Tinfish Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Hey all, I recently bought what I presume to be a Ninebot One E+ (more on that later) Now I'm totally new to EU's having never ridden one in my life. It was an impulse buy, something that I'm hoping to master and maybe implement it as part of my lifestyle at some point in the future. Soon as I got the (used) Ninebot, I immeadietly upgraded the firmware and charged it up. My dad owns a factory with a nice big concrete hard floor so I thought this would be the perfect place to practice! My problem is that I'm really struggling to even balance myself on the ninebot properly let alone ride it forward ! I can go forward with my dad standing next to me and holding onto him but anything by myself I'll struggle to go forward for more than 2 seconds ! As ive stated, I'm seriously, seriously struggling with balancing on the wheel. I keep rocking side to side and my weight is shifting everywhere. Even when I relax myself it's just not happening! Ive been practicing for Two hours and it's coming the point where frustration is kicking. Do you guys have any tips ... or maybe the wheel is faulty ? Using the app I calibrated it and I've also set the softness to 1. Nothing is really improving for me here. I've even watched plenty of YouTube videos but I'm by far the worst ... I hope the wheel isn't faulty ... Oh and my last concern, is my ninebot a E or E+ model? I emailed speedyfeet with the serial number and they said it' has a 260kwh battery so it's a One-E-PLS (plus?) but I thought the new E+ has a bigger battery unless it's the Gen 1 model? This is my serial number ... n1oea1517a8890 kind regards , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoe73 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 If you search the forum you will find pages and pages of advice to help you get going. Your wheel is the E not E+, the E+ has a 320wh battery. Good luck, keep at it, don't give up, you'll get it. It took me several days before I could ride without holding onto a railing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 37 minutes ago, Tinfish said: My problem is that I'm really struggling to even balance myself on the ninebot properly let alone ride it forward ! As ive stated, I'm seriously, seriously struggling with balancing on the wheel. I keep rocking side to side and my weight is shifting everywhere. Even when I relax myself it's just not happening! ... I hope the wheel isn't faulty ... As @Shoe73 has said there is oodles of advice here and on YouTube to look through. However let us get some issues out of the way as, if you get a nagging doubt that the wheel is faulty, you will not progress at all. Firstly, please remember that the wheel is only responsible for balancing in a forwards:backwards direction, it has no control whatsoever that aids left/ right balancing. If the peddles feel fairly solid and leaning forward makes the wheel go forward, leaning back makes it stop/ go backwards then there is absolutely nothing wrong with the wheel. You can no more balance on a stationary, or very slow moving, Electric Unicycle (EUC) than you can a stationary or very slow moving bicycle. Balance, in a left/ right direction comes from forward speed. Just like riding a bike very slowly you do not lean to balance but twist the handlebars left and right so, a very slow moving EUC needs to be twisted with the hips to maintain balance. If you have a bike try riding it as slowly as you can, the way you control the front wheel is the same action you will need on the EUC. As you speed up a bicycle, balancing becomes easier and you lean to turn more than using the handlebars, Exactly the same is true of an EUC, you need to be going faster in order for balancing to become easy and then you can lean the EUC into the turns. At first you will be too frightened to go faster, that is fine, I'm not suggesting you go charging off at high speed so that you can balance, you may hurt yourself if you go too fast for your abilities, but understand what you need to do at slower speeds to balance and it will soon become instinctive, your speed will increase with confidence and it will all get a whole lot easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve454 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 4 hours ago, Tinfish said: Ive been practicing for Two hours and it's coming the point where frustration is kicking. @Keith has very good advice on balancing side to side. If you can find a hallway narrow enough to reach the walls with both hands that will help practice. Just keep trying in short sessions, maybe 15 minutes at a time, eventually it will get easier. Give it more time, days and weeks even. Finally it will become second nature to twist your hips to turn in to the side you are falling toward, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMo Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Have look into the following thread and you will be riding effortlessly in no time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik's Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 5 hours ago, Tinfish said: ... Ive been practicing for Two hours and it's coming the point where frustration is kicking. Do you guys have any tips .. Hi, and welcome! Don't give up! You can do it! Trust us, maybe it takes a few days or a couple of weeks, but eventually it will "click". Check the tire pressure, lower pressure is easier to ride on because of bigger contact area. And after you learn how to ride it, pump it up to recommended pressure again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudust Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 My advice would be don't be afraid of giving a bit of speed. Don't try to control the machine when you fall. It will hurt you bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbfrese Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 10 hours ago, Tinfish said: My problem is that