Talk of omni-directional bikes and James Bruton is the first name that comes to mind. The genius DIYer goes to insane lengths to make sure each of his creations is highly functional. Omni-directional Screw Bike makes our jaws drop, and the Star Wars Speeder Bike made out of hoverboard parts simply made us appreciate James’ craft skills.

The ingenious engineer is back again with another omni-directional bike that self-balances and is capable of driving sideways. Getting started with circus balance balls, he fitted the 2kW ODrive brushless motors (two on each wheel) onto them and complex engineering to make possible a Segway-like balancing act even when driving at acute angles. Therefore, making it the ideal drift bike that anyone even with zero skills can drive sideways!

Designer: James Bruton

He calls it the Omni-Directional Ball-Wheeled Bike, virtually employing a self-built power system to actuate the directional movement of the wheels for seamless traction in any direction without any jolts or abrupt directional changes. There is a spirit level to be aware at all times of the angle of motion, especially at higher speeds. A Start button initiates the O drives and an emergency switch freezes the thing in place if you think it’s getting out of control. The balls are free to spin around and a mechanism ensures they move in unison for maximum traction and control. Some parts of the unique two-wheeler are 3D-printed to keep the weight down and maintain structural integrity.

The left-hand twist grip is the steering input to make the wheels spin in either direction, while the right-hand twist grip makes the bike go forward or backward. Tweaking the whole system for a smooth movement without any unnecessary wheel spin, based on the input is something that James handled with maximum conviction. Since there are metal plates on this bike, he made sure to ground the mechanism properly to avoid any shocks when accidentally touching them. After testing the Omni-Directional Ball-Wheeled Bike in his home, he then took it to a large indoor court and immediately found out that at high speeds the plastic balls pop out of their housing.

Riding the bike is going to be a comfortable affair as there is a cushioned saddle on it, and the footpegs provide respite from any building strain in the legs and tights. The centrifugal force wants to push the rider outwards, so the solution is to lean into the turns. That said the omni-directional bike is a creation that would pique the interest of moviemakers.