This video is a demonstration of the new Alber Twion power assist wheels. I go over the pros and cons that I've experienced using these wheels for the past 6 weeks.
Thanks so much for you helpful review. After watching it, I purchased my Twion power assist wheels which arrived a couple of days ago on a Kuschall Ultra Light chair! I'm 7 years post, c4/5 Incomplete wobbly walker reduced power on my right side. I am so pleased as it is so much lighter which means I can lift it into/out of my car much more easily. Just been around the supermarket and it was bliss compared to more recent trips. So far, so good.
That's great news Vicki! Thanks for watching and for your update. As you use the wheels more you will get use to the different ways to push them in different environments. Also, please Make sure to keep them clean as they will get dirty from use it may affect how the sensors respond to each push. Take care!
Thank you so much for the video! My tech was not very helpful so I have had to figure it out on my own. After two months I found the manual for the wheels. So I just got the app and was so excited. Especially so excited I could scare my brother by moving the chair around on my phone without being in it! Perfect time for Halloween! I absolutely love these wheels and it has given me the ability to be independent and not have someone to push me when I get fatigued from my chronic illness. I am starting to go out more and have more confidence! I did have a learning curve with throwing myself backwards (thank god for anti-tippers) but found out I was sitting too far back. Once I move my back rest forward I no longer tip back. I am new to being in a chair (one year) and I'm still struggling with going down hill and how to break with these wheels. I try to push back I just go backwards or it tips and if I do it lightly I don't have any breaking. Any tips? I think I need to play with it.
Kelly Secor I am happy to hear that the wheels are working well for you and more importantly that you are gaining more confidence and going out. An independence solution hopefully solves the problem, but you also want to feel good about yourself while using it out in the world. It makes me happy that you are getting out there and living your life. With regard to slowing your chair while going downhill, simply apply some pressure to the pushrim and it should, by nature of the downhill force, make the pushrim engage the backwards assist, thus slowing things down. You do not need to grab the pushrim and force it backwards. You could do this once you get comfortable which will cause your chair to do a "wheelie" and allow you to keep your body level while going downhill. As a quad I don't practice the latter, but with my limited hand function I can slow my chair down significantly on steep hills just by applying some pressure. Give it a try and keep working hard!
Unbiased and informative review, cheers to ya. I am c5/6 quad looking to purchase a set of these after using a set of wheeldrives that had to many issues to keep. The one thing I would really like to know about is the down hill stopping ability. I see that the rims have sensors like the wheeldrive and emotions and assume that when used downhill they would help with manual friction breaking power at least to offset the added weight and flywheel effect. My experience with the wheeldrives gave mixed results as they would freewheel and when the sensor reacted and engaged the braking load if not done simultaneously on doth rims it would veer to the side. I. Overcoming this problem the direct drive inner rim was an advantage as it was very controllable “when they worked properly” Mal
Thank you Mal for reaching out. The twion wheels are relatively easy to stop going downhill by applying pressure against the pushrims. However, I do notice that when going downhill and picking up speed the twion wheels are not smooth like manual wheels and can veer from one side or the other so you need to be careful how fast you are travelling. With downhill speed you can feel friction within the wheel and you can hear a noise. Since I prefer controlled downhill speed the veering isn't too much of an issue, but depending on your pushing style it may make a difference. I would say the emotions are better at limiting the side to side because the push rim is easier to engage and over time your push style adjusts to the sensitivity. The twion wheel requires a bit more force to engage the assist so the side to side happens more often than I would like. The perfect power assist option remains to be seen, but for now I would say I am very happy with the twion wheels and the downhill braking capabilities. Best of luck!
it would be a good idea for who ever makes these wheels, to put some sort of alternator in there so when your push on flat terrain or better yet flying down hill, that this would be charging the wheels at the same trime and thus, gaining more battery life
I completely agree. Battery life is an important attribute to a power assist option and being able to improve that by putting some charge back into the wheel would be great. Thanks for sharing.
@@abilitease Great idea! Some pedelecs can do this. So it should be possible. Another question: why doesn't Alber makes all assistent wheels as e - fix, M 25, and the gthers, able to charge a handy and later gn work as a solar battery: givin' charge to the wheels while driving by oeur power? Please do this! It must be possible, isn't that much difficult, l know! thanks?
Very interesting review. I'm a C5 quad for 31 years & have been using the e-Motion M15 wheels for the past 9 years on a TiLite chair. I'm in the process of buying an Apex carbon fiber and am looking at the Twion wheels. As with you, I charge the e-Motion every 5 days on average. With me, I turn off my wheels as soon as I get home & push around the house on top of the wheel (which is rough on the palms of the hands) because if you use the push rims when they are off it bends the springs and the wheels will go into error mode. That gets expensive replacing the springs and also like you bumping into door frames can break the posts that attach the push rim to the rim. The remotes are very expensive to replace but are great when out and need to switch from mode 1>2 to go up/down a steep hill or from 2
Hello and thank you for your comments. Reading this I feel like we have so many similarities it's incredible. When going up a steep hill the push can be adjusted to accommodate the incline. On hills I just push a little harder and the Twion is very responsive. I do find that between each push I can rest my arm a little before the next push and I don't get burned out. To give you an example, last year I went to an Angel's baseball game and had to push up this ridiculous multi-tiered ramp to get to my seats. I took my time and was able to do it on my own with limited fatigue. The Twions work really well on hills. I am attaching a youtube link of another guy doing the ramps at Angel stadium just so you can see the incline. th-cam.com/video/OVJn4cMEhZE/w-d-xo.html The pushrims on the Twions are more robust than the e-motions and I do push them when the wheels are turned off. I also like doing this around the house to save battery and just to keep my shoulders and arms in shape without blowing them up doing day to day pushing. Because they weigh less than the M-15s they are easier to maneuver when off and feel smooth with the Schwalbe inflatable tires. The cruise control is cool, but honestly I rarely use it. I like the idea of pushing and I don't live in an area where I would want to go long distances without stopping and readjusting my hips, legs, feet, etc. Using cruise control in a crowd is frustrating and it was one of the reasons the Smart Drive didn't make sense for my situation. The cruise control will intensify with stronger pushes, but it is difficult to turn and hard to stop with limited hand function. And the cruise control does not have the uphill power that a Smart Drive will have. Once you hit an incline on cruise the function will deactivate. I am in the process of getting another pair of Twions so that if one has an issue I can swap it out. I have had only a few issues with the wheel "erroring" out and Alber has been great about sending a replacement. The Twions have been a game changer for me and I think more quads should use them. I know every injury is different, but it sounds like you would love these wheels. Best of luck!
@@abilitease Thank you for your detailed reply. Yes, watching your video I was thinking you are very close to same function as me, your fingers have more curl than mine and when I watched a couple of your other videos (bed transfer, very nice job), I have grade 3 triceps. I was 25 when I had my accident and 1 year later I was on my own living a very different life. I don't think I'd use the cruise much if at all either as I prefer pushing but I do like the higher speed aspect of these wheels as I find the e-Motion slow even on 2 especially when I'm using the bike lane where it's nice and smooth. I usually go on a 2-mile push around the city when the weather permits just to keep in shape. I tried the smart drive too and when I was coming down the ramp to my place it drove me right into the door face first and right there I said that's the end of the smart drive while I still have my teeth intact. Another adventure I could add to the growing list that I've had over the years.
@@cire5572 You will feel lighter and faster with these wheels on your push. The e-motions are great, but you will feel more freedom with the Twions. Yeah I bull-dozed a few doors with my face too using the Smart Drive.
For me, I chose the Smart Drive, But I have a strong upper body. Before I purchased my Smart Drive, a local place that sells wheelchairs and services them, brought a wheelchair with the smart drive attached. And let me try it out on our road. Also, he let me borrow it for a weekend, which was very nice. I really like my Smart Drive, the battery power last about 3 days, but the hand band needs more charging. So for any of the power assists maybe check locally and you might be able to get help testing them out before spending any money.
Great unbiased video and thank you for all the details. I am on my 2nd set of M15 Emotion wheels and have found the outer casing on the motor and batteries somewhat fragile and always cracked on the light area. I was always a little concerned that water or melting snow would enter the motors and destroy them, so I had to use marine sealant to avoid this problem. Are the Alber Twion built stronger and more secure. The constant breaking of the rim connections and the poorly designed springs (Not properly annealed) has also been problematic. I travel world wide (or at least before Covid) and have had to have many lengthy discussions with various airlines to convince them to allow me to take the wheels into the cabin as allowing the wheels to go in the hold has been a big problem with them returned to me damaged beyond repair. I now tell them that the batteries cannot be removed and Ltium Ion batteries are not allowed in the hold, which the Airline Captain will confirm.
Hi Tony. I loved my M15s, but disliked the constant management of the rims as well. The Twions are much more solid and I haven't had to replace any parts. What I can tell you is the assist is a little different and requires a little more strength. I remember from my M15 days I could push very little and turn tight corners where the Twions are a bit more jumpy out the gate. They require a bit more control, but are very sturdy. I think you will like the switch to the Twions, but you could also check out the M25s which seem to be an e-motion/Twion hybrid. Best of luck!
I'm from France I've got this Twion wheels since 3 weeks, anti tips are mandatory for security. Very reactives wheels, but very cool Sorry my english so bad...
Thanks for your comment. Your English is good! Anti-tips are probably a good idea. The other thing you could do would be to move your axle back (if you can) a 1/4 or 1/2 inch so that your center of gravity is more behind you, thus making the chair less tippy. Enjoy and good luck!
I also struggled with tipping backwards and hated it. I am so thankful for my anti-tippers because I have tipped many times. I find that my back rest was too far back. Once I moved it forward I don't tip anymore which is really nice. I would try moving your center of gravity like Abilitease said! Hope this helps!
I am getting a set of Twion wheels to use at home and short shopping trips, I currently have a set of the AAT Servo wheels, that are very heavy and use a 36Volt Li-Ion battery, I can run all day on those travelling from here Wentworth Falls to Sydney by train, that takes 2 hours each way. so from 6 am to 6 am plus! Running those wheels I have never run out of battery power! It's just too bad that the wheels and battery and chair I got with them are so heavy. Cheers and thanks for the review!
Hello and thank you for your post. The Twions are definitely nice for the shorter trips. The AATs sound great for giving you a full day of power. I guess the excessive weight is the trade-off, but at least you have a back-up!
Just wanted to say thanks for your review. After doing a lot of research, including all of your videos (which were extremely helpful) I looking to purchase a set of Twions as well. I'm a 40 year post injury C7 quad and after many years of W/C sports/abuse, my left shoulder is now trash. I have a great job as a college professor and I really don't want to retire so finding an alternative like this is my only good option. Thanks again... (BTW, Invacare should give you a set for free for all your work :) )Hal
Thank you Hal for the kind words. Since I've been injured I've been fortunate enough to get the right equipment and have people in my life to help encourage/motivate me along the way. TH-cam is a great vehicle to give back and share my experiences with our community. I think that you will enjoy the Twion wheels and how much they will improve your quality of life. I am still trying to get Alber to update my wheels for the cruise feature, which should already be coded on your new pair. I think you will love cruise and benefit from it greatly. Best of luck Hal and take care!
The charging wire has magnets, just like the Smart Drive MX2+. It works the same. Sorry to hear you are not getting longer time before having to charge. My smart drive works good. It keeps a charge for many days.
