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Mazda Unveils Minimalist Track Bike at Milan Design Week

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While functionality is typically the top of the list priority for bicycles, it’s always fun to see outside companies take an artistic approach and create cool-looking concept bikes to tantalize our senses. Mazda recently created a series of artworks to emphasize the importance of aesthetic design in their products, including this awesome track racer.

The bike is known as the ‘Bike by KODO Concept’ and was recently released alongside a sofa, copper wine cooler and other works at the “Mazda Design: The Car as Art” exhibit in Milan, Italy during the art and fashion mecca’s design week.

Mazda focuses on ‘the representation of dynamic motion’ in its vehicle designs, drawing inspiration from animals in nature. With that in mind I’d have to say the shapely seat stays evoke a set of powerful hind legs, extended at full stride.

The design elements of the bike are also meant to express two traditional Japanese aesthetic sensibilities: Rin is a sense of self-restrained dignity, and En, an alluring sensuality that speaks directly to the senses. I’ll leave it to you to decide if you feel the sensuality, but there is a notable sense of restraint versus, say, the bejewelled Cipollini Luxury Edition road bike we checked out recently.

While the end presentation is simple, the construction of this bike was not. Mazda says the KODO Concept’s frame is made from a single hand-hammered sheet of steel, but logic would suggest they are referring to the red upper portion only. The saddle is hand-stitched with matching red threads, and bears a similar stitch pattern as the Mazda MX-5’s interior.

The bike is literally as minimalist as it can be, with the designers setting out with the goal of using as few parts as possible. Suitably so it’s a singlespeed track racer that doesn’t require brakes or derailleurs, which would merely be a hindrance to elegance in this application. The handlebar and stem are one smoothly integrated piece, with a low flattened top that keeps the front end looking aggressively aerodynamic. Despite its extreme simplicity, the KODO Concept has almost everything a bike needs- If you ever got to ride it, the only thing you might want to add is a pair of grips.

There isn’t much information available about the relatively few other components, but we can see a Mavic carbon wheelset in the photos. Not that the build matters much anyways… since this bike is just an art piece we’ll have to enjoy it with our eyes only.

mazda.com

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gino
gino
8 years ago

I normally don’t like “bikes” like this, but this one is visually appealing. But then again, I have liked the styling of new cars coming out of mazda the last couple of years.

Scott Vines
8 years ago

Does it come with zoom-zoom?

Pud
Pud
8 years ago

Could somebody from Mazda possible comment on how the ‘representation of dynamic motion’ changes handling dynamics in track bike destination cities like Brooklyn, Portland, or Austin?

Pud
Pud
8 years ago

*possibly

Bill
Bill
8 years ago

MTB Pedals and quick release skewers. So Track. Just stop it, car companies.

sspiff
sspiff
8 years ago

Is that a derailleur hanger on your dropout or were you just happy to see me?

fergus
fergus
8 years ago

sspiff: looks like a rack mount or possibly a fender mount to me.

JD
JD
8 years ago

Good luck riding with that headtube angle.
Looks like they had someone with no bike-knowledge come up with this in an afternoon. Not even worth mentioning on a bicycle-related website.

jlg
jlg
8 years ago

@ Bill : Something you would change anyway.

HS
HS
8 years ago

I wonder how Mazda can consider this minimalist. It seems to have all of the parts that any other track bike has.

Jason
Jason
8 years ago
Loki
Loki
8 years ago

I miss the crazy concept bikes of the 90’s. This isn’t a concept bike, it’s a prop, the bicycle equivalent of the ‘babe in bikini’ booth candy.
Some stricking similarities to a Caterham Duo Cali frame, aero-ified direct mount Philippe bars, an LEH saddle supplemented with off-the-shelf parts.

I’m glad that bicycles are ‘cool’ and are valuable marketing tools but there is some insult in the suspension of disbelief that is being asked. (eg.”the frame is formed from a single piece of hammered steel” and they still managed to beat out a derailleur hanger ?)

Loki
Loki
8 years ago

striking,striking!

sspiff
sspiff
8 years ago

Nope Fergus….

http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/bike-by-kodo.jpg

Just looks like some nondescript steel frame with a piece of red metal wrapped around the top tube and seat stays. The ISP with no height adjustment is certainly a win.

fib
fib
8 years ago

Mazda designers are bad at many things, especially designing couches and bikes…

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