EyeLights Rocket One: A Head-Up Display on Two Wheels

Image Credit: EyeLights.

Have I got news for you today… It's a motorcycle. It's electric. It's French. And it looks like it's been beamed straight out of a 1980s sci-fi flick. Brace yourself, because this is the EyeLights Rocket One.

I've seen my fair share of wacky concept bikes over the years. Remember that BMW thing that looked like a melted slug? Or the Yamaha that tried to read your mind? (Spoiler alert: it couldn't). But this EyeLights contraption… this takes the baguette. The first thing you'll notice is the headlight. Imagine a jet engine swallowing a disco ball, and you're halfway there. It's so big it could probably double as a satellite dish in a pinch.

And then things get a bit weirder. This "motorcycle" (and I use the term loosely) is brought to you by EyeLights, a company that makes heads-up displays (HUDs) for motorcycle helmets. I am not making this up. They're basically saying, "Hey, we make this thing that sticks to your helmet and shows you stuff. So, naturally, we decided to build an entire motorcycle around it." Makes perfect sense, right?

Anyway, back to the Rocket One. This electric beast supposedly packs 180 horsepower and a whopping 885 lb-ft of torque. That's enough twist to unscrew the Empire State Building. And apparently, it can do 0 to 60 mph in a mind-boggling 2.6 seconds. Now, I'm not saying they're fibbing, but let's just say I've seen politicians with more credibility.

Image Credit: EyeLights.

The design itself is... interesting. It's got quite a bit of a café racer vibe going on. Low-slung handlebars and a quintessential single seat that looks about as comfortable as a park bench. And then we get those weird glowing circles sticking out the sides, which seem strategically placed to take out your ankles every time you lean into a corner. Safety first, eh?

But the best part is the claimed range: 248 miles. That's right, 248 miles on a single charge. I'm no battery expert, but that sounds about as likely as finding a unicorn riding a penny-farthing. My skeptic senses are tingling, so unless EyeLights has invented some magical new battery technology (or they're planning on towing a nuclear reactor behind the bike), I'd take that 248-mile figure with a whole salt mine, not just a pinch.

Image Credit: EyeLights.

Of course, none of this really matters because the Rocket One is about as likely to see production as I am to win a Nobel Prize in physics. Designing a concept bike is one thing. Actually building it, getting it through safety regulations, and selling it to the public is a whole different kettle of fish. It's like baking a cake versus building a spaceship. Don't believe me? Ask Eric Buell what happened to the Fuell Fllow. Yeah.

None of the potential hiccups could have stopped EyeLights from opening a waiting list for this two-wheeled fantasy. If you've got money to burn and a penchant for the outlandish, you can throw your name in the hat. Just don't hold your breath.

Image Credit: EyeLights.

Let's talk about the real reason this bike exists: the EyeRide HUD. This little gadget attaches to your helmet and displays all sorts of information, like your speed, battery level, and whether or not your socks match. (Okay, maybe not that last one). It's been around since 2018, and to be honest, I'm not entirely convinced it's the revolutionary technology they claim it to be. 

But who am I to judge? Maybe I'm just an old fuddy-duddy who's resistant to change. Or maybe I just prefer to keep my eyes on the road instead of on a tiny screen telling me what I already know.

Image Credit: EyeLights.

The EyeLights Rocket One - a concept bike that's more about marketing a HUD than actually, you know, being a motorcycle. It's a bizarre, futuristic, and slightly ridiculous creation that's unlikely to ever see the light of day. But at least it's entertaining, right? And in the world of electric vehicles, sometimes that's all that matters.

Wait a minute… By the time I got to the end of this article, I started looking at this thing with a weird, warm, and fuzzy feeling, getting stronger every minute. There is something about it, I gotta admit. It needs some tweaks here and there - it's too tall, too long, and the sitting position is weird, but that retro-looking front with the abyss-like headlight is really attractive. No, I won't be putting my name down for one - once burnt, twice shy kinda thing. But I can't wait to see it in real life, on the road, and being driven like it deserves to.