Inmotion E20 Review: Truly an Electric Unicycle for Beginners

I've been riding and testing electric unicycles for over five years and have always wanted to get my kids and partner involved. It wasn't easy, but the Inmotion E20 electric unicycle ($319) takes away a lot of those learning curve anxieties. 

The E20 is not a traditional EUC. It has two 14-inch tubed tires mounted on a single rim, allowing it to self-balance in all directions -- forward, backward, left and right. The tires are narrow by design, allowing for sharp turns on one tire, or you can make wider turns and remain on both. It's like having training wheels on a bike; you can progress at your own pace. 

Inmotion E20

To control the E20, riders shift their weight forward on their toes to move ahead and backward on their heels to brake or reverse. With minimal handholding, my son and girlfriend could ride it. 

Inmotion says you can learn in just 3 minutes, and that isn't far off: It took my son about 5 minutes to get the hang of it. What started as "I'm doing this because you asked" quickly turned into "Dad, can I have one?" 

The E20 also comes with a removable seat, so beginners can ride either standing or seated, making it easier to get on and off by simply stretching your legs to the ground and standing. This makes it easier for the body to adjust to the amount of pressure needed to move forward and back without having to worry about balancing too much.  

The foot pads sit close to the ground, making it easy to mount and dismount from a standing position. One piece of advice for those new to EUCs, though: Do not get in the habit of holding the handle while mounting and dismounting. That will not work on larger, more powerful EUCs.

Like other Inmotion products, the E20 pairs with the company's mobile app, allowing you to monitor the battery level and adjust the maximum speed from 4 mph to just over 12 mph. You can also fine-tune the braking response, balance angle and vehicle calibration and even update the firmware through the app. 

Additionally, the E20 comes with a built-in Bluetooth speaker so you can enjoy music during your rides. The speaker's sound is decent but not exactly powerful. Keep in mind, too, that this is an entry-level model, and its travel distance range is only about 18 miles on a full charge. Any additional power use, like blasting its speaker, will marginally shorten the range.

The Inmotion E20 weighs just 13.5 pounds and supports up to 220 pounds. Its 10-inch motor, with a minimum output of 450 watts and a max of 900 watts, handled my weight just fine, even though I exceeded the recommended limit. However, generally speaking, I recommend riders heed the recommended weight limits because it can put stress on the motor and frame the EUC was not designed to handle. The E20 took a few spills during our testing, but it proved quite durable, aside from a few scratches and the need to pop the covers back into place.

Also, despite its lower price, Inmotion didn't skimp on the E20's safety features. To protect the rider, it automatically shuts down if it falls over or is lifted off the ground, and it includes a charging lockout, overvoltage protection and overcharge protection for home safety. While riding, if you approach the set maximum speed, the wheel will alert you with a beeping sound and a slight backward tilt to signal you to slow down. It also has ambient side lighting and a small headlight for added visibility. 

The E20 is available in black and white, but you can personalize it with stickers or decals or even remove the covers and paint them to suit your style. 

Decal for E20 EUC

Is the Inmotion E20 worth buying? 

 At $319, the E20 is an affordable EUC option that's perfect for beginners, young and old. It's ideal for anyone curious about learning to ride an EUC without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by more advanced models. However, it is limited in speed and distance, and riders might quickly outgrow its capabilities, so be ready to consider something bigger.

For those seeking an affordable small single-wheel option to learn on, check out the $399 Inmotion V5.