this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2024
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micromobility - Ebikes, scooters, longboards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility

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Ebikes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, longboards, eboards, motorcycles, skates, unicycles: Whatever floats your goat, this is all things micromobility!

"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.

micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"

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submitted 7 months ago by technomad@slrpnk.net to c/micromobility@lemmy.world
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So, I've been considering micromobility options recently to help me get out a little bit more and range better. My dog told me he'd appreciate it if I got out a little more on my off-days. I don't know why he's gotta be so judgy like that...

Anyways,

-Bike formats are out, it needs to be easier to transport and not take up that much space.

-Balance boards are cool, but I'm not sure that's quite what I'm looking for either...

Electric skateboards, scooters, mountainboards, etc., what's good? I'm drawn to the idea of electric boards with (potentially?) off-road capabilities. I'm a mountainbiker and often have access to excellent trails, so I like the thought of being able to ride on those too sometimes but my main uses would probably just be getting around town or going out on paved greenways.

Entry level would be good, I'm hoping for somewhere in the 500-1000 dollar range if it exists but if I have to pay more for something better then so be it.

Also, DIY solutions aren't completely out of the question for me. I could see myself messing around with a build project if it strikes my fancy.

Thanks for any help, I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with!

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[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Kinda sounds like a scooter might be what you're looking for but can you give us more of an idea of how exactly it will be used? Specific range and terrain would be especially helpful.

[–] technomad@slrpnk.net 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

10 miles or so seems like it might be a nice range, just as a general guess. I'm not really sure how capable these types of vehicles are.

Terrain would include gravelly/rocky surfaces (light), as well as paved greenway sidewalks and such.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I'm more of an ebike and bicycle enthusiast, but I would recommend that you take all posted ranges with a grain of salt especially if you weigh anymore than 100-125lbs: Most companies give overly generous range estimates (i.e. a very lightweight rider, no cargo, flat terrain, no headwind, not too cold... basically perfect conditions that you'll never see IRL with any consistency).

Also, keep in mind that anything battery powered will have reduced range the colder it gets so it would be wise to factor that and the probably misleading range when making a purchase.

As for terrain, thicker tires tend to do better in worse terrain, but at the cost of efficiency so it's a trade off where you need to kind of find the sweet spot for your needs.

Finally, do your best to get something with quality batteries that have UL certification: Saving money on something that either underperforms, breaks, or straight up burns your home down isn't really saving money.

Once you have decided on a ride, be sure to take care of the battery long-term: Don't charge it while it's been exposed to cold temperatures, don't bang it up, don't leave it on the charger forever, stuff like that. If you need to keep the battery in storage for an extended amount of time, try to get the charge down to around 50% until it's ready to be put back into use.

[–] technomad@slrpnk.net 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Solid advice all around, thank you. I will take all of that into account.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

Good luck and try to be patient: I wish I had saved up my money and got a different ebike than I did (Engwe EP2 Pro). Take your time, do your research, and enjoy the ride that works best for you when you find it!

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Source: I occasionally ride a (street) e-skateboard.

I'd be worried about riding a skateboard on gravelly or rocky surfaces. The wheels are small, so you'll have a much harder time with rocks/bumps/roots than you would on a bike.

One of the problems I've encountered in my board is that there's nothing for me to hold onto when the board hits and kind of obstruction. In my case, it's large gravel on bike paths. Basically, the board slows down or stops, and I get launched.

No injuries so far, but I get use out of my knee/wrist pads and a helmet.

I'd go with a bike for anything other than flat asphalt.

[–] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I don't generally take my Exway Flex onto gravel paths either, though I have done so at times. Still, on street boards I stay on pavement 99% of the time.

My larger Eovan board deals with gravel very well. I slow down for the transition but once on gravel I'm generally able to go about as hard as on pavement (though obviously grip isn't the same so taking turns or braking as hard as on pavement is a bad idea).

The Eovan is much longer allowing for a wider stance making sudden jerks or changes in speed less of an issue. It's a stupidly powerful board but despite that it is the only one I have on which I've never taken a fall. Even hitting bumps and potholes that have scared the crap out of me, it has kept going and kept me on top.

But anything at longboard size or smaller should only be ridden on surfaces that you can be sure are level enough to not interfere. The only reason I've hit potholes on my Eovan is because I take it onto roads I would never ride on my Flex.

[–] Telcontar 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I've actually been looking at getting an e board for my 4 mile commute to work. I've been researching reviews to decide on a board with good reliability and ride comfort primarily, and the flex has come up often. Any especially good or bad experiences with it?

[–] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

It's just really good. Exway pays attention to details other brands don't.

