Yet another what to buy. Second wheel

[chopsywa]

Hi EUCers

I have had a Gotway MCM3 for 2 years. I have a lot of fun riding it and my dog thinks it's great. However I feel there are limitations and I need a new wheel. Limitations are.

1. 260Wh battery. I get about 10km out of it, but I would like more so I can ride it to work.

2. Small pedals = sore feet...quite quickly.

3. Very low pedals. Coupled with pedal dip on cornering leads to bingles and near bingles trying to carry any speed into a corner.

4. Limited power. It felt powerful once. Now I have 2 years experience I am finding it very easy to overlean in braking and I am hesitant to push it too hard on hills for fear of a cutout.

5.  Lack of safety features. No tilt back, just a beeper (which is now very quiet) makes me a little disconcerted when riding. Links to point 4.

6. Battery is a little tired. Not too bad, but coupled with lack of safety features it has reduced my confidence in the wheel.

Anyway, I have been looking for a good replacement. I am not going to be a wheel collector. I have a budget of around A$ 1000 so it won't be a big battery unit, but I would like 500WH at a minimum. I would like to have plenty of speed reserve so I can scoot along at 20-25km/h knowing there is plenty in the tank and on hills. I am 90kg. I am thinking of a 16" wheel and I have been thinking the following :

1. Gotway Tesla. Looks great, but I am concerned with the number of reports of failures causing crashes. I get that feeling about mine even though it has never failed on me. Also looks like the plastics are quite fragile.

2. Ninebot Z6. On special at Gearbest for A$1150 at the moment. Beautifully made, but Speedyfeet reckons it's not great at low speed and tramlines on bad roads/paths. Big wheel doesn't like to lean either. Heavy.

3. Inmotion V8. About A$1150 on AliExpress. This seems to be the front runner so far. It has a good  handle too which I need as I like to walk with my wife with it alongside and then jump on the wheel and go for a hoon.

4. Kingsong 16s. I don't know much about these, but I remember the Fat Unicyclist waxing lyrical about them. They seem expensive.

So at this stage it is looking like the V8, but I would love to hear others' opinions. 

[Chriull]

25 minutes ago, chopsywa said:

4. Kingsong 16s. I don't know much about these, but I remember the Fat Unicyclist waxing lyrical about them. They seem expensive.

 

I like my KS16S very much!

And has a decent battery capacity (640 or 840 Wh)! So that's imho the main advantage over the V8 (?480 Wh?) and the reason for the higher price. And is by this heavier - but maybe safer in regard to overleans (more power available)?

But both are slowly cycles from the old (last) generation. The "new" one in quite this range would be the Ninebot Z6 from your list - 530Wh. But heavier. I have no idea how this wheel performs/handles/etc - so i can neither recommend it or not...

 

[Rafal]

34 minutes ago, chopsywa said:

1. Gotway Tesla. Looks great, but I am concerned with the number of reports of failures causing crashes. I get that feeling about mine even though it has never failed on me. Also looks like the plastics are quite fragile. 

 

Please share with us those reports. I never heard of any Tesla failuer causing crash.

I really like my Tesla. Drove so far 1500km without single issue.

[chopsywa]

6 minutes ago, Rafal said:

47 minutes ago, chopsywa said:

 

Please share with us those reports. I never heard of any Tesla failuer causing crash.

It's just chatter I have read in comments on Youtube and around the place. In isolation, probably not much weight, but where there's smoke there is usually fire and Gotway seem to have a reputation for less reliable electronics. I am not putting the brand down. I have one.

[chopsywa]

#Rafal. What about pedal dip? Have you encountered this in turns? 

[RockyTop]

Given your comments and concerns the answer is obvious. You want the KS16s. The V8 is better than what you have but for the money does not compare to the KS16s. You are afraid of the Tesla and the Z6 is an odd wheel that many people have problems getting used to.

[meepmeepmayer]

You won't get a Tesla for AUD1000 (or only a 67.2V one, or a small battery). But in my opinion, it's by far the best wheel of the ones you mention (in the 1020Wh version). Which one exactly would you get?

Tesla failures were boards that died at the beginning when the wheel was switched on when the Tesla was newly released. I haven't heard of any other problems with the Tesla. I wouldn't believe random YouTube comments with no context, might very well have been rider error or a crash due to an obstacle.

How about a MCM5 if you come from the MCM3? Might be too expensive, though.

