Reviews

As you may suspect I am really fascinated about the Halfbike and the way of movement on a it. Even after a long day work, I usually take my bike at 9:00 pm for a ride of at least half an hour as a personal workout. And although I have got a lot of troubles with my knees (cross-bounds and menisci are heavily damaged since years and decades) I've got the impression, that the way of movement is much better than on a normal bike: all the muscles of the leg are required and I feel a strong stabilization within after training. That's my personal experience.

Hi there, just received my Halfbike yesterday!! Happy Black Friday to me!! Was so excited and after assembly, my roommate and I took it out to practice and test it out. Both of us took about 15 min to learn and to ride straight. Since it was late the next day(today) we woke up earlier, and went for a ride around prospect park. I can definitely say we got it down and boy did we turn some heads. Went for a half mile bike ride and my quads are killing me!! In a good way!! Needless to say I love my new Halfbike and so happy to be part of this cool and innovative invention. We live in NYC, and I do a lot of marketing and personal assistant type things, so I say expect a lot of half bikes to NYC!! :) best of luck to you guys!! Lots of love.

Wow! I'm blown away by the Half Bike. I've had so much fun the past two weeks riding it. Definitely had the early challenges of balancing and getting started but now I'm able to go blocks or miles on some rides without stopping and it's amazing. Lots of people have asked about it and I've been letting them try it themselves. They find it fun and a good challenge. Loving it more and more and since the weather has been nice it's fun to use in the city. Thank so much and hope you're doing well! -Anthony

Hi halbike team ! Just a quick note to tell you that after 3 weeks of halfbiking every day to go to work (see picture !), I have great fun with my halfbike ! You really did a very cool product and mastering turns is a real blast ! It took me about 10 days to master the bike so it’s pretty fast to pick up !! Congrats to the full team and keep up the good work !! Happy new year from Pepper robots who warmly welcomed my halfbike near my desk

OMG! What a wonderful little device. I absolutely love it! Took a few tries to get going, but once I’m up - flying!!!

I'd like to let you guys know that I LOVE my new halfbike! I've only had it 2 days and I am addicted. There is a learning curve but after an hour I had going straight down pat. Next up is turning lol. I am surprised at how many muscles you use for balancing/riding... cause they're all sore lol. This is an exciting way to ride and stay in shape! You guys have an AWESOME product!!!

Once you learn & develop your motor skills & coordination...the bike's a blast!...Great attention / conversation starter for sure! Easily portable...economic...simple to maintain...And FUN, FUN,FUN!!...Thanx for the concept, development and actual engineering design!

My halfbike arrived from the other side of the world within 5 days. It was very easily assembled. I a cyclist and do a lot of road miles on a solo bike and also a tandem and abit of mountain biking aswell. My apartment carpark was a great place to relearn how to ride a bike. the half bike is a new ball,game but easily mastered. Took me maybe 20 minutes to get the basic is and be confident enough to head out of the car park. First and foremost a half bike is fun and it's a great urban cruiser. That's what I got it for, so I can go to local cafes etc without having to put cleats and cycling shoes on to ride ,my other bikes, so convent to go to the beach, park or cafe wearing street shoes and clothes. Everyone notices the halfbike and comments. I've let loads of people have a go on it, everyone loves it. I think it's easiest to get a beginner used to the steering motion, by putting one foot on the frame between the pedals and scooting it like a scooter for a minute or so just to get the hang of how it feels and turns. I've since fitted a universal MTB mud guard so I don't get a wet crutch riding through puddles. I've also done a couple of 12km rides on it. Although I had read they're not recommended for over 5km. If you are fit and used to cycling it's not hard to do 10km on it. You feel it more in your calves and front of your quads than a normal bike. Love by halfbike a great invention and it's my 4th bike in my garage but the most used now.