The result is a board that's as good as it gets to ride out of the box. Good wheels with good urethane, trucks with great handling, especially under power. And bushings that don't make controlling the board feel like a dance on a knife's edge in a bad way.

With every other board I've felt the need to fix something on it. The trucks, the wheels, the bushings... Not the flex. I just took it out of the box, and it was good.

I do have two complaints, the first of which is that despite the belt covers, tiny rocks really really love getting in under the belts and getting embedded in the plastic drive gears. This is a local problem though, as there's gravel all over, even on pavement as in the winter gravel is spread everywhere to make ice less slippery for pedestrians.

Complaint two is that the battery on it tends to let the cells go out of whack, resulting in times when the board will claim to be at 70% battery, but behave like it's at 5, slowing to a useless crawl.

This mostly happens after letting it sit for a winter. Leaving it in the charger for 24-48 hours to let the BMS trickle charge the offending cells back to level with the others, fixes it. And if you regularly use the board you'll notice it "tiring out" only slightly sooner than empty, and know it's time to let it sit and charge a full day.

[–] DudeImMacGyver@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Have you ruled out folding bikes? Some can get pretty compact

[–] technomad@slrpnk.net 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I've not ruled them out completely, no. I'm trying to keep an open mind, I just didn't think they would be the most practical/beneficial option for my specific needs/wants

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Folding bikes can be pretty neat and Tern makes some decent stuff in your price range. Maybe check out the Node or Link series but also see if you can't find someone who might let you borrow their folding bike so you can test it out and see it it'll work for you.

Edit: Oh, there's also Dahon which is a little cheaper but not terrible from what I've heard.

Personally, I love having a regular bicycle because I don't have to worry about range or managing a battery. It comes at the cost of time and effort though.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I just didn’t think they would be the most practical/beneficial option for my specific needs/wants

In your original post, you wrote that "... my main uses would probably just be getting around town or going out on paved greenways..."

If that's the case, I can wholeheartedly recommend a folding bike. I've got a Tern Link D8, and I've been on local rides and extended (150km+) rides without issues. It's small enough to fit in the trunk of a sedan. If you want smaller, go with something that has 16" wheels, but I'm quite happy with the ride of the 20" wheels on my Tern.

I also own e-scooters, and they are a different thing altogether. I'm always worried about range anxiety, which is one reason why I stared biking. I also hated that if the battery dies, you're pushing the thing... and you really can't do many repairs on an e-scooter without taking it to a shop or being very handy with opening up and working with electronics. They are nice when they work, but bikes offer more flexibility and long-term use.

[–] technomad@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 months ago

Thanks for your input, I do appreciate it. I should've mentioned this in the post, but I do already own a mountain bike, which is part of the reason why I am wanting something different, and I'm mostly likely going to want something that is powered.

I'm really seeking more of a grab-n-go type of option, no unloading/unpacking involved

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

+1 for a folding bike, especially for under $1000. If money was no object, I'd suggest a Brompton if size consideration is a priority.

[–] DudeImMacGyver@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

If money were no object, I'd suggest the Tern Vektron

[–] Wahots@pawb.social 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

If it were me, I probably wouldn't be riding an escooter or electric longboard on the trails. I also love to downhill mountainbike and recently picked up a small electic BMX bike that can fit behind my apartment's front door (my apartment is 440sqft, this bike can fit in a 2017+ Subaru outback).

No suspension, but it's fat tires can take a bump or heavy gravel. I REALLY RECOMMEND SOMETHING WITH BIG WHEELS. The number of times I've rolled over a pothole at speed and thought "holy shit, that would have fucking killed me on a board, scooter, or roadbike" has already been a handful of times in the last 3 weeks and 150 miles I've put on the bike. I've almost stopped using my Outback because the transit times are comparable with heavy traffic.

Perhaps a bike might be mission creep for you, but that was (aside from a spendy bidet) the best $1,200 I think I've ever spent.

[–] technomad@slrpnk.net 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I will probably just have to stick to my mountainbike for trails. I just thought the idea sounded nice. Balance boards are kind of popular for this, so I was just thinking something else might also have that potential too.

Nice, what eBMX bike did you get? (is that the proper abbreviation? lol)

That's not really one I had considered yet, but I could see it maybe working if I was able to fit it inside my vehicle. The price range seems close enough.

I'm really leaning towards an all terrain electric longboard, but again trying to keep my options open. Haven't made any decisions yet, and I may just end up deciding to save up for something.

