Inmotion V10F - Test and experience report on Inmotion's flagship

First of all, a short thank you to Hammer International or Inmotion (see www.inmotionworld.com) who sent me the electric unicycle for testing. I have to admit that I've always flirted with the model, because after I bought the Inmotion V8 as my first unicycle, I was very quickly enthusiastic about the manufacturer's technology. There is also a little report pending on the V8, which will certainly come soon, but so that you can already have a small comparison of the two EUC models, I will certainly explain here one time or the other what has changed from the V8 to the V10 Has. There is one here too English version of this article.

Technical data of the Inmotion V10 / V10F

Attentive readers will have noticed that Inmotion has two variants of the V10 at the start. One is marketed under the designation “V10” and the other under the designation “V10F”. In principle, both models are based on the same technology and also have the same look. An important difference, however, is the built-in battery pack, which has just 10 Wh (650 Ah) in the V8,8, while the battery in the V10F has almost 960% more power reserves with a good 12,8 Wh (50 Ah). Of course, this is also reflected in the range, which the manufacturer specifies as up to 100 km for the V10F. In comparison, the V10 has about 70 km – according to the manufacturer.

When specifying the range, however, you have to reckon with different values ​​in reality, because the manufacturer's specifications can only be achieved in practice (across the board from all unicycle manufacturers!) if you weigh 60 kilograms on a unicycle without a headwind straight stretch at a speed that is not too high. And it's best to have a nice 25 degrees in the shade, so that the batteries work in their "comfort zone", in which they can deliver the maximum amount of electrical energy. In practice, the V10 is probably closer to 35 km, while the V10F can already crack the 50 km mark.

The look and feel of the electric unicycle

As with the Inmotion V8, you can only tip your hat here. The EUC (electric unicycle) is very well made and should be just as robust as the V8. What kind of "accidents" I've had with the V8 (without a fall from me!) is indescribable. Sometimes the unicycle did somersaults because it drove over a curb without me. Once it even landed head-on on a lantern – from 15 km/h to 0 km/h due to a hard impact. But the unicycle still purrs like on the first day. Incidentally, I always escaped without injury.

The Inmotion V10F has taken over the basic look, but is visually a little more pepped up by the side cushions and the trolley handle. The side LED lighting causes a bit of a stir, of course, as it looks really pretty cool when driving. But since I mostly drive with the protective cover and am more interested in attracting little attention, I don't really use the LED effects.

Overall, the Inmotion V10F looks really good. It looks beautifully compact, elegant and of high quality - which it actually is.

Improvements to the Inmotion V8

Compared to its predecessor, the Inmotion V8, some points have changed, which I would like to quickly tick off here in the list:

• the pedals have a rubber coating (instead of grip tape) and are slightly larger
• the trolley handle can no longer be pulled out, but folds over the unicycle (this means there is more space inside for batteries!)
• the construction has become higher overall
• Tires are wider (16 x 2,5 inches instead of 16 x 2,125 inches) and the tire profile is stronger (suitable for off-road and asphalt)
• the center of gravity is slightly higher because the batteries were installed higher up
• Front and rear speakers (controllable via Bluetooth)
• Padding for the legs in the upper area
• Rear light with brake light function
• Front light is significantly brighter
• Motherboard has been changed and cooling has been improved, according to other reports
• The handle button (to switch off the bike when carrying it) is still available

Range of the Inmotion V10F

As already mentioned, the V10F is the model with the larger battery. The range you get from this is over 40-50 kilometers, even in “poor” conditions. By bad conditions I mean, for example, low ambient temperature, a heavy driver (about 90 kg for me), quite a few meters of altitude on the route, uneven terrain and heavily fluctuating speeds.

I didn't do a test with the V10F to the end of the battery, but there are some unicyclists on Youtube who have done long-distance tests with it and get values ​​between 40 km and 70 km. The 40 kilometers came about in a test at temperatures around freezing point. This was done on forest paths and the test driver was roughly in my weight class. In addition, the unicycle had just been unpacked and charged for the first time, which of course is not the best time to fully charge the batteries.

A test driver (see Youtube video by Anna Veverkova) with a weight of almost 50 kg, on the other hand, traveled 66 kilometers and still had over 30% battery over. With her it was a sunny 29 degrees outside temperature and it was only on paved roads. These are significantly better conditions for the technology.

My longest trip with the Inmotion V10F was about 3:20 hours over field and forest paths. It was about 30 kilometers, but it was up and down over 500 meters. Most of the time the ground was very bumpy, which is why I didn't manage more than 9 km / h average speed. When I got back to the car, I could barely stand on the unicycle, but the Inmotion V10F still had 55% battery over. I have to admit to myself: before the Inmotion V10F runs out of power, my legs give up. :-)

Even if you don't always drive 40 or 50 kilometers: it's just a reassuring feeling to have such a large range. You always have to keep in mind that the electric unicycles of all manufacturers switch to a "power-saving mode" when the battery is about 20-30%, in which you can no longer drive at maximum speed. Anyone who has experienced this knows how boring it is to ride an electric unicycle at 5 km/h.

