Living, Travel

Meet the Japanese motorbike that folds into a cube

A ride both thrilling and comforting.

words by: Sahar Khraibani

Dec 5, 2021

We can all agree that it’s difficult to get around traffic congestion. Japanese brand ICOMA, on the other hand, is assuring you that you will no longer be concerned by it (at least not as much as a large car) with an all-new tiny and folding electric motorcycle. This folding electric motorbike from Japan is the real deal, with a range of 31 miles and the ability to fit under a desk, we’re talking innovation at its best.

The details

The “TATAMEL BIKE” which is really essentially a moped, is great for getting around the city during rush hour and can be folded down and kept under a typical office desk. When fully extended, it is 1230mm long, 1000mm tall, and 650mm wide (48.4″ x 39.3″ x 25.6″). When folded, it measures 700mm long, 680mm tall, and 260mm wide (27.56″ x 26.78″ x 10.24″).

It is powered by a lithium iron phosphate battery and has a top speed of 40km/h (~25 mph). It can cruise for about 50km (31 miles) on a single charge. With a front and rear suspension and a full LED lighting system, this bike is also equipped with a portable power supply (meaning that it can also be used as a power source) and wheels that allow it to be easily moved indoors and outdoors.

Users can further customize the compact vehicle by replacing the side panels with their own choice of colors and materials. They can also decorate it with illustrations or personalized signage to further enhance its exterior.

On the website, the company advertised it as follows: “You can park just under your desk / You can park anytime, anywhere / Add more convenience to your life / ICOMA TATAMEL BIKE Portable Foldable Rechargeable / For a more enjoyable ride / Able to act as a power source but lightweight / Enabling more possibilities for a bike / That’s what we’re doing / That’s what we’ll always do.”

Although it is still currently in its prototype stage, ICOMA plans to roll out the foldable TATMEL Bike into production soon.

Is this the new hope for the future in terms of changing the way we view transportation? I believe that in a couple of years, we will be able to avoid car congestion and traffic altogether, and projects such as these are a sure-fire way to get there. How thrilling it is to be living at the precipice of such innovation.