Popular Post The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2020 Okay everyone... You have been (relentlessly) asking for it, so here is your chance to give us some final (pre-production) feedback on our EUC Bodyguard for the Gotway Nikola! Please note that the photos below show a prototype only - which has been hand cut and is not the final version. So, what sort of feedback do we want... Tell us what you think about the LED cut-outs - There are 100+ holes in the cover shown here. The challenge we have is finding the balance between showing off your LED and maintaining the integrity of what is a protective cover. We are thinking the cover would be a bit more robust if we were to reduce the number of holes a little - So would you all prefer a few less LED holes (possibly increasing the robustness) or leave it as it is (because you need to light up the world)? This Bodyguard has had a zipper added to facilitate the use of the scorpion trolley handle, but this does add a bit to the cost of the Bodyguard. Would riders be interested in having the choice of "with zip" (and trolley handle access) or "without zip" (meaning you can't use the trolley with the cover fitted)? This is to see if anyone out there doesn't use their trolley and would be happy to save a few dollars. And what about the colours... is there a preference for the solid black side, or the multi-colour version? Or would people prefer a reversed colour-scheme (like the 16X) either with a solid or multi-colour side? Of course, any other feedback will also be welcomed too. And, to save you asking... We will be putting a pre-order page up on our website shortly. Once we have locked in the production version. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delmeekc Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Looks great, have you one one for the MCM5? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefteris Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Quite beautiful i say! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number1stunner Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 I want a carbon fiber shell this looks like itl slip or it will be slipping around the body... Also it will keep the heat in when it's coming to summer...... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rehab1 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 4 hours ago, The Fat Unicyclist said: Tell us what you think about the LED cut-outs - There are 100+ holes in the cover shown here. The challenge we have is finding the balance between showing off your LED and maintaining the integrity of what is a protective cover. Although I don’t own a Nikola I can certainly appreciate the challenge you’re under. The 100 precise holes you fabricated into the Bodyguard is amazing but I sense your concern that this may attenuate the cover during the application and removal process. When I instruct a patient how to properly donn a neoprene knee, elbow or wrist brace I have them pull on the material only in the reinforced areas. Does the Bodyguard have any reinforced regions that the customer can tug on during the application and removal process without the concern of ripping through any of the led holes? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 4 hours ago, Delmeekc said: Looks great, have you one one for the MCM5? Not yet... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2020 2 hours ago, Number1stunner said: I want a carbon fiber shell this looks like itl slip or it will be slipping around the body... Also it will keep the heat in when it's coming to summer...... No, this does not slip around body, it is custom fitted and very secure. In addition. It provides better grip than the wheel or pads do alone. Heat is not a problem either, as EUC do not cool through the outer shells. If anything the extra layer would slow down the wheel being heated up from the summer sun. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED209 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 @The Fat Unicyclist this is magnificent! When will these become available for purchase? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2020 42 minutes ago, Rehab1 said: Although I don’t own a Nikola I can certainly appreciate the challenge you’re under. The 100 precise holes you fabricated into the Bodyguard is amazing but I sense your concern that this may attenuate the cover during the application and removal process. When I instruct a patient how to properly donn a neoprene knee, elbow or wrist brace I have them pull on the material only in the reinforced areas. Does the Bodyguard have any reinforced regions that the customer can tug on during the application and removal process without the concern of ripping through any of the led holes? Thanks @Rehab1, but that isn't quite the reason behind the question... The outer layer of the Bodyguard is designed to be resilient. The prototype before this actually had more holes in it and I still wasn't able to tear it at all (and believe me, I tried). Holes affect the way the neoprene stretches and it is a challenge to adjust the pattern to compensate for that correctly. One of the key things about the Bodyguard is that it fits tightly and while we can adjust to cater for so many holes, it would be a lot easier with no holes at all. As the side LED are one of the features of the Nikola though, we need to find the balance between too many and not enough. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 10 minutes ago, ED209 said: @The Fat Unicyclist this is magnificent! When will these become available for purchase? Thanks @ED209! We will be adding it to our website shortly as a pre-order, with the first units expected to ship early in March. