There are several types of pushback from Onewheels that are caused by speed or other factors:
Pushback from Speed
With the Onewheel’s velocity, pushback occurs in different digital-shaping modes depending on the model you have:
- Onewheel Pint max velocity is 12mph in Redwood mode and 16mph for Pacific, Elevated, and Skyline modes
- Onewheel Pint X max velocity 18mph for elevated mode
- Onewheel GT ax velocity 20mph for Flow/Highline/Elevated/Apex modes
It’s important to note that the Onewheel GT has a new feature, an audible beep. This safety feature will tell you when you’re approaching the board’s limit but doesn’t replace the pushback safety feature.
When a certain velocity is reached depending on the Onewheel model (more on that soon), the nose will begin to rise and is meant to signal that the Onewheel is reaching its limit, like an alert system to the rider that balance will become more difficult to maintain.
Several other factors can trigger pushback in conjunction with speed. Essentially, pushback is the Onewheel’s way of telling you that the amount of power you’re using cannot be sustained and hold your balance. This can happen when trying to keep speeds on surfaces that cause more resistance, such as grass or dirt. Another pushback factor is going uphill or if you’re riding into a headwind or your weight with the tire pressure.
Battery Pushback
This is another common type of pushback a rider will experience and is caused when the battery is near dead. It’ll alert you by the nose elevating more dramatically. It’s important to listen to your board and not to ignore this pushback as continuing on risks the battery shutting off completely.
Pushback from Regeneration
The Onewheel’s board is designed to regenerate power and store it in the battery while descending. If the battery is already at full capacity and it senses that further power stored could damage it, the board will shut down. The Onewheel will try and signal that to you by elevating the nose to slow the descent. If the battery reads as mostly full or full, best to burn off some of the excess battery by making s-curves or climbing hills before declines.
Why Does Onewheel Have Pushback?
Many people ask if the Onewheel’s pushback is on purpose or not, and it absolutely is. The board itself can’t stop or slow down on its own, so the pushback is meant to put you in a slow-down position and try to force you into a slower speed. A rider ignoring the pushback and the nose rising up while leaning harder on the board to go a faster speed can cause a nosedive to happen. The board will try and maintain the balance and speed if the rider keeps pushing, but only so far as the power of the board can continue to hold the rider.
The pushback is best thought of as a limit and an alert system. It’s how fast you can safely go and the Onewheel trying to communicate that you’re reaching the limit.
Pushback by Board
Each Onewheel model has its own kind of pushback that is important for riders to be aware of, which can save them from a nosedive or damaging the board itself.
Onewheel Pint & X
Both models have the same kind of pushback, which is a harder and more aggressive lifting nose motion.
Onewheel XR
Here the level is more subtle and you can manipulate the point of pushback using the custom settings, making it possible to ride past that point and hover between pushback and a nosedive.
Onewheel GT
The latest Onewheel model has a pushback starting around 16-17mph and is also subtle, which can be manipulated via custom settings and hover like with the XR.
Top Speed Safe
As you’ve read, the pushback is a kind of safety feature that keeps the rider cruising longer and more safely. Like any kind of board, it’s important to know how it works and what to pay attention to so your fun isn’t sullied. To get a feel for the feature in different modes, we at SUPRents have a demo program where you can try it before you buy it. Take a look at how you can get a feel for the right board below.
