All-electric KillaCycle tries to kill its maker

You may have heard about the all-electric "KillaCycle" -- a 158MPH drag racing bike powered by a bank of 990 lithium-ion batteries that does 0-60 in .97 seconds. Well, the bike isn't shy about living up to its name -- in a demo for reporters at Wired's NextFest, creator Bill Dube was doing some innocent burnouts when the rear tire hooked and fired him off like a shot...into a parked minivan. Dube appears to be okay -- he was conscious and had feeling in all his fingers and toes -- but paramedics took him in for X-rays just to be sure. Here's hoping he recovers quickly -- and lets us take that thing for a spin. Hit the read link to see it all go down on video.

[Javi0084 @ Sep 13th 2007 7:11PM]

I want everything in that picture.



Oh and I hope the guy recovers OK, too.

[sin4me @ Sep 13th 2007 7:15PM]

greatness

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 13th 2007 7:40PM]

Notice in the background of picture #8, the advertisement says "Accidentes". Ironic.


http://www.tgdaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=18&Itemid=41&slideshow=20070913¤tPic=8

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 13th 2007 9:15PM]

The picture just changed. Less than 1 minute ago.

[Javi0084 @ Sep 13th 2007 10:15PM]

Well thats just great Nilay, now I look like a moron.

[nizzy1115 @ Sep 13th 2007 7:15PM]

ba hahahaha

[beyond vision @ Sep 13th 2007 7:16PM]

who's this girl in the pic?

[3rdsun @ Sep 13th 2007 7:54PM]

She is my girlfriend now bug off

[Owen V @ Sep 13th 2007 8:09PM]

killacycle.com/photos

[jimmyfinch @ Sep 13th 2007 9:36PM]

Rebecca Bowering

http://www.electrifyingtimes.com/KillaCycle/rebecca_bowering_killacycle_pit.html

[MeNotYou @ Sep 13th 2007 7:16PM]

You're doing it wrong.

[newgalactic @ Sep 13th 2007 7:20PM]

An all electric drag bike, sounds amazing and horrifying all at once. I can picture reaching a point where acceleration has to be limited because it's beyond the ability for a rider to hold on. Kinda like the YF-21 in Macross Plus.

[dj-kenpo @ Sep 13th 2007 7:50PM]

like, apparently the .97 this thing does 60 in.

[Miles Pulsford @ Sep 13th 2007 7:51PM]

well, except that there already is a limitation on acceleration, and that is grip. of course, this limitation can be surpassed by using rocket power, but thats certainly asking for trouble.

[kaztm @ Sep 13th 2007 8:25PM]

Grip will jump up if the front tire is motorized.

By the way, what do they (or Engadget) mean by "all-electric"? The steering is mechanical, front brake seems hydraulic...maybe the kick stand is electric?

If they mean "not hybrid", shouldn't "electric" suffice?

[Karim @ Sep 13th 2007 11:50PM]

For the older kids here, there was also that car in Speed Racer, you know, the GRX. The car was just TOO FAST for ordinary humans to drive.

Of course Speed then has to take some drugs that allow him to drive the car. (No I am not making this up.)

Hmmm. "Speed." "Drugs." Didn't catch that when I was a kid.

QUI-GON: They have pod racing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous.

ANAKIN: I'm the only human who can do it.

SHMI SKYWALKER (whispering, to Qui-Gon): I did a lot of crystal meth when I was pregnant...

JAR-JAR: Meesa pod race real good!

[Jar-Jar straddles the KillaCycle and flips the power switch]

QUI-GON: Jar-Jar, No! Get down --

[Jar-Jar whacks the throttle open, then releases the brake, launching the KillaCycle through a bakery's plate glass window and into a large pyramid stack of freshly-baked cream pies]

[scott @ Sep 13th 2007 7:23PM]

Please note:

This nearly killed it's maker for being what I'd like to call 'too f'ing powerful', not exploding, not because he was flattened on the freeway when his cells gave out, it was too powerful.

Please car-makers, an electric sedan that goes 90 miles on a charge at 80 mph for less than $20k. Think you can do that?

