King Song S18 Discussion

[5Cauac]

7 minutes ago, OldFartRides said:

Is it like this ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334027205360?epid=171190912&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4dc592aaf0:g:ACUAAOSwZXdguZr8&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSprd4IgPv6LBzlteBBg9Pe1ZzY2LSIAbo8cfz5TZ%2FXANlBnL4IxlTqEeQ7RwGfd8p2FVU8LHwBHRqI0uCStXyjK1WYwWO8x4CFhsBWsVwm7CMDovlAzACjRgr0FzmrbmSByJLDPBzZjhLtyre9gkQE9WrMijckiepZ63%2B%2Fj8sUxaBUOBLuD9Jz7qOwPLuxrNEwNa5cz1xo%2BLQsd6QSnilow%2BG%2FIOnTUtUYaLBBY2lNUjd8XLk5UC%2B01mwYGpFCkjUqAt%2BDJgs2HA6ES3EpKlURBF%2By8j54%2FYvHMub17B%2BSjCUCfyjMK%2FIs4VlZhHDTPSyhSJmLIHVJSuMC%2FQcmUyWh2ywkeTxArX03cKrPUhqU4M8THNrhLK49sRMXY5oto8U%2B62uWNwxK9e%2FlNIar3hAF9kCWkGg7E2liC323dCqsL2oeM0%2B2JzNjb6SiZo0xXtPcz36nHnI2yTXgEZiXWbhdyGamAFVXB8dQo2CHhitsPs1duGmQMKo83YeALJxkz5RbYEYkN%2FnDGFar2rCZFdyP8kjPPUk4cviGYie2JyNs5ejmZHR62MpUYmG32oGQT%2BNGrXeIOUnFXqQT2SdiGn%2B%2BGc5AImH0BosQ8jduExEN2j2nh8ZJyzUErs9jIEk78NQSnmIavrl4gYf%2Fbf6yheCbmu1SKMd2uFCZpmKTl32w9jX7DYgUOLZbOFkYih77os8Cz%2B0WuAWHrNwqnG8Wu1zXbKz%2FYr8UiqMSUI83YQM9aC4V3b2RmtoZhPTdmLqcGl8Hz%2BFSa377coBPWLAwa7vya6KzljCUnC5094MG0papThHSlBe5IbwLag3Q94N5Tyv7lhR91Nm0zoRqw5Gc5vb0A%3D%3D|clp%3A2334524|tkp%3ABFBMpK2-2q9f

@NErider Dude! Jump on that like NOW!!! Only 4 left and a great price compared to ordering from JP.

Just be sure to get the "rear" tire.

[WillCO]

1 hour ago, OldFartRides said:

Is it like this ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334027205360?epid=171190912&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4dc592aaf0:g:ACUAAOSwZXdguZr8&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSprd4IgPv6LBzlteBBg9Pe1ZzY2LSIAbo8cfz5TZ%2FXANlBnL4IxlTqEeQ7RwGfd8p2FVU8LHwBHRqI0uCStXyjK1WYwWO8x4CFhsBWsVwm7CMDovlAzACjRgr0FzmrbmSByJLDPBzZjhLtyre9gkQE9WrMijckiepZ63%2B%2Fj8sUxaBUOBLuD9Jz7qOwPLuxrNEwNa5cz1xo%2BLQsd6QSnilow%2BG%2FIOnTUtUYaLBBY2lNUjd8XLk5UC%2B01mwYGpFCkjUqAt%2BDJgs2HA6ES3EpKlURBF%2By8j54%2FYvHMub17B%2BSjCUCfyjMK%2FIs4VlZhHDTPSyhSJmLIHVJSuMC%2FQcmUyWh2ywkeTxArX03cKrPUhqU4M8THNrhLK49sRMXY5oto8U%2B62uWNwxK9e%2FlNIar3hAF9kCWkGg7E2liC323dCqsL2oeM0%2B2JzNjb6SiZo0xXtPcz36nHnI2yTXgEZiXWbhdyGamAFVXB8dQo2CHhitsPs1duGmQMKo83YeALJxkz5RbYEYkN%2FnDGFar2rCZFdyP8kjPPUk4cviGYie2JyNs5ejmZHR62MpUYmG32oGQT%2BNGrXeIOUnFXqQT2SdiGn%2B%2BGc5AImH0BosQ8jduExEN2j2nh8ZJyzUErs9jIEk78NQSnmIavrl4gYf%2Fbf6yheCbmu1SKMd2uFCZpmKTl32w9jX7DYgUOLZbOFkYih77os8Cz%2B0WuAWHrNwqnG8Wu1zXbKz%2FYr8UiqMSUI83YQM9aC4V3b2RmtoZhPTdmLqcGl8Hz%2BFSa377coBPWLAwa7vya6KzljCUnC5094MG0papThHSlBe5IbwLag3Q94N5Tyv7lhR91Nm0zoRqw5Gc5vb0A%3D%3D|clp%3A2334524|tkp%3ABFBMpK2-2q9f

