This is one giant wheel of pure adrenaline. The Wheelsurf is one of the most distinctive
vehicles on the planet — a single-wheeled, ride-inside conveyance
that’s sure to get you noticed. Cool photos.
The Wheelsurf consists of an inner and an outer frame. The inner frame has
three small wheels that make contact with the outer frame. The outer
frame is the actual rotating wheel and has a solid rubber tire. The
rider sits inside the inner frame that also contains the engine,
clutch, propulsion mechanism and petrol tank.
The engine is a regular Stihl 55 cc two-stroke
single cylinder petrol engine with one speed and a centrifugal clutch.
Before riding, the driver positions himself inside the wheel and starts
the engine by pulling on a cord - just as with a lawnmower or chainsaw
- indeed, the motor is derived from chainsaw motor.
Getting away from standstill with the Wheelsurf
is where you need the most practice. From standstill you rev up the
engine until the centrifugal clutch grips onto the outer wheel.
Once you’ve mastered the characteristics of the
engine, weight distrbution, body balancing and throttle, you can ride
away slowly and in control. Reaching that point is a challenge that
only the well coordinated can achieve in the first few attempts.
Too much throttle and the clutch grips the
outer wheel causing the inner frame to rotate backwards and you loose
balance. Once the Wheelsurf starts to roll though, the gyroscopic
effect of the large rotating wheel comes into play and the name of the
game is then throttle control and weight distribution, so the name of
the game is gently-does-it and remember to balance the forces whether
accelerating or decelerating and you’ll be right. Half an hour later,
you’ve achieved rudimentary control, though we suspect mastery might
take MUCH longer than that.
One of the problems obvious to anyone with a
rudimentary understanding of physics is that of braking. This was the
big question for us - an associate in the Netherlands had ridden the
Wheelsurf for a
limited acquaintance period but had far from become
expert with the machine. He reported that the tiny "landing wheels"
that descend to give stability under brakes worked well at low speeds
but hadn’t tried the braking near the Wheelsurf’s maximum speed of
30kmh.
These "landing brakes" sit above and away from
the road during normal riding and descend during braking. Our fear was
that a sudden handful of brake would see the Wheelsurf roll over these
wheels and render it uncontrollable.
Like all vehicles such as bicycles and
motorcycles where the rider is exposed to external objects and forces,
the Wheelsurf makes the rider potentially vulnerable too.
Unlike the motorcycle though, the Wheelsurf is
not as responsive to steering and braking and instant manoeuvring and
we had fears that in an emergency stop situation, such as a truck
looming or a child running onto the road in its path, the Wheelsurf
might career out of control with the rider spinning along inside … a
circumstance almost too horrifying to contemplate.
Here are their answers to some frequently asked questions.
Can I test a wheelsurf?
You can sign up for Wheelsurf training by sending an email to info@wheelsurf.nl
Can I rent or lease a Wheelsurf
There are 50 pieces on sale at first hand. Later more will become available either to buy or rent.
How fast does it go?
50 km/h
Can I ride on the public road?
Not yet permitted in Europe, but permissions are asked for.
What is the delivery time?
At this point in time: 3months (for initial 50)
How much does it cost?
$4,600 USD incl sales tax, free on board (fob) excluding transportation from Rotterdam to final destination
Drivers licence needed?
No.
Is there a store where I can see/test a WheelSurf?
No, not yet! The Wheelsurf just arrived in Europe.
On which surface can I ride a WheelSurf?
Preferably on paved roads
What can I do with a Wheelsurf?
Besides normal steering several tricks like loopings and all sorts of other stunts
Why Wheelsurf?
Riding a WHEELSURF is "pure adrenaline!!"
It’s like putting all the gravity forces to work at your own favor with
an exciting synchronous working combination of the object and its rider.
Hence, the "SURF" in the name, because you sort of "surf in the wheel", and it’s a great and fun experience!!
You can spend a significant amount of time on any kind of road, amusing
yourself with the thrilling sensation of being transported by just one
wheel, knowing you will get everybody’s attention!!
How much time does it take to ride the WHEELSURF?
The learning process time varies from person to person. The more you
practice, the more skillful you become. The amount of time to get good
control over the WHEELSURF would be pretty much the same time you would
spend learning to ride motorcycles or bicycles.
What do you feel when you ride the WHEELSURF?
What we can already tell you is that the experience is unique! You will find out more when you get to ride one!
For the first time in history, thanks to today’s technology, it is
possible to transport man into a single wheel with safety! Riding a
WHEELSURF may become your favorite sport!!
If you have a 4-wheeler, 3-wheeler and/or 2-wheeler, why not have a one-wheel now?
What are the uses of the WHEELSURF?
With its innovative style and incredible performance, we can say "different models, different purposes", e.g.:
- A personal recreation vehicle for a new type of a sport
- An innovative amusement ride for use by theme parks
- a way to get your company, product or self noticed
