The Guide to Electric Unicycle Maintenance, 2020 Edition
The electric unicycle is a powerhouse of stats and capability: green, fast, far-reaching, portable, and stylish. Even with its showroom of features, it does not need to compromise heavily with maintenance costs. This is in thanks to Shane Chen’s simplistic e-vehicle: a wheel, an axel, a motor, a battery, and a motherboard/gyroscope, etc. No chain lubing, no oil changes, or no emissions test is needed for the efficient e-uni.
As such, the compressed technology of the electric unicycle still requires regular maintenance to prolong each unit’s life: for economy, and for love. There is a concerning lack of definitive guidance for electric unicycle maintenance. Information is scattered amongst Chinglish manufacturer guides, for-profit dealers, forum fights (lol), and fashionable but ignorant Youtube celebrities, “Bruh, ride the wheel n’ go.”
The following guide is my comprehensive contribution of essential electric unicycle maintenance checkpoints, taken from experience and necessity.
Whether to Grease the Axle and Bearings, or Not
Air Pressure Throughout the Seasons
Don’t Ignore the Weather
Is Weatherproofing an Electric Unicycle Possible?
Tips for Riding an Electric Unicycle in the Rain
Guard Against Different Wipeouts
For Light Protection
For Heavy Protection
Practicing Expensive Battery Longevity
The 80-50 Rule
Always Wear a Unicycle Condom!
Body & Tire Upkeep
Waxing the Body
Wetting the Tires
Bodily Foot Comfort
Electric Unicycle Motherboard Maintenance
Conclusion
Whether to Grease the Axle and Bearings, or Not
One of the most contentious issues amongst euc riders is the question of whether to grease their wheel bearings and axles, clean them, regrease, and so forth. This logic comes from bicycle owners who must regularly lube their chain and drivetrain to keep the rotating, moving parts running smooth.
The electric unicycle does not need to be lubed/greased like a bike.
WD-40 is not a proper lubricant or water-repellent, even if lubing was advisable.
The curiously shaped rim motor outputs its locomotion behind a metal, sealed disc. Within the disc, the sealed bearings also lie. The bearings are sealed for the life of the unit, or particularly, the life of the replaceable motor body. Adding a lubricant around the axle only attracts road debris that could cause dangerous jams or malfunctions. This accumulation of material will also accelerate the wearing of the seals around the axle.
One may still contribute to unclogging their axle by two methods:
During a disassembly that exposes the motor body, lightly wipe it down with a rag.
For daily cleaning without disassembly, use compressed air through a nozzle to blow away buildup near the axle and the hard-to-reach motor body.
The best advise to avoid rust is not to ride in the rainy/snowy weather. The second best advice, would be to simply replace minor parts that rust. Don’t endanger the euc or the euc driver with lubing.
Air Pressure Throughout the Seasons
With just one wheel, the euc’s contact to the ground is a vital point of control to maintain. One cannot neglect to observe their vehicle’s fluctuating inner-tube pressure: particularly if one hasn’t ridden the vehicle in a while.
Air pressure rises and falls based on the surrounding temperature. During the summer, air expands with heat, keeping the inner-tube filled. During the winter, the air is less excited, keeping the inner-tube contracted, thus flatter.
Whatever is the season, keep the tire pressure approximately ten p.s.i. under the tube’s expressed limit to prevent ballooning the inner-tube. Ballooning creates a more cylindrical shape in the tire. This reduces the rubber’s contact with the ground, making balance more difficult while also reducing traction.
Don’t Ignore the Weather
Do not ride your euc in bad weather: for your safety, and the uni’s. The guys (Russians) who claim to ride their wonder-wheels in the dead of winter will, one day, lead the rest of us over the rainbow with their e-sage and immortal machines that don’t need expensive wipeout repairs.
Snow = no.
Ice = no.
Rain = sometimes, if you must.
For now, you've already heard the best advice: don't, babe.
Is Weatherproofing an Electric Unicycle Possible?
It’s possible, but weatherproofing an e-uni is a subjective pain-in-the-wheel. Methods include excessively sealing the motherboard from water, to putting chains on the wheel for traction. There’s no one answer for protecting the motherboard, circuitry, motor, and more, from mother nature. Only true euc aficionados and technologists will properly weatherproof their e-unis. Otherwise, there is no accessible, commercial solution.
Tips for Riding an Electric Unicycle in the Rain
Most electric unicycles are designed with a protected battery and motherboard that can withstand light rain and splashes. No need to be paranoid about puddles.
Riding slow in rainy weather reduces the centrifugal force of crap being thrown around the inner body, reducing the possibility of internal leaks. The on-going rain, however, will still come from above, trickling into your motherboard.
If you want to be miserable/tough in heavy rain, get on your boring bike, bruh.
If you find yourself caught in a surprise downpour, you can save your electric unicycle with a 12 gallon garbage bag over it. This will prevent a lot of water from seeping in through the top.
Guard Against Different Wipeouts
Whether it’s one’s first electric unicycle, or their fifth, all must make the expensive decision about their $1K ev: Is it the last-mile show dog, merely for commuting, or the Britney Spears of tricks and wipeouts: “Oops-I-did-it-again.”?
Even if one chooses the former, to use one’s e-uni lightly, there are unavoidable maintenance chores and costs to bear, typically for the exposed exterior.
For Light Protection
Duct tape over the non-footing portions of the pedals will protect against minor scratches. It can also be stylized with different patterns. Doubling the duct tape layers can add to the protection.
Car door edge guards can protect two areas prone to damage: the shell edges nearest to the ground, and the edges of the leg cushion holders. Because eucs are top-heavy, the cushion holder edges are typically first to slam to the ground.