Ouch.  I should'a looked on ebay before I ordered from Amazon.JP.  Nice find!  Certainly looks the part...

[mrelwood]

8 hours ago, 5Cauac said:

@NErider Dude! Jump on that like NOW!!! Only 4 left and a great price compared to ordering from JP.

Just be sure to get the "rear" tire.

No no no, that is for a 18” rim size! Won’t fit on any EUC. The 2.75-14” version fits (most) 18x3” EUCs.

[OldFartRides]

Dummit. I knew that. Sorry guys.

[5Cauac]

7 hours ago, mrelwood said:

No no no, that is for a 18”

Oh Smack!!! Good catch!! Sorry if I made anyone jump the gun. 

[NErider]

As stated above, the S18 actually has a 14" rim. And the only place I can find that tire is Amazon JP. 

They just call it S18 because overall the tire measures almost 18".

In normal motor sports the tire is almost always defined by the wheel size it fits. 

I have seen a similar tread tire that is the correct size, but I would prefer to get one that already has been proven to fit. 

 

I have a pre-order in for an S20, but if I had an off road tire on the S18, I'm not sure I really "need" the newest coolest wheel. The S18 already does everything I need, but occasionally slips on light mud/wet trails and wet grass. 

[AtlasP]

On 12/3/2021 at 3:10 PM, NErider said:

As stated above, the S18 actually has a 14" rim. And the only place I can find that tire is Amazon JP. 

They just call it S18 because overall the tire measures almost 18".

In normal motor sports the tire is almost always defined by the wheel size it fits. 

King Song didn't just call it the S18 because of how they happen to measure--they call it that because it uses a bicycle tire that literally has "18 x 3" printed on it by the tire manufacturer. (Or at least most of them do--there can be some variance depending on when and from where you purchased your wheel.)

Historically EUCs didn't evolve from motorsports, they evolved from bicycles/ebikes--including that all early EUCs used bicycle/ebike tires and in fact most (by volume sales) still do today. That is where we inherit the annoying older western tire-size nomenclature from (where the tire "size" is neither the rim diameter nor the outer diameter but some random number somewhere in between). ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

And since that's how things started, that set the standard/precedent for how the industry and riders discuss EUC sizes through today--so now even though an increasing number of EUCs use moto tires (of the "2.75 - 14" -type nomenclature), to relate them to previous wheels/the industry at large, manufacturers still translate back to and advertise their wheel sizes by reference to the old bicycle nomenclature.

Edited December 6, 2021 by AtlasP

[SilbernerSurfer]

According to a product page on Aliexpress there are randomly sold two versions. One version with one valve at the damper, and one version with two valves at the damper.

 

Whats the difference?

 

PS.: This is the product page.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003093464521.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.272c2e0evmX3FW

Edited December 8, 2021 by SilbernerSurfer

[SilbernerSurfer]

What is the latest version?

And how to rcocnize the latest version if I want to order one?

Thank you!

[SilbernerSurfer]

45 minutes ago, SilbernerSurfer said:

What is the latest version?

And how to rcocnize the latest version if I want to order one?

Thank you!

