# What's your opinion about the Airwheel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2015, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308 "2015-05-05T12:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/1 "2015-05-05T12:14:26Z")
As I was getting off the commuter train yesterday morning, a man in a business suit seemed to be levitating down the walkway towards the train. On closer inspection, he was riding a electric single-wheeled contraption that had a footrest on either side of the wheel. He stopped…and didn’t fall over. He just stepped off of the thing, picked it up and walked towards the train. I asked him what it was, and he said it was called an “airwheel”, and that it had a gyroscope for balance. Have any of you seen and/or tried one of these, and what do you think of them? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/2 "2015-05-05T12:29:28Z")
I have never ridden one, but it appears there are several manufacturers making similar electric unicycles: [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr\_nr\_n\_2?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A3405181%2Ck%3AOne+Wheel+self+balancing&keywords=One+Wheel+self+balancing&ie=UTF8&qid=1430828843&rnid=3375301](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_2?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A3405181%2Ck%3AOne+Wheel+self+balancing&keywords=One+Wheel+self+balancing&ie=UTF8&qid=1430828843&rnid=3375301) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/3 "2015-05-05T14:20:15Z")
I had never heard of these products before this thread, but OH DEAR OG I WANT ONE NOW. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/4 "2015-05-05T14:54:32Z")
I just watched the video on the airwheel website-it _can’t_ be that easy and fun, can it? What’s the hitch? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/5 "2015-05-05T15:11:49Z")
$500? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/6 "2015-05-05T15:22:30Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > $500? 🙂 That’s a lot cheaper than a regular decent bicycle, let alone an electric bicycle, it seems to be more stable than either, and you can tuck it under your arm and store it under your desk at work. Hell, you could probably ride it _to_ your desk at work. What’s so unreasonable about the price? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/7 "2015-05-05T15:28:20Z")
Well, it’s no Segway. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/8 "2015-05-05T15:37:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What’s so unreasonable about the price? I wouldn’t pay that for a bicycle. I’ve had cars that cost less than $500. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/9 "2015-05-05T15:42:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I just watched the video on the airwheel website-it _can’t_ be that easy and fun, can it? What’s the hitch? AFAIU it takes quite a bit of effort to learn to ride it. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/10 "2015-05-05T15:48:57Z")
Must… resist… urge… to… buy… That looks damned awesome. I have no real need for it, since my daily commute is to my basement, I don’t do a lot of in-town walking around, and even my regular old bicycle is gathering dust in my garage. But that is so cool! Want! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/11 "2015-05-05T15:53:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I just watched the video on the airwheel website-it _can’t_ be that easy and fun, can it? What’s the hitch? My guess: the hitch is ‘truly awesome, frequent and slow-to-heal injuries for middle-aged people attempting to ride it’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/12 "2015-05-05T15:58:19Z")
Never heard of it, but my opinion is people need to walk more. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/13 "2015-05-05T16:01:34Z")
Perhaps nice on flat pavement but put a slight uphill in or rough pavement and I would suspect battery life drops like a rock. It can’t possibly contain that much power in such a small package. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/14 "2015-05-05T16:04:20Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Never heard of it, but my opinion is people need to walk more. Why so much hate for us lazy-ass sumbitches? ☹😃 ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/15 "2015-05-05T16:31:02Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > My guess: the hitch is ‘truly awesome, frequent and slow-to-heal injuries for middle-aged people attempting to ride it’. 😉 > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Never heard of it, but my opinion is people need to walk more. Both of you hush, now. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/16 "2015-05-05T16:37:48Z")
It occurs to me that like a segway, it is a motorized, wheeled vehicle and cannot be ridden on the sidewalk in Arkansas. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/17 "2015-05-05T16:39:21Z")
If you’re slow, you can get the [training wheels](http://www.amazon.com/Airwheel-Training-Wheel-Electric-Scooter/dp/B00RTNVQSQ/ref=sr_1_18?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1430843729&sr=1-18&keywords=One+Wheel+self+balancing) for them! ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/18 "2015-05-05T17:02:44Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > If you’re slow, you can get the [training wheels](http://www.amazon.com/Airwheel-Training-Wheel-Electric-Scooter/dp/B00RTNVQSQ/ref=sr_1_18?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1430843729&sr=1-18&keywords=One+Wheel+self+balancing) for them! Man, that would have to be humiliating to put these on! Of course, I would need them. But when you watch the videos of everyone just zipping along, perfectly balanced, drinking coffee, reading the paper, or working on their iPad, it makes it look so easy. Not sure what I think of these. Yes, they look fun, but how practical are they to use in a large city? Can you control the speed, or does it have just one forward speed and stop? Can you brake without stopping, and without falling off? What about going up and down hills? Even slight hills would, I think cause issues with balance and power consumption. I have watched a couple of youtube videos, and most people are going straight on a level road/sidewalk… And they don’t seem to have much control over things if they have to stop on a dime, or are going to run into someone. Yes, I want one. But I am not willing to break my neck at this point in my life. At least, not without training wheels, or maybe with a front bar like a scooter has that goes up from the wheel and “T”'s off at the top. Handle bars. I guess what I want is a one-wheeled segway. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/19 "2015-05-05T17:42:21Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Can you control the speed, or does it have just one forward speed and stop? Can you brake without stopping, and without falling off? What about going up and down hills? Even slight hills would, I think cause issues with balance and power consumption. The article below answers your questions. It can do all of those things but they aren’t that easy to learn to ride. It takes a solid day of practice for most people to become semi-competent on them. In contrast, most people can learn to ride a Segway in a few minutes. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11418069/AirWheel-review-how-hard-is-it-to-ride-an-electric-unicycle.html](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11418069/AirWheel-review-how-hard-is-it-to-ride-an-electric-unicycle.html) ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308/20 "2015-05-05T18:22:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I just watched the video on the airwheel website-it _can’t_ be that easy and fun, can it? What’s the hitch? Apparently it becomes weaponized the moment you step (fall) off of it. From the [Tech Radar review](http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/gadgets/appliances/airwheel-q3-1263136/review): > [@](#): > > The [Airwheel] is too big and heavy and its potential for violence is too threatening. The idea of riding it around town among other shoppers is just absurd - you could seriously hurt someone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-about-the-airwheel/719308.md?page=2)