Flying Bikes Are Finally Here, and They're Way Cooler (and Scarier) Than We Thought

May 3

Written By Michele Edington (formerly Michele Gargiulo)

When I was younger and the car was stuck in traffic I used to imagine it could rise up and fly above all the other cars so we could get to grandma’s house a bit faster.
Well, cars aren’t exactly flying yet (some of them are it looks like but not the kinds you can buy), but at least flying bikes have arrived!

I’m actually not feeling bad about it anyway, my days of waiting in the car with my parents are long over, and a bike sounds more fun to chase my husband around in.

The world’s first flying bike, known as the XTurismo hoverbike, looks like something straight up what Tony Stark would make. A sleek, futuristic machine that hovers a few feet off the ground, zooming across open spaces while its rider leans forward like they're piloting on of those speeders from Star Wars.

I’m probably more excited than I should be about this, especially because the price tag firmly puts it out of my realm of possibilities (do I want a house or a flying bike?), but here we go anyway!

The XTurismo Flying Bike

The XTurismo is created by AERWINS Technologies, a Japanese startup blending drone tech with personal transportation (aka a small bike). Instead of traditional wheels like most bikes, it uses rotor blades (similar to a drone or helicopter) to lift itself into the air.

Picture a motorcycle, swap out the tires for four large propellers, and you’re getting close in imagination land to what this thing looks like. (I’ll have a video at the end you can click on, ChatGPT was struggling to generate an image of it, and I’m not trying to violate copyrights to snatch someone else’s photo).

Crushingly, don’t expect to be soaring through the clouds just yet, so my own personal fantasies aren’t a manifestation of these bikes. The current models are designed to hover about 10 feet off the ground, although they reach speeds of around 60 miles per hour. It’s meant for open fields, racetracks, or exhibitions, not weaving between traffic on Main Street in Manayunk.
Also, now that I’m thinking about it, power lines will definitely get in my way on Main Street about ten feet above traffic. Damn.

Price Tag, Baby

I used to work with someone who would joke at work, “if you have to ask you can’t afford it.” Welp, he was right a lot of the time and he was right in this case too.

If you’re already adding it to your holiday wish list, slow your roll. The price tag is a cool $550,000.

Yep, about the same as a fancy sports car or two. Maybe a nice house in a neighborhood with good school systems. The amount of money for you to quit your job and stop waiting tables for the next decade. And that’s just the starting price.

AERWINS says they’re working on smaller, more affordable electric models by 2026, but don’t expect Walmart discounts just yet. Especially because it seems as though their stock plummeted and AERWINS lost ~56% of its value shortly after the SPAC deal. Not sure if the general public just lost interest or the investors saw red flags, but here we are.

What’s fascinating is the audience they’re targeting. Right now, it’s less about everyday commuters and more about wealthy collectors, emergency services, and industrial uses. The dream of urban air mobility is still a few years out, but prototypes like this are paving the way.

How Safe Is It?

Ehhh, let’s put ourselves in our mom’s shoes for a moment and think about how she’d feel if we were flying around on what’s basically a giant drone you’re sitting on.

Safety is obviously the number one concern…both for the rider and for people (or cars) below. Currently, these bikes require trained pilots to operate, and you won’t see them zipping down public streets anytime soon. Double damn.

In Japan, they’ve been used at controlled events, racetracks, and demos. U.S. approval will likely follow a similar path, with FAA regulations making sure nobody launches into restricted airspace or accidentally collides with a traffic helicopter…which would be very bad. AERWINS also claims it has conducted a “successful test flight” of XTurismo in Abu Dhabi (UAE), so it’s getting around still.

But here’s the kicker: AERWINS is already planning public sales in the U.S. this year, but also actively working toward FAA approval and setting up a U.S. subsidiary. Want to fly one? Better get in line, and maybe sign a few waivers.

Tech Meets Adventure

If nothing else, the flying bike is a reminder that we’ve all been dreaming of zooming over traffic when we’re stuck in rush hour. Between autonomous drones, AI-driven delivery bots, and now flying motorcycles, it feels like every week we’re checking off another box on the “future tech” wishlist.

And while it’s not exactly accessible to the average commuter (yet), it does open the door for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles to become part of everyday life down the line. Maybe long down the line, but you know what I mean.

I’m not going to lie, I’m excited for when adventure tourism means renting a flying bike for a weekend tour of the Grand Canyon.

If you’re into adrenaline-pumping adventures (whether it’s biking, hiking, or hopefully flying bikes one day), I highly recommend grabbing a GoPro Hero 12 Black. This thing captures everything in stunning clarity…and it’s rugged enough for any ride.

Will they replace cars? Probably not for a while if ever, but they’re proof that innovation is still dreaming big, and sometimes, those dreams actually lift off the ground.

Would you ever ride one? Or are you leaving that to the daredevils?

Check out the Kawasaki Robotic Horse while you’re here!