Ultra Light Carbon Fiber Wheelchair | Apex C Motion Composites
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- čas přidán 18. 09. 2021
- Ultra Light Carbon Fiber Wheelchair | Apex C Motion Composites #wheelchair #paraplegic #spinalcord
Here it is! My new wheelchair. Hope you enjoy the video.
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Visit Motion Composites:
www.motioncomposites.com/en_ca
ABOUT THE APEX C - Carbon rigid wheelchair
LIVE BOLDLY WITHOUT LIMITS
The APEX Carbon wheelchair by Motion Composites belongs to a new era of rigid wheelchairs. A balanced blend of technology and design, it is the ultimate in lightness, durability, flexibility and style. An high-end technology and all the advantages of carbon fiber in a modern-looking, fully adjustable chair.
Made of the industry’s most advanced materials, the APEX Carbon wheelchair is truly state-of-the-art. The use of carbon fiber makes it incredibly light, while the cantilever frame provides optimal comfort by absorbing shocks and vibrations. A transport weight of 9.8 lbs ensuring agile transportation and movement for well-being at all times.
The rigidizing bar unique to the APEX model maximizes stability while preserving reactivity. This sturdiness reduces lateral movement and offers optimal propulsion for greater mobility.
While technology and function are important, so are design and aesthetics. Each detail of the APEX Carbon chair was carefully considered and thoughtfully designed to create a head-turning chair that challenges all wheelchair stereotypes.
Carbon fiber has the unique quality of being one of the strongest, yet lightest materials on earth. It also has superior fatigue resistance and can withstand extreme temperatures. This ensures exceptional durability for a chair that will serve you for many years to come.
APEX Carbon wheelchair offers a number of settings for a completely customized experience. Fully modular, the back angle, seat-to-floor height and rear wheel positions can all be adjusted for your comfort. Laser-etched markings make it easier to adjust key components and specify exact positioning.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
STRUCTURE
Frame - Rigid
Material - T700 High-tensile strength carbon fiber
Transport Weight - 9.7 lb. | 4.4 kg (16 x 16 without rear wheels, wheel locks, armrests, cushion and anti-tippers). Lightest configuration: 17.2 lb. | 7.8 kg without wheel locks and wheels.
Weight Limit - 265 lb. | 120 kg
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about me :)
Twenty two years ago I suffered a spinal cord injury on a cold dark November night. It was diagnosed I had a T-12 incomplete compressional fracture. Since day one of my accident I have had and continue to have an enormous amount of support from my family, friends and community. Once becoming completely independent, bound to a wheelchair I always enjoyed giving back. Whether it was visiting schools, community organizations public speaking, demonstrating sports, visiting newly injured spinal cord patients, helping with non-profit organizations helping people is what I love to do. That is why I decided to start ParaLife TV. In today's world as we all know public gatherings, in my neck of the woods anyway have been basically shut down. ParaLife TV is a way for me to continue to help. Through CZcams I am able show people day to day experiences, how I have adapted to life in a wheelchair and share what our community has to offer.
What is paraplegia? Paralysis of the lower half of your body, including both legs, is called paraplegia. Paralysis of the arms and legs is quadriplegia. Most paralysis is due to strokes or injuries such as spinal cord injury or a broken neck.
Can paralyzed people walk again? Many factors play a role in regaining the ability to walk after a spinal cord injury. Fortunately, it is possible for many SCI survivors. There is potential to walk again after SCI because the spinal cord has the ability to reorganize itself and make adaptive changes called neuroplasticity
What is Incomplete paraplegia? Incomplete paraplegia is an outcome of spinal cord injury that describes paralysis, and potentially loss of sensation, of the lower body. Because undamaged neural pathways exist when the injury is incomplete, it may be possible for individuals to recover weakened functions through intensive rehabilitation
What is Complete paralysis mean? Complete paralysis is when you can't move or control your paralyzed muscles at all. You also may not be able to feel anything in those muscles. Partial or incomplete paralysis is when you still have some feeling in, and possibly control over, your paralyzed muscles. This is sometimes called paresis.
Can't wait for mine to come in
You ordered an Apex? Which model?