For this reason, you never want to be embarrassed about driving your unicycle down to 0% battery. You should always plan in such a way that you reach your final destination with 20-30% battery.

Battery warning and speed limits on the Inmotion V10 / V10F

As I just mentioned, there are changes to the handling when the battery is low - and that affects all unicycles as far as I know. The Inmotion V10 / V10F has the first limitation when you reach the 40% battery mark. Then the maximum speed is reduced from 40 km / h to 35 km / h. Most people will not notice this, because 35 km / h feels daringly fast. I've never felt the need to drive 40 km / h.

At 20% you are braked again (I think at 5 or 10 km / h) and at 10% the unicycle slowly but relentlessly puts the pedals in a very inclined position and asks the driver to get off the speaker via the loudspeaker. With the 10% the bike still keeps its balance so that you can push it home, but driving is no longer possible at that point.

When specifying the percentage, you should keep in mind that the 20% battery level at standstill can quickly become 0% with moderate acceleration. So when the battery level falls below 30% without load, you can no longer expect a lot of range.

A small ray of hope is still allowed even when the battery is almost empty, because if you ride downhill, the electric unicycle recharges its batteries when braking. One or the other may already know this “recuperation brake” from electric cars. This means that a few kilometers of range can still be achieved with the unicycle.

Driving experience and maneuverability of the Inmotion V10F

When driving, the Inmotion V10F feels very comfortable. Due to its high construction, it looks like an 18-inch wheel, but it is “only” a 16-inch (like the Inmotion V8). With the new tires it is now perfect for outdoor terrain, as it has more grip than the V8 with its hardly profiled tires, which are designed more for driving in the city.

Of course you can tell that a 16-inch tire of the Inmotion V10F is more prone to stones, holes or similar things on the way than the 18-inch tire of my Kingsong KS 18L, but for that you have to drive both wheels in direct comparison . What one notices, however, even without a direct comparison: The 16-inch wheel is much more manoeuvrable and can therefore be steered more easily around problem areas on the way. The Inmotion V10F is also more responsive than the KS 18L when practicing tricks such as swinging back and forth on the spot.

For longer rides, the padding on the sides of the unicycle provides more comfort. Especially for beginners, the bike "wobbles" back and forth a lot between the legs and often hits the lower leg, which causes uncomfortable pressure points after a short time. The pads make it easier to fix the bike between your legs. For very bumpy spots or when practicing jumping over potholes, this option is helpful even for experienced drivers.

The engine performance compared to the Inmotion V8

I have been using the Inmotion V8 for over a year now and drive the same forest paths more often, so that I have a good comparison between the V8 and the V10F. With its 2000 watt motor output, the Inmotion V10F has more than double the output of the Inmotion V8 (800 watts). At first I thought that this would give the V10F an incredible acceleration, but it is stronger than the V8, but not so strong that you have the feeling that you no longer have the wheel under control.

But where the more powerful engine scores much more clearly are steep inclines and heavier drivers (*sniff*). I have a nice forest path here that has a gradient of 15 to 20% for sure. The Inmotion V8 has always managed this with me under my belt, but you could tell from the engine that it had to work really hard to drive me up the 100 to 150 meters. On the Inmotion V10F you don't notice any effort from the wheel. On the contrary: If the path wasn't so "unwieldy" because of roots and stones, I could certainly still accelerate while driving up.

More engine power = less risk of accidents

Speaking of accelerating when starting up: I just got an old one Forum post I read where someone described how their Inmotion V8 had a “cutoff” at 25km/h on a steep hill. That means the engine switches off and you inevitably fall over the front – not a nice feeling. Such cutoffs happen when the unicycle's motor can no longer generate enough torque to balance itself and the rider. Normally, the electronics “notice” that the engine is reaching its technical limits and emit an audio warning. But if you have unfavorable circumstances, a cutoff happens without warning. Due to the higher engine performance of the Inmotion V10F, the risk of such an emergency shutdown is significantly reduced, since the engine does not reach its limits so quickly.

In addition to this safety aspect, the additional power that you have with the V10F compared to the V8 simply ensures more driving pleasure. You can drive steeper paths, brake faster and accelerate faster - and you have a range that is more than twice as long thanks to the huge battery pack.

