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Forum » Electric Vehicles (EV) Forums » TWIKE

Hint for potential Twike buyer

Author	Message
Written on: 08. 08. 07 [16:16]
twiker Topic creator registered since: 08.08.2007 Posts: 1	Hi to all, the Twike is a funny car and the idea is excellent. But I'm sorry to say, that the manufacturer isn't very likely. So buy a Twike only if you have enough time and money to spend and if you have a realy good advocate. Don't buy it, if you are looking for a car, which you will use for daily business. There will be no return of invest all the time. Best greetings from a twike pilot
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Written on: 16. 08. 07 [23:09]
childress registered since: 14.08.2007 Posts: 81	Hmm... I don't really understand what Twiker is trying to say. It appears to be written by a non-native english speaker. What is meant by 'the manufacturer isn't very likely'? Does advocate mean lawyer? Or some other support person like a mechanic? Matt Commute suck? Twike it; You'll like it! http://www.uiuc.edu/goto/twike
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Written on: 22. 08. 07 [14:16]
Yardonn registered since: 22.08.2007 Posts: 14	because i'm also an non-native english - speaker (writer...), i understand what twiker wants to say... @ childress : yes, he means lawyer. it seams as if he had bigger trouble with the manufacture, so he proboably means "isn't very friendly" or "nice". It seams, that there was some trouble with delivery-delays and problems with the (relativly) new NiMh -Battery technologiy ( but allmost all twike run on NiCd - Batteries...). I have rented a twike(TW666, active, brand new 10AH NiCd-Batteries) for a week, and have returned it after more than 1300 km. My wife and I had delayed the purchase of a second car (we live very rural...) to see, if a twike would be an acceptable altenative. Testresult: The overall cost of a twike is very near (may be higher or lower) to the exypenses for a not to big car. It is very sad to say, that economical (if you don't have special expenses like a city-toll) a twike makes no sense. For nearly the same money you can transport 5 Persons/400kg/1000km-range instead of 2 Persons/<200kg/60-70km-range(realistic). And a twike-active has far less comfort than a car. Because of the much higher flexibily, we bought a second car But the twike is still unique. I know no other human-power supportet vehicle, that is allowed, to drive on germany's high-speed motorways (Autobahn...). It has enougth capacity to support a normal shopping trip even with two people (if you leave one seat at home, you have plenty of room...). It took our dog (who alway keeps standing in the car, even after hours of driving...) half an hour, bevor she layed down and obviosly enjoyed twike riding. If you use the full power, acceleration and maximumspeed (>85 km/h) is more than sufficient for normal driving (exept high- speed motorways...). I really enjoyed driving the twike. And i would like to have on, because it is an awesome chance, to work on your body while driving necessary ways... After one week i had to return the twike to the dealer 102 km away (many hills...). It took me more than 3 hours (very, very carefull driving and hard work on the pedals), but when i arrived, i still hat almost 20% capacity in my batteries. If you can live with the 2 Persons/<200kg/60-70km-range limitations, are willing to spend a little bit more money (than for a car) and abandon a little bit comfort, then a twike may be your choice. And don't forget, fuel-prices are increasing every year, while batteries become cheaper (or get higher capacity for the same price). Greeting form an almost twike-driver... Alleweder A4 http://www.leichtfahrzeuge.de allmost full weather protection for one person at 1 - 1.5 kWh / 100 km
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Written on: 25. 04. 08 [00:46]
jstack6 registered since: 27.10.2007 Posts: 30	Have you seen the go one ? very similar, very bike light wieght and you can add an electric option tio it. It's also about 10K. You could add the EV option and lithium batteries for 1,000 but not hit the 100 mile range of a Twike. go-one³ quote builder This page contains our current price list. Financing is available through the GE Sports Money Program. If you have any specific questions on items not displayed, don't hesitate to contact us. If you are interested in placing an order, simply check off the items you would like to purchase and click "Print Quote." This quote will serve as the sales proposal. Fill out the rest of the pertinent information and give us a call to discuss the next step toward "Agentship"! Sub-Total $10739.98 Select Description US Dollars Go-One3 Modified Fiber (kit)/with Shipping $10,342.92 Specialty Color/Finish (production delays incurred) $419.13 Rohlhoff 14 Speed Internal Hub $1,679.62 Luggage Rack $265.46 Hardtop with Folding Windows (kit) $1,056.93 Softtop with Folding Windows (kit) $1,056.93 Aero Wheel Covers 4 Pieces (fabric) $213.03 Lighting Package $669.12 Directional Signal Package $1,056.93 AirBox with Electric Fan $294.96 Crating $397.06 Go-One (Assembly) $1,764.83 Hardtop with Folding Windows (assembly) $265.46 Softtop with Folding Windows (assembly) $265.46 Factory Cut-out of Vent Holes Included Factory Cut-out of Foot Holes Included Go-One Advertising Logos (SPY member) Included U.S. Import Duties Excluded Canadian Import Duties Excluded Current Exchange Rates Excluded Applicable Sales Taxes Excluded Parts and Accessories Call for Quotes Sub-Total $10739.98
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Written on: 29. 04. 08 [21:15]
