My 84-volt Nikola Triumphs, Tribulations, and Failures

[Nils]

1 hour ago, Jim Martin said:

Has anyone with the Nikola had it start dipping forward at high speed (20+ MPH)?  It's the strangest feeling, it's like once I get going fast the pedals dip forward a few degrees.  Is this a calibration issue?  What's the best way to accurately calibrate this wheel?  Place it on a stand, use a level, is it all that important for it to be perfectly horizontally and vertically aligned when calibrating?

I can't say that I have noticed any pedal dipping related to speed. There is this already known thing also present on the MSX (and more models?) where if you're riding in anything but the hard mode and ride over rocky/uneven ground you'll get pedal dipping that restores itself after a while. A weird feature that, not sure what the reason behind it would be exactly. Where you hitting some bumpy stretches at the time?

For calibration in my experience with the Nikola it's not that sensitive. I just calibrate fixing the wheel with my hand/legs and adjust forward or backward as necessary. Works for me. Reading the KS16X thread it seems like it would need to be a rigorous process for things to work, but it's not something that I've experienced myself with the Nikola at any rate. Could be different between brands possibly, I would be interested to hear how others approach this and what amout of thoroughness they apply (I tilt mine a little bit backward FWIW).

[Marty Backe]

2 hours ago, Jim Martin said:

Has anyone with the Nikola had it start dipping forward at high speed (20+ MPH)?  It's the strangest feeling, it's like once I get going fast the pedals dip forward a few degrees.  Is this a calibration issue?  What's the best way to accurately calibrate this wheel?  Place it on a stand, use a level, is it all that important for it to be perfectly horizontally and vertically aligned when calibrating?

Never.

But as @Nils says, if you're riding in soft mode the pedals can certainly move around, like an old car that needs new shocks.

[Jim Martin]

57 minutes ago, Nils said:

I can't say that I have noticed any pedal dipping related to speed. There is this already known thing also present on the MSX (and more models?) where if you're riding in anything but the hard mode and ride over rocky/uneven ground you'll get pedal dipping that restores itself after a while. A weird feature that, not sure what the reason behind it would be exactly. Where you hitting some bumpy stretches at the time?

For calibration in my experience with the Nikola it's not that sensitive. I just calibrate fixing the wheel with my hand/legs and adjust forward or backward as necessary. Works for me. Reading the KS16X thread it seems like it would need to be a rigorous process for things to work, but it's not something that I've experienced myself with the Nikola at any rate. Could be different between brands possibly, I would be interested to hear how others approach this and what amout of thoroughness they apply (I tilt mine a little bit backward FWIW).

Yes, I was going over a rough patch I believe, but I also think it was doing this on a straightaway too.  I prefer it tilted back a bit in calibration, can't stand any forward dipping.  Are you riding in Soft, Medium or Hard?

 

11 minutes ago, Marty Backe said:

Never.

But as @Nils says, if you're riding in soft mode the pedals can certainly move around, like an old car that needs new shocks.

What mode do you ride in Marty?

[Nils]

1 minute ago, Jim Martin said:

Yes, I was going over a rough patch I believe, but I also think it was doing this on a straightaway too.  I prefer it tilted back a bit in calibration, can't stand any forward dipping.  Are you riding in Soft, Medium or Hard?

I'm always riding in medium mode (for now at least). Medium also has the pedal dipping over rough surfaces, can't say whether it's the same as for soft mode or not though. What mode are you in?

[Jim Martin]

16 minutes ago, Nils said:

I'm always riding in medium mode (for now at least). Medium also has the pedal dipping over rough surfaces, can't say whether it's the same as for soft mode or not though. What mode are you in?

Was medium but think I like hard better, just switched to try and stop the pedal dipping 

Edited August 1, 2019 by Jim Martin

[Marty Backe]

2 hours ago, Jim Martin said:

Yes, I was going over a rough patch I believe, but I also think it was doing this on a straightaway too.  I prefer it tilted back a bit in calibration, can't stand any forward dipping.  Are you riding in Soft, Medium or Hard?

 

What mode do you ride in Marty?

Mostly the hardest mode. Sometimes for variety I switch to soft but I ultimately end up in the hard mode again. This is very personal. @houseofjob swears by the soft mode.

