Modmo, a bike-tech startup, is running an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for its debut product – a smart, integrated bike light called Bekan.
In a release, Modmo notes that… ‘Bike lights on the market today share a common characteristic, they all attach to your bike with a flimsy rubber band. After Modmo’s founder, 23-year-old Jack O’Sullivan from Ireland, had his US$80 bike light stolen, he set out to create something that would be incredibly simple to use, theft-resistant and have market leading battery life – issues that have long bothered the cycling community.’
“Bekan is the result of experiential design thinking,” O’Sullivan said. “The Modmo team put an enormous amount of energy into solving the core pain points that cyclists and commuters faced. Theft, ineffectual design, and flexibility through connectivity. With this in mind, we knew that we could create a bike light that was not only smarter and brighter but also so easy to use that you didn’t even need to turn it on. A light that gave you the confidence to ride with its beautifully integrated styling.”
The Bekan also flaunts what Modmo calls the ‘Matrix Beam’ pattern, to help make the light stand out. The design uses ‘advanced computer-controlled micro-drilling’ to produce a series of cascading 2mm holes that allow light to emit for 180° of visibility. The technique also ‘makes the Bekan practically invisible when switched-off, making it a natural theft deterrent.’
Other highlighted features include:
- Simple fit and forget design
- 30-hour battery
- Motion sensor (auto on/off) for intelligent battery management
- Accelerometer-powered braking mode
- Multi-lighting modes
- Magnetic cable for charging and firmware updates.
- Weather-resistant enclosure
Since its unofficial reveal at Eurobike 2019, Bekan is making a claim to being the ultimate rear bike light for modern commuter life. The Modmo brand, a portmanteau of modular and mobility, was originally founded in Ireland. Company founder Jack O’Sullivan moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he joined a startup accelerator (Vietnam Silicon Valley) and works directly with world-leading motorbike manufacturers on a smart, electric and modular bicycle that will be launched in 2020.
