Learning To Ride An Electric Unicycle Did Not Go As Expected 

I just got my first EUC a few days ago, and figuring these things out really is the weirdest sensation. You just can't pull it off for the life of you, and every muscle in your body is fully tensed and sweaty. Then you just hit that one magic time where your brain clicks it all together, everything relaxes, and it feels so easy you almost can't even fathom why it was so hard just a few minutes before. It's not like anything else I've ever learned how to use. It's almost not learning at all, just repetition until your nervous system realizes you're not going to die and decides to chill the hell out and relax into it.

Great job! It takes some work to learn but you got it pretty quickly. I’ve been riding for almost 2 years and now it feels almost effortless. Keep practicing the slow speeds, tight turns, and stopping from high speed. You’ll be “full send” in no time!

Welcome to the club. Entertaining video and I'm glad you're enjoying. The Onewheel community is really starting to migrate to the electric unicycle and it's fun to watch.

It's crazy how hard it is to learn, but then is sooo easy and safe once u learn.

I started my pev journey with a Onewheel Pint and followed that with an XR. I absolutely love both and at first felt the same that EUCs looked much less cool than the Onewheel. However as time went by my curiosity for the riding experience of an EUC overcame my need to look cool on a Onewheel. My first EUC was the same as yours, the Kingsong 16x. The learning curve was definitely much more involved than the Onewheel but the key was to just keep at it multiple days in a row and I made significant progress each day and within a few days I felt very comfortable on an open parking lot. Within another few weeks I felt comfortable riding around traffic. Now I find myself nearly always choosing the EUC when I want to go for a ride. To address the dork factor, yes when it comes to social media the Onewheel just looks cooler at first, however in the wild with constantly meeting people I have just as many people asking me about the EUC as the Onewheel and always getting comments about how fun but difficult the EUC looks. Your experience may vary but mine has been that in general people are just more curious about it then worried about how cool you look on your device.

The more miles you put in the more comfortable you'll get with riding. I've been riding for about 6 months, nearly 3000 miles and I love doing city rides. Don't get overconfident though, learn to brake hard and fast without wobbles, and how to ride fast without wobbles. If you ever start getting speed wobbles just slowly brake and let yourself stabilize. The more miles you put in the higher your top speed will be without wobbling. I went from wobbling at 20mph to flying down the road 40 and getting no wobbles.

I also learned it on my own, in the parking of my building (was living in a big city). At the end of the first day, I couldn't ride it at all, all the time clinging to the walls/columns. By the second day, I had a breakthrough, I managed to go straight between two columns. I was able to turn around the parking lot and was starting to feel a bit of confidence, even on the bumps and turning both ways. Those were pretty long sessions! It's weird, at first it seems impossible, but then, somehow, you just get it! The third and fourth day started on an empty but wide walkway and learned closer turns on both sides. It was a really interesting experience!

The video is not boring at all. It's great to see that I'm not the only one who had to struggle with small problems at the beginning.

Now for the crutch! I used a 2 inch ratcheting slackline setup between two trees. You want the webbing level with the ground and about nipple high when on the wheel. Mounting is the really hard part and there are two problems you have to get over. First, smaller wheels dig into your shin when you stand on one leg, and second, your foot tends to slip off the pedal when mounting. When stepping off the wheel, if you lose control, the wheel will spin around as it falls over and it gave me a tire rash just above my ankle, through my levis, but I didn't fall. It took most of a year for the wound to heal completely. I am back to riding the wheel. I am 78 years old and stubborn. In the beginning, I went back and forth along the slackline. Now, I still use the slackline for starting if I haven't been on the wheel recently. Since I ride off pavement I never know what is in the weeds, its an adventure. Jump pads help with foot positioning on the pedals and rough ground. If you are out of shape, the wheel will make your legs feel like they are made of rubber. When that sets in you either get off or fall off.