[houseofjob]

2 minutes ago, Marty Backe said:

This is very personal. @houseofjob swears by the soft mode.

Agreed, personal.

But FWIW, I can't use the 100V V2 Monster soft mode unfortunately (really want to) because it swings too wide 

Edited August 1, 2019 by houseofjob

[houseofjob]

@Jim Martin @Nils Dunno which Nikola you have, 84V or 100V (I recently rode an 84V to compare, and the modes are slightly harder/more resistance than the 100V modes), but I would suggest giving the Nikola soft mode a good college try at least, even if you aren't a usual soft mode rider. 

The Nikola soft mode has a slight rubbery resistance, unlike you're typical wide-swinging, glide-y Gotway soft mode.

You might be surprised which mode you end up liking the most!

[Marty Backe]

 

[Zack Wong]

Just got into EUC’s a couple weeks ago. Learned on a beater MCM4 and am picking up one of these 84v nikolas now. I can’t wait! Is there any recommendations on any out of the box changes? I’ve seen a lot about wheelog but have iOS. Is it worth it to buy a cheap android tablet or something to get what it offers? 

[EUC Custom Power-Pads]

33 minutes ago, Marty Backe said:

 

What kind of shirt are you wearing?

I never used protective wear in my life (motorcycle, bike). Just Jeans, Shorts, Shirt, Gloves and a Helmet.

But for my next EUC (16X) I will change that.

Until now I buyed:

Demon Flexmeter Double Wrist Guards
POC Joint Vpd 2.0 Elbow (the DH Version with hard plastik on top is of course better for sliding, but was to heavy/thick for me)
POC Joint Vpd 2.0 Elbow (the DH Version with hard plastik on top is of course better for sliding, but was to heavy/thick for me)

Bell Super 3R mips will follow. (hope it fits my head)

Now I´m looking for light shoulder protection.

[Marty Backe]

3 minutes ago, buell47 said:

What kind of shirt are you wearing?

I never used protective wear in my life (motorcycle, bike). Just Jeans, Shorts, Shirt, Gloves and a Helmet.

But for my next EUC (16X) I will change that.

Until now I buyed:

Demon Flexmeter Double Wrist Guards
POC Joint Vpd 2.0 Elbow (the DH Version with hard plastik on top is of course better for sliding, but was to heavy/thick for me)
POC Joint Vpd 2.0 Elbow (the DH Version with hard plastik on top is of course better for sliding, but was to heavy/thick for me)

Bell Super 3R mips will follow. (hope it fits my head)

Now I´m looking for light shoulder protection.

Leatt 3DF Airfit Lite Shoulder Tee

[EUC Custom Power-Pads]

You post pictures in underwear? (Amazon called it UNDERWEAR)

[Mike Sacristan]

2 hours ago, Marty Backe said:

 

The coolest almost retired guy I know!

[houseofjob]

5 hours ago, Zack Wong said:

Just got into EUC’s a couple weeks ago. Learned on a beater MCM4 and am picking up one of these 84v nikolas now. I can’t wait! Is there any recommendations on any out of the box changes? I’ve seen a lot about wheelog but have iOS. Is it worth it to buy a cheap android tablet or something to get what it offers? 

Congrats!

If you're handy, or can find someone who's handy, I would tear into the wheel to make sure all the screws and bolts are firmly in, especially the 12 board MOSFET screw, the pedal arm screws, maybe even the axle nuts (although those should be good out of the box) (I do this for any new wheel I get now, as I don't trust these company manufacture line workers.

Then, do at the very least the hydrophobic speaker cloth install that @Marty Backe & @Dzlchef (I beleive(?)) did, as that is a point of weakness for water infiltration.

Lastly, IMHO avoid setting the Nikola to Hard mode in the app, use anything else (albeit, I have yet to try medium mode, which I will today). The Hard mode is simply unusable IMHO on the Nikola, unlike every other previous Gotway model Hard modes, and ruins the experience of the Nikola ( @dieterGRAMS just tried mine last night after trying another riders' Nik+ set on Hard mode and had 2 different reactions for the same wheel LOL). And on the flip side, don't be scared to use the Nikola Soft mode, as it's slightly different than the typical Gotway Soft mode, has a soft rubbery resistance to it, and I think is palatable for riders who normally don't even go Soft mode.

