There’s about to be a new entrant to Segway’s modest e-bike lineup.
The Ninebot-owned brand, once known for its pioneering self-balancing scooters, currently sells only two e-bikes: the moto-style Zyber and the low-step Zafari. Now it’s getting a third, the Myone, which it plans to officially introduce at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next year. But before that the company provided two exclusive teaser images of the new bike. The Verge,
Segway describes the Myon as an everyday commuter and leisure e-bike that should look like a more “traditional” bicycle than the Zyber and Zafari.
“We designed the Myon for every type of rider, from first-time cyclists to experienced cyclists,” Nick Howe, head of e-bikes at Segway, said in a statement. “This is an e-bike that is as suitable for the daily commute as it is for weekend pleasure trips. And with technology that combines Segway’s core innovations with features inspired by the auto industry, we believe it represents a leap forward in the riding experience on two wheels.”
Although we can’t see much in the images provided, we can see one interesting feature: the rear-facing radar. Segway says the Myon will include millimeter wave radar for “advanced security,” describing it as one of several technologies the company is acquiring from the auto industry. Segway says the radar can help alert cyclists when cars are coming, from what direction and how close, without taking their eyes off the road.
“It’s like having eyes in the back of your head,” Howe said. “It helps keep you more aware of your surroundings without taking your eyes off what’s in front of you.”
The rearview radar will have a 150-degree field of view, with a range of up to 230 feet to the rear and a width of 20 feet. It will have different types of alerts for the following scenarios depending on the distance, position and speed of the vehicle: Blindspot Detection (BSD), lane change warning (LCW) and Rear Collision Warning (RCW)If turn signals are in use during an active BSD or LCW alert, the signal frequency will increase, urging extra caution for any intended change of direction, Riders will be able to customize alerts and fine-tune sensitivity in the Segway Mobility app,
Rear-facing radar is nothing new in the e-bike world, as many manufacturers have included the technology as a standard feature or option on their models. Segway is choosing the latter, selling its rearview radar as a paid upgrade for the Myon. (The feature, as well as pricing for the bike, won’t be available until January 6, the day it goes on sale.) For what it’s worth, the range of the Segway’s radar is less than the Garmin-supplied rear-facing radar included in Specialized’s Turbo lineup (Segway’s 230 feet vs. Specialized’s 460 feet).
It’s good to see Segway continuing to build out its e-bike lineup. While the e-bike business is becoming more complex and more expensive, and some established players are moving out of the way, it’s encouraging to see established companies, especially those focused on affordable models, continuing to release fun and interesting products.
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