 

2 hours ago, SilbernerSurfer said:

According to a product page on Aliexpress there are randomly sold two versions. One version with one valve at the damper, and one version with two valves at the damper.

 

Whats the difference?

 

PS.: This is the product page.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003093464521.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.272c2e0evmX3FW

I have figured it out I guess.

Seems that the 1 valve version is the newer one, and the 2 valve version is the older one.

[SilbernerSurfer]

I have ordered one from AE. Should be the newer 1 valve version.

Anything to do before the first ride? 

Any necessary mods?

This is my first EUC.

[OldFartRides]

Welcome !

First, you tear it apart and rebuild the suspension, fix the motor cables, carefully examine all soldering on the cb….JK.

Hopefully, QC did their job at KS factory. First time I aired my shock, I did it without using the spacer block. Second time I did use the block. I’m about 80kg and like to run my tire a little soft. I can make a slight dimple in it with both thumbs, or about 27psi/ 186kpa/1.86 bar.

I use spray silicone on suspension joints. I am getting psyched up to tear mine down after nine months of riding. There are extensive threads about this by @Feynman and @Rehab1

Here’s one: 

https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/20030-my-s18-suspension-mods/

All the best,

Oh, btw, I cheated when I started out. I pushed a shopping cart around the lonely end of a big parking lot the first four sessions on the 16s. Then I used a belt for a leash for a long time to keep the wheel from getting away from me if I had to bail.

Have fun ! Keep the rubber side down !

 

[SilbernerSurfer]

30 minutes ago, OldFartRides said:

Welcome !

First, you tear it apart and rebuild the suspension, fix the motor cables, carefully examine all soldering on the cb….JK.

Hopefully, QC did their job at KS factory. First time I aired my shock, I did it without using the spacer block. Second time I did use the block. I’m about 80kg and like to run my tire a little soft. I can make a slight dimple in it with both thumbs, or about 27psi/ 186kpa/1.86 bar.

I use spray silicone on suspension joints. I am getting psyched up to tear mine down after nine months of riding. There are extensive threads about this by @Feynman and @Rehab1

Here’s one: 

https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/20030-my-s18-suspension-mods/

All the best,

Oh, btw, I cheated when I started out. I pushed a shopping cart around the lonely end of a big parking lot the first four sessions on the 16s. Then I used a belt for a leash for a long time to keep the wheel from getting away from me if I had to bail.

Have fun ! Keep the rubber side down !

 

Thank you!

Had the same Idea with the leash. I will use a lanyard.

The shopping cart idea is great, will try it.

Tear it apart before the first ride is a huge quest.

I am not very patient. But will follow your advice. 

[OldFartRides]

I was kidding about tearing it apart before riding (JK).

[Unventor]

3 hours ago, SilbernerSurfer said:

I have ordered one from AE. Should be the newer 1 valve version.

Anything to do before the first ride? 

Any necessary mods?

This is my first EUC.

Welcome. 

To keep things simple. First mod goes to the human. To adapt to this oddly EUC thingy. 

Now with the joke aside. Depending on how you treat you things many add some protection from early scratches to their first wheel.

How to do that on an S18 I do not know. But after a while you will realise that scratches are unavoidable so it matters less. 

[Tawpie]

4 hours ago, Unventor said:

scratches are unavoidable

Scratches and bashes are badges of honor... the only time you need it to look pretty is when it's sitting in the stand, rotating slowly in the display case under the special halogen light. Besides, the mud and dust cover everything pretty quickly so the badges of honor are hidden anyway.

@SilbernerSurfer Congratulations on your purchase! The learning curve can be super frustrating, but the wheel will reward you in kind. Keep your first sessions to 30 or so minutes with sleep in between, look where you want to go (30m straight ahead)... don't look down, and helmet + wrist guards always as an absolute bare minimum. Wrists are easily broken in low speed falls, brains don't do well with impact at all.

Edited December 8, 2021 by Tawpie

[Unventor]

Speaking about learning curve. I really am glad I made vidoes of my progress and starting point. Feel free to laugh @SilbernerSurfer and know that it is like to for most in the start. 

