Startup bike company placed its first order to produce 300 of its “unstealable” bikes, .
The bike frame’s downtube splits into two parts that swing outward and form a lock with the extra-long seatpost. Stealing the bike would require sawing through the frame, destroying it in the process. The bike also guards against wheel theft by using nuts on the hubs that require a special tool to remove.
The three former engineering students who started Yerka used the crowdfunding website Indiegogo to sell their first bikes. The campaign sold 197 bikes, about half of those to customers in the United States.
They plan to receive customer feedback before ramping up production at a factory in Shanghai and targeting global markets.
“In the next four years, our goal is to sell a container of almost 300 units each month worldwide,” Cristóbal Cabello, the 22-year-old CEO of Yerka, told CNN.“But the most important goal is that customers say, “This bike is great. We love the bike you sold us, and we will spread the word.’”
The bike will cost about $600, depending on where it’s sold.