Test of the Ninebot One Z10 Electric gyro: a new benchmark in its segment!

If the American brand Solowheel is the first in the world to have marketed a gyrowheel, the Chinese brand Ninebot has played an important role in promoting this new mode of urban travel, particularly with bestsellers such as the Ninebot One E, the Ninebot One A1, and the Ninebot One S2 .

It already benefits from the technological expertise of two major players in electric micro-mobility solutions: the Chinese Xiaomi which is the majority shareholder of Ninebot, and the American Segway which has been a subsidiary since 2015 . Moreover, the new models from the Chinese brand are all labeled “Ninebot by Segway”.

Without further ado, here is our review of Ninebot One Z10 , Ninebot's new spearhead!

Presentation of the Ninebot One Z10 electric unicycle

The Ninebot One Z10 electric monowheel is the high-end variant of the “Ninebot One Z” series which also includes the Ninebot One Z6 and the Ninebot One Z8. Launched at the start of 2018, this range inaugurates the Chinese brand's offering in the 18-inch gyrowheel segment, which is mainly dominated by the Gotway MSuper 3, Kingsong KS 18L , and Solowheel Xtreme models.

Moreover, when it was launched, the Z10 generated a lot of interest in the world of wheelers. Compared to previous models, it offers more power, autonomy, and dynamism.

Let's start our Ninebot One Z10 test by citing the elements provided in the box:

• An electric monowheel
• A Segway charger
• A trolley
• A removable mudguard
• A valve extension
• A set of two non-slip grips for the footrests
• An instruction manual
• A key for mounting the trolley.

The packaging box measures 63 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 63 cm high. The gyrowheel measures 46 cm long, 18 cm wide, and 53 cm high. She weighs approximately 32 kg.

Design and structure of the Ninebot One Z10

The wheel frame is made of aluminum alloys. Covered with a flexible and elegant “soft touch” plastic shell, it is designed to support a maximum load of 150 kg. According to the manufacturer, the wheel frame is waterproof (IP54 protection index for the electronic components and IPX6 for the battery).

One of the big new features on this electric monowheel is the modular aspect of the frame allowing you to mount new accessories such as the trolley, the mudguard, and possibly the camera support. 'action. Apparently, the brand favors a DIY (Do It Yourself) approach allowing users to personalize the gyroroue according to their needs.

The Z10 uses almost the same folding footrests from the Ninebot One E. Of course, they are classic footrests, but wide enough to provide good support. To prevent slipping and improve foot grip, the Z10 comes with two non-slip grips that must be fitted to the footrests.

The mudguard is very aesthetic. If necessary, it can be easily assembled or disassembled. Offered as an option on previous models, the trolley is fitted as standard on all models in the Ninebot One Z range. Ergonomic and practical, it facilitates the transport and parking of the gyrowheel.

And like any self-respecting premium monowheel, the Ninebot One Z10 is equipped with LED daytime lighting which turns on by default as soon as the power button is pressed. An LED night light with a range of more than 10 m can be activated as needed by pressing the control button on the shell.

Decorative RGB LEDs, whose colors and lighting frequency can be personalized via a smartphone application dedicated to the One Z10, are also placed inside the case. They provide a nice visual effect and help to further enhance the avant-garde look of the Ninebot One Z10.

The monowheel also has Bluetooth connectivity allowing it to be synchronized with a smartphone or tablet.

Ninebot One Z10 motor

The Ninebot One Z10 gyrowheel is driven by a brushless motor delivering a maximum power of 1800 W. Knowing that the maximum power of the Ninebot One E+ and Ninebot One S2 models is only 500 W, this new motor represents a major advantage of the Z10.

Moreover, it is torquey enough to propel the gyrowheel to a maximum speed of 45 km/h and to climb a slope of 25° . To avoid the seaboard overheating problems that caused the failure of the Ninebot One P model, the brand paid particular attention to the Z10's cooling system.

Thus, fairly powerful fans have been integrated in order to effectively cool all the electronic components.

Battery and autonomy of the Ninebot One Z10

The Z10 is equipped with a Li-ion battery with a capacity of 995 Wh. Although Ninebot announces a maximum range of 90 km, you should expect a real range of 50 to 70 km depending on driving conditions. In any case, the autonomy of the Ninebot One Z10 is more than sufficient, whether for urban or extra-urban use.

When the battery is fully charged, the engine can then reach its top speed which is electronically limited to 45 km/h. However, as the charge level decreases, the maximum speed drops proportionally.

We would have preferred an adjustment system allowing you to choose between several speed modes independently of the battery charge level. Thus, the pilot could configure the gyrowheel to take full advantage of its performance.

To charge the Ninebot One Z10, you must connect the charger to the charging socket on the case. The rubber hatch that protects the charging port is quite waterproof, but it is relatively flimsy compared to other models like the Gotway MSuper 3 for example.

It takes approximately 3 hours for a half charge and 6 to 7 hours for a full charge. An LCD screen integrated into the monowheel displays the charge level.

An Off Road wheel for the Ninebot One Z10

So, this is the first time that Ninebot has decided to venture into the off-road gyrowheel segment. To succeed in its entry, the Chinese brand has pulled out all the stops: an extra-wide all-terrain tubeless tire with a diameter of 18 inches and a width of 10.4 cm, designed for ride in the most extreme conditions!

The tire inflation pressure is 1.5 to 2 bars. As the valve is not directly accessible, you must open the plastic hatch and connect the valve extension supplied with the gyrowheel to inflate the tire.

Handling of the Ninebot One Z10

For the Ninebot One Z10 review to be objective, it is necessary to test the road performance of the gyroroue. Start-up is done by pressing the power button which is also very accessible. Like all other models of electric monowheels, acceleration is done by leaning forward and braking is done by leaning backwards.

The Z10's electronic unit controls acceleration and braking by measuring rotational movements through a gyroscopic stabilization system. Thanks to this system, the pilot's oscillations are counterbalanced, which helps prevent falls.

One of the big new features on the Z10 is the anti-runaway safety system which stops the motor automatically when the gyrowheel is lifted by the handle.

At low speeds, the Z10's handling is quite impressive. You can do slaloms or tight turns without any problem.

On the other hand, as soon as the speed exceeds 15 km/h, it really takes practice to master the road behavior of the gyrowheel. Note that the Ninebot One Z10 has a fairly efficient brake. For a speed of 20 km/h, the braking distance is estimated at 4 m.

The strong points of the Ninebot One Z10

• Very stable
• Good quality of manufacturing
• A sporty and futuristic design
• Equipped with an automatic circuit breaker
• Good load capacity (150 Kg)
• Good autonomy (up to 90 km)
• Waterproof.

The weak points of the Ninebot One Z10

• A little heavy
• Relatively long charging time

Verdict of the Ninebot One Z10 monowheel test

To conclude our Ninebot One Z10 test, the newcomer is already confirmed as a reference in the off-road gyrowheel segment. It won us over with its avant-garde design and its unique performances, notably engine power, range, and stability on the road.

In terms of equipment, it is equipped with LED lighting, a very practical trolley, a removable mudguard, and can still receive other additional accessories such as the action camera support.

Obviously, this is a real success for the Ninebot brand!