Introducing Segway’s newest baby! Ninebot One S1 is lighter, sleeker and more futuristic than previous models. Not only this, but it is also more exciting, easy to ride and fun for riders between 16-50 years. This review looks at the good and bad of Ninebot One S1 unicycle and later offers an overall opinion about it.
The Segway One S1 is designed only for the bold at heart; the person who remains undeterred has places to go and literally wants to make a grand entrance. If you love to stand out in any situation, give the One S1 a shot. Segway, the designer of top personal transportation products had in mind the individual who will stop at nothing to have fun when creating the One S1.
There are plenty of reasons to love this special electric unicycle including;
• A Li-Ion battery that allows riders to go 15 miles on a single charge. Sustainable power also allows one to reach top speeds of 12 miles per hour.
• It is a compact unicycle at only 25 pounds but it can accommodate adults weighing up to 220 pounds.
• The New Rider tutorial guides beginners and gives full control over safety features, allows you to monitor speed and helps the owner customize patterns and light colors.
• Smartphone app for android and apple
The Good
Speed is the single most appreciated feature of the One S1 electric unicycle. It is easy to reach the top 12.5mph on this fun cruiser once you practice enough. The app is great too because of limitations to beginners who must start at 2mph, advance to 4.3mph upon activation and when you finish the New Rider tutorial you can reach 7.5mph until completing 1km. Past this stage, the app gives you permission to reach maximum speed on your unicycle.
Ninebot app for Android and iOS allow riders to customize LED patterns, choose colors and dictate speed limits among other cool things. Its Bluetooth enabled app shows you the remaining battery life, has a speedometer, heat readings, compass direction, and wattage specs. Even more exciting is the fact that it can be used as a remote control. If you wish to communicate with other users around the world, just sign in to the app via Facebook and get interactive.
The Ninebot One S1 is a real beauty among its peers. The porcelain white glossy finish is an easy reminder of what a luxurious product it really is. In addition to its looks, the One S1 has a black retractable handle. Besides adding to its aesthetics, this handle makes carrying your unicycle a delightful experience.
It is a sturdy unit with an outer shell made of Lexan plastic. This polycarbonate polymer is stiff, tough and hard weathering. In addition to its resilience, Lexan plastic blocks electric shock and heat. To make the unit corrosion-resistant, lightweight and strong, Segway made the foot pedals and frame using a superior magnesium alloy. Note, no seat like on other electric unicycles like the SBU.
For a better turning radius and maneuverability, the manufacturer put the pedals a little higher. With the pedals at this height, a rider can lean harder and move better in corners and bends. Soft pads on both sides above the pedals offer more comfort while the grip pads offer more control over the electric One S1 unicycle.
There is no need for alarm if you scratch or scuff up the One S1 because there is a huge array of skins to choose from. The ability to change the outer look of your unicycle makes it easy to express your mood and fashion sense.
It is possible to customize the unit to ride better on different surfaces. This is made possible by the fact that the tires actually contain air inside a tube as opposed to being fully solid. By controlling the air pressure, you will be cushioned for the entire ride whether on or off-road.
Segway did indeed want to give riders of the Ninebot One unique experience. It was designed so that when going downhill or braking, the battery charges itself. While this truly exciting feature allows you to make the most of your unicycle on a single charge be careful. Avoid going downhill when your batteries are fully charged. If you do this and it gets overcharged the Ninebot One will automatically shut off.
Ninebot One S1 offers one of the smoothest riding experiences considering the fact that; riders can easily climb 15-20 degree inclines. Some people have claimed climbing 30 degree inclines on this model even if the company doesn’t speak of this ability.
There are several accessories that you could purchase to go along with your Ninebot One. From a mounting bracket for a camera to Ninebot training wheels, the accessories are indeed exciting. While you shouldn’t submerge it in deep puddles, the unicycle is one of the most waterproof in the market. So much so that it can be used in inclement weather and wet conditions. The IP65 waterproof rating means you can hose it off at low pressure to clean.
The Bad
• Its closed bottom design close to the tires can catch small foreign objects to get caught, causing rattling noises. If this happens, turn the unicycle upside down and shake it to dislodge objects.
• It takes 4 hours to fully charge the battery. This isn’t such a bad thing though because slow charging makes it less of a fire hazard. If the charging time is too long for you; buy extra batteries or an upgraded charger to halve the charging time.
• Ninebot One is pricier than other brands. This may be the case but it is mainly because of the products superior quality. When it comes to scooters, remember that cheaper brands are usually a fire hazard.
Final thoughts
The Ninebot One S1 gets high ratings for design, features, safety, and construction. It is made by one of the world’s leading unicycle companies so you can tell it’s not a starter product that will expose you to numerous hazards. While the price may worry some, it is not such a big deal especially when you understand that this is to first among the top of the range single-wheel scooters.