It’s not the first time when we have the very interesting Lit C-1 self-balancing motorcycle prototype on autoevolution, but our hopes for being able to reports on the shipping date this year are now broken. Even though Lit Motors had announced that the prototyping work would be ready by the end of the year, it looks like this is not going to happen.
While all eyes were on the EICMA 2014 show in Milan (follow the link to access our EICMA coverage), Lit Motors have sent out a message though their mailing list saying that the final product will be delayed. Also footage of the new generation of the C-1 prototype was included.
According to Facebook reactions, it looks like this delay caused some supporters to ask for a refund of their deposit, but we are told that these cases are only a handful. Even more, it’s nice to see that many others stated they are still supporting the development of the C-1 and are willing to wait some more for their self-balancing motorcycle.
The new prototype is light years ahead of the previous one
On their Facebook page, Lit Motors say that rider safety is paramount in the development process. The manufacturer also added that even though communication was not exactly top-notch and things may seem stagnant to some, the new prototype is a much more advanced machine than all its other siblings. “The EP4 (the new prototype) is light years ahead of our last prototype, EP3. Very big steps have been made with our engineering team. Last year’s work has created a great foundation for production development,” the official Lit Motors page reads.
People who want to reserve their Lit C-1 are of course, welcome to do so. Those with a $1,000 (€730) deposit will receive the C-1 numbered 1,000 to 10,000. If you want your machine sooner, you’ll have to make a $2,500 (€2,000) deposit which will guarantee you are customer #501 through #1,000. Apparently the first 500 Lit C-1 are already secured.
A motorcycle that doesn’t flip
The Lit C-1 is a self-balancing electric motorcycle which is kept upright by gyroscopes. The EP4 prototype uses new, more powerful 6,000 lb-ft (8,140 Nm) gyros and is equipped with a steer-by-wire system. These gyroscopes are connected to a computer and an array of sensors which detect the leaning angle. The computer makes the necessary revisions in the gyros’ movement to keep the bike upright, and Lit Motors says that the C-1 is virtually impossible to flip.
Reportedly, the girl operating the C-1 in the video below has no motorcycle training, and this should render her unable to keep the machine balanced. However, it looks like the ride is smooth and safe, with the training wheels being there “just in case”. The balancing forces are also calculated by analyzing the steering wheel position, as the C-1 is said to replicate the exact feeling of riding a motorcycle around a bend.
Lit has also included a test to show how the “anti-flip” function works. They tied a traditional motorcycle to a van and pulled from aside. The bike was obviously thrown to the ground, while a similar experiment left the C-1 upright, even though some argued that the tie point was much lower on the gyro-stabilized machine.
If you feel like a self-balancing electric bike is your thing and are ready to wait until 2015, find a way to source $24,000 for the final purchase, as we believe that finding $1,000 for the deposit will not be a problem. We’ll keep you posted with the evolution of the Lit C-1 as more news surfaces.
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