[Patton250]

35 minutes ago, houseofjob said:

Congrats!

If you're handy, or can find someone who's handy, I would tear into the wheel to make sure all the screws and bolts are firmly in, especially the 12 board MOSFET screw, the pedal arm screws, maybe even the axle nuts (although those should be good out of the box) (I do this for any new wheel I get now, as I don't trust these company manufacture line workers.

Then, do at the very least the hydrophobic speaker cloth install that @Marty Backe & @Dzlchef (I beleive(?)) did, as that is a point of weakness for water infiltration.

Lastly, IMHO avoid setting the Nikola to Hard mode in the app, use anything else (albeit, I have yet to try medium mode, which I will today). The Hard mode is simply unusable IMHO on the Nikola, unlike every other previous Gotway model Hard modes, and ruins the experience of the Nikola ( @dieterGRAMS just tried mine last night after trying another riders' Nik+ set on Hard mode and had 2 different reactions for the same wheel LOL). And on the flip side, don't be scared to use the Nikola Soft mode, as it's slightly different than the typical Gotway Soft mode, has a soft rubbery resistance to it, and I think is palatable for riders who normally don't even go Soft mode.

 You know after you mocked the living crap out of me the other day it kind of made me gun shy as to giving my opinion on these wheels here but I must say I have my Nikola 84v set in the hard mode and like a lot. But to each his own right? He should try them all. I did. 

[houseofjob]

13 minutes ago, Patton250 said:

 You know after you mocked the living crap out of me the other day it kind of made me gun shy as to giving my opinion on these wheels here but I must say I have my Nikola 84v set in the hard mode and like a lot. But to each his own right? He should try them all. I did. 

Er, I thought I was agreeing with you, but trying to say what you said in a more clear fashion(??) 

And yes, you're right, one should try All the modes, but more than just a few minutes. I guess my distaste for the Nikola Hard mode might just be personal.

Edited August 2, 2019 by houseofjob

[Patton250]

3 minutes ago, houseofjob said:

Er, I thought I was agreeing with you, but trying to say what you said in a more clear fashion(??) 

And yes, you're right, one should try All the modes, but more than just a few minutes. I guess my distaste for the Nikola Hard mode might just be personal.

No worries man. 

 Soft mode for me tilts forward and back too much for me. It’s like there’s too much play. 

[Marty Backe]

1 hour ago, houseofjob said:

Er, I thought I was agreeing with you, but trying to say what you said in a more clear fashion(??) 

And yes, you're right, one should try All the modes, but more than just a few minutes. I guess my distaste for the Nikola Hard mode might just be personal.

Ya think? 

[houseofjob]

1 hour ago, Patton250 said:

No worries man. 

 Soft mode for me tilts forward and back too much for me. It’s like there’s too much play. 

LOL Thanks.

So I went back in hindsight through my posts in relation to your's, and I realize how that one ridiculous post I did could've been interpreted as mocking your replies, which was clearly not my intention, and I'm sorry for the misunderstanding! (ah the joys of the Internet!)

That post was truly meant to diffuse the ridiculousness IMHO of this silent, but tense "King Song vs Gotway" thing, as if it was Reagan v Gorbachev and the Cold War all over again, as I'm very much pro-EUC consumer, not pro-brand. 

Unfortunately, I didn't think through the possible 'mocking' interpretation angle, as again, I actually (in my own interpretation) agreed with what you were saying! 

And if you know my posting history, I am not a fan of excluding and alienating fellow forum members, and try to see all the possible angles and pitfalls when I post about sensitive subjects on the forums (clearly I missed that here). I actually think this forum is very civil and well-intentioned, relative to other hobbyist forums, (a big reason why I love and regularly participate here), and that, while users can get very heated supporting the wheel and/or brand they love, their hearts are usually coming from a good place (minus the occasional bad apple).

Besides, the fact that we ride on electrified circus wheels is inherently nerdy & super-geeky, and we would all be fodder for bullying and noogies if we were all back in grade school!

