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Chinese Ninebot Buys US Rival Segway
An anonymous reader writes Xiaomi-backed startup Ninebot, a Chinese maker of electric-powered personal transportation products, has acquired U.S. rival Segway – the two-wheeler upright scooter which has become a running joke, synonymous with various comedic appearances (such as in U.S. sitcom Arrested Development and the 2009 comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop), and the death of its owner at the hands of an unfortunate Segway-induced cliff fall. However Gao Lufeng, chief executive, still recognizes the potential of the Segway and has bought the U.S. company for an undisclosed amount. Lufeng confirmed that Ninebot had also secured $80mn in funding from Xiaomi and venture capital firm Sequoia Capital.
From (the last sentence of) the linked article:
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
Been having fun with a solowheel clone you can get on bangood and aliexpress for about $400 that is just one wheel. Have taken it camping and ran it on gravel, packed dirt, grass etc and it does a pretty good job. Super fun at campsites particularly. Even last summer in BC I used it to haul stuff to and from the car to the beach. It's infinitely more useful than a Segway since it only weighs like 21 pounds. I used to ride it through downtown on my way to work but haven't felt like it lately since it attracts so much attention, where people stop you to ask all the questions like how fast does it go (12km/h), how far does it go (10km), how much did it cost etc.
Here's a video of when I first started learning it. I'm much more comfortable on it now, I can even pull my 2 kids in a wagon while riding it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
I never really understand the comments, particularly on a tech site like this, such as 'why don't you just walk you lazy'... For one thing walking isn't that great of exercise anyway if you are in any kind of shape (ie. not round). Secondly, this thing is twice as fast as walking and effectively doubles your range of parking options etc, and it's actually fun.
-Xoltri
The multi-millionaire owner of the company that makes Segway motorised scooters has died in a freak accident while riding one of his vehicles.
Jimi Heselden, 62, was found dead in a river after plunging 80 feet over a limestone cliff near his home.
He was riding a rugged country version of the two-wheeled Segway when tragedy struck.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315518/Segway-tycoon-Jimi-Heselden-dies-cliff-plunge-scooters.html
You'll live longer, healthier, and keep your cognitive abilities longer if you "man up."
Walking: 3mph.
Segway: 12mph.