Segways

I rode a segway for the first time this week, and it was not at all what I expected. I thought it would be pretty easy to control, but because its based on balance, any slight movement you make causes the segway to move. I particularly found it hard to get on and stop. I was only on it for a few minutes, so I guess I just needed to get used to it.

Has anyone else been on one? ...or own one for that matter?

I couldn't see this being used to get around... it's a fun, expensive toy.

 

You said it!
I had the oppurtunity to use the segway for a week. It was not what expected either and was frustrating at times to use. It is indeed a fun toy for the moment. Maybe if they refine it a little bit more and drop that price, it may catch on. I think I would need more time to actually get a hang of it.

 

I was actually thinking about maybe building one...

http://tlb.org/scooter.html

 

The Police Dept in my city use it. I have used it for 2 weeks and found it surprisingly easy to use and easy to transport with. I was carrying school bag with 18lbs worth of books easily.

I personally like it. However, cars/bikes > segway for me. Unless fuel goes to 50$/gallon, I don't see myself on one.

 

Did carrying the schoolbag throw off your balance?

Does William Hung ride one?

 

Ah geez, you gotta bring Hung into it!

No it didnt throw off my balance. It took about a day to get used to the extra weight. However I ride bikes and thus my sense of balance is good.

 

Do you happen to remember what model of the seway you were riding on? I was riding the p Series, if I remember correctly.

 

Actually I dont remember the model. However, after August 28 (when I am back in the city again) I can look it up and let you know.

It was in May of this year, if that helps any.

 

I haven't used a Segway, but I have used a Henway. What's a Henway?

About 5 pounds!

 

LOL

 

we have 4 segways. once you understand how they work, they are very easy to operate. most people tend to want to rock on them once they step on. as soon as you understand your center of gravity drives them, they become much more fun to play around with. the red key is where the fun begins. however, the black key is a must until you understand the concept. i don't think they will ever "reinvent" modern transportation, but fun can still be had. the enginering behind them is what has fascinated me the most.

 

Ditto. If you look at that page I linked, it really spawned my fascination for the engineering. I have a few other pages bookmarked too. Basically, it acts like a "reverse pendulum" robot. Very, very interesting stuff. Having read many pages and articles on homebrew designs, I had to ride one. The opportunity presented itself, and I took it.

What you're saying about the center of gravity is dead on. The problem I had was keeping my body straight enough to use the center of gravity. I was so thrown off by the feeling that I know my posture was waaay off. I guess it just takes getting used to.

 

Hey Mike,

Yep, I've been on many. In fact I was one of the first to get on it. My good friend won one of the first three sold. They auctioned them for charity and he asked me to go to the award ceremony in Florida and pick it up for him. I was trained by the VP of sales and I picked up using it quickly. Getting on it with proper training and staying on it for awhile are big advantages. I think I spent about 2 - 3 hours on it that day. I was cruising around outside and in a hotel conference room. Now it's second nature. I tried to find a pict of that trip but I can't seem to find the disk.

- Give it another try.... they're fun to cruise around on. I don't know if I'd do much traveling on one though.

 

Whoa! Cool story...

...now I just need to find another one to test out.

 

I've never ridden one, but the city I live in has banned them from the recreational paths. We have about 90 miles of paths that are used mostly by golf carts, although you see the occassional runner or biker. The concern was that a Segway rider would have no chance in a collision with a golf cart. Sounds silly until a self-obssessed teenager flies around a blind corner and you have nowhere to go.

 

Once the health benefits of a Segway become apparent.......I'll stop walking and start using one........heh. While our city is relatively bike friendly, I can imagine that implementing these things would be a whole other category unto itself.

It is a cool piece of technology however.

 

Bill,

You may not be aware of this. The Segways' handle bar actualy tilts forward when moving forward. One of the advantages is that when you hit something withthe handle bar it is pushed to the rear and stops the Segway. I can't say this happens everytime, depending on where it is hit on the bar, but I had someone run into me and I hardly felt it.

 

No, I didn't know that. Good info. One of my neighbors has one, but I haven't ridden it.

I doubt that it would do you much good if you were hit by a golf cart travelling at 15 mph. Our paths are barely wide enough for 2 carts, tree-lined and twisty. Some of these hot rodded carts (like mine!) will do upwards of 20 mph. Unfortunately, Brembo hasn't developed a conversion kit yet...

 

Saw something pretty ridiculous the other day. Two businessmen going down the sidewalk, one walking, the other on a Segway. The man riding was obviously trying to look casual, so he had one hand in his slacks pocket, jerking around trying to keep at the slower pace of his associate on foot. Plus, he was about a foot above the other guy. Looked like a boob. I'm waiting for the first fatal beating of some Segway-propelled Yuppie who collides with a construction worker.

 

LOL

My parents have a house in a community with five courses. They have very strict guidelines as to what an acceptable cart is. It wouldn't work for me.... I'd be thinking Hummer or F360 as a great cart design.

Gilles27, They are much more fun if both people are on them.... otherwise I think it would suck.

 

One of the big issues in our area is the banning of motorized scooters in a lot of the towns. Lo and behold, though, there's always an exemption for Segways. Hmmmm...who has the money?

 

Segways' pockets are not that deep. I'm guessing it's because of three things..

1. Noise
2. Ave age of drives (most scooters are used by kids)
3. Segway spent a lot of money lobbying towns to get exceptions for "the personal trans device" <- that's not the name they used. I just can't think of it now.

 

What is the best model to own and how much does it cost today? I'd assume since a lot of the novelty wears off, it's a lot cheaper than when it first hit the street....correct?