[–] Wahots@pawb.social 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Balance boards are cool, have seen a few of those around here. Might be easier to store, though I dunno how owners lock them up if they are grabbing groceries. Make sure whatever you get has a decent range, everything quoted on the spec sheet is usually a very generous estimate based on a light rider, flat ground, and no wind. Having something that can still be moved by hand/foot might be a good idea, whether that is a scooter or a bike or something else. Watch and read reviews of various e mobility devices!

The price keeps fluctuating on mine. They are clearing out overstock from overproducing in 2022, I think. Repairablility is a mixed bag. Not many services repair these bikes, but they are mechanically quite simple, and have reused parts throughout their lineup. So you should be golden on stuff like batteries, tires, spokes, brake pads (generic), etc. I got mine for about $1,189.

https://www.juicedbikes.com/products/ripracer?variant=39361373700160

Edit: not sure on 'eBMX', I guess so? I've only ever seen this one, haha. Quite fun though, I've really been enjoying it and it looks like it should be quite easy to maintain for quite some time.

[–] technomad@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Several of my coworkers have balance boards, and they all love them. That being said, I'm still not sure they're for me though. I think I'm just wanting something different.

What kind of repairs have you had to do so far?

I feel like I could definitely see myself rocking one of those. I really like the fat tires, those are sweet lookin' B)

Thanks for the link, and the feedback

[–] Wahots@pawb.social 1 points 7 months ago

Well, I upgraded the controller and managed to strip the screws. A repair guy got them out by tapping an allen key deeper by hammering it in with a mallet. Had I known that technique, though, would have done it myself.

Other than that, nothing else. Brakes are loud a AF after you bed them, but it's quite nice, makes cars and pedestrians notice you, which is good for situational awareness. People actively get out of your way, lmao.

My bike was also 2022 inventory and had a bit of rust on the screws on nonstructural parts. I brushed it off and added some oil and threadlocker where needed.

The nice thing about this bike is that you can find the brake pads online, relatively common (smaller size than my mountain bike running guide Rs, but shimano sells the smaller pads too). Tires are standard. Tubes are standard. Chain appears to be standard. Spokes appear standard. Uses mineral oil for hydraulic lines. The battery, though I have not tested it with Grintech 3rd party batteries, appears to be standard with a hot and neutral line, no BMS pin that fucks you. So you may may be able to rock this bike for ages after parts have been discontinued. Uses a standard XLR charger connector. Motor controller upgrades are available through the manufacturer, which can deliver significantly more current than the base controller (be careful with those m3 screws by the crank, they've been tightened by the hand of god.)

Only weak spots for this bike: no front shocks (though you can find them online), single speed drivetrain, grips are non locking but can be replaced. Service options aside from velofix are limited.

If those downsides are fine, I'd say get it. This bike is fun as hell and very comfy even if you are 6ft+ and 170+ pounds.

Be careful with the throttle and pedals when you unlock Race mode in settings. Gives 1,200+ watts all at once, which can cause you to do wheelies if you aren't careful, lol.

[–] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I own four electric skateboards. I like them a lot, they go from small and carryable to large and semi-pullable. I've been riding one or a couple of them almost daily for years.

For that price-range you're not gonna get anything off-road capable that's actually good, but a mini-board or longboard would absolutely be doable.

One of my boards is a first gen Exway Flex, I use it to get around at medium range on paved paths. It just about deals with cobblestone paths at low speed, though aftermarket wheels can improve this.

Brands actually worth considering imo are Exway and Backfire, but there is also BKB for diy kits.

I also have boards from Ownboard and an Eovan, but I would not buy from either again. A future purchase for me would likely be a Lacroix, Apex or Fluxmotion board.

[–] pelotron@midwest.social 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

+1 for e-skating. I have been rocking around on a BKB longboard that I put together for about $750 (custom batteries). I feel like a little kid zooming around on my local streets / bike paths and think it is an awesome option for micro mobility.

As for portability, it's decent though the thing is heavy and the longboard size means I'm pulling it behind me instead of picking it up most of the time. If you want something easy to pick up and take on a bus or whatever I'd look for something smaller.

WEAR WRIST GUARDS if nothing else. Wrist injuries are the most common injuries in board sports.

[–] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

+1 for protective gear. I invested in some padded jeans and jackets as they look nicer and make gearing up a breeze. A helmet is what will keep you alive, while protective gloves and wrist-guard are item one on staying out of the hospital.

On portability, larger boards can be made much easier to handle, with a handle. Makes picking up and dragging a board, holding one upright, etc. much easier. I added one to my heaviest board and I don't really mind lugging it on public transport or pulling it along indoors anymore.

Most boards aren't actually that heavy, so their awkward portability is more of an ergonomic issue as they aren't designed with handholds like scooters and bikes. But you can always add one.