MotoCzysz E1pc electric superbike packs iPhone in the dash

We've certainly seen Apple's iPhone act as an integral part of a vehicle before, but we've yet to see one front and center on a motorbike. Hailed as the planet's first "digital superbike," the MotoCzysz E1pc packs some pretty sick technology from end-to-end. Aside from being a zero-emissions, all-electric motorcycle, it reportedly relies on Apple's darling for its instrumentation. Sadly, details about what exactly the iPhone handles are few and far between, but hopefully we'll hear more after its upcoming run in the TTXGP on June 12th. Two more looks after the break.

[Via Hell For Leather]

[Aaron @ Jun 8th 2009 5:22AM]

Okay, that's pretty cool. Too bad the rest of the bike looks like it's made of cheap plastic. Maybe it's just the color scheme that's tricking my eyes...

[Sadomi @ Jun 8th 2009 5:30AM]

so you have to take off the gloves while driving to use the iPhone?

[Aaron @ Jun 8th 2009 5:33AM]

Haha, good point.

Though I'm sure they will have a way to get around that... like conductive tips on the fingers. Who knows, though. We don't actually see any details on this yet.

[patriotsn1 @ Jun 8th 2009 5:30AM]

They better hope 3.0 can handle multitasking... An incoming call might kill you.

[Pogoh @ Jun 8th 2009 5:36AM]

What if it rains (at 80mph or whatever)?

[Carl @ Jun 8th 2009 8:05AM]

yea my thoughts exactly.

neat idea though, just not practical

[The Walrus @ Jun 8th 2009 5:41AM]

Why would you want this? I would much rather have devoted instrumentation than some gimmicky bullshit


Also, zero emissions? So the plant that produces the electricity to charge the bike produces no gases or compounds that are believed to be harmful to the environment? Think not

[Emmanuel @ Jun 8th 2009 9:09AM]

In almost all vehicle specifications, "zero-emissions" applies directly to the vehicle and is independent of any external energy source that may not meet this standard. This case is most certainly valid here, where the bike is fully electric and, as with any fully electric device, emissions free.

[Bob @ Jun 8th 2009 10:44AM]

Do you think that coal is the only source of electricity? What if your city gets power from a nuclear plant, wind, hydro or solar?

[TRS @ Jun 8th 2009 10:47AM]

and any car or motorcycle powered exclusively by even an all coal power plant still will overall cut back on greenhouse gas emissions when compared to standard ICE vehicles using gasoline

[mocax @ Jun 8th 2009 5:43AM]

for a moment, i thought motorola made this....

[blurry @ Jun 8th 2009 5:58AM]

Cool, glad it ain´t the Pre.....that would just overhead the entire bike and course a blackout.

[PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Jun 8th 2009 9:00AM]

too much fail in this post.

[Cliff @ Jun 8th 2009 6:11AM]

Hang on, there's something obscuring the iPhone. Is that ... a cupholder?

[ToasT @ Jun 8th 2009 6:30AM]

Cup Holder??? You mean a brake fluid reservoir.

[Good_Bytes @ Jun 8th 2009 6:14AM]

So if Apple makes a slimmer iPhone or moves the plug and your phone breaks... you need a bike?
Hopefully the shell which hols the device can be changed.

[versa5glen @ Jun 8th 2009 6:20AM]

iphone is made by moto!

[superhobo @ Jun 8th 2009 6:43AM]

Nice, might reduce the itard population.

[smartphonezen @ Jun 8th 2009 6:55AM]

And when you're doing 80mph and Apple decides to remotely disable your instrumentation app...
Or hell, even if it reboots for any reason?

[tikiwk @ Jun 8th 2009 8:05AM]

A stupid idea from a motorcyclists perspective unless it's weatherproof, it's just a gimmick to appeal to the popular culture meme brain washing machine apple pie.

OK, seriously, It appears to be a devoted console, and not a removable instrument panel which transformers into a phone. I wonder if the phone Offers enough advantage in terms of engineered programmability to make it worth the cost. Sounds like they felt so. Maybe it's not a complete waste.

