Segway’s modest e-bike lineup is about to gain a new entrant.
The Ninebot-owned brand, once known for its pioneering self-balancing scooters, currently only sells two e-bikes: the moto-styled Xyber and the low-step Xafari. Now it’s getting a third, Myon, which it plans on officially debuting at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next year. But before that, the company provided two exclusive teaser images of the new bike to The Verge.
Segway describes Myon as an everyday commuter and leisure e-bike that should look like a more “traditional” bicycle than the Xyber and Xafari.
“We designed the Myon for every type of rider, from first-timers to seasoned cyclists,” Nick Howe, Segway’s head of e-bikes, said in a statement. “It’s an e-bike that’s equally as suited to daily commuting as it is to weekend pleasure cruises. And with technology that combines Segway original innovations with features inspired by the auto industry, we believe it represents a leap forward in terms of the rider experience on two wheels.”
While we can’t see much in the provided images, we can see one interesting feature: rear-facing radar. Segway says that the Myon will include the millimeter wave radar for “enhanced safety,” describing it as among several technologies that the company is cribbing from the auto industry. The radar can help alert cyclists when cars are approaching, from which direction, and how close without having to take their eyes off the road, Segway says.
“It’s like having eyes in the back of your head,” Howe said. “It helps keep you more aware of your surroundings without taking your eyes off what’s in front of you.”
RearView Radar will have a 150-degree field of view with a range of up to 230 feet in the rear and 20 feet wide. It will feature a variety of alerts for the following scenarios based on distance, position and speed of the vehicle detected: Blindspot Detection (BSD), Lane Change Warning (LCW) and Rear Collision Warning (RCW). If turn signals are in use while there is an active BSD or LCW alert, the frequency of the signal will increase, urging additional caution for any intended changes of direction. Riders will be able to customize alerts and fine-tune sensitivity in the Segway Mobility App.
Rear-facing radar is nothing new in the world of e-bikes, as many manufacturers have included the technology in their models, either as a standard feature or an option. Segway is opting for the latter, selling its RearView Radar as a paid upgrade for the Myon. (Pricing for the feature, as well as the bike, won’t be available until January 6th, the same day it goes on sale.) For what its worth, Segway’s radar has less range than the Garmin-supplied rear-facing radar included in Specialized’s Turbo lineup (Segway’s 230 ft vs Specialized’s 460 ft).
It’s cool to see Segway continuing to build out its e-bike lineup. While the business of e-bikes is getting more complicated, and more expensive, and some established players fall by the wayside, it’s encouraging to see established companies, especially ones focused on affordable models, continuing to release fun and interesting products.