Thanks for the review. I currently have the emotion wheels which are great but they are very heavy and hard to take on and off. I'm going to arrange a trial of these wheels
Hello! Thank you for the great videos on assist wheels. My husband had Quickie Xtender wheels for five years until they literally died. Other than needing to replace the lousy spokes with quality spokes, they worked well. But we were told the new tender models are all being returned. So far he is choosing the Twion WITHOUT the mobility plus. It is 900+ CDN and doesn't seem worth the price. Do you know if Twion without that mobility plus package has the ability to go up rather big higher hills and, if you let go of the wheels do they just run down the hill freewheel or is their some resistance? E-motion and Xtender have roll stop for backwards and we learned Twion does not. But what about when going forward? Why is the mobility plus almost a thousand dollars more? Does the mobility plus package provide rolls protection on a hill? Do you still feel that Twion is better? And if you have mobility plus - we do not have a data plan so do you need to have an active wifi connection all the time? Or can you just set up the adjustments at home on wifi and get on with your day? Hope all that makes sense. We just really are afraid of getting the wrong wheels. We learned a lot about the assist wheels. We can't even consider any new E-motion models because they are working on a new model and in Ontario, they may not be covered by ADP. Thank you so much. Take care, The Berglunds
Hello and thank you for your comments. I apologize, I thought I responded, but my comments aren't here so I'll address your questions. I honestly don't use the app at all anymore. If they have some sort of hill stop function, I've never used it. I used the app in the beginning to turn off the lights when charging, turned off the beeping noises when turning on and off the wheels and adjusting the speed. The cruise control was alright, but it's hard to turn. And the remote driving was kind of a joke because my chair is always next to me when I'm not in it. Once you make the initial adjustments you are good to go. If you haven't gotten wheels yet you should check out the Alber e-motion M-25s. They look more like the Twions and have the mobility plus with the roll/stop feature. Best of luck!
Hi, thank you for the demo, really informative. Just out of interest which is your preferred wheelchair make and model, I’ve got to the point where I need a chair and undecided on the make, so many to choose from.
Great video. Very helpful. I've been using M15s for about 5 years and get pretty annoyed by them erroring out and the off buttons not allowing me to easily turn them off and on again. Do the Twions error as much and when they do, do the buttons switch the wheels off again easily? Also, the M15s can be customised with the magnetic key in the back of the remote (I actually have my 2 power levels set at 60% and 100% rather than the default levels of 40% and 60% as I'm quite weak). Can something similar be done with the Twions? Many thanks
Hello and thank you for your comments. The Twions do not error as much and the wheels turn on and off to reset the wheel very easily. The only thing is you need to hold in the button for a second to turn them on and off and you have to wait an additional second before engaging the assist or the pushrim error code will turn on. Because the lights are white and sit on the curved edge of the hub it can be difficult at times in the day time to see if they are still on or where your battery level is at. This can be simplified by having the sound on for when the wheel turns on/off and also using the app to check your battery level. Unfortunately, the Twions are not programmable and do require some force to engage and stop. The harder you push the more return you get. They are not as sensitive as the M15s to engage from my experience. I would definitely try them to see if they would work for you. You may find with the thick push rim covers that were offered with the M15s that the wheels will work for you. Best of luck!
Hello. I am Alejandro, from Spain. Thanks for your video, it's useful. I'd like to ask you about the rubber covers. I use them on my standard rings (24'). However, when I checked the Twion 24, I noticed that the diameter of theirs rings is less, so I couldn't fix them. What type of rubber covers do you use? What's the diameter? and where did you get them? And eventually, are you able of manage Twion 24 without anti spills? Thanks!
Hi Alejandro. Yes the diameter on the Twion wheels is a little bit smaller, but once you put the rubber covers on (the ones offered with the emotion wheels) the bumps smooth out and they work great.
Hey there again, managed to bag some of these for a super low price preloved here in Europe. I think it works out to just under $400? Anyhoo, it looks like they come with the box you showed, does it only come with the other pack? Ie do you get it regardless or only with the upgraded wheels? Mine are the black ones which look cool, I pick them up next week, I can't wait!
That's awesome good for you! The box typically comes with the upgraded version that has the app. All it has is the rim covers and the app, which I hardly ever use. If it is the one with the app make sure you have the card with the wheelcodes. You'll need to put the wheelcodes in the app to have them communicate with each other. But regardless that's a great deal. Please tell me how everything goes. Just remember you need to have a special bracket installed on your axle to properly mount the wheels. A dealer can help with the install. Take care!
How do you cope with the wheels turning off every few minutes? I have had them turn off while wheeling as well! The most annoying is working in the kitchen getting my hands covered with food and needing to move only to find the wheels have turned off! A pain in the proverbial! Also my charger died with a pop and bang and stopped charging in less than 12 months use! Sadly my supplier does not and will not carry stock of spare wheels or chargers and bet they do not have replacement batteries either! Good to check all this stuff out before you buy! The other bad thing was I headed downhill at speed and both wheels turned off completely, apparently to keep the batteries safe from overcharging! I was lucky to have the strength and gloves to be able to stop myself! Also they roll backwards on a hill, if they turn off while on a hill get ready to stop them! scary!
Hi, I'm a full c5 and I currently use an e-motion. I am considering buying a twion for its cruise function but I have read in some places that the twion is more designed for paraplegic than for quadriplegics ... Do you recommend to go from e-motion to twion? Greetings.
I just tried to get set up with these wheels and got my dreams crushed because now that's why on wheels are discontinued in the US bummer any other advice
Great video Mark. I'm looking at various power assist options myself. Like you I had an opportunity to try the twion wheels but they were on a chair that did not fit me well making it difficult to evaluate them. I think I am about the same function level as you. I'm a C5/6. What do you think of the Twion wheels compared to the e-motion wheels? I'm not sure which way would be best.
Thank you for your comments. There are definitely pros and cons to both, but for me the Twions are the better fit. They look nice, they are half the weight of the e-motions, have less parts to break & replace, they have a nice phone app and I prefer the power assist that triggers based on the power you put into it. However, the M25 e-motions will be available in the US soon, so I've been told, which have a lot of the Twion characteristics. Overall I don't think you can go wrong with either Alber product, but I prefer the Twions. Best of luck!
@@abilitease Thanks for the reply Mark. I quite liked the Twions as well. The chair they were on just didn't work well for me. I'm going to take a closer look at them. When you talk about your van, is it a ramp van such as a Braun Ability? Do you use the Twions power assist to help you get up the ramp? Appreciate your videos. They are well done, honest, and informative!
@@paulgustafson7012 thanks again Paul for the kind words. I have a Toyota Sienna with a Braun Ability fold out ramp. And yes I definitely need the power assist to get up the ramp. However, I am able to power up the ramp with no problem and no push start so-to-speak. It's actually surprising how easy it is with the Twions.
@@abilitease Thanks for the quick reply Mark. I also have a BraunAbility Toyota Sienna conversion. I currently use a hill climber brake to get in. The Twion's sound like the way to go. I need to share your information with a friend of mine who recently got a pair of Twions but has been having difficulty with them. From what he tells me I believe they may not be installed properly. Thanks again! Always great to connect with like minded quads!
@@paulgustafson7012 Wow hill climbers! I used to have those back in the day. A simple yet very effective solution. Yeah the installation is key and if the right bracket isn't installed the Twions may not function correctly. I truly love these wheels Paul and I know you will too.
If you apply pressure to the Twion wheels it will naturally engage the reverse assist and slow the wheels down. With the release of the e-motion M25 wheels there are a lot of great enhancements that address some of your concerns. The M25 wheels now can be controlled by a smart phone app, letting users monitor the battery and change the level of power assist. Other intelligent systems include an anti-rollback feature for hills that allows users to stop in the middle of a hill or ramp without worrying about rolling backward. A downhill braking assist lets users descend hills more safely and a new “cruise mode” lets users roll at a constant speed without pushing. I hope this helps!
What a thorough review! Very helpful. One question: You mentioned having to power on the wheel using a button on the wheel. Do you have to power on each wheel separately, or do both wheels somehow power on/off together with just one wheel's button? Here's why I'm asking: I have been an iGlide and then Tailwind user for many years, and of course their single on/off power button controlling the power assist function of both wheels was conveniently placed near one brake, so it was a single touch to start or stop function. Reaching over to both sides to power each on/off separately would seem inconvenient. I use the on/off function frequently since I use the power assist only for ramps up and down, for plush terrain, and for quite long distances. (Unfortunately, it appears that Tailwind's maker Clinton River is unable to support/repair their chairs at this time due to financial difficulty following a lawsuit; so my Tailwind is non-functional and non-repairable after only 3 years -- hence the search for alternative power assist devices.) Thank you for your thoughts!
Thank you for your feedback. In my experience I have had to power the Twions on/off on each wheel directly, which is a bit inconvenient. I believe you could do this via the app on the smart phone, but I have gotten used to doing it manually. When I am in ECO mode the wheels actually turn off rather quickly, which gets annoying. I am in the process of getting a new pair of Twions so if any upgrades were made I will provide a new video to talk about the changes. I have heard such great things about the Tailwind from others that it's a shame the product is no longer supported. I would have loved to test it out and see if it would work for me. Best of luck!
I don't know if you are still doing these videos or not, but I've found your videos really helpful, I don't have a spinal injury as such, mines worn out, and I have a connective tissue disorder, along with strong arms, but sadly very poor grip, I'm a wheelchair user, I can't do any inclines without dislocating something. Seriously is the worst superpower to have. How were the twion wheels overall? Did you change them soon after this? Did they fare well? I was looking at a smartdrive but the force needed to stop it took out a shoulder. Its like being one of the mannequins from the film death becomes her 🙈 I'd like to know which wheels or which set up was the best for you. If you still do TH-cam, I see this video is 3 years old now.
Thank you for your comments. I do still use the Twions and they are working well. They do require some force to start and stop so I'm not sure with your disability if this would be a issue. Alber does have the e-motion M-25 wheels which are a cross between the e-motion M-15s and the Twions. You may want to check those out as they will have more adjustments to engage the assist and work with your condition. Best of luck!
@@abilitease ah thanks for getting back to me 😊 I've had 3 weeks of the m15's and they're great they're just heavy to take off my chair. Tried a smart drive, that's a little beast that thing! Good to hear the twion wheels are still going for you, its nice to see some actual reviews not marketing from companies. I found your reviews really helpful, I think before I lay out £4k on new wheels I really should go and test drive some but it's a firm toss up between twion and m25 now. :)
@@neekaphillipstaliesintoo8790 that's great to hear. Yes the e-motions tend to be quite heavy so if you are constantly breaking down your chair the Twions are half the weight per wheel. You can't go wrong with either. It has made my life so much easier. I'm looking forward to hearing all about what you decide and what worked best for you. Take care.
Hello Abilitease interesting to know more about the Amber Twion power assist wheels as i would love to purchase one. I have C6 & C7 spinal cord injury, quadriplegic. I like your wheelchair very similar to the ones i have, but can you help me know which wheelchair your demonstrating and i think its better to purchase the Alber Twion power assist wheels with it so i can still not use them always only when i need them ? Thank you in advance!
Hello Nahi. My wheelchair is a TiLite ZR Ultralight. The company Tilite is located in the state of Washington, but I believe the chairs are sold internationally. As a C6-C7 you will love the Twion wheels. If you decide you want to switch back to manual wheels you can always swap out the Twions when you don't need them. Best of luck!
Adam Poitras the chair is a TiLite ZR-1 and the backrest is a ROHO Jetstream Pro. Currently I switched to the ROHO Agility Carbon fiber backrest which has great side lateral support. Best of luck!
I got a M 25 and I drive my sunriseMedical sopur easylife SA, it's a foldable one. The M25 works with nearly every single chair you gonna have! It's great! I don't have much power, Just 1 kg I can put up till my hips - that's the most of weight I can do. It works, I drive without any help when shopping! Before I could drive about 10 to 15 meters or less. Now till 3 km (to the shop, shopping and back home). Independently! To my doc I need about 1/2hour, but it works, too! That's lifequality!
regarding the auto mode, does it have any safety tech built in such as for example if you god forbid tipped the wheelchair over does it have a stop mode based on tilt of wheels or something?
Hey Mark! Thank you for the great videos. I’ve been following you for a little while and love how you give the pros and cons through all the stuff that you’ve tried out. I’m a C5/6 quad as well, so I can definitely relate. I’m now looking at a new power assist option for my manual chair (Like you I don’t want to go in the power chair direction). I think the Twion are going to be my go to’s after all your reviews on it. In terms of the corded rims, do you know if I would be able to buy the e-motion rim coating to put on the Twion rims? Otherwise what would you suggest? On my manual chair right now I have the Blax push rims. I’ve tried quite a few different ones and found those are the ones that work the best for me in the environment that I’m in. I live in the mountains (in Whistler, BC, Canada) so lots of snow and rain which can make things difficult and slippery for pushing.
