Just bought a SoloWheel...
 

I had been hearing about the Solowheel for years now, and at one point, decided I wanted one, so after looking around, I saw that the retail was set at $1750 and nowhere could you find one cheaper, so I put that idea to the side for a while.

Last week, I saw an auction for a solowheel and it was at $700, I decided to put a couple bids on it and soon it got to around $1300 and I got outbid so I stopped.

Then I woke up this morning to see that the Solowheel auction ended in 20 minutes, so I put a final bid of $1350 on it in the last 5 seconds, and viola! I've won!

The seller was semi-local so I'll be able to save money on post.

I have a use for it, where if I need to take a vehicle with me where the Segway isn't allowed, the solowheel can fit in a shopping bag or backpack so I'll have no trouble with Amtrak and the like, right?

I don't quite know how I'll be able to use the thing, but if I attach a pole to the handle, it may help.

Always looking to try new modes of transport, next stop, Robin M1 testing.

Does anyone here own a SoloWheel?
Any tips to prevent me getting even more disfigured?

The guy I talked to, indicated you could get a major ticket for using it on the Caltrain platform, rather than carrying it. He was using it there, though.

Congratulations on winning the bid, and let us know how it goes.

I would thinks that would be so, I'm just saying that, my PT, I cannot even put inside the train, whereas a more compact and less intimidating vehicle would not be a problem.

I've taken 2 PT's on an Amtrak once, (X2 and i2) and it took up all of the space for getting around, but with a solowheel or say a robin, you can put it almost anywhere.

I often take the train and bus/trolley, so I wish I could take my Segway but it is just too heavy and bulky, but a solowheel or robin would be a good option.


I would wonder how much the ticket would be for doing that, obviously there's a major danger of falling into the tracks so I'd guess at least $500

He indicated it was on the order of $400.

In my experience, transit agencies are pretty paranoid about risks. What to you or me is a tiny risk, doesn't look so tiny when you scale it up to thousands of people daily.

A Segway ended up on the BART tracks a while back, when the owner suffered some medical issue. Baby carriages have also ended up on the tracks; there was another case of this just a few weeks ago -- baby included.

For the record, the manufacturer of the solowheel states:
"Specifications:• Unit Weight: 24 lbs/10 kg"

So, what ever happened here? Do you use your solo wheel? Did I forget another conversation? I was looking thru some off topic posts, and stumbled upon this short thread.

I realy like the RYNO wonder if you will have restrictions on that? Ive read 25mph and 12.5 mph.

So is the solo considered a mobility device? If not how does it meet the requirment?

I can't see the SoloWheel working for anybody (or barely anybody) as a mobility device. It requires more active balance from the user than the Segway, and thus also more exertion.

It can't go slowly, so it really ends up only solving the "point A to point B" part of the equation, leaving you to deal with any mobility issue at both ends of the journey, burdened with an additional device.

So it would only provide advantage to a narrow range of physical capabilities, for a portion of the need. The cases where it does work -- it would work for anyone, and really should not need to be viewed as a disability aid.

I'm not saying it would absolutely never could be viewed as a mobility aid -- but I don't expect it to come up in practice.

If it ever did, I'm sure it would run into the same issues people on Segways face -- that it makes you look able-bodied, and looks like too much fun to have a serious purpose.

Thanks I never knew any of that!...When you rely on nothing but mobility devices Im allways hoping for somthing new and better...

I cant figure out how you get on it? from a seated posistion?

Online videos show the SoloWheel to have quite a learning curve, and even then it appears quite precarious. I think this is how the uninitiated / uninformed often view the Segway...

*Thread hijack warning*

For places I can't take the Segway, I find this ingenius device works reeeely well :

http://www.bubblews.com/news/133325-...n-folding-bike

Standing. And I can confirm, from conversation with an owner, that the learning curve is steep and much longer than for the Segway.

It's a cool device, and I expect to see more of them, among the able-bodied. It looks like a lot of fun, and has some real practical advantages in its portability, quick charge, price, etc.

Thanks, Bob. This is good to know. I've been curious about SoloWheels.

They have been officially released in the UK under the brand name "AirWheel". It looks identical to the Solowheel.

I'm very tempted to get one. They are proclaimed to be UK legal ("AirWheel is the only legal unit of its kind"). The smallest and cheapest unit has the shortest range (6-8 miles) which is a bit shorter than I'd like. Not sure I want stump-up for a more expensive model as a first purchase. A used one for starters would be good until I master it. The most expensive models says it will do 24-28 miles - and actually has 2 wheels - http://www.theairwheel.com/airwheel).

