Althouse: The Honda u3x 02.

September 24, 2009

The Honda u3x 02.

Way less dorky than a Segway, no?

47 comments:

Chennaul said...: I'm sorry but that looks like a real ass cracker.; 9/24/09, 6:17 PM
rhhardin said...: The test would be carrying a long tube half full of water across your knees.

Predict the motion.; 9/24/09, 6:24 PM
Chennaul said...: This looks only slightly safer-

Yike Bike

Ya, they named it the Yike[s!] Bike....

Cost- some 3,000? [too tired to do the conversion.]; 9/24/09, 6:26 PM
Chennaul said...: 3,500 euros; 9/24/09, 6:28 PM
bagoh20 said...: I don't know what you would use that for. Both hands are occupied and you look like an omega male approaching the pack.; 9/24/09, 6:31 PM
kimsch said...: Better than Segway for those that can't stand for long periods.

They do Segway tours in Chicago. So funny to see about 20 people all riding Segways and wearing helmets running about town...

wv: frati; 9/24/09, 6:32 PM
Michael Haz said...: For heaven's sake. Just walk or roller skate. Or take your bike. But skip the wedgie rider.; 9/24/09, 6:34 PM
Cedarford said...: Another monument to Japanese ingenuity and vaunted Honda engineering and quality applied to create something useless.
Its actually a testimony to both the Japanese and Honda.

Back when America was not ruled by lawyers and members of a Ruling Elite ordering everything else outside courts (inc. a large number of law-dgreed Ruling Elites) - we actually had lots of useless spillovers of American creativity and "can do!" ability.

We'll not only go to the moon, we will build and bring a dune buggy to save our hero astronauts an extra 10 minutes of walking.
We will apply advanced aircraft technology into building torpedo bras...and create the Giant Fried Onion Blossom.

Of course the Japs realize that the u3x02 will launch any Jap on it if it hits a bump at speed, that it is far less practical than a bike. They built it because they can..
They invented tentacle sex, dammit!; 9/24/09, 6:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Honda needs to take a new look at obesity data in the United States before it tries to market that tiny seat.; 9/24/09, 6:38 PM
Big Mike said...: less dorky than a Segway, no?

No.; 9/24/09, 6:43 PM
Penny said...: Just another vehicle to sell more backpacks. Pun intended.; 9/24/09, 6:46 PM
traditionalguy said...: That looks like a great tool for riding around on concrete, maybe less so for other surfaces. I can see Japan Airline Stews riding down the concourses at ATL now.; 9/24/09, 6:48 PM
paul a'barge said...: No. Double dorky.; 9/24/09, 6:49 PM
XWL said...: "Gentleman, imagine being able to travel safely at incredibly fast speeds, and not have to go to the stupid fartface airports..."

The Honda lacks flexi-grips. Add flexi-grips, and you might have something there.; 9/24/09, 6:52 PM
JAL said...: No.

Doesn't look as stable. As versatile. Or as much fun. AT the Biltmore Estate in Asheville you can rent a segway and zip along the paved paths around the estate -- along with scattered other people walking, riding bikes -- or horses, dog walkers, etc.

That would be fun-ner.

:-); 9/24/09, 6:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Might be good for parking lot polo.; 9/24/09, 6:56 PM
Bissage said...: If they can produce a model that vibrates and plays eight-track tapes they’ll sell a million.; 9/24/09, 7:09 PM
David said...: Just what the world needs . . . a mobile toilet.; 9/24/09, 7:11 PM
Anonymous said...: The point is?; 9/24/09, 8:37 PM
Chase said...: David, you just made me spit out iced tea on my keyboard.; 9/24/09, 8:40 PM
Beth said...: No. Sorry, but no. It's dorky. And it looks unreliable. I'd rather be standing and be able to hop off something than be sitting in that position and hit something.; 9/24/09, 8:44 PM
The Scythian said...: Throwing red meat to the Althouse hillbillies again?

And you, a law professor!

You should be ashamed of yourself!

(Am I doing it right?)

WV: Comism. Like communism, but more succinct.; 9/24/09, 9:11 PM
Wince said...: A Segway has much larger tires and experienced riders can take serious bumps at high speed over irregular surfaces.

I'm not sure whether that thing, and the rider's ass, could even handle asphalt.

wv - "suasupro" = expert in how legislation is enacted; 9/24/09, 9:21 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Lets face it.

The Japanese ripped this off this guy ;); 9/24/09, 9:27 PM
Phil 314 said...: I like the moving tiles better; 9/24/09, 9:38 PM
Bart Hall (Kansas, USA) said...: A Segway is decidedly dorky in most cases. It does, however, come with a seat of sorts, and there's a guy who comes by my stand at Farmers' Market with the seat version.

