Quick pivots and turning

[510-1-whl+]

Hello everyone,

First post! I've been tooling around on my OW+ for 15 miles, and I'm ready for some tips on quick turns in small spaces. I've had some luck just torquing and forcing the wheel to pivot... Is this a good idea? What's the tightest radius circle you can turn heelside and toeside?

[cactvs]

Best way to turn is to get a different tire. The Vega is just a dog. I can turn about a 2 ft radius with the 5.5 Hoosier. About 4ft radius with the Vega. I know why FM went with the Vega - ITs so stable and anyone can ride it. Maneuverable it is not. A rounder tire requires no "torquing" just more angle.

[sage954]

If you get up on the edge by using your ankles the stock tire turns great. I have no experience with any other tire but you can turn and pivot on the stock tire with practice. Momentum is your friend.

[Acumen]

I think this will help with what you’re trying to do, some tire theory in here and a good way to practice:
https://youtu.be/Nw1mrKi35kk

[WheelCity]

+1 to @sage954 and @Acumen
Lack of practice is your issue, not your tire. Like they told me in tennis camp, "It's not the tennis racquet, it's the goat on the other end of the tennis racquet."

As for the Hoosier tire recommended above, if you enjoy zipping at high speeds between cones spaced 2 inches apart, and you have ankles made of platinum, then a Hoosier tire is for you. The stock Onewheel Vega tire is just as maneuverable as any Hoosier, however, you’ll have to go a little slower, for it has to tilt further to get “on edge” than a Hoosier.

[AceCannon]

I think riding inside my house, trying to go slowly with accuracy, has helped my technique.

https://youtu.be/213vUMy5pjI

[NJacobs]

For newbies, I tell them to turn their shoulders and then everything else follows. After they strengthen the stabilizing muscles in their ankles, knees, hips, etc., then they can do more of the slow, heal-toe turns. Something else that helps is mimicking other riders; watch youtube videos to see their posture on the board and how they move.

[Ventoriffic]

@acecannon Same, but in apartment complex paths :)

[cactvs]

@wheelcity and I will probably always disagree on the tire selection "debate". We both speak earnestly from our personal experience. A big part of handling preference comes from your background - snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, rugby, checkers, whatever... your natural athletic tendencies, or lack thereof makes a big difference in what feels "right" to each rider. The Vega is the EASIEST tire to Onewheel on. That's why it comes stock. FM wants happy, safe customers.

[Gwinntanamo]

@wheelcity What??? You’re out of your mind if you think the Vega slick can do the same things as a Hoosier 5.5”.

There is no question that the Vega is easier to get up on for the first time. It’s also easier to stand still on. But, as soon as you start moving - the Hoosier 5.5” takes the cake.

It’s like comparing a tank to a motorcycle.

Just get a Hoosier 5.5” treaded tire and never look back. Also, pump it up to 35-45 PSI. It’ll take a week to adjust, but once you’re there - you’re never going to look back.

[desperado]

@wheelcity Have you tried the Hoosier and not noticed any difference in maneuverability?? The reason you need platinum ankles is because it is almost too easy to turn... I switched to Hoosier 5.5 after 300 miles on the Vega, it is night and day difference. Yes, at 2 mph, you can turn just fine on Vega, but at medium speeds it doesn't turn as aggressively as you want. I found the Vega forces you to place your feet perfectly if you have average size feet. With my feet perfectly centered, I have to put my weight all the way to my toes or all the way to my heels in order to turn reasonably. If my feet are shifted a little toward the right, I can turn right much more aggressively but then barely turn left. The tire is just too wide compared to the average foot length. You want your feet to overhang at least a couple inches past the flat edge of the tire in order to get easy leverage. The Hoosier, being slightly rounded, solves that problem.

[desperado]

@510-1-whl Stick with the stock Vega. At some point your skill will improve and you will notice that the Vega feels annoyingly hard to turn at higher speeds. That's when you get the Hoosier. You might have a more relaxed ride style and never feel a problem with the Vega. In that case, the Hoosier will just be annoying because it is really hard to dismount safely compared to Vega. Stopping and holding still without scaring people near you is much easier on Vega.

[WheelCity]

@desperado said in Quick pivots and turning:

@510-1-whl Stick with the stock Vega. At some point your skill will improve and you will notice that the Vega feels annoyingly hard to turn at higher speeds.

@desperado Ha ha. You know, at higher speeds, I prefer my board to be annoyingly difficult to turn. Otherwise, I'm pulling pebbles out of my face ;)

It's all about personal preference. I like cruising fast, in a straight line, while watching my golden retriever to make sure she hasn't gotten herself into trouble while simultaneously checking my stocks on my iPhone. If none of this describes your riding style, then the Hoosier is for you.

[desperado]

@wheelcity Ha, unless you are trying to dodge rocks and roots, then you'll get the pebble face. Vega and Hoosier are def for totally different ride styles. I miss the Vega when I'm just trying to go on a Chipotle run. I have given up trying a graceful dismount with Hoosier and now just shamelessly use the wall to balance while I deactivate the sensor. Looking forward to getting my XR so I can have the Vega on one and Hoosier on the other. Be careful out there with your distracted riding, nothing is more annoying than having a shattered phone when you are trying to call an ambulance. :-)

[makermarc]

@desperado haha i jump off all the time now. There's just no sitting still on a hoosier for long enough to make it worth trying to deactivate the sensor. No walls where i ride.

[skyman88]

@makermarc @desperado @WheelCity

Other folks are riding the Hoosier slick and love it. More responsive than the Vega but still stable when stopped.

And recently a handful of people have changed to the Burris treaded tire. Transfers less shock than the Hoosier due to softer side walls, is still very nimble but stable.

[makermarc]

@skyman88 I'd like to try a Burris one day. Have been loving the hoosier treaded and can't wait to put the slick on for summer.

[510-1-whl+]

@cactvs How many miles before you did the swap to the new tire? Skater and snowboarder since I could walk. I'll really never be using it offroad, just gnarly streets and potholes. Whats the suggestion on tire?

[510-1-whl+]

@desperado All of this is completely useless without knowing your weight and height.

[desperado]

@510-1-whl I am 5'10" and 150 lbs. Size 10 shoe. If the board is not turning as easily as you want at medium speeds, go to a narrower tire is what it comes down to. The Vega will turn very easily at low speed if you tilt it on edge but of course it's very hard to balance like that.

[cactvs]

@510-1-whl about 7 miles! I knew I wanted more "instability" out of a tire! If you are a boardsports person, I really believe the Vega is too flat and stable to fully enjoy the one wheel. FM uses it so the most people can enjoy the Onewheel right out of the box. Any tire with a little roundness to the profile is better. I will be putting on the Hoosier 6.5 D30 for the summer once we are out of snow season here in the High Country of Colorado.

[jcorry]

I was having the same issue and learned that more back foot is at least part of the solution. More back foot helps get the Vega up on an edge.

[WheelCity]

Ask yourself, "Am I looking for an electric longboard with large fat wheels that can effortlessly cruise long distances, or a loose, trick skateboard with tiny wheels that can turn quickly?" If you answered the latter, the Hoosier tire is for you.