Road Test: Manta5
Out of New Zealand comes the Manta5, the “world’s first hydrofoil bike”. So how on earth does it work?
Holy moly! You’re cycling on water! Yup. But it’s not a miracle, it’s the “world’s first hydrofoil bike”, designed in New Zealand.
How does it work? There’s a small propeller – driven by pedal-power, assisted by a 460-watt electric motor – and twin hydrofoils to provide lift.
What are hydrofoils? Think of them as underwater wings. There’s a 2m long one at the rear of the Manta5 and a 1.2m one at the front. It’s the same technology used by America’s Cup racing yachts.
How fast does it go? And is it stable? It’ll cruise at about 12km/h and can hit a claimed 22km/h. And it can handle chop: some nutter even crossed Cook Strait on one.
When you stop pedalling, do you sink like a stone? No, the 31kg unit has buoyancy chambers; it floats on its side when stationary.
Any cons? The price! You could buy a hoonish jetski for that money.
$13,490, futuremovement.co
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