I salute you😊
Thanks for sharing your experience with your apex wheelchair by motion composites. Waiting for approval to get a veloce wheelchair by the same company. The veloce is light and can be folded. Looking forward to it
Hi there. I think you will be happy with the chair. Keep me posted! Cheers!
had to do chores but im still here
No worries! Me too .. and chores lol
Absolutely fantastic video and review. I’ve been a power wheelchair user for many years, and now going to get my first manual wheelchair.
I’m going with the motion composites chair.
I’m just waiting on delivery should have it fingers crossed by the end of January.
I also really happy to support a Canadian company to.
Having the option of carbon fiber chair was one of those deciding factors.
Awesome! Keep me posted when you get your and let me know how you like it. I'm loving mine. I jumped in my old chair the other day and it felt like I was pushing a tank!
@@paralifetv-youreverydaywhe8314 l will definitely let you know. I was talking to my salesman today the chair came in yesterday woohoo but no backrest.
He’s going to phone to see what’s up with the backrest. He said that everything is so far behind right now. We may end up going with a different back rest if it’s going to be a long time, sure hope not.
@@keyup2626 what are your thoughts now that you have had yours a while?
Wanted to stop by and see when you first started using this chair. I didn't realize the wheels released like that.
Hello Big Guinea Pig Love! Yes, the wheels have a quick release axel. Very easy to take a part. Thanks for watching!
Nice wheel chair Shane Light weight and wheels come off easily if you need to get it in tight spaces. Suggest you add the name of chair and manufacturer in title and also in description and tags. It will get you more views.
Great advise Thanks Dee!
I’ve had two TiLite wheelchairs, a TRA and a ZRA. I still use my TiLite TRA as my backup wheelchair or for when I need a lighter wheelchair. My current primary daily use wheelchair is a WCMX Box Wheelchair (WCMX = Wheelchair Motocross). It’s the same wheelchair that Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham uses to go down the big jump with Nitrous Circus and at the skate parks. It has full suspension, two Fox Shocks on the camber tube and recoil forks on the front casters. Due to the durability (extra reinforcement) built into it it’s several pounds heavier than my TiLite. However, I drive a ramp minivan, so I’m not having to lift it in and out of the car. My WCMX Box Wheelchair rides so much better than my TiLite it’s like night and day difference. Plus, where I live I’m always having to jump onto or off curbs, go up and down steps, go over gravel or dirt trails, so I needed something that can take the abuse. I’m also quite a bit bigger than you as my seat is 20” wide and I’m over 250 lbs. Both my shoulders have issues (I can’t stand the thought of using a power wheelchair) but I am able to use a SmartDrive with the Switchcontrol on either wheelchair. My current wheelchairs have 24” rear wheels, but I’m going for some larger rear wheels on my next wheelchair to make it a little easier going up the curbs.
Hey Dan, Thanks for sharing. My very very first wheelchair I got 23 years ago had front suspension frog legs and rear suspension. It was called Top End Terminator. I believe it was the first edition. I then had a Quickie Ti, Top End Crossfire, TiLite and now the Apex. So far it's a toss up between he TiLite and Apex. I'll do a comparison video someday comparing my TiLite and Apex. Thanks for the idea! Cheers
I got my first chair 22 years ago. It was an Invacare Action A4. It was as good a chair as anything I’ve had. Next was also a Quickie Ti. Then was a Per4max with the fox shock. I really liked that chair at the time. I then got my first cantilever with an aluminum Ti sport called a TRZ I think. It is still my backup. My favorite is now over 12 years old and I can’t get out of it. It’s a custom reinforced Per4max rigid full frame with built in attachments for a shooting table and other features that meet the rules for Paralympic shooting. It’s 42 pounds as it rolls. I use to load it in and out of an Escalade and then a Rover. That would b impossible for me now. I can’t even transfer into an SUV anymore. Luckily I have a ramp in a Dodge Megacab and drive from the chair. Live that it’s heavy and doesn’t move around while transferring. Wanting something easy to transfer into a classic collector car I got the Apex. I absolutely hate it!!! I hate lightweight and I hate cantilever designs. It will b easy to load in the car and not scratch it up, which was the plan. It’s always trying to move out from under me when transferring. It is the ONLY chair that ever flipped on me going forwards!!! It is borderline dangerous. It happened by putting a hand on the frame above the front leg in front of the cushion and pushing off to transfer. I’ve always done this with EVERY chair and never had an issue. Just sliding forward on the cushion preparing to trans fee makes the chair unstable. Did I mention I hate it!!! Was hoping my next chair was going to be another full frame Per4max with improvements over the table mounting options for shooting. Unfortunately the Per4max owner told me last week he wouldn’t make another one bc welding the table and mounting was too difficult to get lined up. They had recently built me a replacement table and had trouble I guess. They are also backed up about 6 months building their normal stuff. They don’t ever seem to interested in growing the business and prefer to build enough to keep things going and dominate the rugby and basketball chair scene. They were all UTA basketball players at one time and seem to concentrate on building chairs for whole teams at a time. Still gonna try to change their mind and get a new everyday/parashooting chair. In the meantime I will keep rolling my 42 pound Per4max beast and grab the Apex for a Sunday drive in the “Bandit TransAm”!