[matt @ Sep 13th 2007 7:35PM]

The company that makes those cells (probably the safest LiPo tech on the market, btw) that survived the crash with no issue are the ones making the batteries for the Chevy Volt... so hopefully, we'll see something close to what you're asking (though I doubt the price will be close to 20k to start) in the next 2 years or so...

That said, it takes a lot more to heft around a car than a bike, which is why it's not here - yet -

[Grant @ Sep 13th 2007 7:34PM]

seriously,
everyone needs to take a second and think what 0-60 in less than a second feels like.
Thats pretty much roller coaster launching force, and anyone who's been on one of those can tell you you wouldn't want that much G-force applied when your not sitting down and strapped into it.

bottom line, the things badass.

[Karim @ Sep 14th 2007 1:01AM]

> everyone needs to take a second and think what 0-60 in less than a second feels like.

60 MPH = 88 feet per second (after 1 second)

G = 32 feet per second (after 1 second)

So the bike is pulling about 2.75 Gs in it's first second when launched.

That's on par with a catapult launch from an aircraft carrier, I think. (~ 3 G?) Likewise Space Shuttle launch?

JESTER: That was some of the best flying I've seen to date - right up to the part where you got killed.

[ilh @ Sep 14th 2007 4:46AM]

Rita Queen of speed at Alton Towers gets to 62.1 MPH in 2.2 seconds. I've been on that ride a good number of times and that's hellafast to say the least. You're strapped in with a backrest so you're not going to fly off the back, and on a controlled course without having to worry about dips in the road or anything like that. I couldn't imagine being on rita if it did that in less that half the time, let alone on a bike relying on my hands for grip.

[CapWKidd @ Sep 13th 2007 7:30PM]

Good thing those wheren't Sony batteries!

No video in the link... where is the video?

[Mike @ Sep 13th 2007 7:51PM]

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33853/113/

[Phreak511 @ Sep 13th 2007 7:46PM]

ATGATT - All The Gear, All The Time

#1 rule in motorcycle safety - never, ever get on a bike without your gear and helmet. I've read a police report of a guy taking a spill on a bike in a parking lot traveling 15 mph and spilling his brains all over the pavement.

[Zoso @ Sep 14th 2007 6:59AM]

Well, duh, that's a no-brainer.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 13th 2007 7:47PM]

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDHJNG2PngQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dRpAZci9m0

The (Un?) Official Killacycle Blog
http://www.killacycle.com/

[farfisa @ Sep 13th 2007 8:04PM]

Hmm, the guy's name is "Dube," and he's doing "burnouts." Now, he calls it the "killacycle," so I guess that's why he didn't bother with the helmet (seriously--how could he not wear a helmet?!!). So obviously there are jokes to be made, but I really just wanted to make a comment about the chick. Chick's hot.

[Eric @ Sep 13th 2007 8:18PM]

that thing looks like it was in a cartoon, when he took off that was like, jeez it looked fake.

[Ricardo @ Sep 13th 2007 8:27PM]

From the TG Daily article: "Luckily we were able to interview Dube before the crash."

Anyone else find this a tad insensitive?

[humphrey @ Sep 13th 2007 9:40PM]

You mean as opposed to interviewing him after the crash?

[Ricardo @ Sep 20th 2007 12:10AM]

Yes. That would be REALLY insensitive.

[Rjay @ Sep 13th 2007 8:46PM]

If you watched the video you can see the hot "assistant" wet the pavement. As soon as he starts the engine the motorcycle moves off the wet pavement onto the dry concrete and takes off. Pretty predictable.

[PoleSmoker @ Sep 14th 2007 11:06AM]

They put bleach on the asphalt to make smoke so it looks more badass.

[jbcaro @ Sep 13th 2007 8:48PM]

Welcome to the Darwin Awards.

[MasterCrackle @ Sep 13th 2007 9:07PM]

Holy crap!
I hope that guy recovers ok.

[benjamin @ Sep 13th 2007 9:40PM]

yeah I know he is hurt and I hope he recovers, but I would love to feel it, its wort the hit!

