Everything you Know about Wheel Size is WRONG

Why 2" difference for Electric Unicycle is larger than you think

This week, lets talk about that very fundamental question of wheel size, and how it feels to ride a larger or smaller electric unicycle, and why that abstract sounding concept is actually the most important part of choosing an electric unicycle that nobody's talking about.

Episode 128- Wheel Size

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[OWGAC]

If you are thinking of buying an Electric Unicycle use my affiliate links!
Pays me a few dollars at no cost to you, and help fund my wheel purchases for more reviews!

[macswanton]

Another flawless episode, from beginning to end!

[Dogo.R]

Worth mentioning that stability is not directly related to wheel size. Instead it has to do with rotational mass which is only correlated to wheel size.
Understanding that rotational mass is what matters for stability leads the viewer to understand many other important things.
Like how rim weight like on the V13 affects things. And also leads to the knowledge that if you could add and remove weight on the spinning part of the wheel you would be able to change the stability vs responsiveness without needing a different wheel.

There is also the unmentioned fact that a larger wheel leads to a smoother ride over alot of non-smooth ground, since the larger wheel size dips less deep into divots in the surface. This fact is most obvious if you look at a tiny wheel like on scooters.
Large wheels also need to deform less on smooth ground because the arch that touches the ground is more parallel which leads to more surface touching the ground and therefor more grip, especially important offroad, in the wet, or when riding over metal. The larger surface touching the road also leads to the higher likelyhood that you ride over divots instead of partially go down into them leading to a smoother ride aswell.
Also because of the larger surface touching the ground the tire itself requires the ground to "displace" more air when you hit the flat ground from a jump... leading to a lower chance of bottoming out the tire and hitting the rim when landing on flat surfaces (So doesn't help when hitting a stair edge for example). Which means you can ride at a lower PSI while retaining the same threshold to bottom out from jumps and other drop-downs, leading to a smoother ride since lower PSI allows the tire to deform to the roads uneven surface more.
Edit: A larger wheel also moves the axle up which results in the force you apply while accelerating being farther from the pivot point and therefor giving you more leverage, making it easier to pivot the EUC forward reletive to the wheel which is what you do to accelerate. Same applies to braking aswell.

Imo a large wheel diameter with a minimized rotational mass and the ability to add rotational weight optionally if you want to have a more stable ride would be ideal since you get the best of all worlds.
I do wish rotational mass was a part of the spec sheet for these EUCs.

[jeffb]

Brilliant episode!! You managed to describe the nuances of wheel size equated to the style and speed of the ride. Bravo!

[Riceman-op]

I learned all about stability when riding in the night on a mountain road and I came upon a hairpin turn and it was so dark my headlamp was not able to show me where I was going. The moment I lost track of where I was going the wheel became unstable like I was a total beginner! I almost crashed! Even though I had plenty of room to roll. I immediately clicked on my handheld spotlight and as soon as my brain detected where I needed to go the wheel became stable again. That was a lesson to me as to how much you do to keep your wheel stable even though you don't think about it anymore.

[bernardobustamante]

I'll share my experience with the EUC search for stability. I started out in August of 2022 with the V11 (18" I think). I am 5'-10" weigh 180 lbs. It was difficult at the beginning, and it felt like a ton. But, looking back, it was an excellent wheel to learn on. It had perfect speed max for a beginner and great suspension- ok stability. It was the search for the right pads that I was after and the pedal adjustment and height, so I Impulsively acquired the Kingsong S22 (20" wheel). Stability excellent and good teacher for control. It felt like a monster, and it was wide girth, and I was actually very scared of it, but it taught me everything about taking on more euc weight and controlling the ride in many different positions, most importantly, it introduced me to off-road. I then decided to add the Begode Master (20" Wheel) to the fleet for more speed- it's like I was in stability heaven, but that didn't last longer than a few months... burned mother board and suspension very weak, still out of order. I felt something was there in the master, so I pursued that hunch and bought the Master Pro (22" WHEEL) THE BEST WHEEL for Stability, and the my dreams came true, so I had to lessen time for off-roading and stairs, jumps etc... but POWER and stability was MET! Then I was introduced to the Extreme Bull PRO- (20" wheel) - Stability Extreme. The master pro and the extreme are two different rides< but I tend to agree with Hsiang; Wheel Size is not the secret sauce for stability and control, neither is weight, size of euc or pads. They do help tremendously(Especially Pads-haha), but the secret sauce is definitely becoming one with the wheel, and for that you just have to search for the right one that fits your comfort zone and thinking abilities. .