Has the OP any further comments to share about their experience with the unit?

I tried riding a co-workers. I struggled a lot and it took me 10 minutes to be able to go forward 20 feet. He said I was learning remarkably fast. Turning is a very delicate balancing act. Expect to fall a lot before actually being able to take it on a ride somewhere.

Please try before you buy, it's not as relex as Segway. I've spend 30 minutes try to master the thing but gave up in the end, as I don't want to break any bones.
Use the rope handle is easier to learn, but it is nowhere easy try to put the second foot on the paddle and take off, try to stop the wheel is anothet drama.

Thanks for this. Sounds like it will be tough. I take it actually having ridden a Segway is not much help?

I won't get the chance to try before I buy. It was like that when I bought my first Segway hence I bought the Segway expecting to keep it for a few months and then sell it. That's what I did but it wasn't long before I bought another...:)

The dealer has some used ones. I might go for the cheapest one if the discount is good enough and if I master it, upgrade. Otherwise, pop it on eBay and hope I don't lose too much. In fact, eBay has people in the UK selling them much cheaper than the dealer, and they are new. But I think I'd rather support the official dealer if his used prices are reasonable. Will find out tomorrow.

Having experience on the Segway will only help with your confidence in leaning forward. You will have almost no ability to turn (or correct in order to go straight) when you start. The things are really tough though, no problem jumping off and letting it fall over.

Well, I bought one! My Segway days are not all behind me but this will keep me busy for the next week or two! I'll let you know how it goes. It will arrive next week. I could do with some bruises! [B)]

(my wife doesn't know yet)

Please use protective gear, a knee protection and gloves would be a good idea, as when you lose balance while turning, it's likely you hands and knee will have contact with ground.


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Thanks for your concern. I will take some sensible precautions.

It is actually very easy to step off of the Solowheel. You're very low to the ground and your feet have plenty of escape routes.

Well, it still hasn't arrived yet but I now have confirmation that it will be dispatched on Monday for delivery on Tuesday. I bought a used model - an ex demo, so it is likely to be pretty bashed up but in full working order. And it was cheaper so I will see how it goes. I ended up with an x6 model which has the bigger wheel and stronger motor (and is a bit heavier), which I thought would be useful. Let the pain commence!

I had the chance to ride the solowheel again. After about 30 minutes (about an hour of total time) I was able to ride around our office, through open doorways and inbetween people. After I jumped off, someone said I looked like I had been climbing a mountain. I was sweaty!

During my second time out on it, I had a really enjoyable time rapidly learning. I could feel myself getting better and better each time I stepped back on. It was definitely a challenge, but very rewarding.

Excellent! I hope I can learn as quickly.

Feel free to hit me up in private if you'd like more advice. I'm open to skyping or something similar.

My AirWheel arrived today, a lot more battered than expected but I suppose my purchase price reflected its condition.

I practiced for over an hour in total, going from "gee this fun" to "gee this is impossible" to "hey look I'm doing it" (followed by jumping off abruptly).

After about an hour I got the hang of starting off and keeping going. I can't really turn too well yet. I can only vaguely influence its direction but I did almost manage a turn in the road before having to stop off.

When I plan to stop, I can slow it down and step off. Nothing too graceful yet. Lots more practice required. I can see developing a skill on this device will be quite rewarding making the experience much more serene.

Like Gihgehls found, it was very tiresome and I managed to work up a sweat. Probably all the jumping off and walking back to the start in my case.

I started off by leaning against a wall and moving along it. But as soon as I moved away from the wall I had to step off. I persevered and persevered.

Luckily it comes with a strap that you can use to stop it from toppling over when you step off. It stopped it getting even more banged up than it already was. [B)]

I found going a little faster made it easier to control. Although the constant beeping every time I exceeded the envelope was abit annoying. A bit like the Segway beeping when you turn with one foot off the mat - but louder.

I agree that having ridden a Segway is not much help in terms of the required skill. But, the keeping your legs bent and loose and the observation side of things - and hazard perception etc., put me in good stead. I thought back to the "Unofficial Segway code" guide I put together - and much of the advice is relevant (but much of it was common sense anyway I guess).

I really enjoyed progressing from bumbling buffoon to just a slightly bumbling buffoon! I'll practice again tomorrow, weather permitted. Much more control is required.

I have the x6 model so it is heaver than the lighter x3 - 11.5KG versus 9.8KG. And it felt quite heavy to me - heavier than I thought it would. You couldn't really carry it very far but it is light enough to pick up and maybe take it onto a train or bus, or easily pop it in the back of your car. But I'm not the strongest guy on the planet.