Hey Corey. It's Leon from the 'Gornish! How ya doing buddy? Congrats on the channel! I gave you a like and subscribe. I got mine 4 years ago. I too, like the Apex C, but I don't like how the front casters are the same width as the rear wheels with 2 degree camber. (In my old age, high speed turns almost never happen anymore, and narrow wheelchairs can get into tighter spaces where sometimes inches become critical.) My 9 year old Tilite which I use exclusively at home has them inset and I keep banging into things with Apex because I'm not still not used to having the front of my chair that wide--even after 4 years. My transfers are more difficult because I can't get as close and the chair doesn't fit well into the back seat of my car--because of those damn wide casters. My whole issue with the chair resides almost entirely with the heavy, overly beefy, and over-engineered front caster arms. I don't want or need a bubble level in caster arms. Also, they didn't have an option for a single sided caster fork on their order sheet, but it turned out that they had some on a shelf but decided to never offer it as an option. (Sometimes it pays to ask.) Anyway, the section of the fork arm that the bolt goes through is perpendicular to the ground so you can more accurately align the front caster using a square. There's several wheelchairs sold in Europe that are extremely lightweight and look very nice (Aria and Kuschall come to mind) that I wish we could get our hands on. Anyway, good luck! 👍✌
Hey hey Leon! It's been a while, eh? Great review of the chair from your perspective. I've had mine now for 3 years. I still like it. I agree though the front casters are a bit bulky but my chair seat is 15" wide. So it's pretty narrow in the front. my issue is the color decals won't stay on.. that's about it lol.. I would love to get one of those chairs from overseas. I tried to get my hands on a few but no distributor here in NB or Maritimes can get them in.. it's too bad because they are very light and stylish! Thanks bud for the sub! Corey is my younger brother, I'm Shane the better looking one :) :)
@@paralifetv-youreverydaywhe8314 Sorry for the name mix-up. ...I blame my shitty memory on old age. 😁
@@leonrichard7105 LOL no worries!! I'm in the same boat!
I actually just started looking at wheelchairs in the fredericton area. This would be my 1st wheelchair, so it is kind of overwhelming. 😅 I have hEDS and my joints just decide to bend/move ways that they are not supposed to, and just anything from my waisted down is constantly in pain. we are trying to be extremely cautious about the weight of the chair I end up in, because it affects all joints, and the goal is for me to be able to self propelled as long as possible, until my arms become too unstable for it to be an option. We were looking at the helio A7/C2 today, because that is what any vendor in Freddy seems to have in my size to try, but today they did suggest looking at the Apex as well, so this video was a great help :)
HI Marie the Dice Dragon! I'm happy you found the video helpful. If you have any questions regarding the Apex C feel free to to ask! I've had the chair now for over a year and I will be doing a "Follow up Review" video soon. Stay tuned!
An Update - I ended up going with a different vendor than planned, because my OT & I just never heard back from the 1st vendor that has a preferential agreement with my insurance, and then the consultant at the other company we tried to work at literally moved the week after I wrote that comment😅
I finally received insurance approval today. We decided to go with the Helio C2 because I won't be using it all the time and it just made more sense to be able to put it out of the way more when not in use. The only good thing that came from the delays caused by that vendor going MIA, was that Motion Composites released pastel colours a couple of weeks ago, and while the fuchsia is nice, the pastel pink frame with teal push rims matches my current stile way more 🤩 Had things not taken 4 months & going to all 3 vendors in the Fredericton area just to get an actual trial, I would have still liked the fuchsia, and probably never even known they had released pastels lol
Com-Pause-It but said together.
