Colibri, the foldable motorcycle that fits in an elevator

This amusing electric device comes from Romania. Thanks to its folding frame, it takes up no more space than a bicycle.

The Colibri joins the ranks of small removable-battery motorcycles. It introduces something new in the world of motorized two-wheelers, but which is already quite widespread in the cycling world: a foldable frame. Thanks to this innovation, the motorcycle can fit into an elevator and, for example, be “parked” on a balcony.

Some will no doubt note that there are already parking spaces for motorized two-wheelers outside, and that in this regard, storing your motorcycle at home has little benefit. This is partly true, but if a city decides to start charging parking fees for all scooters and motorcycles (whether thermal or electric), the Colibri will allow significant savings. Moreover, a motorcycle parked at home is permanently protected from theft and no longer has to endure weather conditions. Ultimately, the Colibri transforms the balcony into a semi-covered parking space without any additional expense.

An electric motorcycle with 200 km range

Behind the Colibri is Romanian Petre Georgescu. This entrepreneur is already behind the Hummingbird Bike, the folding bicycle “lightest in the world”. With his motorcycle, he believes he has found the ideal mode of transport for the city, one that allows quick travel, at low cost, and without having to worry about parking issues. It is also because it primarily targets city dwellers that the Colibri is limited to 50 km/h, although it has an off-road mode increasing the maximum speed to 100 km/h. The electric motor, located in the rear wheel, delivers a continuous power of 3 kW and a torque of 186 Nm. The battery at the center of the frame actually consists of 3 removable, independently rechargeable blocks. Thanks to the lightweight of the Colibri, the range is approximately 200 km.

An initial batch of 100 motorcycles has been put on sale to fund the rest of the project. Production of the Colibri is set to begin in May 2023 in a workshop in Romania. Customers willing to commit now benefit from a preferential price of $3,495 with 3 batteries (instead of $4,800). The Colibri with a single battery is sold at $2,799.

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