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexutlang Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Is it possible for a transparent material around the LED instead of holes? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_bike_kite Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Don't have a Nikola but the cover in black looks very nice. Not sure about the issue with the handle though - is there a way of keeping the handle outside the cover but strapping it down with a Velcro strap which would allow quick release for those that need it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred8569 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Hi everyone, These are good news here, here's my personal opinion : I hope there will be an all black version (and enough pcs left when I will pre order it 😅) About the amount of holes, if ever this is possible, having a transparent material instead would be great. I think I saw another BG from Turkey for the KS18(X)L which has it. If it's never possible, having as many holes as possible while it's still robust enough is great for me About the zip section, is it possible to have more photos of the above section of the wheel ? When I read you, I understood that the neoprene part you can zip is not attached to the trolley, Am I right ? The zip is a solution, but Whenever there's a problem with it .. How about the use of Velcro and a larger part above the trolley so it can cover it all when folded. And a problem with a Velcro sound less problematic for me. Just some thoughts coming up through my mind but you're the BG maker and I look forward to knowing more 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chobot Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 (edited) YES oh man I'm so excited! Tell us what you think about the LED cut-outs - There are 100+ holes in the cover shown here. The challenge we have is finding the balance between showing off your LED and maintaining the integrity of what is a protective cover. We are thinking the cover would be a bit more robust if we were to reduce the number of holes a little - So would you all prefer a few less LED holes (possibly increasing the robustness) or leave it as it is (because you need to light up the world)? Answer: Preferably, I'd like to have the one without the cutout holes more, but if consumers want holes to show the lights, fewer holes but reinforced with stitching for better integrity, I want it built like a tank, durability is #1 in my book when looking for a bodyguard. This Bodyguard has had a zipper added to facilitate the use of the scorpion trolley handle, but this does add a bit to the cost of the Bodyguard. Would riders be interested in having the choice of "with zip" (and trolley handle access) or "without zip" (meaning you can't use the trolley with the cover fitted)? This is to see if anyone out there doesn't use their trolley and would be happy to save a few dollars. Answer: An option would be cool, but preferably having a zipper as a standard I think would be a best fit I tend to use the handle often. Follow Up Questions: -What type of zipper & size will be added? (e.g. #10 heavy duty, ykk, plastic with size #8, Ziplon, etc.) -How much would be the additional cost? (temp quote would be cool if possible if not that's ok ) And what about the colours... is there a preference for the solid black side, or the multi-colour version? Or would people prefer a reversed colour-scheme (like the 16X) either with a solid or multi-colour side? Answer: Solid Black for sure is my choice, I love the solid black option! If there is a multi-color version, I would advise to reverse the color scheme, the middle portion would look better as the highlight color. Summary /TL;DR : what would make me purchase one?: Solid black, No holes, durable zipper for the handle. Hope the Feedback Helps! Edited February 9, 2020 by chobot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjPanJan Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 8 hours ago, The Fat Unicyclist said: Hmm. Gamechanger for me. Now is more hard decide....... KS16X vs Nikola Plus 100V ...One of my excuses against Nikola Plus 100V was that he had no protective cover.. Now my brain need rethink all heeelp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 3 hours ago, Alexander Ronquillo Utlang said: Is it possible for a transparent material around the LED instead of holes? See below... 1 hour ago, fred8569 said: About the amount of holes, if ever this is possible, having a transparent material instead would be great. I think I saw another BG from Turkey for the KS18(X)L which has it. If it's never possible, having as many holes as possible while it's still robust enough is great for me We have not been able to find a suitable transparent material that can be bonded to the neoprene. The Turkish cover you refer to is a fabric cover with transparent pieces stitched in place. We are unsure of how durable that solution would be, and haven't seen anything more of it since those original photos. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, mike_bike_kite said: Don't have a Nikola but the cover in black looks very nice. Not sure about the issue with the handle though - is there a way of keeping the handle outside the cover but strapping it down with a Velcro strap which would allow quick release for those that need it? We did look at having the cover fit under the handle, but as the Bodyguard is a tight fit, that prevents the handle from locking down fully. Even if it were fastened, as it would be slightly open it would put the handle at risk of breaking in an accident. 