Pint-sized motorcycle-engine-powered monowheel of yesteryear

Avid readers of the November 1928 ish of Modern Mechanix may have been tempted to follow the advice in this article and build giant, deadly monowheels for their kiddies, powered by motorcycle engines. I know I sure am.

POWERED by a motorcycle engine and operated through the conventional handlebar control, a rubber-tired motor wheel has been invented which is claimed to represent the ideal in cheap and rapid transportation. The device is so simple that a youngster can operate it. The large wheel is fitted with a continuous inner track along which run a series of flanged wheels on which the mechanism revolves. The rider is seated inside the wheel on a regulation motorcycle saddle.

Link

[#1 posted by jennfrank , March 28, 2008 3:17 AM]

In one of my earliest memories, in some sort of precognitive act of defiance, I attempt to flee from my dad by hopping into some kind of motorized Big Wheel and driving off. I soon discover that my father runs faster than any Big Wheel, and he plucks me out of the vehicle by my armpits (the Big Wheel keeps going).

What I'm really asking is, how fast can a motorized monowheel go?

[#2 posted by clothingoptional , March 28, 2008 3:33 AM]

There is a guy in my town with one of these... He rides it in the 4th of July parade. Looks really fun! All the kids want to ride it, including me.

[#3 posted by twodotone , March 28, 2008 3:44 AM]

the best incarnation is Mr. Garrison's
South Park season 5 ep 11: The Entity
(viewable on the official southparkstudios.com site).

a must-see

[#4 posted by Simon Greenwood , March 28, 2008 4:24 AM]

There's a fair bit of history around the monowheel. It wasn't as dangerous as it looks, it seems, but there must have been a compelling reason why I didn't whizz along the M62 on one to work this morning...

[#5 posted by Ned613 , March 28, 2008 7:17 AM]

Wow! a Victorian Segway.

[#6 posted by yish , March 28, 2008 7:41 AM]

see you when she's 5.

[#7 posted by dilford , March 28, 2008 9:33 AM]

thrilling anime chase featuring one in Katsuhiro Otomo's "Steamboy". yes, I want one too! (1,2?)

[#8 posted by Brother Phil , March 28, 2008 9:39 AM]

I seem to recall a spanish chap making a pushbike version of this - apparently it does somersaults when you hit the brakes.

[#9 posted by SC_Wolf , March 28, 2008 10:00 AM]

Young Qymaen jai Sheelal, long before they implanted him into that droid body and he became known as General Grievous.

[#10 posted by cstatman , March 28, 2008 10:02 AM]

tons of monowheel info and links here:

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/motorwhl.htm

and video of the McLean Mono here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoKPdebrVOY

and his big V-8 job
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyqD_f5Ts4&feature=related

[#11 posted by Goofibulator , March 28, 2008 11:38 AM]

Looks cool, but I'll skip it, thanx...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtfBRA8xCGE

al

[#12 posted by Cazart , March 28, 2008 11:38 AM]

Take it...take it...

[#13 posted by Dug North , March 28, 2008 7:01 PM]

Everything old is new again. Hammacher Schlemmer is selling a Motorized Monocycle in their Spring 2008 line.

Regards,

Dug North

[#14 posted by bobdog , March 28, 2008 8:11 PM]

I was sure this thing was a death trap until I noticed that it had a "regulation" saddle. Whew!

[#15 posted by soupisgoodfood , March 29, 2008 8:04 AM]

@4 and 8

Yeah, in fact, you could make it a safety feature! It looks like you're much more likely to survive jamming the brakes on and endoing forward in this compared to a normal bike. Might be a bit disorientating, though. :D