I'm really struggling to even balance myself on the ninebot properly let alone ride it forward ! Others have touched on this already, but I don't think it can be emphasized enough: forward motion is necessary to balance from side to side, Going slowly and balancing is an advanced skill, standing still and balancing is nigh on to impossible. My advice is the same as I've given to others -- you must trust the machine completely in its ability to balance you forward and back. Get on, lean forward and "commit to it." It will "come up underneath" you and keep you from falling forward on your face. But to get to that point means facing your fear of falling. Get on, lean forward, and ride on! You can do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Spalding Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 as was said above also, make sure you BEND your KNEES a little bit (a bit of "bounce" in your legs to absorb bumps) i cannot stress enough how important it is to RELAX tightening up all over makes it nearly impossible to LET the wheel WORK for you i know this sounds hard because RELAXING is exactly what your body doesn't want to let you do when you are UNsure of your current activity it'll "CLICK" just like everyone has told you don't give up I promise that in a very short period of time you will be the one posting here helping to encourage others to follow in your footsteps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gormash Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 I trained for about a week, about 15-20 minutes daily before I could ride and turn. I've seen people write that shorter but more frequent training periods are more benefical than one or two long sessions. One very simple excercise you can do is to stand in a doorway. Hold onto the doorframs as you step up and just stand there, rolling a foot forward and backward, just to familiarize yourself with how the wheel rolls back and forth depending on howw you put pressure with your toes and heel. I'd recommend against softness 1. This gives you the least suspension and you will feel every single grain you roll over. I prefer 5 myself, my friend 4. I'd recommend changing softness to 4, and once you manage to start, ride and stop without any help change it around to fing the sweet spot for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 11 hours ago, Tinfish said: Hey all, I recently bought what I presume to be a Ninebot One E+ (more on that later) Now I'm totally new to EU's having never ridden one in my life. It was an impulse buy, something that I'm hoping to master and maybe implement it as part of my lifestyle at some point in the future. Soon as I got the (used) Ninebot, I immeadietly upgraded the firmware and charged it up. My dad owns a factory with a nice big concrete hard floor so I thought this would be the perfect place to practice! My problem is that I'm really struggling to even balance myself on the ninebot properly let alone ride it forward ! I can go forward with my dad standing next to me and holding onto him but anything by myself I'll struggle to go forward for more than 2 seconds ! As ive stated, I'm seriously, seriously struggling with balancing on the wheel. I keep rocking side to side and my weight is shifting everywhere. Even when I relax myself it's just not happening! Ive been practicing for Two hours and it's coming the point where frustration is kicking. Do you guys have any tips ... or maybe the wheel is faulty ? Using the app I calibrated it and I've also set the softness to 1. Nothing is really improving for me here. I've even watched plenty of YouTube videos but I'm by far the worst ... I hope the wheel isn't faulty ... Oh and my last concern, is my ninebot a E or E+ model? I emailed speedyfeet with the serial number and they said it' has a 260kwh battery so it's a One-E-PLS (plus?) but I thought the new E+ has a bigger battery unless it's the Gen 1 model? This is my serial number ... n1oea1517a8890 kind regards , See https://www.youtube.com/Dufisthenics He has a great video series showing his trials and tribulations in learning to ride the Ninebot. Watch them all and you'll learn something and gain confidence in your future of this very fun sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSport Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Watch some of @Duf's videos, he logs his learning from day 1 to today. You will see you are not alone, and he has some good advice in the later videos. https://www.youtube.com/user/Dufisthenics/videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litewave Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 16 hours ago, Tinfish said: Hey all, I recently bought what I presume to be a Ninebot One E+ (more on that later) Now I'm totally new to EU's having never ridden one in my life. It was an impulse buy, something that I'm hoping to master and maybe implement it as part of my lifestyle at some point in the future. Soon as I got the (used) Ninebot, I immeadietly upgraded the firmware and charged it up. My dad owns a factory with a nice big concrete hard floor so I thought this would be the perfect place to practice! My problem is that I'm really struggling to even balance myself on the ninebot properly let alone ride it forward ! I can go forward with my dad standing next to me and holding onto him but anything by myself I'll struggle to go forward for more than 2 seconds ! As ive stated, I'm seriously, seriously struggling with balancing on the wheel. I keep rocking side to side and my weight is shifting everywhere. Even when I relax myself it's just not happening! Ive been practicing for Two hours and it's coming the point where frustration is kicking. Do you guys have any tips ... or maybe the wheel is faulty ? Using the app I calibrated it and I've also set the softness to 1. Nothing is really improving for me here. I've even watched plenty of YouTube videos but I'm by far the worst ... I hope the wheel isn't