Top 10 Cash Money Making Bike Kickstarter Projects
Since 2009, Kickstarter has been funding projects in pretty much every industry you can imagine. The cycling industry is no different, hundreds of campaigns raised money for bikes, lights, locks, tools, and accessories since Kickstarter got started. Here are the highest grossing bike related Kickstarter campaigns so far:
#10 Fix it Sticks
We all love our Park Tools in the shop, but sometimes you need a reliable tool set on the go. This is what Fix It Sticks is aiming to do: provide high quality tools in a portable size. The campaign reached its funding goal in April of this year, and you can already buy these tools on their site. That’s a pretty fast turnaround considering some campaigns are years old and still in the pre-order stages. These tools got a lot of funding in a market that already has a lot of quality tools, and that’s because they seem affordable, durable, and long lasting. That’s something you don’t often see in a portable package.“Even the few expensive [multi tools] I've bought eventually loosen up and the tools all flop around. Fix it Stix are light, sturdy, and there are no moving parts to work loose.” ~ Amazon user J. Corcoran
#9 TiGr: Titanium Lock
There are so many bike locks on the market and everyone has their own opinion. It’s hard to beat a beefy U-lock or hefty chain, but this TiGr titanium lock system looks pretty cool. Lightweight and elegant, the lock flexes to allow multiple configurations to lock up. Since it’s made of titanium, it’s extremely hard to cut or saw through but still lightweight. They’re expensive, though. You can buy them off their website, but they cost anywhere from $145 to $220. You’d be better off buying a Kryptonite chain or U-lock, not worrying about it, and having a little left over to buy lunch.“I've been using these locks daily since I got the first one from the Kickstarter campaign a few years ago. So far, I've never even had a close call locking up my bike on the street in NYC. If find them much easier to carry around then heavy U-locks.”~ Amazon user Joshua M. Levine
#8 Helios Bars
These bars are cool. They integrate a headlight, rear blinking lights, and GPS into a pair of handlebars. They pair with an app on your phone that can use the GPS unit to locate your bike, get the lights running when you approach, and many other neat things. What’s better is the hardware itself: the headlight sports 500 lumens with a run-time of 9 hours! That’s some bright lighting that competes in this price range. This thing is great for any bike-nerd who really wants to get their electronics fix on and off the bike. You can buy these from Helios’ website for a cool $279.00 + shipping. The price is a little steep right now, but it’s definitely pushing the smart bike trend. Look for some of this technology to get implemented by the big names soon.“Despite an Engadget article from 2013, we couldn’t find a review of anybody who has gotten their hands on a pair of these.”
#7 Fortified: Bike Lights
This is another campaign that far exceeded its funding goal and has a very promising product. It just hasn’t been put into production yet. For $100, you can pre-order a headlight and taillight from this company that comes with a guarantee you don’t get from most light manufacturers: a lifetime warranty. If these lights were broken, stolen, or (apparently) eaten by your dog, the company will replace them. These lights not only seem like a good idea, but they’re also affordable. If they really turn out to be as good as they say they are, $100 for two quality bike lights is a great price. We’ll have to see where this campaign goes.“This bike light, when it’s all said and done, is going to be magnificent” ~The company’s update on Youtube
#6 Faraday Porteur
It’s not surprising that one of the best campaigns comes from the startup hub of Palo Alto, California. Faraday Bicycles reached its funding goal in August of 2012 and is now making steel-framed electric bikes. These bikes are pricey—$3500—but you can actually order one for their second production run, which will come out in “Late 2014”.“It’s one of the best e-bikes we’ve ridden” ~ Bikerumor.com
#5 Revolights
This is one of the more famous Kickstarter campaigns, especially when you look at the fact that there’s been two: one in 2011 and another in 2013. In 2011, they made lights that fit onto rims; in 2013, they made wheels that had the lights built in. Not only do these lights make wheels bright, they also project forward to become real headlights. And you can actually buy them! They’re $199 for the rig that snaps on and $399 for a wheelset with the lights built in. This is a pretty good buy, considering you’re getting wheels, lighting, and added visibility all in one place. This is one of the coolest biking related Kickstarters yet.“[My boyfriend] has been excited about them since they first appeared on Kickstarter, and the reality far exceeded our expectations.” ~ Amazon user ‘Reader’
#4 Monkey Light Pro
This is one of those campaigns that got great funding, seems like a cool idea, but never really saw the production line. Monkeylectric came out with this LED system that turns both bicycle wheels into customizable message boards. This idea was met with a lot of acclaim on the web and events like Maker Faire and SXSW, but if you want to get your own you’ll have to really want it. It looks like they still have a few of the ones they produced for sale, but you’ll have to fork over for it: each unit costs $895.00.“They are straight-up dazzling” ~ Amazon user G.C. Tilghman
#3 A Better Bicycle Bell
A bell wins the #3 spot on this list? Really? Yes. Have you seen this thing? This is what happens you have the opportunity to throw engineering research and design into a product as simple as a bicycle bell. This bell is elegant, hard-working, sturdy, and right at the “did I really just spend that much on a bell?” price tag. For $40, you get a work of engineering magic that was developed in partnership with Bevin Brothers bell makers in Connecticut. This is one awesome bell.“Spurcycle re-invented the bicycle bell and gave it some extraordinary style.” ~ NOTCOT.org
#2 Maintenance-Free Bikes by Priority Bicycles
This campaign got over half a million in funding for something that seems almost too good to be true: maintenance-free bikes. As many mechanics know, there is no such thing a maintenance free bike, but we have to give this company props for trying to get as close as possible. With reliable internal gearing, puncture resistant tires, an aluminum frame, and a pre-order price tag of under $400, this truly is the bike most people need. Built for the recreational rider that just needs a bike to work without fussing, this thing seems awesome. We’ll have to see once they get out into the real-world, but for now it’s an exciting prospect!“We asked Weiner how they are managing to sell these that cheaply. He answer was basically that by selling directly to consumers, they're able to cut out the middleman and avoid some serious mark-ups.” ~Gizmodo
#1 Vanhawks Valour Bicycle
Even wanted a bike that knows where you are, can track your calories burned, and has the same blind-spot detection of fancy new sedans? Vanhawks Valour says it can be that bike. The campaign was funded on May 31st, 2014 and is still in the pre-order stages, but this bike looks like the future. Made of carbon fiber and with the capability to network with other bikes on the road, this company is taking the smart bike movement to new places. The development API is also open for Valour, which means developers will be able to create apps and do more with this bike that the company is promising right now. If this bike ever gets out on the streets and into the hands of real consumers, it will certainly be something exciting. Don’t expect to see too many of these on your roads yet, since they’re only available to pre-order and cost $1249 for the singlespeed model, but this company is certainly pushing the boundaries of how we can wire the bicycle.“The road for smart connected bikes is wide open, and the Valour is approaching its debut rapidly. It's expected to hit the streets this October and retail for around $1,000 depending on your taste in gears.” ~ Jennifer Jolly, USA Today
