Martin Kuhlmeier is considered the creator of the i:SY bicycle. He built his first bike at the age of 10 in order to take part in a race. He won with a particularly light and fast 20-inch bike, and after that he never took part in a race again. His new goal, however, was to reinvent the bicycle. Over the years, he developed a concept for a bike with unique characteristics and unrivalled performance.

In 2008, the i:SY was presented at EuroBike in Friedrichshafen in the then new "compact bike" category and received an award. This quickly led to a high profile in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In 2009, the first i:SY bikes with a Panasonic motor were delivered.

The frame construction of the i:SY is designed so that the rider sits slightly further back (flat seat angle). This shifts the load on the contact points between the saddle, pedals and handlebars more towards the saddle. This enables a more efficient flow of power to the pedals, especially in an upright sitting position, and noticeably relieves the strain on the hands on the handlebars, depending on the individual setting of the SpeedLifter. The ergonomic properties of the i:SY therefore contribute to comfortable sitting and fast propulsion.

With the switch to the Bosch drive, the transition to a new licence partner also took place. The long-established company Hermann Hartje KG from Hoya/Weser manufactured the i:SY from 2013 to the end of 2021. Since 2022, i:SY has been independent and final production is carried out in Germany by Kettler.