So, Richard…nice job! You come over really well, and explain it like it is. Too many EUC videos like to give the impression that you can learn to ride in 15 minutes, and there’s many on various forums that like to claim this. Certainly, if you are being instructed by a rider it makes things easier and quicker. But to do what you have done, and I did as well, which is to start by your self and try to work it out as you go along is not easy! I found smooth grass was good for me, as the fear of hurting yourself or damaging the wheel is hugely reduced. Also, best to get rid of the fence/ wall / railing as soon as possible and get going with the self start. I’ve been riding for 18 months now…people think I’m mad…probably I am, but I really enjoy it. Cheers from Italy…Subscribed and looking forward to your next EUC video! 👍

Love this video. I don't feel like such a failure anymore when learning how to ride an EUC. And yes, there's a lot of videos out there that make it seem like I could learn to ride that thing in a couple of hours. It just wasn't the case with me.

I love your video! I know most creators want to encourage people to get started. Very few admit how hard it initially is. I almost gave up because of all the videos about "50 year old retired grandmother learns the EUC, and reaches epic God mode in 90 minutes using my 3 simple steps that every moron should have been born with the innate skills to accomplish." I've ridden motorcycles at the competition level and have great balance, athleticism, and agility. This was WAY HARDER than ridding a bicycle or motorcycle, initially. I think your experience is the common experience, and the "It's so easy dude" videos actually do most people a disservice. That said. It is totally worth it, and when that lizard brain kicks in and figures it out, you're golden. Just keep at it. It is a steeper learning curve, but the fun of riding once you peak that curve is absolutely worth it. You can't "think" your way to proficiency. You have to feel it. It is all muscle memory. You absolutely must be patient with yourself and build the new muscle bulk and muscle memory to ride an EUC. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Just ride your ride and keep practicing. Failure is just learning. Fail a lot, and fail often. Eventually, you will do it so much that you just can't fail. One day, it does just click and you wonder why it was such a struggle at first. It's like learning to walk again. Nobody thinks about walking. You just do it. You can't ride an EUC until you don't have to think about it. You're programming your primitive brain. Only practice and repetition will train your instincts. This is an exercise in pure application. Theory doesn't help at all. And, yes every tennis/basketball court, park, and parking lot will be completely vacant until you start to practice on it. As soon as you start the universe sends out a siren's call for half the county to converge on your location to gawk at you, and give useless advice.

With all the videos out on how to learn to ride an EUC, Richard took the most difficult route by not watching any of them. He made loads of mistakes in his approach to learning. For example, you do not want to hold onto the wheel when you're stepping up; it will keep you off balance. You want to start in the most balanced position, standing up straight with the wheel balanced vertically with one foot. Looking down will knock you off balance, you want to look forward. You do want to practice stepping up with your second foot and stepping back down. You do want to practice accelerating AND decelerating to a stop and stepping down, so you're not panicking each time you need to stop. You can see Richard foregoing the stopping and either jumping off or running into a fence to stop. It still takes some time to learn and get used to the wheel, but going more slowly at the start and taking the smaller steps first will lead to a better / faster result. For most first time riders, it's the initial nerves that are the killer. Your whole body is tense and you tend to panic and make exaggerated motions because you're simply not used to the feeling yet. That's why you do those initial steps first to get used to the feel, rather than trying to jump on the thing instantly and expect to be able to ride it perfectly.

Get some power pads, they make a big improvement to control, stability and agility. It helps you hug your legs against the sides of the wheel for control and the front and back edges help with speeding up and slowing down. Also remember to avoid locking your knees. A slight crouch as a skateboard or surfer has, helps you steer and soak up bumps and such. Keep riding, soon you'll be able to ride multiple miles at a time and then it's just a matter of a month or so until you've hit 100+ miles and it'll feel like an extension of you, like a bike or skateboard can feel

Thanks for making this video. I'm about to get an EUC (actually considering the KS 16X that you learned on - or the Inmotion V11). Have only tried an EUC once for like 15mins, and it was exactly like your first few attempts. So you've given me faith that I'll be able to ride one day too. Thanks for the content!