Hi Olivia. Thank you for the kind words. Yes I believe Alber will sell the pushrim covers through a dealer if you wanted to get them. Try calling a few of the online stores as well. I still have the same original pair and love them. They aren't cheap, but they will last. I remember getting the BLAX pushrims and they worked well, but my hands were constantly getting dirty without gloves. Also they were so grippy to the point that I would tear skin off of my hands. However they were great on my rugby chair. The rain is an issue and I can honestly say these pushrim covers are not the easiest to grab when they are wet. We don't get a lot of rain in Southern California so it hasn't been an issue for me. I suggest buying the covers to put over your BLAX so that way you can interchange based on weather conditions, comfort level, etc. But with the Twions you have to use a cover of some kind if you have limited hand dexterity because it comes standard with a black metal coated handrim that is hard to grab. Best of luck!
Hello! Yes I see that they updated the app with cruise. I reached out to Alber and evidently the wheels require a software update, meaning I would have to ship them my wheels. I fortunately still have my emotions to accommodate the shipping time, but shipping out the wheels could be an issue for some. I plan to demo the cruise control feature at the La Abilities Expo this weekend so I'll do a follow-up video. Thanks for watching!
That's awesome, let me know what you think. I'm in between with my emotions and mx2. I love the emotions inside, in tight spaces, on carpet, etc. Over long distanes the mx2 is great. If the new Twion mode combines those two -- jackpot! *The mx2 has a new wristband that seems intriguing. With the spring here, I need to make a decision on which way to go. I look forward to hearing how the new Twion mode works!
Hello. I wasn't able to get a video, but I did however test out the cruise feature and it was pretty cool. Here is my feedback: Once you turn on cruise it will engage at a minimum speed of 1mph and up to 6mph. 1mph is actually very nice because if you are in a crowded place you can still maneuver around people and keep the cruise on. And it is smooth and you can't tell it's on. You can turn the chair with either hand in cruise mode, but once you grab both pushrims or apply pressure to both the cruise feature stops. The cruise feature is controlled by the app so as long as you have it on you will engage it after every push. I noticed that turning in cruise isn't as smooth as I would have liked, but not a huge deal. I didn't get a chance to try it on a hill, but I was told that after you reach a certain degree of incline as you are going up a hill the cruise will turn off, which I don't like. Also, I did my demo on flt polished concrete and not on grass so I don't know if cruise will stay engaged on difficult terrain. My plan is to have the cruise on my wheels in the next 2-3 weeks and then I can do an in depth video. With regard to choosing a system, as a quad I really like the Twion wheels because of the assist in the house, short distance maneuvering and assist going backwards. If you are just looking for continuous assist going long distances and not necessarily hills then yes I would say the cruise feature on the Twion wheels will accomplish this, plus the other benefits I mentioned. SmartDrive has the MX2+ which I believe you were referring to with the newer wristband, has more start/stop tap commands than the MX2 using the wristband, which will help quads. However, since a majority of the commands are controlled with tapping, I've heard concerns that this reliance could be dangerous if the user is not able to "tap" to engage/disengage the feature. The MX2+ is going to be awesome on hills, but the braking on a downhill is still a big issue for those of us with limited hand dexterity. I did hear from their rep, Steph Aiello, who's a quad that they are working on some geared brakes to go on the front of your chair. I don't think you can go wrong with either unit, but I understand these items are expensive and you need to get the best one for you. Best of luck and if you want me to elaborate more just send an email at info@abilitease.com. Take care!
Hi, Sorry, I'm not sure quite what you mean by cruise mode? So you push it and it adds extra power to your push then they carry on without any more pushes for a while? How long do they go for? Is it hard to keep them straight on a bumpy pavement? (sidewalk?) Also, thanks for filming this, it's great to see the twions reviewed properly, not just a marketing video with a guy drinking coffee with some friends!
Hi Sarah. So yes if you push under cruise mode and you exert enough energy to reach a minimum of 1mph the wheels will keep that speed until you either push faster to increase the speed or apply pressure to both rims to stop the cruise feature. As long as you steer by applying pressure to only one pushrim at a time it will not disable the cruise feature. I did notice it is harder to turn under cruise which may be better if you are trying to stay straight while travelling on bumpy pavement or a sidewalk. Under normal operation I still at times have difficulty keeping my pushes even where I'm not turning left to right. Also, I was not able to try the cruise feature on a hill, which I think would be a very useful feature. I am told that if the incline is too much under cruise mode the feature will disable. Alber is going to let me borrow a pair of Twion wheels while my existing pair receives the firmware upgrade so I will thoroughly test them out and post another video. Thank you for your comments!
Like how east it is to stop these ones compared to others what didn’t you like about the smart drive ? My efix e35 wheels add a lot of width into my chair these look a bit slimmer shame about the poor battery life
Did you happen to ever try the iGlide/Tailwind. I have only used this system since ~2001 and would use it forever except Clinton River suddenly went out of business (Tailwind). If you have, what is the biggest difference between the two? I am like many of your viewers a C5/6 with a little C7 triceps for good measure. Watching how you maneuver the Twion unit, I'm relieved as it seems to respond similarly to the Tailwind. My big wonder is now is the whole downhill part. The Tailwind actually required the user to push downhill and actually required a bit more work than going uphill on the same incline which I loved because I hate taking off on downhills. I did catch on the video that it backs uphill well enough it seems, which is great because I back up the ramp to get into my Explorer. My worry is flying back down that Explorer ramp and crashing into the car I parked next to. How say you? Thanks ahead of time and glad I found your video!
The FDA has halted all US sales of the Twion wheels pending investigation of the manufacturer’s production facility in Europe. I’m not sure what triggered it. The FDA says that it will take 3-6 months to complete the investigation, but hopefully they will be approved to go on sale in the US again.
Hello, I have emotion m-15 alber i'm c5-c6 complete, I wanted to buy the new m25 or the twion m24.I wanted to ask you for differences between m-15 vs m25vs twion not if you've tried (mobility plus) for mobile? How does cruise control work? Once given the thrust it always keeps the same speed for how long or km? the remote control app can I drive the wheelchair even with a mobile phone sitting on it without having to push? because if I have to go a long way and I'm tired of pushing then I can drive like an electronic wheelchair. thanks sorry for my english
Hi Manuel. I am still waiting to demo the M-25 here in the United States. From what I can tell the M-25 looks to be a newer better version of the M-15 with some of the Twion characteristics. If you have strong wrist extension, biceps and shoulders I would recommend the Twions. I have the mobility plus for my Twions, but I don't use the app much. The cruise control via the app will give continuous assist based on how much power you put into the initial push. However, it is hard to turn with the cruise control on and hard to stop with limited hand function. It will keep the same speed when engaged and unless you go up a hill it should continue to stay on. The remote control can work like a powerchair joystick, but that wasn't the manufacturer's intention. If you are moving the chair via the app, the second you change the wheel position by touching it with your hand/arm the remote assist will shutdown via the app. I don't know why anyone would drive their wheelchair without being in it, but that was the initial intended use. Best of luck!
Good evening, on average, in ECO mode, in a relatively flat city how many kms can you make? I do at most 10kms ... and it takes about 4 to 5 hours to load 100%. Starting the ride at 9 in the morning when it is 4 in the afternoon is discharged. As for me the autonomy should be 20 kms as they say in the mark "11 to 20 kms" but at most I do 10 in ECO mode ... and in a flat city. The fact that the load only lasts for about 5 to 6 hours has the great disadvantage that in the middle of the day we have to be "stopped" for at least 4 hours and then return to the tour at 8 at night
Hi Daniel. Thank you for your comments. I have given up on the idea of accurately tracking the distance since I am stopping/going/turning so much during the day. I just assume that every two days i need to charge which isn't so bad when I sitting at a desk working.
Hi Daniel. Thank you for your comments. I have given up on the idea of accurately tracking the distance since I am stopping/going/turning so much during the day. I just assume that every two days i need to charge which isn't so bad when I sitting at a desk working.
Thanks for talking about this product, how do you go with getting these in an out the car? at 7.8 Kg's each is probably too heavy for me to lift as I have a very bad back, this wouldn't be an issue depending on the type of vehicle I am able to get, a Ute (truck) with a crane to lift the chair in and out the tray would make the issue a non issue I would think? The app would be worth it if only to know the battery charge level.
Thank you for watching. The pushrim covers I have on my wheels were purchased with my Alber emotion M-15 wheels directly from Alber. There is something similar that is sold on Amazon, but I am not sure how thick and robust the covers are compared to the ones I purchased from Alber. www.amazon.com/New-Solutions-PRC559-Covers-Wheelchair44/dp/B01M0XHJ5O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522259480&sr=8-4&keywords=wheelchair+push+rim+cover Best of luck!
I like these!.. It would be pretty cool if they could somehow create an alternator to keep them charged on the go.. Haha.. But these seem nice because of the weight!.. I'm hoping my insurance can help with the smart drive.. But I'm kind of wondering if they are the right fit for me.
Thanks for your comments Alicia. Yes a self-charging wheel would be awesome. If you aren't under a time crunch I would see if you can demo both units. Both units are great improvements in the available power-assist technology, but It all comes down to what works best for you and you won't know until you try them out. Good luck!
Hey bro I got the Twion power assist wheels but I couldn’t download the app in the Apple store in the USA? Where did you download the app for the iPhone? Thank you 👊🏽 keep up the great vids!
Hi Genesis. Thank you for the kind words. As I understand it, the Alber Twion wheels are still in "detention" with the FDA because of the application and therefore they don't currently have it available for download in the Apple Store. I would reach out to Alber-USA for more information, but it should be available in the coming months once the hiccup is cleared with the FDA. Take care!
abilitease hi How did he use the Twion wheel in this video and try practice with them for a couple weeks without the Alber 24 Twion wheels app? I have an iPhone 7 Plus , but I can get an android if it works better in order to use the wheels ... I already received the wheels paid through my health insurance, so I’m stuck with wheels I cannot fully utilize ya know?. Also, my wheels automatically turn off every couple minutes and I must reach down and press the start button every time to turn them back on...is there anyway to change the auto shutoff timer and extend the auto shit down timer on the wheels?... Lastly, do you have a # so I can speak with you and clarify questions I have, please.... Thank you
Hi Genesis. The app isn't necessary to use the twion wheels, but it does allow you some nice options and information. Also, I checked on the app and I don't believe there is a way to extend the shutoff timer. But I will ask Alber that question thanks.
Even with the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, which is thinner and meant more for asphalt and concrete, it does extremely well in the grass. I would just make sure you have at least 4 inch casters on the front to avoid getting stuck in any holes or muddy areas. I have five inch casters on my TiLite and I can go pretty fast through grassy areas. Thank you for watching!
It works great on grass, hills and ramps. You will be surprised how well the assist works when taking you up a ramp. I suggest having at least 4 inch front casters when going through grass with the power assist wheels.
WAIT WAIT WAIT! So the guy with the twions pushed once and was able to stay in motion..am I missing something? I have these wheels and mine doesn't do this. It's either that the idiots who sold me these never explained which they didn't or it's the particular package I bought? In either case all this was never mentioned to me by them. I love my power assist wheels. But still, this IS news to me!! I 🙄🇮🇪
Hello. Yes the upgraded phone app and Twions do have a cruise control mode which is cool, but honestly I don't use it much because it's hard to turn and stop.
Thanks for this video! Can you tell me, does the twion wheel have some resistance when powered off and pushing? You described the Smartdrive as having a tractor tire feel when off, is it the same for the Twion?
Garrett Kryt when the Twion wheels are turned off it is just like pushing regular manual wheels, except you have an additional 26 lbs (in total) that you are pushing around. The Smartdrive is always making contact with the ground so it's an extra 13lbs plus the wheel creating friction on the back. I hope that answers your question. Thank you and good luck!
hello,could you please adive me again. i'm still using twion by with out mobility plus package.i'm also c5/c6 level,but your arm power looks strong than me. my probrem is very hard to drive assist on the carpet floor and going uphill.then i want to ask you for detail of option function on mobility package.is there any just option for torque power at beginnig of runinng? or do you feel any torgue change by sport mode at start running? i don't have any idea for knows detail in japan. i would appreciate if you know any imformation for my question.thank you.
