Which Wheel? Undecided After Testing

[Mike Sacristan]

18 hours ago, PY ⠀ said:

@Mike Sacristan

Hey man, thanks for your input. Watched a lot of your videos and you got great content 

Thanks! I appreciate it.  In my latest clip I go riding with Petra (accompanying her to work) and as you could see I wasn't really able to shake the Tesla. She hits the beeps now and then but she doesn't ride them sustained. It's just too risky. Heavier riders will get ~43 kmh on the Tesla before hitting the beeps.

18 hours ago, PY ⠀ said:

What do you mean? The Tesla is an option for me so just wondering what you mean here.

In regards to steering the 16X vs steering the Tesla. When I stand on the 16X my legs are quite a bit apart but they are very free and I barely touch the sides of the wheel. This gives me a great sense of freedom. Steering is done by shifting weight from pedal to pedal. Even when I lean heavily on turns I do it by simply putting more weight on one pedal and offloading the other. This took me quite a bit of practice. I have to ride very loose and have relaxed hips/pelvis. The wheel carves and flows under me and my upper body is more still. This is with the CX tyre. The CX tyre is also very particular in that it wants to stay perpendicular to everything so flat feet, a loose lowish posture and relaxed hips are a must for me to be able to ride out bumps, cracks and irregular terrain. This makes for a very stimulating ride.

When it comes to the Tesla it is the opposite. I am locked in (as I am with the MSX). If I push too heavy on the pedals the wheel will fly to the left or right and I will have to counter. This happens a lot when I am out riding with Petra and we switch wheels. We both end up screaming like idiots dabbing left and right. As I am locked in to the pads when pushing the pedal I also end up pushing with the pads and since the tyre flows freely I end up over steering.

18 hours ago, PY ⠀ said:

Wow really? One thing I didnt like about the 16x is how wide it is compared to the v8 (not same category but still). So the 16x will fall smaller between my legs than the Nikola?

The Nikola pads are the culprit. Some people slim them down by half by motorcycle tank pads might work too. The Nikola with pads also gives me the locked in feeling which is hard to get away from. However I am short at 5'5" (163cm). I don't mind the wide stance of the 16X as it is beneficial to how I ride it and the pedals accommodate for this.

18 hours ago, PY ⠀ said:

Well the same as you do in the first video once in a while on weekends, but also light trails with no pavement but no rocks/roots either. So really a good mix. I dont think i would do enough off road to justify having very high torque and highest pedal if its a compromise for general ride feel and portability. 

If a V8 can do it most other wheels will be able to do it. What holds the Tesla and especially the MCM5 is lower pedal clearance as well as the body clearance. So usually the highest point over a rock will be the best point instead of trying t navigate around them.

18 hours ago, PY ⠀ said:

Im still very very undecided and I live in canada so i wish i could enjoy the rest of fall to ride but i cant make a decision as I want to make the right choice... So tough.

My ideal wheel would be a v8 size with Tesla performance. Havent ridden the Tesla though
 

 

This is a classic dilemma when it comes to buying a wheel. We don't want to end up with buyers remorse. There are very few wheel out there that are bad but there are some that we should watch out for and those are: Z10 and 16X. These are a bit of a gamble and unless you have good support from your retailer I would recommend one of the proven wheels.

Despite the 16X problems that have been mentioned in numerous threads for me there is no other wheel. It does a little bit of everything that I want it to do.

Most people who try the Nikola like it instantly. My wife didn't though and I felt that it steered like a boat. This was a 100V 1845Wh though so it has an extra battery pack on the top. The 1554Wh 84v and the 1230Wh 100v as well as the upcoming 1800Wh 100V 21700 cell version only have two packs and better weight distribution.

The 18XL is also a very nice wheel with a slim and agile feel to it. It is also very reliable, very water resistant, has a good tyre that resist wear and last for thousands of km. The only thing is the whining of the motor.

The Tesla does tick all the boxes though. I have plenty of clips of Petra riding her Tesla, she rides fearlessly on gravel, does quite well on trails and skateparks and has dropped the wheel quite a few times. Gone riding in rain, etc.