1 hour ago, fred8569 said: About the zip section, is it possible to have more photos of the above section of the wheel ? When I read you, I understood that the neoprene part you can zip is not attached to the trolley, Am I right ? The zip is a solution, but Whenever there's a problem with it .. How about the use of Velcro and a larger part above the trolley so it can cover it all when folded. And a problem with a Velcro sound less problematic for me. You are correct, the zip only holds the two sides of the Bodyguard together. When unzipped (toward the back of the wheel - where the handle is) the handle can then be lifted and used as normal (with or without re-closing the zip). We did consider using Velcro instead, but remember that it needs to be full length (to hold the Bodyguard securely and protect the wheel). And opening (and closing) a ½ meter long strip of Velcro would be a lot more difficult than using a zipper. 1 hour ago, chobot said: Follow Up Questions: -What type of zipper & size will be added? (e.g. #10 heavy duty, ykk, plastic with size #8, Ziplon, etc.) We are still finalising the choice for the zip... But it will be plastic, heavy duty and high quality. Edited February 9, 2020 by The Fat Unicyclist 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 1 hour ago, fred8569 said: I hope there will be an all black version Possibly... 1 hour ago, chobot said: Answer: Solid Black for sure is my choice, I love the solid black option! Oh, okay. Yes, we will have a solid black version! 1 hour ago, chobot said: Answer: Preferably, I'd like to have the one without the cutout holes more, Ahh... The "Stealth Edition". Yes, that will be an option too - But a secret one that you need to ask us for! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 1 hour ago, DjPanJan said: Hmm. Gamechanger for me. Now is more hard decide....... KS16X vs Nikola Plus 100V ...One of my excuses against Nikola Plus 100V was that he had no protective cover.. Now my brain need rethink all heeelp You know that there is one really easy answer to this dilemma... Buy both! With Bodyguards too, of course. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meepmeepmayer Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 My first impression: the multi colored version looks like a wifebeater (undershirt) But it looks great and I'm impressed by the effort gone into showing the LEDs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvoKnvl Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 This is awesome! I've been thinking about adding a Nikola Plus to the stable and this was one of the biggest things missing for me. The nature of the clear plastic and how easy it seems to be able to scratch has always worried me. I had considered maybe doing an xpel type skin to the body, but I think this is a better solution. As for my thoughts, I like the lights, but I can see how adding so many holes can make it weaker. It seems the concern is the thin amount of skin between holes would compromise how well it would hold up if the material got pulled. For me, I would say maybe every other hole? You'll lose some lights but I think the material between holes would be a lot thicker and more stable. Maybe every 1/3? I'm not sure how close the LED are to one another, so I can't say for sure. Trolley handle for me would be a must. Zipper works. I'd love YKK but I don't know what the difference in cost would be to us in the end, vs another one. Color: I like the 2nd design as it gives it a little more than just a mass black circle, but I could go either way. My current 16x one is just a mass black blog, but I like the shape of the 16x better. Glad to see it's coming. Now you're making me think about a Nikola Plus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rolekl Posted February 9, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2020 Oh man, you could have posted this a few days earlier... It would have saved me a couple of hours and about 25 meters of duct tape Price depending of course, I'd probably go for the all black stealth version too. I need to use the handle, so velcro, zipper or something would be a must. Will the magnetic pedals still stay up with the cover? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D3m0nzz Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Love the two-tone look and absolutely would need a zipper to access the trolley handle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 4 hours ago, meepmeepmayer said: My first impression: the multi colored version looks like a wifebeater (undershirt) But it looks great and I'm impressed by the effort gone into showing the LEDs Thanks Meep! When we are prototyping Chrissi plays around with colours (partly to use up scraps and partly to help to see what going on). For the final version, I'm thinking we might offer colour either on the edge or in the centre "wifebeater" panel... With other custom configurations, of course, for those really keen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 3 hours ago, EvoKnvl said: As for my thoughts, I like the lights, but I can see how adding so many holes can make it weaker. It seems the concern is the thin amount of skin between holes would compromise how well it would hold up if the material got pulled. For me, I would say maybe every other hole? You'll lose some lights but I think the material between holes would be a lot thicker and more stable. Maybe every 1/3? I'm not sure how close the LED are to one another, so I can't say for sure. We have chosen pretty tough neoprene, so weakness shouldn't be an issue. Our next prototype will have a few less holes, but we do want to expose the LED for those of us who like exposing themselves. And yes, we are definitely focussed on finding the best quality zip for this Bodyguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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