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Comment by stouset | Hacker News Reader

Out of curiosity, at that point why not a bicycle?

At the point where you’re happy traveling at or below 15mph for 1.5mi total a day (so two trips of 3/4mi), the effort involved is nearly nothing.

Just for handy reference, 10mph is a mile every six minutes. So we’re talking about bike trips on the order of about five minutes at a very low intensity.

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You can fold this and bring it into an office that doesn’t provide bicycle parking. Also some people detest any form of physical strain, fearing they might get sweaty or ruffle their clothing.

A five minute, low-intensity bike ride is not going to make you sweaty or noticeably ruffle your clothing, unless you’re in an environment where simply walking would.

And as a sibling noted, foldable bikes exist and are smaller, lighter, and cheaper than this.

For some of us (genetically predisposed to sweating a lot), it definitely would. I am a pretty athletic person but just walking between two rooms with a shift in temperature makes me sweat. A five minute bike ride makes me have to change clothes.

And loads more fun. A Brompton looks wacky but rides like a much bigger bike.

So just like the electric Brompton[1] except 3.5kg heavier, less practical and a lot more expensive.

Being heavy when riding isn’t that bad but being heavy when carried up stairs is.

I love the novelty of this; it’s James Bond’s scooter. It’s a wonderful concept, collector’s item but not a serious means of transport.

Personally, I’d rather have a 7.45kg non-electric Brompton than a 19kg scooter with a short range.

1. https://www.brompton.com/p/823/electric-p-line-urban-with-ro...

The Verge reports the Honda will launch at $995[1], while the Bromptom lists for $4700[2] so I don't know how you say it is a lot more expensive? Do you have a different figure for the price?

1. https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/14/23872334/honda-motocompac... 2. https://us.brompton.com/p/766/electric-p-line-urban

There are plenty of foldable bikes that take up very little space when folded.

Yep and they cost less than half and weigh about half of what this weighs.

I'm not opposed to a bike, but as someone mentioned below the heat here during the summer isn't conducive to bike riding or walking to work. It's currently 90.5 F in the shade but I'd stay cool enough riding an electric scooter, not so with the bike.

Another concern I'd have is tail spray from the back wheel in wet weather, I've had clothes stained from a similar mechanism in the past.

A five minute, 10mph ride is not going to cause you to appreciably sweat. At least not more so than a walk in the same conditions.

Most commuter bikes and folding bikes come stock with fenders which eliminate tail spray.

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