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The “Z” Stands for Zapfina Bike’s Suspension - It’s All Just One Big Spring

Designer Jialing Hu brings us a concept that makes the whole bike a suspensions system. Based on the function of bones and muscles, she rides completely different than anything you may be used to.
Zapfina Concept Bike 6 photos
Photo: Behance / Jialing Hu
Zapfina ConceptZapfina ConceptZapfina ConceptZapfina ConceptZapfina Concept
I want you to close your eyes for a second and imagine what kind of bike Zorro would ride. You have it? Good. Oh, wait. That won’t work. This isn’t your old-school Zorro. This Zorro is more of a futuristic, “I've got a light saber instead of a sword,” kinda Zorro.

If you’re having a hard time following what it is I'm trying to explain to you, stop for a moment and have a peek in the gallery. Once you’re done trying to figure out where the front is on this bike, come back to the text and find out.

I’ll be honest. I wasn’t sure of where the front is either. Honesty, it just looks like a gigantic "Z" and two "O’s". The "R" would be shaped by the rider's position. What does that spell? Zorro! OK, let’s leave Zorro out of this for a minute.

This bicycle is a vision from designer Jialing Hu. In his mind when creating this bicycle was the skeletal structure of animal bones. As you can see, there is a red frame underneath that black shell. The frame acts just like your bones under your muscles. It’s their strength and rigidity that allow the entire structure to retain its shape.

Zapfina Concept
Photo: Behance / Jialing Hu
The remains of the bike’s functionality are then set atop the frame. The black and sleek panels that give the bike its exterior look act just like muscles on our body. To shift the skeletal frame’s direction, these panels work together to offer the steering for the bike. The bike itself has no actual fork or steering column. Think about what you just read for a second.

What this means is that the bike senses the direction you want to turn into just by a slight manipulation of your body weight. Very similar to the way a rider of motorcycles would lean into a turn at high speeds. The resulting “Z” shape came about while trying to redesign the front fork system.

As Hu informs us, “Without the front fork, the basic structure is no way like other traditional kinds. When holding the grips to have a motion, the gear inside the frame drives the shaft on the rear of front wheel to make a turn.

Another function of this shape is its ability to flex much like our legs do when landing on something, offering a smooth suspension. And that’s just what happens here as well. As you go over a bump, the bottom of the Z is pushed upward, while the top of the Z is forced downward, keeping the rider at an even level.

Zapfina Concept
Photo: Behance / Jialing Hu

My notion of the basic frame has become “Z” type from the general shape. The structure of this 'Z' shape is the nearest shape to the spring," says Hu. "By the pierce on the shell of the bike, the two transitions of the 'Z' shape could be flexible then absorb the vibration from the road. More precisely, the 'Z' shape can be used as suspension.

Another function of ‘muscles’ is the protection of the skeleton, nerves and other works. On this bike you won't see any sort of wiring or anything like that. Heck, I don’t even know how this thing stops.

But where does the rider come into all of this? Well, on top. This bike is simply straddled like on a wild horse. No, I'm not going to bring up Zorro again. Although I could, couldn’t I?
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About the author: Cristian Curmei
Cristian Curmei profile photo

A bit of a nomad at heart (being born in Europe and raised in several places in the USA), Cristian is enamored with travel trailers, campers and bikes. He also tests and writes about urban means of transportation like scooters, mopeds and e-bikes (when he's not busy hosting our video stories and guides).
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