The Manta5 hydrofoiling bike is now in full production in China and is being distributed around the world. The first one off the production was just introduced at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in Australia two weeks ago.
The bike weighs 6.7 pounds (including the battery and motor) and can hit a top speed of 13 mph. It starts to foil at 5.2 mph, and cruises at 7 to 8 mph.
The Manta5 uses the same hydrofoil technology as America’s Cup sailboats. It has carbon fiber foils and an aircraft-grade aluminum frame.
A 70 cell lithium-ion battery pack delivers 22aH, and you can swap out to a new pack in a matter of minutes. You can recharge the battery by plugging it into a standard wall socket; it takes three hours to recharge. The company says you can get up to 45 hours of riding time on what it calls a “pedal assist” mode.
When you stop pedaling, the bike slowly sinks down into the water. It’s buoyant, and lies on its side. You perform a technique called a “submerged launch” to get it going again.
Anyone who weighs between 130 pounds and 220 pounds can ride the Manta5; it can’t handle a submerged launch if the rider weighs more than 220 pounds.
The bike is 4.5 feet high by 6.5 feet wide and 7.2 feet long. It costs about $9,000 in the U.S.
To demonstrate its seakeeping ability, Hayden Reeves, Manta’s production manager, rode one across the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand after the America’s Cup races in Auckland earlier this year. The treacherous strait is 16 miles across, and Reeves made it on one fully charged battery on his first attempt. You can see the video of his ride below.
Manta’s European distributor is planning a crossing of the English Channel this summer. Read more at manta5.com and see the video below:
