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On my daily commute a few times over the past months I had seen someone riding what appeared to be a hybrid bike/scooter. Dude was always coming at me so I never really got a good look at what he was riding. While walking around the other day I found the mysterious contraption locked up and got a close up view of what I now know is called a Kickbike. The animated picture is from their site, www.kickbike.com. Here is a a picture of the full ride, complete with front basket.
The lower platform has their logo, but none of the standard grip tape that you commonly find on skateboards.
The rear brakes are right near the back of the platform.
I guess this is a cool idea. I still actively ride a skateboard though and can tell you from personal experience that pushing extensively with your foot to propel yourself can lead to an awfully sore foot. I guess over time you would become conditioned to the pushing, but it would be a learning curve for sure.
If you are the rider of this particular Kickbike, or if there are any of you out there who ride one and you stumble across this post, we’d love some feedback on what it’s like to ride one via the comments.
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Filed Under: modification
14 comments for this entry ↓
1 Moses // Apr 23, 2008 at 11:51 am
Ya Mon!
We kick these things all the time. In fact, we are a little addicted to this mess, but we will work it out.
Who’s next?
2 Neal // Apr 23, 2008 at 11:55 am
I’ve had one for 3 years, ride it on average 3 times a week, 2-15miles per trip. I don’t kill myself, but always a pretty good sweat. Never have had a sore sole…guess it depends on how hard one “slaps” the pavement. I love it, great exercise, low impact, no sore butt.
3 Kickbiker // Apr 23, 2008 at 11:58 am
I ride a kickbike around New York City, and find that it is a great way to get around. An image of the kickbike I ride can be found on this site: http://kickbiker.com - kickbike site This one looks very well used. I also find the kickbike to be a real work horse, and not just a thing to have fun with.
4 Moses // Apr 23, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Hey Matt—
For some reason it isn’t obvious to most that see one of these things, but the rider needs to switch kicking legs.
And—
We like to think in terms of propelling a footbike, not pushing one. The kick is nearly a nifty tap on the pavement—not like you are trying to remove a divot. This machine should really be called the -Un-Runner-……which was the reason for the original design.
5 Pete H. // Apr 23, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Goodbye saddle sores! I used to commute (and race) in Manhattan >20 years ago. Now on the beach in NC, I commute 4 miles each way on a kickbike - it’s a workout, a guaranteed runner’s high. Slower than I bicycle, but more fun!
And more zen than a trackbike.
6 duggy // Apr 23, 2008 at 2:06 pm
weekend warrior in manhattan on a scooter; i sold the kickbike and now ride a 16″ wheeled scooter; just about as fast and nimble ; a bit smaller for getting on and off trains ; ride the rest of the time in nj where i live ; back pack hung on handlebars carries stuff i buy or my jacket if i get too warm or food ; footboards don’t need grip tape / tread tape ; even wet footboards have traction if you wear skateboard style shoes [ very mild tread / flat sole , no lugs , no funny heels etc ]
the others are lying ; not addictive ; i only started in 2001; i can stop anytime ……
7 Rick Muller // Apr 23, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Matt - That would be my Kickbike Sport Classic. I can’t tell from the photo where I had locked up, but I use the KB for general transportation. I got a job out in Queens last year and so it is the first time I have been a subway commuter in 35 years, always having lived and worked in Manhattan. So now I try to kick from 5th and 2nd Ave up to 52nd and 3rd Ave, lock up and hop the E to Queens, then kick back home after work. Weekends it’s my main form of errand running. Been kicking since 2000. It’s great exercise; you have to switch legs every 3 - 15 kicks generally; I love the freedom of movement and the lack of greasy chain, pedals and seat; rode a bike all my life but love KBing way more. Glad you are intrigued by it and hope you like what you’ve learned.
8 Forrest // Apr 23, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I bought a Footbike Track after riding one at a fitness bootcamp at the Professional Fitness Institute. You can see it at footbikeusa.com.
I have had an excellent experience on this footbike. It is amazing what it does for the overall body and balance. I don’t ride the bike as often, but now when I do, I can feel that extra level of performance in my ride.
The biggest hassle (and gas saver) is my kid stealing it to kick to the skate park.
Otherwise—highly recommended.
9 Kickbike Scoop: Pursuit of Speed Record | BikeHacks // Apr 28, 2008 at 12:11 am
[...] feed. You can also subscribe to BikeHacks by email. Thanks for visiting!The post last week on the Kickbike garnered quite a bit of attention. Many people left comments and I exchanged emails with a few of [...]
10 brian // Apr 28, 2008 at 10:06 am
forrest
out of curiousity what does your son think of the footbike scooter? how does he carry his skateboard? well i wish i had a mogoscooter for sure.
11 Forrest // Apr 28, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Brian–
My son thinks that my footbike is now his footbike. He is carrying his board in his backpack with his water and probably 13 lbs of beef jerky. I think it would be pretty easy to make a board holder that would hang off of the bars……..I am just really happy not to be driving him to the skate park. Hey—can anyone out there tell me why skateboarders don’t like to ride bicycles?????
You mentioned mogoscooter—I have never heard of the machine and just googled it…it looks like a nice ride, and a really nice price—do you know anyone that has ridden it?
12 Moses // Apr 29, 2008 at 10:00 am
Matt—Mother Earth is a big place, check out the other folks that are kicking it on this sport…..
http://www.footbikeusa.com (shameless plug)
http://www.sidewalkerscooters.com (old-old school)
http://www.mogoscooter.com (great price/features)
http://www.strideglide.com (made in USA?)
http://www.mibo.com (from the Czechs–funky)
http://www.avismonopattino.it (can’t get em’)
(click on the word monopattino at the site)
http://www.ketam.cz (can’t get em’)
(another European favorite)
And if you go for a search through the Australian kicking sites you will find a set of plans for cutting apart two of your favorite bikes and welding them back into a outback dog musher!!
Meet us at the World Championships this August in the Netherlands……last one arriving buys the sunscreen.
Are you ready to demo one of these monsters??
13 Hack Scooter | BikeHacks // Apr 30, 2008 at 12:05 am
[...] Hey, thanks for stopping by! If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to the RSS feed. You can also subscribe to BikeHacks by email. Thanks for visiting!While you can buy a Kickbike, you can also make you own hacked scooter. This comment was posted to the Kickbike post: [...]
14 brian // May 4, 2008 at 11:26 am
forrest
i have ridden one and they are as advertised. kinda a footbike for the masses. drop an email to mogo@mogoscooter.com for a smoking deal on one, just tell them i sent you.
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