OPTIBIKE 800Li

It’s an amazing piece of natural looking design that not only gives a quality appearance (You know it’s special) but it just looks like a piece of art and very pleasing to the eye. Beautifully sculptured comes to mind. Maybe the colour I choose had a lot to do with it as I just loved the look of my M-750. But this was different, totally different. I just hope it would ride as good as she looked.

As Craig was doing the finishing touches setting up the bike.  He realized that he forgot to bring the pedals. It’s not his fault as he only had a few hours to leave for his flight and tried his best.  But oh poo, we had our first and only hiccup.  But don’t  let that disappoint you. As I still had a test spin.  First impressions were mixed.  I could not for the life of me work out the gearing system.  After four years riding hub motors and staying in top gear at all times.  I had to train one's mind to using the gears again.  Especially with no pedals (stop laughing!)  but one thing for sure.  The front lifts in low gears.  Nuff said there.

This thing has some PULLING POWER!!! I mean REAL PULLING POWER.  And silky smooth too.  The fox suspension and hi end components makes the bike elegantly glide.   Smashing humps/bumps are a breeze but until we had some pedals and I worked out how to use gears (I felt like a six year old) I would not know what I had under me.  Not one person had this problem.  Just me.  Life’s a bitch sometimes.

The next day we were up early.  Full English breakfast then taxi to the bike shop.  Fortunately for us,  there was a bike shop on route to the show.  And we soon had some pedals on the bike (Yippee!).  But no time for a test ride.  

The show was being filmed at the very prestigious University of Birmingham.  A place where they teach all kinds of Science and also show off the UK’s first Hydrogen Fuel Station (Built on campus) and will be seen on the show. We soon met up with the film crew and there they were, Suzi Perry and Jason Bradbury.  I watch these guys on TV every week and cannot believe I am face to face with them.  Jason is just the complete gadget enthusiast.  He is also very pro eco friendly. Everyone just swamped the bike.  Many had test rides even before me.  It was hard but a sacrifice that had to be done.  I had to wait my turn. The celebrities and professors get to ride my Opti first., oh poo.  Try a Google search on Suzi Perry. She even has a fan club. She is also a presenter on MOTO GP.  Surely Suzi Perry could not be testing our bike? No way! This MUST be a dream! It must???

As we approached the crew we noticed some e-bikes.  Just a few but all home builds.  I remember looking at Craig and we both smiled.  Everyone looked and stared at the Optibike.  It was like rolling a new Austin Martin out the show room.  But to be fair, the bike did look stunning.  Just stunning.  I thought lady in red is a good name for a red Optibike btw.

Jason was the first to really start asking the good questions.  I explained the bike just landed in the country and he was testing before me.  He was so grateful.  Thanked us all for making the effort and went off for a ride.  The bike looked beautiful and Jason was screaming “WOW”.  Nothing but Smilage that day.  Nothing but smilage.  I did manage to get a few little rides and will do a full report on today’s ride with Craig. More on this later.  

So Jason came back from a 10 min ride and was totally blown away by the Optibike.  He said he had never experienced anything like it.  “So smooth” he said “So smooth”. We talked all day and in the end I offered a one month test ride.  We will meet up soon and get some test riding and reporting done.  He’s such an enthusiast and pleasure to talk to.  We have been invited on another live event at the Olympia (Same as the cycle Show Larry) for an interview and chat about the Optibike.  The show is about Eco Friendly Products and discussions.  And few more things like that.  The director of the show also (as many did) took a liking to the Optibike.  So I offered a test ride once Jason has finished his.  Jason said he would also do something on his blog.  I look forward to reading that.

Right, back to the bike.  As Jason arrived back I remember telling him that perhaps we could race the bikes and if so, what one he thought would win.  He told me to follow him.  Just behind the film crews van was the front of a cheap looking bike.  The kind the thieves would not even bother with.  But as I got closer I noticed a bloody great big Rocket and BOOSTER pack on the back! A rocket Scientist had made a rocket bike that ran on rocket fuel but it did look way cool! There was also a Fuel Cell bike, it runs on hydrogen (See Pictures) and a few more e-bikes.  Monster (A guy who posts on the Endless Sphere) was there with his 72v Crystalyte bike, turns out Mark sold him the parts for his bike. And the other e-bikes too had parts sold by Mark. Great to see Team Hybrid working with the community :)  there was also a bio-fuel motorbike.  120 miles to the gallon.  Or something like that.  That was a full production motorbike.  Quite nice actually.   Jason really enjoyed riding that too.

Someone from the press started taking scenic photos of the bikes. I hope the photos get some extra coverage, you just never know.  Then it was down to filming.  Jason wanted to test ride the Optibike but that meant Suzi had to ride the Jet Bike, quick thinking by the director and it was decided.  Jason rides the Jet Bike and Suzi rides the Optibike  (No way man! I nearly peed my pants...).  i thought to myself “no hard feelings Richard...”.  

Filming started but every now and then it poured down with rain.  We all ran for shelter and then came out after the rain had finished.  This seemed to go on all day with sun and then rain.  But it was perfect to test out the products.  

First of all they filmed the hydrogen fuel bike at the UK’s first hydrogen fuel station. I should not have laughed when the bike fell over during the first shoot.  In fact, I was told be quiet several times. Especially Jason too.  He got me into looooads of trouble!

Another highlight of the day was Professor Kevin kendall FRC.  He came up and asked for a ride. He shot off and was ripping around the canvas.  It was a real pleasure to see people’s reactions. I had the same thing happen many times on my TF.  It’s the electrickery thing.  Highly addictive as you know. Professor Kendall (Professor of Engineering at the School of Chemistry) was very impressed and wanted to know much more about the battery.  He would be perfect to find out some cool info as he explores the very exotic chemistries we e-junkies crave.  He also was very impressed with the bike.  Smilage all round as I said.  

So let’s talk about that swine Craig.  Did you know he’s going for a world record to do an Iron Man through some valley?  I mean, it’s bloody 480 miles long! Why???( Don’t do it man).  Instead,  take a stroll. A walk in the park, a ride?.   So I can only put it down to extreme attention.  He’s such a show off! :) (Only joking Craig).  You know, there is a nice guy.  Craig comes across as being the perfect gentle man.  He is polite, well educated and the girls love him.  I don’t really see what they see in him though.  Just because he is young.  It’s soooo not fair!