The Ninebot One Z6 seems better than the 16S or V8, but it's heavy.

7 hours ago, chopsywa said:

What about pedal dip? Have you encountered this in turns? 

You can get rid of the dip by doing a good calibration.

[chopsywa]

 

6 hours ago, meepmeepmayer said:

You can get rid of the dip by doing a good calibration.

Yes the problem with the MCM 3 is finding the app that works. I think I may have finally dug it up on a web site so I will do a re-calibration.

I am looking at the Tesla and as we all do (don't we), my budget is suddenly $1483 for the 850.  Thinking the 850 might be the ideal weight / capacity compromise.

The MCM5 is quite a bit more at $1770 for the 850. That sure helps with the decision making too.

[Rafal]

20 hours ago, chopsywa said:

#Rafal. What about pedal dip? Have you encountered this in turns? 

In turns I did not notice any pedal dip. I calibrated the wheel to pedal lean back 2 degrees.

Only one problem with pedal dip is when I hit few holes in the row in a short time. But it is only happen on road in very bad condition. On the road, where it is easier to walk than ride a wheel.

[RockyTop]

You want the Tesla? You can't handle the Tesla! 

          They are only for the cool kids! 

Is the reverse psychology working? I think the Tesla is also a good choice. Most of my wheels are GotWay. I have had more problems with other "high quality wheels". 

[meepmeepmayer]

11 hours ago, chopsywa said:

I am looking at the Tesla and as we all do (don't we), my budget is suddenly $1483 for the 850.  Thinking the 850 might be the ideal weight / capacity compromise.

Make sure the version you buy is 84V, not 67.2V. I think the 850Wh is 84V (4*20 2900mAh cells = 858Wh) but I'm not 100% sure (830Wh = "840Wh" would be the nearest 67.2V battery).

By the way, if it is 84V (most likely it is - do you have a link?), it will weight exactly the same as the 1020Wh Tesla. Same number of battery cells, only with less capacity per cell (2900mAh instead of 3500mAh). So if weight (and not price) is your concern, the Tesla 1020Wh will have the same weight. It won't be heavier.

[chopsywa]

20 hours ago, RockyTop said:

You want the Tesla? You can't handle the Tesla! 

 

Ha ha. Yes down to MCM5 or Tesla. I have both in my cart at Ali Express. Just have to decide which and pull the trigger.

[chopsywa]

16 hours ago, meepmeepmayer said:

So if weight (and not price) is your concern, the Tesla 1020Wh will have the same weight. It won't be heavier.

Thanks for that. I was wondering. For the small price difference I'd go the 1020Wh.

[meepmeepmayer]

7 hours ago, chopsywa said:

Thanks for that. I was wondering. For the small price difference I'd go the 1020Wh.

You won't regret doing that if you get the Tesla. Good choice. Nobody ever regretted a too big battery.

[Hunka Hunka Burning Love]

The KS18XL looks like a really nice wheel.  Maybe the Gotway Nikola might be an option too, but we need to see some more reviews on it.  Dualtron II Ex or Thunder also looks crazy fun!    Maybe @Marty Backe should get one for the little woman if the EUC riding lessons aren’t panning out.

 

[chopsywa]

Well I'm back on a 14" wheel. Largely from what you guys said about the MCM5 riding like a 16", the toughness, and the ride, it seemed like it was the logical choice, so one is on its way.

[Lutalo]

Lots of choices, and everyone has their favorite wheel. I won't venture to tell which wheel is "best," because that is mostly opinion and you have gotten a bunch of those already. The opinions are cool because it's what you have solicited. 

I will tell you what wheel I would buy if I was in a similar situation to what you have described and actually liked any 16" wheel; the Kingsong 16s.

Big purchases are emotional and rational. Problem with rational is that emotions can make us rationalize anything.  So for me, at the end of the day, and for my money, I let my emotions rule because they rule anyway.

On the scale of buyer emotion, I trust the Kingsong more. Period. For a disposable, fun, recreational wheel, a feeling of security as a factor is lower on the criteria list. I might actually consider a Tesla. However, factor in the word "rely" to the buying equation and Kingsong is the only wheel on my list. 

For me, if I am going to "rely" on a wheel to commute to the place that enables me to pay my mortgage. If I am going to integrate a wheel into my life in any serious way; Kingsong everytime. 

