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Movies Entertainment

Buy Your Own Tron Lightcycle For $35,000 170

ElectricSteve writes "The lightcycle scene was probably the most memorable part of an absolutely jaw-dropping movie when Tron was released in 1982. One of the first films to use the kinds of computer-generated special effects that later become commonplace, it was a glimpse into a whole new world that left an indelible impression on most who saw it. Now, as Disney prepares to release Tron Legacy, a sequel some 28 years after the original, the lightcycles are back and looking meaner than ever. Built by the same guys who did the memorable Batpod replica, the new lightcycles feature massive dual hubless wheels, carbon fiber/fiberglass bodies, and all the lashings of neon that you'd expect. And there will be five running models built — all of which are now up for sale on eBay for a cool $35,000."
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Buy Your Own Tron Lightcycle For $35,000

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  • ...can it be compressed down to just a handle, as seen in the (fucking amazing) Tron Legacy trailer?

  • I want one.

    Now.

    ..ooOO(Imagines taking this on the downtown connector area in Atlanta)
    • ...Is it me, or whenever Hollywood artists try to 'reinvent' some feature of a story or movie in a sequel, they overdo it and fail? This bike looks like ASS compared to the original tron bikes. What was so wrong with the original design that they had to re-do it?
  • Lets hope Tron will be better as the A-team remake...
    • by raddan ( 519638 ) *
      Great idea! They *should* remake Tron as the A-Team! What do you mean de-rez, sucka?

      I think you meant 'than'.
    • What are you talking about? The A-Team movie was great. They fly a TANK by using the recoil of the main gun rounds. They play a shell game with cargo containers. They break Murdoch out while the looney ward is watching the A-Team. What is there NOT to like?

  • by Jarnin ( 925269 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:07AM (#32757582)
    I want one, but I don't want the hospital bills from doing 90 degree turns at 200 mph.
    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Captain Spam ( 66120 )

      Not to mention the littering tickets you'd rack up from the walls of solid light you'd keep leaving behind you...

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by mcgrew ( 92797 ) *

        How are they going to catch you to give you a ticket when you have a bike that can make 90 degree turns at two hundred miles per hour? Pull the ambulance over?

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by IflyRC ( 956454 )
      You wouldn't have to only worry about the hospital bill. There's the EMT that declares you dead at the scene. You'd have to pay the ambulance service. Lawsuits for those you injured in which your insurance didn't cover completely. Also there is the funeral cost.
      • by Lennie ( 16154 )

        If you are dead, it is not your problem, is it ?

      • You wouldn't have to only worry about the hospital bill. There's the EMT that declares you dead at the scene.

        So, hospital bill problem solved?

        • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

          by IflyRC ( 956454 )
          Not really, they'll probably charge you morgue rent until you're transferred out.
          • Not really, they'll probably charge you morgue rent until you're transferred out.

            As someone who worked as a cemetary caretaker (Now, THAT's an interview icebreaker for your resume), I know of some places that did effectively charge for that.

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        This isn't something to ride, even though it is apparently street legal. This is to park next to your limited edition Batman car, guarded over by your life-size Alien replica, as the focal points of the tasting room of your climate controlled wine cellar... Also, there are strippers nearby.

        At least, that's what I'm doing with mine, just as soon as I gather up my loose change...

        • This isn't something to ride, even though it is apparently street legal. This is to park next to your limited edition Batman car, guarded over by your life-size Alien replica, as the focal points of the tasting room of your climate controlled wine cellar... Also, there are strippers nearby.

          You know what, now that you mention it, forget the cycle, car, replica and wine. I think I'll just go with the strippers.

        • And blackjack?
      • by mcgrew ( 92797 ) *

        Also there is the funeral cost.

        There's no funeral, but I wonder what they charge to derez you?

  • by theshowmecanuck ( 703852 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:14AM (#32757682) Journal
    I am trying hard not to picture it being ridden by a fat middle aged geek wearing a skin tight spandex body suit.
    • by Baron_Yam ( 643147 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:17AM (#32757730)

      I'm a middle-aged geek, but luckily I'm not fat. However, I can't ride a motorcycle.

