Lit Motors Prototype Gets Tested

Could a gyroscopically-stabilized motorcycle replace automobiles as primary mode of transportation? Daniel Kim of Lit Motors thinks so, and while it’s looking increasingly doubtful that the Lit Motors C-1 will make its Q4 2014 production date, the latest prototype keeps hope alive for those wanting a motorcycle that balances itself.

The new prototype, called the EP4, has new gimbaled gyroscopes that provide up to 6,000 lb-ft of balance power, which allows the prototype to stand straight up without any sort of assistance. This allows a driver with zero motorcycle experience to get behind the wheel and roll this bad boy around at speeds up to 40 MPH (though the production model will reportedly go up to 100 MPH).

What it lacks in bodywork, fit, and finish, the Lit Motors prototype makes up for in its sheer cool factor. There’s something almost unsettling about the way it stands perfectly upright, allowing even the most skittish of drivers to operate it with the same ease one would expect from a four-wheeled vehicle. Oh, it’s also fully electric with a claimed mileage of over 200 miles per charge and a 0 to 60 MPH time under 6 seconds. The company is also offering a cargo scooter called the Kubo for slightly more practical purposes.

Lit Motors is still taking reservations, though it seems unlikely that this futuristic motorcycle will see production before the year is out. Good things come to those who wait though, as Tesla Motors proved, and if priced right (the first prototype cost $200,000 though the aimed-for price is just $24,000), Lit Motors could offer a more viable alternative to transportation as we know it.