[EclecticWizard]

Love your videos and your philosophy on EUCs. Just ordered the Patton for my first wheel and am excited for it to show up. Not sure what it is about EUC but they have captured my interest in a way nothing else has in a long time. Hoping it will be as life changingly fun as everyone says.

[darkstar]

Being on euc feels like being at the top of a mountain on skis. Any direction I point is downhill.

Our thought patterns certainly are linked to our sensory inputs.
Consider colloquialisms such as “I see what you’re saying” or “I won’t stand for that”.
Those are both abstract metaphors derived from physical experiences.

[kingdavid]

I know this video is already a year old, but something you probably should’ve added to it. If not the main reason, it is definitely a contributing factor why 16 and 18 inch wheels are the most popular is because they cost less to make….. then for a bigger wheel. Parts are smaller materials are less, etc. This also ties into shipping cost. It weighs less. Smaller product for a company makes logistics easier.

[KevinRedmondWA]

Sherman suspension with inmotion manufacturing and solid state batteries. My dream wheel.

[KiwiMark]

On my first wheel, I thought that I would love a more stable wheel, but I now know that there wasn't a stability problem with the wheel - it was the rider! My first wheel was 18", when I bought a 16" wheel, I thought it was a lot less stable, after a few hundred kms of riding - it is plenty stable enough. My Sherman S is relaxing to ride because I don't need to think as quickly to correct any instabilities, but I'm sure someone new to riding would initially have trouble with balance and stability.

[chris.hinsley]

Very good analysis of what is going on ! More of this please.

[jaysong.]

First wheel ever, my kingsong 14D. I love riding this wheel. First off relatively inexpensive as far as this hobby goes, and I'm still brand new to this, just eclipsed 100 miles recently. I feel like I have a lot to learn and still I'm not ready for faster just yet but when I ride it feels like I don't want to stop😅

[FSDinNYC]

Not just wheel size but weight. 18" V11 is great on roads but I often find myself missing the much lighter 16" V8 because it's easier to weave through pedestrians on the sidewalk and simply just more manageable when running errands.

[Highvoltagedelivery]

I’ve just gone from a kingsong 16x the begode EX20. The weight felt hard to handle at first but once i put a street tire on its surprisingly nimble

[rayrous]

Stability, yup.
My first wheel was 14". I kissed the asphalt about once every 3 weeks. I miss the agility, but I crash much less frequently.
I don't think I want a 20" wheel. It lacks the maneuverability i crave.

[keithmurakata]

This is one of your best videos yet !!! The break down of the video gamer mind meld with their controls & it’s relationship with reaction time… and then the Linebacker vs RunningBack ——brilliance shines through when you love something ——Props

[SlowMotion]

I love how you managed to throw in the obligatory angle of Sparkles in this informative video. Thank you for all that you do, Hsiang!

[TheDownloader]

Today I rode my V12HT 60km/h and few km later just 20km/h thru some offorad in the forest. I it so amazing how stable is that wheel in high speeds and how nimble it is in low speed. I love it and I have no need to switch to bigger wheel.

[WiFeYBurGLeR]

I deff credit your videos for helping me get into this hobby. Your videos are fire my dude! I came from E-skate and watching your vids had me end up buying a V11. Now I have an EX30 and couldn't be happier.