Thank you for having us here to discuss Kwiggle. I am the inventor and owner of Kwiggle and would like to give you some insights:
We have been developing Kwiggle for 10 years and producing Kwiggle for almost 3 years.
Every detail has been carefully designed to create a 10kg lightweight folding bike that can even be folded into hand luggage and still go as fast as a normal bike. We have selected materials and manufacturing processes for the drive unit and rims with the highest wear resistance in the bicycle market. We use high-strength aluminum and stainless steel parts for the frame and have extensively tested the stability of the frame and drive unit dynamically and statically.
Our 35 suppliers for material, components and parts manufacture according to our requirements with highest precision, because precision is another important factor for stable and durable components of a folding bike.
In the meantime, our greatest motivation is the many enthusiastic feedbacks from our many customers, who at the moment still come mainly from Germany. We are already shipping the Kwiggle all over the world and Kwiggle already is ridden on every continent.
So we are happy if you take a close look. Please assume that we have already thought about almost every little critical detail that is discussed.
So if you are looking for a very compact folding bike, feel free to take a close look.
The movement on the Kwiggle is new, but very close to your natural walk. And when even a 85-year-old man writes to us, "I can only do two things: ride a rollator and ride a Kwiggle, but I enjoy the Kwiggle more." Then you can assume that you can ride the Kwiggle very well, too.
I'm very interested in your product, however it's a big leap of faith to buy it sight unseen! When I buy a bicycle I'd like to try it out and ride it around. Do you have any intention to sell it from bike shops or retail channels in the US?
I know you've collected some positive anecdotes but I don't see many reviews from third parties out there yet, so I really can't commit to it. Is this simply because the product is still new? Can you say how many are already out there on the roads?
I can completely understand your concerns. we sell directly to the customer. we do not calculate retailer margins in the price. We have delivered the first Kwiggle by the end of 2019. 95 % of our sales are currently still generated in Germany. we have started selling to US in december 2021. We have now sold Kwiggle all over the world and Kwiggle is now already riding on every continent. Our first customers have made more than 5.000 km and up to 8.000 km with their Kwiggle. You can't do such a complex product with a lot of high tec parts with a production of some. You have to set up big production lots.
There is a first test report from a journalist of SPIEGEL:
Good question: The trolley mode needs two features: Rolls and handle. The distance between both should be up to 1 meter. We couldn't use simultaneously the handlebar as handle and the wheels as rolls for the trolley.SO we decided to use the adjustable handlebar as handle and put extra rolls for more trolley comfort. Compactness means short measures all over and that requieres extra rolls.
I'm basically sold on your product but I have a question I wouldn't ask even a month ago, though now it feels relevant. Where do you (and your suppliers) source your raw materials from?
We have 35 manufacturer with different material sources. More than 80 % of our suppliers are based in Germany. 10% of the parts are made in Italy, then we have MKS (pedals) and Shimano (gearshifter) from Japan, some parts come from Taiwan and some from China.
Note that Kwiggle is the only folding bike with handluggage size. That is very important, because handluggage fits everywhere. So does the Kwiggle: Under the seats in trains, in backbox of sailing boats, in the airplane,...
On a scooter you stand still. On the Kwiggle, you move in natural upright position. We think upright movement is better than standing still. I am the owner of Kwiggle.
For your information: I am the owner of Kwiggle. The sprockets on the Kwiggle have 7, 8 and 10 teeth and are naturally more stressed than larger sprockets. That's why we use sprocket material that is significantly more wear resistant than anything on the bike market, including Shimano and Campagnolo. The chain is Connex 8Sx, the best you can get. Our first customers are already almost 8,000 km on the road with first set of chain and sprockets.
We have been developing Kwiggle for 10 years and producing Kwiggle for almost 3 years.
Every detail has been carefully designed to create a 10kg lightweight folding bike that can even be folded into hand luggage and still go as fast as a normal bike. We have selected materials and manufacturing processes for the drive unit and rims with the highest wear resistance in the bicycle market. We use high-strength aluminum and stainless steel parts for the frame and have extensively tested the stability of the frame and drive unit dynamically and statically.
Our 35 suppliers for material, components and parts manufacture according to our requirements with highest precision, because precision is another important factor for stable and durable components of a folding bike.
In the meantime, our greatest motivation is the many enthusiastic feedbacks from our many customers, who at the moment still come mainly from Germany. We are already shipping the Kwiggle all over the world and Kwiggle already is ridden on every continent.
So we are happy if you take a close look. Please assume that we have already thought about almost every little critical detail that is discussed.
So if you are looking for a very compact folding bike, feel free to take a close look.
The movement on the Kwiggle is new, but very close to your natural walk. And when even a 85-year-old man writes to us, "I can only do two things: ride a rollator and ride a Kwiggle, but I enjoy the Kwiggle more." Then you can assume that you can ride the Kwiggle very well, too.