François Gissy’s custom-built bicycle sports a hydrogen peroxide rocket motor that can develop more than 1000 pounds of thrust. So watch this.
With the help of his engineer friend Arnold Neracher, François Gissy of France constructed this amazing machine, which is powered by a compact hydrogen peroxide rocket engine of their own design. Last Friday, November 7, 2014, at Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France, Gissy piloted the bike to a world record speed of 333 km/h, or 207 mph. As the video illustrates, the bike’s incredible acceleration allows it to blow past a Ferrari 430 Scuderia like the poor car was tied to a post.
Given the bike’s relatively small fuel capacity, the rocket engine cannot provide thrust for an extended period—but that’s a good thing. The 207 mph mark was achieved in only 4.8 seconds, and in the space of around 250 meters (820 feet). What’s that like on a pair of skinny little bike tires? “In the moment it is scary, but as soon you stop, you also realize how amazing that was,” says Gissy. “You cannot describe it, you have to live it.” We’re going to take his word for that. In the meantime, there’s this amazing video.
(Editor’s note: Sadly, Gissy would later suffer a fatal accident on another machine on May 5, 2018.)
That’s got to be one of the most terrifying vehicles ever. The footage of the bike travelling at speed was a bit Wile E. Coyote-ish – hell, the vehicle itself could well have been inspired by Mr Coyote.
I can swear I see an ACME sticker on the side of the bike
There can be only one machine even more exciting, more thrilling than this. I speak of course of the ACME RPU (rocket powered unicycle). Perhaps it could be M Grissy’s next – and no doubt final – project.
Holy s&^%. That looks sphincter looseningly terrifying.
Oh man. You’d have to be nuts!
The Ferrari still sounds better.
Love it!
Crazy!