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View Full Version : Kettler Happy Plus v. Kettler Happy Vario?



jfromer
10-27-2003, 10:25 PM
I am looking to buy a tricycle for my DS, and I have narrowed it down (online) to either the Kettler Happy Plus (for example, at http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/cgi-bin/sgin0102.exe?FNM=00&T1=O+1+4590X&GEN9=1&UID=2003102617012256) or the Kettler Happy Vario (for example, at http://www.mytoybox.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=8171000&Category_Code=). I can't tell if there's any difference between the 2 other than the colors and the S-shaped bar on the Happy Plus and the straight bar on the Happy Vario. Does the shape of the bar make any functional difference? Does anyone have any experience with either (or better yet, both) of these models to help me settle on either of these 2 models? Although the Happy Vario seems somewhat cheaper than the Happy Plus based on these 2 sites, the Happy Vario seems more expensive on all the UK sites that turned up in my searches.

BTW, Sensational Beginnings is selling the Kettler Happy on sale for $70 (http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/cgi-bin/sgin0102.exe?FNM=00&T1=O+1+8840X&GEN9=1&UID=2003102722071976).

Thank you very much!

Jeannie

MinnieMouse
10-28-2003, 03:08 PM
I did a ton of research before we got dd her Kettler ...but this was before the "new" steerable models came out. Okay...formerly the only difference between the Happy and the Jumbo was the bucket and the shape of the seat, otherwise they were the same exact trike. Both came in regular and "air" versions...the "air" being the air tires.

For both the regular Happy and Jumbo (which is the same frame as the Euro Happy Plus from Sesational Beginnings) you are able to separate the front and back of the bike totally... this enables you to use a tandem insert w/ either model of the bike. A friend of mine has the Jumbo as a tandem and they love it. The "air" models of both trikes (similar to the Happy Vario at My Toy Box...but the Vario doesn't have "air" tires) DON'T have the tandem option.

Other than the tandem option and the ability to break down the bike into two parts easily (great for stashing it in the trunk w/ tons of other stuff) there really doesn't seem to be a difference.

We JUST got dd's trike in September, which was about 3 wks before the steerable rear wheel trikes hit the market. We ended up with a regular Jumbo. To be honest it's not that hard to steer, we aren't disappointed in the least that we "missed" the steerable ones.

If you want more info I would call Kettler direct. I've spoken to their customer service twice...once when I was shopping and then when we purchased the wrong model push bar for our trike. Both times the were VERY helpful and overly willing to share information. They even sent us the correct attachment for the push bar for free!

HTH

Christine