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Bicycle Design Student Work: Masaichi Yamada's Mini-Velo

By Rain Noe - April 9

in Bikes

The Tokyo College of Cycle Design that we looked at earlier, holds an annual award competition. The 2025 Grand Prize winner was student Masaichi Yamada, who designed and welded this crazy-looking ride together:

This is a "minivelo road bike"—a compact road bicycle—characterized by a tubular steel space-frame structure in which slender chromoly tubes are assembled into a three-dimensional form, creating an exterior silhouette that shifts depending on the viewing angle.

The frame layout is designed to ensure the necessary strength and rigidity required for actual riding and performance, rather than merely serving as a decorative art object.

Guest Judge Satoshi Hikita's commentary:

The truss-structure frame makes a powerful visual impression, yet it is also evident that no detail has been overlooked; the craftsmanship is meticulous throughout. The fact that the bike was intricately designed and assembled in three dimensions—resulting in an aesthetic that changes depending on the viewing angle—is particularly fascinating.

I was also deeply impressed by how the design breaks free from conventional norms to present a fresh, new form of sculptural expression for the bicycle. It sparks my imagination, leaving me wondering what its actual riding performance and comfort must be like.

With its high standards across the board—from technical execution to sculptural expression—this is a magnificent machine that demonstrates exceptional overall excellence.

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Gavin Ivester

18 days ago

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How do you get on it?

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Zach W

18 days ago

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"No detail was overlooked".... except for a water bottle.....

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Alan Nomoto

18 days ago

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Mid Size Moulton. Very cool but wonder where the saddle goes or if that's somehow the saddle. The mtb fork looks a little out of place but it still is a really cool design.👍👍👍

Price would squarely inthe "is you have to ask..." category like a Moulton.

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