| Motorboard Speeds Up Commutes |
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| Written by Tom Konrad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, 20 March 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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When I first read about the motorboard on Carectomy, it offered a solution to a problem I'd been thinking about for some time. I often need to go downtown (about a mile and a half) from my office, and I usually need to be well dressed when I do so. Since downtown is only a 3 mile round trip, my preferred method (if I have time) is to simply walk the distance. Walking takes care of my exercise for the day and can also be quite pleasant and relaxing. Unfortunately, I don't always have time to walk, biking can be impractical in dress clothes, and driving and using a parking meter usually involves rushing out at the end of a 2 hour meeting to avoid getting a ticket (and often saves little time due to the hunt for a parking spot.) Taking the bus does not save time for such a short distance, since the bus I would use only runs every half hour during the day. The motorboard seemed an excellent compromise which would not get me sweaty in summer months (since it's electric) and the upright stance meant that my slacks are in little danger. Like a bike, I could take the motorboard with me on a bus if I had to go far, although folding it up and carrying it with me would be simpler than loading and unloading the bike from the rack in front of the bus. That was the plan. Here's what happened:
While a new 2000XR motorboard sells for $799, the older 2000X version (which has a lower range because it is based on NiMH batteries, while the XR is based on A123 Lithium-Ion batteries) sells for $200-$300 on eBay. The company, Roth Motors offers an upgrade for the 2000X which replaces the battery pack and some electronics for $450. Since the net cost of buying a 2000X and upgrading is slightly less than the cost of the 2000XR new, I decided to try the 2000X and upgrade if I liked it. The board unfortunately arrived DOA, although it was new in the box and had no visible damage. When it comes to quality, this is a little worrying, but I decided to accelerate my plans for an upgrade, and negotiated a discount from the seller rather than returning it to him. Roth told me the upgrade might take 4-5 weeks, but then they turned it around so quickly that I wondered if they had just sent me a new 2000XR and kept mine for parts. Riding Riding a motorboard is fun. When I first took it out, I rode it around bike paths in parks near my home, and had so much fun that I inadvertently ran out of power. Which brought up the first problem I noticed: although there is a low battery indicator, it gives you very little warning (maybe 30 seconds) before you completely run out of power. I ended up about a mile from home, and while you can kick yourself along, it's fairly hard work, about twice to three times as hard as going the same distance on a bike (and I can only go about 5 mph under my own power, so it's pretty slow, too.) The advertised range of 5 miles is about accurate... with one hiccup. My office is 4 1/2 miles from my house, but it's ever-so slightly downhill. That means I have a little spare range when I ride to the office, but I run out of juice after about 4 miles on the way home. With my laptop and other paraphernalia, I weigh about 190lbs, so someone lighter (or carrying less stuff) might be able to go a bit farther, but given that having to kick any significant distance is not particularly fun (and the long, straight on-road bike path I use for my commute can be boring at 15 mph or slower), I'm not likely to use it regularly for my commute. While the motorboard is fun to ride for short distances, and I don't mind the occasional startled looks, I find my biggest complaint is that it's not enough work. Over the last year, I've been weaning myself off the car, and I really appreciate the opportunity to get exercise on my commute. The day I rode the motorboard, I felt like I hadn't gotten enough exercise (even counting the 1/2 mile I had to kick it home.) Where it really shines is as a supplement to transit: the ability to quickly cover a couple miles allows you to avoid or drastically reduce the number of required bus changes on longer routes. For me, changing busses is the most frustrating part of using them, even in Denver where busses are nearly always on schedule. Thoughts on Design I see one place where the motorboard design could be improved. The handlebars tilt back slightly, which looks good, but this means that the rider is steering with his hands only a few inches in front of his stomach. If the handlebars were vertical, or even had a slight forward tilt, the rider's hands would be a few inches farther forward, which I feel would be a more ergonomic stance. The fact that the 2000X arrived nonworking is a little worrying, and I have noticed that the handlebars are a couple of degrees off from being perpendicular to the front wheel (it's so subtle I didn't notice for a week.) I don't know if this is a sign of quality problems with the 2000X, or if those problems continue with the 2000XR. I did read several accounts of problems (mostly due to the lack of front suspension) with the lead-acid based 1500X, which was made by the company before current management bought it out of bankruptcy. The Numbers Since I planned to write about it, I've been keeping track of my electricity usage (using a Kill-a-Watt
Note: Numbers are for the way I use these transit options. Your numbers will vary. Conclusion As a supplement to public transit, the motorboard is an excellent option, especially for people whose work attire is not bicycle-friendly, or if the available public transit does not accommodate bikes. On the other hand, it's not very practical anywhere where it rains or snows frequently... I don't recommend it to anyone in Seattle. However, Roth Motors says they have plans for a weatherproof version. The motorboard requires decent balance, and moderate strength to carry on public transit, which unfortunately rules it out for many of the people who could use a collapsible motorized vehicle the most. It may be a lot cooler than a Segway, but the physical requirements limit it to many of the people who need it least. Probably the most comparable option for solving the last mile problem is a folding bike. Both can be carried on busses and light rail. The motorboard has much more limited range, but folds much more quickly than a bike (5-10 sec for a motorboard, 30-60 sec for a bike,) and is half the price (or less.) It also feels safer to ride: If you have to stop suddenly, or even crash, you are standing upright, making it simple to get clear. On a bike, it can be difficult to get off quickly (especially if you use toe clips.) The motorboard's top speed of 15mph is about the same as a fast run, so it is possible for an athletic rider to jump off and stay upright even riding full throttle. Is the motorboard for you? It depends on your commute, the local climate, and if your line of work is compatible with informal clothes. A motorboard isn't a perfect replacement for a bike, or even walking, but it's a great way to get to a meeting downtown from my office in a hurry.
