Pedaling is overrated — err, at least that’s the impression one might get when viewing the FlyKly Smart Wheel on the floor of CES. It’s essentially a lightweight wheel that’s designed to act as a minimalist pedal assistant, giving you an extra boost of power whenever you need it most on your daily commute to work or ride about town.
Available in a variety of sizes, the Smart Wheel is crafted to fit geared and single-speed bikes alike. It packs a 250-watt motor and a slew of smart sensors — i.e. a motion sensor, torque sensor, motor temperature sensor, and system monitoring sensor – all of which relay information and various metrics to your smartphone via Bluetooth and an accompanying mobile app available for iOS and Android device.
Once paired with your smartphone, you can customize the level assistance and extend its range, giving you greater control on how you utilize the wheel’s mechanics in your day-to-day activities. It can assist you up to 16 mph and caters to wheel sizes ranging from 20 to 28 inches in size. It measures other information, too, such as your travel distance and location, all of which is sharable through the usual social channels at a moment’s notice.
The internal software is only one component of the wheel, though. The sleek motor measures a mere 7 inches in diameter and comes pre-installed on the wheel, allowing you to change the back tire as you would normally. The durable, weatherproof housing is made of 6082-T6 aluminum, so you can rest assured the battery and motor will remain cool under strenuous biking conditions. Best of all, it lasts three hours on a single charge and features a regenerative breaking system that allows you to regain some juice whenever you coast or slow down.
Sadly, the Smart Wheel’s price is just as premium as its feature set. It’s currently available as a standalone device for $1,100 on the FlyKly website, or as part of a bundle with various Linus and MSC bikes. If you can afford it, however, you might just be able to make it to work without wearing a sweat-drenched shirt. Sounds good to us.
