Sir Clive would lend me one.
A bit of publicity for him, and another "first" for me.

I reckon it's a brave step again. The C5 wasn't a great success at the time, but it is a design icon and much sought-after nowadays.

snibgo · Post by **snibgo** » 24 Nov 2011, 9:41am

I dunno why under-14s aren't allowed to ride electric bikes.

Small, light, slowish electric vehicles should have a great future, especially for urban transport. Far more energy-efficient than lugging around a tonne of metal.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, I saw someone yesterday hoovering leaves from his grass with a petrol-driven monstrosity. Sigh.

Post by Si » 24 Nov 2011, 9:57am

snibgo wrote:
Meanwhile, back in the real world, I saw someone yesterday hoovering leaves from his grass with a petrol-driven monstrosity. Sigh.

Yes, some people say that it is the "May contain nuts" warning on a packet of peanuts that signifies the beginning of the end of civilisation as we know it, but I say it is the invention and use of the leaf blower/sucker.

zoxed · Post by **zoxed** » 24 Nov 2011, 12:17pm

Si wrote:Yes, some people say that it is the "May contain nuts" warning on a packet of peanuts that signifies the beginning of the end of civilisation as we know it

They are probably the same people who do not know that a peanut is not actually a nut, thus the warning does make sense !!

Cycling UK Forum

Sinclair X-1

Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1

Re: Sinclair X-1