I think once I develop more control I will be able to better comment on its characteristics compared to the Segway.

So did you get a SoloWheel or an Airwheel? It seems Airwheels are much less expensive.

Mine is an AirWheel. But the Solowheel looks the same to me. Not sure if one is a copy of the other or simply different versions/branding. I've seen several different names used but they all look the same or very similar. I think the concept on all of them are the same.

I wonder. I suspect that people who do not own a segway will see some of the knock offs, and feel and pretty much say the same thing...

Of course, I don't know the lineage. All I know is that the solo wheel exists, and that it was posted that Airwheels are much less expensive.

These things are often difficult to sort out.

I had the same thought when I wrote that. I might ask the seller if he knows the story. The top AirWheel model is now for sale in Harrods (in store) so I hope it is not a shameless copy.

There's so many other brand of the single balancing wheel transporting device in Asia, I think there's more then 10 brands on the market and there's also the two wheel variant.

I found using the training rope is easier to get the hang of it, but overall experience is still hard to handle and nowhere near the relax glide of Segway.

It appears the Airwheel is actually more advanced, sporting the equivalent of our speed limiter and audible warnings. The solowheel instructions say something like "be careful about leaning too hard as there might not be enough power to keep you up."

I didn't get a manual with mine but the ones I have found online have all been poorly translated. It has the ability to slow you down when the battery runs low but the manual warns about starting it up again afterwards in case there is not enough power to manage a safe shutdown. A bit like a V10 Segway before the first recall (v12), I think.

I managed a couple of laps of my estate just now - which is a fairly quiet residential area with gentle turns. This followed lunchtime practice at work trying to slalom around some lampposts (fairly unsuccessfully). I feel like I am getting there but my ankles are sore (and red) and the side of my shins are also surprisingly sore. Speed bumps are manageable but stones might be enough to cause a mishap.

At this point, I think it will be a long time before I am totally relaxed - if ever. My goal is to become competent enough to operate on quite pavements so I can have a go at riding to work via the train station, a journey I made several times on my Segway (but from a different house which was about 2 miles closer to the station). So, I will focus on turning and then slopes.

Airwheel offer two two-wheel models (their Q range) - mine is part of the single wheel X range. The two wheel version is supposedly much easier to learn requiring less balance skills, but I imagine also lacking something in fluidity. Not sure what would happen if you lean to the side and one wheel lifts... :eek:

It seems to me that a folded Brompton isn't much larger or heavier a package than the airwheel / solowheel, and infinitely better dynamics and utility...

If all you are looking for is a way to get from A to B (with maybe some public transport involved) then the folding Brompton would certainly be an option - a fine option for many people. But not nearly as interesting or fun as something a bit more 'gadgety'. There are pros and cons for both and we have debated these when considering a bicycle versus a Segway, many times over the years. In this instance, the turning circle of the Airwheel is much bigger than the Segway - but probably smaller than a bicycle. Top speed is less than a bicycle and a Segway but still much quicker than walking. The range is infinitely less than a bicycle and most models offer less range than a Gen2 Segway, but there is much less exertion involved on the Airwheel than a bicycle (about the same as a Segway, once mastered) and practically no folding to be done. It's smaller and lighter than a Segway but less suited to people who need more stabilisation. And of course, as I'm finding, it is taking time to learn. A Segway was very quick for me. Can't recall how long it took me to learn a bicycle! The new Airwheel/Solowheel models posted by Luckie look really cool - especially the Orbit

Okay, getting there. Managed to ride to a coffee shop on campus, step off outside, carry it in, lean it against the wall and placed my order (to go). Carried my coffee and the ride back outside and started it up (was a bit tougher with an audience and the coffee in hand). Rode it back to the office... "like a boss"!

I hit the speed limiter for the first time today. I felt a bit more confident so tried to go faster. The speed limiter acts a lot like the Segway one does. It pushes you back - or rather it tilts the platform back so you only feel it in your feet (as there is no handlebar) - but it also beeps. I did as I was told and slowed down.

I can start and stop better now. If I could juggle I think I'd definitely try for a career in the circus!

I'm still using the training strap but not needing it so much. I think maybe in a week it'll come off.

Have someone take a video for us to see? I know with my balance problems no way...but would be cool to see how a Seger makes the transition! Be safe

My issue with this device would be evasive maneuvering / emergency stops. On the segway there have been countless times I have needed to turn and/or stop quickly and accurately to avoid something unexpected. I can't see how this can be accomlished as effectively (or at all) with a solo/air wheel.