Indonesian bicycle builds up steam, can go 75 mph
We've seen bicycles powered by batteries, fuel cells and even human strength here at ABG but the "R-01 NAN" may be our first look at a contemporary steam-powered bicycle. Sure, we knew they existed but we never imagined someone would think that riding around with both a furnace and a tank full pressurized steam between their legs would be an ideal transportation solution. Apparently though, Rusnan does and he's proud enough of his homemade machine to let us know that it's been given space on a (Indonesian language) bicycle-centric blog.
Though an interesting study in locomotion, we're not totally convinced of its green credentials. Even if burning biomass (i.e wood), the "exhaust" would likely have plenty of particulates and if it's burning coal, well, that's no way to fend off gloabal warming. Performance-wise, it's estimated the bike will go between 50 and 75 mph and takes about 15 minutes to build up enough steam to get rolling. Though we're not sure if a top-speed run will be attempted, we sure hope this thing has brakes.
[Source: Sepeda.wordpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 9:26AM (6/23/2009)
Let's hope that his boiler steam pressure release valve doesn't fail. If fails closed, the boiler can over pressurize and explode between his legs. NOT GOOD!
Then again, it is HIS life and HIS responsibility!
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polo 10:38AM (6/23/2009)
uhhh water IS NOT explosive. LOL you must have watched that movie Chain Reaction waaay to many times.
Tim 10:51AM (6/23/2009)
Polo,
STEAM is pressurized (that's what makes the wheels go around) and boilers explode.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiler_explosion
(apparently, public education really DOES suck!)
guyledouche 11:25AM (6/23/2009)
LOL!!! nice one POLO! way to read between the lines. Your credibility just plummeted.
guyledouche 9:56AM (6/23/2009)
One word-- YIKES!
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Carlos 11:20AM (6/23/2009)
XDDDDD this it´s a joke?
No way!!!!!!!!!!
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Joe 2:18PM (6/23/2009)
75mph on... *that*? Ignoring the homebuilt high pressure system between your legs for a moment, that bike looks old and rickety as is.
Yeesh.
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Ernie 3:01PM (6/23/2009)
And if you didn't like riding on a hot day before...
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Rog 10:49AM (6/24/2009)
This thing looks like a hoax. After I copied the picture and blew it up in Irfanview, it is obvious that the big box in the picture is fully on the left side of the frame. We don't see the right side of the bicycle, so we don't know what's over there, but, by the shadow on the ground, it doesn't appear to be anything over there that casts a shadow like the left side does. The big box setting on bricks needs some explanation, too. There is no chain going to the back wheel, and not much evidence of a shaft drive either, nor is there any obvious drive connection to the front wheel. There is some kind of cable coming from behind the box, over a pulley, and down to the rear hub, which looks like some kind of braking system. I suppose there could be some kind of wheel driving the tire directly from behind the box, but I doubt it. Given all the above, it looks to me like April Fools day comes on June 22 (The date of the entry in http://sepeda.wordpress.com/) in Indonesia.
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rusnan 12:26AM (7/24/2009)
everythin is ok mr rog ,
CH 10:29AM (6/24/2009)
Ummm....
Where do you put your left leg? On top of the boiler? On the side of the boiler?
Really?
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Mouhamad 4:10AM (7/12/2009)
If you guys bothered to look at the source of the photo you would have seen that the box sits on both sides and Front as well as Rear shots of the bike and the piston is in the back of the box directly to the wheel
The bike has all controls necessary and the only thing I see missing is a decent kick bar and feet rest.
Third world scrap produces a working machine. We can learn a lot from these guys tenacity. I just hope they think about safety as well.
Mouhamad, Detroit-Michigan, USA
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rusnan 2:52PM (7/18/2009)
i wanna build up steam bike community on my place, here is my promote on classik motorcycle indonesia party .there is more than 3000 old motorcyce and custom .
on television indonesia .RCTI.
http://video.okezone.com/tags/sepeda%20uap.
most thangs for support
cheers , happy steaming
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