My current unicycle, the chrome Torker 24" from 2003, is suffering from a bent rim as a result of an incorrect transition from hopping on the wheel. I don’t want to throw any more money into repairs for this unicycle, since the rim is very weak by this time. So, I’m looking at purchasing another uni. Since most of my riding is freestyle, I eventually want to get a top quality 20" freestyle unicycle, probably one of the more expensive Semcycle Long-Necks on unicycle.com. The problem is, I won’t have the cash for quite a long time. I know a 20" wheel is better for freestyle, but I’m used to a 24" and can make do with it for a while and I want to have a unicycle that I can use for pretty much everything; freestyle, distance, and light muni. I am currently considering purchasing the Torker LX 24", probably from this seller on eBay.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2904&item=7107780067&rd=1
So has anyone bought this uni from this place or anywhere else?
What were your experiences with it and is it good and strong?
How would it be for freestyle?
What are the main differences between this and the chrome model?
I got mine on ebay from bicycle-source.com for a similar price (69.97 and like $28 for shipping)
I don’t freestyle, but it’s taken quite a beating as I learn to ride, and it’s still in good shape. The LX (new model) has the square topped fork, which freestylers seem to prefer.
The Torker LX 24 should be a pretty good freestyle uni. The main thing it has going for itself is that it’s cheap. The quality is also pretty good. As long as you don’t try too many drops, it should hold up nicely. I know the new Torkers have flat crowns and are great for one footed skills, but they are also fairly wide. One ride complained that it was so wide that she would constantly hit her knees on it. The simple solution is to get a new frame. Frames are cheap and easy to replace. Just be aware that the Torker frames use a larger seatpost compared to most freestyle unis.
I got mine from a bike shop. When I got it they didn’t have square frames. This uni is great for Muni i took it to death valley rode down the Crater, i took it on some 4 foot drops it held up farely well the right crank is a little bent(i forgot to tighten it and took for drops). for freestyle I would not suggest a 24in. i tried it on that model and a nimbus and 24in. freestyle is like an oxymoron 20 in. is way easier especially hoping on the wheel and uni spins and gliding. Id say If you have enough get the torker 20in. dx, it works great for freestyle really good for street, very well on trials, awsome for muni although the 20in. isnt as good for off road, and the cranks I cant even make the cranks bend off high drops, and the cranks arent as long as the pictures show cause i know shorter cranks are better for freestyle(go to your local bike shop to check it out).
Of course I know a 20" is better for freestyle. But 24" freestyle is not an oxymoron. Here are some of the things I have done on my 24" uni; coast (about 10 meters is my best so far), glide downhill and flatland, spoke walk, hand wheel walk, handride, seat drag, and others. Did you read my post or not? I said I’m saving up for a good freestyle uni of higher quality than the DX and want a single all-purpose unicycle in the meantime.
The Torker LX a great unicycle. The best unicycle you can get for about $100 or so.
The black Torkers have a single walled alloy rim. A single walled rim is not as strong as a double walled rim. A good double walled rim would better hold up to things like hopping on the wheel and other freestyle skills that put stress on the wheel. The alloy rim on the Torker LX is still going to be much stronger than the flimsy steel rim on the Torker CX. The Torker LX is a definite step up.
My suggestion would be to get the Torker LX and then take it to a bike shop to have all of the spokes tensioned nice and tight. The wheel build on the Torkers is not the best. The spokes will be too loose. Getting all of the spokes tensioned up properly will make the wheel much stronger. Be sure to tell the bike shop that you are going to be abusing the wheel with some of those freestyle skills and that the spokes need to be tight, otherwise they may get lazy and not tighten it up as much as they should. Figure about $10 to $15 for a bike shop to tension all of the spokes and true the wheel.
For a 20" unicycle you could start with the 20" Torker LX. Replace the Torker frame with the Sem Long Neck frame, get a new seatpost that fits the Semcycle frame and you’ll have a nice freestyle uni. But again, the Torker LX wheel is just a single walled alloy rim. A custom built wheel with a good double walled alloy rim would be better, but much more expensive.