Hello. I usually keep my wheels on ECO, which I believe does give less motor assist than SPORT mode. You can also adjust the speed up to 10 km/h thrugh the app which will help on carpet and hills. However, that depends on the strength of push you give to engage it. I don't believe there is an additional torque option through the mobility plus package, but there is a new cruise control feature that will help with long distances. The cruise will not stay engaged on hills if the incline is too much, but it is a great feature nonetheless. I think upgrading to the mobility plus package would be worth it for you. Also, you may want to explore different coated pushrim options and/or gloves. Best of luck!
Hello,I'm so appreciate for your kindness.felt just sad for doesn't have ajust torque option.but i belive to have worth by plus option now. and thank you for suggest about gloves hand rims. may i ask once again. .did you bought plus opition with together? or bought by additional? If you add after, did you felt any torque change on start of running by plus option? i already knows sesitivity will change better by checked users manual.and what's the reason of you using ECO mode? save battery? or SPORT mode is too fast for move at narrow space? realy thank you again for your concern!
Hi Ricky. Of course this is something we'd have to try out to see for ourselves, but would you recommend an assist system for a kid starting school? (in favor of an electric chair) We have a manual chair and have the opportunity to get an electric for school but it's just a huge vehicle and I don't know if we feel safe sending our daughter out in it. Thanks for the demo
Hi Jess. There are a few questions I would answer first. Is your daughter comfortable being in a manual wheelchair while at school for an extended period of time vs. a power chair? Are there any added health and/or independence benefits for your daughter in a power chair vs. a manual wheelchair. Does your daughter have good hand function? How long has she been pushing a manual chair? Choosing the appropriate assist system is unique to the user and I think the primary objectives are to make sure your daughter is safe & comfortable operating the desired system and that she is able to maintain or enhance her independence. If she is able to push around comfortably in a manual chair then yes I think the Alber Twion wheels or even the new MX2+ SmartDrive unit would be great for her. Both systems are small and compact and would work well for a young person attending school. Best of luck. Mark
Thank you so much for your answer. We'll consider these things when choosing a solution. I hope we will stick with the manual, which she is comfortable with and if any problems arise, we'll take it from there. Thank you
Juan Scarpa this is a personal choice, but I have always been a fan of the ROHO Air flotation cushions. It also depends on your level of function and whether you can do pressure releases, etc. I have used the ROHO nexus spirit for almost 10 years and recently switched to the Roho Hybrid Elite. It has a padded area in the front which helps with transfers and the air cells in the rear. I hope this helps. Best of luck.
Hello friend, I just had a hybrid rust and a while ago I began to mark a lot the skin in the area of the crease between the buttock and the leg reason why I had to start using a rotro quadtro with which it is impossible to transfer me ! :(
I am beginning to notice the same issue with my hybrid because I scoot forward out of my chair to catheterize and I feel the hard part of the cushion on my sit bones. I too have the same question about transferring with the Quatro. I will follow-up with you once I do some more investigating. Thanks.
Yes much softer and great for hand positioning for transfers. The only issue is they don't offer as many size combinations. But I'm sure you could cut the foam if necessary.
Hi, i am c6 quad, i have emotion wheels for 1 Year they are great going up and down, specialy going down they are very safe for the user, I thought the big difference for twion was going down they don't hold like the e-motion.Can you post a video going down. The emotion has two major problems and have to be very aware when buying. the rims to push run very easily and unfortunately the guarantee don't cover and is very expensive repair, and the second are very heavy. looks like in your video that the push rims are a lot more solid. Ty
Hi Jorge. The Twion wheels work very similar to the emotions where they have the downhill braking if you apply pressure to the pushrim. You gain momentum in the wheelchair when you go downhill and the act of applying pressure to the pushrim triggers the reverse drive, thus slowing the chair down. And regarding the e-motions, yes I agree it is expensive to replace the parts on the rim and they are heavy. The pushrim on the Twion wheel is a lot more sturdy. I will post a video when I have an opportunity. Thank you for your comments.
hello, i'm in the same condition you are in c-5/c-6 incomplete and i wanna know how u found the right wheelchair 4 u? i love the back on the wheelchair, and video. thank you
Hello. Honestly it took years of trying out different chairs and constantly adjusting the chair to find out what was the most comfortable. If you are recently injured (
Great review, my son has a neurological disorder and he just got the basic model. He loves it but is having trouble going up ramps of more than 1inch rise. Will upgrading to the mobility plus package help him push on ramps? My main concern is one of the ramps is on a doorway and I'm afraid he will hit the door sides with more power. Also do you think him he will be able to go on a ramp by driving the chair from the app? Thank you in advance!
Hello. So your son is able to engage the assist on flat surfaces, but has difficulty on a ramp with a small incline? Does he have trouble grabbing the pushrim? If so new pushrim covers might solve that issue. The mobility plus package will provide you with more options for the wheels like increasing the speed and/or the new cruise mode. The motherboard on the Twion wheels I believe would have to be upgraded with firmware for the mobility plus package to work. I wasn't able to demo the cruise mode on inclines, but I believe it could handle a 1 inch rise. I don't recommend using the bluedrive feature to go up the ramp. It is very sensitive and could be dangerous. I hope this information helps. Take care!
He has weakness in his hands that causes him to have trouble grabbing and pushing the power assist. Can you recommend push rim covers that can help him? I called Alber's office and they said that to get the Mobility plus package we just have to pay for the app and no hardware upgrade is required.
Zainab Jaffar-Hijazi the Pushrim covers that are sold with the emotions are the best ones. They slide on over the Twion Pushrims and you can buy them directly from Alber. They are a very thick rubber, but work well with weaker hands or if you have difficulty gripping the wheel. Ive been using the same ones for 6 yrs now. I show them in the video. The reason I mentioned the firmware upgrade is because the cruise feature is new and unless you got the wheels within a few months it is very likely the wheels will need to be updated to reflect this feature. I think that feature may help your son with the short inclines. Thanks.
abilitease I'll look into the pushrim covers. He got the wheelchair end of last month so upgrading without changing the hardware shouldn't be an issue. Thank you for your advice, you have been a great help!
Do NOT use RibGrips. With in 6 to 7 months, they stretch out and you lose good contact with the push rim and then they power assist wheels don't work as well...at least with the NaviONE's.
Hi Hannah. When you purchase the Twion wheels you also need to purchase a mounting kit specific for your rigid wheelchair. This typically includes a brand new camber tube that can be cut down to the appropriate size once the brackets have been mounted. I hope that helps.
HI, it's good report. may i ask a question. is that black ring for wheel is sole item for active type? i'm thinking for change type from basic to active.
Hi Dustin. The wheel code is on a card that comes with the mobility plus package. There's a box that comes with a pair of carbon fiber rim covers, an instruction manual and a card that you scratch to reveal the code. I hope that helps. Best of luck.
Hi, I'm C5 complete, and I was wondering m15's or Twion for me? I'm not a brilliant pusher so am looking for assists. Do the Twion wheels have any auto braking or anti roll back on hills? That worries me. Should I start with the M15's ?
Hi Anthony. If your wrist extension is strong and you can put pressure against the pushrim then the Twion wheels may work for you. They are a bit aggressive and jumpy so if there is any doubt I would probably go with the M15s. I don't believe they have anti-rollback. If this is your first set of power assist wheels I think the M15s are great to start with.
You know I've never tried those wheels, but that looks like a great option. If you can demo these different products I would try them all since only you will know hat works for you. Those wheels seem to be heavy, but then aain so are the emotion M15s. Good luck!
Hi Ricky. Please watch my other video where I demo the SmartDrive MX2. I went over in detail the things that didn't work well for me. It's a great unit though if you are able to use it effectively. Best of luck!
Yes the push is somewhat similar, but the emotions can be adjusted to be much more sensitive. And one key difference is the Twions will give you power assist based on the strength of your push, however the emotions have a defined assist that you engage (e.g. 50%, 80%, etc.) where the sensitivity can be adjusted.
@@buffalo1d the twion app does have cruise control, which will go on it's own when engaged. However, the standard mode is simply assist based on the strength of the push.
Brett I definitely agree with this observation regarding the jerkiness and it took a while for me to get used to the difference in the assist compared to the e-motions. Regarding stopping, if you use the thick coated pushrim covers the stopping shouldn't be too hard if you can apply some pressure.
My uncle just got this and the app wont work..I tried the chair myself and cant the wheels to engage only when backwards or turning in circles not sure hot to get it going stay going forward ..can you give some advice
Hi Val. Did he purchase the mobility plus package? The only way to use the app with the wheels is to enter an activation code and then create a "wheelpair" in the app which communicates with the wheels. Regarding activating the assist if you push forward on the pushrims the assist should propel you forward. Did you have the wheels professionally installed? The Twions require the installation of wheel brackets to enable the proper use of the power assist. If everything was installed correctly and it isn't working in the forward assist then I would contact the dealer. I hope that helps.
@@abilitease hi there thanks for responding he says he did but we have no book so we are awaiting a call..but we cant get the chair going by manual and stay going forward is there a trick? :)
If by "stay going forward" you mean cruise control mode this will only work when the app has been activated. The Twions do not provide continuous assist in manual mode. When propelling forward you need to give an even strength push on each wheel in order for the chair to go forward and stay as straight as possible. Thanks.
legitsrs Which pushrim covers? The ones from Alber? I beat the thick rubber ones up a lot and they have never riped or gotten punctured. Whatever the case that sucks.
I do still like them Tony, but would be interested to try the e-motion M-25s to see how they compare. The push assist is wonderful, but it can teeter totter because each handrim assist is independent. Overall though the Twions are pretty awesome in terms of helping me independent.
@@tonyrea570 No the Twions are very durable. I'm always interested in new technology and if improvements have been made. I'm sure you can't go wrong with either set of wheels.
how about wheeldrive power assist? any experience with this one? th-cam.com/video/HqlrszKee2E/w-d-xo.html iam not qp but sma so my upper body power is diminishing and iam looking for some power assist wheels with cruise mode or permanent assist not just on pushes.
I've been a C5 Quad for over 36 years and hope you continue with these awesome videos.
Thank you Christopher!
Thanks so much for you helpful review. After watching it, I purchased my Twion power assist wheels which arrived a couple of days ago on a Kuschall Ultra Light chair! I'm 7 years post, c4/5 Incomplete wobbly walker reduced power on my right side. I am so pleased as it is so much lighter which means I can lift it into/out of my car much more easily. Just been around the supermarket and it was bliss compared to more recent trips. So far, so good.
That's great news Vicki! Thanks for watching and for your update. As you use the wheels more you will get use to the different ways to push them in different environments. Also, please Make sure to keep them clean as they will get dirty from use it may affect how the sensors respond to each push. Take care!
Thank you so much for the video! My tech was not very helpful so I have had to figure it out on my own. After two months I found the manual for the wheels. So I just got the app and was so excited. Especially so excited I could scare my brother by moving the chair around on my phone without being in it! Perfect time for Halloween!
I absolutely love these wheels and it has given me the ability to be independent and not have someone to push me when I get fatigued from my chronic illness. I am starting to go out more and have more confidence!
I did have a learning curve with throwing myself backwards (thank god for anti-tippers) but found out I was sitting too far back. Once I move my back rest forward I no longer tip back.
I am new to being in a chair (one year) and I'm still struggling with going down hill and how to break with these wheels. I try to push back I just go backwards or it tips and if I do it lightly I don't have any breaking. Any tips? I think I need to play with it.
Kelly Secor I am happy to hear that the wheels are working well for you and more importantly that you are gaining more confidence and going out. An independence solution hopefully solves the problem, but you also want to feel good about yourself while using it out in the world. It makes me happy that you are getting out there and living your life.
With regard to slowing your chair while going downhill, simply apply some pressure to the pushrim and it should, by nature of the downhill force, make the pushrim engage the backwards assist, thus slowing things down. You do not need to grab the pushrim and force it backwards. You could do this once you get comfortable which will cause your chair to do a "wheelie" and allow you to keep your body level while going downhill. As a quad I don't practice the latter, but with my limited hand function I can slow my chair down significantly on steep hills just by applying some pressure. Give it a try and keep working hard!
