NASA has sent men to the moon and provided them with a lunar car to drive around in but never a bike, which would be lighter and smaller but there are problems. It hasn't stopped one company coming up with a concept, however.

Lunar Motorcycle Concept from Hookie Co.

There are pretty good reasons why a motorcycle-type vehicle would be unsuitable on the moon: lack of stability and the increased possibility of an accident, stranding the astronaut far away from base are the obvious ones. Lack of carrying ability is another.

So, while NASA has never developed a lunar motorcycle, that hasn't stopped Russian designer Andrew Fabishevskiy from coming up with a concept, turned into reality by Nico von Hookie of Hookie Co. in Germany.

Called the Hookie Tardigrade, it's destination is a more earth-bound destination, the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles and the ADV:Overland exhibition.

Using a Cake Osa as a basis, the frame is an aluminium space-frame (pun intended!) and it runs on airless carbon wheels. Weighing 134kg - much of that weight is the battery and electric motor - it has a top speed of 9mph and a range of 70 miles. Steering is electronic and it has been designed for ease of assembly.

While it will never see service in its intended environment, it's a fascinating design study that might influence designers of earth-bound motorcycles in the future.

If you want to see the lunar bike, it will be on display at the ADV: Overland exhibition at the Petersen Museum from mid-October 2021.