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Hot wheels

A cross between a snowboard and a scooter, the Wheelman is a quirky Australian invention that's grabbing attention worldwide. Tim Colquhoun takes one for a ride.

When you first see a Wheelman in action, it's hard to understand how the rider actually manages to stay upright. The thing just seems a bit off. You don't stand on it, but in it. And it sounds like a lawnmower.

But work it does, and the Wheelman is in fact a remarkably intuitive device, once you get used to the whole balance thing. Requiring a similar stance to snow-, surf- and skateboarding, it's ideally suited to anyone proficient in those sports. Boarding experience is not, however, a prerequisite, and most will be able to balance on and ride the Wheelman independently within an hour. And then the fun begins.

So what is it?
The Wheelman first grabbed global headlines in 2002 when it was named one of Time magazine's "Best Inventions of the Year." The most unusual design feature is the hubless wheels-the rider inserts his/her feet inside the wheels, while the motor sits between the feet. Suitable for both normal and goofy stances (the rider can lead with either the left or right foot), the Wheelman can be steered by twisting the leading foot, or by slight shifts in balance. More advanced riders can tack in a maneuver similar to skateboarding.

Another curious feature is the fact that the Wheelman doesn't employ a chain to generate drive from the motor to the rear wheel. Instead, a circular lug slots into the gaps between the knobs of the rear tire, providing drive directly. The tires are suitable for concrete and light off-road use-dirt tracks and grass are perfect surfaces on which to ride the Wheelman.

A handgrip that's connected by wire to the carburetor controls the motor. The thumb controls a trigger for acceleration, while a bicycle-style lever provides a back-up for braking. The Wheelman decelerates quite rapidly when the acceleration trigger is released, so stopping doesn't generally require the use of the brake. An emergency engine cut-off plug attaches to the rider's shoe as a further back-up-if the rider falls off the Wheelman will stop instantly.

Powered by a 43cc two-stroke engine, the Wheelman runs for up to two hours on less than a liter of fuel, and has a top speed of around 30km/h. You won't be seeing any sumo wrestlers zipping around Tokyo on one, however. It can support riders weighing up to 120kg.

Inventor Grant Taylor said that the idea for his contraption stemmed from his love of skateboarding and surfing. "I wanted to have a motorized device that allowed me to use the same types of movement and provided a similar level of enjoyment. It needed a low center of gravity and to be lightweight, strong and powerful."

He was also inspired by the movements of his baby son as the toddler learned to walk-observing the upper-body coordination required for balance. Far from an overnight success story, he developed and refined the concept for over a decade. The first crude prototype was built 13 years ago.

Taylor said that the Internet was crucial to the success of his invention, which curiously owes much to the success of another quirky personal transportation device, the ingenious Segway. Internet chatter surrounding the Segway picked up on the Wheelman too, which then "rode on the tail" of the Segway's high profile.

The inventor is currently developing an all-terrain version of the Wheelman that may have a more powerful and efficient four-stroke engine, and says that there will eventually be an electric-powered model and even a fuel-cell variant.

The test
On a recent test ride, the Wheelman proved to be a fun contraption that was surprisingly easy to ride. Balancing in the sideways stance wasn't difficult-after a few demonstrations and a helpful shoulder to lean on your faithful scribe was able to balance and twist the flexible frame upright without support within half an hour. With no real surf or skate background, the ease of use was unexpected for such an unbalanced test dummy.

It's also relatively light and compact, weighing 22kg and measuring about a meter long and 30cm tall. More experienced riders can pull off wheelies, jumps and slides, but don't expect to be able to pull off the types of stunts that can be achieved on a snowboard or skateboard. It's too heavy for the gravity-defying stuff.

The Wheelman attracted plenty of attention when being tested, but most onlookers were not keen on the idea of having a go, preferring to watch the rider's stumbling but ultimately passable attempts.

Promoted in the US as a cross-training tool for board-riders, the Wheelman is a fun and unusual machine that should appeal to a broader range of adventure seekers. Built under license in Taiwan, it's exported and sold worldwide through dealerships and via the Internet. There are plans afoot to rename and market the Wheelman as the g-motion, so don't be surprised if you see it in this guise. Be sure to have a go if you encounter someone riding one and they offer you a turn-it's not as hard as it looks!

The Wheelman retails in Japan for ¥180,000 and is distributed by Murakashi Co., Ltd. 5-13 Izumi-cho, Itabashi-ku. Tel: 03-5392-6688, fax: 03-5392-6690.

Tim Colquhoun is a motoring writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Photos courtesy of Wheelman

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