AliExpress prices will be going down this week with Singles Day coming up.
The Nikola+ 1230Wh, Nikola 84v 1554Wh, 18XL and 16X all cost the same there. The MSX is cheaper.

I bought my MSX from Intelligent Walking Store because of the big savings compared to buying from a European retailer and also because the MSX is a proven wheel.
I bought my 16X from 1Radwerkstatt in Germany because I wanted the security of the retailer having my back in case of problems.

To all my friends who ask I always answer the same... get an 18XL from Intelligent Walking Store or if on a budget get a Tesla.

Hope this helps! I spent way too many hours/weeks reading about electric unicycles when I could have been riding one!

[Mike Sacristan]

5 hours ago, Flying W said:

Wheels are classified as a schedule 1 narcotic , you may want to consider a less expensive portable wheel for commuting (v8, 16s or mcm5 for pure excitement)  and a larger flagship wheel for weekend fun down the line. 

I came into this hobby by accident looking up scooter reviews for commuting to work.  Saw a video of chooch a yr and a half ago and immediately dropped the scooter idea. 

I bought a cheap slow toy wheel to learn on (would not recommend)  and within 2 weeks bought a 16s over a v8. 2600 trouble free miles on the 16s and I still have it. Added the large pedals too. 

Then I wanted to get an 18in.....saw @Marty Backe talking about the mcm5 (14in wheel) and bought that instead. For commuting it is perfect, the acceleration and breaking make you feel so safe when the unexpected happens. This wheel has 2700 miles it now. 

Both the 16s and mcm5 can be ridden any way you want for 18 to 20 miles and I've gone on 30 mile rides many times but you do need to stay under 20mph to get 30 miles of range. 

Now I'm wanting to go on longer rides so I'm back at it again looking for the right wheel. 

I come from a background rooted in sportbike riding for over 20 yrs. Wheeling has taken over as the go to hobby, something I thought would have been impossible. There is nothing else on earth that blends man and machine quite like a wheel!

If you really can only have one I dont think you can go wrong with the KS 18xl.  It is the jack of all trades, blending speed, range and convenience.  

If I could only have 2 wheels it be an mcm5 and MSX 100v 1845wh (1834wh?) but even then I know I'd still want a 16x and mten3 lol.....they are drugs at end of the day 

 

Agree! 18XL does everything well enough.

I would love to try an MCM5 some day. Chooch made it look like a lot of fun minus the part where he lost the bottom plastic part.

Yeah we are back to that little list of wheels:

MSX 100v 2200Wh 21700 version for ultimate speed/range.
16X with CX because it's so much fun.
Mten3.

A Monster would be interesting to try, as well as a Z10.
 

[Flying W]

4 hours ago, Mike Sacristan said:

A Monster would be interesting to try, as well as a Z10.

The Z10 is best looking wheel ever made to me. It's a shame they stopped supporting it. 

I'd also like to try a monster. I'm an inch shorter than you. I picture myself looking like little Brandon on that wheel. 

I like watching your videos too. But my wife doesnt believe that I'm watching for the wheels 

[Mike Sacristan]

1 hour ago, Flying W said:

The Z10 is best looking wheel ever made to me. It's a shame they stopped supporting it. 

I'd also like to try a monster. I'm an inch shorter than you. I picture myself looking like little Brandon on that wheel. 

Yeah I already feel small on the Nikola. My friend Tobbe might get a Monster. Maybe me and him should just make a pact to not get the same wheels so we can lend them to each other instead.

1 hour ago, Flying W said:

I like watching your videos too.

Thanks! I just posted a new one... with Monika actually riding the 16X on a normal cruise/mission to buy some groceries.
She said she wants to learn how to ride. I still get some scary moments on it even after 2000km.

1 hour ago, Flying W said:

But my wife doesnt believe that I'm watching for the wheels 

Haha and sorry lol. Winter time is here now so we will be all padded up now for 6 months though.