In a world where bike theft is an ever-present concern, the Nomoto offers a radical solution: vanish in plain sight. When parked, this ingenious creation by designer Joey Ruiter looks like an urban telecom signal box covered in graffiti. It can be transformed into a rideable electric motorcycle with the press of a button and is ready to cruise the streets.
The Nomoto was designed by Ruiter, who is known for his eccentric and polarizing designs, with minimalism and mischief in mind. When parked, the bike’s bodywork, made of two boxy metal shells, lowers to sit flush with the ground, cleverly disguising its true identity. Handlebars are revealed from a hidden compartment, and the bodywork rises to show its wheels, making it from an ‘invisible’ object to a working scooter.
While this electric motorcycle is basic in functionality, its design is a scream of innovation. The Nomoto has no mirrors or indicators, only subtle headlights and brake lights. The front and rear boxes have modest utility storage spaces inside, and a fold-out seat pad provides a small comfort touch.
Nomoto is a statement piece, says Joey Ruiter, who thrives on challenging conventional designs. The stealthy and peculiar aesthetic is meant to provoke thought and challenge the mundane. Ruiter’s previous projects, such as the Snoped, a minimalist snow bike, and other avant-garde vehicles, have always been about disrupting norms.
The Nomoto prototype caused a stir at San Francisco’s MOTO MMXX exhibition in 2020, but it never went into production. The Nomoto is not a revolutionary transportation, but it is a very creative design. One thing’s for sure: bike thieves won’t steal what they don’t even notice.
