Magic Mobility V6 Seat

[benjamin]

Hi All,
With winter coming up looking at getting a V6 Magic Mobility. I demoed one at the Abilities Expo years ago so really didn’t have an opportunity to test it on urban/suburban terrain.

That said, how is the seat comfort? The automotive seat looks comfortable enough with a Roho. I’m primarily looking for a chair to use during winter weather so I am not snowed in for days on end. Not much into outdoors but would maybe take a couple trips to state parks, Acadia or maybe the beach with my nephew.

I think Tim also has an F5 and as always greatly value your opinion.

[scottnj@gmail.com]

The V6 is a big chair. It has long arms for the casters and is wider than most chairs.

Magic also has the "360", it's a little more compact than the V6 in both length and width, so probably better indoors, in vans, and urban/suburban terrain.

The bigger footprint of the V6 would probably be more stable on tougher outdoor terrain.

I don't know if you use a EZ-Lock in your vehicles, if so, both chairs have an option for a retractable EZ-Lock pin. If you plan on going to state parks, a standard fixed pin will get hung up on rocks, roots, etc.

Mid wheel drive chairs usually have a rough ride, but the low pressure air filled tires help a lot. The air filled tires will also help with traction outdoors.

Most people in this forum will recommend rear wheel drive chairs for comfort and outdoor performance. I actually like the mid wheel drive chairs, they work better for my needs. I have a 360 on order, currently waiting for insurance approval.

[benjamin]

Awesome this is great information, Scott. I asked my therapist at the seating clinic for a referral to a supplier but may buy one second hand.

Understood on the “big chair” and frame size but I am pretty adept at maneuvering my F5 indoors and also have a M3 which I use as my airline travel chair. Does anyone have experience with a Magic Mobility demo? I’ve called a couple of the local DMEs that are Sunrise/Quickie dealers and they basically say we do very few Magic Mobility chairs, (incorrectly) assert they are only for private pay and one even told me I should checkout the new Quantum offering

Don’t have a wheelchair van currently but unfortunately believe I will be needing one in the future but I can still transfer to my Tesla Model Y for the time being. I really wish Elon, Toyota, GM or someone would find a WAV capable battery electric solution. I know Ford has a small eTransit that can be fitted with a lift but it has terrible range. VW also has a new van EV.

I have had F5, M3, M300 and Invacare M91 since 2012, and personally prefer FWD. I have never had a RWD chair outside the demo Quickie P222SE (tops out at 8.5 MPH) which I wouldn’t mind acquiring as a travel chair as they disassemble especially one with tilt.

[scottnj@gmail.com]

The 360 was approved for sale in the USA just under a year ago, so it might be hard to find a 2nd hand one. It's been around for a few years everywhere else in the world, so you might get lucky. If you go through a DME, look at both the USA and Australian Sunrise & Magic Mobility websites. Read all the manuals, order forms, and options/accessories on the websites. You will have to educate them on what is available. You will have to tell them what you need/want.

The V6 and 360 are both Group 3 chairs, as long as you qualify for a rehab powerchair, insurance should cover it. The DME probably has bigger profit margins with Quantum.

I did a demo & ordered the Magic 360 through NuMotion. They are slow & you have to stay on top of them. There was a period where I thought they had everything they needed and were waiting on insurance approval. They were still waiting on paperwork from the doctor and never followed up with the clinic or me!!! If you use NuMotion, call your local office at least once a week to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to to keep the SLOW process moving along!!!

I miss having a small local DME near me, but they were bought out by NuMotion. Luckily, the technician who has been maintaining my chairs stayed with the office, he has been excellent. They recently hired an additional tech for my area and he seems to be good so far. I have also heard horror stories from people regarding Numotion and Nation Seating. I think it all comes down to who is doing the actual work on the chairs. If you find a good tech, stick with them.

[Burgerman]

The 360 was approved for sale in the USA

What does this mean?

[scottnj@gmail.com]

The 360 was approved for sale in the USA

What does this mean?

The Magic Mobility Magic 360 has been available in AUS and Europe for a few years now. It took them a while to work through the bureaucracy and get FDA approvals in the USA. I think it was November 2023 when they announced the Magic 360 was available in the USA.

[Burgerman]

Does a thing NEED fda aproval to be sold?

What if the sales media mentions powered seat or transport device like a segwayy does and doesent sell as a disability aid? As many scooters are for e.g?

[scottnj@gmail.com]

Does a thing NEED fda aproval to be sold?

What if the sales media mentions powered seat or transport device like a segwayy does and doesent sell as a disability aid? As many scooters are for e.g?

