If you're in the market for a new bike, listen up: Boston-based Fortified Bicycle has launched its latest Kickstarter campaign, and this one is bigger and better than ever.
Whereas previous successful campaigns featured bike components like anti-theft lights and seatpost clamps, now the prize is a full bike, available in single-speed and eight-gear models. The 60-day campaign went live Friday morning with a goal of $100,000. (Update: the campaign has eclipsed its $100k goal with 28 days still remaining.)
The new ride, called "Invincible," is the culmination of years of development, and houses all the forward-thinking design that put Fortified on the map in the first place: front and rear lights, a seatpost clamp and stem design that make stolen bike parts a thing of the past.
New features include anti-theft tire bolts, a reflective paint that provides 360-degree visibility in lower light, and coolest of all, Fortified Protect, the company's newly launched protection plan that guarantees a replacement bike within 24 hours if yours is stolen while locked with the company's U-lock, also new to this release.
"For 14 months, we dreamt, bled and built bikes, until finally we had made the world's first city-proof bike," says co-founder Tivan Amour in the campaign video. "Thieves. Rain. Potholes. Invincible is the bike to conquer them all, backed with a 24-hour replacement guarantee."
"If, somehow, a thief manages to steal your bike or any of its components, we ship you a new one in 24 hours," Tivan continues.
That's pretty amazing. Not only are you getting a city-ready, thief-resistant bike to begin with, but you're investing in piece of mind, too.
The Kickstarter pricing ranges from $399 to $699 for the single-speed – you can get just the bike and the lock, or add lights and up to three years of Fortified Protect – and $699 to $949 for the eight-speed. The single-speed will retail for $449 once the campaign is over, with the eight-speed ringing up at $849.
