How to Choose Your First Electric Unicycle (EUC)

This is a Beginner EUC Buying Guide. If you are reading this article then you’ve already already made great strides to joining the EUC movement.

I promise you, getting your first EUC and learning how to ride is an amazing experience and if you put in the time to really learn how to ride, you will absolutely love it!

There are two main schools of thought when it comes to purchasing your first EUC as a beginner: Get the best wheel so that the wheel can grow with you vs get something reasonable and upgrade as your skills improve.

#1 Get an affordable EUC and upgrade as your skills improve

I’ve always been a “get something reasonable and upgrade as your skills improve” kind of guy for two reasons:

1. It keeps you from wrecking an expensive new wheel as you go through the learning process.
2. Cost of entry is lower making it easier and quicker for you to get into the hobby.

With this method you may have to buy a new wheel sooner as your skills improve, but at the rate new EUCs are coming out you’ll probably be coveting the latest and greatest EUC anyway a year from now.

With several EUC companies making and releasing several new wheels every year, every EUC upgrade is better than the last. Even if you got the best EUC money could buy at the time, a year later there’s going to be several new models that will be shinier, go faster and travel farther.

#2 Get the best EUC you can afford to start

The counter argument is to get the best wheel money can buy and your skills will grow into the EUC. Here are the main reasons you would consider this method for your first electric unicycle:

1. A high end EUC will give you a much better first experience than if you had started with an old inferior wheel as a first EUC.
2. In the long run this method could save you money because you won’t have to upgrade your wheel as soon.

As your skills improve you will hunger for more speed and range and a high end EUC will give it to you. You’ll enjoy the power and speed of a high end EUC that you can grow into and use for years to come.

While this method will cost you more up front, you’ll be more committed to the EUC game knowing how much money you just invested into your new hobby.

You may also save money in the long run as you won’t have to upgrade your wheel as soon as if you had purchased an entry level EUC.

As I said earlier, I bought a midrange EUC as my first wheel because I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on something I wasn’t sure if I would like. Here was my learning process:

Buying an EUC on a Budget

Both philosophies have valid point and to be clear, there is no right or wrong. It’s just preference. The biggest factor that does dictate what someone chooses to do is what they can afford to buy.

Like my mom says and like I’m always telling my kids, money doesn’t grow on trees. And that is 100% true because our hard earned cash is made of 75% cotton and 25% linen which comes from the flax plant so in reality your hard earned cash comes from plants that look more like little shrubs and weeds than trees. So don’t waste your money because money does not grow on trees!

Even if you adhere to philosophy #2 which says to get the best wheel around, if you don’t have enough cotton and linen in the form of cash, then what do you do?

Well don’t worry. I’m here to help recommend wheels based on your budget.

First off, for a beginner, the best EUC option is to find a decent used wheel to learn on. Let that first used EUC take its bumps and bruises as you learn to ride then sell it for about what you purchased it for or save it to teach friends and family to ride and upgrade to the wheel of your choice.

If there are no decent used EUCs available in your area, then purchasing a new EUC is your main option. Get your new wheel from a reputable seller that will provide warranty and support. I discuss this more below.

The EUCs I recommend at varying budgets (updated 11/2020)

For the most updated information and comparison between electric unicycles, check out my interactive EUC Comparison Tool which gives you control to filter, sort, and even chart the information. Check it out here!

Under $800 EUC:

• KS14D (my review of this 14″ wheel)
• Gotway Mten3 (my review of this 10″ wheel).
• These are great wheels to learn on. Relatively inexpensive, very portable, not intimidating like the bigger wheels, and a ton of fun.
• Larger riders may not feel comfortable on smaller wheels and should consider at least a 16 in wheel EUC.

Under $1100 EUC:

• InMotion V8F. This is the best bang for your buck for a 16″ wheel on an electric unicycle. Get the latest pricing at ewheels here.
• This next tier up is going to cost about $300 more than the lowest cost tier but you also get more battery, motor, power and speed in this 16 inch wheel.
• Heavier or taller riders should not consider anything less than a 16″ wheel as their first EUC.

Under $1500 EUC:

• KS16XS (777 Wh)
• Gotway Tesla V2
• InMotion V10F
• These are all 16 inch wheels that would be suitable for any new and intermediate rider. Heck, even advanced riders would enjoy riding any of these EUCs.

Under $2000 EUC:

• KS16X (1554 Wh)
• There isn’t much I’d recommend for a beginner under $2000 that I have not already mentioned except for the KS16X. This wheel is a little more expensive than the XS version but has more battery and a higher top speed.

Under $3000 EUC:

• Gotway RS both the HIGH SPEED or HIGH TORQUE versions are recommended if you want the latest and greatest.
• The Gotway RS just came out and if you are a heavier rider, the HT will come in handy.
• If you are a lighter or average weight rider, then the HS will do just fine.
• Here’s a review of the Gotway RS.
• If you don’t have the patience to wait for the new Gotway RS, then get the tried and true Gotway Nikola which is what I ride. It’s a great EUC. Here’s a 4000 mile review of the Gotway Nikola.

Under $1million EUC:

• If you have an unlimited budget then the best EUC in terms of speed and range right now is the Veteran Sherman EUC.
• Here are my thoughts on the Veteran Sherman.
• The Veteran Sherman seems to be very popular amongst all riders, from beginners to experienced riders.
• It’s a heavy beast of a wheel that has huge power and range that we’ve never seen before in an electric unicycle.
• If you can get over how heavy this wheel is and if portability is not a factor, then this is a EUC that you won’t be outgrowing any time soon.
• Check on pricing and shipping times of the Veteran Sherman EUC at ewheels.

Other EUC considerations besides money

The other consideration that I have not discussed are your needs. If you need something portable to carry up and down stairs, then the Veteran Sherman is not the wheel for you.

If you plan on joining crazy long group rides, then maybe the Sherman is for you.

Just because an EUC is bigger and more powerful doesn’t make it the perfect wheel for you. Smaller less expensive wheels are more portable, more nimble, less intimidating, and can be just as fun.

Where to buy from

Be sure to purchase from a reputable and established dealer that will back their warranty and offer support. In the US that is Ewheels and in Europe, I’d consider someone like myewheel. Check them out!

Here’s my review on Ewheels.

What about the Suspension EUCs?

Even with an unlimited budget, I would not recommend any of the suspension wheels as a first EUC.

While I love the InMotion V11 and I think the Kingsong S18 is the best looking EUC on the market, the suspension introduces an extra variable to worry about and adds an element of fragility and maintenance that beginners shouldn’t have to worry themselves over.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the feel of the suspension wheels and I think they are amazing. I just don’t think they should be used to learn on.

Conclusion

I love all forms of micromobility but my favorite is the electric unicycle. I’ve tried and tested a number of electric unicycles and I love to teach people how to ride. I hope you found this article helpful.

I am an affiliate with sites like Amazon, Trek Bicycles, and Ewheels. Purchases made through my links are much appreciated as it helps to support the website and channel at no additional cost to you.

EUC Comparison Tool

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the EUC options, so we made an interactive EUC Comparison Tool. You can sort, filter, and include or exclude data as you see fit. We hope you find this tool helpful!