The first thing we ask potential customers when they walk into one of our stores is "what do you plan on using your EUC for?" It's the most important question to answer before deciding on a model. Are you going to be using it to commute? Do you want to take it on mountain bike trails and single track? Do you want to explore and tour around?
If you are using it to commute, will you be commuting rain or shine? Do you plan on doing a little of everything and need something that does it all? Or do you plan on being solely a trail shredder? How much space do you have to store your wheel? Do you want to be able to bring it into restaurants or grocery stores? With these questions in mind, let's start looking at some answers and help you find the perfect electric unicycle for your needs.
If you plan on using your EUC to commute rain or shine then your options are slightly more limited. However, EUC manufacturers are starting to make their wheels more and more water resistant thanks to the demand from consumers. It's important to keep in mind that there is no such thing as a waterproof electric unicycle. Water will eventually rust the bearings and there will be more maintenance cost as a result. We've tested all of the models on the market and hand-selected some of our favourite wet-weather friendly EUCs for you.
Many new riders ask us if it's a bad idea to buy a big wheel as their first wheel. To be honest, it doesn't matter. It all depends on the feeling you're looking for. EUCs like the Veteran Sherman-S or InMotion V13 that are big and heavy actually ride much more stable than a smaller wheel like the InMotion V12 or InMotion V8F. However, it is easier to get started and learn the basics on a smaller wheel. Once you've got the basics under you, you're going to want to answer this question: Do you want to ride at higher speeds and feel more stable? Or do you prefer the maneuverability and the playfulness that a smaller wheel offers? Do you need to fit the wheel in the Frunk of your car?
Smaller Wheels
10" - 16" wheels would fit into the "smaller EUC" category. They are easy to mount, carry around and also offer a fun nimbleness that big wheels simply can't offer. However, you will tend to feel more bumps in the road (unless it has suspension). Turning, spinning, and maneuverability is why people love smaller EUCs. Smaller wheels also typically mean more low-end torque. If you've got two wheels with the same motor but one has a smaller wheel, then you're going to get more torque out of the smaller wheel. We've curated some of our favourite tested smaller EUCs below for you.
Larger Wheels
18" - 22" wheels would fit into the "larger EUC" category. They typically offer faster top speeds and feel more stable at speed due to the added weight and increased tire size. Low-end torque is sacrificed but the wheels make up for it with their overall speed increase. Larger EUCs tend to be more expensive as their motors are typically bigger and more powerful and there is ample room for very large battery packs. We've curated some of our favourite larger EUCs for you below.
Most wheels can be used as hybrid wheels meaning you can ride them on both trail or street. However some wheels with skinny tires like the InMotion V8F should never be ridden off-road. EUCs that come with knobby tires perform great on trails and still are a great option for street riding with that added traction. If you're looking for a good trail EUC, you're going to want something with lots of torque, a knobby tire, and nimble enough to navigate technical trails. We've compiled our favourite trail shredders below for your viewing pleasure.
Should you opt for suspension on your first EUC? We used to say start on a wheel without suspension because you can create bad habits (like riding with straight legs) if you go straight to a suspension EUC. Over time however, we have realized many new riders go straight to having suspension without any issues. Suspension EUCs are typically more expensive and can sometimes require more maintenance, in particular, air suspension systems that require filling up regularly. If you live in a city like Montreal that has awful roads or if you want to do a lot of trail riding, you'll probably want to get a suspension wheel. Here are some of our absolute favourite EUCs with suspension.
When it comes to speed and power you can't ever have too much. Even if you're not a speed demon, the faster and more powerful an EUC is, the safer it is. Why? Let's say that you like to cruise no faster than 40 km/h and you're riding the InMotion V10F which has a 40 km/h top speed. When your battery starts to drain, voltage sag kicks in and suddenly you can no longer ride at your top cruising speed. If you try to push your speed at low battery your wheel will give you some beeps and tilt your pedals up telling you to slow down. If you keep trying to accelerate past the beeps and tilt-back you can risk over-powering the wheel and cutting out resulting in a crash. This is why having a faster and more powerful EUC is considered safer because even at lower battery levels, you'll still be able to cruise at that 40 km/h speed and never have to worry.
If you're riding on trails or plan on racing your EUCs, the more power the better! 2500W or higher would be considered a powerful EUC. There are some EUCs with even more power reaching up to an incredible 4000W. The good news is every EUC on the market today is more powerful than most electric scooters which means they can tackle almost any hill in the city. If you want fast, virtually endless acceleration, then have a look at at some of these EUCs with the most power in the industry.
There are a few different types of battery packs when it comes to EUCs. Battery cells like the Molicel P42A offer fast discharge rates and will allow an EUC to ride with less voltage sag at lower battery levels. Samsung 50E cells, which are found in most EUCs, are more designed for long range but have more voltage sag which means you won't hit the top speed of that EUC at lower battery levels. For most riders, you can stick with EUCs with Samsung 50E or LG M50LT cells. If you like to race or really push your wheel then you might want to find a speciality EUC that features high discharge cells. The only EUC eevee's currently carries with Molicel P42A battery packs is the KingSong S18.
Now how large of a battery pack will you need? The good news is EUCs mostly consist of the motor and battery cells which means you can fit a lot more battery cells into an EUC when you compare it to an electric scooter. That's why electric unicycles typically cost more than e-scooters. Most EUCs can go at least 60km per charge.
In the EUC-industry, anything over 2700Wh would be considered a big battery pack and should be able to push you over 100 km per charge depending on your weight and riding style. If you're looking for range, here are some EUCs that pack the most distance.