Unbiased and informative review, cheers to ya.
I am c5/6 quad looking to purchase a set of these after using a set of wheeldrives that had to many issues to keep.
The one thing I would really like to know about is the down hill stopping ability. I see that the rims have sensors like the wheeldrive and emotions and assume that when used downhill they would help with manual friction breaking power at least to offset the added weight and flywheel effect.
My experience with the wheeldrives gave mixed results as they would freewheel and when the sensor reacted and engaged the braking load if not done simultaneously on doth rims it would veer to the side. I. Overcoming this problem the direct drive inner rim was an advantage as it was very controllable “when they worked properly”
Mal
Thank you Mal for reaching out. The twion wheels are relatively easy to stop going downhill by applying pressure against the pushrims. However, I do notice that when going downhill and picking up speed the twion wheels are not smooth like manual wheels and can veer from one side or the other so you need to be careful how fast you are travelling. With downhill speed you can feel friction within the wheel and you can hear a noise. Since I prefer controlled downhill speed the veering isn't too much of an issue, but depending on your pushing style it may make a difference. I would say the emotions are better at limiting the side to side because the push rim is easier to engage and over time your push style adjusts to the sensitivity. The twion wheel requires a bit more force to engage the assist so the side to side happens more often than I would like. The perfect power assist option remains to be seen, but for now I would say I am very happy with the twion wheels and the downhill braking capabilities. Best of luck!
it would be a good idea for who ever makes these wheels, to put some sort of alternator in there so when your push on flat terrain or better yet flying down hill, that this would be charging the wheels at the same trime and thus, gaining more battery life
I completely agree. Battery life is an important attribute to a power assist option and being able to improve that by putting some charge back into the wheel would be great. Thanks for sharing.
@@abilitease Great idea! Some pedelecs can do this. So it should be possible.
Another question: why doesn't Alber makes all assistent wheels as e - fix, M 25, and the gthers, able to charge a handy and later gn work as a solar battery: givin' charge to the wheels while driving by oeur power? Please do this! It must be possible, isn't that much difficult, l know! thanks?
Regenerative tech, thats being used in some electric cars, it would be great if they could add this aspect.
Very interesting review. I'm a C5 quad for 31 years & have been using the e-Motion M15 wheels for the past 9 years on a TiLite chair. I'm in the process of buying an Apex carbon fiber and am looking at the Twion wheels. As with you, I charge the e-Motion every 5 days on average. With me, I turn off my wheels as soon as I get home & push around the house on top of the wheel (which is rough on the palms of the hands) because if you use the push rims when they are off it bends the springs and the wheels will go into error mode. That gets expensive replacing the springs and also like you bumping into door frames can break the posts that attach the push rim to the rim. The remotes are very expensive to replace but are great when out and need to switch from mode 1>2 to go up/down a steep hill or from 2
Hello and thank you for your comments. Reading this I feel like we have so many similarities it's incredible. When going up a steep hill the push can be adjusted to accommodate the incline. On hills I just push a little harder and the Twion is very responsive. I do find that between each push I can rest my arm a little before the next push and I don't get burned out. To give you an example, last year I went to an Angel's baseball game and had to push up this ridiculous multi-tiered ramp to get to my seats. I took my time and was able to do it on my own with limited fatigue. The Twions work really well on hills. I am attaching a youtube link of another guy doing the ramps at Angel stadium just so you can see the incline.
th-cam.com/video/OVJn4cMEhZE/w-d-xo.html
The pushrims on the Twions are more robust than the e-motions and I do push them when the wheels are turned off. I also like doing this around the house to save battery and just to keep my shoulders and arms in shape without blowing them up doing day to day pushing. Because they weigh less than the M-15s they are easier to maneuver when off and feel smooth with the Schwalbe inflatable tires.
The cruise control is cool, but honestly I rarely use it. I like the idea of pushing and I don't live in an area where I would want to go long distances without stopping and readjusting my hips, legs, feet, etc. Using cruise control in a crowd is frustrating and it was one of the reasons the Smart Drive didn't make sense for my situation. The cruise control will intensify with stronger pushes, but it is difficult to turn and hard to stop with limited hand function. And the cruise control does not have the uphill power that a Smart Drive will have. Once you hit an incline on cruise the function will deactivate.
I am in the process of getting another pair of Twions so that if one has an issue I can swap it out. I have had only a few issues with the wheel "erroring" out and Alber has been great about sending a replacement. The Twions have been a game changer for me and I think more quads should use them. I know every injury is different, but it sounds like you would love these wheels. Best of luck!
@@abilitease Thank you for your detailed reply. Yes, watching your video I was thinking you are very close to same function as me, your fingers have more curl than mine and when I watched a couple of your other videos (bed transfer, very nice job), I have grade 3 triceps. I was 25 when I had my accident and 1 year later I was on my own living a very different life.
I don't think I'd use the cruise much if at all either as I prefer pushing but I do like the higher speed aspect of these wheels as I find the e-Motion slow even on 2 especially when I'm using the bike lane where it's nice and smooth. I usually go on a 2-mile push around the city when the weather permits just to keep in shape. I tried the smart drive too and when I was coming down the ramp to my place it drove me right into the door face first and right there I said that's the end of the smart drive while I still have my teeth intact. Another adventure I could add to the growing list that I've had over the years.
@@cire5572 You will feel lighter and faster with these wheels on your push. The e-motions are great, but you will feel more freedom with the Twions. Yeah I bull-dozed a few doors with my face too using the Smart Drive.
@@abilitease so for everyday use, you would choose Twion over emotion? And how about now, do they have coated wheels??
*coated rims
For me, I chose the Smart Drive, But I have a strong upper body. Before I purchased my Smart Drive, a local place that sells wheelchairs and services them, brought a wheelchair with the smart drive attached. And let me try it out on our road. Also, he let me borrow it for a weekend, which was very nice. I really like my Smart Drive, the battery power last about 3 days, but the hand band needs more charging. So for any of the power assists maybe check locally and you might be able to get help testing them out before spending any money.
Great unbiased video and thank you for all the details. I am on my 2nd set of M15 Emotion wheels and have found the outer casing on the motor and batteries somewhat fragile and always cracked on the light area. I was always a little concerned that water or melting snow would enter the motors and destroy them, so I had to use marine sealant to avoid this problem. Are the Alber Twion built stronger and more secure. The constant breaking of the rim connections and the poorly designed springs (Not properly annealed) has also been problematic.
I travel world wide (or at least before Covid) and have had to have many lengthy discussions with various airlines to convince them to allow me to take the wheels into the cabin as allowing the wheels to go in the hold has been a big problem with them returned to me damaged beyond repair. I now tell them that the batteries cannot be removed and Ltium Ion batteries are not allowed in the hold, which the Airline Captain will confirm.
Hi Tony. I loved my M15s, but disliked the constant management of the rims as well. The Twions are much more solid and I haven't had to replace any parts. What I can tell you is the assist is a little different and requires a little more strength. I remember from my M15 days I could push very little and turn tight corners where the Twions are a bit more jumpy out the gate. They require a bit more control, but are very sturdy. I think you will like the switch to the Twions, but you could also check out the M25s which seem to be an e-motion/Twion hybrid. Best of luck!
I'm from France I've got this Twion wheels since 3 weeks, anti tips are mandatory for security.
Very reactives wheels, but very cool
Sorry my english so bad...
Thanks for your comment. Your English is good! Anti-tips are probably a good idea. The other thing you could do would be to move your axle back (if you can) a 1/4 or 1/2 inch so that your center of gravity is more behind you, thus making the chair less tippy. Enjoy and good luck!
I also struggled with tipping backwards and hated it. I am so thankful for my anti-tippers because I have tipped many times. I find that my back rest was too far back. Once I moved it forward I don't tip anymore which is really nice. I would try moving your center of gravity like Abilitease said! Hope this helps!
I got the alber e motions wheels. They were out before twion. It's like the big brother. They work for quads very good too
I am getting a set of Twion wheels to use at home and short shopping trips, I currently have a set of the AAT Servo wheels, that are very heavy and use a 36Volt Li-Ion battery, I can run all day on those travelling from here Wentworth Falls to Sydney by train, that takes 2 hours each way. so from 6 am to 6 am plus! Running those wheels I have never run out of battery power! It's just too bad that the wheels and battery and chair I got with them are so heavy. Cheers and thanks for the review!
Hello and thank you for your post. The Twions are definitely nice for the shorter trips. The AATs sound great for giving you a full day of power. I guess the excessive weight is the trade-off, but at least you have a back-up!
@@abilitease G'day Mark I hope you don't mind I would like to post a link to your YT channel on my Facebook Page, Wheelchair Users Australia! Cheers!
Just wanted to say thanks for your review. After doing a lot of research, including all of your videos (which were extremely helpful) I looking to purchase a set of Twions as well. I'm a 40 year post injury C7 quad and after many years of W/C sports/abuse, my left shoulder is now trash. I have a great job as a college professor and I really don't want to retire so finding an alternative like this is my only good option. Thanks again... (BTW, Invacare should give you a set for free for all your work :) )Hal
Thank you Hal for the kind words. Since I've been injured I've been fortunate enough to get the right equipment and have people in my life to help encourage/motivate me along the way. TH-cam is a great vehicle to give back and share my experiences with our community.
I think that you will enjoy the Twion wheels and how much they will improve your quality of life. I am still trying to get Alber to update my wheels for the cruise feature, which should already be coded on your new pair. I think you will love cruise and benefit from it greatly. Best of luck Hal and take care!
The charging wire has magnets, just like the Smart Drive MX2+. It works the same. Sorry to hear you are not getting longer time before having to charge. My smart drive works good. It keeps a charge for many days.
Sweet, I am just venturing into having to use a wheelchair due to spinal injury. I am extremely weak so stuff like this would be a god send.
I just got these so far so good I jut got to practice on pushing evenly.
Yeah keep practicing and you'll get it!
Thanks for the review. I currently have the emotion wheels which are great but they are very heavy and hard to take on and off. I'm going to arrange a trial of these wheels
Sounds great please share your experience after you try them out.
I just got mine today. So far, so good!
Awesome. Hopefully they'll work well for you.
Are the 2019 Trion tires called Marathon Plus?
Hello! Thank you for the great videos on assist wheels. My husband had Quickie Xtender wheels for five years until they literally died. Other than needing to replace the lousy spokes with quality spokes, they worked well. But we were told the new tender models are all being returned. So far he is choosing the Twion WITHOUT the mobility plus. It is 900+ CDN and doesn't seem worth the price. Do you know if Twion without that mobility plus package has the ability to go up rather big higher hills and, if you let go of the wheels do they just run down the hill freewheel or is their some resistance? E-motion and Xtender have roll stop for backwards and we learned Twion does not. But what about when going forward? Why is the mobility plus almost a thousand dollars more? Does the mobility plus package provide rolls protection on a hill? Do you still feel that Twion is better? And if you have mobility plus - we do not have a data plan so do you need to have an active wifi connection all the time? Or can you just set up the adjustments at home on wifi and get on with your day? Hope all that makes sense. We just really are afraid of getting the wrong wheels. We learned a lot about the assist wheels.
We can't even consider any new E-motion models because they are working on a new model and in Ontario, they may not be covered by ADP. Thank you so much. Take care, The Berglunds
Hello and thank you for your comments. I apologize, I thought I responded, but my comments aren't here so I'll address your questions. I honestly don't use the app at all anymore. If they have some sort of hill stop function, I've never used it. I used the app in the beginning to turn off the lights when charging, turned off the beeping noises when turning on and off the wheels and adjusting the speed. The cruise control was alright, but it's hard to turn. And the remote driving was kind of a joke because my chair is always next to me when I'm not in it. Once you make the initial adjustments you are good to go. If you haven't gotten wheels yet you should check out the Alber e-motion M-25s. They look more like the Twions and have the mobility plus with the roll/stop feature. Best of luck!
Hi, thank you for the demo, really informative. Just out of interest which is your preferred wheelchair make and model, I’ve got to the point where I need a chair and undecided on the make, so many to choose from.
