Advice about buying a giraffe

General
1

I need some advice on on buying a 5’ giraffe.

After 2 months of fooling around with a 20" Torker, I am taken with the notion of riding a taller beast. However, I noticed that most giraffes are more expensive than the loose change I can find between the cushions of my couch.

As an impecunious grad student, I really don’t want to pay US$400 to $500 for something which is going to be my next big “toy”. Not that toys are bad, but I can’t justify spending that much money on something which is just a good study break.

After a search on the internet, I have found three giraffes within my budget:

-------Option 1-------------
Agee’s Bikes offers a Action 20" with 5’ Chain Drive Unicycle @ $149.99 + $19.00 Shipping to continental US

picture: http://www.ageebike.com/unicycle.htm

No information is given about the uni, but it looks to be cheap construction, judging from the picture.

--------Option 2------------
BRAUN Giraffe 5-foot Unicycle costing US$152.39

Description:
“This 5 Foot high Giraffe unicycle is a blast to ride. Its direct chain drive cranks give you a good feel and control – But don’t forget your step-ladder. Equipped with a 20 inch wheel and a chrome-plated Hi-Tensile Steel frame with a good quality padded seat. The Braun Giraffe is HIGH on value (and we mean High) and long on fun.”

Picture: http://www.brauns.com/gc/gc_item.exe?F=D&K=UNIGIRRAFFE&V=Brief&R=H%2FCatalog %3ABike%20Stuff%3AUnicycles%3ATall&ID=1226135731208171519575

-----Option 3-----------
Savage 5-foot Chain-Driven Unicycle - Standard Model
Price: $149.00

http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1&subcat=8&cat=Giraffes+( TALL%29

Of the three giraffes which I found, I am inclined to buy the Savage Giraffe, but several of the reviews at unicycle.com say that the normal Savage 20" is not very sturdy. Past posts on this new group have also not been very flattering when describing Savage giraffes. Is the Savage 5’ giraffe made of better construction than the Savage 20"?

Has anyone out there ever used a Braun unicycle? Are they any good? Are they sturdy?

Does anyone know of some other unicycle options in the cheap range (available in the US or Canada)? I looked on ebay and didn’t find anything.

Any advice would be very helpful. Thank you very much.
–Amos

2

The standard Savage giraffe for $149 has the evil Savage saddle.
<http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=88>
Spend $10 or $20 more for an upgraded saddle and you’ve got a fine giraffe unicycle. Get it with the Savage saddle and you’ve got an instrument of torture.

I haven’t ridden or looked closely at a Savage giraffe so I can’t comment on its construction or durability.

3

I have seen Savage giraffes and they look OK from a construction standpoint. Someone recently complained that they bought a used one from e-bay that had a bent frame. The only thing unacceptable about Savage is their saddle which is trash and must be dowsed with gasoline and burned immediately.

I have not seen the other two makes and know nothing about them. The Agee Cycle pictured looks sturdy but heavy and is made from large diameter steel tubing. That’s OK, giraffes are usually heavy rascals anyway.

I would add some complication to your search. Get a six foot giraffe. The five foot will not seem that tall for that long and a six foot giraffe is not much more expensive than the five foot. They are more difficult to freemount but, hey, what do you expect.

4

I was that guy who bought a 6 foot Savage giraffe on ebay. But the one I bought was new, not used. It came “pre-bent”, or actually the top half of the frame (the part between the pedals and the seat post) was welded not-so-perfectly straight up and down. So the seat was only a 1/2 inch off center to the side but that made it want to continually turn to the left. Then after I over fixed it, to the right, but not as much.

I would recommed finding a local dealer. You can find a list for your state on Unicycle.com. That way if you have a problem with the thing not being perfect you can exchange. Just a suggestion. It might cost a couple dozen dollars more for the same item, but it may be worth it. I don’t know if my problem was a one-in-a-million (I doubt they made that many though) fluke or el-cheap-o quality control at the savage factory.

As far as the savage seat goes, I don’t know the diffence so to me it’s fine. But in 3 days the new Kris Holm seat for my Torker will be here. I expect that a day or two after I will know the diffence and the savage seat will be: “dowsed with gasoline and burned immediately.” :slight_smile: I’ll take pics and share them here. :smiley:

5

Talking to Brauns two days ago they are out of stock on the giraffes. They can order them but if you want something now, you’ll have to wait.:frowning:

6

I’m “impecuneous” too. So I bought a Savage 20". Havent got it yet… BUT I CANT WAIT!!!:smiley:

7

I bought the Savage 5’. Having a blast.

UPGRADE THE SEAT!!! “Torture” is accurate.

I went with the Savage seat because I figured I’d tear it up learning. Not the case. I canabalized a Miyata seat from a different Uni…muuuuuuch nicer.

8

I have a 5’ giraffe from unicycle.com. It is also a savage. I enjoy it. The only problem I had was that the weld on the bottom sproket came unwelded. Well easy fix I just had a friend weld it with a Mig welder. WIRE FEED that is. And off again I was on the UNI.

:sunglasses: