The Hyanide is an innovative hybrid motorbike vehicle designed and created by German designers Tilmann Schlootz and Oliver Keller. The motorbike is a radical conception of a dirt bike-snowmobile hybrid. First showcased at the 2006 Michelin Challenge Design competition. It can move through deep mud, sand, and snow terrains, with unprecedented control.
Hyanide is designed as an everyday use vehicle for all areas in the world with harder climatic and geographic conditions such as Alaska, Greenland, desert areas or mountain regions like the Himalaya. The “bike” can carry two persons and provides much space to transport any kind of small to midsize goods. Its engine is an 60hp 500cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder produced by ATV Motor which are already mass produced.
The plan dimensions for the motorbike vehicle is according: 40 (h) x 36 (w) x 90 (l) in. Its weight is estimated to be about 450 to 650 lbs. Also, its top speed is as well estimated to be 75 to 85 mph.
The Hyanide is based on a bendable rubber that spans the machine’s entire underside that guarantees maximum traction as well as freely changeable directions. To make the handling more comfortable and interesting, the vehicle is steered by hands and feet.
So if any part of the bottom is touching the ground, the Hyanide should be able to move, no matter how deep the quagmire, no matter how rough the terrain. The tank-like tread consists of 77 identical segments — each made from hard plastic covered with tire rubber — held together by Kevlar rope.
Each segment flexes independently, making the tread significantly more limber than if its components were rigid. Not only does this setup help with traction, but it would allow it to corner like no other vehicle.
Both the front and rear of the Hyanide rotate into a turn, which would give riders extra control while making sharp turns or climbing hills. To drive the vehicle, you’d steer with your hands as well as your feet, and you’d wear special shoes that snap onto the pedals, like on a racing bicycle.
To turn left, for example, you’d push the right side of the handlebar forward, to point the front of the tread left — it’s the same motion as on a motorcycle. At the same time, however, you’d also push back on the right pedal, angling the rear of the tread into the turn. This action would twist the tread into a crescent shape and whip the Hyanide around a turn.
The Hyanide currently exists only as a one-fifth-scale model, and Schlootz and Keller have no plans to bring a production version to market. Keep your fingers crossed, though — Hyanide’s unique drivetrain impressed a lot of automotive-industry heavy hitters at the Challenge Design.
Tilmann Schlootz
Tilmann Schlootz, 26, was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Since 2002 he has been studying product design at the Academy of Art and Design Offenbach, Germany. He also studied machine engineering at the Technische Universitaet Darmstadt from 2002-2002.
In 2001, he took 6th place in the International Design Contest 2001 with his robot design Doublefighter. He took first place in two categories of hte IVM Intermot Motorcycle Design Award 2004. He also participated in teh 2003 motorcycle design project OFX in cooperation with Honda as well as the 2005 automotive design project Moton for GM autonomy platform in cooperation with Opel.
Tilmann has displayed his works at the following: Intermot 2004, Munich; Euromold 2004, Frankfurt; Hannovermesse 2005, Hannover; Gwangju Design Biannale 2005, Gwangju, South-Korea and Euromold 2005, Frankfurt.
Oliver Keller
Oliver Keller, 24, was born in Nurnberg, Germany. He is currently studying product design at HFG Offenbach in Germany. He recently finished a six-month internship at Puma footwear. Other work experiences include civil services at DSZ Coburg and an internship at Werkbund Werkstatt Nurnberg.