NONOBJECT nUCLEUS is square against air

It's the electric motor that frees NONOBJECT — a firm with the stated goal of moving the product design world forward — to realize a shape hitherto not only impossible, but thought counterintuitive to functional design.

Made up of two metal sheets that contain between them all the mechanical components, the nUCLEUS looks, from the side, almost like a box containing a more conventional bike. From the top, a sensual form emerges that at once evokes a traditional motorcycle design language while subverting it with concave forms and uncluttered surfaces. That sensuality disappears at the front and rear, replaced with a clean aggression that references, but doesn't replicate, '70s science fiction. That all three angles can be so different yet work together to make each other stronger is what makes the nUCLEUS so special.

Additionally, the shapes are able to move and interact with riders, while the machine is stationary. The way the handlebars move through the fairing slots is equivalent to levers being operated on some large, powerful industrial machine. The whole thing also lowers itself to facilitate climbing on and off, raising up when the rider is ready to set off. NONOBJECT claims this movement is equivalent to that of a horse, but in our experience, horses aren't that polite and this action is more like that of a camel.

We only have one major concern with the functional promise of the nUCLEUS. While NONOBJECT discusses the aerodynamic merits of the narrow front section, it makes no reference to actual computer modeling of how air will flow through the protruding blades formed by side panels or what effect crosswinds will have on the broad sides. While we do think that with careful shaping this design could be made to work in real world conditions, we do need to see actual data proving that it will.

Other than that, suffice it to say, our minds are blown.


NONOBJECT via Business Week