What’s a RYNO?
When it comes to getting from point A to point B on land, there are many options – cars, bikes, motorcycles, even Segways. But another “personal mobility device” is on the horizon: the RYNO. (Stands for “Ride Your New Opportunity.”)
Sometime this spring, this “self-balancing, battery-powered, single-wheeled vehicle” (the company calls it a “microbike”) will be shipped. The first production run of 300 RYNOs has already sold out. A broader run for consumers is planned for the fall of 2015.
Why the RYNO is worth a spin:
- It’s versatile. Everyone from urban moms who need groceries to pickers in large warehouses to law enforcement personnel can use a Ryno simply to cover ground faster. Pretty much anywhere you walk, you can ride a RYNO.
- It’s 3 times speedier than the average walker. The RYNO goes up to 10 mph and travels up to 15 miles on a full charge. The average person out for a walk averages 3.75 mph.
- It’s fun. Sensors, gyroscopes and computers keep the RYNO upright and stable. The company has spent a lot of time tweaking the RYNO’s ride to meet customer expectations. Lean forward and the RYNO accelerates. Lean back and the RYNO slows. Another feature is that the rider is at eye-level with other people, as opposed to standing above them. It makes personal interaction more natural.
- It’s cheap. The RYNO goes for $5,295 at the moment, compared to $6 – $8K for the Segway, and 5 figures on up for motorcycles or cars.
And yes, it’s also green. The RYNO is eco-friendly in several ways:
- It takes cars off the road by offering a ride that is at home on a sidewalk, in a bike lane, and in public spaces like a plaza or park.
- It costs about a penny a mile to operate, given batteries charged on the electric grid.
- It has no emissions of its own.
- It’s smaller size means that fewer materials are used to manufacture it.
- It’s lithium-ion powered batteries are re-chargeable. Depending on your usage, you may choose to keep spare batteries that you can quickly swap in, since the battery takes 6 hours to charge through a wall socket.
The inventor of the RYNO and the CEO of RYNO Motors is Chris Hoffman, a mechanical engineer based in Portland, Oregon. He credits his daughter with asking if he could build a one-wheeled motorcycle. 7 years later, here it is.
Hoffman describes the RYNO as “Half the Bike. Twice the Fun.” And it’s good, green fun at that!
Feature image courtesy of RYNO Motors