childress registered since: 14.08.2007 Posts: 81	The go-one3 is an interesting vehicle, however it is significantly more velomobile than car/motorcycle. The interesting pieces (well, to me) from scouring the website: * no mention of cargo space... I'm sure there's some, somewhere... * single passenger * warranty disclaimer on adding the EV option * "modified fiber" is a mix of carbon fiber/fiberglass. Repairability? This type of vehicle is actually the one of the first things I started looking at prior to getting a used Twike. I live about 5 miles from where I work, in a flat town of 50,000 people. First I looked at electric/fuel-cell enhanced bicycles, and quickly ruled them out. Legally they're capped at 20 mph in the States, and there are some funky rules about pedaling, etc. And they're single passenger, fair weather only (unless you're hard core) and where I work people like to strip bicycles. Here's a couple of examples: Electric Foldable Mountainbike (apparently available) http://www.greenspeed.us/bionx_montague_paratrooper_electric_bike.htm Fuel cell Hydrobike, (unavailable, I own some (currently) worthless stock in this company) http://www.mhtx.com/media_center/pressrelease24.htm Notes on the Hydrobike, the 'pressure canister' is at somewhere around 300 psi, so ignoring the fact that it contains hydrogen, any gas compressed that much becomes a pressure bomb... At a price of $2,500, the Electric Montegue High Speed doesn't look that bad for an EV for a single guy... unless you have a date, at which point you could go out and rent a hot car. But I'm married with two kids that I need to pickup from daycare. But I could maybe swing that with a Burley bicycle trailer... but the Montegue Paratrooper looks to be a solidly built bike. And it folds so I could take it into the office (not worry about having it stripped) But you would still have to worry about rain/snow/ice issues. Then I was thinking about a fully-enclosed Trike (not TWIKE) recumbent, and saw that anything of any quality was going to run me $10,000-plus, and I'd still be limited to 20mph, and limited passenger/luggage space. And of course there's the old addage: Weight/Quality/Price -- pick any two, meaning that 'the best' are lightweight velomobiles based on racing bicycle parts that don't look they'd survive year-round usage. I'd always wanted a recumbent bike though -- they're much better for the human body, and more efficient to boot. Then I read about the Twike, and it eliminated a lot of the concerns/issues AND it had not one but TWO recumbent bicycles inside. It uses heavy duty motorcycle parts for the shocks/struts and tyres/rims/wheels, so it stood up really well to one of the worst winters for potholes in Illinois USA (I drove it all winter). It's high quality, meaning that I have been able to repair a 10-year-old Twike pretty much on my own, as well as make some upgrades (changed out the rear lights to LEDs). I don't have to bother with locking it up, though there is a steering lockout as well as a canopy lock (it's a ragtop, so if anyone wants something inside, they're getting in). It's heavy enough you can't pick it up to steal it, and frankly, if anyone did figure out how to turn it on/steal it, there's only 10-20 of them in the US, so I'm pretty sure I'd be able to find it. The main computer is also passcode protected. The biggest proof-of-concept is that it has, in fact, replaced our 2nd car, getting me and the TWO girls around town, back and forth to work/school/daycare, as I totaled our 2003 Prius <sniff>. But big props on Toyota's passenger protection -- I walked away with fairly minor injuries from an accident I could've easily died in. My next 'improvement' to the Twike is figuring out how to remove the passenger pedals to install the 1.5-year-old sized up carseat. She's currently riding in the boot area in her old carseat, and it's getting a little snug. There's instructions on the Twike Klub website on how to do this somewhere... Commute suck? Twike it; You'll like it! http://www.uiuc.edu/goto/twike
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Written on: 09. 12. 08 [10:55]
BodoTwiker registered since: 09.12.2008 Posts: 1	erhhh... was this a discussion about the TWIKE or about the Go-One ?? On such a different item I would suggest to open a new thread instead of posting it in a totally different discussion. I want to answer to TWIKER and Yardonn: I can't quite understand what TWIKER (who would apparently better have chosen the name anti-twiker) means to say: He doesn't mention a single word about the kind of trouble he had with the manufacturer or the car, so this post appears to be just an outbreak of anger. I don't know what he expected when buying that car, but I suppose that he must have had a little idealistic imagination of what this car is. I can absolutely not aggree with twiker's opinion; I have been driving my twike for three years now (22.000 km), I use it for my daily transport and I am almost absolutely satisfied. I have to drive to different places in a range of 10 - 20 kms, that is what the car is absolutely sufficient for, although I have only the smallest possible batteries (only 2 batteries of 3,6 Ah). Nothing is easier than putting the plug in and working while the twike is being loaded. I had expected technical problems when I bought the twike but I was surprised how little trouble it made; and if something had to be done my twike-garage did it quick and uncomplicated. Of course, I also have the possibility to use another car in case I have to go a wider distance (and can't go by train). I can't imagine what I should need a lawyer for on behalf of my twike. I also think that Yardonn's economic calculation is not quite correct as it leaves away a very important item: the value of the used car. While you will not get more than half of the new car's price if you want to sell a normal car after maybe 3 years, you will get much more for a used twike - they are being sold very expensive, you have a loss of maybe only 20 - 25%. This argument is mostly left away when comparing the cost of a twike to that of a usual car, but I think that it really makes a great difference. And after all I don't think that the only-economic calculation is really sufficient to determine the decision between a twike an a normal car: How do you calculate the value of using a car that doesn't produce noise or exhaust fumes (CO2), that needs so little space that you can leave it almost everywhere without having to seek for a parking lot, that lets you have your sports while driving to work and that just provides so much fun watching the people looking at you with their mouths open while you're pedaling along with 40 - 50 km/h .... soundless ...
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Written on: 10. 12. 08 [15:01]
ecoadmin Administrator registered since: 20.07.2007 Posts: 387	Hello BodoTwiker! Nice to see another fellow TWIKE pilot on the forums Yes, seems that 'twiker' must have made a negative experience somewhere. My own experiences with the manufacturer were very good. Having said that, I don't know yet how the TWIKE will perform on a daily basis as I ordered new and delivery is scheduled for early 2009. I did drive it though on several occasions and once for a complete week on a holiday get-away. My experiences during this short time were very positive and gave me the confidence to go ahead with the order. Best, Setfan ecocarforum.com - Green Car Network Community for sustainable transport
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