Everything the Segway is but cheaper.

June 14, 2007 9:17 AM

The Easy-Glider is everything the Segway is, but cheaper. Electric engine, 16-25 kilometers (10-15 miles) on a charge. Looks like fun [8mb qt] for only less than EU1000 ($1300 US). (Currently not available in the US.)
posted by Dave Faris (42 comments total)

Here's a pic and more videos.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:22 AM on June 14, 2007

And dorkier!
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 9:32 AM on June 14, 2007

Maybe it is a cool product, but I can't tell because their Flash web interface sucks camel toe.
posted by HyperBlue at 9:33 AM on June 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Man, that's the worst site I've seen in a long time.

This is very different from a Segway.

Your favorite post sucks.
posted by bshort at 9:38 AM on June 14, 2007

Not really caring about a new electric scooter, I instead focused on HyperBlue's term "sucks camel toe". A google of that term shows up 97 other times it was used on the internet, about 95 of those seem to be on questionable porn sites.

Thanks for bringing that wonderful phrase here to MetaFilter, we now join a select few sites on the intertubes.

/please return to your regular discussion..
posted by HuronBob at 9:41 AM on June 14, 2007

Dorkier?!

Come on. Even though I'm not much of a German speaker, this video from the site clearly shows that the Segway is used by authoritarian jackbooted thugs, while the Easy Glider is popular with hot, big breasted blonde girls. The choice is obvious.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:45 AM on June 14, 2007

The Onion put it best: slightly faster than walking, without all that messy 'dignity'.

For $1300, you can get a pretty decent bike.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 9:54 AM on June 14, 2007

Easy Glider : Segway ::

A. Vespa : Motorcycle
B. Rollerskates : Rollerblades
posted by Esoquo at 9:58 AM on June 14, 2007

I have the feeling this thing is already illegal in many jurisdictions... just as the Segway is.
posted by drstein at 9:59 AM on June 14, 2007

Jesus People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! W-A-L-K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the other hand, do you HAVE to weave back and forth like that on the Easy Glider? If so, count me.........IN!!

Also, Germans are pretty
posted by jmccw at 10:01 AM on June 14, 2007

C. Tweedledee:Tweedledumb
posted by [expletive deleted] at 10:04 AM on June 14, 2007

What a shit site. I let the first flash intro load, but I couldn't be bothered to wait for the second.
posted by mr_roboto at 10:08 AM on June 14, 2007

You can pretty much do the same thing with rollerblades and a dog. Plus, the dog is cheaper, and loves you.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 10:10 AM on June 14, 2007 [2 favorites]

The only really awesome part of a Segway is that it balances. This doesn't do that. The point is....?
posted by DU at 10:12 AM on June 14, 2007

Does it come with a white suit and a "The Final Countdown" ringtone?
posted by arto at 10:19 AM on June 14, 2007 [3 favorites]

Actually, this thing would probably suck to ride. The reason: The drive wheel is in front, but there's no weight on it, so it would be difficult to accelerate quickly.
posted by delmoi at 10:53 AM on June 14, 2007

Thank you for reminding me why flash sites suck.
posted by Artw at 10:55 AM on June 14, 2007

Bam! Third wheel!
posted by basicchannel at 10:55 AM on June 14, 2007

This is like going to one of the car shows or races around here and finding enormous fat dudes riding mini bikes around instead of walking. C'mon.
posted by maxwelton at 11:05 AM on June 14, 2007

It seems to miss the segway point entirely in that you are not integrated into the pedestrian zone. Can you imagine one of these on a sidewalk? Also, evidently can't go up or down stairs or, probably, even minor bumps and curbs.

And yes, the site design sucks hugely. Worst designed, least user-friendly site I've seen in a long time.
posted by Rumple at 11:08 AM on June 14, 2007

"This is like going to one of the car shows or races around here and finding enormous fat dudes riding mini bikes around instead of walking."

We resent that remark.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:26 AM on June 14, 2007

It's really great that you and Quonsar can get out and enjoy life a little, crash.
posted by Dave Faris at 11:31 AM on June 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Is that third wheel guy kidding? static balance != dynamic balance
posted by DU at 11:31 AM on June 14, 2007

And the first pothole or bump in the road you hit (because, you know, roads aren't these smooth, static things), those tiny wheels the person stands on will ensure they feel that bump and likely be knocked off of the platform if they are traveling at any type of speed.

