Some of you people are the most judgmental motherfuckers on the planet.

Some years ago, one of my relatives was lamenting how judgmental people are in the various Asian cultures. She had been to the US once or twice, and said "Americans mind their own business, no one cares what you do or what you look like, no one judges you, why can't our country folk be like them?"

Boy was she wrong.

Wear pink polo...
Wear cargo shorts...
Wear crocs...
Ride an Airwheel...

And the judgmental assholes come out in droves with their antennas buzzing.

8/5/2014 9:45:21 PM

Official Carzin test footage leaked!

8/5/2014 11:20:45 PM

Looks about right

8/6/2014 10:45:49 AM

Quote :

"And the judgmental assholes come out in droves with their antennas buzzing."

we are polite to your face though

8/6/2014 11:00:28 AM

It's a damn gizmo unicycle.

Lump it in with the Segway, just a niche mode of transportation which will never take off like the [insert group name] want it to.

8/6/2014 11:17:31 AM

I have now had the opportunity to see if I can beat coworkers to lunch a couple miles away, and to office meetings. I have beat them every time

I finally yardsaled at an intersection. Bruised pride, but I picked it up and kept on going

8/6/2014 12:57:21 PM

How is the speed control on this thing? Can you leep up consistent peed that is slower than the top speed?

8/6/2014 2:41:41 PM

Speed control is good. Especially on things like going down hill. You can stop on a dime, and you can just put a little weight on your heels down a steep hill and not feel for your life. I have ridden about 8 miles of the Triangle Greenway with no issues.

My problem is the damned beeping. Once you get over 12 km/hr it starts to beep, and the peddles start to tilt back to keep your from accelerating past 18 km/hr. Its a weird feeling, because you feel like you're going to slip off the back end. To remedy this, you put weight on your heels (opposite what you want to do), and as you slow, the peddles reset to center, and the damned beeps stop. I sound like a utility truck backing up half the time because I press the speed. I wish they would put the beep threshold at something closer to 15 or 16.

Its not so bad, however. This thing is WHISPER quiet, and the beeps sometime cause the people that would be in my way to move to one side so I can pass. Otherwise I get stuck behind a walker, and have to wait for an opportunity to pass.

I think I am actually going to enjoy the single wheel model BETTER than the double wheel. When you are on an uneven surface, you are getting uneven load on the outside wheel. It makes riding a little more uncomfortable. If you had a single wheel, I don't think that would matter.

[Edited on August 6, 2014 at 2:54 PM. Reason : .]

8/6/2014 2:52:43 PM

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10154243552325105&set=vb.641240104&type=2&theater

[Edited on August 10, 2014 at 9:46 PM. Reason : Embed doesn't work with tdubs]

8/10/2014 9:44:46 PM

For those that mentioned e-scooters for transportation, here is one that popped up on my FB feed:

http://ecorecoscooter.com



I also saw someone (grown) ride a bigger e-scooter through the neighborhood the other day, was going about 15 mph according to my speedo



[Edited on August 28, 2014 at 7:31 PM. Reason : .]

8/28/2014 7:22:53 PM

Airwheel is the transportation equivalent of Google Glass.

It looks dorky as hell, it's not nearly as useful as it should be, and its owners act like children in the process of defending their purchase.

8/28/2014 9:56:31 PM

That's a good comparison. Both are also futuristic, whatever that may mean, and have potential to be developed into something better with a technology improvement. Just because Apple Newton was limited in its capability in it's time and misunderstood by most, doesn't mean the tablet computer idea would never catch on. Someone will come along and develop those into something more sexy and polished, at which point people will jump on the bandwagon.

Electric bikes were getting a lot of hate a couple of years ago, and now it's the hot trend in bikes in Europe, and it's making it's way to the US as well. And that's not even that revolutionary of an idea (although it could revolutionize transportation if it leads to wide adoption of bikes for commuting purposes).

8/28/2014 10:16:10 PM

No thanks. I'll stick to my Heelys.

8/28/2014 11:10:52 PM

While its obvious the sentiments in this thread, they appear to be the polar opposite of what I've experienced riding it around. Never in my life have I received so much attention. I have been chased into buildings numerous times, been interviewed about this by probably 30 people, and most people want to know where they can buy one and what they cost. I've had probably 5 cars pull over on the side of the road to ask me what it was I was riding. And when I am on campus, the following comments have been heard more times than I can count... "What the fuck was that? I want one".

