It has got me
into and out
of some very tight spaces over the years and in this respect
it is a
joy to use. One can literally drive into a small elevator,
spin round,
and exit front-on. The one thing that you have to remember
with a mid
or front wheeled drive chair is that the wheelchair extends
a short
distance behind you. Although the dimensions of the chair
are much the
same as a standard push wheelchair, you need to remember to
allow about
12 inches of space each side of the armrests if you intend
to spin the
chair on its own axis. This ability to spin on the spot is
great by any
standard and is why Pride claim such a tight turning circle
for the
Jazzy 1120. The overall width of the Jazzy 1120 is 17 or 18 inches
depending on
seat type you use. This is easily narrow enough to go
through a
standard doorway.
The seat on my chair is low enough for me
to get my
legs under most desks, and tables, so working on the
computer or eating
out in a pub or restaurant, whilst in the chair, is usually
not a
problem. One optional extra that I would say is an absolute
must is a
swing away mount for the joystick controller. This allows
closer access
to tables or desks which makes eating or working much
easier. I can't
understand why this is an optional extra on the Jazzy 1120 and,
for that
matter, on most other wheelchairs.
Outdoor use
The Jazzy was one of the first mid-wheeled wheelchairs on
the market
and it has what Pride Mobility call an
'Active-Track-Suspension'
system. Essentially the front anti-tip wheels work in
conjunction with
the main drive wheels helping the Jazzy travel over uneven
terrain. The
wheelchair with it's low centre of gravity and 14 inch
wheels mean that
the Jazzy is able to negotiate grass fields and surprisingly
rough
ground. It may be able to navigate rough terrain better than
many
indoor/outdoor wheelchairs but don't count on having a
comfortable
unruffled ride whilst doing so. In spite of it's suspension
system
rough ground is better taken at slower speeds!
In common
with many
other wheelchairs in its class travelling at full speed over
pot holes
and cobblestones can be a jarring experience! This is
probably the
downside of having the occupants weight directly over the
drive wheels.
Even so, the chair is usually pretty good out of doors under
most
conditions. It steers extremely well, has good directional
stability,
and gives a feeling that one is in full control at all
times.
Pride originally claimed that the wheelchair is able to
negotiate a
kerb of up to four inches in height. In reality this was a
gross
exaggeration which I believe was altered on later brochures!
A vertical
kerb of much more than two inches results in the drive
wheels uselessly
scrabbling for grip. I have been told by a Pride sales
manager that it
is possible to mount a four inch curb if you don't go slowly
but take a
run at it. Call me cautious if you like but I have never had
the nerve
to try. I don't fancy the idea that I might be thrown
forward and out
of the chair (I don't usually like wearing the provided seat
belt).
Descending a steep kerb too quickly can also result in one
scraping the
front of the footrest on the ground.
To conform with British regulations for pavement vehicles
the
wheelchair's speed is restricted to a top speed of 4 miles
an hour (in
the USA the 1120's top speed is set at a more sensible 6
miles an hour)
and it has a claimed range of 25 miles.
Realistically the
range you get
will depend on the weight of the occupant, the terrain
covered and the
condition of the batteries. However, from my experience I
would say
that the claimed range of 25 miles is fairly realistic for
someone of
my weight (approx. 14 stones). I have had some extremely long
days out,
covering worthwhile distances and have only once had the
battery charge
indicator go out of the green zone into the orange. The
Jazzy has an
attractive non-traditional design which generally attracts
favourable
comment.
Reliability
I bought my Pride Jazzy 1120 in 1998 and in all that time
(at the risk
of bringing disaster down upon my head) I can honestly say
that It has
been an absolute model of reliability. I have had no
mechanical
problems, no punctures, and in fact it has only been
professionally
serviced once. (Professionally!!! Where did you
find one Burgerman?)
The only expense (apart from the service) has
been a new
set of batteries and a re-upholstered seat. I had this done
recently in
leather and sheepskin (seephotograph) by Frank Guy Ltd.
who are based
in Clay Cross, Derbyshire (UK). This is a firm that
specialises in adapted vehicles and in the renovation of aircraft
interiors. They re-upholstered the seat to my own
specifications for only £110. I also
got them to make me (at a cost of just £20) waterproof
covers to
protect the leather and sheepskin when it rains. I have no
financial,
or other interest in this firm but I was so impressed with
the
incredible service and value that they offer that I thought
other
people might be interested to know who they are. Imagine, a
custom
built seat in leather and sheepskin for £110 pounds! It has
extended
the life of my wheelchair at very little cost!
Conclusion
I have been more than happy with my Pride Jazzy 1120 and
have never
regretted it's purchase. It is well engineered and easy to
live with.
Pride have made a few (mostly cosmetic) changes to the 1120
since I got
mine. However assuming my wheelchair is typical of the breed
I would
have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone. If you
need a basic,
reliable, relatively inexpensive indoor/outdoor wheelchair
that is a
pleasure to drive you could do worse than to consider the
Jazzy. The
1120 has recently been replaced by the 1121 which is about 2
inches
narrower. As a result it is possible to get some great
bargains on the
1120. A recent search on the internet showed that prices for
the basic
version, without optional extras, start at about £2,300.
That has to be
a good deal!
Postscript
When I purchased the Jazzy I also purchased a Pride Hercules
hoist to
lift the wheelchair into the back of our Ford Galaxy. I
assumed that a
hoist manufactured by the same people who produced the
Jazzy would be
able to lift their own wheelchair without any problems and I
was
assured by the company's representatives in this country
that this
would be the case.
However, within the first year the hoist
catastrophically failed on two occasions. The first time the
wheelchair
badly bruised my wife's leg as the strap on the hoist broke.
She was
lucky not to have a broken leg! On the second occasion a
metal rivet
suddenly gave way. The Jazzy 1120 is a very heavy
wheelchair weighing
in at approximately 150 kilograms and it is my belief that
the Hercules
hoist that we purchased was not robust enough to carry the
weight. In
use, even before the first failure, one had the impression
that it was
always under great strain when it was lifting or lowering
the
wheelchair in and out of the vehicle. As a result of these
dramatic
failures Pride UK agreed to replace the hoist with one by a
different
manufacturer. I love their wheelchair but not their hoist!
Pride Mobility, Jazzy 1120 PowerChair