The steps that you go through are spot on. I’ve been learning on a tennis court. I can go as long as I want, turns, the whole 9 yards. Yesterday some people were playing tennis so I went to another place with uneven terrain. It felt like I was starting all over again just like you were at the storage unit. Lol

I have watched *so* many videos on how to ride an EUC - yours is the only one that mirrors my troubles exactly. Thanks for giving me the hope to carry on ;-)

people should resist learning in this way. It's best to learn how to control it with one foot and then stepping up onto it rather than mounting while holding onto something and being unstable riding to another place you can hold onto. You have to learn this skill anyway, if you learn it first you'll fall a lot less. you should be able to step onto and off the pedals comfortably before even trying to ride distances with it.

Well done! Brings back lots of memories every time I see someone learn to ride.

I learned on a tire at 20psi, and pumping it to 35psi made it feel like a completely different experience. But it's worth it to not ruin your rim. You get used to it. Thank for sharing!

Great video! You really capture the experience of learning very well, going from "oh crap this is impossible" to "OK what was all the fuss about"

I was exactly the same when I got mine took a good two weeks trying to get it then something just clicked. Once you get used to it you can be really precise with it. It still makes my feet ache mind , I’m sure once I’ve built the muscle up for it, it will be less tiresome. Great video hope you make more I enjoy watching EUC videos.

Love this video...I'm a beginner too...so great to see that for most people it's easy to learn in a "couple of hours". You inspired me for sure!

Once you get used to EUC, remember there is no going back. The unicycle will stay with you until the end of your days.

Exactly what I needed, thanks for this vid. I am struggling exactly the same as you. I am on my day 3 and seems like I am making no progress, but I think I need to change the area now to something long and open. Thanks for showing that it's possible to learn to ride it even if it seems impossible.

I like the fact that you are sooo, natural, not really acting ! want to buy one for myself so I can see myself in this circus ! haha

Before I knew what a Onewheel was I saw a guy riding one of these and I thought it was pretty futuristic and thought “man that’s gotta be expensive, but very cool way to commute to work”. Also you bring up some good points I’ve never heard of before on videos showing how to ride this such as when you talked about leaning with the body or leaning your feet forward, like that’s never crossed my mind, and when you mentioned about wanting to steer but you also have to adjust to keep it balanced therefor not going in the direction you intend to. I’d love to get one but at the moment I’m sticking with my XR.

great video, wish i journaled my learning experience on the 16X, even just to look back on for myself. you can definitely achieve a level of zen eventually with these, they become a natural extension of yourself where you don't even realize that you're moving just by doing things subconsciously to keep the euc going where you want, it's such a fun feeling. I'm onto the Inmotion V12 now for extra range and safety margin for speed...but I'll still keep using the 16X especially until the recent V12 bugs are worked out.

This was very entertaining!! Lol the noises that came out of you 😂 this was one of my favorite stages of learning, because once you’re out of this stage you’ll appreciate it so much.. hope you end up loving it … take care

What a great, fun video! I laughed from the beginning because my new EUC will be delivered tomorrow. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. Your experience is reassuring and much appreciated. I hope I will do at least as half as well as you have done! Thank you for an entertaining video!

Amazing. You did such an amazing job producing this video. Looking forward to more Onewheel/EUC vids.

Yea it took me two 3hr days and one 1.5hr day till I felt comfortable. It is odd as you said it doesn't feel like your doing anything different but yet you are. I've got the KS S18 and enjoying it very much, and I'm 66 years young. Ride on.🙂

Nice progress! The learning curve was similar for me too. Spent a lot of time at the basketball courts. The 16X is an excellent first wheel choice! Looking forward to seeing more videos.

Well done at capturing those first learning moments. Something that can be shared with family and friends about what it takes to learn ride an EUC.

This is a great video & very helpful for those who dont know what to expect when they get on a EUC. Thanks

Thanks for keeping this real messages and using the corners of the court for learning short jets

Like from Russia. Been there, bro) It took me two days, but I really knew how to speed up the process. Now, I teached like ~20 people to ride, and it usually takes from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours for them to ride 40-50 meters without stepping off. Then learning speed increases a lot.

