Cheburashka Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 So I got a generic China "Step n Roll" 14" EUC yesterday. Seems to work ok, I am able to get on it and roll forwards. Turning and getting on is hard but I'm working on it. Is there anything specific I should know about operating this type of EUC? What's the easiest way to get on it? Are EUCs with larger wheels easier to ride? I have set my tire pressure to 40psi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoe73 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Look around the forum here. There are tons of tips and discussions about learning to ride, differences between electric unicycles, etc. Requires a little digging... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Unicyclist Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Have a read through this topic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bay Surfer Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 D'ont press over the limit, Dont press hard up hill, or you may get suddenly stopped, but use it hard, you'll be looking for Faster bigger wheel in a week or two. Also take a swim noodle cut it in half and glue it to the side at the top on both sides, it will save your leg from bruising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheburashka Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 Yeah, I duct taped some mattress foam to it on top, much better now! Is there anything specific to know about these China EUCs? Does it ride similar to others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip W Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 5 hours ago, Cheburashka said: So I got a generic China "Step n Roll" 14" EUC yesterday. Seems to work ok, I am able to get on it and roll forwards. Turning and getting on is hard but I'm working on it. Is there anything specific I should know about operating this type of EUC? What's the easiest way to get on it? Are EUCs with larger wheels easier to ride? I have set my tire pressure to 40psi. Open the sides(the red covers) and took pictures of the board and the battery, then post the photos here, so we can determine what's actually inside and give you some advise. Usually it's better to add some padding to the battery, just not too much. If that's a 132wh battery, it's better to do the shun and disable the sudden battery shutdown. Find a local hockey rink and start practicing in it. Don't do it on the street or in a skate park. After you have more experience it doesn't matter 14" or 16". 14" actually is better for beginners for the slower speed. With a 16" you can roll in the dirt bike trails, maybe even some aerial stunts, but don't do it yet. Your 14" will have difficulty running some steep uphill because it's most likely using 350w motor. Since this is the first EUC you should be just fine. Plus, I keep using the training rope even now I am comfortable with the ride. That rope have multiple use and it did reduce the scratch a lot. A trolley for EUC is also a good idea. For a couple of times some asshole told me that EUC was not allowed. Then I simply walked with my EUC by holding the trolley. It's effortless moving along with me. No one can prohibit me from walking with a EUC. And there were times when I see cops in front of me. So I just jumped off and walked. EUC is not allowed in NYC yet so I need to respect the cops. Some cops even asked me what the hell was that and I gave them a little demonstration. Most of the time they laughed and waved me off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egbert Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 5 hours ago, Philip W said: (...) A trolley for EUC is also a good idea. For a couple of times some asshole told me that EUC was not allowed. Then I simply walked with my EUC by holding the trolley. It's effortless moving along with me. No one can prohibit me from walking with a EUC. And there were times when I see cops in front of me. So I just jumped off and walked. EUC is not allowed in NYC yet so I need to respect the cops. Some cops even asked me what the hell was that and I gave them a little demonstration. Most of the time they laughed and waved me off. I like this part of your description most. here in germany EUCs are not allowed also, so this seems to be a good practice to respect the laws and the cops @Cheburashka: as told before, keep on rolling. depending on your usecase of the EUC you might upgrade to 16" or 18" EUC. doing tricks and stunts seems to be easier on a 14" EUC. driving long distance is more relaxing with a larger and heavier wheel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheburashka Posted July 19, 2016 Author Share Posted July 19, 2016 What is the ideal tire pressure to run? Manual has no info on this and sidewall says 35-45psi. I inflated to middle of that and I felt uneasy on it, it was wobbling pretty hard even when going straight. Is it better to have lower pressure? Also, I feel like the soles of my feet get tired after riding for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oily Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 Up to a point, the softer the easier it is to ride, as the rubber contact patch will be bigger - but if you go too soft, it then becomes difficult to steer, and will follow cracks in the