[Mark @ Jun 8th 2009 8:48AM]

I can't think of a better time to catch up on episodes of LOST than when out on a nice relaxing bike ride....

[diablo000 @ Jun 8th 2009 10:37AM]

Kinda cool I guess, but whatever happened to the C1? I've seen the documentary on Czysz and the development of the bike; I wanna know if he ever got it into production and out on the racetrack.

[tikiwk @ Jun 8th 2009 2:24PM]

Mee too. What happened?

[Pogoh @ Jun 8th 2009 10:47AM]

If the iphone was made another company, not apple, would people still hate it?

[TRS @ Jun 8th 2009 10:53AM]

philosoraptor?? :O

[dan abarca @ Jun 8th 2009 11:52AM]

Hey Guys I think we are all getting off subject. How about more important questions like PRICING?? Isn't that the most important? What good is it that the bike performs well, and that the darn equipment operates correctly at 80mph? Haven't either on of you ridden a bike??? Who the hell rides at 80 mph???? You need a prius for that! I sure as hell hope that 80 mph is not its top speed otherwise I'd just go get an electric scooter for 2,000 dollars and DUCK TAPE A FREAKING iPhone to its dashboard with some application some dude with nothing else to do cooks up on his macbook somewhere. So All I'm saying is let us try to stay on the subject and ask the more relevant questions, such as PRICE, RANGE, RELEASE DATE. Wouldn't you all agree?

Thank you.

[JamboGT @ Jun 8th 2009 1:02PM]

For more information about this bikes Friday debut, as well as the first zero emissions bike race see here:

http://www.iomtt.com/

Enjoy, todays race was won by John McGuinness with a new lap record at an average of 130.4mph

Or watch a full lap courtesy of the late David Jefferies.

http://www.livevideo.com/video/OJay/5CD85B485EE44EB5ACDC1A8CD750F160/isle-of-man-tt-full-lap.aspx

[fatbeeetch @ Jun 8th 2009 1:30PM]

what's the point of it?

[RoboDan @ Jun 8th 2009 2:15PM]

It's ABS plastic (doesn't shatter and is lighter) which is, unfortunately, pretty expensive. I almost wish it was made of cheap plastic.

The bike doesn't have a clutch - probably because it's an electric CVT engine. Nonetheless, this gives the bike (and the biker) much less control. In a race this would certainly be a huge disadvantage. FAIL POINT 1

The instruments depend on a phone. One without a user-replaceable battery. One which can have Apps on it that screw up the phone. This doesn't even seem street legal (not insurable). Have fun driving this in your driveway. FAIL POINT 2

As others have mentioned, it is not waterproof, vibration-proof (especially important on a bike), and is prone to error. FAIL POINT 3

If you look at the pictures you can clearly see some exposed power connectors on the side of the bike. If these snag on anything or water seeps in (say from a light rain) this can become a MAJOR and LIFE THREATENING problem. FAIL POINT 4

I really hope that this stupid iPhone doesn't control the bike in any way (although it does control the lights).

Looks like more Crapple stuff.

[Jake @ Jun 8th 2009 2:55PM]

oh, you want to stop? buy this stop app.

[TRAVIS @ Jun 8th 2009 7:52PM]

The dash and fairings are Fiberglass and carbon fiber.

The 3 motors don't need a transmission, their power band is much wider than an ICE. Each motor can go 6krpm, but they've got all their torque at 0rpm.

This is a race bike for the TTXGP, so yeah, not street legal anyways.

[Rogue_Genius @ Jun 8th 2009 3:15PM]

Wow, the name of his company is so...wannabe l33t that turns me off t the idea of buying it. I have a hard time taking them seriously, even if the tech _migh be_ awesome.
And iPhone built in? ::feigns interes:: woooow.. -_-

[keithwwalker @ Jun 8th 2009 4:43PM]

Just like the last 'production' bike this also looks like vaporware. Apparently a prerequisite for gaining a blog entry on engadget....