Thanks for making this video. Just got my EUC (KingSong 16s) 3 days ago and I'm very much in the same boat you were. Not giving up tho, I can't wait to get to the point where its effortless.

Cool video, rekindles memories of my EUC learning. My first wheel was a KS16X and what an amazing first wheel choice it is to learn on.

Nice dude! It took me a while to be comfortable on it, probably 15+ hours. Now my KS 16X has Clark pads, custom pedals... I'll jump over curbs, go down stairs, hit all the trails.. I love it!

That was a great demonstration of PATIENCE while you're learning, thank you! I haven't gotten one yet, but that gives me some confidence it's Possible! :)

So I’m guessing you didn’t watch any of the RU-vid How To videos. I’ve seen them all. I only went out once and rolled about 5 feet a couple of times. However, I bought a small 14” wheel which should make learning easier. My wheel along with a new unicycle were both delivered the first week of the pandemic lockdown. I have rarely gone out of the house since in spite of being up on all vaccinations 💉. I got COVID from a neighbor. So much for extreme precautions. Anyway, you kind of learned the really hard way using a large wheel and on pavement. I finally found a video where the rider started by rolling down a very slight slope. That’s my plan after finding a pole and going around it for a while. My one and only time out thus far I pretty much looked you in the beginning only with a lot more protection: elbow and knee pads. I’m too old to fall and break anything 😬. Thanks for sharing. I’m guessing you really like your wheel by now 😊. 👍☮️🌞🛞⛑❤

Just got my Master Pro yesterday. It's the only wheel I've ever owned or ridden. It was an embarrassing nightmare for 8 hours. Within 17 hours I've learned to ride up and down very steep hills, stop without bailing off, carry a bucket of live crabs through a hunting trail, and shoot waterguns while riding. I still need to learn: Very tight cornering, riding backwards, riding seated, riding one-footed, jumping, and riding at speeds over 25 mph. Part of the blame I attribute to the pain I have in the side of my calves due to the pad shape. It digs in and hurts to accelerate and brake but I just force it bc I dont wanna die 😂. (Just dropped over $400 on new bumpers, pads and fenders tho 😓) I didn't (and still don't) have the money for multiple wheels so I saved for the best one available at the time. I regret it bc this thing is almost 100 lbs and DRAGS YOU to the ground when it tips too far. Thankfully, the more I ride it the less I regret it since I'm getting pretty used to wielding it. I already broke the tail light in the 8th hour (which is another $50 on aliexpress 😩). WHY BREAK JUST BEFORE I LEARN TO RIDE?

Good job. The tennis court is the hack for Euc training. Stopping, mounting and dismount were the keys to starting riding for me. The wheel will hit top speed and stop if you lift it. Either don’t lift it or let it hit too speed and stop to avoid burning out or damaging the unit. Great video. Keep it coming.

First time riding a electric scooter was a zero11x and i was so struggling, now for the very first time i wanna try a begode master , wish me luck! Very inspirational your tutorial!

Dude, what a great video. Just got my V8S delivered today. Really nice to see the actual learning process taking place - the good and bad. I anticipate my progress will be similar if not slightly worse. Plus I’m 53.. I’m confident I can do this, though. Thanks again!!

It’s just so neat to watch you learn a new skill!

Great videos! Thanks Richard.

My first was a 16xs. Which has half the battery. I added another battery to the other side and now it's basically a slower 16x. Love this thing. I actually really enjoyed the 16S too. That one is super nimble and you can carve like crazy.

I really cant get enough of your content. Great work!

This is a Great video to watch. I remember my first time going along with a fence to guide me, and my first time going from fence to fence. Now I go do 30 miles blasting around a local creek trail and Riding busy city streets. These things are amazingly fun!!! I could use a faster one though...

Love my EUC just picked up a used kingsong 18s and my first real euc, went from a Jetson proton but I wouldn't count that lol. I used to ride pedal unicycles so that may have helped me a bit but I was blasting 20mph within 5 minutes of owning my EUC found it incredibly easy to get on

I experienced everything you did, so I can relate, including the feet muscles. And using fence as crutch. I'm looking at this video to help with that.

