Airwheel or Ninebot? First timer

[Nathaniel Bradley]

Hello all,

I am looking at purchasing an EUC but would like an opinion on which one to purchase.

I have had my heart set on the Airwheel Q3 for a while but now that I'm close to purchase, I have done some more research and I have seen the Ninebot One E+.

Is there anyone who has tried both who can give me an insight into which one they believe is better? Or if you've tried only one, give me an insight into that one.

I will be commuting to work morning and night. I will be travelling 10-14 miles per day on a fairly straight road with very little incline.

Also, what is the lifetime of the batteries for each and how much are replacement batteries if required? Are they self-replacable or would I have to send it away? I am an IT tech so I'm quite confident with taking things apart.

Also, if there is anyone who lives near Newcastle Upon Tyne in the North East of England who has either model, that would be willing to meet to let me try one out, that would be  dead helpful.

Thanks in advance!

[Gimlet]

Despite never having ridden a bot I would choose it over an Airwheel X8 which I have ridden. Just read a few posts and youll find that the general concensus is that a bot is vastly superior and personally I didn't like the small pedals on the Airwheel!

Changing the batteries is relatively simple on most eucs as they are plugged in so once you've gained access the swap is simple. 

[Chriull]

Although a two wheeler is easier to start, it's main problem are crowned streets from what i've heard -> by the crowning a two wheeler always drives a curve off the road, so after driving a bit you have to lift up one wheel to correct all the time. With a one wheeler you just lean constantly a bit to a side and correct by this the crowning.

Airwheels also  start beeping already at quite low speeds - you should check this out for the Q3 before you buy one, or you have continous beeping while driving...

[Tilmann]

Hi Nathaniel, welcome to the forum!

To me, the key statement in your introduction is, that you are planning to use your EUC for a 10+ mile commute. That makes the top speed of your wheel a more important factor than you may consider at the start of your learning curve. The only advantage of the Q3: its dual wheel concept will make it easier for you to learn to ride an EUC in a straight line. As soon as you mastered that, you will likely build up frustration with its speed limits.

My recommendation: 

• Either: Go for the Ninebot. It's a good compromise all around and a decent commuter.
• Or: buy a cheap second hand learning EUC first, learn to ride it, then make your decision what wheel to get for your commute.

My background:

At age 59 paired with a stable aversion to sporty activities, I am anything but a dare devil. Somehow I got hooked on the idea of riding an EUC when the first solowheel videos appeared on youtube. In Nov 2014, I ordered a Ninebot One E from China, but delivery dragged out until mid Jan 2015. Lost my patience in between and bought a little generic learning wheel from a local supplier, which arrived fast (model: TG-T3). It took me weeks to learn to ride it. Then my NB1 arrived and my confidence riding that thing leapfrogged (still hugging the concrete pillars in the underground garage at the time). From about March, I started using it on bright days for my 8 mile commute through the center of Berlin.

At my 59th birthday in May, I entertained my friends with this humble presentation of my new skills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DhQJQBWql0

Now using the NB1 to commute on a daily basis, I found myself constantly hackling with it's speed limit at max. 22 km/h (it starts beeping at 20 km/h). I felt uncomfortable on bike lanes as I was constantly in the way of the majority of folks on bicycles. In June, I sold the TG-T3 and bought a Gotway Msuper 18 (max. speed 34 km/h). Now I happily go with the flow in the bike lanes and found my ideal commuting speed at 25-27 km/h (I configured it to start beeping at 28 km/h). 

Looking back: at the beginnings of my EUC career, I thought about the Gotways as insane machines from hell, only suitable for candidates for the Darwin awards. While still not pushing my Msuper to its limits, I quite enjoy its pace and the power reserve it offers compared to the NB1 being at its upper limits at 22 km/h. The very thought of having to commute with the TG-T3 makes me shiver. While the airwheel Q3 may be a much more decent wheel than my cheap learning wheel, speed wise it's pretty much the same: it starts beeping at 12 km/h and you may push it on the edge to disaster to probably 16 km/h. With this context, you may understand, why I recommend against it.

As new brands and wheel models appear almost every week and you're almost certain to beat up your first wheel pretty good (which hurts double with a shiny new NB1), getting a second hand learner would likely be your most rational choice, but then... :-)

 

[Noam]

Actually we had a similar discussion already. You might have a look here: http://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/494-ninebot-one-e-vs-e/?page=2

[dpong]

I believe you are receiving good advice here.  I recently switched from AirWheel X8 to Ninebot One E+ and the difference in quality and overall experience is massive.   The Ninebot is a far superior experience - speaking from my personal experience.  [The word of the day seems to be 'experience'.  ]

[ @Tilmann great video!!  So far I cannot imagine traveling as fast as you do!  I've never hit top speed on NB1, and to me it seems to go *scary* fast. Be safe.]