pavement more easily. You can go down to 30 with no real issues, but as you get more experience, you'll want to be putting more pressure back in, as it makes the wheel more agile (and more efficient for battery use!). I did my learner miles on a generic, and did 850 miles before moving onto something with a bit more street cred ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkoMarjamaa Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 When you buy these chinese "no-name" 200e/$200 EUCs, do you ever think it might burn your home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheburashka Posted July 19, 2016 Author Share Posted July 19, 2016 43 minutes ago, MarkoMarjamaa said: When you buy these chinese "no-name" 200e/$200 EUCs, do you ever think it might burn your home? Not too worried, such cases are pretty rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheburashka Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 Having troubles riding on rough pavement or over speed bumps. Pretty much fall every time. What is the proper way to tackle this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriull Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 6 minutes ago, Cheburashka said: Having troubles riding on rough pavement or over speed bumps. Pretty much fall every time. What is the proper way to tackle this? You'd just have to get used to it . Once you have a secure stance, "buffer" the rough ground with your knees it'll work. For speed bumps you have a certain speed range to go over it nicely - but again you'd need a secure stance while buffering the bump with your knees. Also leaning the upper body a bit back helps the wheel to climb the bump and have the rider not overleaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DS Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 57 minutes ago, Cheburashka said: Having troubles riding on rough pavement or over speed bumps. Pretty much fall every time. What is the proper way to tackle this? For the rough pavement, you'll get used after some experience. For the speed bumps - when you are about to climb, lean your body a bit backward when you are about to descent lean your body a bit forward...somewhat not intuitive I have to admit but that how it works for me. And again, do not expect to happen overnight, it's a process of learning curve. Wish you consistent progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oily Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 15 hours ago, MarkoMarjamaa said: When you buy these chinese "no-name" 200e/$200 EUCs, do you ever think it might burn your home? I was a little worried, but only ever charged it when I was close to it (& under a smoke alarm) - no issues at all, although I did buy a Samsung battery for it (rather than the China special which it came with). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oily Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 4 hours ago, Cheburashka said: Having troubles riding on rough pavement or over speed bumps. Pretty much fall every time. What is the proper way to tackle this? Pavements are easier than speed bumps. For rough pavements, you need to remember to keep your knees bent (like a downhill skiing pose) - your knees/legs then act as shock absorbers & stop your body weight being thrown around as much. It's just experience - although I found running 40psi (rather than a lower pressure) actually made paved pavements easier. Practice, practice, practice - and you'll still find your getting better even after months & months ! I've just upgraded to an MSuper (via 14" Generic, Freeman & Ninebot), and it's like I'd only been riding a few weeks the first time I went out ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electric_vehicle_lover Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 On 18/07/2016 at 7:15 PM, Cheburashka said: So I got a generic China "Step n Roll" 14" EUC yesterday. Seems to work ok, I am able to get on it and roll forwards. Turning and getting on is hard but I'm working on it. Is there anything specific I should know about operating this type of EUC? What's the easiest way to get on it? Are EUCs with larger wheels easier to ride? I have set my tire pressure to 40psi. IMO the worst that can happen is if it fails while you are riding. There are relates of this fails in every EUC, even on the most branded and expensive like Ninebot. There are technical characteristics of this technology that may make it fail while you are riding - please inform yourself here using the forum, we can go even to the details of the electronics and firmware on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tadrossi Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Just practice . That is the number 1 thing. Reading will only take you so far. No need to be as scared of cutouts as some of these post would indicate either. Its a skill that has to be developed. Muscle memory and balance will only come thru practice. You are on your way top a hobby that like nothing elsee I have ever learned grants one freedom and enjoyment. Practice practice practice. And be patient, It will come. Welcome to the art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheburashka Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 4 hours ago, Oily said: I was a little worried, but