Great video. Very helpful. I've been using M15s for about 5 years and get pretty annoyed by them erroring out and the off buttons not allowing me to easily turn them off and on again. Do the Twions error as much and when they do, do the buttons switch the wheels off again easily?
Also, the M15s can be customised with the magnetic key in the back of the remote (I actually have my 2 power levels set at 60% and 100% rather than the default levels of 40% and 60% as I'm quite weak). Can something similar be done with the Twions?
Many thanks
Hello and thank you for your comments. The Twions do not error as much and the wheels turn on and off to reset the wheel very easily. The only thing is you need to hold in the button for a second to turn them on and off and you have to wait an additional second before engaging the assist or the pushrim error code will turn on. Because the lights are white and sit on the curved edge of the hub it can be difficult at times in the day time to see if they are still on or where your battery level is at. This can be simplified by having the sound on for when the wheel turns on/off and also using the app to check your battery level.
Unfortunately, the Twions are not programmable and do require some force to engage and stop. The harder you push the more return you get. They are not as sensitive as the M15s to engage from my experience. I would definitely try them to see if they would work for you. You may find with the thick push rim covers that were offered with the M15s that the wheels will work for you. Best of luck!
Hello. I am Alejandro, from Spain. Thanks for your video, it's useful.
I'd like to ask you about the rubber covers. I use them on my standard rings (24'). However, when I checked the Twion 24, I noticed that the diameter of theirs rings is less, so I couldn't fix them. What type of rubber covers do you use? What's the diameter? and where did you get them?
And eventually, are you able of manage Twion 24 without anti spills?
Thanks!
Hi Alejandro. Yes the diameter on the Twion wheels is a little bit smaller, but once you put the rubber covers on (the ones offered with the emotion wheels) the bumps smooth out and they work great.
Hey there again, managed to bag some of these for a super low price preloved here in Europe. I think it works out to just under $400? Anyhoo, it looks like they come with the box you showed, does it only come with the other pack? Ie do you get it regardless or only with the upgraded wheels? Mine are the black ones which look cool, I pick them up next week, I can't wait!
That's awesome good for you! The box typically comes with the upgraded version that has the app. All it has is the rim covers and the app, which I hardly ever use. If it is the one with the app make sure you have the card with the wheelcodes. You'll need to put the wheelcodes in the app to have them communicate with each other. But regardless that's a great deal. Please tell me how everything goes. Just remember you need to have a special bracket installed on your axle to properly mount the wheels. A dealer can help with the install. Take care!
How do you cope with the wheels turning off every few minutes? I have had them turn off while wheeling as well! The most annoying is working in the kitchen getting my hands covered with food and needing to move only to find the wheels have turned off! A pain in the proverbial!
Also my charger died with a pop and bang and stopped charging in less than 12 months use!
Sadly my supplier does not and will not carry stock of spare wheels or chargers and bet they do not have replacement batteries either! Good to check all this stuff out before you buy! The other bad thing was I headed downhill at speed and both wheels turned off completely, apparently to keep the batteries safe from overcharging! I was lucky to have the strength and gloves to be able to stop myself! Also they roll backwards on a hill, if they turn off while on a hill get ready to stop them! scary!
Great video Thanks
Hi, I'm a full c5 and I currently use an e-motion. I am considering buying a twion for its cruise function but I have read in some places that the twion is more designed for paraplegic than for quadriplegics ... Do you recommend to go from e-motion to twion? Greetings.
Hi mate Alber has some new emotion M25 wheels out they also have the cruise mode and are 8kg in weight a lot strong as well,
I just tried to get set up with these wheels and got my dreams crushed because now that's why on wheels are discontinued in the US bummer any other advice
Great video Mark. I'm looking at various power assist options myself. Like you I had an opportunity to try the twion wheels but they were on a chair that did not fit me well making it difficult to evaluate them. I think I am about the same function level as you. I'm a C5/6. What do you think of the Twion wheels compared to the e-motion wheels? I'm not sure which way would be best.
Thank you for your comments. There are definitely pros and cons to both, but for me the Twions are the better fit. They look nice, they are half the weight of the e-motions, have less parts to break & replace, they have a nice phone app and I prefer the power assist that triggers based on the power you put into it. However, the M25 e-motions will be available in the US soon, so I've been told, which have a lot of the Twion characteristics. Overall I don't think you can go wrong with either Alber product, but I prefer the Twions. Best of luck!
@@abilitease Thanks for the reply Mark. I quite liked the Twions as well. The chair they were on just didn't work well for me. I'm going to take a closer look at them. When you talk about your van, is it a ramp van such as a Braun Ability? Do you use the Twions power assist to help you get up the ramp?
Appreciate your videos. They are well done, honest, and informative!
@@paulgustafson7012 thanks again Paul for the kind words. I have a Toyota Sienna with a Braun Ability fold out ramp. And yes I definitely need the power assist to get up the ramp. However, I am able to power up the ramp with no problem and no push start so-to-speak. It's actually surprising how easy it is with the Twions.
@@abilitease Thanks for the quick reply Mark. I also have a BraunAbility Toyota Sienna conversion. I currently use a hill climber brake to get in. The Twion's sound like the way to go. I need to share your information with a friend of mine who recently got a pair of Twions but has been having difficulty with them. From what he tells me I believe they may not be installed properly. Thanks again! Always great to connect with like minded quads!
@@paulgustafson7012 Wow hill climbers! I used to have those back in the day. A simple yet very effective solution. Yeah the installation is key and if the right bracket isn't installed the Twions may not function correctly. I truly love these wheels Paul and I know you will too.
very helpful video - TY! do the twion wheels have the ability to slow you down a steep incline, i.e., like a ramp on an adapted van? TIA.
If you apply pressure to the Twion wheels it will naturally engage the reverse assist and slow the wheels down. With the release of the e-motion M25 wheels there are a lot of great enhancements that address some of your concerns.
The M25 wheels now can be controlled by a smart phone app, letting users monitor the battery and change the level of power assist. Other intelligent systems include an anti-rollback feature for hills that allows users to stop in the middle of a hill or ramp without worrying about rolling backward. A downhill braking assist lets users descend hills more safely and a new “cruise mode” lets users roll at a constant speed without pushing.
I hope this helps!
What a thorough review! Very helpful. One question: You mentioned having to power on the wheel using a button on the wheel. Do you have to power on each wheel separately, or do both wheels somehow power on/off together with just one wheel's button?
Here's why I'm asking: I have been an iGlide and then Tailwind user for many years, and of course their single on/off power button controlling the power assist function of both wheels was conveniently placed near one brake, so it was a single touch to start or stop function. Reaching over to both sides to power each on/off separately would seem inconvenient. I use the on/off function frequently since I use the power assist only for ramps up and down, for plush terrain, and for quite long distances. (Unfortunately, it appears that Tailwind's maker Clinton River is unable to support/repair their chairs at this time due to financial difficulty following a lawsuit; so my Tailwind is non-functional and non-repairable after only 3 years -- hence the search for alternative power assist devices.)
Thank you for your thoughts!
Thank you for your feedback. In my experience I have had to power the Twions on/off on each wheel directly, which is a bit inconvenient. I believe you could do this via the app on the smart phone, but I have gotten used to doing it manually. When I am in ECO mode the wheels actually turn off rather quickly, which gets annoying. I am in the process of getting a new pair of Twions so if any upgrades were made I will provide a new video to talk about the changes. I have heard such great things about the Tailwind from others that it's a shame the product is no longer supported. I would have loved to test it out and see if it would work for me. Best of luck!
@@abilitease I would be very interested in seeing a review of the new model :)
@@abilitease Have you already received the new Twions wheels? If so, have you noticed any differences?
I don't know if you are still doing these videos or not, but I've found your videos really helpful, I don't have a spinal injury as such, mines worn out, and I have a connective tissue disorder, along with strong arms, but sadly very poor grip, I'm a wheelchair user, I can't do any inclines without dislocating something. Seriously is the worst superpower to have. How were the twion wheels overall? Did you change them soon after this? Did they fare well? I was looking at a smartdrive but the force needed to stop it took out a shoulder. Its like being one of the mannequins from the film death becomes her 🙈 I'd like to know which wheels or which set up was the best for you. If you still do TH-cam, I see this video is 3 years old now.
Thank you for your comments. I do still use the Twions and they are working well. They do require some force to start and stop so I'm not sure with your disability if this would be a issue. Alber does have the e-motion M-25 wheels which are a cross between the e-motion M-15s and the Twions. You may want to check those out as they will have more adjustments to engage the assist and work with your condition. Best of luck!
@@abilitease ah thanks for getting back to me 😊 I've had 3 weeks of the m15's and they're great they're just heavy to take off my chair. Tried a smart drive, that's a little beast that thing! Good to hear the twion wheels are still going for you, its nice to see some actual reviews not marketing from companies. I found your reviews really helpful, I think before I lay out £4k on new wheels I really should go and test drive some but it's a firm toss up between twion and m25 now. :)
@@neekaphillipstaliesintoo8790 that's great to hear. Yes the e-motions tend to be quite heavy so if you are constantly breaking down your chair the Twions are half the weight per wheel. You can't go wrong with either. It has made my life so much easier. I'm looking forward to hearing all about what you decide and what worked best for you. Take care.
Hello Abilitease interesting to know more about the Amber Twion power assist wheels as i would love to purchase one. I have C6 & C7 spinal cord injury, quadriplegic. I like your wheelchair very similar to the ones i have, but can you help me know which wheelchair your demonstrating and i think its better to purchase the Alber Twion power assist wheels with it so i can still not use them always only when i need them ? Thank you in advance!
Hello Nahi. My wheelchair is a TiLite ZR Ultralight. The company Tilite is located in the state of Washington, but I believe the chairs are sold internationally. As a C6-C7 you will love the Twion wheels. If you decide you want to switch back to manual wheels you can always swap out the Twions when you don't need them. Best of luck!
AWESOME!
Very helpful thanks :)
C5 Quad here, great video. What make of wheelchair and chair back do you use?
Adam Poitras the chair is a TiLite ZR-1 and the backrest is a ROHO Jetstream Pro. Currently I switched to the ROHO Agility Carbon fiber backrest which has great side lateral support. Best of luck!
I got a M 25 and I drive my sunriseMedical sopur easylife SA, it's a foldable one. The M25 works with nearly every single chair you gonna have! It's great! I don't have much power, Just 1 kg I can put up till my hips - that's the most of weight I can do. It works, I drive without any help when shopping! Before I could drive about 10 to 15 meters or less. Now till 3 km (to the shop, shopping and back home). Independently! To my doc I need about 1/2hour, but it works, too! That's lifequality!
regarding the auto mode, does it have any safety tech built in such as for example if you god forbid tipped the wheelchair over does it have a stop mode based on tilt of wheels or something?
Hey Mark! Thank you for the great videos. I’ve been following you for a little while and love how you give the pros and cons through all the stuff that you’ve tried out. I’m a C5/6 quad as well, so I can definitely relate. I’m now looking at a new power assist option for my manual chair (Like you I don’t want to go in the power chair direction). I think the Twion are going to be my go to’s after all your reviews on it. In terms of the corded rims, do you know if I would be able to buy the e-motion rim coating to put on the Twion rims? Otherwise what would you suggest? On my manual chair right now I have the Blax push rims. I’ve tried quite a few different ones and found those are the ones that work the best for me in the environment that I’m in. I live in the mountains (in Whistler, BC, Canada) so lots of snow and rain which can make things difficult and slippery for pushing.
Hi Olivia. Thank you for the kind words. Yes I believe Alber will sell the pushrim covers through a dealer if you wanted to get them. Try calling a few of the online stores as well. I still have the same original pair and love them. They aren't cheap, but they will last.
I remember getting the BLAX pushrims and they worked well, but my hands were constantly getting dirty without gloves. Also they were so grippy to the point that I would tear skin off of my hands. However they were great on my rugby chair.
The rain is an issue and I can honestly say these pushrim covers are not the easiest to grab when they are wet. We don't get a lot of rain in Southern California so it hasn't been an issue for me. I suggest buying the covers to put over your BLAX so that way you can interchange based on weather conditions, comfort level, etc. But with the Twions you have to use a cover of some kind if you have limited hand dexterity because it comes standard with a black metal coated handrim that is hard to grab. Best of luck!
