What a Concept 10-Japanese Bombs

TGIF! Ahhh, the end of the week is nigh and some great things are happening.  Concepts are being born as you read this-some good, some not so much.  This week brings two, sibling concepts, that share less than their maker.  

Yamaha/Toyota Pas With

Yamaha and Toyota team up to bring the "Pas With" electric assist bicycle (quotes due to the confusing nature of the name "With"). A part of a cooperative project including Toyota's smart grid charging system, the bike is designed to go 62 miles at 15 mph as a commuter bike.  

With all of the electric assist bike designs that have come out lately I am not impressed. Sure it is sleek and modern, but for practical design elements, it is lacking. Small wheel diameter with a shallow bottom bracket leave little pedal clearance for real streets, and for extra effort when not using the electric assist. For commuter purposes it has no storage to speak of, and due to the odd rear tail design it would be difficult to fit a rack without taking away from the pointy designs overall look. The seat looks out of place sticking out from the downward slanted top tube. The point is, there are better e-bike designs that could have been tapped to showcase Toyota's new energy programs.  

A rating of 3 is all I can give for the design and the concept.  Both companies are capable of far better, and from other projects that both Yamaha and Toyota are working on, this one just seemed like quick filler to attach to other projects.  Oh, and the name just doesn't do much for it either.  As for it being a Japanese bomb, its a dud.


Photos-Toyota, Gizmag

.Its a Split!  3 Hipstars / 3 Einstars

   

 Yamaha Y125 Moegi

Last is the Yamaha Y125 Moegi.  Making it's debut at the tokyo motor show, this Moped-Motor-Bicycle like creature is turning heads with its interesting modern-yet classic design.  With a number of element cues similar to a bicycle, (the tires, fork, handlebars), the compact arrangement similar to a moped, and a 125cc motor.  It is a light 176lbs, can get 188-225 mpg, 10-15 hp, and tops out around 75 mph.  

While it surely is inviting to more urban users, in slower more congested traffic than it would to rural use, the styling may attract many from both environments.  Caution though to those that plan to take it on faster routes since it may top at 75 mph, the small tire contact surface and passive tread that give it the look of early motorcycles that evolved from the balloon tire bicycles, there is a reason the tires became larger.  Traction.  It's light weight with a riders weight sitting higher in the center of gravity with such narrow tread means skid and flip.  

Photos and video via Yamaha

That having been said, for short low speed runs, this thing looks like it would be incredible.  For short back road trips in the countryside to go to town it appears to be the perfect alternative to riding a peddler on those sore, or just lazy days.  Since I am not a "biker" by any stretch, do not own a Harley, or a crotch rocket, and doubt a moped would ever be a good fit for me, a motorcycle like this could actually bridge the gap.  If it gets the right marketing, and Yamaha is clear to users about higher speed issues, this would be a great concept to see move into reality, the potential to be "The Bomb".  

5 Einstars!