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The wheels on this device are smaller than I'd feel safe riding on. Small rocks can stop a skateboard, and when they do, it is much better to be perpendicular r

The wheels on this device are smaller than I'd feel safe riding on. Small rocks can stop a skateboard, and when they do, it is much better to be perpendicular rather than facing forward when stopped abruptly. I remember goofing off riding on a board facing forward, and every time the board stopped abruptly, I would fall face forward. Unrelated, they could have picked better music for the video.

semi-extrinsic 11y ago
Small rocks etc. is one thing, but going around a city there's so many manmade obstacles as well. Every sidewalk curb, cobblestone, pothole, with this thing you have to stop, bend down and pick it up, walk a step or two, put it down and resume. At least on a skateboard/longboard you can kick it up and throw it down again, or even just ollie shit.
- jusben1369 11y ago
  People pointed out the first automobiles were doomed due to the state of dirt roads
  - semi-extrinsic 11y ago
    I skateboard to/from work every day except when there's snow, and have done so for years in several cities around Europe, including London. And let me tell you: major cities, with London as an extreme example, will never be skateboard friendly. I will pay for my skateboarding habit with my knees when I get old. Some places have even started adding these ridges in the sidewalk that are there to help blind people find their way to bus stops, pedestrian crossings etc, and those are absolute killers. No, even if adoption of various segway-clones suddenly flies through the roof, the roads won't be good in the growth phase so everyone will buy the models with big air-filled wheels, and thus there's no incentive for improving sidewalks.
- steve19 11y ago
  China is churning out cheap mini-segways that are not much bigger and have larger pneumatic tires. This is just the first one I found on ebay for $370 (including shipping): http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mini-Smart-Self-Balancing-Electric-Unicycle-Scooter-Balance-2-Wheels-colors-/361355582245 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mini-Smart-Self-Balancing-Electr...
  - jasonm23 11y ago
    They can be got for $200 if you hunt around
  - placebo 11y ago
    The specs show the maximum speed is 100km/h - sounds a bit risky :-)
    - prawn 11y ago
      It lists maximum load as "20kg"!
      - m_mueller 11y ago
        The perfect way to send your six year old to first grade!
    - tim333 11y ago
      I think that may be false. There's a vid review here say it goes 7 or 8 mph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4yiO1Cmv4&feature=youtu.be&t=1m2s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4yiO1Cmv4&feature=youtu.be...
  - freddref 11y ago
    There are a few companies offering designs with only a single larger wheel which should be a bit better still on rough ground. What could be neat is if they could fit all electronics inside the wheel itself. http://www.amazon.com/X3-Upgrade-Balance-Electric-Unicycle/dp/B00IWG60EO/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1439132092&sr=1-2&keywords=electric+unicycle http://www.amazon.com/X3-Upgrade-Balance-Electric-Unicycle/d...
- 7952 11y ago
  Maybe it would just bottom out when hitting stones and the friction would make it stop.

semi-extrinsic 11y ago

Small rocks etc. is one thing, but going around a city there's so many manmade obstacles as well. Every sidewalk curb, cobblestone, pothole, with this thing you have to stop, bend down and pick it up, walk a step or two, put it down and resume. At least on a skateboard/longboard you can kick it up and throw it down again, or even just ollie shit.

jusben1369 11y ago
People pointed out the first automobiles were doomed due to the state of dirt roads
- semi-extrinsic 11y ago
  I skateboard to/from work every day except when there's snow, and have done so for years in several cities around Europe, including London. And let me tell you: major cities, with London as an extreme example, will never be skateboard friendly. I will pay for my skateboarding habit with my knees when I get old. Some places have even started adding these ridges in the sidewalk that are there to help blind people find their way to bus stops, pedestrian crossings etc, and those are absolute killers. No, even if adoption of various segway-clones suddenly flies through the roof, the roads won't be good in the growth phase so everyone will buy the models with big air-filled wheels, and thus there's no incentive for improving sidewalks.
steve19 11y ago
China is churning out cheap mini-segways that are not much bigger and have larger pneumatic tires. This is just the first one I found on ebay for $370 (including shipping): http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mini-Smart-Self-Balancing-Electric-Unicycle-Scooter-Balance-2-Wheels-colors-/361355582245 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mini-Smart-Self-Balancing-Electr...
- jasonm23 11y ago
  They can be got for $200 if you hunt around
- placebo 11y ago
  The specs show the maximum speed is 100km/h - sounds a bit risky :-)
  - prawn 11y ago
    It lists maximum load as "20kg"!
    - m_mueller 11y ago
      The perfect way to send your six year old to first grade!
  - tim333 11y ago
    I think that may be false. There's a vid review here say it goes 7 or 8 mph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4yiO1Cmv4&feature=youtu.be&t=1m2s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4yiO1Cmv4&feature=youtu.be...
- freddref 11y ago
  There are a few companies offering designs with only a single larger wheel which should be a bit better still on rough ground. What could be neat is if they could fit all electronics inside the wheel itself. http://www.amazon.com/X3-Upgrade-Balance-Electric-Unicycle/dp/B00IWG60EO/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1439132092&sr=1-2&keywords=electric+unicycle http://www.amazon.com/X3-Upgrade-Balance-Electric-Unicycle/d...
7952 11y ago
Maybe it would just bottom out when hitting stones and the friction would make it stop.