Jet-powered bicycle

You too can tear up your suburban sidewalks on a pulse jet-powered bicycle like this one. Engine designer Robert Maddox is selling pulsejets on eBay to outfit your own two-wheeler. Joel has more details and video at Boing Boing Gadgets. Link

[#1 posted by Bender , May 20, 2008 9:54 AM]

Well, it's not a flying car, but at least we're moving in the right direction.

[#2 posted by Anselm , May 20, 2008 10:04 AM]

I realize this is an incredibly stupid idea.

But boy, do I want one!

[#3 posted by trr , May 20, 2008 10:28 AM]

It looks like a giant AA-type Mag-Lite flashlight strapped onto the bike...except it also looks like it'd burn your foot or leg when used.

[#4 posted by anthony , May 20, 2008 10:33 AM]

I see an elegant, waste free, healthy machine turned into something that's part of the energy problem.

[#5 posted by airshowfan , May 20, 2008 10:42 AM]

I'm sure Red Bull will be organizing an international jet-bike-racing league in no time ;)

[#6 posted by LucasSheehan , May 20, 2008 11:29 AM]

I'm most intrigued but the vent/heater pipe/hvac whatever on the floor behind the bike. What is that!? Look at what appears to be spikes!? Is it a testing ground in the basement for his jet engines? A very intimidating heat/ac vent? Its rough looking at the very least, I like it.

[#7 posted by glamajamma , May 20, 2008 11:32 AM]

FUEL CONSUMPTION .5 GPM AT FULL THROTTLE

So you are going to outfit your bike to go speeds it wasn't designed for, so you can be terribly less efficient than buying a motorcycle that is designed to go at those speeds?

[#8 posted by Santa's Knee , May 20, 2008 11:33 AM]

@#5: The can call it "flammendenausfalltag"!

[#9 posted by manicbassman , May 20, 2008 11:51 AM]

note the really crappy brakes.... now there's one thing I'd really, really want to work properly...

[#10 posted by Pugzz , May 20, 2008 12:04 PM]

Wow! Don't let Pee Wee see this!

[#11 posted by mastercontroller , May 20, 2008 12:16 PM]

"Old Mrs. Jenkins may have survived The Blitz, but the throbbing whirr of a pulse-jet powered bicycle was enough to propel her into the great white infinite."

[#12 posted by coldspell , May 20, 2008 12:40 PM]

The big tube behind the bike is where they keep the sandworm.

[#13 posted by tim , May 20, 2008 1:03 PM]

Insane; do you know how LOUD a pulse jet is? I've seen a few model planes equipped with them and you need ear defenders - like say 1 mile or so of distance's worth.

And the heat they put out; and the bellow of hot gases. Good grief.

Some things are just too silly

[#14 posted by JayeRandom , May 20, 2008 1:39 PM]

@#6:
The tube in the background is an even larger pulsejet.

[#15 posted by CB , May 20, 2008 7:58 PM]

Almost a Rocketeer color scheme...

[#16 posted by Takuan , May 20, 2008 8:18 PM]

didn't Junk Yard Wars (the good version) do a pulse jet boat built in one day? Some welded tube and a leaf blower to start it if memory serves.

[#17 posted by palindromic , May 20, 2008 10:22 PM]

I'd love to see this thing in action.. I'm imagining that you don't hold down the thrust, but rather click it on for one or two pulses when you need a bit of boost.. like going up a hill or something. Three or more pulses in a row not recommended.

[#18 posted by flyingdutchman , May 21, 2008 7:32 AM]

This one goes right there with the "big block Chevy" powered motorcycles. Silly and utterly useless.

[#19 posted by funeralpudding , May 21, 2008 8:27 AM]

Turn left! Turn left! Tur-

[#20 posted by ROSSINDETROIT , May 21, 2008 9:18 AM]

"Gottfried, the bicycle is ready"
"Yes Lieutenant Weissmann"