Ride Like Tron: WAU’s Sci-Fi ‘Cyber’ E-Bike Comes From A Cool Techno Future

There are e-bikes, and then there are e-bikes with a capital “E.” The new Cyber e-bike from UK startup WAU (pronounced “wow”) is one of those “Big E” e-bikes, and WAU’s founders recently came through the Pacific Northwest as they toured their near-production spec prototype Cyber machines ahead of a crowd-funding push, which begins July 25th on Indiegogo.

During their stop in Portland, I rode two WAU Cyber e-bikes for a short bit around my neighborhood, and was an impressive experience both in terms of the cinematic styling, performance and its potent tech suite.

WAU will offer the Cyber is a range of trims, but the crowdfunding campaign will offer buyers/investors the chance to snap up one of 75 initial production units for $2,999. Co-founder Crystal Drury (below), who was on the trip along with c0-founder Linas Pozerskis and other team members, said after the initial run of 75 units (25 each of three power trims), prices will increase as is typical for post-campaign retail pushes.

Pozerskis told Forbes.com the Cyber is intentionally designed as a full-on, no apologies electrified bicycle as opposed to the many e-bike makers that continue to follow a form factor that makes e-bikes look more and more like conventional (or “analog”) bicycles. I don’t particularly prefer any one style over the another; all the options have appeal, advantages and drawbacks. I’m still impressed daily at the breadth of e-bike design ideas that cross my monitor. Electrification has given vehicle designers of every stripe broad new latitudes as to what makes a bicycle, car, truck, airplane and so on. I’m happy to see the innovation and imaginative designs.

Of course, one look at the pre-production Cyber prototypes, with their massive hexagonal aluminum frames, fat tires, colorful yet functional strips of LED lights and motorcycle-like display panel clearly indicates WAU isn’t going to try to sneak one of these past a Tour de France tech inspection. WAU says there will be three initial Cyber models, including two pedal-assist models. One will be a 250-Watt/95nm 48-Volt bike and the other 750-Watt/160nm 52-Volt mid-tier. Bafang motors power both of those hard tail Class 3 (U.S.) models.

The two pedal-equipped models will ship with a 1 kWh Samsung 21700 40T lithium-ion battery (1 kWh is about 1,000 Watt-hours) and Shimano Deore XT 10-Speed derailleurs. The top model, called the Cyber 5000, dispenses with the pedals completely, adds full suspension, smaller 21-inch wheels and 3-inch tires, and can be registered as an electric motorbike in the U.S. and as a moped in the UK. A massive 2.8 kWh 60-Volt power cell will power the single-speed Cyber 5000 that has just the one speed because the 5,000-Watt motor will propel it to 55 miles an hour. It will also have an option for line lock if lighting up bike tires is a thing – and of course I gave it go! Unfortunately, WAU was not able to bring the 5,000-Watt beastie to Portland with them. Soon, I hope. All three bikes use the same signature frame and share many other components.

The two prototype bikes WAU did bring also included three-direction radar-driven obstacle/vehicle detection system that activates arrows in a small display above the main TFT display, which can also show navigation prompts. Closing fast? Tektro Dorado four-piston hydraulic 203mm disc brakes gripping 24-inch tall 4-inch wide tires on the two pedal assist models haul it down from speed. Buyers can opt for tires with dirt or road-oriented tread. The top trim gets larger 220mm rotors.

The space inside the frame where the batteries were located on the prototypes will eventually be eight liters of storage capacity – or it can carry an optional second battery, activated by a simple pushbutton on the top frame rail. And speaking of batteries, one of the forward-thinking tech tricks that WAU will offer as an option is the ability to run 120-volt devices off the bike’s battery using an optional “Power Portal” inverter. It’s not exactly a Powerwall, but if your fridge is defrosting during a power outage, it’s better than nothing. USB outlets on the bike allow for device charging, of course.

The TFT display is another literal bright point. The color panel shows speed, power output, assist level, battery level by bar and percent, and numerous other tidbits. The prototypes were also adorned with a suite of LED trim lights that also functioned as turn signals and marker lights. Headlight and tail lights are standard, with the small headlight putting out a retina-melting 3,000 lumens. The LEDs can be programmed to change color, stay a specific color, or roll through a color change routine. This will be a hard bike to miss, day or night.

More tech: WAU will offer front and rear video cameras for recording your ride (and anything that happens during it) along with the blind spot and forward distance monitoring modules that were fitted to the prototypes. There will also be Auto Immobilizer and E-Key options for more security, along with the ability to track the bike via an app.

I rode both prototype bikes the WAU team had with them and on balance, they are great fun to charge around on and when stopped, they immediately draw a crowd. You can opt for a traditional bicycle-style seat or a more aesthetically pleasing angled bench seat, which does make it a bit tougher to pedal, but really, these bikes aren’t really meant for riders looking to set their Strava personal best. On the street, hit the the throttle and the bikes move out with authority, the long-travel front suspension soaking up every bump to the point of feeling a bit vague, like riding a downhill-specific hardtail mountain bike to the 7-Eleven. Overkill? Maybe, but also smooth and plush. Obviously, WAU is still dialing in suspension and other ride quality metrics before serial production begins. The brakes are powerful yet progressive, and the experience on pavement is closer to a small motorcycle than a skinny e-bike. Fine by me.

I also pointed the Cyber off the pavement since it was wearing knobbied fat tires and did some traction tests on some forest paths in a nearby wooded park. With the wide contact patch and knobbies, it may as well have been pavement, except I could hop the back end a bit for some wheel spin and a bit of dirt roost. Good fun, and the wide bars give the Cyber a bit of a dirt bike feel as well, but overall the bike felt best on pavement. Still, I would not hesitate to take it down a dirt or gravel forest road, especially the full-bounce version once it becomes available.

Pozerskis, Drury and their small team are clearly passionate about electric bikes and how they can improve everyone’s lives by cutting down on emissions and giving those that may not be able to ride a normal bike a chance to get back in the saddle and get around without needing a car. Couple that with their decision to offer a voltage inverter to give the bike even more utility speaks well for their goal of making the Cyber a versatile, useful, practical platform. Those extras and ideas give the WAU Cyber value beyond just being an electrified bicycle.

Look for a full ride review of a production WAU Cyber in the near future.