My segway i2 is in and I've got to say it is completely exceeds my expectations.....
It took four days to get here by fed-ex on a round about trip---which sort of upset me until it arrived Friday...
once i got it i understood why it circumvented the earth by big trucks prior to arriving---
The i2 commuter model i purchased is way bigger and way heavier that i expected or could visualize off the Internet....right now i am really glad i did not get the off road model, the X2------ if the commuter model is this big and this heavy i can't imagine what the off road segway model is like---it must be the monster truck of geekdom because----
It's not that the i2 is huge, overall it is about the size of a small human---but it is definitely a piece of machinery----not some inadequate production concept or lightweight breakable thing that gives the overall impression of being fragile---my i2 commuter is as much a mechanical object as is a motorcycle---and the segway just feels really sturdy----really solid.
It did take me a full day ---- to put it together--- the dealer normally does this for you but i didn't want to take two days to go to northern new mexico to pick mine up and then have to take it apart to get it into my prius to get it home, the downside of living in southern new mexico---so i had the dealer ship it to me boxed from the factory....
Assembly was not that hard but i was trying very hard to be careful and to prevent a standard consumer screw-up kind of thing---you know stripping bolts, parts left over---the industrial accident in the home power tool thing..........
...the crate was short a couple of accessory items i purchased through the dealer and am hoping they are in route separately and if not i have to contact the dealer and see what is going on.....but those items were purchased additionally through the dealer, other than that segway sends everything including the tools you need to do the job of putting the i2 together.....
So assembly took place in my living room while the kitchen construction guys were hauling cabinets though my living room nerd assembly area ---the i2 version segway seems to weigh about 120 pounds all together with batteries. .... and i am moving it in & out of the way of these guys every two minutes which does not help the manufacturing process---you know----- but----I manage to finish assembly---- read all the manuals, 3 of them, watch the dvd that came with it and charged it for the required 12 hours before using.....

So that was all for the first day...
Next morning first thing i pull it out to our side driveway/courtyard area where privacy fencing can hide embarrassment or injuries............and
IT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!!!
It took me all of about 10 minutes to get comfortable getting on/off----rotating in place, going forward/ backward---turning---and stopping where i want to....
This was in the learner's mode---no more than 4 mph------the regular setting is 12.5 mph with a range of 20 miles-----the learner's mode is where i am going to stay for awhile---my goals are up and down the driveway and maybe travel the neighborhood sidewalk some----because-----
The only comparison to Riding this thing is what wearing one of those science fiction power suits must be like---riding on it----you think something and it seems to happen---the machine picks up on incredibly subtle body movements and intentions and makes that movement happen---which is where i am sure people get in over their heads with it-----too much forward lean/intention and off you go like a rocket----if you panic and do great big body balance stop intentions you are definitely screwed----the design goal seemed to be to give small body movements and intentions and let the machine do the rest, and you absolutely must let it do the balancing for you-----This is incredibly different from our normal lives of movement through 3 dimensions--- If you've seen any of those segway crash video's on you tube they are completely the result of no brain power involved in what is going on at the moment or panic----I just wish segway offered a big mechanical arm option --------so i could pick up and crush stuff with my intentions to the huge mechanical arm---- now that would be the ultimate accessory---gliding movement and crushing stuff-----but forgive me i digress------ I've taken things slow to develop expertise on riding so that i can replace using a vehicle around town....and because to me leaping out into traffic with it without educating myself properly is sooooo redneck......a "heeey watch this---" kinda thing...
Anyway after ten minutes of riding i was hooked----i will never be without one----NEVER-----soon George Bush--Dick Cheney and their lapdog demons within the evil oil companies will get nothing from me-----i am anime, astro, electric transport boy----( with no weird helmet either ) and am never going back.....expanding my training program over the next few days led to riding up and down the sidewalk out in front of my house at which point i began to specialize in disrupting traffic--- everyone, everyone seems astounded at the segway---nearly crashing due to gawking while driving by me, the local motorcycle dealer, pulled over and parked to question me intently about my nerd Hog...i love this thing....