Great video! You provided a very detailed review and shared honest feedback. I'm in the market to buying a new wheelchair since I'm about to purchase a vehicle and my Tilite wheelchair is extremely heavy. It's 35lbs because I have desktop armrests (3-4lbs each) and full length push handles. Even without those items it would be heavy and cumbersome. I was looking at the Apex C specifically because I remember using it in the inpatient rehab and loving how light it was and quick I felt. Plus, I agree that it looks sharp. One thing I wish you would have included in the video was the cost of the wheelchair with all the accessories such as the spinergy wheels.
I'm looking forward to viewing your other videos and watching you ride around town in your new Apex C.
Welcome! I appreciate you joining my journey. I am still very happy with the Apex C. It is literally one of the most maintenance free chair I've used. Plus being so light the most versatile chair I've had. Easy to transport fully assembled when travelling and easy to disassemble if needed. I told myself that I would use my TiLite for outdoor, winter time use and just use my Apex for indoor home use only for the winter months. Didn't happen lol. I used the Apex 90% of the time. It's just so comfortable and easy to get around in. The cost - the full package, wheels and all was $4,800 Canadian. Which I found very reasonable considering the last chair I bought 6-7 years ago (TiLite) cost $5,500CAD. If you have anymore question let me know!
@@paralifetv-youreverydaywhe8314 Thank you for super fast response and the follow up review! $4,800 isn't bad at all. I'll look into purchasing one myself.
@@Jus2nice It's definitely good to get a few quotes from other medical suppliers. I had one quote come in from a provider for an Apex C that was $6,100!
Did you order directly yourself or with a therapist? It's always interesting looking at someone else's setup. The length of the chair looks a little short for your height, my hangers are out in front of my shins, but then again I can't use my legs at all.
Current chair Ti Lite ZR, previous chair Quickie Ti, loved my Quickie
Keep the content coming 👍
With the rep and based off my measurements from my previous chair which was a TiLite ZRA. Only exception is my TiLite seat width is 16"x16". I found the 16" to wide so I went 15" wide x 16" on the Apex. I also had a Quickie Ti. It was super light. Lighter than the Apex but the front casters on the Quickie at that time I was told I could only get 4"x1" casters. They fetch up on every little crack, carpet, pebble! lol I asked a few years ago if they could update the caster units on the Quickie to allow 4"x1.5" casters but was told they couldn't. Thanks for watching!
Go Canada
2 types of Apex are both rigid, Apex a(aluminum) Apex c(carbon fiber) the veloce is their folding frame version
Good call! I don't think I mention the Veloce. I will mention all three during my one year review with the Apex C! Thanks
This was incredibly helpful as I’m looking into this chair for my first chair! Do you think this would be a good first chair? I need a very light chair due to weakness
I very happy this video helped you! I've been using the for 8 month now and still no issues. I do love how light it is and still feels like a rugged chair, sturdy & solid. If you are interested in this chair check with your OT or area Motion Composite rep in getting one for you to try. Getting the chair properly set up for you is key! Let me know how you make out. Thanks for watching
The axle plate seems like a smooth bar without any friction design to hold the camber tube mounting, wonder how strong is the clamp to prevent the camber mounting to slide up and down?
Good observation. I've had the chair about 14-15 months now and have had no issues at all. I've put this chair through the test. Trust me :). I'm a heavy user and so far it's held up very well. Soon I will be posting a year review on the chair stay tuned!
@@paralifetv-youreverydaywhe8314 Look forward to your review.
Great review! I walk with crutches but am looking for my first wheelchair. Re carbon fiber vs. titanium, I think the latter absorbed vibrations better. Have you noticed that, and how important is it?