The twion app was just updated to include a "cruise mode." Have you given that a try yet? How does start/stop/turn work in that mode? Thanks!
Hello! Yes I see that they updated the app with cruise. I reached out to Alber and evidently the wheels require a software update, meaning I would have to ship them my wheels. I fortunately still have my emotions to accommodate the shipping time, but shipping out the wheels could be an issue for some. I plan to demo the cruise control feature at the La Abilities Expo this weekend so I'll do a follow-up video. Thanks for watching!
That's awesome, let me know what you think. I'm in between with my emotions and mx2. I love the emotions inside, in tight spaces, on carpet, etc. Over long distanes the mx2 is great. If the new Twion mode combines those two -- jackpot!
*The mx2 has a new wristband that seems intriguing. With the spring here, I need to make a decision on which way to go. I look forward to hearing how the new Twion mode works!
Hello. I wasn't able to get a video, but I did however test out the cruise feature and it was pretty cool. Here is my feedback:
Once you turn on cruise it will engage at a minimum speed of 1mph and up to 6mph. 1mph is actually very nice because if you are in a crowded place you can still maneuver around people and keep the cruise on. And it is smooth and you can't tell it's on. You can turn the chair with either hand in cruise mode, but once you grab both pushrims or apply pressure to both the cruise feature stops. The cruise feature is controlled by the app so as long as you have it on you will engage it after every push. I noticed that turning in cruise isn't as smooth as I would have liked, but not a huge deal. I didn't get a chance to try it on a hill, but I was told that after you reach a certain degree of incline as you are going up a hill the cruise will turn off, which I don't like. Also, I did my demo on flt polished concrete and not on grass so I don't know if cruise will stay engaged on difficult terrain. My plan is to have the cruise on my wheels in the next 2-3 weeks and then I can do an in depth video.
With regard to choosing a system, as a quad I really like the Twion wheels because of the assist in the house, short distance maneuvering and assist going backwards. If you are just looking for continuous assist going long distances and not necessarily hills then yes I would say the cruise feature on the Twion wheels will accomplish this, plus the other benefits I mentioned.
SmartDrive has the MX2+ which I believe you were referring to with the newer wristband, has more start/stop tap commands than the MX2 using the wristband, which will help quads. However, since a majority of the commands are controlled with tapping, I've heard concerns that this reliance could be dangerous if the user is not able to "tap" to engage/disengage the feature. The MX2+ is going to be awesome on hills, but the braking on a downhill is still a big issue for those of us with limited hand dexterity. I did hear from their rep, Steph Aiello, who's a quad that they are working on some geared brakes to go on the front of your chair.
I don't think you can go wrong with either unit, but I understand these items are expensive and you need to get the best one for you. Best of luck and if you want me to elaborate more just send an email at info@abilitease.com. Take care!
Hi,
Sorry, I'm not sure quite what you mean by cruise mode? So you push it and it adds extra power to your push then they carry on without any more pushes for a while? How long do they go for? Is it hard to keep them straight on a bumpy pavement? (sidewalk?)
Also, thanks for filming this, it's great to see the twions reviewed properly, not just a marketing video with a guy drinking coffee with some friends!
Hi Sarah. So yes if you push under cruise mode and you exert enough energy to reach a minimum of 1mph the wheels will keep that speed until you either push faster to increase the speed or apply pressure to both rims to stop the cruise feature. As long as you steer by applying pressure to only one pushrim at a time it will not disable the cruise feature. I did notice it is harder to turn under cruise which may be better if you are trying to stay straight while travelling on bumpy pavement or a sidewalk. Under normal operation I still at times have difficulty keeping my pushes even where I'm not turning left to right.
Also, I was not able to try the cruise feature on a hill, which I think would be a very useful feature. I am told that if the incline is too much under cruise mode the feature will disable. Alber is going to let me borrow a pair of Twion wheels while my existing pair receives the firmware upgrade so I will thoroughly test them out and post another video. Thank you for your comments!
Like how east it is to stop these ones compared to others what didn’t you like about the smart drive ? My efix e35 wheels add a lot of width into my chair these look a bit slimmer shame about the poor battery life
Did you happen to ever try the iGlide/Tailwind. I have only used this system since ~2001 and would use it forever except Clinton River suddenly went out of business (Tailwind). If you have, what is the biggest difference between the two? I am like many of your viewers a C5/6 with a little C7 triceps for good measure. Watching how you maneuver the Twion unit, I'm relieved as it seems to respond similarly to the Tailwind. My big wonder is now is the whole downhill part. The Tailwind actually required the user to push downhill and actually required a bit more work than going uphill on the same incline which I loved because I hate taking off on downhills. I did catch on the video that it backs uphill well enough it seems, which is great because I back up the ramp to get into my Explorer. My worry is flying back down that Explorer ramp and crashing into the car I parked next to. How say you? Thanks ahead of time and glad I found your video!
PS, Brian is my son, I'm Crista
The FDA has halted all US sales of the Twion wheels pending investigation of the manufacturer’s production facility in Europe. I’m not sure what triggered it. The FDA says that it will take 3-6 months to complete the investigation, but hopefully they will be approved to go on sale in the US again.
walderness interesting. Thanks for the information.
Hello,
I have emotion m-15 alber i'm c5-c6 complete, I wanted to buy the new m25 or the twion m24.I wanted to ask you for differences between m-15 vs m25vs twion
not if you've tried
(mobility plus) for mobile?
How does cruise control work? Once given the thrust it always keeps the same speed for how long or km?
the remote control app can I drive the wheelchair even with a mobile phone sitting on it without having to push? because if I have to go a long way and I'm tired of pushing then I can drive like an electronic wheelchair.
thanks
sorry for my english
Hi Manuel. I am still waiting to demo the M-25 here in the United States. From what I can tell the M-25 looks to be a newer better version of the M-15 with some of the Twion characteristics. If you have strong wrist extension, biceps and shoulders I would recommend the Twions. I have the mobility plus for my Twions, but I don't use the app much. The cruise control via the app will give continuous assist based on how much power you put into the initial push. However, it is hard to turn with the cruise control on and hard to stop with limited hand function. It will keep the same speed when engaged and unless you go up a hill it should continue to stay on. The remote control can work like a powerchair joystick, but that wasn't the manufacturer's intention. If you are moving the chair via the app, the second you change the wheel position by touching it with your hand/arm the remote assist will shutdown via the app. I don't know why anyone would drive their wheelchair without being in it, but that was the initial intended use. Best of luck!
As the weight is a big issue for me, do you have the option to buy the 3 spoke carbon fibre or any carbon fibre wheels?
Hey do you need specific brackets to mount the wheels on other chairs like a tilite aero x?
Yes you should contact Alber-USA and they will match you up with the right mounting kit.
Good evening, on average, in ECO mode, in a relatively flat city how many kms can you make? I do at most 10kms ... and it takes about 4 to 5 hours to load 100%. Starting the ride at 9 in the morning when it is 4 in the afternoon is discharged. As for me the autonomy should be 20 kms as they say in the mark "11 to 20 kms" but at most I do 10 in ECO mode ... and in a flat city.
The fact that the load only lasts for about 5 to 6 hours has the great disadvantage that in the middle of the day we have to be "stopped" for at least 4 hours and then return to the tour at 8 at night
Hi Daniel. Thank you for your comments. I have given up on the idea of accurately tracking the distance since I am stopping/going/turning so much during the day. I just assume that every two days i need to charge which isn't so bad when I sitting at a desk working.
Hi Daniel. Thank you for your comments. I have given up on the idea of accurately tracking the distance since I am stopping/going/turning so much during the day. I just assume that every two days i need to charge which isn't so bad when I sitting at a desk working.
Okay, thanks for listening.
Thanks for talking about this product, how do you go with getting these in an out the car? at 7.8 Kg's each is probably too heavy for me to lift as I have a very bad back, this wouldn't be an issue depending on the type of vehicle I am able to get, a Ute (truck) with a crane to lift the chair in and out the tray would make the issue a non issue I would think? The app would be worth it if only to know the battery charge level.
Just curious as to what rim covers you have on your rims. I can use them without but my hands slip alot. Great vid. :)
Thank you for watching. The pushrim covers I have on my wheels were purchased with my Alber emotion M-15 wheels directly from Alber. There is something similar that is sold on Amazon, but I am not sure how thick and robust the covers are compared to the ones I purchased from Alber.
www.amazon.com/New-Solutions-PRC559-Covers-Wheelchair44/dp/B01M0XHJ5O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522259480&sr=8-4&keywords=wheelchair+push+rim+cover
Best of luck!
Do the Twions have as much power as the M15s? My M15s turned all the way up barely get me up my driveway.
Hi, really helpfull review!! Are the wheels available in 25inch??
At the moment I believe it is only available in a 24 inch, but you may want to contact Alber to confirm. Thanks.
I like these!.. It would be pretty cool if they could somehow create an alternator to keep them charged on the go.. Haha.. But these seem nice because of the weight!.. I'm hoping my insurance can help with the smart drive.. But I'm kind of wondering if they are the right fit for me.
Thanks for your comments Alicia. Yes a self-charging wheel would be awesome. If you aren't under a time crunch I would see if you can demo both units. Both units are great improvements in the available power-assist technology, but It all comes down to what works best for you and you won't know until you try them out. Good luck!
Hey bro
I got the Twion power assist wheels but I couldn’t download the app in the Apple store in the USA?
Where did you download the app for the iPhone? Thank you 👊🏽 keep up the great vids!
Hi Genesis. Thank you for the kind words. As I understand it, the Alber Twion wheels are still in "detention" with the FDA because of the application and therefore they don't currently have it available for download in the Apple Store. I would reach out to Alber-USA for more information, but it should be available in the coming months once the hiccup is cleared with the FDA. Take care!
abilitease hi
How did he use the Twion wheel in this video and try practice with them for a couple weeks without the Alber 24 Twion wheels app?
I have an iPhone 7 Plus , but I can get an android if it works better in order to use the wheels ... I already received the wheels paid through my health insurance, so I’m stuck with wheels I cannot fully utilize ya know?.
Also, my wheels automatically turn off every couple minutes and I must reach down and press the start button every time to turn them back on...is there anyway to change the auto shutoff timer and extend the auto shit down timer on the wheels?... Lastly, do you have a # so I can speak with you and clarify questions I have, please.... Thank you
Hi Genesis. The app isn't necessary to use the twion wheels, but it does allow you some nice options and information. Also, I checked on the app and I don't believe there is a way to extend the shutoff timer. But I will ask Alber that question thanks.
@@GXP50 Try to use proxy servers in Europe to download app :)
Great video. Whats it like taking off on the grass?
Even with the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, which is thinner and meant more for asphalt and concrete, it does extremely well in the grass. I would just make sure you have at least 4 inch casters on the front to avoid getting stuck in any holes or muddy areas. I have five inch casters on my TiLite and I can go pretty fast through grassy areas. Thank you for watching!
how does this work in grass & when going up hills/ramps?
It works great on grass, hills and ramps. You will be surprised how well the assist works when taking you up a ramp. I suggest having at least 4 inch front casters when going through grass with the power assist wheels.
WAIT WAIT WAIT! So the guy with the twions pushed once and was able to stay in motion..am I missing something? I have these wheels and mine doesn't do this. It's either that the idiots who sold me these never explained which they didn't or it's the particular package I bought? In either case all this was never mentioned to me by them. I love my power assist wheels. But still, this IS news to me!! I 🙄🇮🇪
Hello. Yes the upgraded phone app and Twions do have a cruise control mode which is cool, but honestly I don't use it much because it's hard to turn and stop.
@@abilitease Are you here in The US?
@@irishmaninflorida1608 Yes I live in Southern California
Thanks for this video! Can you tell me, does the twion wheel have some resistance when powered off and pushing? You described the Smartdrive as having a tractor tire feel when off, is it the same for the Twion?
