Segways go on sale. No need to walk ever again

BikeBiz.co.uk ^ | 11/18/2002 | By Carlton Reid

[man from mars]

As revealed on US breakfast telly this morning, Dean Kamen's Segway< is on sale from today via the Amazon 'early adoptors' club. Delivery is US-only and your $4950 machine actually ships in March at the earliest (although in a bid for even more publicity, 30 consumers will be hand-picked to receive their Segways before Christmas).

[Aquinasfan]

With a name like "Segway" it can't fail...

[LibWhacker]

Or this guy.

[js1138]

I want to see one of these on a sidewalk in January in downtown Chicago.

If you go to their site you can watch a film of one riding over ice and snow.

[uglybiker]

If I'm gonna put down 5k on a scooter, that sumb*tch's gonna have a motor!

[Centurion2000]

Ok .... I understand bodybuilding but that's just too damn much. Guy must have a range of motion comparable to a GI-Joe action figure.

[better_dead_then_red]

Comparing a Humvee with its roof, extra seating, stereo, ability to go highway speed, room for cargo, off road and bad weather capabilities is...well...stooopid.

Comparing the scooter I had when I was a kid makes more sense. And it was a couple hundred bucks

[js1138]

Not to mention how many stairscases there are in the world.

They have a four wheel wheelchair version that can climb stairs, curbs, 25% grades, and rear up on its hind wheels to reach things on shelves.

[discostu]

Ice and snow aren't what makes life suck in Chicago in January, it's WIND. Since this things does most of it's steering by body tilt contemplate what happens when a big wind smacks you in the face making you lean backwards, last I heard Segway has a reverse. I've seen Chicago winter winds move people around who weren't on a gyroscope steered gocart, when they're motor assisted it's going to be freaking hilarious, until they wind up under a truck and dead.

[js1138]

it's WIND. Since this things does most of it's steering by body tilt contemplate what happens when a big wind smacks you in the face making you lean backwards...

I don't know. I suspect this has been considered.

[FeliciaCat]

I want to see one in Times Square at rush hour.

[TexasCajun]

Do you chain the damn thing up to street sign when you go get your Latte from Starbucks?

[CharacterCounts]

If a Segway hits you, it's like being hit by another pedestrian."

Getting hit by a defensive back for a college football team is a more apt descriptoin.

[dljordan]

Gotcha! I bought a Nissan 4X4 for $5000. I put 100,000 miles on that sucker and It's still running. I bought a Jeep but kept the truck (my wife says it's out of perversity and to annoy the nieghbors) to haul stuff.

[discostu]

I don't. We'll see.

[My2Cents]

Dittos back. In addition to the '94 Civic, I bought a '91 Mitsubishi "Mighty Max" pickup a couple of months ago for $4k. It had only 53,000 miles on it, and from what I've read of the Mits, it has another 150,000 left, at least. The Segways will all be on the scrap heap by the time my truck gives out.

[Old Professer]

Ice and snow aren't what makes life suck in Chicago in January, it's WIND. Since this things does most of it's steering by body tilt contemplate what happens when a big wind smacks you in the face making you lean backwards, last I heard Segway has a reverse. I've seen Chicago winter winds move people around who weren't on a gyroscope steered gocart, when they're motor assisted it's going to be freaking hilarious, until they wind up under a truck and dead.

Ok, you've got the script, now all you need is a producer and a wind tunnel.

[discostu]

I'll leave execution of the idea to Jackie Chan, I'm sure he'll be able to do it justice.

[al baby]

A fast movin s.u.v. will make you just a stain on the road!!!

[RonF]

Riding over ice and snow is one thing. Riding over a block of ice that's an abrupt six inches over the curb, worn smooth by walking and salt, and is 3 inches lower at one end than the other, in 15 degree/15 mph wind, without skidding into the crowd of people next to you, is another.