Hoverboards?

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** January 25, 2016, 03:12:16 PM

Anyone here ride hoverboards?

Sadly not like that, but more like this:

I hear they are getting very popular in certain parts of the world, but I don't recall ever seeing one around here. I imagine they probably wouldn't be that good in winter, but since I'm on my arse right now anyway, I doubt weather is a big concern.

Anyways, just things I get curious about when I am sitting around doing very little, waiting for my foot to heal.

Def

Aloha · **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2016, 03:15:47 PM

Yes I've seen many young kids on them. They look neat going down the road but there has been some issues with them. I guess some have caught on fire. Seems the battery was the issue which resulted in fire and boom.

I haven't tried one but then do look fun.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2016, 03:31:01 PM

Bursting into flames huh? That used to be something people did as a joke. It was called a Hotfoot and I learned it from a very dangerous show called The Flintstones...

Still, seems like it could make for an interesting afternoon....

Def

Aloha · **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2016, 03:36:14 PM

Skip to about 1:55

Fortytwo · **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2016, 04:03:04 PM

I've actually seen one used and we have snow around here, not much right now and roads are cleared and have had gravel strewn on them. But I guess that's true for most places that gets snow.

My biggest concern is that I kinda hate them for so blatantly advertising themselves as that first picture while actually being a segway without handles.

kirk13 · **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2016, 05:20:55 PM

They caught on pretty quick here,but even Amazon issued a recall on them!

dks · **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2016, 06:40:44 PM

They have gone down in price a lot but there have been some fires and accidents.

I have not seen any around here but I am sure once some problems are sorted out they will be very popular.

They also get hate from segway people who paid a few thousands to feel special and now everybody can do the same for a couple of hundreds.

Power to the common people!!!!!!!!

NKlamerus · **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2016, 07:44:52 PM

That are very popular here in pcola, but UWF and most major universities have banned them.

Too many issues with fire hazards as they are known to catch fire or explode. Literally.

Syph007 · **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2016, 08:34:21 PM

I saw kids riding those things before I know what the heck they were. Not many but a few in my neighborhood.

I still bust out my skateboard from the 80s and ride that sometimes, it still works and I keep looks from the kids who never saw a proper 80s ride.

Grathr · **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2016, 08:46:46 PM

Those and the single wherl Airwheels where pretty popular with the junior high kids around here before tge snow came.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2016, 09:40:48 PM

Quote from: Aloha007 on January 25, 2016, 03:36:14 PM

Skip to about 1:55

That was quite a fireball!

Def

Gareth · **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2016, 09:57:41 PM

Quote from: Grathr on January 25, 2016, 08:46:46 PM

Those and the single wherl Airwheels where pretty popular with the junior high kids around here before tge snow came.

I have to admit that I had to look up what an Airwheel was. They're either not a thing here yet, or I'm getting old and out of touch.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2016, 11:35:50 PM

You too huh?

Def

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2016, 11:42:14 PM

Quote from: Gareth on January 25, 2016, 09:57:41 PM

Quote from: Grathr on January 25, 2016, 08:46:46 PM
Those and the single wherl Airwheels where pretty popular with the junior high kids around here before tge snow came.

I have to admit that I had to look up what an Airwheel was. They're either not a thing here yet, or I'm getting old and out of touch.

I knew the concept as an electric unicycle, but not the name. One of the reasons they might be slow on the uptake here, is that just like segways, they're not road legal, but legal to use on pavements either

so you can probably use them in parks, and that's it (and private land of course)

MadPlumbarian · **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2016, 12:07:40 AM

Our friends one kid got one of those for Xmas, needless to say all the other kids had to try it out, so everyone was spinning around the kitchen and coasting up and down the hallway,, and since we were over of course our kids had to try it, and yes they got me to get on it, I made it about 2min before having to get off, our friend on the other hand ha, he stepped one foot on then almost landed on his head, made the night much better, lol..

JR

Zephon · **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2016, 12:25:45 AM

They were the popular high-end gift just last Christmas -- it retails from USD300-400 in these parts. Until news came out that, being the China product as they all are, have a tendency to burst into flames due to the battery. Heck, if an iPhone or high-end Samsung phone with all their supposed QC have a handful of rumors of bursting into flames while charging, then why not unregulated hoverboards whose manufacturer you can't even ID.

They're a neat concept though. Was watching a yahoo video yesterday of someone on a hoverboard with a shovel plowing through the snow on their deck. It made short work of the snow. People were writing in the comments that they didn't think it had that much torque or could push through snow (must be newly fallen snow?).