While I'm sure its not everyone's cup of tea, it is not a toy, and it has made getting around campus dramatically easier and faster. Not a gimmick. I am comfortable enough now to be able to weave in and out of crowded lanes of people. I think this is a great urban tool. I've put around 100 miles on it at this point. With the model I have, I have gone 20 miles on a single charge, and still not run out. I've yet to drain the battery, in fact. I've had 2 falls, both my fault, and neither serious (just hurt pride).

My major complete is the beeping the unit makes. Once you get to 8 MPH, it starts to make a beep, similar to what a truck makes when its backing up. I've already disassembled the unit, and I'll be putting in a rock switch to turn this 'feature' on or off so I can ride faster without all the noise.

[Edited on August 29, 2014 at 9:52 AM. Reason : .]

8/29/2014 9:46:40 AM

I am assuming that beeping is there for the safety of people around you so they know you are about to roll up on them as well as for yourself so you dont hit them. May open you up to a lawsuit or something if you were to hit someone if you disabled said safety feature.

8/29/2014 12:47:46 PM

Well, I think the intention is for the beep to remind you that you are reaching the top speed, and to slow down. Although when you start going beyond 8 MPH, the pedal starts to move up, and it makes it VERY difficult to go faster. Segways don't beep (to my knowledge) and they are a lot more intrusive than an airwheel. That's what makes the airwheel so great, is that is doesn't take up any additional footprint over someone walking, although it is comical to see how much room people give me when I'm going down the sidewalk.

If you hit someone, beep or not, you would open yourself up for a lawsuit, just like if you hit someone with a bike or anything else.

[Edited on August 29, 2014 at 1:32 PM. Reason : ,]

8/29/2014 1:30:16 PM

Oepii1 you have judged the fuck out of me. Soooo....yeah.

8/29/2014 3:41:50 PM

Quote :

"I've had 2 falls, both my fault, and neither serious "

I would hope you wouldn't have a fall that was the machine's fault.

How much torque does it have for climbing hills? Not inclines; HILLS.

8/30/2014 12:23:41 PM

Safe climbing angle for the dual-hub model is 15-18 degrees. Not sure what you consider hills, but the steepest hill in the world is 21 degree. For bicycles climbing 10 degree hill (17% grade) is difficult to the point where it's more efficient to walk.

8/30/2014 3:14:27 PM

It can climb some pretty formidable hills. I have only had one hill it can't climb. My driveway. Which is insanely steep. So steep my wife refuses to take the garbage bin down it for fear of falling. It's ridiculous.

If the gyro and computer isn't solid, falls due to machine are possible. Some of the competitors had issues. The airwheel has been really solid.

8/30/2014 8:12:14 PM

Eh. Just walk.

8/31/2014 3:29:15 PM

Oh, that's right. Just walk at 12mph.

Some people just don't get it.

9/1/2014 10:56:11 AM

YikeBike

https://www.touchofmodern.com/sales/yikebike-eb106067-a4e0-475a-9c29-f9b5b909a3fe

Video in the Synergy model link

Seems uncomfortable, as you are not standing, nor properly sitting.



[Edited on September 5, 2014 at 2:18 AM. Reason : ]

9/5/2014 2:17:36 AM

I think that gizmo is a good example of why the airwheel is superior. Those people have to engage their hands to steer the thing, and its stance makes it hog up a good amount of footprint. So, hard to carry things, if not impossible, larger, and not as portable, and you would have a hard time using it in crowded spaces. I am sure it is a helluva lot easier to learn, however, which will make it better for the older crowd.

9/5/2014 9:58:40 AM

Airwheel spotted at Burning Man



.

[Edited on September 8, 2014 at 9:33 AM. Reason : .]

9/8/2014 9:25:37 AM

CarZin spotting today cruising campus on his Airwheel.

[Edited on September 9, 2014 at 2:29 PM. Reason : ]

9/9/2014 2:29:31 PM

For of you who think Airwheel is too nerdy, here is something more hip. I've seen electric skateboards before, but this one is much more refined, with wireless remote, lipo battery, regen braking, and dual wheel motors.

http://boostedboards.com



Looks fun. It's definitely going to require smooth and well-maintained terrain with those size wheels and it has a more limited range or 6 miles. But it would work well for scooting around the campus (if most students could actually afford a $2,000 skateboard)


[Edited on September 21, 2014 at 1:54 AM. Reason : .]

9/21/2014 1:51:25 AM