Robert,

I too have had my Trikke 8 for a year. And, I'm still learning tons every single day on it. Am presently getting better at "walking" up curbs one-wheel-at-a-time. Also, on slanted surfaces, I trikke backwards -- can go quite far that way. Don't know if if I'll ever trikke backwards on a flat surface without kicking it to start it off. My biggest accomplishment on the Trikke is really getting in the groove with the basic move. After having ridden one for a few months, I thought I was pretty good, but now, a year into it, phihhhhh! I am soooooo much better. I feel like I'm "prowling" now -- feels like I'm Spiderman going up the side of a building -- only except it's trikkerman really feeling the surface and knowing the limits of friction. It feels that good.

Looks to me like they have a limited supply-flow of the 12's. Their first shipment of 12's, only 200 units gossip has it, must all be spoken for by now.....big dealers get at least one, etc. Hopefully, they have another container coming right after that one.

The gossip also says that it'll cost $379.00 and then there's shipping costs too. For me, that's a great price. In fact, if I was running the joint, I think I might have the price over $500.00 for awhile and then have a "sale's price" reduction when the machines become more available. Heck, the dual disk brakes and the fat rubber tires are enough to justify that cost. Just look at that brute! Ahhhh..... Pricing, in my book, should be "all the market will bear" as long as supply is so low. Gotta keep Trikke Tech in business, or we suffer at the hands of knock-off manufacturers who do not have Gildo and John's driving spirit to nurture this infant sport. I for one will be glad to be in line first at $379.00 -- even if you tell me that they'll be selling for $250 six weeks from now.

I wrote up my speculations about the 12, not having ridden on one yet, and John Simpson, the president of Trikke Tech responded favorably towards that description being on the mark, so I'll include it herein below.

I have NEVER wanted anything so badly as the 12. Bad roads, gravel, dirt paths down hillsides, and lots of downhill crappy-asphalt roads are waiting for me and my 12. I think it's goofy to go downhill on a Trikke 8 -- serious crash risk methinks, because above 20 MPH, your carving traction is just about zero, and any pebble could be your last, but with the 12, I expect that downhilling will become one of my most frequent things to do. I have a ski-resort nearby with a five mile long road to the top....pretty rough asphalt, but that'll be no problemo for the 12. I see myself coming down that hill at 40MPH and not feeling like I was even "losing my grip." And at twice the speed, the disk brakes are going to stop you fast...probably in a shorter distance than an 8 would ....just me guessing.

Edg