If Segway was a solution to a question nobody asked, this thing is a problem to the solution to the question nobody asked.
posted by docjohn at 11:51 AM on June 14, 2007

The web design and the glider are clever.

I hate clever.
posted by neuron at 11:54 AM on June 14, 2007

As a Segway owner, I can tell you that this is nothing like the segway. At all.

And yes, the 3rd wheel guy is kidding. A segway not balancing dynamically and resting on a third wheel instead would not be fun to decelerate while going down a hill.
posted by hellphish at 12:24 PM on June 14, 2007

"Easy-Glider" - clever name. I wonder how long it took them to come up with that?
posted by QuietDesperation at 12:26 PM on June 14, 2007

Does anyone remember life before the segway?
posted by 445supermag at 12:31 PM on June 14, 2007

I recently did a Segway tour of DC and it was a blast. I live here anyway but just being able to go from the Lincoln to the Capital without expending any energy, yet remaining outside at street level, it's the best of both worlds. When people say "walk" instead of use a Segway, my response would be, get out of your car. Segway doesn't replace walking, it replaces cars. It would have been impossible to walk the tour of DC we did in that amount of time and with comfort. We were one less car (or tour bus) on the road that day. If enough people use them to clog up the sidewalks then open a bike lane in the road.
posted by stbalbach at 1:02 PM on June 14, 2007

"Get a horse."
posted by Dave Faris at 1:41 PM on June 14, 2007

Potential customers don't mind waiting 30 seconds while each component of your site loads... Right?
posted by humblepigeon at 3:04 PM on June 14, 2007

me. like. cheap!
posted by threetwo at 3:22 PM on June 14, 2007

*Takes off watch*
*Looks at watch*
*Tosses watch*

Cue: “The Weight”

*rides off like a dork at 15mph*
*gets more easily blown away by rednecks*
posted by Smedleyman at 4:28 PM on June 14, 2007

stbalbach writes "When people say 'walk' instead of use a Segway, my response would be, get out of your car."

Just stay put, moving is soooo overrated.
posted by elpapacito at 4:46 PM on June 14, 2007

Scuse me... I gotta go walk my round orange dog now...
posted by The Deej at 5:30 PM on June 14, 2007

Can Segways or Easy-Gliders go up hills? Seems unlikely. They look like a laugh and everything, but I'm not going to move to East Anglia just so I can use one.
posted by jack_mo at 6:18 PM on June 14, 2007

Wouldn't want to glide on cobblestones in high heels on those tiny back wheels!
posted by rmmcclay at 7:25 PM on June 14, 2007

When people spout that "walk" shite about the Segway or this, I am happy to tell them not to drive. Hell, I'm happy to tell them to lope around dragging their knuckles. After all, what good is walking when waddling around like a chimp works just as well?

And for fuck's sake....if people could walk 25kph, do you think this would have any market at all? They can't, this goes faster, so it's not in any way equivalent for transport.
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:44 PM on June 14, 2007

If you parked that, someone could wreck it just by stepping on the bar(s?) between the wheels-- and would in about 15 min., in the US.
posted by jamjam at 11:30 PM on June 14, 2007

The established order of comfort is walk very short distances, cycle short distances, drive medium distances, and use rail/plane/boat for long distances.

The comfortable high ranges of each of these overlaps the comfortable low range of the next. Meaning there just isn't any gap in transport options demanding something like this scooter or the segway unless you're disabled or something.

If these devices did something useful, like keeping you dry in the rain, then it could compete with walking and cycling, but they don't. They're just a more costly gadget version of the same thing.

And wow does that website ever suck. I tried to find out what it was from the website, then I gave up and used the links posted to this thread instead.
posted by -harlequin- at 12:40 AM on June 15, 2007

stbalbach writes "We were one less car (or tour bus) on the road that day."

...and that's a good thing. Since moving to a large city recently, my wife and I haven't used our car much. What with bike lanes, light rail, etc., we just don't need to.

I still don't get the Segway or its ilk though. I mean, it seems like such a good idea for urban commuting, but... let's be honest, have you ever seen anyone riding one who didn't look like a complete tool? I haven't.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:36 AM on June 15, 2007

I don't think anyone suggests that you make one of these your primary mode of transportation, just like I don't think anyone suggests you buy a jetski or a surf board to drive to work. If you happen to work at a place where you can use a jetski to commute, then say hello to the dolphins for me.

The thing looks like it's fun to use, and it's cheaper than a Segway.
posted by Dave Faris at 8:59 AM on June 15, 2007