And BTW, I very much respect the fact that you bought both 16X & Nikola, as that's what I would've done in my early wheel history: experiencing for myself and not just following along with the masses. But also, as you can see, experiences with the same wheel model can vary drastically with factors like rider experience; wheel response modes; comfortability with said wheel response modes; tire selection; riding technique; and so on & so forth, so I would hope you realize that, while your experiences at this point in time are very valid from the newer wheel owner perspective, they will probably change the more you ride and progress (as they did with me).

 

P.S. My first year, I couldn't stomach any wheel with any kind of soft mode, so I know where you are coming from.

But it took me riding with @Tishawn Fahie on his super swingy soft MSV3 for a good long ride (being 2 years deep into EUC) to fully realize what Gotway soft mode was all about, so I would implore you to keep an open mind, later down the proverbial  road.

 

End apology rant.

[Jim Martin]

17 hours ago, houseofjob said:

@Jim Martin @Nils Dunno which Nikola you have, 84V or 100V (I recently rode an 84V to compare, and the modes are slightly harder/more resistance than the 100V modes), but I would suggest giving the Nikola soft mode a good college try at least, even if you aren't a usual soft mode rider. 

The Nikola soft mode has a slight rubbery resistance, unlike you're typical wide-swinging, glide-y Gotway soft mode.

You might be surprised which mode you end up liking the most!

I have both the 84v and the 100v.  I haven't tried soft, I guess I will give it a shot, but if it does any forward dipping I'm sure I'm going to hate it.

[houseofjob]

3 minutes ago, Jim Martin said:

I have both the 84v and the 100v.  I haven't tried soft, I guess I will give it a shot, but if it does any forward dipping I'm sure I'm going to hate it.

It does, but not in a bad way IMHO. The Nikola hard mode actually makes the pedals dip and lock in a manner that I, myself, a self-professing soft-mode-pedal-swing-dipping lover, really don't like.

[Zack Wong]

5 hours ago, houseofjob said:

Congrats!

If you're handy, or can find someone who's handy, I would tear into the wheel to make sure all the screws and bolts are firmly in, especially the 12 board MOSFET screw, the pedal arm screws, maybe even the axle nuts (although those should be good out of the box) (I do this for any new wheel I get now, as I don't trust these company manufacture line workers.

Then, do at the very least the hydrophobic speaker cloth install that @Marty Backe & @Dzlchef (I beleive(?)) did, as that is a point of weakness for water infiltration.

Lastly, IMHO avoid setting the Nikola to Hard mode in the app, use anything else (albeit, I have yet to try medium mode, which I will today). The Hard mode is simply unusable IMHO on the Nikola, unlike every other previous Gotway model Hard modes, and ruins the experience of the Nikola ( @dieterGRAMS just tried mine last night after trying another riders' Nik+ set on Hard mode and had 2 different reactions for the same wheel LOL). And on the flip side, don't be scared to use the Nikola Soft mode, as it's slightly different than the typical Gotway Soft mode, has a soft rubbery resistance to it, and I think is palatable for riders who normally don't even go Soft mode.

Thanks for the lengthy post! I didn’t realize gotway even had an app until two days ago and I was seeing what I like on my MCM4 and ended up liking medium a lot. I’ll be sure to try out all the different modes and find a sweet spot. 

I’ve heard some people also re-grip their pedals with something that isn’t that plastic stuff. Recommended? 

[Nils]

1 hour ago, Zack Wong said:

I’ve heard some people also re-grip their pedals with something that isn’t that plastic stuff. Recommended?

Newer Nikola versions come with grip tape now - they changed it after the first gen Nikolas so no need to do that.

Edited August 2, 2019 by Nils
Languaging failed work

[houseofjob]

Quote

Thanks for the lengthy post! 

Sure~

1 hour ago, Zack Wong said:

I’ve heard some people also re-grip their pedals with something that isn’t that plastic stuff. Recommended? 

A bunch of us in NYC really are liking regripping with the non-abrasive DKL stuff: https://dklskateboarding.com/#home-features

I know @Marty Backe recommends regripping with a 3M something, and that also seems to be equally as good, based on ppl's feedback on the forums.

Edited August 2, 2019 by houseofjob