The Ultimate Green Bicycle? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/10/2012 02:13:53 PM · #1

He's ready to go into production with his recycled (pun intentional) cardboard bicycle.

Be sure to check out the video as well. Incredible!

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/10/2012 02:34:49 PM · #2

Interesting. I wonder how he stops the rim walls from ripping apart. Any normal tire would rip cardboard walls to pieces.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

08/10/2012 02:40:19 PM · #3

I'd buy one just to have it.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/10/2012 03:14:43 PM · #4

Originally posted by bhuge:

Interesting. I wonder how he stops the rim walls from ripping apart. Any normal tire would rip cardboard walls to pieces.

The entire thing is coated with a plastic of some kind.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/10/2012 03:33:18 PM · #5

Pretty cool! At $9 each, I'd splurge and buy 2.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/10/2012 03:45:45 PM · #6

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Pretty cool! At $9 each, I'd splurge and buy 2.

That's the production cost -- projected retail price is $60-90 (the latter for an optional electric motor). Still more affordable than the $2000 machines people seem to be riding around here, even if relatively disposable. Bonus feature: no need to buy a $200 lock ... :-(

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/10/2012 03:55:47 PM · #7

I admit that this thing is very cheap to make, but I'm calling BS on $9 production cost. Maybe for just the cardboard. No way you can get bearings and tires for that cost. Even the plastic coating is probably over $9.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/10/2012 04:19:21 PM · #8

Originally posted by bhuge:

There's a miscommunication here: $9.00 is for MATERIALS, according to the builder; he estimates retail price to be $60.00 to $90.00, depending on whether it has the electric motor or not.

ETA: for "materials" read "cardboard", I'm sure the coating, bearings are not part of that figure:

"Origami techniques helped Gafni make the bike capable of handling riders up to 485 pounds. The bikes take about $9 worth of cardboard to build, and Gafni hopes they hit the market in 2013 for around $60. An added benefit? They just may be too cheap to steal."

Message edited by author 2012-08-10 16:22:42.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

08/10/2012 04:25:03 PM · #9

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by bhuge:
I admit that this thing is very cheap to make, but I'm calling BS on $9 production cost. Maybe for just the cardboard. No way you can get bearings and tires for that cost. Even the plastic coating is probably over $9.

There's a miscommunication here: $9.00 is for MATERIALS, according to the builder; he estimates retail price to be $60.00 to $90.00, depending on whether it has the electric motor or not.

Didn't I say that?

FWIW, the concept is somewhat similar to an approach used by CalTech professor Victor Papanek in conjuction with UNESCO over forty years ago, when developing the body for a low-cost version of what would now be called an ATV -- they used mats of native materials plus resins to make "FiberGrass" fenders ...

Message edited by author 2012-08-10 16:25:35.

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

08/10/2012 04:27:33 PM · #10

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Didn't I say that?

Yeah, the miscommunication's in the original linked article:

While the cost to make the bicycle ranges from nine to twelve dollars, the manufacturer expects to sell the vehicle for sixty to ninety dollars

But YOU said "production cost" and that's not right either; production cost is of course way more than "cost of material;s"...

Message edited by author 2012-08-10 16:28:46.

bhuge

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/10/2012 04:39:11 PM · #11

Material cost makes more sense. Out of curiosity I looked up the material cost of steel tubing and a rough estimation of cost is less than $20 :)

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

08/10/2012 06:58:28 PM · #12

I've seen a bicycle with a bamboo frame.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/10/2012 07:18:36 PM · #13

Originally posted by Pug-H:

I've seen a bicycle with a bamboo frame.

Was that the episode where they make Gilligan move to the other side of the island?

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/10/2012 07:23:07 PM · #14

I saw the vid on this, it's awesome.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

08/10/2012 07:25:53 PM · #15

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Pug-H:
I've seen a bicycle with a bamboo frame.

Was that the episode where they make Gilligan move to the other side of the island?

No, Gilligan wasn't involved. It was on display outside a clothing store at the mall.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/10/2012 08:23:38 PM · #16

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Still more affordable than the $2000 machines people seem to be riding around here

I resemble that remark. Actually, it was only $1200 when I bought it 12 years ago. Plus a $100 leather saddle. And before anyone thinks that is ridiculously excessive, please look at the receipts for your lenses.

ambaker

Google Glass Google Glass

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/10/2012 08:28:28 PM · #17

I have to say I have never spent $1,200 on a lens.