Electric Unicycles!

German guy

German guy

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Electric unicycles - I thought that they are a pretty cool idea and that they would be a handy and compact transport solution for the last few miles from the airport.

This guys rides a 'NineBot One' (I believe this is one of the high end models) up the super steep Powell Street in San Francisco: https://youtu.be/krg9smEWnIU

If they could be legally used in Michigan (even e-bikes are illegal here, unless they are equipped and registered like a moped) I would be tempted to get one. The one the guy in San Francisco rides, is $799 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U7E019E

These things seem to be very popular in China, as explained by this British gentleman: https://youtu.be/aGWR-KQlEBs
 
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German guy said:
Electric unicycles - I thought that they are a pretty cool idea and that they would be a handy and compact transport solution for the last few miles from the airport.

This guys rides a 'NineBot One' (I believe this is one of the high end models) up the super steep Powell Street in San Francisco: https://youtu.be/krg9smEWnIU

If they could be legally used in Michigan (even e-bikes are illegal here, unless they are equipped and registered like a moped) I would be tempted to get one. The one the guy in San Francisco rides, is $799 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U7E019E

These things seem to be very popular in China, as explained by the British gentlemen: https://youtu.be/aGWR-KQlEBs
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I can see this proving the old saying, "the most dangerous part of flying is getting to the airport." :eek:
 
Those seem like a pretty cool addition to an airplane! In a lot of ways, easier than a folding bike. It does look like you pretty much need decent pavement everywhere you go though.
 
With my sence of balance ,I'll stick to a folding bike.
 
Dav8or said:
[...] It does look like you pretty much need decent pavement everywhere you go though.
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These guys here ride those things on a pretty rough forest trail: https://youtu.be/OBWaCnz7GG0

The riders don't look like the greatest athletes either. It therefore appears as whether it is not too hard to learn how to ride them. I would be mainly concerned about how to stop. Again, though, looking at the videos on youtube, they also seem to brake reasonably well.
 
My daughter has one.

Her info is that the range/speed info given is about double the real world number. So, if it says 6 miles at 12 miles per hour, the reality is 3 miles at 12, or 6 miles at 6, etc.

She does not have this specific model, but a good quality unit from another major mfg, I just can't recall the name.
 
There must be no patents on these things. I am struck by how there are about a dozen companies all selling pretty much the same thing and all but one (Singapore) are Chinese companies. No US, or European companies that I could find. Even though they all pretty much come from China, the prices vary wildly. From under $300 to about $1800.
 
Dav8or said:
There must be no patents on these things. I am struck by how there are about a dozen companies all selling pretty much the same thing and all but one (Singapore) are Chinese companies. No US, or European companies that I could find. Even though they all pretty much come from China, the prices vary wildly. From under $300 to about $1800.
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Patents and intellectual property aren't enforceable in China anyway unless your deal is with the government. You either control your manufacturing very closely in your own plants or just let it be what it will be. The quality of stuff varies as wildly as the pricing.
 
I was waiting for him to wipe out! Looks slightly unstable. I still want an electric skateboard after test riding one @oshkosh last year.
 
steingar said:
Rather the old fashioned variety. Get some exercise while moving at walking speeds.
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I have a couple of the "manual" unicycles. Learned to ride when I was 14 or so. Walking takes far less effort than unicycling. If I get on that thing after a long absence, I find many muscles that I forgot I had. They remind me that they haven't done this in a long time and are not happy about having to wake up and go to work. One could lose a lot of weight in a hurry riding a unicycle, and some of that weight might be in the form of skin left on the road...

Dan
 
Mike5250 said:
I was waiting for him to wipe out! Looks slightly unstable.
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From one of the commenters in the video:

John McCreary 3 weeks ago (edited)

Hey there!! Such a cool video. True story, I think you passed me one day right by Parc 55 hotel, and I thought it was so cool. I went home did my research, and got me a ninebot one in May. I freaking love it.... I was doing great on it 5 days in I was going up and down hills in Buena Vista Park, and even came down Rossovellt on it. Then the next day, my partner took me to GG Park on Sunday with the street closed and no joke this kid ran right out in front of me and I went flying off, thank GOD I had a helmet on because I really cracked my head, and unfortunately fractured my right hip. That was 7 weeks ago, got back on it today and rode all through pan handle, it was a blast. I now where protection on knees and elbows, I even have snowboarder hip pads I wear under my sweats. Thanks for sharing your video, would be cool to get together one day and ride, I am sure you could give me lots of helpful tips. My name is John. Have a great day!
Click to expand...
 
Mike5250 said:
I was waiting for him to wipe out! Looks slightly unstable. I still want an electric skateboard after test riding one @oshkosh last year.
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Just be aware of your local regulations. Many US-states don't have specific regulations for electric bikes or powered toys like scooters, so that anything with an engine and less than four wheels falls into the categories moped or motorbike, depending on the top speed and / or displacement.

I am pointing this out, because I recently went to a local bicycle show here in Michigan on which a dealer also offered e-bike test rides. I asked him whether they can be legally used here in Michigan, what he confirmed, referring to a 'new' public law. When I did some more research on this, I learned however that this statement was false and that the Michigan State Police has actually an explicit warning on their website, that this 'new' law is concerned with the manufacturing of electric bikes and not with their operation:

Some retailers and operators of electric bicycles are under the misconception that a federal law exempts these vehicles from applicable motor vehicle laws. They will cite Public Law 107-319, which makes low speed electric bicycles consumer products rather than motor vehicles solely for the purpose of manufacturing requirements and safety standards.
Contrary to the misconception of these retailers and operators, Public Law 107-319 has no effect on state laws or local ordinances governing the use of vehicles on public streets and highways. The federal law is very clear on this distinction.

My understanding is, that operators of e-bikes, GoPeds (also very cool), e-unicycles or electric scooters face in many other states the exact same problem and that many dealers either have no clue about the applicable regulations or outright lie to their customers.

Admittedly, it appears quite unlikely that one gets caught by the cops or involved in an accident. If he does, the outcome might however be ugly.

This is btw. the reason why I have no GoPed, no electric scooter and why I will also not get an electric unicycle. :(
Still, though, I think that these might all be great means of transportation, for states with other laws.
 
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