      Just how cool would I look sliding sideways down the freeway on this thing with bits of melted Spandex and skin trailing behind me?

      • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

        by natehoy ( 1608657 )

        Just how cool would I look sliding sideways down the freeway on this thing with bits of melted Spandex and skin trailing behind me?

        Cool enough that the resulting YouTube video might help fund my retirement. Please let me know where and when, and I'll make sure to have my video camera. Thanks.

        PS: This is in no way an endorsement for you to do it. There won't be enough income from the YouTube video to even begin covering your medical costs, so I don't want any share of the liability. But if you happen to do it, just let me know when and where, OK?

        • Hah! I'm Canadian, so the medical costs are irrelevant.

          Of course, I'm also A) a coward and B) don't have $35K hanging around doing nothing.

      • At 70 miles an hour, bone on tarmac (asphalt) wears away at 1cm per second. I would suggest racing leathers rather than Spandex, this ensures that all the soft organ tissue is saved for transplants, kept in a nice leather bag.
    • by Monkey-Man2000 ( 603495 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:57AM (#32758298)

      I am trying hard not to picture it being ridden by a fat middle aged geek wearing a skin tight spandex body suit.

      You mean like this guy [wordpress.com]?

      • by Peet42 ( 904274 )
        Is that Jerry Pournelle?
        • No... I forget the guy's name, but he also did a "General Xinchub" costume that was really good, complete with a decent stab at Schlock Mercenary's floating epaulets. (He has closer to the right build for that character - though in this case, he's a little to trim for a proper General Xinchub.)
      • at least he finally listened to his critics and started wearing a cup. (shudder)

    • How's about an elderly Geek wearing a bathrobe and sweatpants?

      • "How's about an elderly Geek wearing a bathrobe and sweatpants?"

        Wrong show...that's more of the basic Tony Soprano look.

    • by PPH ( 736903 )
      I'm trying to picture Paul Teutul [wikipedia.org] riding it.
  • Does it include... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by damn_registrars ( 1103043 ) <damn.registrars@gmail.com> on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:22AM (#32757800) Homepage Journal
    ... lessons on how to ride it? This doesn't look like it would work quite the same as a typical street bike.
    • Why??? Counter steering is counter steering. The body position would take some getting used to, and the fat tires might make it less than nimble in the curves depending on how they are shaped. My 'guess' is the wheelbase is around 60-70", based on the the rider sitting on it, so it might be reasonably quick around the corners. I'd say anyone that rides rides a bike more than 5,000 miles/year would be up and ready to go after about a couple of minutes in a parking lot getting used to it. Those that only ri
      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by tomhudson ( 43916 )

        A lot of motorcycle drivers will never "get" counter-steering - to them it's counter-intuitive. That it's actually safer in a curve (because you can lay the bike down really low, and if it slips, you can recover better because it straightens out the line between your center of gravity and where the rubber meets the road - I know, not a great explanation - just do it!) than the conventional method is lost on them.

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by BoberFett ( 127537 )

        Except that counter steering is not counter steering when you're trying to counter steer something where the wheels are 300mm (or whatever those monstrosities are) and your center of gravity appears to be about 8 inches off the ground. Not to mention, the riding position appears to have the riders arms almost at full extension. Looks like a death trap to me.

  • by Shimmer ( 3036 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:22AM (#32757806) Journal

    I was a 16 year old geek when Tron came out. It bored me to tears and I forgot about it as soon as I walked out of the theater. The new Tron Legacy trailer looks every bit as dumb. What am I missing here?

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Kozz ( 7764 )

      Now, I'm not saying you're wrong or anything, but be grateful the mods don't have at their disposal an option for "-1, Heresy". [aforementioned option would also likely be liberally applied within comments on stories about Linux]

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Imagination?

