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KettWiesel
"I don't want to get off!" said the twelve-year-old test-rider, refusing to budge from the seat of the KettWiesel. It's not hard to understand why. Riding the KettWiesel is sensational fun: with the seat low between the two 20" (406) rear wheels, you have tremendous stability for tight corners. The front wheel turns through a wide angle - so wide, that you can almost turn on the spot. V-brakes act so power fully on each rear wheel that it's easy to get carried away: combine excessive braking and too much fun in the corners and you'll easily end up with worn-out tyres. Light weight means good acceleration: the KettWiesel weighs just 16kg.

Seven derailleur gears drive just the right-hand wheel: a differential would have added considerably to both weight and cost. The single-wheel drive works fine except in extreme cases: steep climbs on loose surfaces, or fast right-hand bends, when the weight is transferred over to the undriven wheel.

The KettWiesel is more than just fun - it's also a very practical vehicle. A large (30 litre) bag is available to fit behind the seat. The chain is protected by a teflon tube, and mudguards and lights complete the package. The frame fits anyone from around 1.50m to 2.00m tall. It's just as much fun for those with balance problems or various disabilities - a wide range of special adaptations are available for the KettWiesel, as for the rest of Marec Hase's range. There's even an adaptor which lets you couple two KettWiesels together to form a tandem.

A more compact way to carry two is the Pino, the successor to the Periscop featured in Encycleopedia 96. The rear rider steers, and the recumbent front seat is versatile enough to accommodate anyone from children to full-sized adults, able or unable to pedal. With heads close together, communication is easy.


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