Dear Halfbike users or potential users: Riding a Halfbike would be the best thing you would do on your day; not only because everyone in town would look at you but also because of the fun that it takes on learning this new sport. Once you jump up on a Halfbike the first hought is: "I won´t be able to ride this in my life". Why? because it´s something you have never done. It´s not like surfing if you have done snowboarding, not like wakeboarding if you have done skate or waterskiing if you have done snow ski before. This is something your body has to experience for the first time and it´s actually amazing how fast you get used to this new movements. Me myself have had a blast of fun specially sharing this with friends. First time I showed everyone the Halfbike we were at a barbeque and I showed up riding fast and making turns with it. Everyone was stoked; they hadn´t seen that thing on their lifes and everyone wanted to try. It´s fun to see how people try to get used to the Halfbike and how some get used to the movements very fast. Next step for me: start jumping and doing tricks because I´m already too used to be faster than cars in town (hahaha). If you´re thinking on a Halfbike go and try it. I´m sure you would like it!

Love my Halfbike. Great excersice and always fun! But be prepared to be stopped everywhere. Everybody wants to try it! :-)

Dear Halfbike team, My halfie arrived today and it was totally worth the wait. I managed to put it together on my own and took it to the park for a test ride. I love it - the best bit is that I'll have to learn to ride it properly and hope it will make me spend more time out and about, getting fit as I go. Well done guys - it was a great idea to combine the movements from biking, skiing and horse-riding - it feels like it will definitely improve my balance and firm my core. Well, if I ride it regularly of course. But I have enjoyed it greatly even in the first clumsy tests, so hope to continue the exercise as often as possible until I really match those smooth motions from your movies;) All the best and keep the good work

I got mine last Wednesday, right before Thanksgiving so I was able to spend a bit of time on it (particularly with the unseasonably warm weather). It does take a bit of getting used to. So, I took the approach of trying to stand on it balanced with no movement and then pushed forward. Taking that approach got me started relatively quickly and within about 10 or 15 minutes of use I was able to just jump on and start riding. Turning took a bit more practice - I was riding up and down the street turning around at each end and I found that I was more unstable on left turns and it took more time to get around that way without jumping off than it did turning to the right (perhaps because my right side is stronger?). My daughter took this video on Thanksgiving day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmuyDtn930k

Putting the fun in exercise!! I didn't expect this to be so much fun. Most of my family tried to talk me out of purchasing a halfbike with the typical excused people give a woman of 62... "you're too old, it's too dangerous , you could get hurt." To be honest the first time I got on my new halfbike I secretly wondered if they were right. It wasn't what I expected. Day two was better and I was riding but a bit cautiously. Nowadays, my biggest problem is the people who stop me to ask about the bike. "It looks like such fun!" is the comment I always get to which I respond "it is!!" I ride about 6-8 miles a day for exercise and just love it. It has put the fun back into part of my routine and my family has given up on telling me I am too old. It's the best investment in me I ever made!!

Dreaming experience guys!!! No words to describe the flying sensation ...

I will say that the first couple of times I rode my half bike I thought I made a mistake. I was determined to get comfortable on it. I rode it everyday for thirty minutes for a week. Now I'm jumping curbs turning heads and Love riding my halfbike II. I put myself in tight situations on different sidewalks and it only makes me better at riding. I am completely happy with my bike and the service I received when purchasing my Halfbike II. My daughter is really enjoying it too.

Hi guys, I felt obliged to tell you my experience with my halfbike. I got it around 5 months ago, almost 6. Two weeks later I tried to use it (at a parking lot) and I felt very, very frustrated because I could not do it. So I kind of said: when I have more time and a correct place to practice I will. So that day happened just the last day of the year (yesterday) and I can tell you that, after leaving my thoughts about being too difficult, leaving my stupid thoughts of "i cannot do it- i will fall down" I just got to my super halfbike and did it. I just let my fear go away, loosened up, trusted myself, did not fight with the bike trying to control it.... and... voila!! That was it! i just did it! Well, I guess it may sound exaggerated... but this action just changed my vision of all things in my life: just let the stupid fear go away, just trust yourself, just do not try to control things... loosen up and everything will work at the end. So, my friends, my halfbike, believe it ir not, has just given me a life lesson. And you, as the creators, are part of it. So thanks for that!!! I needed to tell you. Big hug from México! Zaida

The halfbike is three things: An eye-catcher, a great work-out and so much fun.

