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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

is this the costliest cycle ... ? Goldgenie launches golden one

If you’re giving the gift of gold this Christmas, this is one present that anyone would love to find under the tree.  For thousands of years, gold has been universally valued despite its chemically inert properties. It's rare enough, but not too rare to be used as a currency.   Its value is arbitrary – its conductivity, resistance to corrosion and malleability give it some practical uses in electronics, but otherwise it's valuable because it is agreed to be valuable, worn as a symbol of wealth by women.  Goldgenie is a company in UK  that specialises in providing customization of household items.

In early 1980s when there were not so many vehicles on road –  people were speeding on ‘mopeds’  - brand  Luna and Suvega  had hefty market share - before TVS ventured and took the market by storm.  Some others like Enfield’s -   Silverplus, Explorer also vied for market share.  The mopeds were classified as ‘auto-cycles’ in the erstwhile All India Motor Tariff. When auto market boomed, there were so many options – for those on the look-out for fuel economy and pollution-less environ came the e-scooters.

Electric motorcycles and scooters are plug-in electric vehicles powered by electricity. The electricity is stored on board in a rechargeable battery, which drives one or more electric motors.  The other day at Marina beach, saw models of a particular brand  e-scooter – alongside was’e-cycle’ as well. Much like Lunas and Suvegas having pedal as also petrol power – this has ordinary pedals as a cycle and electric power through battery and moved by accelerator.   It looked quite tempting – not the cost though, priced at Rs.24000/- bare vehicle.

The advantage for e-vehicles was claimed to be that they are not required to be Registered, no road tax and driver need not possess Driving licence.  According to provisions of MV Act vehicles with maximum design speed not exceeding 45 km/hour and engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc,  are not required to be registered with authorities. ~ and in this context read this post in MailOnline about the World's most expensive bicycle? Gold-plated racing bike with staggering £250,000 price tag [Rs.2.46 Crores]  that  costs more than a Ferrari.

London's Goldgenie is selling bicycles covered in 24-carat gold plating. Buyers can have the 'once-in-a-lifetime' gift encrusted with jewels. With an eye-watering price tag of £250,000, it is worth more than a Ferrari and could prove to be a unique toy for one of the capital’s super-rich residents. Almost every inch of the bicycle is covered in gold, including its handlebar, chain and spokes. If gold plating isn’t enough, the company can have the ‘ultimate once-in-a-lifetime luxury gift’ encrusted with jewels. Billed as ‘a mobile golden masterpiece’, the bicycle turned heads when Goldgenie took it for a spin near its offices in Westminster.

Frank Fernando, director of Goldgenie, said: ‘It’s the most amazing piece of movable sculpture in the world. ‘This particular bike comes in at just under £250,000 but we as a company embellish and diamond encrust, which is what my intentions are with this bike to the requirements of any potential customer.’ Goldgenie’s range of luxury gifts includes gold-plated iPhones, Beats by Dre headphones studded with Swarovski crystals and a 24-carat gold replica of James Bond’s signature Walther PPK handgun. Mr Fernando added: ‘We’ve just recently had an enquiry for, believe it or not, for a 24-carat gold plated toilet … including the seat and the commode and also a 24-carat gold vibrator.’


And the bicycle is no one-off, with Mr Fernando saying additional orders are already coming in. Don’t start asking why would one require a cycle for ? In good old days, every household had a bi-cycle, the head of the family would go to office riding it – and the household would keep it clean and well-oiled. Remember that those days, there was the wick-lamp that used to hung infront of the handle bar and Policemen might book and fine those vehicles without light moving in the night. Electric dynamo powered lights were a luxury ……

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

15th Dec 2014.

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