only ever charged it when I was close to it (& under a smoke alarm) - no issues at all, although I did buy a Samsung battery for it (rather than the China special which it came with). I rode quite a lot last night - about 7km until my battery died, but I was at 29psi vs. the 35psi recommended minimum. Only fell 4-5 times which is a big plus in my books. Actually went down to the grocery store and back! In relation to range & batteries, I'm a bit disappointed that it died after only 7km. Even though my pressure was low, the spec sheet states 20km range and I was not anywhere near that. I'm assuming that the batteries are just used laptop cells. How much does it cost to replace the batteries with normal ones from a reputable manufacturer? In regards to low battery cutoff, the unit beeps loudly and then gradually slows before shut down, so that has been good so far. The other thing I've been noticing is that I get the overspeed/overtilt warning a lot, not sure why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Congratulations on the progress! The spec sheet might be more for a 80 pound rider as I think maybe these are targeted towards younger teens in China? So if you're double the weight and using a lower tire pressure that could explain the 7 km. My generic with a 132 wh battery only went 6 km tops, and I'm about 165 pounds. I noticed with a flatter tire the increased drag resistance would really affect it. You can get battery packs for about $100 for a 132 wh on AliEx, but I think some sellers are having problems shipping them over to North America as I never did receive mine from their Netherlands shipping depot. You might want to double check to see how much room there is inside before upgrading the battery. In my case I just bought an NB1E+ instead. I think Forward California has them for about $600 USD now, but they did have a sale for $450 delivered with free shipping. The overspeed/tiltback could be due to the lower tire pressure making it harder for the wheel to go faster, or maybe you are getting used to the speed and want more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DS Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 22 minutes ago, Cheburashka said: In relation to range & batteries, I'm a bit disappointed that it died after only 7km. Same was with my generic 130wh wheel. If you pump the tire hard you may get 2-3 km more. But is never enough...you may start to think about "REAL DEAL" pretty soon. You hardly can upgrade this one at satisfaction level but is good to learn on it in order not to scratch the new powerful and beauty one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oily Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 14 hours ago, Cheburashka said: I rode quite a lot last night - about 7km until my battery died, but I was at 29psi vs. the 35psi recommended minimum. Only fell 4-5 times which is a big plus in my books. Actually went down to the grocery store and back! In relation to range & batteries, I'm a bit disappointed that it died after only 7km. Even though my pressure was low, the spec sheet states 20km range and I was not anywhere near that. I'm assuming that the batteries are just used laptop cells. How much does it cost to replace the batteries with normal ones from a reputable manufacturer? In regards to low battery cutoff, the unit beeps loudly and then gradually slows before shut down, so that has been good so far. The other thing I've been noticing is that I get the overspeed/overtilt warning a lot, not sure why. Best I ever got was 4.5 miles (7.2km), before I got the buzzer of death & it tilted so much you couldn't ride it. But I normally allowed for no rides longer than 4 miles (6.4km) - the last thing you want is to be stranded ! I'm 6ft & 200ibs, running at about 40psi, so I'm not a small rider ! I actually bought my battery used on ebay. You can buy the cells (18650 batteries) from various places (the best in Europe is NKON), but the cells need to be welded back onto the board (not soldered) so it's a specialist job. Speak to Microworks on Alibaba, they can probably supply a replacement battery - although in all honesty, it's probably not worth it. Ride the generic until your comfortable & not failling off & then upgrade to something like a used Ninebot C+/E+. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheburashka Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 20km spec sheet range, 7km actual range... They must have some short kilometers in China! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEC Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 14 hours ago, Cheburashka said: 20km spec sheet range, 7km actual range... They must have some short kilometers in China! The range depends greatly on weight of the rider, weather and amount of hills / inclinations on the trip and also on the speed you're driving. Someone with 50 Kg on flat surface with now wind and at mild temperature could at optimum speed reach the 18 - 20 Km of declared range. However add weight, headwind, lower or much higher temperature, few hills and you're down to less than half! Basically for our "normal sized" westerners you'd need to divide the claimed distance by at least 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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