I've been using Halfbike for more that a year now and I absolutely adore everything about it. Moscow is not Bicycle friendly city, so it is very cool for me to have a compact bicycle, easy to carry and fit into public transport. Halfbike is easy to master and very fun to ride. I really don't want to ride a normal bicycle anymore. Thanx a lot for such an amazing experience!)

I have not been very successful with riding the halfbike, as I do have knee problems (to include surgery a few years ago). I have let friends ride it, and they loved it! It does require good balance, another one of my problems, which will improve as you ride the halfbike. Overall it is fun and a great conversation starter!

Excellent freedom, openness and lightness. What I feel sometimes - would like to have wider pedals to support body weight better. Especially, when wearing lighter shoes, all the body weight (I'm not over-weighted) falls to reduced surface of foot and it is developing to be somewhat stressful. So I have the best experience pedaling with hiking boots :-) Mine halfbike is without gears. It didn't feel it to be important because most of roads in town are flat. Still, not everywhere and then I miss gears... In general, thanks for the great invention!

I loved the halfbike the first time I saw one (video on kickstarter). They require more time to master than one might think at first, but it is really a matter of adjusting one's center of gravity, and ride it like a skateboard. Great for flatter terrains and sight seeing.

The quality of the bike is excellent. Assembly is done within 40 minutes and it took me a couple of hours to get the hang of how to ride this bike (make sure you have enough space, don't try it on your terrace). It's great fun I can't wait for them to sell a childeren's version. Being able to fold down the handle make storage and transport easy. Christof, London

The HalfBike team did a great job. THANK YOU. Riding this special vehicle is simply great pleasure. I experienced only tow minor issues: (i) The back fenders are fairly fragile (and broke); (ii) a better fixation for the led lights should be "invented" (especially for the back light). For the rest, spring is coming & the sky is blue: High time to enjoy the halfbike ;-) Have a lovely day / piotr

Really great fun to cruise around. And good training for your thighs. Being a big boy, around 90 kg and 192 tall, I think it would be a bit more controlled to drive if the springs would be tighter/stronger. But still pure pleasure.

Great job on communication throughout the entire experience. Easy to assemble. Would have preferred more realistic videos and communication about the challenges of learning to ride the halfbike. Perhaps tips on how to overcome the challenges. Even us athletes can't just hop on and start riding like those in the video!

Easily one of the weirdest riding experiences I have EVER had. Also, I must add, easily one of the funnest riding experiences I have ever had! The Halfbike is truly one-of-a-kind and I thoroughly enjoy riding it, although I am still terrible at turning... Beware, this experience is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! In fact it can be very frustrating, but I haven't found it to be dangerous, because your feet and legs are not bound to the bike. Just hop off when the going gets bad, then hop right back on! Some things to note: I don't particularly like riding this when there is moisture on the ground because of the water that is flung up onto your back (I understand that this will be completely fixed with the new and improved fenders, but to be honest I am going to mention everything I can). Also, the wrap-around light works really well for the front, but when using it for the rear it is pretty wonky to get just right and feel confident that it will both stay on the Halfbike and be visible... Overall, I'm soooo glad that I backed the Halfbike kickstarter! SO WORTH IT!!! Now back to practicing riding it again... ;)

Halfbike is pure fun. Sometimes it takes another curve as i want, but my face and my knees are still ok

Best present ever!

The Halfbike design is every bit as awesome as I hoped and I can't wait to try it out when it stops raining!

