While Richard Allen wasn’t the originator of the vehicle-mounted cycle carrier—his 1967 patent filing indicates prior art existed—after almost six decades marketing widely favored and straightforward mechanical cycle transporters, his company, Allen Bikes, now provides a range of, indeed, Bluetooth-monitored suction cups for affixing bicycles to vehicles.
Should you experience anxiety merely observing the images depicting the recently introduced $299 Smart Suction Go, rest assured, you’re in good company! My colleague Andrew Liszewski promptly expressed a similar sentiment, which I fully endorse. Nevertheless, it appears many individuals already attest to the convenience and transportability offered by suction-cup bicycle mounts—SeaSucker stands as the prominent brand within this niche.
Presently, Allen endeavors to mitigate concerns through intelligent pressure monitoring devices, thereby providing (it is hoped) prior knowledge of any suction compromise well in advance of your valuable bicycle contacting the pavement. Connectivity is established via Bluetooth with a mobile application. Furthermore, the firm employs this identical technology in a mounting solution designed to affix DSLR or mirrorless cameras to vehicles.
Numerous inquiries arose for us. Below are several of the responses:
Has independent verification of this product been conducted?
Officially, Allen Bike launched a more expensive $599 iteration twelve months ago; however, widespread evaluations are not apparent. A report from BikeRumor is available. Similarly, Canadian Cycling Magazine provides an account. It appears neither publication rigorously challenged its limits, consequently, its performance during a loss of suction remains uncertain.
What duration is available to stop the vehicle once suction degradation begins?
“Owing to the fail-safe architecture, operators are afforded several minutes to halt the vehicle and attend to any problems. The vacuum integrity undergoes active verification every 5 seconds,” Alex Allen, who is both the founder’s offspring and the current proprietor, communicated to The Verge via electronic mail.
How is initial adequate suction confirmed?
On its side, each cup incorporates a small push-button pump, featuring a color-altering indicator upon achieving sufficient vacuum, in addition to in-app recognition. Moreover, the firm exclusively promotes its use for bicycles weighing 35 pounds or under, when positioned directly ahead.
What number of suction cups undergo surveillance?
Regarding the recently launched $299 variant, “The leading three cups undergo active surveillance. In reality, the cups possess sufficient strength that even a single one could secure the bicycle, however, the design prioritizes backup capability and superior steadfastness.”
What signals its impending malfunction?
A notification on your smartphone, an in-app alert, and integration with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto allows for dashboard oversight as well. Precise pressure monitoring does not appear to be an available feature; visuals we have observed indicate either “adequate adhesion” or an alert.
What considerations apply to extreme hot and cold weather? Suction cups are susceptible to failure under both conditions.
“Remarkably dependable owing to the authentic rubber compound employed for these mounts,” asserts Allen. “This substance was deliberately selected to endure a broad spectrum of temperatures and incorporates UV-resilient additives to prolong its service life even amidst severe environments. The Smart Suction Go underwent practical evaluations in Dubai, where ambient temperatures routinely surpass 40°C.” He states that the verified operational spectrum spans “-15°C to +60°C.”
Does rubber not degrade progressively with age?
“Regarding durability, under typical consumer utilization, the suction cups would generally be anticipated to deliver approximately 7–10 years of functional life. Moreover, the cups themselves are entirely interchangeable should the need arise, for instance, owing to damage.”
What safeguards a bicycle against swift pilfering? It appears the initial model includes a safety tether…
“The Smart Suction Go SB05 omits the protective cord found in the first iteration. Its principal purpose is solely for conveying the bicycle, rather than for securing the bike on the vehicle for extended periods,” Allen notes. He further mentions that releasing the suction cups will activate an alert within the application.
Each of the firm’s mounting devices requires four conventional AA batteries, offering “6-8 hours of cumulative operational time,” as per Allen. “One could likely journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles — however, should you encounter congestion on the return trip, you might require new batteries. (Should you lack replacements, the majority of service stations continue to stock AAs; there’s no necessity for specialized CR2032 or similar types,” he further remarks.)
Were any other cost-saving measures implemented by Allen for the $299 model when contrasted with the $599 initial release?
Firstly, the rear suction cup remains unmonitored, and the firm suggests that certain consumers may appreciate how the predecessor’s aluminum beam consistently maintains the cups at an identical separation. Additionally, Allen indicates that the company simply possesses surplus stock of the prior model requiring liquidation.
Was there talk of a camera fixture?
Indeed. Seventy dollars procures a lone six-inch vacuum cup equipped with Bluetooth surveillance, a conventional threaded screw attachment, and a dual ball-head for positional adjustment, certified to support a maximum of 6.6 pounds of camera equipment, optics, and supplementary items. Perhaps it could diminish some worry as you compose an impressive shot for your forthcoming cinematic production?
Image: Allen Bike
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