Hello! Thanks for watching. I have had both .. my last two chairs were titanium and the Apex is my first carbon fiber. I'm very impressed with the Apex. It absorbs vibration well. I certainly put it to the test a few weeks ago. I went to Old Quebec City. .. all coble stone, steps, high curbs. I put a lot of mileage wheeling around, curb hoping/jumping for three days, No issues with the Apex and I found little to no vibration. Hope this helps!
You ever hear of that off-road bike by Bowheadcorp called the reach? I think they’re out of Calgary
Hi Cody, No I have not! I'm going to Google it right now! Thanks!
dumb question, but can you change the green inserts to different colors on the fly?
You can change the color yes but not on the fly. They are stuck there with a very strong adhesive. When my green becomes worn and beat up I'll be changing to either red or orange. You can buy the color kits from the company for like only $45 -$50.
what are you referring to when you say quick releases. I understand with the wheels. but what about the backrest? Also we have 32 inch doorways (28 inch opening)
does the apex fit in small spaces?
Hello! Great question. My back rest has a string that runs basically from back rest post to back rest post. I lift up on that string and it releases the locking mechanism that locks the back rest in an upright resting position. I hope I explained the clearly.. I think I'll put that on a list of videos :) Thank you!
Does the lower back provide support? Im assuming it makes it easier to roll the wheels. but wondering if a higher back would provide more support? Also how does foot plate move? If folds up or down does it ever fall or get in the way? Can you attach arm rests to this model apex c? Handle for someone to push you ? Have you had any issues with the release that puts the backrest down to the seat?
Hello! For me, yes the lower back provides adequate support. I have a strong core so wheeling, maneuvering daily with a lower back works out well. Also with the lower cloth back it reduces the weight of the wheelchair which makes it easier to wheel and load into vehicles. THe footplate does move up and down which you can adjust to your fit. I have never had any issues with my foot plate catching or getting loose and falling. I have had that happen years ago with another wheelchair. I don't believe arm rests can be attached to the Apex C. Motion has a few other models that have arm rests. Now, for push handles that attach to the back.. I am uncertain. A local dealer would be able to help you or check out Motions website. No issues at all with the release to fold down my back rest. I service my chair often to prevent any seizing of quick releases, front caster because living up here in Canada during the snowy winter months is horrible on a chair. Awesome questions. If you have any others please ask away! Thank you!
I wish u would have finished with instructions for the footplate height once you figured out it wasn’t the obvious way.
Thanks for watching! Good catch. When I do my follow up review and wheelchair comparison I'll touch base on foot plate adjustment. Cheers!
I finally figured it out. It’s done by the obvious way but by just loosing the bottom screw on each side. It looks like you would have to loosen both but you don’t so turns out it’s pretty easy. That second screw is set at the factory to keep that front caster leg at the correct height and orientation Im wondering if it could b sent back to the factory and have that caster leg moved up the leg of the chair which would get the footplate closer to the ground and take out additional seat dump with the main goal to lower the seat height off the ground. This would make transferring into “low to the ground” cars a little easier. Would also make it easier to reach and pick up items off the ground. The way the adjustments work, taking out all the seat dump effectively raises the height of the chair which is causing the issue. I could lower it done by getting 24” wheels and 2” casters but that causes other issues and doesn’t lower it much. Since it is a custom chair, I would think that when measurements were sent in for the seat angle/dump, they would design the chair so I could add or subtract dump but my setting is at the far end of adjustability. The only good thing about the chair is the streamlined backpack. I don’t really hang a pack off the bag but if I did this would be the one. I’ve gotten backpacks with about half of the chairs and this is the one that really fits the best. Reminds me of a high quality Oakley backpack I bought for my nephew. Just to close and reiterate, I HATE THIS APEX CHAIR and find it unstable and borderline dangerous. The reasons are pointed out in one of my other replies.
@@kerrymorris1892 Oh good/ I'm glad you figured it. I'll still mention it in my follow up review/ Thanks for the tip!
What under bag is that
Hello there - The under bag came from Motion Composites. It's a decent size pouch. No problem holding my Allen key set, wallet, car keys and cell phone.
I get you want to keep it in Canada...I really get that. But with the separists movement and as hateful as Quebec is towards others in other Canadian provinces...do they consider themselves Canadians? I mean I went through the province several times and have never, ever seen a Canadian flag.
.... the 1995 referendum was a close one. I remember it like yesterday.