I got out on my HB the other day, had it down in less than 5 minutes, went around the block 3 times ( a big block ) and was totally exhausted. For coming up on 64 this year, I did pretty well- loved every bit of it. I'm sure my neighbors are going to think I'm crazy when they see me out on it. I started on flat sidewalk, only jumped off 4 times- then decided to move to the street. The street has a slight incline, I hopped on and coasted downward as I got control of my balance- then started to pedal. By this time I had to turn right, a slight lean and it was done beautifully, many times in 3 laps. Next time, when the street is dry-rain recently, I'll go the other way around. I also must check to see what gear the HB is in. Between the workout and balancing, it was quite a workout, legs and stomach felt it for sure. Love it, have a great day ... ken ( from Laurel, MD-USA ) PS, I shall wear my shirt proudly

Hello HalfBike Creators! Thanks…it has arrived. On Time!….I was late, because I was travelling. I have successfully assembled the bike, had a couple of hours practice before the rain put a stop to it and am now travelling again! Nevertheless I am absolutely thrilled with it. When I have mastered how to ride - probably in June when the weather should be good, I’ll send you some pics. By the way I will be 78 years of age by then so maybe one of your oldest fans! Keep up the good work Greetings from a Welshman from Wales Bryn

Firstly, shipping was incredibly fast! Great stuff! Assembly was pretty straightforward, though there weren't clear instructions as to which side the rear wheels/shocks section should be attached (I ended up doing it upside down the first time - so the shocks were facing the ground). The ride itself took about 15 minutes to get going in a straight line, about a 1-2 weeks to turn comfortably, and 3 weeks in (I do 10 minutes consistently every night) I'm now jumping off sidewalks, riding with one hand, and completely enjoying my ride! This is one of the greatest de-stressors ever after a long day at work! I'm challenging myself to learn how to ride backwards (like you show in the tutorial vid) next! Some things that I think could be rethought in future versions: 1) Brakes - you kind of need to lean back with your body as your applying the breaks so that you don't get thrown off the front. Doesn't make for a very safe ride if you're driving really fast (luckily, no injuries or falls, but just a thought). The breaks seem more made to slow you down and let you jump off then to get you to a complete stop 2) Longer handles - it's a little awkward holding onto the handles since they're so compact. You get used to it eventually, but took a while 3) Have you accounted for big feet? I wear size 11.5 (US), and sometimes feel the back sole of my shoe scraping the rear wheel, especially when taking sharper turns - is that normal? I ordered the largest size half bike. 4) On the topic of feet, is there a particular style I should be riding on the pedals? (i.e. front of the foot, middle, or rear) Sometimes after getting off a particularly long ride, or a ride where I sprinted, the bottom of my foot hurts. I noticed this especially if I ride on the pedals with the middle or rear of my foot. Otherwise, I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this! I'm recommending it to friends as well - the biggest stump (b4 really evaluating the product) is actually the price tag; it's a bit hefty. Keep up the great work!

This was my first ever pledge on Kickstarter so unsure what I was letting myself in for. To my utter delight, I received two professionally built bikes (one for me, one for my wife) that were fantastically different to anything out there. I loved the quirky design and bold colour scheme (orange and yellow) against the black backdrop and the wooden handle. I love riding it despite the fact that I have not fully mastered this yet. My wife loves hers even more and the tricksy balancing act has not put her off at all. Simply put, they are soooo cool!

I have my halfbike for 2 months now and I'm very happy about it. I ride about two times every week for about 10 to 15 km. I find it very amusing to workout this way. I already lost 10 kgs (together with a healthy foodplan). It doesn't feel like a workout but a very pleasant ride.

Great idea and bike, might work even better with a bit wider tyres......front and back. Would give it a better and easier feel I guess. Workout factor is awesome.

I love my Halfbike! It is so much fun and attracts so much attention. It was totally worth shipping it halfway round the world (to Australia). It does ride VERY differently than anything else, so seriously don't underestimate the value of time, patience, and the odd YouTube video as you get the hang of it! My Halfbike is perfect, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

