Has anybody had any experience with this chair?

http://www.marvelwheelchairs.com/

Below is a paste of an email recently received (I asked if anyone was selling them in the UK):

Nothing in the UK yet. We are planning to launch into Europe in November/December. If there are
good, knowledgeable dealers you would recommend, let us know.

US prices are $5995 per chair and Includes rigid carbon fiber back rest, Tempest or Tundra Wheels
with Stainless Steel Flange (24" or 25"), carbon fiber side guards, backrest cushion, no seat cushion,
front casters (4" or 5"), Rogue Shock Absorber (upgradeable to super light DT Swiss shock absorber).
independent "torsion bushing" front suspension, carbon fiber seat, optimized aluminum frame,
choice of camber (0 or 2 or 4 or 6 degrees), hydroformed Front Clip, Perfect Fit "on the fly" sizing,
In-Chair infinite micro-adjust back rest angle, Quick Release wheels & Front Clip, RESNA tested.

Jay Active Cushion comes in sizes from 16-20" wide and 16-20" deep.
Our Carbon fiber seats come in the following sizes:
Medium Width (adjustable 12"-16") with Short (14") depth
Large Width (adjustable 14" -18") with Medium (16") depth
Large Width (adjustable 14" -18") with Large (18") depth
So it would depend on your size.


Any comments would be appreciated!

hi someone on here called araitin ordered one at the end of march so should have it by now, the post was http://www.apparelyzed.com/forums/index.ph...=new+wheelchair might be worth asking how theyre finding it.

thanks for the info!

Just from the pic's, I think it looks kind impractical. I personally don't like how there isn't any bars to grab onto on the front - like for transferring or whatnot. Also, how does it fold to get it into a car or for that matter picking it up to take it apart? Cool looking but frankly, I think that wheelchair design has been optimized. I'm not sure that the "cool" looking aspects of this chair outweigh the negatives.

This is from the Marvel website:

"Another benefit to the modular design is portability and storage. Broken down into the three main parts and with the wheels off, no part weighs more than 8 pounds, making it easier to lift and store in the back seat of a car, or with the backrest folded down, in an overhead luggage compartment of an airplane."

And as for "wheelchair design being optimized", I'm sure people like you thought the same when the rest of us were stuck in these:

Click to view attachment

Luckily, someone like Christian Bagg thought there was a better way, which led to the chair you are sitting in now and ultimately the Marvel and who knows where in the future.

Go easy mate i think that might be a little harsh.

Have to admit wouldnt mind giving one of those a go as im getting to the point where i need a new chair. hope the have a stall at the PVA games expo this year

Oh poo, I didn't mean to sound like that at all.

I suppose, I'm all about 'form following function', and to me (a wheelchair user all her life) ... ug, I don't know ... that "form" doesn't look that "functional". I think the thing that I don't like about the design is the lack of bars to grab onto on the front and that's a big feature of their design. When I transfer into my chair, scoot forward in my chair, get dressed, take my chair apart, lift my chair ... etc I need those bars to hold on to. I guess if I was in that chair for an extended period of time I'd get used to it.

Designers, engineers ...etc should never stop dreaming of new ways to improve anything, wheelchairs being included.

Oh, and didn't Marilyn Hamilton revolutionize wheelchair design with the Quickie? I think she inspired the chair I'm in right now.

Tend to agree with your Karen, I have only been a user for nine years but function for me is more important than looks. My current Aussie made chair, Mobility Plus Elete sure was insired by a Quickie.

Yup .. tend to agree!

Its not ground breaking BUT A wheelchair would now struggle to be groundbreaking as it needs to "fit" into daily use. So big wheels at the back. "relatively" small wheels at the front. Then a frame that is "functional" for the individual users requirements.

I use a RGK wheelchair.

I tried one model that would suit a user with abdominal muscles who can "just sit up" as the frame didn't have a join from castor to main rear bar.

The oter design did.

As I'm a C5/6 tetra I use this bar all the time to sit up and push on,etc.

Similar with push handles. I hardly ever get pushed but I "hook" my arm around them as I lean over to pick things up.

Like most things in life you get something that works for you. LOOKS GOOD as its now part n parcel of you and works really well and is reliable.

GOOD POST KAREN.......

Hey folks, congrats on getting this to p.1 of Google when searching for 'Marvel Wheelchair'

I'm a Marvel rep, have a C6 SCI, and have been active over on CareCure since '01 if you want to track me down.

some quick clarification...