[EDL]

I've ridden both although I only rode the Q3 for maybe 30 minutes while I was learning.  Even at a very early stage the dual wheel Q3 wasn't giving me the ride experience I wanted.  I bought a NB1 and never looked back.

@Tilmann fantastic video!

[Noam]

From about March, I started using it on bright days for my 8 mile commute through the center of Berlin.

 

Hi Tilmann, may I ask if you encounter any problems with the coppers or other authorities eg parking enforcement officers? My understanding is that using an euc in public areas in Germany is not really regulated and might cause trouble.

https://www.adac.de/infotestrat/ratgeber-verkehr/verkehrsrecht/staaten/default/Elektrisches_Einrad_Airwheel.aspx?ComponentId=235503&SourcePageId=235544

Now, I believe the organisation hosting the information related to this link, might not be entirely neutral with regards to the competition (eMobility). That is why I would be interested to hear if you found yourself in a pickle riding an euc on the bike lane or in the streets.

I am travelling to Germany on a regular basis and wonder if it would make sense to have an euc there on standby.

[Tilmann]

@dpong and @EDL: thanks for the flowers 

 

@Noam: with more than 600km criss-crossing downtown Berlin not a single argument with law enforcement.

Ahhh, good ol’ ADAC: I’m sure, their statement was entirely written by their legal people (and apparently, they don’t let them outside very often). Jepp, their assessment of what’s written in the laws is most likely accurate, but outside of their dusty offices its pretty much common sense, that those laws had been written way before any EUC appeared anywhere on the radar screen. 

That common sense perspective seems to include the cops. With all those government buildings, embassies and hey-I’m-so-important-visitors, Berlin is extremely densely policed. I passed dozens of them on foot patrol, horses or cars. None of them ever made the faintest attempt to stop me. Even asked a cop guarding a road block when Queen Lizzy was in town for directions to circumvent the closed area and was given friendly advice where I’m allowed to go - without any remark regarding my mode of transportation.

Fellow wheelies report mostly the same. Two exceptions: two guys say they were stopped and ID’ed with the announcement of a fine, but never heard of it again. In one case, the wheel was confiscated, but returned the next day without fine or comment.

Mind you, that’s Berlin. I would think its a safe assumption, that conditions in other german metropolitan areas are pretty much the same.

There is no guarantee, you won’t be the (un)lucky winner, running into that one grumpy underutilized small-town-cop who feels obliged to enforce the law by the letter. I have been wheeling about 100km in Regensburg (a mid size provincial town in Bavaria) and never been stopped there either. But that could be simply because no cop saw me.

The following factors may or may not play a role in my peaceful co-existance with law enforcement:

• I don’t fit anybodies concept of a young rebellious trouble maker (anymore) 
• I try to avoid riding in car lanes, but use sidewalks and bike lanes.
• I don’t chase pedestrians. When they block my way, I just sigh and make it an exercise in slow flight until they notice me and give way or I find a spot to wheel around them with a bit of comfort distance.
• I attach a little white headlight and a red backlight to the wheel when riding after hours.
• I wear a helmet.
• I religiously stop a red lights, even if there is no traffic in sight and other pedestrians an bikers are passing me right and left.

So, I serve the cops little extra reason to stop me.

What may also be a factor: EUCs are still a very rare sight in Germany. The only times I ran into fellow wheelies without prior arrangement were on „Tempelhofer Feld“, a huge closed down airport in Berlin now turned into a public playground for bikers, kite surfers, Segways, RC cars & planes. So, on regular streets, you will be met with lots and lots of curiosity and bright smiles. That includes even cops. Friends describe their encounter with a police patrol at Berlins infamous never-fit-for-real-use new airport in their blog (Text is german: http://www.electro-sport.de/epages/78292882.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/78292882/Categories/Redaktionelle_Seite1 Spoiler alert: it ended with one of the cops accepting the invitation to try riding right there and then  

Whereabouts in Germany are you visiting, Noam? Is Berlin on the list? I am happy to help you out with my NB1 to test the waters if don’t want to commit to a Germany-wheel just yet.

[Noam]

Hi Tilmann, thanks for the detailed and encouraging report. Chances for buying a small IPS to commute in Germany have increased significantly. ?

I dont know if your friends still are in touch with the chaps from the police. But if they are, they might pass on the following link. The police in Singapore is actually considering beefing their armory up with euc's

http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/police-force-aiming-improve-three-areas

And thank you very much for your kind and generous offer riding your NBO. I really appreciate it! Unfortunately, Berlin is not really on the list. I used to travel to Berlin in the past. Used to work for a company headquartered in Zehlendorf. But that is no more. Nowadays. I travel either to Frankfurt, where my current company has its HQ or the Ruhrarea, where I still have plenty of friends. (I am originally from Germany, just emigrated years ago.)