Leaperkim has announced their newest unicycle–the Leaperkim Oryx. At 4700wh and 127Ibs, this unicycle is going to be a long range machine and will excel in cruising. Here are the specs Leaperkim has given us for this wheel:
Specs
Voltage: 176.4v
Battery: 4700wh
Motor Power: 4200w
Motherboard mosfets: 48
Real world top riding speed: up to ~70 mph (estimated)
Weight: 126 lbs
Freespin speed: 93 mph
Tire size: 22″ edge to edge
Rim size: 90/90-16
Tire type: Tubeless – street (CST C923 3.50-16) offered. If a knobby tire is desired, please reach out directly to us and we will ensure you are taken care of.
Rim type: Tubeless
Included charger: 5A
Maximum charging speed: 20A (3528w)
Suspension type: oil/coil bi-directional hydraulic, custom designed by Fastace
Suspension travel: 90mm
Suspension Options: 62, 66, and 70 lbs spring options
Headlight: 25w automotive grade, with daytime running light
Waterproof rating: IPX6
Adjustable pedal height: Yes
Safety features: hall sensorless emergency mode (prevents cutouts), real-time millisecond level multi-point temperature monitoring, and the most advanced smart BMS ever made on an EUC.
Anti-theft security features: Passcode lock with alarm
Additional features: Folding kickstand
Impressions
Our first impressions of this wheel is that it is going to be a tank, offering an interesting alternative to the Begode Panther for long range riding. The Oryx will get about 5-10 percent longer range compared to the Panther, given the Panthers slightly smaller battery of 4400wh and the fact that Leaperkim allows for slightly more discharge per battery cell–Begode firmware allows for discharge down to about 3.1v/cell while Leaperkim allows about 2.9v/cell. The tradeoff, still comparing the Oryx to the Panther, is that the Panther weighs in at 114 pounds to the Oryx’s 127, which is substantial. Additionally, the Oryx is shipping with a beefy knobby tire, which we are a fan of as it does seem to be a good knobby, but the wheel diameter is 23in and almost 4 inches wide, and early ride testing indicates that this makes the Oryx feel bigger and significantly less nimble than the Panther. For a comparison to a more ubiquitous wheel, the Oryx is about 7 pounds heavier than the Begode Master Pro and has the same battery size.
On its own terms though, the Oryx features the build quality we have come to expect from Leaperkim. The wheel appears to be extremely solid and could take drops and crashes no problem. Though tall, the sides of the battery boxes slope inwards at the top, avoiding the common problem on bigger wheels where the riders knees or legs are resting on a sharp point or bowing outwards. The height of the wheel makes it great for seated riding ergonomically, as you don’t have to bend your knees too far. The handles appear to be extremely useable, and the folding/adjustable rear kickstand is a nice touch. In many ways, the Oryx seems to take from the Sherman L in the same way that the Sherman L took from the Lynx–Leaperkim has found a nice design and is sticking to it. The one pain point from the Sherman L was the charging port cover, which was quite difficult to remove, and this has been fixed on the Oryx by the addition of a small pull tab.
Photo Credit: Marty Backe
Overall the Oryx looks to be a fantastic wheel and we hope to get our hands on it soon to test how it feels on the ground. The difficult thing with big unicycles is always whether the additional battery size is worth the heavier weight and decreased nimbleness. We hope to see a street tire option for the Oryx in addition to the knobby, as this would improve its carving and nimbleness.
For an unboxing of the Oryx, see Marty’s video here. He also did a first ride impressions which you can find here.
Pre-order the Leaperkim Oryx here from NextGenMobility.
