I won the Flybar in a radio station drawing back in July 2004....

Being a 40+ year old fatman I gave the pogo stick to my 12 and 14 year old sons who are a couple of skateboard Gods. I supervised them at all times they were on it and only let them jump with the minimal settings for their weight while they learned to control it. They both became very good at riding it within a couple weeks and loved jumping on it, they used it so much that the tip began to split from all the impacts it had with the concrete and asphalt where they jumped. After contacting the company about the tips, the owner himself sent me some new ones, along with some other Flybar flash.

About two weeks later I got to spend MANY hours in the Emergency room at the Trauma Center here in Seattle while I listened to my 14 year old son scream in pain as 4 doctors pulled on his leg to try and set the massive Open Fracture (Bones Protruding From The Skin) of his left Tibia and Fibula (Lower Leg) that he received when the Flybar slipped out from under him as he landed on it.

It is now 2005....

My son is off his crutches now but still walks with a cane for support and is always in pain by the end of the day. The $3500 worth of Titanium implants will come out soon then he can continue his quest back to becoming a normal boy again. The hardest part for him is being 15 now and 6'3 and 220 pounds, very athletic.... He knows he will probably never play the sports he loves so much again due to the severity of his catastrophic injury.

Hindsight being 20/20 .... I should have sold the Flybar at auction as soon as I won it.

03/14/2005

Two weeks ago there were 28 reviews of the flybar, now there are only 22. Isn't it amazing the ONLY reviews that got deleted were from people who have maimed themselves on the Flybar?

Perplexing isn't it...

1 star

Okay, so I have been jumping on the flybar for a few months now, and in fact I demo it for the company that makes it, also called flybar. I am not going to lie to you and tell you that you'll be throwing backflips in a day on a flybar, although I wouldn't doubt the potential. Its very possible though, that you'll be flying several feet up in air. In case you're wondering how many several is, I can consistently clear five feet from the ground and the bottom of the flybar, and have a on few occasions cleared six feet. So if you want an adrenaline rush a flybar might not be a bad way to get it. And yes, you do have to work for it, but some people also realize that to get five or six feet of air off a halfpipe you're going to have to work at that too. That is a good thing though, the flybar doesn't just throw you in the air. How high you jump solely depends on your leg strength and effort. Since the flybar has so many tension settings you can go six inches in the air or six feet, all depending on what you want. And because the flybar doesn't just throw you ten feet up in the air, people aren't going to be cracking their heads open on it. You should always wear proper safety gear, but most people that have the ability to go five feet in the air have the athleticism to handle themselves coming back down. Just like anything, it is only dangerous if you want it to be. Aside from all of that, this product is a true invention, unlike anything else you've ever tried. You see it and I bet you think pogo stick, but jump on it and it feels like a trampoline. You get a nice smooth jump, unlike the pogo sticks with normal springs in them, which most people over 13 can bottom out every time they jump on it. You won't get that with a flybar, because you can adjust it any way you want. It is incredibly durable, and very good exercise. There is tons of potential for landing huge tricks on a flybar, or just to get big air. When you're going four, five, even six feet in the air, the hangtime is incredible. So bottom line, if you're lazy and don't like exercise, then don't get a flybar, but apparently there are a few of us that aren't. And if you like the feeling of flying and just hanging up in the air forever, then the flybar might not be such a bad idea. If you want more info check out flybar.com (for pics and vids) or for more independent reviews and media check out what they have to say on xpogo.com. peace 5 stars

This thing is amazing!! We have been stuck to it for days.
I received a flybar a few days ago as a radio station promo giveaway. As were taking it out of the box a crowd quickly formed at the outdoor shopping mall we were at. I let just about everyone who wanted give it a try. We had about thirty guys hanging out in a circle all waiting for a turn. It's easily adjustable depending on your weight. You can increase the tension in about five seconds for the larger guys and loosen it up for the kiddies.
It gives you a huge adrenaline rush to be that high staring down at the sidewalk. I was sure someone was going to get smashed up. Even with thirty first timers nobody got hurt, not even a little. It's pretty amazing how high you can go. Our highest bounce was by a tall, skinny 24 year old that was about 120lbs. So far a few guys have really mastered the high jump. We haven't reached six feet yet but it won't be long. Some people are just naturals and could land spin tricks and no handers right off the bat.
Soon I will have to give this away to someone, as the radio station officially owns it. We will really miss it. Everyone was asking where they could get one so I'm sure we sold a few for you at the gateway mall in SLC, Utah. If you sell like twenty or thirty all from downtown SLC you'll know why. Thanks!! Rally230
5 stars

It was Christmas of 1956 when I received my first pogo stick. After presents, I went outside to join about ten other neighborhood kids who had just gotten their first sticks. What a sight-- all of us, tremendously animated, hopping around the cul-de-sac.
That memory brought me to the FlyBar1200. Dare I purchase such a thing? Wouldn't I look ridiculous? Aren't I too old? I know, I'll ask my wife to get it for my birthday, she'll say 'no way,' and that'll be the end of it. One more fantasy, like the Harley, safely down the tubes!
It came and the UPS man was eaten up with curiousity--what is this? an atomic powered pogo stick?
I've had it for about a month now, and every day go a little longer, a little higher--nowhere close to 5 feet yet! But what a blast. And it does give my ticker a pretty good workout, to say nothing of shoulders, legs, thighs!
The only thing missing? Nine 60-somethings to go boinging around the neighborhood with! 5 stars

I was way into pogo-sticking (and even "extreme" pogo-sticking) in the `70s. I have recently re-kindled my interest in the hobby. A friend and I both own Flybar 1200s, and I have observed a wide variety of people on the Flybars.

