San Francisco-based Frog Design released images of a new electric motorcycle concept, just as its influential Yamaha FZ750-based Rana concept gets enshrined at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Frog designer Jin Soek Hwang prepared the Frog eBike concept as an expression of how electric motor technology can influence motorcycle design. In a post on Frog’s blog, the designer says he was inspired in part by Frog’s 1985 FZ750 Rana concept (pictured after the jump).
The Frog Rana was designed by the company’s founder Hartmut Esslinger and made the covers of magazines from
Cycle World to
Business Week. The iconic Rana design was influential for its time, helping lead to the design of the
Honda Hurricane.
The new electric concept is highlighted by the large open space where one would expect to find a traditional motorcycle engine, symbolically representing the technological shift from internal combustion power to electric.
The eBike’s electric motor is actually located in the hubless rear wheel. The batteries would be located in the lower part of the chassis beneath the open space, helping lower the center of gravity. The handlebars are fixed to the chassis so instead of physically moving the front end, the eBike uses electronic fly-by-wire steering. Other features include , an OLED digital display and online connectivity. The Frog eBike would be accompanied by a helmet equipped with heads-up display with retina tracking.
Via
Restaurant at the Soneva Kiri resort in Thailand that has tree pod dining is certainly a crazy idea for a restaurant. The resort has created a pod that fits in a tree and overlooks the resort and surrounding area. The pod looks like a birds nest or clam contraption sitting on the side of a very high looking tree. The tree pod dining clam can fit up to four people and you can only access the very isolated perch from a zip line. I just feel badly for the poor resort staff who have to serve that restaurant! What if you’re afraid of heights? Having said that, I would love to try out that restaurant, but they should probably hold the alcohol.
