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Singapore. It made the cover of Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2009. It is listed by the Guinness Book Of World Records as the world's most compact electric bike.

Wired magazine called it an eccentric machine that will give the Segway a run for its money.

And when I first saw it on a video clip last year, I wrote to the manufacturer to ask when its cool product was going to arrive in Singapore.

Well, the YikeBike is here now. FSG Mobility Concepts, the company which converts conventional petrol cars to run on battery power and which sells the Tesla super electric car, has added the unique emission-free two-wheeler to its stable.

Riding the YikeBike takes some getting used to. It is a bit like learning to ride a bike - backwards.

That is because the YikeBike's handlebars face the other way. And unlike bicycles and motorcycles, the YikeBike is front-wheel-driven.

You perch on a skinny seat, grasp two ends of the 'handle bar' lightly (you are not supposed to put your weight on them) and squeeze the trigger on the right to move off and the one on the left to stop.

I was able to ride within a couple of minutes, but reckon I will probably need a day of practice to be proficient.

The riding position leaves you feeling a little exposed. But it is supposed to be safe, since should you fall off or hit an obstacle, you will not propel forward and hit something hard (such as the handlebar).

But once you get the hang of it, it feels great. And fun.

The YikeBike is extremely sensitive to turning inputs and it brakes confidently and smoothly. It comes with LED brake lights and turning winkers.

The bike accelerates strongly - even with a safety pin that limits power for beginners in place.

Remove that pin and the YikeBike will reach a top speed of 23kmh at full throttle - faster than a Segway but well within the boundary that separates an electric bicycle from a motorcycle.

Hence, the YikeBike is classified as a bicycle here (which means you can ride one without a licence or insurance).

Its tiny lithium-ion battery pack gives it a range of 10km between charges. You can double or treble that with optional carry-on battery packs. But you are unlikely to do so because the YikeBike will not be comfortable on long hauls - it has no suspension, which means you will feel every little bump on the tarmac.

What is truly cool about the YikeBike is that it can be folded in a jiffy - its folded dimensions are 170mm by 690mm by 570mm.

When folded, it will fit into a backpack (you can buy one from FSG Mobility Concepts for $83) or you can simply lug it along by its seat. Made of carbon-fibre, it weighs just under 10kg, making it lighter than some foldable bicycles.

It would have been an ideal solution to the 'last mile' - the portion of a public transport journey that is often done on foot, by feeder buses, taxis, bicycles etc. In other words, the portion that makes the car superior to public transport.

Alas, the YikeBike is not allowed on public roads here, which leaves just pavements and parks.

This also means its usability is as limited as that of the Segway. But at $4,988 a piece, it is substantially cheaper than the seat-less, bulkier Segway, which costs about $12,000.

The New Zealand manufacturer of the YikeBike has released a cheaper but heavier alloy version.

And FSG managing director David Chou says he is working with a tertiary institution here to fashion a suspension system for the bike.

Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times Indonesia. To subscribe to Straits Times Indonesia and/or the Jakarta Globe call 021 2553 5055.