Comments (9)
Alex
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Nice review! But I'm curious, which 15% of the days can you use a bike and not a motorboard? (And, for that matter, which 1% is the Prius out but not the bus?) |
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I bought one of these for $200 about 4 years ago. I presume is was the earlier model you spoke of. It worked well for maybe 2 months, but that was about it. I thought the scooter had several serious design flaws (altho things like regenerative braking were really cool). The major problem I had was with how the motors drove the scooter by directly rotating the wheel. Whenever I rode over a bump, however, these metal parts that spun the wheel would dig into the soft plastic wheel. After going over enough bumps, the wheel ending up becoming narrower and the scooter would not go nearly as fast or as well. The battery would also die after maybe 10 minutes. Maybe they fixed this in the newer version, but I'm not willing to risk it again. The one I bought was a piece of junk and its sitting in my basement collecting dust. Next time they should use a chain or belt drive. |
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Hey-- I'm the Kathryn who's doing the guest blogging on the Motorboard for the LA Times blog. This is a great summary of the ins and outs of a Motorboard -- including the drawbacks and benefits -- and I love your analysis of the energy use! About the ergonomics, I should say that I'm only 5 feet tall (on a good day), and I've noticed that the Motorboard seems perfectly built for someone my height. Since most people are at least a bit taller than me, I know it means that the handlebars might feel low for others. Nick, you gave a perfect description of something that's been puzzling me about the Motorboard -- how my wheel gets all chewed up after enough bumpy rides. I have the 2000XR, and it took 3 months of LA sidewalks to do this to my wheel -- about the time I was almost ready for a new wheel from regular wear and tear anyway. Still, I couldn't figure out how the wheel was getting chewed up or how to prevent it. Thank you for your explanation! The newer model, I think, is a big improvement on earlier models -- but the extended range battery is a must, if the Motorboard is used for any length of commuting. Roth Motors advertises that the extended range battery goes 10-20 miles, and I've only run out of battery power once or twice with this battery -- I think as my wheel is wearing down and getting all crunchy from the bumps (using more battery juice). Another idea for commuters-- since I use the Motorboard to commute 3 miles to work, I got an extra charger for work, so I can charge both places. I don't know that it's completely necessary with the extended range battery, but it's convenient and prevents me from having to carry the charger just in case. I'm excited to hear that Roth Motors is planning a weather-proof version, for people who live in places with regular rainfall. I would also look forward to a bump-proof wheel! |
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Alex: The days I can use a bike but not a motorboard are when it's wet. In Denver, that's often because there's water on the road from melting snow, or if it has rained recently. Nick- In the manual they talk about the wheel wear. You can swap the front and back wheels when this happens, after which you can buy a new wheel for $20 from Roth. I heard other people talking about problems with the NiMH batteries of the 2000X in comments on various blogs. You'll note they are not selling the 2000X anymore. If it's sitting in your basement, sell it on eBay... someone else can upgrade it and replace the wheel. With the various maintenence costs (batteries, wheels) this will probably cost considerably more than the fifth of a cent per mile for electricity... but it's still going to be considerably less than the price of gas. Kathryn- You seem to have hit the mark... I do feel like I'm a bit large for it... as you can see in the photo at the start of the story. Maybe they'll consider making a large size, as well as a weatherproof one. Of course they have to raise the money before they can do either. |
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Thanks for the wonderful review and all the comments. This is a really cool method of transport. My partner and I decided to sell our car, so this is something I would consider using when I go grocery shopping.  |
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great article, really in depth! Another alternative might be a good folding bike. Dahon sells some really nice ones for far less than this motorboard costs. Some of them have chainguards so your pants wont get dirty and u wont need to roll them up. of course, some people (myself included) sweat a whole bunch (even though I'm capable of biking 60 miles) even during short distances at slow speeds |
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On a visit to Paris I noticed a lot of people (including fairly serious looking people, not just sk8r punx etc) on roller blades. These strike me as a remarkably efficient way to get short distances, once you've learnt to use them. They also cost a lot less than $700, and get you some exercise. -- Although they may be illegal to use except on the actual road with the cars in some towns/cities (!), so check first. |
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Tom, the ergonomics of the raked back handle is probably forsaken for the purpose of safety. I'm sure that the rake is to prevent you from going over the handlebars during an emergency stop or from hitting an oversized bump |
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I bought a new 2000X to see how practical it was to have one, without plunking down $799-1000 for the XR or XR plus. The first day I got it i plulgged in in and charged it and rode it to work and it was fine. I charged it at work, and the inner metal 3prong plug section that is on the charger cord came out and remained in the Motorboard. I pulled it out, and tryied to see if I could get it to go back in and glue it. The charger now shows a full charge and it goes dead in after 5 minutes of riding. So I ordered a new charger from Roth(they told me that they wont even be able to mail it out for another 5 days). I hear that Roth Motors service is not that great. So now I have a new 2000X that looks great sitting next to my desk, but all I can do is look at it for the next two weeks while I wait to receive the charger |
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) and distance traveled (estimated with Google Maps). After 24.2 miles of riding, I've used 0.51 kWh, considerably less than I would have expected. If 
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