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Another *please help me choose* thread


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Ok, this is not for me, I'll only be translating. I was contacted with the question as follows:

I own a V8 EUC. Have tried (ridden) a V13 EUC. Have also tested a V11. I am now in the market for a new toy... and I'm torn.

V8 is fun but limited. V13 is just to big/heavy to live with. Thus far my favourite, by far, has been the V11, so I'm leaning somewhat towards the V11Y.

Please tell me why I should buy a Begode Falcon over the V11Y. All I know is published specs but no possibility of a direct referral here in Mexico. Could you please help ??

Sadly I also lack direct experience with the Falcon, so asking the community for comparative reasons to choose one over the other.  It is clear that there is a several year difference between the two models, but the actual riding "feel" is what he is after.  To illustrate what he is after, he mentioned that if no other choices were available, he would prefer the V8 over the V13 despite age and capabilities differences, so it's not just raw performance he's after.

So, can you guys help please?

 

Edited by mmk
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I can't really advise on the Falcon since I decided not to buy one recently and just purchased a second MCM5v2 instead. 

Regardless of the Pros and Cons of any wheel, what really matters is what exactly you want and need in your next wheel. No one can answer that for you.

In my case, I am well aware of the shortcomings of the MCM5v2 but chose it anyway. I enjoy the suspension on my S22P but do not want or need it on the MCM. It's the perfect wheel for me for my daily errands and zipping around town. I could go on, but you should get the idea.

So, if you can't decide what your essential wants/needs are in priority order, then go with your heart. 

Edited by litewave
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I don't think you necessarily replace wheels. You get another one that enables you to expand your riding. But a V11/V13 wouldn't always be better than the V8.

The question is, if you had all the wheels, what would your most common ride be like? Aim for something that suits that.

Some people's feet start hurting after about 40min so choosing long distance is pointless. 

Some people just do trail riding and grocery store. 

Some commute to work only, like me.

Some people just want to wear the minimum amount of gear. Should they get a big wheel = no.

Sometimes safety is having the power reserves. If you live where there aren't many bike paths you have to keep up with traffic to be safe. Faster larger wheel is warranted.

Etc...

 

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Definitely the V11 because of the wheel diameter and tire width. That's not to say that a 14in(10in) on the falcon isn't good. It's actually the best compact tire IMO because it remains fully usable unlike the even smaller ones.

But when it comes to the type of riding that I do, 18x3in is certainly better. It's a cruising tire. More stable at speed.

I know little of suspension and I suspect the V11 suspension to require more maintenance. (Edit: Not true. Seems it doesn't leak even after years of riding.) I've heard the falcon can take a beating.

I'm not a fan of tubeless tires because they're so rigid. The falcon is essentially designed only for wider tubeless tires. That combined with the air suspension on the V11 will be a big win for comfort. But as I said, I don't like the maintenance aspect. Adjusting all the air pressures.

The wheel size argument relates to what type of riding you do. Everyone is different. A larger diameter wheel does lose agility, and stopping/acceleration ability. That's why for many people (except the larger riders) a good wheel size would be 16in as a happy middleground. You have the agility but also stability up to maybe 25mph/40kmh.

This last point I'll make is a personal preference, and it's controversial. I don't prefer Inmotion over Begode. Simply because of the complexity and safety philosophy. There's more stuff that can fail electrically, and in an effort to protect the wheel from going up in flames, it is possible that it'll drop the rider on his/her face. It's the old fire vs rider safety argument that has been debated to death. Where do you stand on it?

Edited by alcatraz
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9 minutes ago, alcatraz said:

V11 suspension to require more maintenance

 

9 minutes ago, alcatraz said:

Adjusting all the air pressures.

I have 3,500 mi on my v11 and "adjusted the air pressures" 2 times, one when i started with it and 1 time shortly after to make it stiffer. Not since. never did any "maintenance" on the suspension/sliders either, just sprayed them with dry lube. I think it's a no brainer, the falcon isn't even in the same category IMO.

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1 minute ago, Punxatawneyjoe said:

 

I have 3,500 mi on my v11 and "adjusted the air pressures" 2 times, one when i started with it and 1 time shortly after to make it stiffer. Not since. never did any "maintenance" on the suspension/sliders either, just sprayed them with dry lube. I think it's a no brainer, the falcon isn't even in the same category IMO.

Cool. Obviously that system doesn't leak.

Do you clean those rods regularly? I'd imagine dirt could create leaks.

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7 hours ago, alcatraz said:

Do you clean those rods regularly? I'd imagine dirt could create leaks.

No, never. Ive only taken the wheel apart 3 times to change tires around. Probably 2,500 miles were off road also. @Forwardnbak has over 10k km on his and i don't think he has done any "maintenance" either. Not sure if his leak or not.

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On 10/21/2024 at 10:30 PM, mmk said:

Faced with choosing either the V11Y or the Falcon, which one would you choose and why?

If you already have a V8 as a small wheel, I would go with V11. I haven’t tried  the Falcon, though. But larger rim diameter will give you more stable feel for higher speeds. I used to own a V11 and recently tried one after a year of riding my Lynx, and that suspension, while simple by today’s standards, is really not that bad. It works and does make the ride smoother. Just not great for big jumps, but that’s not what you buy a V11 for anyway. 
 

If I myself was faced with your question, I would choose the Falcon because I already have a 14” rim big wheel and miss having a small wheel as a side wheel. 

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When you are standing between the Begode Falcon and the V11Y, there is one thing that you should probably ask: how does the Falcon feel? I would say it is less bumpy and more comfortable to ride, especially with the wheel size and better shocks included.

That means if you hit some rough patches or if you just want to loaf for a while the Falcon might offer that bit of stability and comfort that can mean a lot on longer runs.

In addition to that, the Falcon has some new options so to speak that could truly add some spice to your drive. It is more efficient with batteries and can provide more area without requiring a recharge, which may be sweet for distance aficionados.

Another advantage of Falcon’s riders note is that Falcon has more active acceleration and braking, so you have that extra control while out there. Go with the Falcon

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On 10/21/2024 at 1:30 PM, mmk said:

Let me rephrase the question:

Faced with choosing either the V11Y or the Falcon, which one would you choose and why?

The falcon is good, but not great. The ride is similar to V8 with shocks as the wheel is slightly smaller too. The suspension has limited travel it just takes some of the small bumps out (not all). The V11 has so many more things bigger battery higher top speed and has suspension too. 

the obvious choice would be the v11y as with a bigger wheel it makes the road feel smooth. The falcon is mainly for fun and good for errands (but you have a V8 for that now)

The reason i have a falcon was for tricks and errands lol don't get me wrong its good, but i would choose my S18 over the falcon if i could choose only 1 wheel to have and ride on a daily basis.

The thing that would change my mind would be if you said you would sell your V8, if you were to sell you V8 then the Falcon is the better choice as its great for errands small enough for crowded areas etc...

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I'm a new rider, and I have started with the Falcon, and I very much like it. In going through a lot of video reviews and articles and such, it sounded to me like the Falcon was a decent starting wheel, but also a wheel that expert riders still enjoy, even when they have more capable wheels. The V11/Y wheels sounded like wheels folks moved on from. So, with the idea that me on a Falcon is not even my final form, I figured it would make sense that I might still want to ride it even after getting something like a Lynx.

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