Marty Backe Posted November 16, 2017 Share Posted November 16, 2017 I'm going to use this thread to document my experiences with the Tesla. Hopefully it'll be mostly Triumphs, but with me there may be a failure or two down the road I begin with a stroll through a local park, taken from my first day ride with the Tesla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 Smooth As A Baby's Butt I just returned from about 15 miles of riding around town. I have to agree with what everyone else has been saying about the Tesla ride quality. It's hard to describe in quantifiable terms (better than the heading of this post ). It is an extremely smooth and controlled experience. I like to carve a lot, and it's funner on this wheel than any other wheel I have. You can cruise at 15-mph and carve to your hearts delight, and you feel totally in control, and it's buttery smooth. I don't know why this is so, but it is. Maybe it's how Gotway tuned the acceleration and deceleration characteristics of the the wheel combined with a powerful and responsive motor? If the Tesla had the range of the 84-volt ACM's, I think I would give my ACM to the Salvation Army and be done with it Only somewhat kidding. The ACM is still a great wheel and I suspect it's tougher that the pretty plastic shell of the Tesla. But the Tesla is better ride than the ACM. There are other differences of course, but I won't get into those here. This is one hell of wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainKBLS Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 As someone said, the shape is very similar to the V8. So does that make the ride sensitive like the the V8? or Does it still feels solid like the ACM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrd777 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Very cool Marty, yes the Tesla is wonderful. Very cool you are loving it! I’m curious what your opinion is off road with it? The compact low center of gravity of the ACM is hard to beat. I’m interested how Mr Tesla does in some rough trail conditions. Let us know.. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 33 minutes ago, Mrd777 said: Very cool Marty, yes the Tesla is wonderful. Very cool you are loving it! I’m curious what your opinion is off road with it? The compact low center of gravity of the ACM is hard to beat. I’m interested how Mr Tesla does in some rough trail conditions. Let us know.. thanks I will. Some mountain trail riding is in its future. I have to think it's going to like trails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 1 hour ago, CaptainKBLS said: As someone said, the shape is very similar to the V8. So does that make the ride sensitive like the the V8? or Does it still feels solid like the ACM? It's a much more stable ride then the V8. Probably due to the fact that it's substantially heavier. It's really a different class of wheel than the V8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 1 hour ago, CaptainKBLS said: As someone said, the shape is very similar to the V8. So does that make the ride sensitive like the the V8? or Does it still feels solid like the ACM? @Meng Yang has both. Maybe he can chime in here on how the Tesla compares to the V8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meng Yang Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Roughly speaking, both Tesla and V8, being 16 inchers, feels rather similar. One thinner. The other fatter. In fact, GT16 feels similar as well. To me, at low speed, GT16 is the most stable, followed by V8 and then Tesla. Tesla is actually more agile than others. At high speed, its the other way around; of course V8 is limited to 30 kph, so at 50 kph, Tesla is probably better than GT. V8 is light and thin, so less effort in slow turns than Tesla. For slow work, I'll like V8 better. Anything above 20 kph, I like Tesla better. That said, both very similar. 16 will differ from 14 & 18 inchers. Tesla has even harder footrests respond than V8, coz more power = less flex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 No Cut-out Worries Just for you @Hunka Hunka Burning Love, since I sense some worry from you from that recent Asian video. I've be hitting lots of stuff including speed bumps at a slightly jarring speed. Nothing. I feel very confident in this wheel. It's a solid performer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortaye Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 I just hit refresh on my USPS page like six times. My tracking number still hasn't been scanned by USPS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 1st Range Test I completed my first full battery cycle and achieved 37 miles. The first 23 miles had a lot of high-speed riding. So I'm considering this wheel to have a solid 35-mile range. I do suspect that if you refrain from much 20+ mph riding, this wheel could get 45 miles. I will try a slower speed range test in the future. For reference, my riding weight is ~170 pounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 4 minutes ago, Fortaye said: I just hit refresh on my USPS page like six times. My tracking number still hasn't been scanned by USPS. Don't you know that a watched pot never boils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 16 minutes ago, Marty Backe said: No Cut-out Worries Just for you @Hunka Hunka Burning Love, since I sense some worry from you from that recent Asian video. I've be hitting lots of stuff including speed bumps at a slightly jarring speed. Nothing. I feel very confident in this wheel. It's a solid performer. Thanks for being the Gotway Test Smarty. Did you take a look at the inside battery wiring? I'm hoping mine was a one off issue, but there were several areas at the wire bend exit area where the wire insulation was indented as if you took a fingernail and made a slight impression on the wiring. Probably not an issue, but maybe with vibration and time it could potentially be. These wheels are so fresh off the factory line that mine had some red Loctite near the nut that wasn't even dry yet. Or maybe it's some inferior "Lockytight" substitute as the real stuff sets