[Wolfticket @ Sep 13th 2007 9:48PM]

It's funny because he is probably going to be fine.

[Tyler @ Sep 13th 2007 10:10PM]

That video was a waste of my time. It showed very little, and I almost had to sit through a few minutes of pointless dialog to see it.

[eh @ Sep 13th 2007 10:59PM]

Im really sick of seeing this insane level irresponsibility by racers. How many accidents have to occur before cities stop allowing high powered and unstable vehicles from doing public presentations that can easily kill people (assuming they even got the cities permission)? The fact that they are doing this on a sidewalk next to busy traffic with no cones or anything is highly disturbing, hes extremely lucky he didnt kill anyone.

[Austin Baker @ Sep 13th 2007 11:28PM]

1.So yes, everybody should wear a helmet all the time yes. He wasn't planning on riding it (not even at 15mph) only doing a burnout so i can give him a little credit. It is a sad mistake to make all the same.

2. That was INSANELY fast. Yes it almost looked fake. In fact i almost wonder if this video was a publicity stunt what with the damage that the bike actually took in the picture relative to how fast he was going in the video. *note I am not actually saying it WAS fake*

[T H @ Sep 14th 2007 3:13AM]

I have to say I actually agree.. and I hate admitting it.. but his position, the lack of blood, the entire lack of damage to either the minivan or the bike (which happened to be so conveniently propped up in the wheel well) just made me think twice.. three times...

But if Dbe did indeed get hurt, I hope him a speedy and complete recovery.

[Kris Janssen @ Sep 14th 2007 4:18AM]

Sorry to be so blunt but this guy is really a dumb**s.

Driving a dragbike or burning out on any bike is an especially dangerous endeavor... If you lose control for one picosecond it´ s disaster. But still he is leasurly giving it a go in the middle of an urban area with traffic, some very hard looking concrete blocks lining the sidewalk and what not.

His ensurance will be laughing I´ m sure...

[chris @ Sep 14th 2007 6:14AM]

Great concept bike though. Now, make something that'll do 120 tops, 0-60 in a standard few seconds and have 200 miles per charge so that the normal person could commute with it and you might have a business model.

Leave the burnouts to stunters, squids and the pros.

[bcmerrell @ Sep 14th 2007 9:02AM]

I sat next to this guy on a plane last year. Nice guy. Hope he recovers quickly.

[gigo08 @ Sep 14th 2007 9:59AM]

For those having problems with the tgdaily link, here is it on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pM1j2d1RMU&NR=1

[biomi @ Sep 14th 2007 11:20AM]

He is in good condition, just a few minor injuries. He was even able to get a plug in for A123.
http://www.killacycle.com/2007/09/13/im-fine-scapes-and-cuts-bike-is-a-little-bent/#comments

[Rob @ Sep 14th 2007 12:14PM]

"So I'm normally the crew chief, and ah ah, owner, not the driver, so this is going to be a little interesting to say the least."

Yeah,.. that should have been the first red flag.

I'm just wondering how you can justify not wearing protection when you are an unexperienced rider planning on doing a burnout on a bike that does an unheard of 0-60 in .97 seconds. You have to know that if something is going to go wrong, it's going to happen quite fast.

That said,.. Totaly awesome & tremendously unfortunate

[MSpeller @ Sep 14th 2007 12:27PM]

The Origional Meat Rocket!

[r.r. @ Sep 14th 2007 2:16PM]

whoa baby! saw the video. now that's a REAL crotch rocket! dude needs to stick to being tech guy/crew chief!

[m @ Sep 14th 2007 3:19PM]

You won't believe this but...
a few years back my cousin Stacy Banks was doing a modeling job with the Killacyle when she was asked to do a test-ride as part of the photo-shoot. It nearly killed her.

The throttle stuck on a drag track and she had to bail or let the massive bike roll on top of her at the sand-pit at the end of the drag track. Leathers and a helmet saved her life as she skidded down the track doing over 100mph, grinding her wrist joint away and seriously messing up her legs. All is well now after a long recover and multiple surgeries. But that bike is definitely living up to it's name. The photo in the link above, is of course, before the bloody accident.