For insurance to cover it, yes. I didn't ask them about paying for it out of pocket. I don't know if they would jeopardize their FDA approval if they tried to sell it to the public while going through the process. Maybe Sunrise just didn't think there was a big enough market for it without insurances covering it, so they didn't offer it, train their staff, stock inventory of parts, etc.

[Burgerman]

In the rest of the planet non of this is an issue. Why on earth would a wheelchair need FDA aproval? Its not a drug.
The system in the USA is rediculous. It severely limits your options and choices on purpose and treats you like fools/children while allowing all the over regulation and big business to destroy the free market while raking $ it in. This is called corporatism. Crony capitalism hiding behind regulation. Anything that reduces competition and free capitaist markets is reported to our monopolies commision (which has a new nameI forget) by buyers or smaller companies that cannot compete fairly because of it. And its changed, sold off, broken up etc.

For e.g Googles monopoly, amazon, microsoft etc would all be split up into competitive businesses.

As it stands in the USA you get to pay over-inflated $phone numbers for chairs, all funded by insurance (which is you as the public) to keep the corporates rich... And to reduce user choice.

An example.
My Dietz Rear Drive chair. Smaller company.
Too hard for them to sort $$ FDA aproval. And too slow. So I and most countries can get one, (and I did) but you cant. Thats a great win for the big corporates like sunrise that have lots of money and lawyers. They get FDA "APPROVAL" easily as they have the money and legal teams. It protects their sales. Dont have to compete with better products and lower prices. Such as the many rear drive options we have in the world that you never see. Its not good for you as it reduced competition so you get charged phone numbers for chairs or especially extras (even batteries!) as they can get away with it. And you get less choice too.

[White Lightnin']

I've had a V6 for what will be five years in August. The chair will get stuck in snow higher than the bottom of the frame. The back can be uncomfortable when sitting for long periods. I wore out the cover and the foam over the steel used to construct the seat. When coverage ends I can bend the seat back where it belongs and make a leather seat cover. Medicare won't support my getting a new back or getting new batteries. I don't know for sure, but the X8 may be a better bet for snow.

[Burgerman]

I've had a V6 for what will be five years in August.

Years dont tell us much really as for e.g I have a bunch of chairs. Some are brand new, barely ever used. And a decade old. Some are used and trashed and need a rebuild - at least when I had a dog, and salty roads, mud etc - every year.

It all depends how hard you use them how well you look after them, how much water or road gunk/salt they see.

Then theres those that live indoors, barely go out, never saw a cold or wet road. Compared to those that do 15 miles outdoors, summer or winter, off road, sand, etc that dont look after or even clean them! And use the same chair every day, 16+ hours a day.

Not that this is relevant! Just sayin...

The chair will get stuck in snow higher than the bottom of the frame. The back can be uncomfortable when sitting for long periods. I wore out the cover and the foam over the steel used to construct the seat.

Most of use are rehab chair users. So need specific cushions or backs. The ones that come with a chair normally go in the pile of unwanted useless garbage in the garage. Cuchions or seat backs, get replaced as they wear or as your needs change. So not really sure what this means.

When coverage ends I can bend the seat back where it belongs and make a leather seat cover. Medicare won't support my getting a new back or getting new batteries.

Not sure still what this means. But if knackered get something more appropriet for your needs.

I don't know for sure, but the X8 may be a better bet for snow.

In straight lines outdoors maybe. But they have weird steering systems. And it makes them flop from one extreme left/right to the other when they see an obstacle. The tank steer algo that makes a normal chair steer wasnt ever intended to steer a set of front wheels in the way it does. And it tries to send the same tank steer algo to the rear wheels which cant turn in place (no casters) and so it stalls out the rear motors too as you turn. All a bit odd. And they are cars, with no ability to turn in place or as you manoever around and so dont work indoors. Totally different machines. Closer to a scooter with odd steering system han a wheelchair.

[emilevirus]

I don't know for sure, but the X8 may be a better bet for snow.
In straight lines outdoors maybe. But they have weird steering systems. And it makes them flop from one extreme left/right to the other when they see an obstacle. The tank steer algo that makes a normal chair steer wasnt ever intended to steer a set of front wheels in the way it does. And it tries to send the same tank steer algo to the rear wheels which cant turn in place (no casters) and so it stalls out the rear motors too as you turn. All a bit odd. And they are cars, with no ability to turn in place or as you manoever around and so dont work indoors. Totally different machines. Closer to a scooter with odd steering system han a wheelchair.

Yep, can confirm steering is very weird. Also in snow it pulls over 100A constantly so don't expect a lead acid to last long. Lithium is a must have here. Great for use outdoors. Unusable indoors.
I used mine in 10cm snow today. It goes through just fine but as BM said, Front wheels just flop around in the snow unless you lock the steering.