- cross-posted to:
- weirdwheels
- cross-posted to:
- weirdwheels
Source: Raleigh Vektar Appreciation Society (Facebook)
Bike seen on 1985 Raleigh Vektar (r/RetroFuturism)
Some info from The Raleigh Vektar | The Bike Comes First:
The Vektar, the worlds first computer bike, was launched in 1985 long before we had health and safety laws. Equipped with ‘micro chip technology’ the rider could see how fast they were going, how far they had gone and how long they had been riding for at the touch of a button. The head’s down display ensured that you would ride into the back of your mate or a kerb as you fiddled with the control panel.
If that wasn’t enough you could listen to the radio on one of the three AM preset stations either while riding the bike or parked up hanging out with their pals. Later models came with a MW tuner giving even less crappy sound quality.
The main feature though was the advanced warning and alarm system. Once you had chosen one of the eight sounds from the ‘revolutionary sound generator’ on the top tube mounted control panel, you could use the handlebar mounted controller to terrorise old ladies as you rallied around the housing estate.
It looks like a slightly more grown-up version of the “Street Wolf”, which was a kids BMX with a pretend gps/map/computer console on it, and a real “plays annoying sounds” feature inside.
Of course, I’m only calling it annoying in retrospect. At the time I was envious of the cool kid down the road, whose computerised-scanner and siren sound machine was essential in defending our street from bad guys.