EUC durability when doing drops (curbs/stairs)

[redsnapper]

Is it wise to be doing drops on EUC (down stairs, off curbs,etc)? No doubt this will vary between manufacturers/models but I am thinking life of machine will be reduced given the structural shock this can induce. Have you broken a machine doing this? What are the common failure points? And do you think this riding style puts your machine at significant risk? 

[Chriull]

6 minutes ago, amelanso said:

Have you broken a machine doing this?

Here was just a report of an broken rim of an E+ ?going down stairs?.

6 minutes ago, amelanso said:

What are the common failure points?

I'd guess axle, pedals, rim and tire.

6 minutes ago, amelanso said:

And do you think this riding style puts your machine at significant risk? 

Should mainly depend on riders weight and the ability to absorb the shock with the knees. Newer wheels got stronger axles/pedals. Rim could be secured by high enough tire pressure?

[RockyTop]

I tend to break the pedals. Rider weight and skill make a big difference. I believe that the wheel can handle jumping off a curb or going down stairs. Managing when and how much of your weight is on the wheel at the time of impact or direction change makes the difference. 

Some people like @Marty Backe have said that they like their wheels too much to jump off cubs.  I can certainly respect that. The new suspension wheels might change Marty's mind. We might get a few Marty videos with some hang time. 

[LanghamP]

It seems every major structural component of a wheel is cantilevered.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantilever#:~:text=A cantilever is a rigid,%2C plate%2C truss or slab.

From the axle to the pedal is a cantilever, and from the pedal joint to the pedal (with you on it) is a cantilever. This means any curb drop turns your cantilever into a spring; hence the common axle and footpad joint failures that all wheels eventually have, given enough time and curb drops. Because that area flexes the metal, it eventually weakens and breaks. It functions like a spring, but without the springs vast volume and tiny deflection.

Hence, the suspended wheel, which minimizes all that weak cantilevered parts by a proper spring.

[Tinkererboi]

I suppose there are many factors to consider, first two being what model of wheel and rider weight. 

For my featherweight sub 60kg body, the 16x has handled countless curb drops and triple, quadruple, or even pentuple flights of stairs for a year with no problem whatsoever. Only risk so far is gapping too many stairs at a time with low tyre pressure. The rim isn't terribly strong.

For the gt16, one flight or 10 stairs at a time is the best I can do. Any more and there would be terrible cogging. Mosfets are likely to blow before anything else.

For the IPS S5, curb drops are difficult and curb jumps and stair drops are a downright no go. One misscalculation and the chinesium shell is gonna crack right open from the bottom up where it impacks the the curb. 

Knowing the limits of your wheel is something that takes time and practice, just work up to it slowly, don't rush it, and always wear protection.

That being said, anyone knows the limits of the 84v nikola for curbs, jumps and stairs? 

[JeremyB]

On 11/2/2020 at 11:50 PM, Tinkererboi said:

That being said, anyone knows the limits of the 84v nikola for curbs, jumps and stairs? 

I'm 90kg and took my nikola down sets of 10+ stairs regularly, never had a problem with it

[WIZARD]

I think it is a GREAT idea to BEAT THE LIVING SHIT otta your beloved unicycle.

Why just drive if off curbs and stairs to BEAT THE LIVING SHIT outta it?

I'm puzzled.

Don't you have balconies, parking garages over overpasses in your town?

I try to avoid BEATING THE LIVING SHIT outta MY beloved uncle.

I even avoid Potholes and Cracks the very best I can.

[Aztek]

It seems too violent on a wheel with no suspension, like my ks 16xs.
I fear I'll break an axle even though I'm 65 kilos without gear.

I keep remembering going down the stairs as a kid with my bad quality socialist country produced bicycle: roughly it use to break once per every three flights. 

It doesn't seem these wheels are better quality.

 

Edited October 25, 2021 by Aztek

[GothamMike]

On 11/26/2020 at 12:33 AM, JeremyB said:

I'm 90kg and took my nikola down sets of 10+ stairs regularly, never had a problem with it

Until it does. I could see the rim failing from repeated stair runs. 

[GothamMike]

It appears like the two biggest failures in EUCs are the rims and batteries. Manufacturers, please focus on these issues, we want to see you around for a few years. 

[VikB]

Personally I don't jump my EUC off stuff for laughs. I wouldn't hesitate to ride off a small curb if it was on my way somewhere and it didn't seem too savage. My calculation is that an EUC is relatively expensive, it will last years if I take care of it, and I don't really want to add any risk of cut off failure to the mix like smashing the wheel excessively. I also have a few mountain bikes that are more fun to jump and can take that kind of use hundreds of times with no damage.

It's kind of like my 4x4 truck. It cost a lot and I don't mind taking it offroad to access areas I want to bike/hike/run/fish/camp/etc..., but I don't head out to just smash it offroad for laughs.

As long as you've made peace with the added maintenance of using an EUC hard there is nothing wrong with jumping them, but you do have to be realistic about the increased wear and tear. 

[OldFartRides]

On 8/20/2021 at 1:19 PM, WIZARD said:

I try to avoid BEATING THE LIVING SHIT outta MY beloved uncle.

Glad to hear it…don’t think I’d want to hang around a violent nephew myself.