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Ryno’s Monocycle – Novelty or New Paradigm? With just a 10-mile range, 10mph top speed, and a price of $5,300, the Ryno’s main appeal – like most machines rolling on 240-section tires – is novelty. Still, the unique style and functionality is enough for some – including Ryno’s hometown Portland, Oregon, police department – to clamor for this electric-powered Cyclops cycle. The Ryno was born when inventor Chris Hoffmann’s daughter asked if he could make a motorized unicycle like one she saw in a video game. Hoffmann set out to make science fiction into reality, assuming eventually he would uncover some fatal flaw that would bring the project to a natural end. “Every problem I encountered, I wondered, ‘Is this the one that’s going to stop me dead in my tracks?’“ Hoffmann says seven years later. “We somehow managed to get around every one of those problems.” A fusion of a Segway and a motorcycle, the Ryno relied on a complicated combination of batteries, electric motors, and gyroscopic computers – all housed within the circumference of the single Avon 240 tire – to stay upright. The Ryno feels almost sentient as it pushes itself to remain upright. With a curb weight of 160 pounds and zero emissions, it can go almost anywhere it can roll – including sidewalks, bike paths, office halls, and public transit. Just like a motorcycle, the Ryno requires some skill to ride. Turning requires a tricky and subtle manipulation of body weight. There’s a tiny bit of handlebar pressure, a good deal of hip shifting,, and a large dose of peg weighting. “It feels just like turning a motorcycle while doing a slow wheelie,” reports Ryno test rider and Icon mechanic Joey Gary. The Ryno’s on-board gyroscopes manage the complex throttle control stunt riders spend years mastering. In fact, the Ryno has no throttle; just like a Segway, acceleration is controlled by leaning forward or backward. And while in certain ways it resembles the wheeled-podium Segway, the Ryno looks cool. And it feels like a motorcycle, making it fun to ride. Now, if Hoffmann can just reboot the software for a bit more speed and range… - Sam Devine Monocycles are a bit riskier than a usual motorcycle especially for beginners. Better minimize the risk. Wear the safest motorcycle helmet to prevent head injuries.
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monocycle, one-wheeled motorcycle, motorcycle, Ryno,
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