[I think this was a cool engineering idea. Sadly it flopped. Below is the story of what happened. Even so it was a great achievement to actually build one and make it work. Jan]

The vehicle in the video is the RYNO Bike (or RYNO Microcycle), invented by engineer Chris Hoffmann and developed by RYNO Motors.

It was designed as a self-balancing, single-wheeled electric motorcycle featuring handlebars, a sportbike seat, and a full-sized motorcycle tire equipped with gyroscopic balancing sensors. While it generated massive viral interest when first showcased, it ultimately flopped and never achieved mass commercial production. RYNO Motors officially closed its doors in late 2018.

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WHAT WENT WRONG?

1. Patent Disputes & Production Stalls
Just as the company was gearing up to fulfill orders, a major patent dispute emerged regarding single-wheel steering technology. This legal roadblock stalled development and investor backing for years, forcing RYNO to cancel and refund all customer pre-orders (around 300-500 deposits).
2. High Cost vs. Low Performance

* Price: Around $5,295
* Top Speed: Electronically capped at 10 mph (so it could legally qualify for sidewalk use)
* Weight: ~160 lbs (72 kg)

At over $5,000 for a machine restricted to 10 mph, it was far too expensive for average consumers compared to bicycles, e-mopeds, or standard scooters.

3. Funding & Manufacturing Bottlenecks
Mass-producing a custom monowheel required significant capital and specialized tooling. The company struggled to secure manufacturing partners willing to put the complex machinery into full production without substantial upfront investment.
4. Outpaced by Micro-Mobility Trends
By the time legal and manufacturing issues were sorted out, lighter and far cheaper electric alternatives--such as stand-up e-scooters (Segway/Ninebot), e-bikes, and standard Electric Unicycles (EUCs)--flooded the market at a fraction of the weight and cost.

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CURRENT STATUS

Chris Hoffmann formally announced the final end of RYNO Motors in a farewell message to fans, confirming that production had permanently ceased. Today, the few existing RYNO units exist purely as rare collector's items.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/live/bsVJUi-p3zY