Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

shop.bird.co

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

131–140 of 187 posts

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#131

Post by TylerE »

unethical_ban wrote: post #121
tsumnia wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To continue with the other NC'ers (there's literally dozens of us!), I used to live in Wilmington, NC, which has a large number of scooters to the point a term I've taken from others is to refer to them as dui-scooters (read "dewey scooters"). I don't know the difference between a $1200 scooter or a dui-scooter. However, the overall opinion is if you aren't in a traditional vehicle or a crazy cyclist, you're riding t…

I don't know if the attitude you're conveying is yours, or the population, but it's really sad. That if you don't drive a car, you're crazy for riding a bike. And if you want the combined environmental and cost benefits of a bike with the speed and lack-of-work of driving, you must be a drunk. Even if there is a grain of truth in some stereotypes, it is harmful.

It's not bikes, it's a moped.

For about the same money you'd spend on one of those scooters you can easily get a used motorcycle that will be far more comfortable and performant, it just requires a valid license.

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#132

Post by on_and_off »

15155 wrote: post #63
benatkin wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or a Boosted Board. I see people riding by on Boosted Boards and sometimes think that I want one. I never think that when I see someone on a scooter. I like to ride the scooter now and then, but I don't want to own one, nor do I want to carry one into my home or office.

I'm absolutely in love with the Onewheel: it may seem gimmicky, but having a massive, air-filled tire means you can go over serious obstacles and off-road (off-sidewalk) very easily. Having a single wheel also means the wheelbase/turning radius is extremely small - you can turn in-place with enough skill.

I have a boosted board and I have been wanting to exchange it for a onewheel. I am a bit more worried about the OW failure states though :

For example what happens if the battery dies ? since the OW balances itself, I fear it would be worse than a boosted (for which you are already potentially in a tight spot but you might be able to slow down manually) .

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#133

Post by brianbreslin »

on_and_off wrote: post #123
polote wrote: post #93

I think one of the issue with people from silicon valley trying to make consumer products is the fact that it will always be too expensive for people outside of silicon valley. When you live there you have a huge salary and the feeling that 1k is nothing, so selling a scooter for 1k is nothing, reality is that SV is a world of its own. That's complex product management issue in my opinion

True .. I got a boosted board when I moved to San Francisco. Well, reason number one is that the public transportation system is a joke in this city compared to the European cities I am used to. The price still felt steep but I can afford an 1k skateboard with a tech salary. Especially if I can recoup part of its cost by avoiding lyft rides.

I've long contemplated a boosted board, but am hesitant to spend $1k on a skateboard that I can't use when it rains.

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#134

Post by on_and_off »

btbuildem wrote: post #105
bko wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Boosted Board range is much lower at up to 14 miles on the top end model ($1,400) compared to 30 on a scooter.

Do you really want to stand on a scooter for 30 miles tho?

yes.

On a boosted, I can go to the other side of my city, but I cannot do the return trip.

I can do the 6 miles to go there (since there are slopes, we are far from the theoretical and inflated max range) Spend several hours .. and I would love to be able to go back on my skateboard afterwards.

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#135

Post by on_and_off »

spike021 wrote: post #114
gonehome wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're in Palo Alto and want to try one sometime I'd be happy to let you use mine.

How difficult are they to use if your balance isn't necessarily optimal? I tried to ride a cruising board back in college and.. well, broke my wrist when I fell (shrug). I have fine balance normally so I've always wanted to try a Boosted because it'd be handy when I go into our SF office or when I do stuff in San Jose.

I have meh balance and I still learned boosted just fine.

You also get a lot better at it with time. Shocks that would have thrown me to the ground 1 year ago are not that scary anymore.

Just find a park or a parking to learn to use it.

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#136

Post by charlesju »

tedmiston wrote: post #74
cameldrv wrote: post #59

This is a weird offering for an individual purchase. Look at the unique features: 1. Non folding stem: Adds durability for a rental, but the super quick fold is a huge part of the appeal of a scooter, because it means you can easily take it with you on the train, put it in the trunk of a car, or store it under your desk. If you didn't care about compactness, you'd probably buy an e-bike. 2. Huge battery: Adds to the…

3. If you leave it parked outside a place, people will assume it's part of the shared fleet or "force ride" it without unlocking while it beeps the whole way.

Or if you leave it parked outside, people can rent it and you make money... :)

Ala Tesla auto driving fleet

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#137

Post by on_and_off »

brianbreslin wrote: post #133
on_and_off wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True .. I got a boosted board when I moved to San Francisco. Well, reason number one is that the public transportation system is a joke in this city compared to the European cities I am used to. The price still felt steep but I can afford an 1k skateboard with a tech salary. Especially if I can recoup part of its cost by avoiding lyft rides.

I've long contemplated a boosted board, but am hesitant to spend $1k on a skateboard that I can't use when it rains.

That's a valid concern.

I live 25 minutes from work by foot, 10 by boosted.

When it rains, I just don't bother using my boosted, I go for a nice walk instead.

It is possible to use it when it rains but :

- most important point : your adherence will be way worse. With slick wheels, the board slides a lot when it rains. Your braking distance becomes way too long.

- you also get your pants and shoes wet. Not as important as point one of course, but still annoying.

I live in SF so I don't expect to see any rain in the next 6 months.

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#138

Post by walshemj »

Symbiote wrote: post #89
elamje wrote: post #78

You can get a street legal new Honda Ruckus or Yamaha Zuma 50cc for ~2500. 115mpg, no motorcycle license required, 100+ mile range, and no charging. This is a tough purchase price, when you can order direct from amazon or Alibaba for at least 50% lower.

Do they stink worse than a bus, leaving an oily trail of smoke? I can't understand why petrol mopeds are still sold.

Two strokes have long gone its all auto 4 strokes now.

And a 50cc Moped or Scooter has an insane MPG its why they are used for deliveries.

Re: Bird One Scooter – Pre-Order

#139

Post by yardie »

pickle-wizard wrote: post #127
aparks517 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Ruckus has a modern four-stroke fuel-injected engine. It shouldn’t smoke or make a stench.

Does it have a catalytic converter? When I bought my house, I bought electric lawn tools as small engines are pretty terrible polluters. I read an article several years ago, by Car and Driver I think. They took a push mower, a Fiat 500 and F150 Raptor and hooked them up to some emissions testing equipment. 30 minutes of running the mower had higher emissions, other than CO2, then driving the Raptor 3000 miles.

The catalytic converter on those cars alone is almost the same cost of the lawn mower. A good chunk of the upper part of the engine bay is filled with EGR components. I doubt you could fit all the modern emissions control equipment into a pushmower.
Post reply on HN