The Onewheel GT and GT S-Series (I affectionately call the Onewheel GTS) share the same profile however within the GT S-Series, there are major improvements that go beyond the tiffany blue coloring and the s-series performance tire. Is the Onewheel GT S-Series worth buying over a GT? I hope to answer your question here.
The Major Improvements Over the GT
Looks can be deceiving. Already, there are some riders who are buying the GT S-series rail guards and slapping them on a GT. With the Performance tire and some Lowboy footpads, the boards look identical, but the major improvements are in the motor and controller.
Increase in Voltage
The GTS doesn’t just increase voltage from its previous version, it blows it out of the water. The Onewheel GT had gained voltage when they revamped the Onewheel XR to 73V from 63V. This was a modest improvement which riders could feel when hoping on a GT – a respectable 15% increase in power.
With the GT S-Series, you are going to notice a 54% increase in power over the GT! This is almost 80% more than the XR model!
To get this voltage, you need a beefy BMS and with the GT-S, the battery management system is a massive component in comparison to the prior models.
The increase in voltage increases the freewheel speed. This results in more power output while reducing the current needed from each cell. This essentially leads to a more efficient power delivery and can contribute to better performance, especially at higher speeds.
This is a substantial increase over previous models and is not a standard voltage level in many electric bikes or power tools, indicating a unique and custom design that Future Motion has done here. You will absolutely notice the added power at all speed ranges.
| Specs | Onewheel GT | Onewheel GT S-Series |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 USD | $3,200 USD |
| Motor | 750W Hypercore Motor | S-Series Tuned Hypercore Motor |
| Battery | 27s1p | 18s2p |
| Voltage | 75V Max | 113V Max |
| Range | 20-32 miles (32-52 km) | 16-25 miles (26-40km) |
| Tire | 11.5 x 6.5-6.5in Onewheel | 11.5×7.0-6.5in Performance Treaded Tire |
| Max lean angle: | >30 degrees | >30 degrees |
| Size | 9.5in x 11in x 29in (24cm x 29.21cm x 74cm) | 9.5in x 11in x 29in (24cm x 29.21cm x 74cm) |
| Front Sensor | Solid state MEMS 6-DOF | Solid state MEMS 6-DOF |
| Weight | 35 lbs / 15.9 kg | 33lbs / 15 kg |
| Top Speed | 20mph (32km/h)* | 25mph (40kph)* |
| Charge time | 200 Mins *standard charger | 150 Mins *standard charger |
Battery Configuration
The battery configuration in the S Series is different from the GT model. The GT S-Series sheds 2 lbs in weight primarily due to the batteries. The S Series uses a 27s1p cell configuration, which means it has 27 cells in series in a single parallel configuration. This setup is 3/4 the number of cells used in the GT (18s2p) but uses upgraded cells for more power per cell.
Going back to basic electronics, the series arrangement of the GT-S means allows for more voltage output but at the cost of a 20% range loss over the GT. The GT still has the largest range on a Onewheel as its battery is a parallel arrangement.
Foot pads
Both the GT and GT S-Series Onewheel have concave foot pads however with the GT S-Series, Future Motion introduces the Lowboy foot pads.
The Lowboys essentially have no real added ‘build-up’ under the center of the footpad. There is minimal structure in the center of the pad. The structure of the foot pad raises the rider on stock pads. With the removal of the center build-up, the rider experiences a slightly lowered stance out of the box – 5mm drop.
Top Speed Increase
The GT S-Series has an added 5mph (8 km/h) increase over the GT. This means Haptic Buzz and pushback hits later on making higher speed riding more enjoyable. Note that the advertised top speed is when pushback sets in. It is feasible to push beyond those speeds however you do risk injury via nosediving.
Improved Controller, Battery and Motor Components
The GT S-Series has revamped with hub assembly with optimized windings, stronger curved neodymium magnets allowing for better space efficiency and upgraded premium NSK bearings from Japan (these use to be standard bearings pre-GT). As noted above, there is an upgraded BMS to handle the voltage as well as a new controller. The capacitors are larger on the controller and most importantly, Future Motion installed a clip connector for the prior XT-60 was. This was prone to wiggling loose so this clip solves that problem.
Added Performance Tire
The GT-S comes standard with the Onewheel Performance Treaded Tire. They are rebranding this tire and now calling it the S-Series Tire. It is an added half inch wider tire with treading that extends over the shoulders of the tire. While no shore rating is provided, it is a softer compound in comparison to the standard Future Motion treaded or slick tire.
For the riders who have been around on the XR days, this tire is very reminiscent of the Vega slick that used to come with the XR.
While it has a more curved profile, the ride has a somewhat flatter center similar to the Vega. This will definitely help with the higher top speeds when riding.
Change in Charging Ports
There is a small change in the charging adapters. I do think you could still fit a standard GT port cover on a GT S-Series with some wiggling however chargers are different.
Other than the tiffany blue color, the Onewheel GT S-Series charge adapter has a small knub so you do not accidentally place a GT S-Series charger into a GT. These have to be different because different battery voltages require different chargers.
Is the GT S-Series worth the added $900?
Lets first talk about how Future Motion increased the price on the GT during this release. The GT used to cost $2,200 USD however they bumped the price to $2,300. They did do this to the Pint during the Pint X and GT launch in 2021. This is a way in saving some of the depreciated cost of the older boards however I mention this because the increase is actually a $1,000 for riders who already bought.
So you are getting a performance tire ($125), Lowboy foot pads ($175) and a GT ($2,300) today. The price difference for the increase in speed and power is $600.
If you have never or rarely hit pushback and you enjoy the 20% range difference (up to 32 miles on the GT) then the GT S-Series is not for you. The GTS is priced with EUC’s which tend to come with larger batteries and higher top speeds. Granted there are other major differences however, this board is costly.
I am attempting to rationalize the spend however the increase from the XR to the GT was pretty high. When you compare the GT-S to the XR, it is twice as costly as an XR (assuming they were still sold on the market as new).
Verdict
I’ll be honest, I am wildly curious about the GTS. I have been riding a Floatwheel ADV and it’s power was so comforting on trails. The GT S-Series has more power than that so I am drooling over that spec. The slight loss in range doesn’t bother me however it does make me want to hold on to my GT for longer rides.
In the end, I don’t need this board but I want this Onewheel. I am very torn but I’d have to say, if I won an extra few thousand on a scratch ticket, I’d buy this in a minute. I just cant rationalize spending earned money on it since I already have a very similar board and do not race with it. The GT is very trail worthy and that is what I enjoy. That being said, man I want this board!
