Self Balancing Scooter: How Does It Work?

Hoverboards became an instant hit when they first came out in 2014. As you can see, over the years, a series of iterations have been done to improve product design, safety, and performance. They just keep evolving and looking better each time.

Having said that, hoverboards are once again gaining popularity in New Zealand. Yes, they look incredibly cool, but wouldn’t it be great to ride them like a pro and enjoy it? Here are some tips on how you can.

Safety First

It is highly recommended to use safety gear such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, tailbone protectors, and wrist guards. Keep your body protected before getting on the hoverboard, especially if you are a first-time user. Remember, even pro users use safety gear in practicing and performing their tricks to avoid injuries.

Next, check your hoverboard before riding. Make sure that it is fully charged and powered on. Do not attempt to stand on a board that is switched off. 

When you are ready to begin, try using the beginner or learning mode. Take it slow. Hoverboards may not be as fast as cars, but the speed range can go from 3mph up to 13 mph.

Another tip that most people overlook is reading your hoverboard’s manual. Get to know the product. This can help you understand specifications and special safety measures. Additionally, when using the board at night, be sure to turn on your LED light so other vehicles can see you.

Finding your Balance on the Hoverboard

Riding hoverboards can be tricky at first. When you attempt to stand on your hoverboard, find your balance by placing one foot on one side. Try using your dominant foot first. Avoid rushing and jumping in. 

Once you feel comfortable and steady, you can now position your other foot. Keep your feet as far as possible to the sides. This will help you control yourself better. 

Remember, most of the control will come from your feet, not from your hips nor your waist. Be sure that your stance does not feel awkward to you or else you would fall off easily.

Just like in skating, bending your knees will help you keep balanced on the hoverboard. Practice riding in a straight line before trying anything else.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As with anything, practicing helps you build muscle memory and confidence. The more you practice, the more you can discover how to ride and control your hoverboard better. 

Learning how to ride the hoverboard is similar to learning how to ride a bicycle. Everyone has different learning curves, so be patient with yourself.

You will also feel more comfortable using your hoverboard the more you practice with it. Building confidence will totally make you feel and look like a pro.

Mastering the Dismount 

A lot of hoverboard users have said that the most challenging part is dismounting, experiencing falls when the hoverboards end up jerking forward. For some, that can seem very sloppy, embarrassing, and not to mention, painful too.

To avoid that, the key is to get off backward instead of forwards. A tip is to use your dominant foot to find your body’s center of gravity and keep the board balanced while you dismount with the other foot.

Challenge Yourself

Once you have mastered the basics of mounting, dismounting, moving, and balancing, you’ll feel ready to move on to the next level. Challenge yourself by learning tricks. One of the beginner-level tricks that both kids and adults can do is “The Stork”. 

This trick involves balancing yourself on one side of the hoverboard. To do this, carefully take off one foot from the board then try to balance yourself with the other.  Relax, focus, and try holding this position for at least ten seconds.

When you’re able to keep balance, try a little spin on your hoverboard. Use gentle pressure, and take it slow.

Finally, you may try placing both your feet on one side. Balance by resting one foot on the board’s bumper. Don’t worry about falling and just relax. You will surely get the hang of it.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun

Try not to overthink so much. Notice how experienced hoverboard users don’t look uncomfortable when they move? They look so cool and relaxed, so don’t forget to smile and have a great time!

You finally know how to ride the hoverboard. What was once a daunting task of learning the basics–mounting and dismounting, finding your balance, getting the right speed–now feels like a walk in the park. However, getting the hang of something can leave you with the nagging question over what comes next.

Here are four creative ideas to spice up the way you ride your hoverboard.

The Magic Carpet Ride

Your dream to ride the Magic Carpet has finally come true! Accessorize your hoverboard by placing a rug, one that resembles Aladdin’s Magic Carpet, on top of it. Due to Aladdin being a legendary movie, you can easily purchase rugs inspired by the film from online shops or local stores near you.

If you feel like tapping into your creativity, opt for a do-it-yourself Magic Carpet that allows you to make adjustments according to your preference, giving you a more comfortable ride. Feel free to take it up a notch by dressing up as one of the characters in Aladdin.

Hoverboard Go-Kart

Want to give yourself a break from the usual standing position on the hoverboard? You can purchase a hoverboard go-kart attachment that allows you to create a go-kart out of your device and actually sit on it. It is quick and easy to install, and children as young as thirteen years old can ride it.

This definitely levels up your hoverboard experience, but be wary of  where you ride your hoverboard. There are schools, malls, and even cities that have banned the use of this device.

In addition, going off-road is highly discouraged, because an uncontrolled environment heightens accident risks. So, it is best to educate yourself on hoverboard laws according to where you live. Remember, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Learning New Tricks

You are never too old to learn a new trick or two. Practice swerving to the left and to the right. Once you master this move, practice rotating clockwise and counterclockwise.

Again, once you get used to it, move on to the next trick. Make sure to practice in a safe environment to avoid unnecessary accidents. You can also ask the help of hoverboard experts to give you ideas on which moves are safe to try and which moves are not worth all the sweat.

