© Bombardier Recreational Products

Apparently, these ATV/Motorcycle hybrids are starting to show up on the road these days. I have not seen one yet but this is definitely an interesting alternative to something like the Carver, a trike, or a motorcycle.

Check out the official site or read a review of this new technology.

I still prefer a motorcycle.

Despite the fact that this piece of machinery is almost entirely made of up hard plastic, it is actually quite sturdy. What I like most is that this vacuum is mobile via a single ball. At first I was skeptical of this feature as I thought it was a gimmick until I tried a demo model. I was amazed at how easy it was to make sharp turns with the flick of the wrist. Check out the Dyson video demonstration to get a better idea of what I am talking about. Of course, it is probably better if you try it out in person.

Here are a few pros and cons:

Pros

• The cyclone technology lives up to its word.
• Long power cord (37 feet).
• Semi-automatic retractable hose.
• All accessories clamp onto the unit allowing easy storage and retrieval.
• Bagless with life-time HEPA filter. The plastic canister is extremely easy to disconnect and dump debris in the trash.
• Powerful suction. I’m picking up dirt and various other things I never imagined.
• All connections of the vacuum are easy to disassemble and reassemble especially if you suck up a large object and need to unclog the vacuum to resume operation. This is impressive because when the vacuum is not in use, the connections are loose which would cause one to believe that the machine will leak air. However, this is not the case as the suction is so good that all connections seal up seamlessly.

Cons

• Slightly heavy. This does not bother me but I could see it being a problem for those not comfortable hauling heavy objects up and down stairs.
• Slightly noisy. My only complaint is that I wish it was whisper quiet. It is far cry from what I am used to though and definitely does not require ear plugs or cause others in the room discomfort. I guess I became spoiled from checking out my brother’s Miele canister vacuum. I don’t remember which model it is but, damn, it is nice if you want stealth-like abilities.

Definitely worth consideration if you are in the market for a new vacuum.

For more info, give this video a watch:

Here is another video with more info (thanks, Stephen, for the link):

I want one but, unfortunately, is hard to justify since I already have a motorcycle. However, for those that are squeamish about motorcycles, you might find this vehicle more to your liking.

• 0 to 60 in about 4 seconds.
• Has the equivalence of 135 mpg.
• 250 miles per charge.

The base selling price for the car is around $80,000. They have plans to release a cheaper more family oriented car later in 2007.

It is interesting that a Silicon Valley startup shows the most promise in electric car production than the motor companies we are all used to.