in 10 minutes and cures in 24 hours? I think my worry-wart might be flaring up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 12 minutes ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: Thanks for being the Gotway Test Smarty. Did you take a look at the inside battery wiring? I'm hoping mine was a one off issue, but there were several areas at the wire bend exit area where the wire insulation was indented as if you took a fingernail and made a slight impression on the wiring. Probably not an issue, but maybe with vibration and time it could potentially be. These wheels are so fresh off the factory line that mine had some red Loctite near the nut that wasn't even dry yet. Or maybe it's some inferior "Lockytight" substitute as the real stuff sets in 10 minutes and cures in 24 hours? I think my worry-wart might be flaring up... I have not opened the wheel yet. I remember your pictures. I kind of feel that since it worked for the first 35 miles, it's probably good for the next 2000. Solid reasoning, right Eventually I'll crack the case, but I guess I'm not a big worrier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Google reveals to me that Loctite is an anaerobic sealer so it has to be in the absence of air to set which explains the unset stuff I found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 Gotway Dance Fixed On My Tesla??? When I was riding tonight, and at a stop while waiting for traffic, I was twirling the wheel back-and-forth while my one foot was on the ground. The wheel turned off (not off-off, but stopped balancing). I had been leaning the wheel over a bit. Wow. That definitely does not happen on my other Gotway wheels. I just completed some controlled tip over tests. The wheel stops balancing at a much higher angle than the other wheels. Some of you may recall seeing a recent video that I filmed for our golfing buddy who wanted to know if he could lay the Mten3 down on its side safely while on. My Mten3 did what I suspected it would, it spun the tire sometimes as it was laid down. I talked to @Jason McNeil about this and he said Gotway was going to change it. My wheel was made in the end of September. I wonder if they all behave this way. Maybe @Hunka Hunka Burning Love can test his wheel to see if it stops balancing before the wheel gets at all close to the ground. So maybe the Gotway dance is a thing of the past finally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 I just tested mine, and yep the balancing does shut down at about 60-70° I'm estimating. That was with me slowly laying it over. I wonder how fast though that angle detection shut off works? In the Gotway America video it seems to thrash only if the tire catches the ground in certain way. Edit: Maybe it has to do more with the delay time before shutting down. If the wheel angle is greater than 60° say for 1.5 seconds then shut down? Maybe other wheels set a different timer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 4 minutes ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: I just tested mine, and yep the balancing does shut down at about 60-70° I'm estimating. That was with me slowly laying it over. I wonder how fast though that angle detection shut off works? In the Gotway America video it seems to thrash only if the tire catches the ground in certain way. Well, in any case, it's a big improvement. Guess I'll find out how well it works when I drop it next (mountain riding). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ir_fuel Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Been away from this forum for about a week and what happens? Marty buys another wheel .... Are the divorce papers filed yet? Waiting on mine to arrive, and I managed to sell the V8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannings Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Every post you guys make about the tesla makes my wait for mine worse, damn you all to hell More please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gustesta Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 8 hours ago, Marty Backe said: Gotway Dance Fixed On My Tesla??? When I was riding tonight, and at a stop while waiting for traffic, I was twirling the wheel back-and-forth while my one foot was on the ground. The wheel turned off (not off-off, but stopped balancing). I had been leaning the wheel over a bit. Wow. That definitely does not happen on my other Gotway wheels. I just completed some controlled tip over tests. The wheel stops balancing at a much higher angle than the other wheels. Some of you may recall seeing a recent video that I filmed for our golfing buddy who wanted to know if he could lay the Mten3 down on its side safely while on. My Mten3 did what I suspected it would, it spun the tire sometimes as it was laid down. I talked to @Jason McNeil about this and he said Gotway was going to change it. My wheel was made in the end of September. I wonder if they all behave this way. Maybe @Hunka Hunka Burning Love can test his wheel to see if it stops balancing before the wheel gets at all close to the ground. So maybe the Gotway dance is a thing of the past finally? Mine shuts down. There's no dancing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedig Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 @Cannings your not alone... Damn @Jason McNeil for being on the wrong coast. I could be riding mine this week while @Marty Backe waited for his! Fedex says tomorrow. Only one more day to torture me Marty. Keep up the good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanghamP Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 10 minutes ago, Gustesta said: Mine shuts down. There's no dancing! That would be breakdancing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Morris Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 I have one of the first Teslas and its crash detection is the worst. I turns into a full speed Tasmanian devil on unplanned dismount. I hope they provide a way to update to the newest version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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