SML-160 The old Lady

[Frankman]

 

The SML-160 is a wheel  that does not run more than 20Km/h, it dates back to the "far" August 2014, a time when even the mythical  and costly Solowheel  ran to 18Km/h. It is one of a series of three very original  design models:  the 14" SML-140, the 16" SML-160 and one more  16"  SML L-swan.

                      

The first two are pretty well known  while, as regard the third one  the swan, I did not even find a movie document either on YouTube or on the similar Chinese YouKu.

With the exception of the swan, both the 140 and the 160 mount a pair of front wheels to facilitate transport. Note that only those of the 160 can be opened by moving them laterally under the pedals, a unique and never imitated feature, useful perhaps to learn or rather better to use it as a hoverboard.

But the most remarkable thing is that SML was the first brand to introduce the most comfortable and useful  trolley handle integrated into the structure and extensible even during the ride.

 

That being said, let’s come nowadays.

Seeing that one of the Aliexpress  sellers (Rockwell store), had some SML-160 in stock at a lowered  price, I decided to buy one (50 km version).  After about 30 days of troubled pregnancy, with abortion threats regarding the order and mine strong abdominal pains due to the doubts often relating to online shopping,  at the end UPS  gave birth to the baby.

 

After making a video while opening  the parcel,  to show as an evidence in an eventual dispute for missing or defective product, I proceeded to a first analysis of the content.

The wheel seems very well made, it is a 16” wheel  has 420Watt motor and a 515Wh battery.   There are two handles, one is part of the shell and the other one is a very robust trolley handle  made of  thick aluminum tubes. Quite thicker and stronger than other made by more famous EUC brands.

 

   Yes, to see how it's made, I opened the shell of my new creature....

Unlike other wheels, this one has a front and a rear side. It has a white front headlamp and a rear large red one.  Both are not very bright.

 

               

The battery meter shows the percentage of residual charge.

 

The pedals have a rubber anti slip surface and a magnetic  lock and their ground clearance is 12cm,  like a KingSong KS16.

Internal components are  in the  most usual position:  batteries  placed laterally and the controller board mounted horizontally above them. This is a picture from above of my own  SML-160.

 

The battery  has  an unusual configuration. There are two  packs of 24  batteries,  for a total of 48 cells.  Each pack is made of a 3 groups connected in parallel and each  group is made of 8 cells in series  (4,2v x 8 =33,6v.)  The two packs are connected in series  33,6v+33,6v = 67,2v.   The provided charger is 67,2v  1.5Amps.

 

It has a Bluetooth amplifier  with a single loudspeaker. But there is the connector for a second loudspeaker.

The maximum speed  is about 20Km/h,  and when you are too fast, a female voice   says something in Chinese, I suppose she suggests to reduce the speed.

I have not yet rode the wheel for a long way  but, if you want to see it in action, simply search on YouTube or YouKu for  " SML160 ".

IMHO this is a very good choice for both beginner and skilled wheelers considering its low price and its unique characteristics. The only limiting point is the 20km/h maximum speed.  Anyway I'm very happy with it  that I  consider  like a very nice old lady  .

[esaj]

I've ever only seen pictures of this unicorn... there was this catalog of old models that predates even the forums (something like wheels from 2013-2014), that had a lot of very "odd" models, I'll try to find it.

[meepmeepmayer]

Some very early models from when apparently everyone had to try making EUCs had quite some neat, creative designs and ideas. Would love to see some catalog!

[esaj]

I think this is it:  http://www.ewheels.org/catalog/single-wheels

Behold the IPS Makalue:

F-Wheel Beetle:

F-Wheel Red Rabbit:

 

And others, like Gotway MSuper V1(Umm, nope, the catalog's partially updated, it says 2015, V2 came out already sometime in late summer or autumn of 2014)  and first MCM, M0, M5, M10...