    • by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:43AM (#32758132)

      I was a 16 year old geek when Tron came out. It bored me to tears and I forgot about it as soon as I walked out of the theater. The new Tron Legacy trailer looks every bit as dumb. What am I missing here?

      Probably some portion of your frontal lobe. Maybe it's a congenital defect, or the result of some early trauma. It's ok, don't worry about it. You can still lead a fulfilling life despite your disability. Really, we shouldn't even consider it a disability; let's just call it neurodiversity.

    • by raddan ( 519638 ) * on Thursday July 01, 2010 @11:19AM (#32758622)
      For me, a big part of it was that it was a movie about computers, back when computers didn't really enter most people's consciousnesses. As someone who was totally obsessed with them (I'm about a decade younger than you), I was completely captivated by it. It also didn't hurt that frisbee was my favorite sport at the time.
  • by s.d. ( 33767 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:24AM (#32757844)

    The summary was a unclear to me -- these weren't built for or affiliated with the movie in any way, these were simply built based on the specs of the models built for the movie.

  • Just got my class M license last weekend and CEO asked me what kind of bike I was getting; time to discuss a pay raise!
  • Akira Please (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Dalroth ( 85450 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:30AM (#32757930) Homepage Journal

    The only bike I want is Kaneda's bike.

  • by noidentity ( 188756 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:33AM (#32758008)
    After getting one of these cycles, pick up a Tron suit and you'll be really hot with the babes [unrealitymag.com], honest.
  • From the Ebay listing it says these bikes are designed for everyday street use. If that's the case, how the hell is that bike supposed to turn? There appears to be no way for the front wheel to steer. Anyone have any idea how the hell this would work?
    • by RapmasterT ( 787426 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @11:10AM (#32758482)

      From the Ebay listing it says these bikes are designed for everyday street use. If that's the case, how the hell is that bike supposed to turn? There appears to be no way for the front wheel to steer. Anyone have any idea how the hell this would work?

      The Ebay listing is a testament to one part wishful thinking, one part overconfidence, and two parts willful fraud.

      The photos is the listing are of the non-functional movie promo prop, not anything these guys are selling, or even OWN.

      For the bikes to be street legal, then by definition can't look anything like the movie bikes because they need things like headlights, turn signals, etc.

      The best part is the claim that the bikes will be ready in 6-8 weeks...RIGHT!!

      I'll believe these guys aren't trying to outright steal from gullible people as soon as they can show a photo of something they didn't just scrape from Tron movie promotions.

    • Ummm.....they probably turn like all motorcycles ... using the handlebars. I don't think they could turn very tightly when parking since your hands are next to the wheels, but at speeds above 25mph you don't really turn the handlebars anyway. Google 'motorcycle countersteer' for more information, or visit Wikipedia. [wikipedia.org]
      • If you don't think you turn the handlebars, I encourage you to take Keith Code's superbike school and attempt to turn the motorcycle he created to disprove this notion (the steering head is welded in place).

        You actually counter steer quite a bit, especially at full lean at high speed.

  • by bugs2squash ( 1132591 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @10:51AM (#32758224)
    You fuckers; why did you have to point that out and make me feel so old.
  • How the hell does this thing drive? Also,I can't imagine the astronomical tire replacement costs, but it looks like getting a new tire on there would be even worse.
  • by Culture20 ( 968837 ) on Thursday July 01, 2010 @11:35AM (#32758880)
    The concept drawings make the "pilot" look like part of the frame. This would make the real pilot appear to be in the bitch seat, although the head would at least be higher than two feet off the ground.
  • Those images look shopped!

    Seriously, are these images of actual hardware, or 3D models?
  • In the US you have this rd/st system with roads crisscrossing at right angles.

    In Europe, most cities grew as defensive fortresses, with new layers of city walls, and later beltways added as more rings around the center, with roads to/from the old city market and in circle around it.

    So unless someone's gonna upgrade the light cycle firmware to run on polar coordinates vs cartesian, they won't do much good in Europe.

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