As pogo-stick design finds its way into the new millennium, members of Genenerations X and Y are developing bold new tricks (consistent with their X games mindset). The "sport" is progressing rapidly, and the "hobby" is becoming really enjoyable for beginners and experts alike. The Flybar is a fantastic, unique pogo stick and is at the forefront of these developments. This ain't your daddy's pogo stick.

However, I want to emphasize that the Flybar 1200 is NOT the ONLY great pogo stick, and that it is NOT the best stick for everyone. Before you spend the big bucks, you'll definitely want to familiarize yourself with other great pogo sticks currently available. These include the Vurtego Pro Series (Vurtego), the Power Pogo (Vurtego), and the Motostik MX1 (UTI, Inc.), among others. (Warning: don't bother buying one of the various crummy sticks, e.g. Razor's various products or any cheap pogo stick with a spring at its base.) There's a decent chance that you'll still settle on a Flybar, but some perspective will help.

Moreover, you may want to wait for new, improved sticks that will be released very soon. Perhaps the finest-ever classic pogo, which is highly popular with the stunt-pogo elite, is the Gravity Games "GG" Super Pogo (SBI Enterprises). The "GG" is no longer being made and is very hard to find used, but SBI (the makers of the Flybar) reportedly claims that the company will re-release this classic in the summer of '06. Additionally, a super-sturdy Vurtego "Ultra" series and a new Flybar 800 model are on their way in the next few months, reportedly. An upgrade of the Flybar 1200 is rumored to be on the way, too. One gets the sense that the new wave of pogo sticks is much like the new wave of bicycling in the early to mid 1980's that gave rise to mountain bikes. As such, big and rapid technological advancements can be expected, if all goes well.

There is a fantastic website that has reviews of all pogo sticks, tricks, events, news and more. Search for Xpogo, the Stunt Pogo website. The website is primarily for the "stunt pogo" purists and X-game crowd, but there is plenty of valuable information that anybody will find valuable. Take a look at the Stick Reviews section, and Pick Your Stick section, for highly informative reviews. For news about new, state-of-the-art pogos and other developments, see the Stick section of their Forum/message board. Keep in mind that the pogo-addicts who frequent this forum have played a big role in the new pogo craze, and they've obsessively thought about what makes for a great pogo experience. Another site containing great stick reviews is run by The Pogo Spot. Many of the people who frequent these sites are kids in their teens and twenties who have managed to provide valuable insights despite all the tattoos, ink and attitude. (I'm going to register and post at the site under the name, "notapunk")

Personally, I really like my Flybar. It is adjustable in a variety of ways, so lots of people of varying skill levels can have fun using it. I'm able to do a wide variety of tricks, and it is fun to just bounce (and get some exercise). At the same time, I'll probably snap up a durable and simple GG or Motostik (very quiet!) soon because I really like the feel and versatility of these simpler, lighter sticks. I really suggest that you try out various other models before purchasing the Flybar. You'll notice that the Flybar's trampoline-like bounce is different than the classic spring-bounce or pressurized-air bounce of other sticks.

Assembly is simple but be sure to register the product BEFORE you assemble it, or at least record the 11-digit serial number. There's a serial number on the top of the product that gets covered as soon as you screw on the handle bar. Additionally, use care in loosening the 6 lower bolts above the footpegs; they are screwed in very tightly. My friend ruined his "Flybar Tool" (curved allen-wrench) within 15 minutes of taking it out of the box, stripping it on the bolts.

Customer service for the Flybar (via their website or phone) is rumored to be excellent, and I had a great experience. I wrote customer service about the problems I had with the flybar tool. I heard back from someone named Irwin Arginsky who said "We just designed a new tool which I would like to send you. One for your friend as well." Mr Arginsky further indicated that he was going to send us t-shirts. Well, I did a Google search, and it turns out that Arginsky is the owner of SBI and a huge figure in the history of the pogo stick. The first practical and popular pogo stick was designed by George B. Hansburg (1888-1975), the founder of SBI. Arginsky bought the company from Hansburg sight unseen in 1967 in time to hook many of my generation on pogo sticks (in particular, the classic "master" pogo). It seems that he and his company are primarily responsible for keeping the pogo stick alive all these years. Arginsky has dreamed of developing something like the Flybar for many years.

Keep in mind that the novelty of the pogo stick wears off quickly for many people. If you don't spend a little time learning about pogo-stick tricks, you may end up getting bored quickly. I'm finding that the Flybar is fun at parties, especially if one is good at teaching beginners to start jumping. I think the Flybar can be a good source of cardiovascular exercise, much like a jump rope or trampoline, so some may enjoy using it to stay fit (if the noise doesn't bother you). Jumping can aggravate back injuries, as I'm finding out. Pogo-sticking is not low-impact aerobics. I should add that it is irresponsible to blame the company if you or someone you know gets hurt using a pogo stick! 5 stars