EyeLights, a company based in Toulouse, France, has unveiled the Rocket One, a striking electric motorbike concept that blurs the line between science fiction and reality. Best known for its helmet-mounted HUDs and audio kits, EyeLights is not a motorcycle manufacturer by trade. Yet, with the Rocket One, it has ventured into bold territory, presenting a “production-ready” prototype designed to captivate enthusiasts and push the boundaries of design and functionality.
A bold design that turns heads
The Rocket One’s aesthetics are unapologetically futuristic, blending café racer elements with avant-garde design cues. Dominating the bike’s front is a massive LED headlamp that has drawn comparisons to a jet engine inlet or even the wave motion gun from Star Blazers. The curvy bodywork and a scooped-in single seat contribute to its aerodynamic silhouette, while the low, downward-angled handlebars emphasize its sporty DNA.
Alan Derosier, the designer of the Rocket One, approached this project as he would a car. “The bike’s initial design revolved around fine-tuning the proportions and silhouettes,” Derosier explained. He aimed for a balance of style and functionality, resulting in a machine that feels as much like a piece of art as it does a vehicle.
One quirky feature stands out: glowing circular EyeLights motifs protruding near the footpegs. While visually intriguing, their positioning has raised concerns about practicality, as they appear capable of interfering with the rider’s foot placement.
Performance that commands respect
The Rocket One boasts impressive performance numbers for a concept bike. Its electric motor generates 180 horsepower and a staggering 885 lb-ft (1,200 Nm) of torque, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 2.6 seconds. Such figures place it firmly in the high-performance category.
In terms of range, EyeLights claims the Rocket One can cover up to 248 miles (400 km) on a single charge. While this matches some of the best in the industry, such as the Energica Ego+ with its 21 kWh battery and 261-mile (420-km) range, real-world conditions may temper expectations. Hard acceleration, high speeds, or sustained highway riding would likely reduce the Rocket One’s range significantly.
A companion concept to EyeLights’ core products
Interestingly, EyeLights has positioned the Rocket One not as a standalone motorcycle but as a complement to its core product: the EyeRide Head-Up Display (HUD). Available since 2018, the EyeRide HUD kit is an aftermarket accessory for motorcycle helmets that provides essential riding information on a nano OLED screen. Data such as speed, battery level, range, and driving mode are displayed directly in the rider’s field of view, enhancing convenience without requiring them to glance down.
EyeLights sees the Rocket One as an ideal platform to demonstrate the capabilities of its HUD technology. The integration of augmented reality (AR) features with the bike represents a step towards creating a seamless, tech-enhanced riding experience.
However, HUDs remain a niche product. Traditional audio headsets from brands like Cardo and Sena have long dominated the market, offering communication, navigation, and entertainment without the added complexity of a visual display. EyeRide’s utility hinges on its ability to prove the visual interface is worth the trade-offs in weight and potential obstruction of view.
The road ahead for the Rocket One
Building a concept bike is one thing; translating it into a production model is a monumental challenge. The Rocket One would need to pass rigorous safety and reliability tests to meet homologation standards, and EyeLights, as a helmet accessory company, lacks the manufacturing and distribution infrastructure of established motorcycle brands.
Despite these hurdles, EyeLights has created a waiting list for the Rocket One, capturing the imagination of potential buyers since its reveal at EICMA last year. Whether those on the list will ever see the bike delivered is another question. As of now, the Rocket One remains an ambitious concept—a showcase of design prowess and a statement of what’s possible.
Source: EyeLights
