Keeping Equilibrium On The Road: SZ Bikes
Designing Bicycles That Deliver A Stylish, Dynamic And Safe Way Of Transportation For Those Who Want A Green Way To Travel
Stefano Zellner inadvertently started a bike company when his motorcycle was stolen in 2011. “I had to look for a new vehicle that could get me around Milan at any time,” said Stefano. He came across an abandoned bicycle and took it home.
The bike needed some work. Stefano said it “wasn’t really appealing to me.” So, he started working on it. With help from his father, he began disassembling the bike. He replaced worn out components and gave the bike a new paint job. The result was a sleek, modern bike that turned heads wherever he rode it. Stefano says that his friends were surprised by the result of his bike’s makeover that they started asking if he could build them a similar one. Just like that, he was in business.
In 2015 Stefano released the first bike. He called it the Equilibrium. The Equilibrium was designed to deliver a stylish, dynamic and safe way of transportation. It’s perfect for those who want a green urban mobility future with less cars and less pollution. “I realized that in our society, more and more people are living a stationary lifestyle,” says Stefano, “I tried to deliver a sophisticated, stylish and most importantly, an ecological vehicle that could motivate the people to be more dynamic and earth-conscious.”
Incidentally, the inspiration for the bike’s design came from the racetrack. “I used to be really passionate about motorcycles,” says Stefano, “especially the SuperMoto motorcycles. I watched every race of the World Cup and during one race I saw an Italian team presenting their new designs for the upcoming season. Something that left me speechless were the rims.”
The rims were partially colored with a strong yellow fluorescent color and while rolling they created an eye-catching effect that Stefano knew he had to emulate. While working on a new bike he decided to paint the rims in the same way and that’s how the first Equilibrium model came to life. The name “Equilibrium” was coined by his sister. “I instantly fell in love with that word,” says Stefano, “It means ‘balance’.”
The Equilibrium model’s main characteristic is the half rim coloration which gives a touch of colors like those SuperMoto motorcycles Stefano loves so much. It features a two-speed automatic gearbox that helps the rider throughout every stage of his journey, as it guarantees the best gear ratio depending on the speed. “For example,” Stefano explains, “if you are going uphill, the mechanism will use the first gear to ride with less effort. On the other hand, if you want to ride fast the bike will change into second gear.”
Stefano designed the Equilibrium to look great, but safety plays a fundamental role. He spent a great deal of time searching for the best braking system. “Eventually, I decided to build a hydraulic front disc brake system that guarantees a rapid stop at every speed and in every kind of weather condition,” explains Stefano, “a coaster brake is placed into the gear box to add even more safety to the braking process.”
To keep the ride comfortable, Stefano decided to use the “Spyder” style saddle with its minimalistic design on the one side and a flexible plastic material on the other side. The bike also has shock absorbing grips that are installed on the handlebar. However, the most important feature is the anti-theft system which is built into the LED backlight placed under the saddle. Stefano wasn’t going to have a repeat of the theft incident that launched him into this career. Once activated, a 120-decibel alarm starts to ring someone unlawfully touches the bike.
Stefano designed the Equilibrium to be lightweight so it can be transported with ease. “All the materials have been chosen with three goals in mind: reliability, comfort and lightness,” says Stefano. The frame, rims and pedals are made of aluminum while the fork is completely made of carbon fiber. The bike is also easy to disassemble if needed to store for longer trips. All the parts are made of high quality materials which will guarantee reliability throughout every kind of journey.
Stefano is hoping to find a partner to help grow SZ Bikes and make them available worldwide. He wants to add more color options as well. “I’m working on a new frame design and studying a way to integrate safety systems into the bike to increase the safety of the user on the streets,” says Stefano. Currently, the Equilibrium is only available to order online or locally in Cazzago Brabbia, Italy.
Debbie Wolfe
A graduate of Northland College with degrees in Creative Writing and Earth Sciences, Debbie has written for HGTV, DIYNetwork, Sheknows and more. She enjoys gardening, reading and fostering dogs.
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SZ Bikes, delivering a stylish, dynamic and safe way of moving to all those who believe in a green urban mobility future with fewer cars and less pollution, with the aim of improving quality of life.