Yerka “unstealable” bike seeks funding on Indiegogo

The Yerka “unstealable” bike we reported on last November is now seeking funding through Indiegogo, a crowdfunding website similar to Kickstarter. They’re seeking $50,000 and with 44 days remaining, have raised $30,826. The unique bicycle was designed by three engineering students in Chile who had all been victims of cycle thieves.

The Yerka has a split down tube that extends up to 8in out, and the seat tube then slides through the two extensions to secure the bicycle to lamp post or railings. It’s an ingeniously simple design and looks to be very easy to use. We can’t imagine how stiff the bicycle might be during normal riding conditions with a down tube that has been cut in half.

“The main goal of this project was to produce the most secure bicycle system ever created without affecting the integrity of the frame itself,” says the company. “We realised that performance and comfort can be achieved together which is why the beauty of Yerka’s design is in its simplicity. By thinking out of the box we came up with a concept that merges everything into one sleek design.”

There are additional security features such as anti-theft wheel nuts. The frame is made from high tensile steel with 45mm deep section aluminium rims and 28mm Kenda tyres and weighs a claimed 11.4kg (25.13lb) for a size large.

A Yerka bike will cost $399, or the frameset on its own will be $199. You can support the company with just $5 funding, or $39 and you get a t-shirt. They’re looking at a July/August production and hope to ship the first bikes in October.

Check it out at www.indiegogo.com/projects/yerka-the-unstealable-bike