Popular Post Mookie Posted January 5, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2020 So I got an inmotion V8/Glide 3 primarily as a commute vehicle. I wanted to keep it under $1K. I was initially intrigued by the kingsong 14D, because I've read its a very easy/super fun wheel to ride and it has good power for it's size - decent cruising speed, etc. But it just didn't go far enough on a charge for my commute. So I started looking at the V8. I know it's somewhat underpowered, and a little clunky for downtown sidewalks. But it goes the distance I need with relatively good speed. So that's what I got. Would have loved to have gotten a KS 16s, but $$ so maybe in the future. The reason I decided to start riding a wheel is cuz I was paying about $65 a week in parking fees. It's really a no brainer, the wheel will pay for itself in a few short months. I would see guys riding them downtown around my work, so I started asking them about their wheels, how long it took before they were good enough to commute, etc. My wife was like, "Electric Unicycle?? WTF is that???". She was still skeptical until I started commuting. Now I've noticed she writes how much I save on gas/parking each day on the calendar, and that will go toward the credit card payment for my wheel. So she's happy now too. And you know what they say, "Happy wife, happy life". 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Kim Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Kingsong 18L/18XL, perhaps a Nikola 100V or MSX 100V. Time is money as well, faster you get to and from work, the more time you have to spend with the family. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meepmeepmayer Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) It gets complicated if weight/size matters. Otherwise for any regular commute that is > 3km/2 miles, I'd get something with a nice big wide comfortable tire, for daily comfort and obstacle forgiveness. 18+ incher or wide tire "16" incher like the 16X/Nik/V10F I guess. Just glide to work in smooth relaxed cushiness while you slowly wake up. Why not? The only other reason (non-weight/size) I can think of to buy a smaller wheel for a daily commute would be a very short commute or when you have a lot of starts and stops (city streets?) or acrobatic riding where maybe a lighter, smaller, better accelerating wheel is more enjoyable to use. And you know what they say: "Stronger wheels are safer!" and "You bought another wheel, what can the wife really do?" I am not responsible for any consequences of this recommendation. TDLR: Go for a big, comfy tire as soon as it makes sense (= the riding matters more than the rest). Edited January 5, 2020 by meepmeepmayer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortal Coil Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Mookie said: And you know what they say, "Happy wife, happy life". Amen to that! A pity there's no equivalent phrase/sentiment for husbands... I'm in a similar situation to you at the moment. We just closed out a big discussion on the commuting merits of the Kingsong 16x/18xl (at least I think it's closed, it kinda took on a life of its own) I wasn't paying parking fees so the only saving I could claim was the fuel not being used and that is more difficult to calculate. In the end the option I had to go for to afford the expense was to downgrade my car. Agree with the above posters. for door-to-door commuting; bigger, faster, longer better. The only reason to commute on a light weight sub 16" wheel is if you are jumping on and off trains or buses. You're in Seattle I see, so InMotion may well be the best brand choice as they seem to be the only ones at the moment taking weather proofing seriously. There is a new InMotion wheel rumored at the moment... Good luck! Edited January 5, 2020 by Mortal Coil 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mookie Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 31 minutes ago, Mortal Coil said: You're in Seattle I see, so InMotion may well be the best brand choice as they seem to be the only ones at the moment taking weather proofing seriously. That was a factor for sure and the kingsong 14D is also waterproof. My commute is 4 miles each way. Takes me about 20 minutes. 2/3 of it is wide open bike paths. 1/3 is crowded downtown streets. I have the wheel at factory tilt/nag warning settings. Starts to tilt at like 12 mph and nags at about 14 mph. When it feels like an extension of my body I will bump it up to the max which is roughly 5 mph faster. Would knock 4 or 5 minutes off my commute. But the limiting factor for model selection this time was cost - <--$1000. My plan is to master this wheel, then get a bigger one and use this one as a "guest wheel" for my friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterwheel Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, Mookie said: But 14D just didn't go far enough on a charge for my commute 1 hour ago, Mookie said: My commute is 4 miles each way. 14D will do that just fine Edited January 6, 2020 by winterwheel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyboyEUC Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) I did the exact same thing you did. I had a 3.5 mile commute with 1 mile on busy roads. I put 1300 miles on the 14d that I purchased used for $425. I then found a used 14s for $400 so I bought that one and sold my 14d locally. 3 months after that I got the 18XL. I'm glad that I had the 14d to learn on but you will outgrow it quickly. Used wheels are really cheap. I'd recommend a used 16s or used 14s or even a used ACM or MCM5. Charging the 14d twice a day got old very fast. You will start to here the beeps about 6 miles into any ride. Update: browsing the used wheels section of forum, I found 3 ks16s models under $1000. Edited January 6, 2020 by Flyboy10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mookie Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 2 hours ago, Flyboy10 said: Update: browsing the used wheels section of forum, I found 3 ks16s models under $1000. I considered a used wheel, but wanted a new one. Might consider a used one down the road ... if it was cheap enough and a major upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mookie Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, winterwheel said: 14D will do that just fine Well, I like to venture around on my way home from work sometimes and take alternate routes. Will do so even more when the weather starts to warm up in a few months. I like to run around downtown on my lunch hour too. Is nice to have a bit more range than I need. The V8 cost $100 more than the 14D, well worth it for the extra range ... but was still a tough decision. It maneuvers pretty well downtown. When I come in at 5:45 am, the streets are largely empty so I ride mostly on the streets coming. Going home, the streets are busy and it's rush hour so I stay on sidewalks and bike lanes. And the side streets if there are no cars. Edited January 6, 2020 by Mookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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