If you’re young and seeking different, stylish products, if you’re passionate about surfing, skateboarding, music, sneakers, fashion—essentially, if you’re youthful—the bicycle industry advises you, provided your desire isn’t solely driven by performance motives, to either take a sedative like Temesta or buy a BMX. Let’s not even mention hastily revamped and electrified vintage cruisers from the 80s.
The introduction of electric assistance has given the bicycle market a boost in innovation, but nowadays, discussions revolve around motor power, battery size, and service offerings or leasing. In short, apart from Cake Bike or Super73 (though this list is not exhaustive), there’s nothing truly mind-blowing. And even then, Cake offers small electric motorcycles, not bicycles.
Then comes Gas Gas with the UFO pictured above and the video below. It’s a cultural hybrid, a bicycle with a small motorcycle appearance that wisely doesn’t pretend to have an engine. The empty frame is evidently intentional. The design and communication aesthetics draw inspiration from the Californian style—something seen before but refreshing due to its quality. You can watch the latest promotional video for the Ducati Scrambler (motorcycles), and it’s the same concept. It’s not about performance but lifestyle.
Opinions on this vehicle can vary, but it’s more exciting than a VanMoof, and finally, the younger generations can embrace an electric bicycle that’s a bit daring, not resembling mom’s e-bike.
Its large wheels should enable it to go anywhere, and the power will provide sensations. We wrote years ago about the convergence of motorcycle and bicycle imagery. This is an example of that. It won’t be a mass-market product, but that’s not the objective either.
The connection to sports? BMX, skateboarding, surfing, motorcycles, and the entire associated culture…
Gas Gas is part of the same group as the Austrian brand KTM, owned by Pierer Mobility AG. Gas Gas is present in MotoGP through the French Tech 3 team and also in US Supercross with top rider Justin Barcia. Spanish brand, Gas Gas gained recognition in the mid-80s for trials riding, succeeding Bultaco and SWM, particularly in a country like Spain, where motorcycles hold significant importance, much like in Italy.
