The concept of “planned obsolescence” is very much alive and well today. If products last forever then the company making it would eventually find itself out of business. But apparently Slava Menn didn’t take the business studies class that explained this fact.
He’s going against the grain with his Kickstarter project to launch Fortified: Bike Lights That Last Forever. While he’s about half way through his crowd funding campaign he’s long since surpassed his goals. The MIT grad is looking to create a line of bike lights that aren’t just durable, but are also theft-proof.
The new concept includes the Aviator, a head light, and the Afterburner tail light. Both feature a water- and shockproof aluminum construction and attach to the bike via a custom security screw – making it very hard for thieves to steal the light. Each of these LED lights is further powered by a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged via USB, and both lights will go the distance. On a single charge the Aviator can run for about 40 hours while the Afterburner won’t burn out for 200+ hours!
Menn knows a thing or two about Kickstarter campaigns too, as he successfully launched The Defender last year and has since sold 5,000 to city cyclists around the world. Now he’s looking to create a street-proof light that is invincible, theft-proof and comes with a lifetime, “no-matter-what-guarantee.” If anyone can deliver on this promise we think Menn is just the man. Video after the jump
When riding a bike we know that drivers can’t read our minds when we need to make a turn. The best option – really the only option – is to use hand signals. The problem is that many times drivers still don’t take notice, and at night it can be hard to see these signals.