At first glance the halfbike looks like a mix between a bicycle and a scooter, but looks can be deceiving. It feels different enough from both. Riding the halfbike is a unique experience, and one where knowing how to ride a regular bicycle does not help you learn. The key is that your hands and arms are not used just to steer and control the halfbike, but to some extend to power and stabilise it. Your core is much more involved, especially your obliques. When you press on the pedal, you must counteract by pushing with your hands in the opposite direction, and it's easier if you do it before you put your full weight on the pedal. This results in a great workout. It's funny how almost everyone trying for the first time fails to ride for more than a couple of meters. However, with practice, there is a certain elegance when you see an experienced halfbiker twisting their body slaloming by invisible obstacles, gliding on the asphalt like a fish in water. This does not come right away, but there are a couple of adjustments that help. Adjust your posture so you're slightly bent forward and pull your hips back in order to shift some weight away from the knees. When you turn or stop, you should lean to the side or to the back respectively to counteract the momentum. Also, at least for me it's a bit easier if I lean on the handlebars instead of trying to pull them when I try to stabilise the halfbike on every pedal push. There is something which is more difficult than it looks like it should be- riding when the road is slightly inclined to one side. Since the angle of the back wheels relative to the surface determine how you turn, this means that going straight requires you to hold the handlebars parallel to the road, so slightly at an angle, and there's pressure to turn. One thing I still don't trust is the brakes. Due to the high centre of gravity it's not safe to brake the front wheel so the only option left is to brake the rear wheels. This is not very efficient and at least on my halfbike produces a screeching sound as the brakes temporarily lock up. Still, overall it's a very fun experience, it's portable and usable, and I alternate commuting with my bike and halfbike. While the halfbike will not replace the bicycle, it has its place and I have no intention to stop using it.

Absolutely love my halfbike. It's nothing like traditional cycling - a totally new feeling. The way it moves, the ability to make sharp, repetitive turns, the way it feels - pure perfection. Not to mention the physical aspect of riding a halfbike for 2-3 hours - a proper training for the whole body. All in all, I truly enjoy riding my halfbike. Thank you guys for coming up with this ingenious invention! Keep up the good work. All the best.

High marks for creating a fun, full body, core-exercising machine. My children love it too, more than skates and scooters. I had originally intended to use it as a short distance commuting option since it is a hassle to get my regular bicycle out, pumped, and loaded. It is harder to ride than a bike (takes more energy to go an equivalent distance) and does not do well on uneven pavement or sidewalks. On the other hand, I'm 52 years old and this is so much easier on my back and bottom, so I prefer it to my bicycle for going shorter distances (up to 2 or 3 miles) whenever I can. Much easier to get in and out of the house than a bike too.

Arctic ride - Done! I've been riding my Halfbike since Sep 15th 2016 on every week day 6 km total of commuting. Mostly paved and some gravel surfaces in all kinds of weather conditions from sunshine to heavy rain and lately also in frozen conditions i.e. below zero temperatures - real winter. All in all - frozen surfaces with fresh snow are too difficult I'd say down right impossible to ride. See pictures! Initially it took me good three quarters of an hour to ride the first 5 meters. Online tutorials were a valuable help. So a few details/ideas for you boys to ponder on: Front wheel (high guality brand) is ok, but I've had 4 punctures on rear wheels so far. There might be a need for improvement. Maybe rougher type for snow and gravel? Handlebar grips could be more of a rounded end type (I have worn off the original ones over the winter) You have added fenders - great - I'll order them right away! What about a larger gear ratio - a 7 speed hub? So my first summer with Halfbike is coming - I'm so excited ;-)

Makes old people's teeth fall out and kids scream with excitement as you fly by

One of the most awesome things on this planet. It is good that you have 14 days to send the bike back, because you might seriously consider it. Resist that though, and give the bike a chance. Or even many, you will not regret it. After four days my biggest achievement with the halfbike was driving around 250 metres in a straight line, without falling. And after a 45-minute session I could barely walk, as the muscles needed to ride the halfbike are rarely used otherwise (unless you live on the top of the Eiffel tower). Anyway, I started to love it. That feeling when the bike is finally riding and I am able to control it is very rewarding and definitely makes up for a really steep learning curve. After a few weeks I am able to quite comfortably drive for around 4 kilometres - and it all comes naturally, without thinking. Despite that, I know that the halfbike is definitely not for everyone. You need a lot of motivation and will to want to learn it (and master it), but at least to me it is definitely worth every second spent with it. All the best, Miki