Lorde Rides Through the City on a Cool Vintage Bike — and It’s a Vibe

Lorde is back with a new music video for her song “What Was That,” and although we love a good Lorde tune, we are here for the bikes—and the vision of a joyful, car-free city.

In the video, the 28-year-old New Zealand pop star is seen riding through the streets of New York City. No traffic jams, no honking—just smooth pedaling and good vibes. Like the vast majority of people who hop on a bike, she’s grinning ear to ear. And why not? Cycling makes people happy.

And for the bike nerds among us, there’s a real treat—Lorde is riding a vintage late-90s Klein Quantum Race road bike decked out for city riding and sporting that iconic blue Caribbean Linear Fade paint job. It’s a head-turner.

Gary Klein’s groundbreaking design: oversized aluminum tubing, internal cable routing, and integrated components—features that were revolutionary in the 1980s and are now standard. The Quantum Race was known for its lightweight stiffness and vibrant, high-end paint.

Inspired by its beauty, or just a very intense Lorde fan that must own this bike, you can still find them for sale used in a variety of locations online.

Music star Lorde on a customised Klein Quantum Race from the late-90s

The video also subtly highlights some of NYC’s bike infrastructure—from protected lanes to quiet, bike-friendly streets—showing what’s possible when cities make room for people instead of just cars.

It wraps up in Washington Square Park, where the artist was recently spotted filming.

Watch the video here. Ride a bike. Smile like Lorde.