Garrett Kryt when the Twion wheels are turned off it is just like pushing regular manual wheels, except you have an additional 26 lbs (in total) that you are pushing around. The Smartdrive is always making contact with the ground so it's an extra 13lbs plus the wheel creating friction on the back. I hope that answers your question. Thank you and good luck!
hello,could you please adive me again. i'm still using twion by with out mobility plus package.i'm also c5/c6 level,but your arm power looks strong than me.
my probrem is very hard to drive assist on the carpet floor and going uphill.then i want to ask you for detail of option function on mobility package.is there any just option for torque power at beginnig of runinng? or do you feel any torgue change by sport mode at start running?
i don't have any idea for knows detail in japan. i would appreciate if you know any imformation for my question.thank you.
Hello. I usually keep my wheels on ECO, which I believe does give less motor assist than SPORT mode. You can also adjust the speed up to 10 km/h thrugh the app which will help on carpet and hills. However, that depends on the strength of push you give to engage it. I don't believe there is an additional torque option through the mobility plus package, but there is a new cruise control feature that will help with long distances. The cruise will not stay engaged on hills if the incline is too much, but it is a great feature nonetheless. I think upgrading to the mobility plus package would be worth it for you. Also, you may want to explore different coated pushrim options and/or gloves. Best of luck!
Hello,I'm so appreciate for your kindness.felt just sad for doesn't have ajust torque option.but i belive to have worth by plus option now. and thank you for suggest about gloves hand rims.
may i ask once again. .did you bought plus opition with together? or bought by additional? If you add after, did you felt any torque change on start of running by plus option? i already knows sesitivity will change better by checked users manual.and what's the reason of you using ECO mode? save battery? or SPORT mode is too fast for move at narrow space? realy thank you again for your concern!
Hi Ricky. Of course this is something we'd have to try out to see for ourselves, but would you recommend an assist system for a kid starting school? (in favor of an electric chair) We have a manual chair and have the opportunity to get an electric for school but it's just a huge vehicle and I don't know if we feel safe sending our daughter out in it. Thanks for the demo
Hi Jess. There are a few questions I would answer first. Is your daughter comfortable being in a manual wheelchair while at school for an extended period of time vs. a power chair? Are there any added health and/or independence benefits for your daughter in a power chair vs. a manual wheelchair. Does your daughter have good hand function? How long has she been pushing a manual chair?
Choosing the appropriate assist system is unique to the user and I think the primary objectives are to make sure your daughter is safe & comfortable operating the desired system and that she is able to maintain or enhance her independence.
If she is able to push around comfortably in a manual chair then yes I think the Alber Twion wheels or even the new MX2+ SmartDrive unit would be great for her. Both systems are small and compact and would work well for a young person attending school. Best of luck. Mark
Thank you so much for your answer. We'll consider these things when choosing a solution. I hope we will stick with the manual, which she is comfortable with and if any problems arise, we'll take it from there. Thank you
Hello! What anti-decubitus cushion do you recommend for a full quad c5?
Thank you!
Juan Scarpa this is a personal choice, but I have always been a fan of the ROHO Air flotation cushions. It also depends on your level of function and whether you can do pressure releases, etc. I have used the ROHO nexus spirit for almost 10 years and recently switched to the Roho Hybrid Elite. It has a padded area in the front which helps with transfers and the air cells in the rear. I hope this helps. Best of luck.
Hello friend, I just had a hybrid rust and a while ago I began to mark a lot the skin in the area of the crease between the buttock and the leg reason why I had to start using a rotro quadtro with which it is impossible to transfer me ! :(
I am beginning to notice the same issue with my hybrid because I scoot forward out of my chair to catheterize and I feel the hard part of the cushion on my sit bones. I too have the same question about transferring with the Quatro. I will follow-up with you once I do some more investigating. Thanks.
the nexus is softer than the hybrid?
Yes much softer and great for hand positioning for transfers. The only issue is they don't offer as many size combinations. But I'm sure you could cut the foam if necessary.
Hi, i am c6 quad, i have emotion wheels for 1 Year they are great going up and down, specialy going down they are very safe for the user,
I thought the big difference for twion was going down they don't hold like the e-motion.Can you post a video going down.
The emotion has two major problems and have to be very aware when buying. the rims to push run very easily and unfortunately the guarantee don't cover and is very expensive repair, and the second are very heavy. looks like in your video that the push rims are a lot more solid.
Ty
Hi Jorge. The Twion wheels work very similar to the emotions where they have the downhill braking if you apply pressure to the pushrim. You gain momentum in the wheelchair when you go downhill and the act of applying pressure to the pushrim triggers the reverse drive, thus slowing the chair down. And regarding the e-motions, yes I agree it is expensive to replace the parts on the rim and they are heavy. The pushrim on the Twion wheel is a lot more sturdy. I will post a video when I have an opportunity. Thank you for your comments.
hello, i'm in the same condition you are in c-5/c-6 incomplete and i wanna know how u found the right wheelchair 4 u? i love the back on the wheelchair, and video. thank you
Hello. Honestly it took years of trying out different chairs and constantly adjusting the chair to find out what was the most comfortable. If you are recently injured (
Great review, my son has a neurological disorder and he just got the basic model. He loves it but is having trouble going up ramps of more than 1inch rise. Will upgrading to the mobility plus package help him push on ramps? My main concern is one of the ramps is on a doorway and I'm afraid he will hit the door sides with more power. Also do you think him he will be able to go on a ramp by driving the chair from the app? Thank you in advance!
Hello. So your son is able to engage the assist on flat surfaces, but has difficulty on a ramp with a small incline? Does he have trouble grabbing the pushrim? If so new pushrim covers might solve that issue.
The mobility plus package will provide you with more options for the wheels like increasing the speed and/or the new cruise mode. The motherboard on the Twion wheels I believe would have to be upgraded with firmware for the mobility plus package to work. I wasn't able to demo the cruise mode on inclines, but I believe it could handle a 1 inch rise. I don't recommend using the bluedrive feature to go up the ramp. It is very sensitive and could be dangerous. I hope this information helps. Take care!
He has weakness in his hands that causes him to have trouble grabbing and pushing the power assist. Can you recommend push rim covers that can help him? I called Alber's office and they said that to get the Mobility plus package we just have to pay for the app and no hardware upgrade is required.
Zainab Jaffar-Hijazi the Pushrim covers that are sold with the emotions are the best ones. They slide on over the Twion Pushrims and you can buy them directly from Alber. They are a very thick rubber, but work well with weaker hands or if you have difficulty gripping the wheel. Ive been using the same ones for 6 yrs now. I show them in the video. The reason I mentioned the firmware upgrade is because the cruise feature is new and unless you got the wheels within a few months it is very likely the wheels will need to be updated to reflect this feature. I think that feature may help your son with the short inclines. Thanks.
abilitease I'll look into the pushrim covers. He got the wheelchair end of last month so upgrading without changing the hardware shouldn't be an issue. Thank you for your advice, you have been a great help!
Do NOT use RibGrips. With in 6 to 7 months, they stretch out and you lose good contact with the push rim and then they power assist wheels don't work as well...at least with the NaviONE's.
How do your wheels attach to your chair? The axels that came with mine seem to be too short for the camber tube on my TR
Hi Hannah. When you purchase the Twion wheels you also need to purchase a mounting kit specific for your rigid wheelchair. This typically includes a brand new camber tube that can be cut down to the appropriate size once the brackets have been mounted. I hope that helps.
by any chance do you know any one selling the m-15 or twion wheels?
HI, it's good report. may i ask a question. is that black ring for wheel is sole item for active type? i'm thinking for change type from basic to active.
Yes I believe so because the box with the rings comes with the instructions and activation code for the phone app.
thank you.
Where Do you find the wheel code for the app? I bought a set of the wheels and I like them I just can’t get it to connect to the app.
Hi Dustin. The wheel code is on a card that comes with the mobility plus package. There's a box that comes with a pair of carbon fiber rim covers, an instruction manual and a card that you scratch to reveal the code. I hope that helps. Best of luck.
abilitease Well that sucks! The FDA band the app and I can’t get the card until it gets re-approved.
Hi, I'm C5 complete, and I was wondering m15's or Twion for me? I'm not a brilliant pusher so am looking for assists. Do the Twion wheels have any auto braking or anti roll back on hills? That worries me. Should I start with the M15's ?
Hi Anthony. If your wrist extension is strong and you can put pressure against the pushrim then the Twion wheels may work for you. They are a bit aggressive and jumpy so if there is any doubt I would probably go with the M15s. I don't believe they have anti-rollback. If this is your first set of power assist wheels I think the M15s are great to start with.
***** That's great advice, I do feel that the Twion look a bit too advanced and don't really suit my needs. Thank you for your time. Anthony.
Any comment or advice on the 'tailwind' chairs? Maybe another option for me.
You know I've never tried those wheels, but that looks like a great option. If you can demo these different products I would try them all since only you will know hat works for you. Those wheels seem to be heavy, but then aain so are the emotion M15s. Good luck!
You should have a look www.clintonrivermedical.com/
What did you not like about the smartdrive? Thinking about getting one
Hi Ricky. Please watch my other video where I demo the SmartDrive MX2. I went over in detail the things that didn't work well for me. It's a great unit though if you are able to use it effectively. Best of luck!
Do they push like the emotion? You still push but they assist?
Yes the push is somewhat similar, but the emotions can be adjusted to be much more sensitive. And one key difference is the Twions will give you power assist based on the strength of your push, however the emotions have a defined assist that you engage (e.g. 50%, 80%, etc.) where the sensitivity can be adjusted.
@@abilitease Yeah so the twions assist your push with the amount of strength you push with?
@@abilitease Twion doesn't just go on its own does it?
@@buffalo1d correct.
@@buffalo1d the twion app does have cruise control, which will go on it's own when engaged. However, the standard mode is simply assist based on the strength of the push.
dO YOU HAVE ERROR CODE 1 AND 3 LIGHT ? BECAUSE WE ARE 4 GUYS WHIT THIS ERROR CODE ITS NOT NORMAL !
In comparison to e-motion, I find Twion very jerky and difficult to stop.
Brett I definitely agree with this observation regarding the jerkiness and it took a while for me to get used to the difference in the assist compared to the e-motions. Regarding stopping, if you use the thick coated pushrim covers the stopping shouldn't be too hard if you can apply some pressure.
My uncle just got this and the app wont work..I tried the chair myself and cant the wheels to engage only when backwards or turning in circles not sure hot to get it going stay going forward ..can you give some advice
Hi Val. Did he purchase the mobility plus package? The only way to use the app with the wheels is to enter an activation code and then create a "wheelpair" in the app which communicates with the wheels.
Regarding activating the assist if you push forward on the pushrims the assist should propel you forward. Did you have the wheels professionally installed? The Twions require the installation of wheel brackets to enable the proper use of the power assist. If everything was installed correctly and it isn't working in the forward assist then I would contact the dealer. I hope that helps.
@@abilitease hi there thanks for responding he says he did but we have no book so we are awaiting a call..but we cant get the chair going by manual and stay going forward is there a trick? :)
If by "stay going forward" you mean cruise control mode this will only work when the app has been activated. The Twions do not provide continuous assist in manual mode. When propelling forward you need to give an even strength push on each wheel in order for the chair to go forward and stay as straight as possible. Thanks.
The one thing that makes me not want it is that they don't have rubber coated rims. Fitgrips etc all suck in comparison
The rubber ones I use from the e-motions work extremely well.
abilitease Mine are all torn up, they're awful if they get dinged and can't be fixed for free.
legitsrs Which pushrim covers? The ones from Alber? I beat the thick rubber ones up a lot and they have never riped or gotten punctured. Whatever the case that sucks.
I ment push rims break very easly of the emotion
Are you still really happy with these?
I do still like them Tony, but would be interested to try the e-motion M-25s to see how they compare. The push assist is wonderful, but it can teeter totter because each handrim assist is independent. Overall though the Twions are pretty awesome in terms of helping me independent.
@@abilitease Are you worried about the durability on them or did they improve the design on the M-25?
@@tonyrea570 No the Twions are very durable. I'm always interested in new technology and if improvements have been made. I'm sure you can't go wrong with either set of wheels.
how about wheeldrive power assist? any experience with this one?
th-cam.com/video/HqlrszKee2E/w-d-xo.html
iam not qp but sma so my upper body power is diminishing and iam looking for some power assist wheels with cruise mode or permanent assist not just on pushes.