I thought quite the contrary. Took me 2h to even stand on the thing, then i would do straight line. Turning was still a bit difficult though... About 20-30km was all it took to feel at ease and hooked. Now, I won't even look at an EUC that is not 70 km/h capable. Welcome to the club !

Thank you! I really needed this video. You went through some of the same things I’m going through learning to ride my new EUC. But I seriously lmao😂😂😂 at the “soundtrack for your failures” bit!

I really Enjoy your video, Really take me back in time how I had for myself in the beginning.

I havemt tried it yet, but if I progressed as fast as you I'd feel like a Rockstar.

When learing.... do not go to slow!. So many riders takes days to learn what could have been done i 1 hour. You need to reach jogging speed ASAP. Then it is way more easy. In the video you try balancing it at walking speed, which is difficult even after months of riding. Best way to learn..... Get a frind holding your hand while jogging next to you. Yes jogging. Not walking next to you. I gave 15 people a try like that. None needed more than 30minutes before they could do it on their own. Most in much less time.

Cheers for showing your struggles learning this as alot of others don't show or mention this AT ALL

Great video! Very informative for anyone looking to purchase one of those.

Bought an Inmotion v12, you inspire me try harder 🤙🏼

Another great video, that shot of the front of the EUC when you were riding was sweet.

Ive been watching Da'Ron lately live on tik tok, cruising round LA on his one wheel with his police scanner, etc. So looking up how hard/easy they are to learn to ride, i find ur videos and have had an evening of binging all your content....its great! Its also been interesting watching you mature and develop (like a good cheese or wine haha) as the vids go on! I say this as someone old enuff to be your mom...you are maturing into a very fine looking young man! Good luck with the channel, would love more content!!

The cruising bit @the end - was super satisfying looking, man (excellently filmed, too) ✌️😎

I know this was published a year ago...but, it will always be relevant. There's a very good probability that, a few days from now, I will have my first EUC...and, as with yours, it will be a KingSong 16X. Although, in my case, I'll be trading an Esk8 for it. In watching your video, the first thingIcould tell is that you didn't do any research on "how to ride", or "how to mount & dismount". The first thing I did after arranging the possible trade was to start watching RU-vid videos...and, a LOT of them. When got my first Esk8, I wish Ihad done the same...although, it was probably easier to pick up riding the Esk8 than it will be for ther EUC. Anyway, thank you for a very entertaining video.

Such a wholesome video, really chill approach to the learning experience!

Great video! And Suwanee, GA Downtown at the end of the video, that was nice to see, I live like 30 minutes from there. Keep it up!

With so many good tutorials on the web (ex: U-Stride's 12 steps, etc) this is soooo hilarious. It should have saved you and your wheel a lot of time and bruises... Anyhow, welcome to the club, and thumb up for the video and for the perseverance !

EUCs are easy enough to ride, but there is definitely a learning curve and most people will take a few days of learning to get the hang of it, then a bunch of practising to get good/comfortable. I was getting the hang of mine on day 3 but on day 4 I realised I was still shaky on my starting and stopping. On my day 5 I practised a whole bunch of starts & stops to get more comfortable at that part. If anyone wants to learn to ride one then they should go for it, but realise that it will take some learning followed by practising and then more practising. If you aren't willing to commit to spending the time/effort to learn to ride then you shouldn't get one. If you get one and take the time to learn to ride it then you will definitely be able to have a lot of fun!

So I never stood on any self balance thingy until I got my veteran sherman. I rolled it outside the door and into our hallway between 4 apartments. 1 hand on the wall I stepped on, no trouble, wiggle forward and back like a swing. Hmm I got this. So away from the wall I rode. I tipped side ways several times. Than I wiggled my butt so my feet would steer along the vertical axis and brain went 'skill unlocked'. Rode from end to end back forth many times. 6kmh seemed the sweet spot of just fast enough but still slow. I did go faster by accelerating and braking harder with precise stops in 1 single 20 30 min session. So the next day more back and forth for 20 min and practice start without wall. Yeah day 3 I drove around the city. And that is a fast learning curve. I've gotten better and better as I rode more. And uh dorky stand? The amount of stares, yells and people that have to talk to me tell me people are impressed. Now I'm daily riding it to work in rain and oh my gusty wind trying to blow me off course. It's not a good combination euc with sideways wind and gusts. I still have to learn seated and backwards riding.

