Motorbike? Car? It’s a bit of both

LOS ANGELES – Lit Motors calls it the C-1, but the San Francisco startup’s untippable motorcycle seems nothing short of magic. It uses gyroscopes to stay balanced in a straight line and in turns in which drivers can, in theory, roll down their windows and drag their knuckles on the ground.

Is it a motorcycle? A car? Neither. It’s an entirely new form of personal transportation, presuming it gets off the ground.

The all-electric vehicle is fully enclosed and uses a steering wheel and floor pedals like a car. But it weighs just 800 pounds and balances on two wheels even when stopped, making it more efficient than hauling around a 2-ton four-wheeler and safer than an accident-prone bike.

“We’re bringing safety to motorcycles with car-like controls that everyone’s familiar with,” said Lit Motors founder and C-1 creator Daniel Kim.

If it goes into production in early 2014 as planned, it will be made with a steel uni-body and glass windows to protect drivers from the weather and objects that might crash into them, leaving enough room behind the driver’s seat to carry a passenger, groceries or suitcase.

The personal transportation industry is now focused on emissions, but as the global population increases and shifts to urban areas, the discussion is likely to include options like the C-1 that can help reduce traffic congestion and burdens on roadway infrastructure.

Like its name, which is likely to evolve along with the machine, the C-1 is so early in its development that the final drivetrain hasn’t yet been determined. Kim is targeting a top speed of 120 miles per hour and 220 miles per charge using an 8-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery pack. The $24,000 starting price is comparable to a high-end Harley-Davidson or Ducati.