STARTUP LAB – Ep. 2: FlyKly
It seems the future is arriving on two wheels.
There is a revolutionary electric bicycle zipping through the streets of downtown NYC thanks to the efforts of Soho-based startup FlyKly [www.flykly.com]. This stylish new e-bike allows the user to explore their environment easily, enjoyably and above all, simply.
Following on from last weeks’ Feature on eco-friendly clothing brand PitUSA, we enter our second episode of the StartUp Lab, with an interview with New York-based serial entrepreneur and FlyKly founder Niko Klansek. He gave us a valuable insight into his product and told us what makes his electric vehicle startup tick.
Niko Klansek, Founder
SUL: Niko, tell us about the Flykly?
Niko: The FlyKly allows the user to travel 1,000 miles for a single dollar of electricity. The FlyKly battery slides out neatly from beneath the seat and weighs about ten pounds. It also plugs into any standard wall outlet. A single four hour charge yields forty miles of travel. The FlyKly is mobile enough to weave around obstacles. The actual operation of a FlyKly requires the physical engagement of the user one leans gently into turns and balances easily with the bicycle. The FlyKly itself is regulated Federally just like a bicycle. This gives it operational versatility that exceeds almost all other forms of transport. It can be parked on the sidewalk and driven in bicycle lanes or the street.
SUL: How do I keep it safe from thieves?
Niko: It comes equipped with internal locking mechanisms so the vehicle can be secured wherever it is left. This allows users to traverse their environment and stop when and where they’d like, rather than being limited by proximity to parking places, garages or the range of their own physical limitations.
Vintage model
SUL: What defines FlyKly as a brand?
Niko: The FlyKly is about action and experience. As a product it is incredibly mobile and self explanatory. As the Founder and designer of the product, my aim was to represents a method of exploring space, of not just traveling from point A to point B, but connecting with their environmental surroundings in between. To see someone riding down a city street with a bag of groceries, their significant other and a huge smile is to understand what FlyKly is at its heart.
Did you know that people living on high-traffic streets are proven to be disconnected from their neighbors. That’s actually scientific fact. If they swap their cars with bikes or scooters, studies show that they begin to connect with their neighbors in a surprising way. The video I’ve attached [below] will explain this in excellent detail.
I believe we are seeing a new era in which the right thing and the difficult thing are no longer automatically conflated. The FlyKly represents an exciting example of a design philosophy that is oriented towards objective and sustainable solutions that work in harmony with the user and the environment. It consumes no fossil fuels and produces no emissions. It’s an incredibly fun and economical way to explore your environment and save it at the same time – a pure example of a green technology that is easy rather than a cross to bear. It’s incredibly simple to operate. It looks cool and, whether you go for the modern or vintage look, is sleek in design. That is to say, whether or not you care about our planet or its future, the FlyKly makes sense as a purchase.
THis bike is NOT worth the cost.. They import them from China where they are made cheap and have poor construction and then mark them WAY UP. You can buy the same model for 1,000 LESS with another company .. it's sad to see someone trying to get into business just for profit!
I think you're being harsh Dale. The build quality is good - I've ridden my friends FlyKly and it was a phenomenal experience. And they clearly aren't just entering on a profit motive - as the entire article above suggests. They have a strong eco and built environment improving motivation. Niko is also a great guy. It isn't cheap - but I challenege you to show me where you can buy the "same model for 1,000 LESS"...
I want to get one of these!! quite pricey though. Although I'm sure it's worth it.
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