Rad2Go Q
January 12, 2004 5:24 AM   Subscribe

$1,000 Segway competitor, the Rad2Go Q, on show at CES.
posted by MintSauce (22 comments total)
 
Why do they have a bCentral.com page hit counter on their page? And so prominently displayed. Kind of, I don't know, amateurish.
posted by Outlawyr at 5:55 AM on January 12, 2004


it's got 4 wheels! you might as well just stand up on an electric wheelchair.
posted by jonvaughan at 6:08 AM on January 12, 2004


Have you seen those cool electric wheelchairs that can walk up stairs and stand on tip-toes to help you reach high-up shelves?

I want one of those.

Much better than a Segway & it lets you sit down.

Standing up is for lusers.
posted by Blue Stone at 6:23 AM on January 12, 2004


Blue Stone- Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, also invented that.
posted by mkultra at 6:27 AM on January 12, 2004


I'm not about to buy a Segway, it has no utility where I live (or where most people I live I suppose) but this thing doesn't really have a lot in common with a Segway other than form. The Segway, despite it's lack of utility for me, is still interesting engineering. This has the same lack of utility but also lacks any interesting engineering. My first thought when seeing it was how closely it reminded me of a scooter my dad made me when I was a kid from wood and old roller skates. They'll sell more only because of the low cost. It's at a price point where many people can afford to buy it as a soon-to-be closet bound curiosity.

I really wanted the Segway to succeed but realized it wouldn't. I really don't care one way or another about the Rad2Go Q.
posted by substrate at 6:27 AM on January 12, 2004


Come on Blue Stone, at least on a Segway you could have gladiator chariot races without the expense and responsibilities of owning a horse. Maybe that's what's required to sell more of them, better marketing. Increase the top speed and sell it bundled with a bastard sword and gladiator helmet.
posted by substrate at 6:29 AM on January 12, 2004


I'm thinking of buying a Barbie Jeep and just riding around in that.
posted by Outlawyr at 6:33 AM on January 12, 2004


At CES it was niknamed the 'Fakeway'...
posted by matty at 7:17 AM on January 12, 2004


aren't bicycles a pretty big well-established competitor as well?
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 7:46 AM on January 12, 2004


I'd rather get one of these...
posted by toddst at 8:03 AM on January 12, 2004


Maybe a unicycle would be a worthwhile alternative. It probably wouldn't get stolen, either - who the heck else could ride it?
posted by alumshubby at 8:39 AM on January 12, 2004


I spent money on a low-cost version of the Megway Human Transport,
that known as the Bethway...

...Damn thing kept walking off on its own.
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:55 AM on January 12, 2004


toddst: mmmmm.... Lammy. I have a Vespa Sprint 150. One quarter the price of the segway, 5 times as fast, and infinitely hipper.
posted by zpousman at 10:44 AM on January 12, 2004


zpousman: Nice!...I have a 1969 Vespa 125 Super and 1979 ET3 Primavera. I have always wanted a scootrs bike, but I am sticking with my beat up daily riders... Oh, check out this short scoot video (quicktime) that I put together while building a friend's Vespa 90.
posted by toddst at 11:02 AM on January 12, 2004


"The Segway is a marvellous invention," said Rad2Go President John Wang, "but for me it is too much technology for moving from point A to point B."

Mm?
posted by nthdegx at 11:15 AM on January 12, 2004


Good article in the Washington Post about tour-group operators renting Segways. That's a niche I can see; I haven't really seen another.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:33 AM on January 12, 2004


Anyone else notice a previous incarnation of Wizzy, Condomania's condom wizard at the bottom of this page?
posted by UrbanFigaro at 11:59 AM on January 12, 2004


toddst, zpousman -
I've always wondered about the scooter attraction. Why get a scooter when a motorcycle is more powerful and/or cheaper and a bit safer in traffic? Is it all about the kitchiness or is there some other reason to like them?
posted by badstone at 12:06 PM on January 12, 2004


MrMoonPie, I took the Paris Segway tour last summer and had a blast. I got to cruise around the city at night (drawing stares and curious questions from tourists and Parisians) and at the same time scratched my segway itch without blowing 4 grand. Highly recommended.
posted by shoepal at 12:25 PM on January 12, 2004


badstone: While growing up, I always wanted a Vespa (probably due to the ska influence). A Vespa can be cheap. I picked up my first one for $100 and put a few more hundred into it to get it running (and painted). It's hard to explain, but riding a Vespa (or a Lambretta) is better, in my opinion, than a motorcycle. Sure, style has something to do with it, but also riding something that I put together/rebuilt also plays a large factor... As to speed, the old scooters can be kitted to go quite fast. And, if you are a responsible rider, they are quite safe (but installing a disc brake and a higher voltage lighting system might help). Also, the scooter scene is an added bonus since through it, I have made many good friends...
posted by toddst at 12:45 PM on January 12, 2004


I don't understand why everyone thinks that the segway has failed.

Neither bicycles nor automobiles were taken up that quick either.
posted by Yossarian at 1:56 PM on January 12, 2004


Toddst, having ridden Vespas, Honda Sprees and other scooters and then having ridden motorcycles, I'll take a motorcycle anyday. Speed, comfort, speed, agility, speed, range and speed are my main reasons for the upgrade.

That and that old joke about fat girls and scooters.

But I still like the way Vespa's look. But I think my SV650 is easily as good looking and far more practical for me. A hundred miles per on a Lambretta is almost certainly waaay too fast, a hundred per on the SV is just what I call third gear.
posted by fenriq at 4:33 PM on January 12, 2004


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