What's more compact then folding bike? - SoloWheel

[MikeFairbanks]

Looks pretty sketchy to me. If that wheel stops and your body keeps going at 10 mph you're going to slam hard. I grew up skateboarding, and at least with skateboarding you're in a sideways position that facilitates rolling.

It's like skiing and snowboarding. With skiing you land on your shoulders and roll with it (provided your skis release properly), but with snowboarding your on your back or face.

In a smooth facility the solo wheel looks doable, but why not a simple electric scooter with a handle? Much safer if the wheels are pneumatic and larger than those silly razor wheels.

 

[kfong]

I would find it a fun challenge, I ski and snowboard. Jumping off this wheel would be easy since your legs are already facing forward and extended. Not much different than a Segway to me, just a much simpler form. Need to find a brushed hub motor to play with, 3 phase would be tougher to design around. I just like the compact nature of the design. Easy to leave in the car. The only other thing more compact is a Xooter. Building one of those as well.

 

[sk8norcal]

skilled rider making it look easy...
http://www.solowheel.fr/content/8-videos

[youtube]NZwNoLUa8h4[/youtube]

[youtube]2ePD-V5ti6Q[/youtube]

 

[sk8norcal]

Taipei news report,
cop says you can not ride your solowheel on the street
i think reporter says they can confiscate it.

nice bail at 1:30

[youtube]jrKiTw2o0UA[/youtube]

=======================================================


inventist gyrotrax
http://www.scooter-system.fr/catalog/modele-1105-gyrotrax.html

 

[Vapology]

The guy in this video has really mastered this transportation method even if he is wearing a man-purse.
[youtube]MSjUUBHUVkc[/youtube]

 

[sk8norcal]

"it's not a man-purse. its a satchel." :lol:

i really want to try one.
still think it would be better with a handlebar attached....
http://wackyboards.blogspot.com/2010/07/single-wheel-segway.html
http://wackyboards.blogspot.com/2009/10/orbis-concept-one-wheel-segway.html

[youtube]6zgBfzQqMHI[/youtube]

 

[Texonite]

This two-wheeled "Gyrotrax" looks promising...

 

[sk8norcal]

also, sold as Airwheel on ebay,
$400 in China
according to the guy in the video, you can get a motorcycle for $400....

[youtube]Bc0PaZIAzKM[/youtube]

i notice that is not the official solowheel,
looks exactly the same without the logo...

IPS101, $1000
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/IPS101-electric-Solo-wheel-Self-Balancing-Unicycle-fun-board/643594925.html

$1795 on inventist.
http://www.inventist.com/eStore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=14


private branding
http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/threads/manufacturer-provides-multiple-brands-on-same-product.157401/

 

[chvidgov.bc.ca]

Oh dear...I've already been "re-educated" once, and have drank the trike "Kool-Aid". Not AGAIN...

 

[bowlofsalad]

I think I'd sooner be on an electric skateboard or slip on electric roller blades (just straps for walking shoes). But all of these ideas seem far too dangerous for my taste.

 

[friendly1uk]

Few rider's seemed to be enjoying themselves. Most were stiff as a board, doing there best to get a hand in there pocket, while really wanting to keep there hands out for falling on.

There just isn't the stopping ability to use these around people.

 

[torqueboards]

That thing is pretty neat. I wonder what grade hills it could climb. The segways seem to climb some nice hills and I would imagine the brakes are probably better than my eboard lol. Anyone know if the brakes are any good on this solowheel?

 

[kfong]

Brakes are not used. It functions much like a balancing robot, much like a Segway. To slow down you would lean backwards. I'm surprised there are no vids of people going backwards. Segways are fun, but lack any portability.

That thing is pretty neat. I wonder what grade hills it could climb. The segways seem to climb some nice hills and I would imagine the brakes are probably better than my eboard lol. Anyone know if the brakes are any good on this solowheel?

 

[furp]

This seems like the essence of short distance solo transport. Probably just takes some time to get used to, but for sure easier than a normal unicicle with the electronics. For 400 $ it would even be affordable, all those 1000s of dollar prices just make a overpriced toy for people that can afford a car anyway out of it. Even though those high prices might be the ones taking development cots into account while the china version doesnt.

I wonder what could be smaller or more portable than these things!