The Hoverboard Dancer

Once you have learned new ways to move with the hoverboard, you can take it a step further by incorporating these moves into your dance choreographies. Try to swerve left and right as you do the Whacking Arms dance move, sway from side to side while doing The Floss, and even recreate the pirouette and pretend you are one graceful ballerina (since all know learning the pirouette takes time).

Just keep practicing, and you will learn to bust a move with the hoverboard.

There are more creative ways you can ride the hoverboard. However, always prioritize your safety by wearing the proper attire and gear. If learning a particular trick compromises your safety, simply move on to the next trick.

When the hoverboard was introduced in the U.S. in 2015, people instantly fell in love with the device. It did not really hover, but it was the closest they could get to Marty McFly’s hoverboard from the film “Back to the Future”. But what is so special about this device, and why do sales for hoverboard companies continue to shoot up?

Unique technology

When you look at a typical hoverboard, it reminds you of board sports like the skateboard. Unlike most board sports, however, this device offers a unique way of transporting you from point A to point B.

The hoverboard consists of a platform–where the rider stands–and two wheels, one on each side. The platform has pressure pads on top, allowing the rider to control the hoverboard. The direction of the pressure applied by the rider’s feet determines the speed and the direction the device is moving towards.  

Although the rider appears to have complete control over the hoverboard, it is important to note that it does not come without complex parts such as the logic board or the “brain”, gyroscope, infrared sensors, and wheels with electric motors. All of these work together for the hoverboard to run smoothly and balance itself, making it a unique mode of transport.

Eco-friendly way to get around

Not only is the hoverboard unique, but it also allows you to travel in an eco-friendly way. Most hoverboards run on rechargeable batteries such as lithium-ion. These are the same batteries you will find in laptops and mobile phones.

All you have to do is plug in your hoverboard when the battery is low. Once you have completed the charging time, you are all set! Make sure to follow your hoverboard’s charging guide to help overall battery life last longer.

Cool tricks you can do

Besides the hoverboard’s ability to transport you from one destination to another, it actually competes with other board sports by letting you perform cool tricks. One of the tricks you can do is spin in circles, called The Spin, which is good for beginners.

For intermediate, try standing on your left foot (or right, whichever is more comfortable) on the left side of the board, too. Then, use the opposite hand to hold onto your board’s bumper.

Lift your right foot up backward and use your free hand to grab your foot in the air for support. Finally, allow your standing foot to apply pressure on the pressure pad, and begin to spin in circles. This trick is called The One-Foot Roundabout.

For experts, try adding a twist to The Spin. As you make your hoverboard spin in a circle, jump 180 degrees halfway into the spin. You will land back on the board.

The direction of your jump should be opposite to the direction where your board is spinning. This trick is called The Turnstyle.

There are more tricks you can do, but make sure to perform each trick in a safe environment. Also, wear the proper safety gear.

Form of exercise

Who knew you can have fun with the hoverboard and improve your health at the same time? It may take you less effort to get the device moving unlike other board sports, but it is still an overall body workout.

Burn calories as you improve your reflex, balance, concentration, and stance. You can achieve this by performing tricks and even learning how to dance with your hoverboard.

No matter what the reasons are, the hoverboard continues to win the hearts of many. If you are still wondering why get a hoverboard and discover for yourself.

In 2015, public figures would not be seen on social media without riding this strange means of transport. It first appeared way back in 1989 on the famous film titled “Back to the Future: Part II”. Fans of the movie were left fantasizing about owning one after seeing Marty McFly ride it.

It can make you look and feel cool thanks to its futuristic vibe. It was also surprisingly affordable, making it the perfect gift for almost anyone.

You guessed it right! This strange means of transport is the hoverboard.

The question is: Is it safe?

The hoverboard is also popularly known as a self-balancing scooter. It resembles the skateboard without wheels and relies on batteries for power. Navigation is easy, as one only needs to lean forward or push his / her toes to move forward, and lean backwards or put weight on his / her heels to reverse.

It can be recalled that news of hoverboards catching fire. Even exploding ones were seen left and right. This stirred debates among experts and nonexperts alike over its safety.

There are different possible reasons behind these issues, with the law of supply and demand being the most obvious: the demand for hoverboards went off the charts, and manufacturers had to keep up.

Unfortunately, the pressure to keep up affected the quality of production. This ended the “hoverboard craze” as soon as it started- or so they thought.

Do your research and watch out for fake ones.

After numerous investigations, it was figured that only a select few of hoverboards were deemed unsafe due to the use of fake lithium batteries. Necessary steps were also taken such as product recall and a complete halt in production to ensure the safety of consumers.

Hoverboards undergo rigorous testing.

On top of that, the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), an independent, not-for-profit testing laboratory situated In Northwood, Illinois—has raised the standards for the production of hoverboards. For a hoverboard to be declared safe, it must first undergo a series of more than one hundred and fifty (150) tests conducted by the UL.

Some of these tests are called crash test, drop test, short circuit test, imbalanced charging test, over-discharge test, and water exposure test. Once it passes all tests, it is now considered UL 2272 Certified. This has reassured consumers, resulting to the hoverboard regaining its popularity.

Buy from trusted sources.

Although companies are responsible for guaranteeing the safety of their products and providing all the necessary instructions for proper use, consumers must also do their part for their own safety. First, thorough research must be done before making a purchase. This saves you time.