My 2nd session of 10ish min. That was as much I could handle during training

5th session of 10ish min. only doing 1 session a day sometimes with a few days in between.

The above session was in our buildings basement due to having show and ice outside at the time. But after a few days of strong spring weather  I could start exploring outside. This is one of the first times outside of the building.

Now I find these funny memories to look at as it helps me to recall how hard I found it at the time. But these days I just zip about not thinking much of it as I ride. And I looked pretty dorky but that is okey. It is part of a process. 

Now when you get into how to learn tp ride, my videos are not great. I had to do it this way due to the weather outside. But I got it in the end and much faster than I anticipated. Before I started my balance and strength of my knees were so bad I could stand on one leg to put on a sock or shoe. So all things considered I were happy the day I rode in traffic to work as that was a huge milestone for me. despite only being 1800m.

I share this as a mindset of inspiration to think of. Because in the start it seem darn right impossible. 

[ffontana]

On 11/3/2021 at 4:01 PM, Tawpie said:

Are these your own design? I'd like to be able to get a set if they are and you have shared the .stl!

Here you can download It.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4946412

[Fahrtwind]

Hi there,

since one week, I am a new proud S18 owner, ordered from Voltride located in Estonia. I read almost every S18 thread I could find and know about the pro and cons. I needed months to decide which unicycle to get next, after thousands of kms on my Inmotion V5F+ (the special batch from Jason) and V8F. So when the wheel arrived, I checked it for tire/fender alignment, the behavior of suspension etc.

Voltride told me, this Batch is from September 2021, Darknessbot shows "production Date march 2021" so it is one of the earlier batches, batteries are almost one year old...hmm.

The wheel is well aligned, it seems to be factory aligned by some washers they have put on the axle on both sides.

The suspension seems to work and is sensitive, with the deflated shock it fully expands when lifting the wheel.
When the suspension is fully pressed down, the inner screws of the linkage touch the fender on both sides. I think this is caused by design, not wrong assembling. This results in some noise, but I cannot feel the extra portion of friction. Have a look at red circle, this part rubbs against the fender when the suspension is compressed deeply.

BUT after the first 20km, I noticed the linkage arms of suspension rubb against each other, there is a scratch already...there is a small amount of abrasion/dust in this area. I guess this is not the way it should behave, the new wheel already shows signs of wear after just 20km of driving.

I am not sure if this could be fixed easily, I already contacted the vendor for a solution. I have a workshop and all needed tool and I am not afraid in fixing it by myself...any suggestions on how to fix this?

Thanks!
Manu!

Edited January 31, 2022 by Fahrtwind

[Paul A]

Maybe use a Dremel to abrade the area that is scratched by friction, as shown by the last picture.

Reduces the thickness slightly, creates a gap/space between the two parts scraping against each other.

Prevent further contact/scraping

Repaint afterwards to protect against corrosion.

 

[OldFartRides]

https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/20746-s18-full-strip-down-suspension-overhaul-tire-upgrade-mods-and-rebuild-my-personal-comprehensive-account/

https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/19647-s18-suspension-overhaul/

https://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/20030-my-s18-suspension-mods/

I’m psyching myself up to tear mine down and do these. 

[Fahrtwind]

I know these threads. I am not sure if I am motivated enough for the effort as the suspension works like it should. Of course I have nothing to compare with…

[OldFartRides]

Yeah, I didn’t want to tear my new wheel apart. Thought I’d ride it for a season first.

It worked well enough for me.

[Fahrtwind]

Ok, I got a hint from the telegram group "Kingsong International". They suggest to adjust the lenght of the bushing at the lower shock axis - that makes sense to me. I will check that.

However, I love the wheel. Although it is 18 inches tall and quite heavy (compared to my V8F) it ist still very nimble. When it comes to comfortability, it is a real game changer. With this wheel you just fly over the street. Sometimes I have to look down to assure there ist still something under my feet that connects me to the street  

[OldFartRides]

Finally got up the gumption to start taking apart the s18. Got the batts off. Hardest part was getting started.