After years of rocky launches, KingSong has built an electric unicycle that can finally trade punches with Begode, LeaperKim, and InMotion. The F18 pairs a 5,000W (nominal) motor and a 2,664Wh Samsung 50S pack with 100mm of toolless, adjustable quad suspension, and it stopped from 20 mph in just 12 feet in the team's first official EUC brake test. Jimmy and Andrew loved the carving, speakers, and app, but they also hit snags with restrictive stock pads, a loose trolley handle, and exposed lighting, so we break down who should buy it and whether KingSong has earned its crown back.
Written Review
KingSong is one of the original names in electric unicycles (Jimmy learned to ride on a KingSong 16S around 2018), but it has also spent years living down a habit of rushing wheels to market, leading to fires, sudden failures, and battery troubles that has driven some people away from the brand. Attempting to learn from these ordeals, KingSong spent extended time creating the F18, hoping to change the trajectory of their story. After hard riding and various tests from Jimmy and Andrew, the team came away convinced it can stand toe to toe with Begode, LeaperKim, and InMotion.
- Current price of the KingSong F18: https://bit.ly/46XEbJo
- Use coupon code FreshlyCharged to save $200
F18 at a Glance
- Motor: 5,000W, with a 11,000W peak
- Claimed top speed: 67 mph
- Battery: 2,664Wh, built from Samsung 50S cells
- Suspension: 100mm adjustable quad suspension
- Stock charger: 10A at 151.2V
- Braking test: 12 feet from 20 mph to zero
Power and Battery: Finally Playing in the Big Leagues
KingSong has historically run lower voltage than its rivals, but this changes with the F18. Samsung 50S cells give the pack a higher discharge rate, which means more power reaching the motor and better heat dissipation, and the stock charger is the largest the team has seen. The wheel arrived fashionably late, announced roughly three years ago and reaching riders in real numbers only over the past several months, a delay that did cost momentum but suggests KingSong took its time getting it right.
Power delivery is where opinions may split. Andrew, who isn't a racer, found plenty of punch, but Begode wheels offer a bit more bottom-end torque, so riders who live for aggressive launches may miss it.
Suspension: The Headline Act
Suspension is why many riders buy a KingSong in the first place, a reputation boosted by Mike Leahy, who spent years sending huge jumps on the brand's wheels and has cleared canyon gaps in the Southern Utah desert. The F18 builds on that with 100mm of quad suspension that adjusts without tools: 25 settings, preload and rebound controls up top, air pressure at the bottom, and identical adjustments on both sides. The included pump is the best stock pump Andrew has seen, with a long stroke that got him to 150 PSI in no time, and KingSong earns bonus points for shipping a real instruction manual with target pressures instead of a sales booklet.
To test it, the team chose park stairs with wide gaps between steps, which force the shocks to work instead of letting the wheel glide. Andrew called the suspension fine, though most of his attention went to keeping his feet planted because of the pads (more on that later), and tuning on the fly is a luxury when so many wheels demand a toolbox for the same job.
Braking: Settling the "No Brakes" Argument
Non-riders love to call EUCs death machines with no brakes, so the team ran its standard scooter and e-bike protocol on the F18: roll up to 20 mph, stop, measure. Andrew's first stop took 14 feet and his second took 12, both with stock pads he'd happily swap for grippier ones. For context, 14 feet is a solid average for good brakes, with some devices needing 16 or 18, so the F18 landed above average against most scooters and e-bikes the team tests.
The catch is that this is electronic braking, with the motor doing the slowing, and it rewards technique of mainly leaning back. A seasoned rider will beat Andrew's numbers but a novice won't come close.
Speakers, Lights, and App: The KingSong DNA
KingSong has always packed everything onto its wheels, and the F18 keeps the tradition alive. The speakers are the loudest the team has heard on an EUC (though a little more bass would be welcome), and even muffled inside a DOT and Snell-rated helmet, they rank among the best on any wheel. They split the team, though: Andrew counts them as a huge plus, while Jimmy argues that Bluetooth speakers and good earbuds have made them one more thing to pay for and one more thing to break. The headlight is bright and hooded by a small eyebrow with an adjustable angle so it won't blind oncoming riders, and the rear accent lights add flair and can be switched off.
The redesigned app is the sleeper hit: crisp, easy to navigate, and, unlike the apps on several other wheels the team has fought with, willing to let you adjust the alarm settings without any drama. Lock mode and a very loud horn live there too, though needing your phone just to honk isn't very realistic.
Ergonomics and Build
Handles sit where you'd want them, including a low one for lifting, and the flat top of the front handle makes it easy to add a seat. Andrew felt none of the inner knee and shin pinch common on boxier wheels, and the generous pedal hanger clearance suits his off-road habits. The sealing looks promising as well, with well-caulked seams, waterproof connectors, and easy access to the plugs, though that is a judgment from appearance rather than a published rating. KingSong advertises sub-5-minute tire removal, and while the team didn't time it, they scoured the Internet and found riders online pulling it off that quickly.
Where the F18 Falls Short
Most complaints land at the contact points. The stock pads are the main offender: slippery enough that Andrew nearly came off on the stairs, thick at the front so your feet can't get low, and boxed in by a tapered surface, a protruding bolt, and a rear channel, so aftermarket pads will likely need modification. The pedal spikes could be sharper, and the sleek rubber cover is held on with double-sided tape that the team expects to fail eventually.
The trolley handle has more play than Andrew likes, the wavy edges front and rear could chafe riders who move their legs forward aggressively, and the stock off-road tire is a blast on dirt but less flowy on smooth pavement (a street version does exists, not tested by us). Charge ports on both sides are convenient and give you a backup, but they sit exposed, the front lighting is a likely casualty in a crash; and since the light assembly houses the power buttons, breaking it could leave you unable to switch the wheel on or off.
Out on the Trail
Carving is where the F18 earns its keep. The suspension compresses nicely through deep turns, speed wobbles were rare (a few when sitting down or standing up from a seated position), and one-footed riding stayed composed over potholes. Andrew wishes the wheel stood a bit taller for that, and would swap to the street tire on pavement. Paired with its firmware tuning, it's one of the most exciting off-road EUCs the team has ridden.
The Freshly Charged Verdict
If you want a high-voltage wheel with fun extras like a polished app, great speakers, and good lighting, the F18 has few rivals, since most wheels with that feature set sit in the lower voltage tiers. Does it make KingSong the king of EUCs again? Jimmy wouldn't go that far, but the brand has clearly climbed the rankings, and the F18 is a convincing sign that it's learned from past mistakes. Let us know your thoughts in the comments ⬇️
- Current price of the KingSong F18: https://bit.ly/46XEbJo
- Use coupon code FreshlyCharged to save $200
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