I picked this up a few days ago after my V11 died (fried mosfet or fuse when doing a tiny hop up a curb) because it seemed a lot more durable in performance testing videos.
I've already crashed it once when coming up to an intersection curb too fast, with no damage to me or the S18. And I've already tried hopping a bigger curb than what killed the V11. So far so good. I've also dropped it a few times while practicing riding backwards.
However, the "feel" of it is inferior to the V11 in pretty much every way except for suspension, although the 10lb weight reduction is nice when carrying it up stairs.
I've put about 40 miles on it so far, and I'm finding it more "snappy" than the V11 but less "tight". It rattles and gets speed wobbles a lot easier.
Overall I'm happy with my purchase but I do miss my V11.
I think my next purchase in a year or so will be the V22 Pro, once it's on the final batch and the remaining kinks are worked out (water proofing and suspension slider/roller issues).
Oh and the inmotion app was way better.
S18: 5/5 durability, 3/5 ride feel V11: 0/5 durability, 5/5 ride feel
They are! They're the most fun I've had since I rediscovered skateboarding in 2020. It gives me a similar good feeling to when I carve a bowl because you just flow on it.
It took me about an hour to get up and riding, and a day to feel comfortable on it in most situations. Now a week later (a few days on the V11, a few on the S18) I feel a bit too comfortable lol, it's easy to go too fast!
To learn it fast without damage just keep one leg on it, hold the body with both hands, and just push/skate it around a parking lot with one leg until you've got it down. After that riding is easy.