Dubbed to be hottest toy of the Christmas and new year season, the hoverboard has completely taken the world by storm.
Everyone from celebrities to politicians are making use of these 'self balancing scooters' or hoverboards as the internet has chosen to call it.
Hoverboards seem complicated and like they require a great deal of practice to work on, but in all reality, the learning curve for a self balance wheel from StreetSaw is relatively small. Most people learn to ride from intuition within less than 120 seconds, and become completely proficient within 10 minutes.
If you have ever been on a Segway, think of this as a hands free mini Segway.
Here are a few things that you should know before purchasing one for yourself or a friend.
- In spite of it being called a hoverboard, it does not levitate.
- It will typically have two wheels on either side, parallel to your feet unlike skate boards where you will be standing sideways.
- A hoverboard will be made of two individual pieces with a wheel at one end and a rotating hinge in the middle.
- The controls are simple, lean forward to go forward and back to slow down. Move the left pedal down to speed up the left wheel, turning right, it is natural movement of the body. For the most part, the craft will balance itself through gyroscopes and like devices.
- It will be powered with large, rechargeable batteries and will have motors at each wheel, perfectly synced with each other.
- The only thing that you will need to get used to is that the board will start to move once you place your foot on it. If you lean the correct way, you will immediately gain balance and get moving. People have tripped or been caught off guard when trying it for the first time, but it is easy enough to learn and operate.
- There will be a weight limit to every hoverboard. If you are on the heavy side, check with the manufacturer before you buy one. Even if you are able to ride one, the controls may not be at their best when the board is overloaded.
- There are a number of faulty, fake and cheap boards available in the market right now, be wary of such brands. Go for well made and designed brands like Street Saw, known for their durability and aesthetics.
Hoverboards are fun as long as you are safe, so wear protection (such as a helmet and pads) and be sensitive about your surroundings when you are using them.