 

[sk8norcal]

To slow down you would lean backwards. I'm surprised there are no vids of people going backwards. Segways are fun, but lack any portability.

because u can't go backwards, same with segway...
it would be real unsafe to program it that way.

I wonder what could be smaller or more portable than these things!

hovertrax
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=49937&hilit=+hovertrax

 

[kfong]

Actually you can go backwards on a Segway and I'm sure this is no different. Without it going in reverse balancing can't happen. You would end up falling. You must not of ridden one. It's just not natural to lean back, unless you have a good sense of balance.

Just found a vid.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=OyxENop2Idk

To slow down you would lean backwards. I'm surprised there are no vids of people going backwards. Segways are fun, but lack any portability.

because u can't go backwards, same with segway...
it would be real unsafe to program it that way.

I wonder what could be smaller or more portable than these things!

hovertrax
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=49937&hilit=+hovertrax

 

[sk8norcal]

Actually you can go backwards on a Segway and I'm sure this is no different. Without it going in reverse balancing can't happen. You would end up falling. You must not of ridden one. It's just not natural to lean back, unless you have a good sense of balance.

Just found a vid.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=OyxENop2Idk

interesting, yes i see him going backwards,

i ridden segways a long time ago,
ok maybe you can creep backwards, but not at any significant speed if i can recall
i would think they program a reverse speed limit... for safety..
(i don't recall seeing any vids of segway riders going backwards at significant speed)

edit, some stuff about reverse limit,
http://forums.segwaychat.org/archive/index.php/t-7781.html

 

[Chalo]

If you hit a chicago pothole with that thing.. you're done. It would work well for something like a warehouse space.

Looks easier to hop off of than say a folding bike. I'm guessing there's a learning curve and a liberal amount of arm flailing that isn't in the video, though.

 

[kfong]

Think about it, if you were to lean back a significant amout. The Segway would need to accelerate to keep you from falling. Just not something you would normally attempt, also they suck on wet surfaces. One wheel could loose it's traction and spin out. You need constant feedback to keep it upright. Never rode the offroad ones, they are amazingly fast.

Maybe Justin is onto something with his balancing unicycle, one person mentioned how numb his feet were after a distance on the solo wheel, not much shock load. Even the Segway bothered my calf after a while. Sitting in a high stance sounds way more comfy, easy to carry more batteries in the frame as well.

 

[sk8norcal]

Think about it, if you were to lean back a significant amout. The Segway would need to accelerate to keep you from falling. Just not something you would normally attempt,

my point is that they would somehow limit the reverse speed for safety,
that link i posted mentions that for segway...


i rode that off road one once,
(some guy who organize bay area segway polo had me test ride it)
he had me go as fast as I can across a bumpy grass field,
it felt pretty scary... :lol:

segway patent

 

[kfong]

12.5 mph is the speed limit in both directions. I recall that was the set speed for the city versions. Any faster and they would get complaints from pedestrians. Cops had the offroad ones I noticed. We did the Segway tours while in Chicago.

Fig. 12 and 13 look awkward. Give me a powered long board, something I plan to build this winter. Just more practical stable, and faster. Might still build a balancing one for the fun of it one day, but still see it more as a toy.

Think about it, if you were to lean back a significant amout. The Segway would need to accelerate to keep you from falling. Just not something you would normally attempt,

my point is that they would somehow limit the reverse speed for safety,
that link i posted mentions that for segway...


i rode that off road one once,
(some guy who organize bay area segway polo had me test ride it)
he had me go as fast as I can across a bumpy grass field,
it felt pretty scary... :lol:

segway patent

 

[sk8norcal]

fig 12/13
i call them self balancing skateboards,
bunch of them here,
http://wackyboards.blogspot.com/search/label/motorized%20self%20balancing

bunch of 1 wheel sit down ones too...
http://wackyboards.blogspot.com/search/label/**wacky-urban%20transport%20%28one%20wheel%29
[youtube]byzfCN5L1r8[/youtube]

 

[kfong]

I remember watching Justin with one, thought it was clever. Wasn't sold on the idea, but would of been fun just to ride on.

 

[melodious]

One word that describes the 1 wheeled concept. Sketchy.

I'm with most folks that this is just a toy around your neighborhood. Give me a longboard any. day. of. the. week.

 

[kfong]

Yep, that one wheeled skateboard just reminds me of training wheels for skateboarders You can't go fast and it does all the work for you.