The “Rcyl” bicycle, designed and manufactured by Igus, a German company specializing in the production of high-performance plastic components, is now in production and on sale for around 1,200 euros. Active for some time in various industrial sectors as a component supplier, the company decided in 2022 to launch the “Igus-Bike” project, aimed at creating a bicycle made with the highest possible percentage of recycled plastic. After two years of development, the project has taken shape, resulting in a product that is 50 percent constructed from plastic derived from recycled fishing nets.
Meanwhile, the establishment of a production site dedicated to serial production has also been initiated, with an estimated output of around 5,000 bikes by June 2025 and 10,000 by 2026. The company is particularly focused on refining the rotational molding systems for the various components which, once assembled, form the product. The design is heavily influenced by the construction material, whose structural performance requires rather generous dimensions. Calling the bike “beautiful” is frankly difficult in light of its overall rather bulky appearance, but its functionality, according to comments from those who had the chance to ride it at the “Cycling World Europe” fair in Düsseldorf, is excellent. Enthusiasm is also high for the manufacturer’s promise of total maintenance-free use. If the price meets expectations, the “Igus-Bike” could indeed become a mass-market urban bicycle that reconciles short-range commuting with environmental protection. It should be noted that Igus will not only produce and sell the bicycle but will also make its strategic components available to other manufacturers to enable similar projects.
Title: Igus launches “Rcyl,” the first urban bike made with 90% recycled materials.
Translation with ChatGPT
