Doesn’t matter where you stand on e-bikes, just look at this thing. Launched at Sea Otter, it’s a massively overpowered “wheelchair” from Icon that’s built for crushing trails. It’s not just overpowered, it’s impressively overbuilt, with CNC’d architecture, articulating control arms to keep the frame leaning correctly in the corners and off camber sections, and more. As they put it, it’s “bonkers level” fun…
Their articulating arm suspension design is called Icon Carver and serves two purposes. First, it keeps the rider upright on up to a 35º side slope. Second, it keeps the seat flat while the wheels move independently over uneven surfaces, which could be a rock garden or something as simple as dropping off a curb at an angle.
The command center steers with a normal handlebar, and uses a dual hydraulic line to split one lever into working both left and right front brakes. The rider sits inside an adjustable width carbon fiber seat with a kite boarding harness to keep them in place. The frame can be 316 stainless steel, 7000-series aluminum, titanium or carbon fiber.
Click to enlarge and you’ll see how it works better. The pivot is behind the wheels axle (the upper black circle at the back of the blue piece), and the lower pivot drives the air shock. There’s 6″ of ground clearance underneath.
Driving the Explore forward is this monstrous 3000W electric motor with an 18,650 cell 52V Li-Ion battery. Retail is just under $15,000, but with options (like a carbon fiber frame or Silca titanium tool kit) it can easily top $20k…plus about $895 shipping to the USA from the company’s HQ in Denmark.
They’re also showing this push mountain trike concept on their website, which allows the rider to steer, while your friend pushes from behind. It’s aimed more at city parks and paths than real trails, but still very cool.