Karen - there ARE bars to grab onto on the front, albeit optional. See attached photo. Marvel refers to them as "transfer handles," which are effectively vinyl-coated pegs that bolt onto the CF seat pan. They are surprisingly stable, although I will admit that they do take some getting used to, as they're a little bit shorter than a frame would extend... but they work well, and are unobtrusive. I have a Marvel currently, but I've certainly been accustomed to having the frame extend to the casters, as I've run an A4 & a Crossfire in the past.

Megatrig - push handles are also an option on the Marvel, although I've yet to see any in person.

This chair is quite different than the norm, but in a good way. The solid seat pan makes such a big difference over the upholstery I've used in the past, and the suspension is just awesome. In terms of adjustability... ask away. It can likely be done. I'm a C6 quad (albeit functional @ C7) & have configured my chair a bit differently than the photos on the Marvel site, as I need more dump & a bit more stability offered by a slightly more conservative COG.

cheers,
Scott

FAIL

Why fail?

correction: they're solid metal, powdercoated. I'm not sure why I posted that they were vinyl coated.


do explain... any constructive criticism is welcome.

Looks like an excellent new design to me. Refreshing!

What the price?

I assume it doesn't fold. How easy is it to load into a vehicle by yourself? What's the weight limit? Some videos on UTube showing options, loading/unloading and general use might be helpful to a lot of folks. My $.02 anyway.

MSRP is $5995. Most dealers should be able to knock 10% off. Wheels can be excluded as well.

Weight limit is 250lbs, if I recall correctly. If I'm wrong, I'll correct this.

The seat pan is solid CF & is bolted to the frame. The backrest folds down onto the seat.

The "caster wing" (that u-shaped thing that the footrest is part of) detaches via an axle pin (same kind that almost every rear wheel on the market uses).

The whole thing, broken down, is more compact than my TopEnd Crossfire (cantilevered frame, like a TiLite ZR). Some have expressed concern that having to detach one extra thing (the caster wing) for loading/unloading into a car is a burden. Understandable, but it's just one axle pin & is stupid easy... but both myself & another guy that demo'd (& eventually purchased) the chair have found it easy to load with the caster wing attached... pretty much depends where you store it in a vehicle. Each of us throw the wheels i the back seat & leave the frame next to us on the passenger seat.

cheers,
Scott

I think the price is too high and you'll struggle to sell at that level here in Europe. You can buy 2 x Quickies for that price, so it's simply not justifiable. And that price is probably only the base figure before you include other items.

Who's going to risk that level of money on another start-up wheelchair manufacture, all-be-it, a great design? How many other start-ups have launched with an interesting wheelchair and folded in the space of a year or so?

It would make much more business sense to slash the price to less than half what you're asking and get your product sold and out in the market. You'd drastically increase your number of sales and volume is the key to success, and survival.

Sorry for being so blunt, but let's schedule a continuation to this discussion for May 2010 and see what you think then.

Wow...some really good points. i must say though i havent seen a well designed wheelchair with REAL suspension till now.

Um, wow. Who can afford that?? This is my pet peeve with companies that manufacture equipment for people with disabilities (and it's not a knock at you personally, Scott)--the high prices make it completely inaccessible for the average person. Very few people have that kind of money to spare. Same with gear like monoskis and handcycles. I'm sure lots more people would get active if they could actually afford a good handcycle. Tom Hernon from Back2Sports is somehow making kick ass custom chairs for a thousand bucks. I think a $6000 base price is steep, even if the chair sounds great and is probably an awesome ride.

Edited to add that I just noticed you guys have your headquarters in Toronto. Cool. I'm also in Toronto.

wow thats nearly £4000 in uk money, i like the look of your chair and would love one, but that sort of money is more than i pay for my electric ones.

Too expensive and too unconventional for my needs.

I would have appreciated that chair on my recent trip to memphis TN, we took 3 cars down there, and in one car my chair had to ride, and the other my wheels. that chair completly broken down would fit nicely anywhere it looks like. Now.. for some folding wheels to go with that.

I was able to take one of these out for a spin an Sunday and think I have found my next chair.

First cost, it costs about as much as my current RGK and you are getting a better chair then a Quickie hands down

The one I was in had the transfer handles at first I though they looked dorky but they really work and you don't see them while in the chair.

It weights a little more then my chair by maybe a pound or two

The suspension takes some time to get use to I was able to wheelie and bounce in the chair, there is an option to lock it out and I think I would do that.

