Daily commuter for past 3 weeks.
Written: Aug 29 '05 (Updated Aug 30 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Durability. Rugged construction. Fun. 20 cents a day.
Cons: Weight and battery life.
The Bottom Line: It turned out to be very useful and has saved lots of gas for 10 cents a day! Did I mention fun?!
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| solotreker's Full Review: Segway Human Transporter |
A little over a year ago, when I first rented the Segway in Honolulu, I knew I had to have one. Admittedly, I was just fascinated by the technology and the extreme cool factor. I was lucky to find one, new, on Ebay for about $1k less than retail.
Originally, I would tote it to work to use on my lunch break so I wouldn't loose my parking spot. Or, I would go on the occasional ride or "glide". I never considered commuting to work. That is, until now.
Segway states that the range of the I series is around 8 -10 miles. I never thought that I was getting that kind of range. Recently, I attached a small GPS to the Segway and found that I traveled 7.5 miles with room to spare. My job is 6 miles away. And away I went.
With premium gas hovering around $3, it was a no brainer. It costs around 10 cents and 6 hours to charge the Segway. When I drive, it takes around 20 minutes. The same trip on the Segway takes around 35 minutes. It's been a blast.
As for operating the Segway, it's very intuitive. Lean forward, you go forward. Lean back, you go back. Twist the grip to turn. Just relax and be subtle with your movements. Your riding will become more fluid as you gain more experience. If you're riding on an uneven sidewalk, use a loose grip as the handlebars will move side to side. Be very aware of your surroundings. Cars, pedestrians and bikes. Things can happen very quickly if you moving faster than those around you. You're also 8 inches taller and you have to watch out for low branches and the like.
As for reliability, I've never had any real issues. The tires are fine. The batteries seem to be getting better with the long rides. The Segway is built like a tank.
The only cons that I can think of are probably battery life and weight. 83 pounds is a little heavy. With regards to battery life, lithium ion batteries with a range of 18 to 24 miles will be available soon.
I you purchase a Segway, prepare yourself for lots of questions, stares (you will affect traffic, trust me) and occasional rude comments for being lazy. I haven't quite figured that one out yet. The guy is sitting on his butt, while screaming at you from his car. Geez...
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
solotreker
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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