The brain is an impressive organ. It does things in the background while we focus on other things. The untapped potential is mind boggling. 😋

This video gives me hope. Thank you for sharing your learning curve. 🫣

thank you for the morning laugh...I to thinking about getting one,, I think you doing better than i can

The 16X a really good wheel. Love the video - I remember the feeling well. Everything you do on an EUC has to be practiced and worked for. It's worth it :-) My kitchen furniture has never been the same since. Riding with the handle up will just break the handle. Get a valve extender to help pump up the tyre.

Awsome video. This reminds me of my learning curve. Its second nature now.

I came for the Stanley video and have now watched multiple of your videos on different topics. You are super entertaining!

For carrying the EUC upstairs, I use a strong resistance band, which I wrap around the handle in such a way that I can use both arms to carry the EUC (right hand on the handle, while left arm pulls the resistance band up, taking about half the weight).

I just went through this as well with mine this last month. 🤣 Definitely was laughing and hitting my shins ALOT.

Just started and said a lot of the same things while riding lol. Great video.

Learning to ride on a soft uneven surface at a park. Brilliant! 😁

Haha, I am just learning, so can so relate to this. Thanks for recording and sharing :)

max speed of 30 mph would be a dream. Here in germany you are only allowed to drive 15mph even with an ebike at least without a license.

Agree about tendency to like more to take out lighter thing. I have 2 EUC's: kingsong 16s (not 16x) and begode Nikola+. And if I really don't need speed and range of Nikola, I would always take 16s . Live on the 4-th floor. 16s compared to GT is little bit faster, have little bit more range, little bit heavier, but overall have comparable specs.

I think your content is awesome. Some of your stuff had me crying laughing. Calling Vahe an "intern"...I was dying. Glad to see other content aside from BCN from you dude.

Great video! You're pretty good at this youtube thing. I learned to ride an EUC on an MTEN3 doing circles in my garage and I could only do that in one direction. Now i'm on an EXN decked out in gear and have taken it up to 45 mph, which is pretty sketch. Next goal is to learn to ride trails.

Loved this….you go dude!

I liked it, very practical and useful.

Suwanee! Just starting to learn EUC too after eboard and Onewheel. Good to know it doesn't come easy

Perhaps you could check a couple of EUC vids - it’s a thing 😂 there is a great EUC community - you really should consider full face helmet - that’s the fall that goes with the stance ⛑

I'm just imagining Linguini learning to cook with Remy 🤣🤣🤣

Totally making me want to buy one! Job well done 👍

Just came from your onewheel video. Good stuff brother!

This was exactly my experience today. Just non stop eating shit. 10/10

Really nicely done. This is a great video to share with people as an introduction to EUCs and particularly how they differ from Onewheels. Sure, you could have reviewed other videos with tips ahead of time, but for the purposes of the video, it was more fun seeing you go in blind. 😁

What kind of camera did you use for this recording?

Satisfying and congrats. If I was a lot younger, I would try it, but no way now.

I went trough a similar process, took me about two weeks, an hour a day. One day it all clicked, muscles responded on auto pilot, balance and micro adjustments that I was trying to consciously control were taken over by my body and off I went. You need to persist, it's like riding a bike as a kid but you can't have any training wheels. Suck it up, try again.

ur right man its all in the brain, I played with it for like 2h at the store before I was able to ride it straight, I haven't bought one yet, will try some of their lessons they have, one bad thing is that they are 4h away from me, so I have to know its not gonna rain xD

Nice video! I’m somewhat curious about EUC’s but love my OneWheel and I’m curious, which one do you have more fun riding? If don’t care about the range too much or the speed to ride with traffic which is the more enjoyable ride?

Very entertaining. 😂 you did good 👍