The best part is getting it in and out of a car my pet peeve is that my chair is like another person I always have to make sure that I have room for this person that follows me everywhere, but this chair I was able to turn the front removable caster upside down and have it become quite compact. I heard the rep say that it would fit in the overhead compartment of a plane and I believe that now.

Over all I think the chair is a nice design and has great potential, the only thing that I would like is that it would weight less but I want everything to weight less.

Scott,, if you're still here,, could you post a picture of your chair, folded up as small as possible? It would give everyone a better perspective for comparison.
Thanks
ed

Hey Ed. I've been meaning to post some pictures of my Marvel but, just haven't had time. I've been busy during the days and by the time I think about taking some pictures, I'm too tired to mess with it. I'll put it on my list of things to do for this week, so maybe I'll get to it. Some things have been on that list for months.

I will say that I'm very pleased with the new chair. The suspension works great. It soaks up the cracks and makes curb hopping a lot more bearable on my lower back. I also like the off-road (maxxis mountain bike) tires that I purchased with their Rogue wheels. They make pushing in gravel, dirt, and grass much easier. Now, if Marvel would only release their off-road front caster wing, then I could really do some pushing off the beaten path. It was in testing a couple of months ago and will be longer than the conventional front caster wing and have 8" knobby tires.

My physical therapist and fellow patients at rehab are all impressed by the Marvel. I think I'm going to start charging for rides in it. First, everyone think it looks cool, especially when the knobby tires are on. Second, after they sit in and push it, they all have raved about the ride.

It took me a few days to get used to the transfer handles but, they're second nature now. I just had to let myself trust them and they work great. I can transfer all my weight over the handles without the chair tipping to the front. I had my wife stand in front of me when I was testing the limits and it never did tilt.

The only thing that took me quite a while to adapt to was the narrow foot plate. I was accustomed to a wide foot plate but, now I like the narrow plate better becuase it keeps my feet from bouncing around.

I'll do my best to get those pictures posted. I know, I've said it before, but I'm really going to this time....... really.

Joe

Thanks Joe,,, I can relate,,, Hell, I'm retired and can't find the time to get to the stuff on my list.

Of course, my wife makes up my list,,, so maybe it's not so much that I'm too busy.

I just blame my "faulty" memory on my head injury,,, I get a lot of milage out of that one.
ed

The new wheelchair from Jouleflow designs offers a similar level of features.

Please see early video of prototype at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEImgEHMHtA

Greg.

Maybe it works,,, but I'm not sure I would want one.
ed

See I really like the look of this and agree it is time maybe that manufacturers looked outwith their design and come up with new innovations. and suspension is definitely something that over the next few years will be involved with almost every new high end chair. My only problem with this chair is that it looks to have too many parts. In my experience and giving my chairs probably too much punishment tends to nuts and bolts can go loose or break which can put more stress on other parts of the chair over time.

I would love to try it though, got a few question to either the guys who have one or the bloke who was a Marvel rep.

How much without wheels does the chair weigh?

Is their any scope for the price being reduced in future?

What is next in the pipeline for Maevel? Kinda like I wanna buy a PSP but heard their is a new improved PSP in the pipeline i.e. any full Carbon Fibre frame plans or even a hubless wheel system?

Does it come in any dufferent colours?

What sort of gaurantee/warranty is their on the chair?

Do you have any pictures of the off road attachment and how much would this cost?

Thats all for now!

I have actually just been contacted by the Marvel rep here in Toronto if I want to demo the chair out. I'll demo it for sure because I'm very curious as to how it differs from other chairs. However, I asked him about the weight and without cushion (not sure if this includes wheels), the chair is 25lbs. HEAVY! My Jay Active cushion weighs like 5 or 6lbs so I'd have to add that to the chair, pushing it over 30lbs. He said that it's apparently still easy to load into cars (I drive an SUV though, it's not even easy to load my current very light Quickie Ti) and breaks down into the four easy parts. Anyway, if I try it out, I'll let you all know what I think!

so, have you demo the chair?how was it?i'm thinking about having one....

Hi Grumpy: Found you a YouTube video showing loading. Enjoy.

My husband got in this chair a few months ago at shepherd. One good thing about it is that it is completely adjustable (basically it could grow or shrink with you However, I do think that this chair might be better suited for a para rather than a quad...... we didn't get to spend alot of time in it, but we didn't love it...