Maximum speed

I personally did not try the 40 km / h maximum speed of the V10F because I feel uncomfortable at such high speeds if I have not put on complete protective motorcycle clothing (which I do not have). However, I drive around 35 km / h every now and then and the Inmotion V10F has no problems here either. There is no vibration or wobbling as sometimes occurs with other bikes (Ninebot Z10) at higher speeds.

Mature: The Inmotion App on the iPhone

Last year I tried various apps from unicycle manufacturers and I have to say that the Inmotion app has always been the most intuitive to use. With the KingSong app, I failed in the first few days to create an account because the app suddenly no longer had any controls to continue with the registration process. There are no such problems with Inmotion. Here you can easily see the many years of experience that the team has already put into the unicycle and the app.

As a rule, you only need the app if you want to make settings on the unicycle. That is, if you want to adjust the LED lighting or the maximum speed or if you want to calibrate the pedals. Otherwise, it records data such as the engine power used, the distance traveled and the speed while driving. The battery indicator is also shown with a battery symbol on the bike, so that you can check the battery status at any time, even without an app.

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My favorite app: DarknessBot

I couldn't understand why the Inmotion app only got one star, because no text was entered for the rating. I have no problems with the app, but mostly use the DarknessBot app to track the values ​​of the unicycles. The app works with all electric unicycles and connects automatically. In addition, it gives significantly more values ​​and setting options than the apps that the manufacturers provide.

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The most important feature for most riders will be the ability to change the unicycle's speed limit with DarknessBot. Many unicycles now require you to ride a certain number of kilometers before you can “unlock” the top speed. If you have not covered these kilometers, you will get a warning 10 km/h before the actual maximum speed, for example, that you should drive more slowly.

With this, the manufacturers want to ensure that new unicycle owners drive 250 kilometers and gain experience before they break through the area at 40 km / h. For people who have already ridden other unicycles and have experience (but not on the new unicycle), this is annoying. With DarknessBot you can remove this lock and directly release the top speed.

Conclusion: A great advancement to the V8

If a newcomer has to decide on an electric unicycle, you can still recommend the Inmotion V8 without hesitation. According to my research, it has been the lightest unicycle for years that can score with a range of over 20 kilometers and a speed of up to 30 km / h.

However, there are a few points where I would immediately recommend the Inmotion V10 or V10F as an entry-level model:

• the driver weighs over 85 kg
• you want to drive over 30 km / h
• you need a range of 25 to 30 kilometers
• Off-road trips are planned more often
• very steep mountains are driven every now and then

In these areas of application, the V10F is simply a very good partner and is definitely preferable to the V8.

Anyone who already has an Inmotion V8 and is wondering whether the upgrade is worth it: yes, I almost only drive the Inmotion V10F and only use the V8 when I have visitors who want to go for a ride with me or when I “do tricks ” like reversing or something similar. When performing tricks like this, the V8 is easier to control simply because it is lighter. Incidentally, the Inmotion V8 was the first unicycle I bought and I still think it's a good introduction to the world of electric unicycles.

Of course, you can feel the upgrade from V8 to V10F in many places while driving. It is much more fun to drive the V10F on the dirt roads because there is simply more power to accelerate and brake - and you definitely don't have to worry about whether you will end up in the forest after an hour or two of driving pleasure .

If you are interested in one of the three Inmotion models (V8, V10 or V10F), I have linked them here. If you are still wondering whether riding an electric unicycle is something for you, have a look at my article, in which I am about report my new hobby or in the article about my winter trip with the unicycle reports. Hopefully both articles show how much fun it is!

And in case you have any questions on the topic, feel free to write a comment. I try to answer everything!

PS: HAPPY EASTER! ; -)

INMOTION Unisex-Adult V10F Monowheel, Black, Unique Size

• DESIGN AND POWERFUL: The most sophisticated unicycle on the market, both technically and aesthetically...
• COMFORTABLE RIDING: Safety is ensured thanks to the wide pedals with non-slip rubbers. The side...
• LED LIGHTING AND INDIVIDUAL LIGHTING EFFECTS: A powerful LED front light to illuminate your path, as well as...

1.590,90 EUR

Buy it at Amazon Price includes VAT, plus shipping costs (updated: 23.04.2024 at 02: 26 clock)

41 reviews

Electric unicycle Inmotion V10, black

• Engine power: 1800 W
• Battery: 8Ah/8V/84Wh
• Running time: up to 55 km

Buy it at Amazon Price includes VAT, plus shipping costs (updated: 21.04.2024 at 01: 20 clock)

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Transparency notice

I already pointed this out in the introduction above, but I would like to mention it again here: The Inmotion V10F was made available to me by Hammer International (the German distributor of Inmotion). The fee has not been paid and I was able to report and write freely about my experiences with the unicycle by Inmotion. The manufacturer has neither influenced nor imposed any conditions.

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.

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