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Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 2 of 12 Judah Schiller sits on a model of the X1, a new water bike said to be the first of its kind. Judah Schiller sits on a model of the X1, a new water bike said to be the first of its kind. Image 3 of 12 Judah Schiller, Founder of Schiller Bikes, checks his time after making the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on a water bike to promote alternative transportation for cyclists in 2013. On Friday, Schiller unveiled the first commercially available water bike, the X1. less Judah Schiller, Founder of Schiller Bikes, checks his time after making the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on a water bike to promote alternative transportation for cyclists in 2013. On Friday, Schiller ... more Photo: Special to the Chronicle Image 4 of 12 Judah Schiller commuted across the bay on a water bike prototype in 2013. The trip from Port View Park in Oakland to Pier 1 in San Francisco took him just over an hour. On Friday, Schiller unveiled the first commercially available water bike, the X1. less Judah Schiller commuted across the bay on a water bike prototype in 2013. The trip from Port View Park in Oakland to Pier 1 in San Francisco took him just over an hour. On Friday, Schiller unveiled the first ... more Photo: Special to the Chronicle Image 5 of 12 Image 6 of 12 The propeller of the water bike prototype ridden across San Francisco Bay by Judah Schiller in 2013 sits under the front wheel to allow for steering with the handle bars. The propeller of the water bike prototype ridden across San Francisco Bay by Judah Schiller in 2013 sits under the front wheel to allow for steering with the handle bars. Photo: Special to the Chronicle Image 7 of 12 The multi-speed drivetrain on the X1 uses belts to transfer power from the pedals to the propeller. The multi-speed drivetrain on the X1 uses belts to transfer power from the pedals to the propeller. Image 8 of 12 Judah Schiller, Founder of BayCycle Project, sits atop a water bike after making the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on such a vehicle to promote alternative transportation for cyclists on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The trip from Port View Park in Oakland to Pier 1 in San Francisco took him just over an hour. less Judah Schiller, Founder of BayCycle Project, sits atop a water bike after making the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on such a vehicle to promote alternative transportation for cyclists on Friday, Sept. ... more Photo: Special to the Chronicle Image 9 of 12 Judah Schiller, Founder of BayCycle Project, makes the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on a water bike to promote alternative transportation for cyclists on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The trip from Port View Park in Oakland to Pier 1 in San Francisco took him just over an hour. less Judah Schiller, Founder of BayCycle Project, makes the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on a water bike to promote alternative transportation for cyclists on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The trip from Port View ... more Photo: Special to the Chronicle Image 10 of 12 Image 11 of 12 Judah Schiller, Founder of BayCycle Project, celebrates making the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on a water bike to promote alternative transportation for cyclists on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The trip from Port View Park in Oakland to Pier 1 in San Francisco took him less than an hour. less Judah Schiller, Founder of BayCycle Project, celebrates making the first crossing of San Francisco Bay on a water bike to promote alternative transportation for cyclists on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The trip ... more Photo: Special to the Chronicle Image 12 of 12 From prototype to pedal-ready: Water bike launches 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Judah Schiller made quite a splash when he rode his bike to work last year.

On a calm September morning, Schiller, a 42-year-old designer and Mill Valley resident, strapped his bike onto a pair of Italian-made pontoons and made what he said was a first-of-its-kind commute by pedaling the floating contraption from Oakland to San Francisco in just over an hour.

“No buses, no cars, no taxis, no pedestrians,” Schiller said as he glided into Pier 1 on the San Francisco side. “Next year, we’ll have 500 bikers riding across a virtual bike lane on the bay with me.”

Though that estimate may have been a little optimistic, Schiller got one step closer to making that prediction come true as he introduced the first commercially available model, called the X1, made by Schiller Bikes.

A far cry from the prototype, which was little more than a normal bike strapped to the floating pontoons, the X1 is a made of aircraft-grade anodized aluminum, comes with LED lighting and collapses down to fit into a car trunk or closet.

Schiller said the bike, which is made in Northern California, can reach speeds of 8 knots, or just over 9 mph on land, and is one of the only bicycles that can go in reverse.

The ability to ride on water doesn’t come cheap. The baseline X1’s suggested retail price is just under $6,500. If you’re feeling fancy, the Founder’s Edition can be yours for $8,775.

Check out this short video of the X1 in action.