Good luck. As you balance your particular priorities and emotions I sure that you will choose what appeals to you the most. In the end I think that you will find most of the wheels at which you are looking to be satisfactory choices.  

 

[eddiemoy]

I recommend the KS16S, there are lots of deals out there.  You can also get it with 680wh battery instead of the 840wh to save a little on the cost.  It is a solid wheel.  the KS16 was the wheel I mainly learned on and it is still in the back of my car for use as last mile and teaching others how to ride.  It is so beat up and has so many battle scars, but yet it is still running great.  The KS16S is 5km faster than my KS16 topping out at 35kmph.

It is a safe wheel and won't cut off on you if you didn't hear the beep of the Tesla because people turn off the tildback on the GW because the tiltback isn't reliable.  You cannot turn off the tiltback on the KS, but it is reliable very mild reminder that you have hit the limit.  As the wheel is very conservative, it will not cut off on you.

The trolley handle is better, perfectly centered.  You can do a magnetic pedal deployment, my favorite feature of the wheel.  Very easy to ride.  It is ergonomic and feels great and well balanced. Most of the folks I know who have a Tesla have fallen at least once due to cut out.  Of course they would say it is their fault for removing the tiltback and not hearing the beep.  The Tesla shell is also very fragile.  It will break if you drop it and you will need to buy a replacement shell. 

As for the MCM5, it is a 14" wheel.  I think 14" wheels are for smaller people and for tricks.  It is more comfortable to cruise on a 16" wheel.  And at higher speeds it is even more comfortable to cruise on a 18" wheel.  But it all depends on what you are going to use it for.  Hitting a bump on a 14" will be worse than hitting it on a 16".  Just physics.  16" is a good compromise, more portable, still able to ride well at speeds.  I wouldn't get more of the same since you already had a 14" wheel.

[RockyTop]

On 12/9/2018 at 6:34 PM, chopsywa said:

MCM5 is on its way.

The hunt is over ......... for now. 

Chopsywa chose the MCM5. I am sure the MCM5 is a great wheel. I know I would like to have one. 

@chopsywa remember to tell us how you like it. 

[Flying W]

@eddiemoy I 2nd everything said about the 16s and love mine. 

@chopsywa I've had my mcm5 for 4 days, put only 20mi on it so far but it's been great. Your going to love it! It has enough weight to feel like a proper transport vehicle and not like a toy. Took it to work twice, same route as I do every day on the 16s, and it did very well. 

Can't wait to hear your thoughts after you've had a few rides! 

[chopsywa]

Sitting in my office when I should be out on the boat. The wheel is supposed to arrive today so I am here to take possession. I'm a 57 year old  kid. 

[RockyTop]

19 minutes ago, chopsywa said:

Sitting in my office when I should be out on the boat. The wheel is supposed to arrive today so I am here to take possession. I'm a 57 year old  kid. 

I know the feeling.  I am eagerly awaiting my fourth wheel.  it is going to be a couple weeks. 

[chopsywa]

Well I gave up waiting in December and went away for a few days. Got back to work today and straight down to the postoffice. Picked it up, charged it and pumped up the tyre. I have ridden about 400m up and down the carpark. First impression is how smooth and stable it feels. I can't believe there could be so much difference between 2 14" wheels with the same tyre. I have never ridden a 16, or 18 (the Tesla was going to be my next wheel), so I can't say that it feels like anything else. The foot pedals are the biggest improvement over the MCM3. You actually get to put your foot flat onto them instead of hanging over the side with the commensurate pain ensuing. I got caught out though by the grips. I can't just slide my feet now. Have to basically place them right first time. Very grippy. I am hoping I can ride one legged with the new shell as the old one was impossible. It dug into your calf on the top edge and the pain was unbearable.

I am now waiting for the apk file to download from the pathetically slow kebye website so I can set it up properly. You'd think by now that Gotway would have a decent website and an app in the store. It would certainly help the brand.

I'll come back with another report when I get some kms on it, but it sure is a good start. 

[Flying W]

Awesome!  Your going to love it. I think you will come to live the grip on the pedals as well.  They work well with wet and dirty shoes. 

Looking forward to your riding impressions. 

[chopsywa]

10 hours ago, Flying W said:

Awesome!  Your going to love it. I think you will come to live the grip on the pedals as well.  They work well with wet and dirty shoes. 

Looking forward to your riding impressions. 

I just put up my impressions on another thread 

In all positive. Early days yet.