Mercedes introduces its two-wheel alternative<\/p>\n
By Russell Williamson<\/p>\n
PT Star Motors Indonesia, the local assembler of Mercedes-Benz
\ncars, has introduced the perfect partner for the luxury German
\npassenger cars.<\/p>\n
For those times when Jakarta's traffic becomes a little too
\nheavy or your fitness level becomes a serious concern, the luxury
\ncar-maker is now offering the latest in high-tech, two-wheeled
\nhuman-powered transport, the Mercedes-Benz bicycle.<\/p>\n
The bicycle was developed with the help of the Austrian
\ncompany Steyr-Daimler-Puch, which also builds the four-wheel
\ndrive G-Wagen for the German car-maker.<\/p>\n
The Mercedes-Benz bicycle, like its other luxury vehicles,
\noffers the very latest in technology.<\/p>\n
With mountain bike styling, the bike has a lightweight
\naluminum frame available in three sizes, 46cm, 50cm and 54cm.<\/p>\n
In place of a regular chain, the bike is driven by a rubber
\nbelt drive, making it smooth, quiet and maintenance free.<\/p>\n
The gears are powered through a Shimano 7-speed hub with the
\ngear change mechanism, located in a revolving handle, integrated
\ninto the handle bars.<\/p>\n
Both the front and rear brakes are discs sealed in cylindrical
\nhousings to minimize maintenance and reduce the effects of the
\nweather.<\/p>\n
A dynamo provides power for the lights and runs off the rear
\nwheel. It is activated by a remote control switch mounted on the
\nhandle bars.<\/p>\n
A U-bolt type security lock fits into a housing behind the
\nleather seat and doubles as a lightweight carrier, capable of
\nbearing up to 10kg.<\/p>\n
All this technology does not come cheap however. The Mercedes-
\nBenz bike is on sale in Indonesia for Rp 4 million.<\/p>\n
In addition to the bicycle, Mercedes-Benz is also understood
\nto be working on a motorbike.<\/p>\n
While details of the motorbike's specifications remain
\nsketchy, it is likely to be powered by a version of the three-
\ncylinder engine developed for Mercedes' micro car joint-venture
\nwith Swiss watch-maker, Swatch.<\/p>\n
Mercedes-Benz asked Puch to investigate building a Benz
\nmotorcycle as it was seen to be making the Smart's three-cylinder
\nengine (as the micro car is known) more economically viable.<\/p>\n
The Smart's three-cylinder is likely to require little
\nmodification to go into the motorbike.<\/p>\n
A Mercedes-Benz executive told Automotive Business that
\nalthough no launch date for the motorbikes had been announced,
\ndevelopment was well advanced.<\/p>",
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