The Skyrider X1 - A Flying Motorcycle That's Sky-High on Promises. Is It a Little Too Much Hot Air?

Image Credit: Rictor.

CES has come and gone, and you know what that means: a whole slew of new gadgets that promise to revolutionize our lives. Some are genuinely impressive, some are head-scratchers, and some… let's just say they fall somewhere in between. This year, one of the more "interesting" reveals was the Skyrider X1, a so-called "flying motorcycle" brought to you by Rictor, a sub-brand of the Chinese company Kuickwheel.

I'm as excited as the next gal about the prospect of zipping around town like a futuristic superhero, but I have to admit, I'm approaching this one with a healthy dose of skepticism (and maybe a raised eyebrow or two). After all, this is a company whose claim to fame, until now, was an e-bike. Jumping from that to a flying motorcycle? Very much like me attempting to bake a soufflé after mastering the art of toast. Ambitious, to say the least.

But, let's give credit where credit is due. The Skyrider X1 is a pretty darn cool concept. Imagine this: you're cruising down the street, and traffic grinds to a halt. No problem! You simply unfold the four arms of your motorcycle, fire up the eight coaxial propellers, and whoosh – you're airborne! So long, suckers! I'll be sipping margaritas on my rooftop patio while you're still stuck in gridlock.

Image Credit: Rictor.

Of course, the reality might be a little less glamorous. Rictor claims the Skyrider X1 can hit a top speed of 62 mph in the air and stay aloft for up to 40 minutes, depending on the battery pack you choose. I'm no aerospace engineer, but that seems a bit optimistic for a vehicle that has to constantly fight gravity. Expecting a hummingbird to fly across the Atlantic on a single sugar cube is a bit silly.

Speaking of sugar cubes, the Skyrider X1 comes in two battery sizes: the base X1 SL with a 10.5-kWh battery (good for a claimed 25 minutes of flight time) and the X1 SX with a 21-kWh battery (supposedly giving you 40 minutes of airtime). They also boast about "triple-redundant flight control systems" and an emergency parachute. Talking about parachutes when launching a flying motorcycle doesn't exactly inspire confidence. But it's a safety thing, and I'd rather have one if I was trying this thing out.

The Skyrider X1 also features automatic route planning, real-time weather and environmental adaptability, and – drumroll, please – automated takeoff and landing. That's right, you just set your destination, and this baby takes care of the rest. A self-driving car, but in the sky! What could possibly go wrong?

Image Credit: Rictor.

Before you rush out to mortgage your house and put down a deposit on a Skyrider X1, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, this is still very much in the concept phase. There are no working prototypes, no flight tests, and no certifications. It's all just pretty pictures and big promises at this point. Second, the price tag apparently is $60,000. On one hand, that's a lot of dough for something that might end up being a glorified lawn ornament. But on the other hand, if they manage to pull this off - that's a bargain flying contraption.

Let's not forget that Rictor isn't exactly a household name in the aerospace industry. They're basically the new kid on the block, trying to make a splash with a product that's a bit out there. Your neighbor suddenly announcing they're building a rocket ship in their garage comes to mind. You'd probably be supportive, but you wouldn't exactly be booking a ticket to Mars just yet, now would you?

Image Credit: Rictor.

All that being said, I'm not entirely writing off the Skyrider X1. It's a bold idea, and I admire Rictor for thinking miles outside the box. If they can actually pull this off, it'll be a revolution. But until I see some actual proof of concept, I'm going to remain on terra firma. After all, I've been burned before by too-good-to-be-true gadgets. Remember Fuell? Yeah, I'm still waiting for it to arrive.

In the meantime, I'll stick to my trusty old car (with its four wheels firmly planted on the ground, thank you very much). But if Rictor ever wants a test pilot for the Skyrider X1, I'm their girl. Just make sure that parachute is in good working order, okay?