Down here, I prefer the kids on their scooters - the ones you kick with one foot while the other is on the ride while both hands are on the steering handle - as it'll give them the exercise they need to break a sweat. Knew a dad who broke an arm trying out the hoverboard they bought for their daughter. He caught his fall with his arm.

Who knows? Maybe somewhere down the road, Apple or Google might pick up on the concept and refine it much more

Etherealicer · **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2016, 09:27:47 AM

Are we really that lazy? What is wrong with walking? I'm starting to feel more and more like Wall-E

dks · **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2016, 09:31:32 AM

Quote from: Etherealicer on January 26, 2016, 09:27:47 AM

Are we really that lazy? What is wrong with walking? I'm starting to feel more and more like Wall-E

(Image removed from quote.)

Grant tried walking and look what happened to him

Etherealicer · **Reply #18 on:** January 26, 2016, 09:38:01 AM

Quote from: dks on January 26, 2016, 09:31:32 AM

Quote from: Etherealicer on January 26, 2016, 09:27:47 AM
Are we really that lazy? What is wrong with walking? I'm starting to feel more and more like Wall-E

(Image removed from quote.)

Grant tried walking and look what happened to him

I had problems with several joints... the only thing that makes it better is exercise (not excessive but well controlled exercise).

Gareth · **Reply #19 on:** January 26, 2016, 09:40:34 AM

Hang on, Wall-E didn't walk anywhere either.

I do take your point though, we do seem to be simultaneously telling people they need to keep fit and also inventing ways to not have to put any effort into getting places.

I used to work in a large gym and it always made me laugh that people would fight to park as near the doors as possible so as they didn't have to walk and extra 20m in order to go exercising.

Etherealicer · **Reply #20 on:** January 26, 2016, 09:43:56 AM

Quote from: Gareth on January 26, 2016, 09:40:34 AM

Hang on, Wall-E didn't walk anywhere either.

I do take your point though, we do seem to be simultaneously telling people they need to keep fit and also inventing ways to not have to put any effort into getting places.

I used to work in a large gym and it always made me laugh that people would fight to park as near the doors as possible so as they didn't have to walk and extra 20m in order to go exercising.

As for Wall-E, he has his toes arranged in a circular fashion... so yes, he is not walking, he is tip-toeing

matzesu · **Reply #21 on:** January 26, 2016, 10:14:42 AM

First i wonder a lot when i saw the picture and the title "Hoverboard" i tought about something which sweept 10 cm about the ground and dosnt work over water like the hoverboard from marty mcfly..
But its only these batterypowered elektro boards..
I wants a real hoverboard but first i have to learn how to drive a normal board..

But until then im pretty good on feed, im mybe the only one wo went the 1 km to gymn per feed (troug an dark wood)...

Im more interest in a Elektrobycicle..

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2016, 01:14:11 PM

I thought the same thing when people started saying hover boards were available and becoming common. I was also very disappointed to see what they really were.

I'm not sure how useful one of these types of hover boards would be, but it could be interesting to try out.

I like the convenience of it. You can simply pick it up, toss it in a bag and throw it over your shoulder and go wherever you want to go, versus a bicycle that has to be locked up and you have to go back to.

Def

Gareth · **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2016, 02:14:35 PM

Just make sure that bag is big enough to hold this as well:

Etherealicer · **Reply #24 on:** January 27, 2016, 02:21:07 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on January 27, 2016, 01:14:11 PM

I thought the same thing when people started saying hover boards were available and becoming common. I was also very disappointed to see what they really were.

I'm not sure how useful one of these types of hover boards would be, but it could be interesting to try out.

I like the convenience of it. You can simply pick it up, toss it in a bag and throw it over your shoulder and go wherever you want to go, versus a bicycle that has to be locked up and you have to go back to.

Def

Why not something non-electrical like a micro-scooter? Less hassle, larger cruising range, not prone to explosion, faster, cheaper and lighter when you want to carry it

MadPlumbarian · **Reply #25 on:** January 27, 2016, 02:26:20 PM

Well, my wife's in a motorized wheelchair I could always do what they did here, lol would that be considered a board or a deck?

I mean heck since we don't drive one of those hoverboards would be kinda interesting, just follow behind or besides the wife down the sidewalk, then get to the store and hook it to the back of her chair..

Someone did send me a toy, I guess you can call it a board since it is wood, and I did use it once, just with my medical, err, hey maybe with that lawnmower put a car seat with a seatbelt hmm

JR