GM's first electric bicycles are available to pre-order today

[Polycount]

Ford isn't the only car company experimenting with a few strange product ideas - General Motors (GM) has been doing the same.

The key difference between the two vehicle giants is that Ford's goofier ideas (like its "Lane-Keeping Bed") will probably never make it to market, whereas GM's latest concepts are already a reality.

GM has been developing a line of electric bicycles behind the scenes since last November, and the company is finally ready to start taking orders for them. For now, there are only two available models, dubbed the Meld and the Merge.

The former is a pretty standard-looking e-bike, but the latter can fold down into a much more compact form. Both bikes will reportedly be able to reach speeds of "up to" 15.5mph, with a total range of around 40 miles.

The Merge and Meld will fall under GM's new "Ariv" branding. If the bikes are successful, Arivw ill undoubtedly house plenty of other models in the future.

As is the case with most modern products, GM's bikes will be able to connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, offering you information on your average speed, battery level, and more.

If you're wondering how you'll keep track of this data mid-ride, the Merge and Meld will come equipped with a unique "Quad Lock Mount" that can lock your phone in place above the handlebars, essentially mimicking a car's instrument panel.

Those who are eager to get their hands on the Meld or the Merge (priced at $3,200 and $3,800 respectively) may be out of luck. For now, they're only available to those who live in Germany, the Netherlands, or Belgium - everywhere else will have to wait.

If you do live in one of those locations, you should see pre-orders for both bikes open up on Bike Exchange sometime today.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/78762-gm-first-electric-bicycles-available-pre-order-today.html

 

[Kibaruk]

The design looks really cool but way too expensive, you can get a decent cc motorcycle for that amount, there are some small alternative brand electric motorcycles that are also way cheaper.

 

[Dimitrios]

LOL at the price, within a short time the bike will be worth $500. Wow you can buy like 3-4 scooters for that price or a decent street bike.

Might make sense in heavy populated area's.

Want to make it a success? Give some sort of tax incentive of owning one or a tax write off.

 

[Evernessince]

LOL at the price, within a short time the bike will be worth $500. Wow you can buy like 3-4 scooters for that price or a decent street bike.

Might make sense in heavy populated area's.

Want to make it a success? Give some sort of tax incentive of owning one or a tax write off.

It looks like it's targeted at city goers with it's compact design and the ability to fold it. You can't store a motor bike in your apartment and parking could get expensive. With the above design it'll fit right into your closet. That's definitely not something many bikes can claim.

 

[toooooot]

That second picture, thats is you after a texting teenage driver hits you when you ride a GM bicycle.
P.S if you think that a cool commercial must have a man with a man bun, you are a fool.
real men don't need man buns. They can but they don't have to. Stop shoving these "cool thing' of the age on real people. That's crap. I recently criticized a typical "cool people"commercial and .. well...
Whatever, stop spreading worthless things that will never replace real stuff real people need to do and be.

 

[xxLCxx]

What about the weight, isn't that one of the most important key data?

 

[Dimitrios]

It looks like it's targeted at city goers with it's compact design and the ability to fold it. You can't store a motor bike in your apartment and parking could get expensive. With the above design it's fit right into your closet. That's definitely not something many bikes can claim.

True never thought about it like that. It would also be easy to transport that bike if the person uses a public train or bus .

 

[Uncle Al]

While the spec's aren't bad the price is WAY out of line. When it's down to 1/4 of that price it might be worth looking at but by that time there will probably be 5-8 good competitors out there worthy of consideration.

 

[treetops]

Lol has like the exact same specs as a e scooter people hate so much, but somehow don't mind in bike form. Yet cost around 8x more.

 

[Aux101]

Um! The seat is a bit high :/

 

[That Dude There]

That second picture, thats is you after a texting teenage driver hits you when you ride a GM bicycle.
P.S if you think that a cool commercial must have a man with a man bun, you are a fool.
real men don't need man buns. They can but they don't have to. Stop shoving these "cool thing' of the age on real people. That's crap. I recently criticized a typical "cool people"commercial and .. well...
Whatever, stop spreading worthless things that will never replace real stuff real people need to do and be.

YEAHHHH.....NO MAN BUNS! I'm also so sick of the programming on all levels. People are like robots. Just plug in the data.