faulty ... Oh and my last concern, is my ninebot a E or E+ model? I emailed speedyfeet with the serial number and they said it' has a 260kwh battery so it's a One-E-PLS (plus?) but I thought the new E+ has a bigger battery unless it's the Gen 1 model? This is my serial number ... n1oea1517a8890 kind regards , Firstly, keep at it, because once you finally 'get it', it will all feel magical. Secondly, besides watching the recommended videos, plant your ankles and legs tightly agains the sides of the Ninebot. Hold the Ninebot snugly as if part of your body. Next, consider wearing ankle braces to strengthen and stiffen your feet, reduce friction and bruising if you like. Some people don;t need them, but since you are having difficulty, they could help. Here are the ones I still use to protect my ankles in case of a bad dismount or crash - I think they are great. Next, always mount the Ninebot while holding onto a pole or something you can grasp - not just a wall - while learning. Lastly, study the location of your feet relative to the pedals. Make sure they are identically placed to ensure balance. A tiny shift can make a big difference. You will have to find the best position for you, and it could take a while. As a general rule, keep your feet parallel or pointing slightly outward. Your feet are bound to ache for the first few weeks - try shifting your feet forward a centimetre at a time to see if you are still comfortable and in control. With your feet placed more forward, you will tend to lean forward naturally and glide smoothly, but it can be daunting at first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Just listen to this song over and over again while you're learning, and you'll get the hang of it eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jdestef Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 On 9/22/2016 at 1:35 AM, Tinfish said: Hey all, I recently bought what I presume to be a Ninebot One E+ (more on that later) Now I'm totally new to EU's having never ridden one in my life. It was an impulse buy, something that I'm hoping to master and maybe implement it as part of my lifestyle at some point in the future. Soon as I got the (used) Ninebot, I immeadietly upgraded the firmware and charged it up. My dad owns a factory with a nice big concrete hard floor so I thought this would be the perfect place to practice! My problem is that I'm really struggling to even balance myself on the ninebot properly let alone ride it forward ! I can go forward with my dad standing next to me and holding onto him but anything by myself I'll struggle to go forward for more than 2 seconds ! As ive stated, I'm seriously, seriously struggling with balancing on the wheel. I keep rocking side to side and my weight is shifting everywhere. Even when I relax myself it's just not happening! Ive been practicing for Two hours and it's coming the point where frustration is kicking. Do you guys have any tips ... or maybe the wheel is faulty ? Using the app I calibrated it and I've also set the softness to 1. Nothing is really improving for me here. I've even watched plenty of YouTube videos but I'm by far the worst ... I hope the wheel isn't faulty ... Oh and my last concern, is my ninebot a E or E+ model? I emailed speedyfeet with the serial number and they said it' has a 260kwh battery so it's a One-E-PLS (plus?) but I thought the new E+ has a bigger battery unless it's the Gen 1 model? This is my serial number ... n1oea1517a8890 kind regards , Dude it took me multiple weekends to get even what I would call remotely non-sucky. I was so infuriated w myself but I stuck with it and just poured time into it. I was probably at 80-100 miles before I felt maybe I was 6/10 skill wise. Time time time time time. Commit to it. Also, once you do get OK at riding it, you might hit a wall (metaphorically speaking lol) where you wonder if you've gained all the skill you're gonna get. The answer is absolutely not. Keep calm and ride on.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowMo Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 @Tinfish, how are you doing? Hope you have some progress. If you have somebody to hold on to and run with you while you learn how to balance, then it would be easier. Then let go if you have the confidence to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duf Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 Just as others have said, persistence is key. There was a point where I felt like I wasted my money. I just kept at it and worked through it. Until you get to that point try to wrap/pad your bot up as much as possible to minimize damage. Wrap/pad yourself up as much as possible to avoid injury too. I covered most of my learning experience in a series of 6 or 7 videos. I definitely took longer to learn than a lot of people so if I can get there, you can too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 As a new rider as myself I was struggling just to stand on it for 5-6hours. You can watch loads of videos but they won't help you balance. You just keep on practicing until your body and mine just clicks. Average time for someone to learn is around 4-6 hours. For me it was even more embarrassing I had to learn on busy street full coffee shops. Getting my butt laughed at by people drinking coffee. Suck it in don't give up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSport Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 7 hours ago, Jae said: For me it was even more embarrassing I had to learn on busy street full coffee shops. Getting my butt laughed at by people drinking coffee. Suck it in don't give up Congratulations for not giving up, and that's awesome you did it in front of a crowd. Non of us want to do that. But, it might just let other potential riders realize that it does take time and they also should not give up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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