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Military bikes make comeback in e-bike form, featuring handlebar-mounted gun holdersquietkat and jeep e-bike - via quietkat on instagram.PNG

Military bikes make comeback in e-bike form, featuring handlebar-mounted gun holders

At the world's largest arms trade show in London, a number of exhibitors were showing off e-bikes optimised for use by special forces...
by Jack Sexty
Sat, Sep 18, 2021 15:59
65

While bicycles were popular military tools in the two World Wars and later favoured by the Viet Cong to ferry supplies, their usage has been limited in the 21st century... that could be about to change, with a number of high powered electric bikes including a collab between QuietKat and Jeep being shown off at the world's biggest arms fair in London this week. 

> Find out all you need to know about e-bikes by visiting our sister site eBikeTips

iNews reports that several exhibitors at the controversial Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) show, a biennial defence and security trade exhibition held at London's ExCeL Centre this week, were showing off military-optimised e-bikes that will likely prove most useful for special forces. It's thought that all of the bikes on show have handlebar-mounted gun holders, and could be used to get behind enemy lines during combat. 

iNews claims that Denmark, the UAE and one other European country that is a NATO member have purchased bikes already, and some of those were versions of the powerful Jeep E-Bike, made by QuietKat. 

jeep quietkat bike - via quietkat

With huge tyres, a range of nearly 100km and 1000 watt motors, the military version of the Colorado-made Jeep/QuietKat bike has a portable solar panel for battery charging while on a mission, as well as the rifle holder. The UAE are currently testing it for desert combat, while it's claimed that a folding version has been requested for Danish paratroopers. The FBI is also working with Jeep, but the Ministry of Defence haven't confirmed if they have bought any military e-bikes for Britain's armed forces. 

Will there be an e-bike boom in the military to follow on from the huge increase in popularity amongst civilians? Bosch has predicted that half of the world's bikes sold by 2025 will be electric, and it's the huge increases in battery technology that is thought to be the reason why armies worldwide are beginning to see e-bikes as viable combat vehicles. 

QuietKat's Duncan Horner told iNews: “These bikes are really the SUV of e-bikes.

“They have been built very much with the needs of a military application in mind – the ability to be completely off-road, to carry heavy loads and be silent.

“It is ideal if you need to go those final miles where you can’t use a larger vehicle but still need the assistance of a machine.” 

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Jack Sexty

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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65 comments

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Oldfatgit replied to wtjs | 3 years ago
3 likes
wtjs wrote:

I'll nod my head to the physics, and not say it's wrong ...

Good, because it isn't. Small piece of metal flies out of the front at great speed, so the large piece of metal goes backwards at a much lesser speed. I have never fired any automatic weapon, and spent a month at Sandhurst never firing a live round at all.

Unfortunately, I have fired quite a few, including the truly awful Stirling SMG, and the quite thrilling Browning 50 cal, both as vehicle mount and as a tripod mount. Wouldn't want one on my bike though.

I can, categorically say, that the worse thing about firing any weapon in peace time and at a target, is having to clean the bloody thing.

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Sriracha replied to wtjs | 3 years ago
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wtjs wrote:

I'll nod my head to the physics, and not say it's wrong ...

Good, because it isn't. Small piece of metal flies out of the front at great speed, so the large piece of metal goes backwards at a much lesser speed. I have never fired any automatic weapon, and spent a month at Sandhurst never firing a live round at all.

But it could still crab its way forward if there are reciprocating masses inside and the legs allow only forwards movement. A bit like those vibrating toothbrush head toys (hexbug). Just, not on a bike.

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Captain Badger replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
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Sriracha wrote:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jA7tcOC_2uQ "Well, that's that busted. No, the BREN light machine gun does not pull forward on firing. It has to obey Newton just like everything else." The only way I could see this pulling forward was if the feet were constructed such that they resisted (dug in) the backwards recoil and then sprang forwards, like a ratchet. But of course mounted on wheels that could never be the case.

Yup When firing a Bren the working parts are heavy enough that when they fly forward after the recoil (which is certainly noticeable, but little different from any other similar callibre firearms) it feels as if the gun jumps forward. However as said that is after they have recoiled. So no, momentum is still conserved, no PhD at stake here.

Edit: What Oldfatgit said....

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eburtthebike replied to Oldfatgit | 3 years ago
0 likes

Oldfatgit wrote:
eburtthebike wrote:

I want one!  The ability to hold and aim a weapon would be particularly useful on UK roads.

Can I have a Bren gun on mine? The recoil pulls you forwards ...

That's good; I was wondering about fitting a rocket launcher.  RPG perhap?

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chrisonabike replied to Oldfatgit | 3 years ago
0 likes

Oldfatgit wrote:
eburtthebike wrote:

I want one!  The ability to hold and aim a weapon would be particularly useful on UK roads.

Can I have a Bren gun on mine? The recoil pulls you forwards ...

All I know is that an airgun won't help, unless you point it behind you.  Maybe something like this - although it's 50:50 - or even better a mini version of one of these which would help with heavy traffic.

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