Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors
  3. News

Manta5’s Hydrofoiler XE-1 is the World’s Most Advanced Overwater Bicycle

By

Mountain biking, fat biking, unicycling — they’ve all been done before. If none of these is disco enough for you — if you’re the adventurous sort who isn’t content with biking on land — Manta5 has just the trick.

The New Zealand-based company’s new Hydrofoiler XE-1 is possibly the world’s most advanced overwater bicycle. The hydrofoil bike is designed with a long list of technical innovations to make it easy to steer and propel in almost any condition.

Recommended Videos

The twin carbon-fiber hydrofoils were designed by aeronautical engineers to be both stronger and lighter than steel, while also reducing drag. They’re well-suited for any body of water, including lakes, rivers, and even the open water of the ocean. The rear propeller is also carbon fiber-reinforced to temper drag at top speed, while producing sufficient thrust at lower speeds.

manta5 hydrofoiler xe 1
Manta5 Hydrofoil Bike/Facebook Manta5 Hydrofoil Bike/Facebook

A 400W e-bike motor provides electric power assistance for those times when you need a little extra boost or just don’t feel like pedaling anymore. The company claims to have worked with world-class engineers to develop a waterproof battery pack that’s durable enough for long-term survival in both salt and fresh water. The battery is good for about an hour of assisted pedaling for a 185-pound rider. The pack is easily detachable for recharging in any standard wall socket. Visual indicators denote riding modes, battery status, and flight level so riders can optimize each trip on the water.

The Hydrofoiler’s flat, compact, modular design makes it easily transportable in most vehicles. Two identical screws are all that’s required to disassemble and reassemble the unit wherever you are. This modularity also allows for better customization in the future. Manta5 already has plans, for example, to release more powerful motors, new propellers, hardier battery packs, and new foil combinations. All of these can be easily bolted on by existing users as they become available.

The Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 is now available for pre-order directly through Manta5. The $7,495 NZD (approximately USD $5,250) price tag includes shipping, but only within New Zealand. Although we’re guessing if you’re enough of a hotshot to spend five grand on a water bike, you probably have the resources to find a way to get it delivered wherever you are in the world. The price also includes free performance upgrades through 2018 and a two-year comprehensive warranty.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Five Aventon E-Bikes We’d Choose for Family Rides and Weekend Adventures 
Five e-bikes from Aventon you can use to elevate your family weekend
Machine, Wheel, Accessories

Everyone loves a good bikeride. From the time you're a kid until the days of riding romantically on the beach, and finally, riding with your kids around daily or on vacation. I have gotten an opportunity to check out a lot that Aventon has to offer. From towing our kids around the neighborhood to exploring new parks, gravel paths, and campgrounds, we’ve spent time with several Aventon models in real, everyday situations. Family rides can look very different depending on the day, and each bike stood out in its own way depending on where and how we were riding. After spending time with all five, a few clear strengths started to emerge. 

Pace 4 

Read more
I finally found a robot mower that can handle a real piece of land, and it’s $1,000 off for Prime Day
YARBO Robot Lawn Mower Pro is down to $4,999 this Prime Day, a $1,000 saving on a wire-free, RTK-guided machine built for properties up to 6 acres.
Yarbo black and yellow robot lawn mower against a plain gray background

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with YARBO.

There's a particular kind of weekend that anyone with real acreage knows well. You look out the window at the grass and do the math on how many hours of your Saturday the mower is about to claim. I've spent enough of those weekends behind a deck to want the job handed to a robot, and the thing that always stopped me was that most robot mowers are toys built for a tidy suburban patch, not for land you measure in acres. The YARBO Robot Lawn Mower Pro is the first one I've come across that's built for the latter, and for day one of Prime Day it's dropped to $4,999 from its usual $5,999, a clean $1,000 off.

Read more
Outdoors advice from a REI Green Vest
Products to have and places to go for the outdoors enthusiast
rei rentals gear kayak

REI has been in the adventure game since the 1930s. So, it's perhaps no surprise that in addition to a great selection of outdoor gear, the co-op touts some top-level staffers too. You know, those folks wandering around the store in green vests. These employees don't just work for the brand; they live the lifestyle. They hit the trails and actually test the gear, coming away with invaluable wisdom that, when shared, can make your next camping trip or visit to Joshua Tree National Park all the better.

Ed Zebrowski wears the coveted green vest. He's a product information specialist at REI, where he's worked for nearly a decade. Here, he sheds some wisdom on being equipped for and thoroughly enjoying the outdoors. We talked him up on everything from bucket list destinations to gear he can't live without. We hope that the following will amp up your summer adventure season and even allow for a better experience the next time you're in need of some gear. He's based in Michigan, but his advice is applicable to all of your outings, wherever they may take you.

Read more