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Not A Hoverboard, but Close (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the if-one-wheel-is-$1500,-does-the-two-wheeled-version-cost-$3000? dept.

It's a one-wheeled, self-balancing electric skateboard called (appropriately) the Onewheel. You can't buy one right now. They've already shipped all of their first production runs and still have Kickstarter backers' orders to fulfill. After that, though, they might make one for you -- if you come up with a deposit of $500 against a total price of $1499. Plus shipping. This may seem like a lot of money to some people, but enough folks have found it reasonable that Onewheel has sold out not just its first production run but also the second one. Their Kickstarter success was nothing short of amazing, with $630,862 raised although their goal was only $100,000. Inventor Kyle Doerksen is the man behind Onewheel, but he's also one of the people behind Faraday Bicycles, whose flagship model costs $3500 -- and whose initial production run is also sold out -- which means there are people around who are willing to pay $3500 for an electric bicycle instead of putting a motor kit on a used Schwinn for a total cost of less than $500 (with a little careful shopping). Alternate video link.

9 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. Need another hamster. by drainbramage · · Score: 3

    The one wheel powering the website seems to be stuck.

    --
    No brain, no pain.
  2. Not an advertisement... but er, yes, yes it is by phorm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not A Hoverboard, but Close

    This is no closer to a hoverboard than a skateboard is. Seriously, a hoverboard is a futuristic technology which through some form of anti-gravity field or whatever FLOATS IN THE FRICKING AIR. This is essentially a cross between a skateboard and a segway. Cool, but still attached to the ground.

    1. Re:Not an advertisement... but er, yes, yes it is by infogulch · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The benefits of a hoverboard over a skateboard include being a smoother ride, being able to navigate over rougher terrain, requiring less manual pushing, and, well, just straight up flying.

      While Onewheel doesn't exactly fly, it does cover the other three benefits (and on manual pushing, it's even better than Marty's), so I think it's fair to call it the closest thing to hoverboards yet.

    2. Re:Not an advertisement... but er, yes, yes it is by mythosaz · · Score: 5, Funny

      This is no closer to a hoverboard than a skateboard is.

      It's three wheels closer.

      Just one to go.

      75% of the way, by any logical measure.

    3. Re:Not an advertisement... but er, yes, yes it is by mythosaz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Lighten up, Francis.

  3. Re:Flash? by iggymanz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Flash: if someone runs up to you, and opens their overcoat, and you find they are naked underneath, and then that person closes their overcoat and runs away, you have been flashed.

  4. way overpriced, here's the real one by slashmydots · · Score: 3

    My friend actually is importing from the same supplier as The One Wheel so it's literally the same device. Since he's just one ex computer technician in one location, he's selling em for like $750 or something. I tried it and it kicks ass. It's not hard to balance but then again I'm really good at kickboxing and dance dance revolution lol. Check his out at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
    and
    http://urbangliders.com/

  5. NO, No its not even close by maliqua · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Ok if you want to build up to something and guarantee it's a disappointment you found the perfect marketing strategy.

  6. Re:ummm by slashmydots · · Score: 2

    This is a modified product and the original is actually called The One Wheel (or Urban Glider or one of 6 other names since it's a Chinese import). This is a double the price rip off of it. It has a balancing gyroscope that makes it not torque you off backwards or torque steer into a tree. It also has an engine-braking limiter for downhill. Like 35 degrees though and you'd still die before the bottom, lol. It's virtually impossible to crash this thing. I tried. I couldn't crash it. I was riding the original though, which is a side-pegged one instead of front to back. If I recall, it's well over 1000 watts total output. The battery is pretty bad ass and the charger requires its own cooling fan and draws like 8 amps or something. So trust me, power isn't a big thing. To be sporty, I wish it went faster but the manufacturer said that any more power would not be able to be compensated by the gyroscope. In other words, it'd kick you off if it had more power. But it seriously feels pretty fast.