He can sort of stand, but not walk very well, and he told me how much he likes the thing because the seated trikes are dorky and he could never stand up from one anyhow.

So he stops his Segway, stands easily using it for support, gets his stuff, slings it over the handle, and away he goes. I say "Fantastic." That's great technology.

You want something truly dorky, get a recumbent bike.; 9/24/09, 10:08 PM
BJM said...: Waaaay beyond dorky and into cheesy scifi props.; 9/24/09, 10:17 PM
Penny said...: I wonder if you have to lean in for the corners?; 9/24/09, 10:22 PM
Penny said...: Plus I give two thumbs up for the non-musical half of Bissage's suggestion. If you are going to look dorky, might as well have some joke up your seat, so to speak.; 9/24/09, 10:25 PM
The Tensor said...: "A tumblebug does not give a man dignity, since it is about the size and shape of a kitchen stool, gyro-stabilized on a single wheel. But it is perfectly adapted to patrolling the maze of machinery 'down inside', since it can go through an opening the width of a man's shoulders, is easily controlled, and will stand patiently upright, waiting, should its rider dismount." Robert Heinlein, "The Roads Must Roll", 1940.; 9/24/09, 10:37 PM
Sofa King said...: I can just picture Lumberg cruising through the cube aisles on that thing, coffee mug in hand.; 9/24/09, 11:02 PM
Anonymous said...: It's not clear in the video posted, but the u3x 02 can move sideways also. The "tire" is made up of smaller sideways "tires" strung together in a loop. See here:

http://d.hatena.ne.jp/video/youtube/kCNGH9rCwrY; 9/24/09, 11:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Marginally less dorky than the Segway.; 9/24/09, 11:05 PM
Penny said...: "It's not clear in the video posted, but the u3x 02 can move sideways also."

Interesting. I can see how this might save nurses one heck of a lot of wear and tear on their feet. At the same time it would boost manufacturing...new, lower to the ground, hospital beds and main desks.

Honestly, I am taking this little vehicle a lot more seriously on this application alone.; 9/24/09, 11:45 PM
hoyden said...: Bart: You want something truly dorky, get a recumbent bike.

I own two. My recumbents are all about comfort and endurance. I have never been able to ride a wedgie bike for more than two hours. I can ride a recumbent all day.; 9/25/09, 4:57 AM
Kensington said...: It's going to change the world!!! Cities of the future will be built around it!!!

Just like the Segway!

*plotz*; 9/25/09, 5:33 AM
kentuckyliz said...: I want a Barcalounger version.; 9/25/09, 6:15 AM
Michael Haz said...: @kentuckyliz - This is what you're looking for. Scroll down the to the mobile margarita maker lounge chair.; 9/25/09, 6:31 AM
KCFleming said...: it was originally designed for the elderly with leg weakness. The inventor concedes it may require too much balance control for the intended users, however.

For similar reasons, Honda invented motorized legs.

There are quite a few old people in Japan, and not enough caregivers, hence their push for robots and personal assistive devices.

None of this is meant for fun, and they're not nuts. it's damned ingenious.; 9/25/09, 6:43 AM
Michael Haz said...: Props to Honda for excellent engineering, whether the u3x02 is useful or not. It is a remarkable piece of work.

Just like this, Honda's take on a low-cost business jet, soon to be in full production. it's a game-changing engineering masterpiece.; 9/25/09, 7:08 AM
Moose said...: Sorry, I must be watching too much internet porn. Watching that sorta turns me on...; 9/25/09, 7:12 AM
bearbee said...: How does it handle bumps, inclines, curbs, slick and uneven surfaces?

wv - yopikey - Rocky greeting a friend.; 9/25/09, 8:08 AM
TosaGuy said...: Did Mr. Garrison invent it?; 9/25/09, 8:43 AM
Anonymous said...: And another link with an animation showing how the sideways movement works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt-Kohf86yI; 9/25/09, 9:21 AM
Anonymous said...: The press conference with subtitles, and some more demos:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20090925a1.html; 9/25/09, 9:24 AM
Unknown said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/26/09, 3:30 PM
Unknown said...: Before you all go poo-pooing this device, consider this. I am a post iatrogenic CVA (stroke) patient and a former ski patrolman. I walk with a cane. Some days it is very difficult and painful for me to get around. This think may look goofy, but it is one helluva lot better than the stigma attached to a wheelchair. I (and I suspect many disabled brothers and sisters) would gladly buy this at twice the price, which is what a Segway costs. Now if we can just get those insurance comanies to cover it...; 9/26/09, 3:32 PM