The last of our 5 bikes inspired by F1 cars design had to be an e-bike. So we chose one of the most iconic and beautiful F1 cars ever to take inspiration for Ione, our road e-bike. And we dedicated it to a superb pilot, who was twice world champion but has indeed won less than he deserved: the Finnish Mika Hakkinen.
The Story Behind
The 1998 Mclaren Mercedes is considered one of the most beautiful F1 cars ever. Entirely designed by Adrian Newey – who is now behind the successes of Max Verstappen on Red Bull. Driven by Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard, the MP4/13 proved to be the dominant car of the season, with Häkkinen winning eight races en route to his first Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren won their first Constructors’ Championship.
Courtesy of Rick Dikeman
Overall, the 1998 McLaren MP4/13 is remembered as an iconic car that symbolized McLaren’s return to championship-winning form and showcased Adrian Newey’s engineering prowess.
The Design of the Bike
To report the Mp4/13 design on our e-bike Ione, we use a light grey combined with white as the main colour. The grey gradients to black in the front and rear of the bike, while the Daccordi logo is cut in the middle by a red stripe. A touch of red is also present on the vertical tube. This design creates a visually appealing contrast and adds a touch of boldness to the overall appearance of the e-bike Ione.
Ione is the only carbon e-bike on the market made with a tube-to-tube system. Tube-to-tube construction refers to a method used in bike frame manufacturing where individual carbon fibre tubes are joined together using various techniques, such as bonding or wrapping with additional layers of carbon fibre. This construction method allows for precise control over the frame’s design, including tube shapes, wall thickness, and layup orientation.
Why the tube-to-tube construction technique is of superior quality
The tube-to-tube construction technique in carbon bike manufacturing is often considered to be of superior quality due to several reasons:
- Customization: Tube-to-tube construction allows for greater customization options. Each tube can be individually selected based on its properties such as thickness, shape, and orientation, enabling manufacturers to tailor the bike’s ride characteristics to specific requirements. This level of customization can result in a bike that offers better performance, comfort, and handling for the rider.
- Consistency: Tube-to-tube construction provides greater consistency in the manufacturing process. Each tube is constructed separately and then joined together, ensuring that the carbon fiber layup is consistent throughout the frame. This consistency helps to optimize the bike’s strength, stiffness, and overall performance.
- Repairability: In the unfortunate event of damage to the bike frame, tube-to-tube construction allows for easier repair. Since the frame is composed of individual tubes, it is possible to replace or repair a specific tube rather than having to replace the entire frame. This can be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly compared to other construction methods where the entire frame needs to be replaced.
- Quality control: The tube-to-tube construction technique allows for better quality control during the manufacturing process. Each tube can be inspected individually for any defects or imperfections before being assembled, ensuring that only the highest quality components are used. This helps to reduce the likelihood of structural issues or failures in the finished bike.
- Weight optimization: Tube-to-tube construction offers greater flexibility in optimizing the weight of the bike. Manufacturer can strategically select different tube thicknesses and shapes to achieve the desired balance between strength, stiffness, and weight. This can result in a lighter overall bike without compromising its structural integrity.