The footing portion of the pedal is simple sandpaper. A sandpaper cleaner, or abrasive belt and disc cleaner, will prolong the traction and the look of the paper.
No matter how Christian one is with their electric unicycle, outer parts will have to be replaced eventually due to the low riding nature of the vehicle. Popular manufacturers such as InMotion have official disassembly videos that do not require special tools.
For Heavy Protection
Always wear a unicycle condom. These electric unicycle covers can prevent around 50% of scratches and impact cracks, depending on their coverage. Note, however, that a falling e-uni will never perfectly tumble on the condom’s coverage areas.
Table edge guards, or baby bumpers, are a reliable way to protect an electric unicycle, whether training or trickin’. Baby bumpers can cover all the awkward areas that love to break, such as handlebars and lights. Their only con, is that their puffy look dampens the techno-chic style of e-unis.
Training wheels are not advised to maintain an electric unicycle while learning to use it. The rider will likely fall anyway. They prolong the learning curve of the unicycle’s true balance. Protect the unicycle with baby bumpers; then, move forward with faster, direct balance practice.
Practicing Expensive Battery Longevity
There’s gold in that there battery: It can help save the planet from CO2 emissions, be charged by a solar-charged AC battery, and save you money on your commute. In addition, it’s often the most expensive part to replace. Beat the manufacturer’s cash-in by taking care of your electric unicycle’s battery.
The 80-50 Rule
Time your charger to keep your battery below 80%, but gauge your rides to consume no more than 40%-50% battery life. With the 80-50 rule, the lithium ion battery will take on the least amount of stress from charging and discharging energy. This method can double or triple the amount of charging cycles of the euc battery!
Always Wear a Unicycle Condom!
Freezing weather can instantly kill a lithium battery. Wearing a neoprene unicycle condom can maintain an electric unicycle’s battery from the cold. The weather resistant material cuts the endless, freezing wind, while preserving the heat the discharging lithium ion battery is creating. Throughout the Chicago winter, my iPhone 6 SE had died multiple times from freezing temps, despite being in my heavy jacket, but never my InMotion V5f!
Always wear an electric unicycle condom, kiddies.
Body & Tire Upkeep
The electric unicycle does not need a large investment of time, energy, and cost to maintain its crisp, clean, futuristic look. These methods will ensure your e-uni looks better than the day it rolled out of its shipping box.
Waxing the Body
Electric unicycle shells are typically a genre of plastic with a glossy paint or professional clear coat. To maintain a beautiful shine, use an automotive liquid wax. One does not need an electric polisher: a hand applicator and microfiber towel are all one needs. I personally use Meguiar’s.
Wetting the Tires
When an electric unicycle tire looks dirty, milky, crusty, or generally unappealing, it’s time to give it the wheel version of chapstick. Using a tire wetter, or tire shiner, gives the rubber a deep, saturated, “wet” look that lasts about a week before it starts to fade. One can use a wet towel to clean the tire before applying the shiner. I have consistent success using Meguiar’s “Hot Shine.” I have not tried their other modes of wetting, such as foam based.
Bodily Foot Comfort
An unexpected user issue from long-term electric unicycle riding is foot pain. While standing up on a gyroscope balanced wheel may seem like a no-brainer, remaining in this position for an extended period of time can become painful: particularly if one wants to reach the full advertised range of their e-uni’s battery.
Walking allows one to distribute pressure on the foot comprehensively. Extended standing, however, builds up pressure on condensed points. Surprise cramps and other sharp foot pain may be lethal while driving an electric unicycle in traffic.
All you gotta’ do is cut loose—orthopedic footloose. Find the correct foot support for your riding experience. I personally use a simple gel insert from Sof Sole. It wiped away the sharp pain I eventually had in my foot’s arch and heel when riding for more than thirty minutes. It did not take away from my nimble maneuvering.
If gel inserts are not for you, try getting an entire shoe designed for orthotic comfort.
Skate shoes with wider soles and bodies are not necessary for typical use of the electric unicycle, so long as the pedals’ sandpaper is healthy. Make sure any shoe used is secure on the foot to avoid tripping.
Electric Unicycle Motherboard Maintenance
Wipeout on a crack, break your motherboard’s back? One could say the electric unicycle’s motherboard is the identity of each vehicle. The gyroscope requires complex technology to give the rider the signature gyro-glide effect. In addition, distance, speed, and battery life, are currently tracked via apps, such as InMotion’s. Take away the motherboard; then the e-uni’s stats, gyro, and even name, would be wiped away.
Inmotion V5f with an open motherboard chamber.
As stated, weatherproofing the motherboard is a far-off dream that takes a professional hobbyist to reach. One can take the following steps to ensure their motherboard is maintained as long as possible:
Replace bursting capacitors: These mini, triangle stamped cylinders are supposed to burst after awhile. Take the motherboard to a computer repair shop for a basic repair.
Discharge static electricity prior to interacting with the motherboard.
Keep. Water. Out. Analyze the electric unicycle’s internal structure to guess how water could get into the motherboard chamber.
Use compressed air to keep dust and debris out of the motherboard chamber. Avoid using a cloth that could create static electricity.
Don’t carelessly use chemicals such as WD-40 on handlebars that could seep into the motherboard chamber.
Conclusion
The maintenance and replaceable parts of the e-uni add to its travel viability. More important, however, is that these processes add handsome authenticity to a legitimate mode of transport. When the motorists giggle at you for zipping around on a toy, rest assured that their joke is hardly the case. You’ve done everything to maintain your uni-vehicle with your two hands.
Have a question about electric unicycle maintenance? Ask Bob: He can help.
“The Guide to Electric Unicycle Maintenance, 2020 Edition”
By Mr. Bohemian
