Author: Ziyad Khairi

Posted on by Ziyad Khairi

Meepo Shuffle S (Meepo V4S) Review – Best affordable Electric Skateboard? Maybe.

Meepo board is the OG in bringing us affordable options for electric skateboards and since 2017, it has been amongst the top choices for those who are looking for affordable electric skateboards. While their current best seller, Meepo V4 (Shuffle) was just released 10 months ago, Meepo decided to give us an update with the V4s (Shuffle S)… So, let’s see what the updates are, and if it gives Meepo further lead over other boards under $500.

Let’s get right through it!

Meepo Shuffle S (V4S) Build and Specs

  • Deck: 8-ply Canadian maple, 1-ply fiberglass; wide concave with a rocker profile
  • Electronic Speed Controller: LingYi ESC, push-to-start; 4 speed and braking modes
  • Motors: 540W hub motors
  • Marketed top speed: 29 mph (47 km/h)
  • Batteries: 4AH 144Wh or 288Wh 
  • Marketed range: 10 miles (16km) or 18 miles (29km)
  • Trucks: Meepo’s 45° Shredder trucks
  • Wheels: 105*65mm, 78A donut wheels

The deck of the Meepo Shuffle S is made of 8-ply Canadian maple and 1-ply fiberglass. We can expect a mild flex to it but it compensates with a pretty deep and aggressive concave design. This helps in securing leg placement for great balance during a ride.

The deck also has a slight rocker profile which we’re a fan of. This form made the Meepo V4S feel closer to the ground. 

Elegant Upgrade on Design

The upgrade of the board is focused on the design. From an orange toy-ish looking color scheme on the Meepo V4, The Meepo Shuffle S (V4S) took a more elegant approach, which we like better, especially on the graphics beneath the deck. 

As for the electronic speed controller, the V4S uses the latest Lingyi ESC with a push-to-start feature. It has 4 speed and braking modes which can be adjusted separately. It does provide a smooth acceleration to the board, but is it as smooth as a Hobbywing ESC? We’ll talk about that later on. 

Lower Rating of Motors and Bigger Wheels?

Another change Meepo did on the Shuffle S is using a lower rating for the motors. The Meepo Shuffle S uses dual 540W hub motors which might come as a surprise to Meepo V4 fans. The previous V4 uses dual 620W hub motors and Meepo claims that it’s a necessary sacrifice to allow using big 105mm donut wheels. I guess we will have to find out if going with a smaller wattage motor has any negative impact on torque and speed.

These are clones of the famous Cloudwheels which significantly reduce road vibrations. Will it have any effect on the power, though? We’ll find out later on.

The marketed top speed for the Meepo Shuffle S is 28.5mph or 46km/h. During our test, we managed to reach 28mph or 45km/h. This is a praiseworthy feat for a budget board.

What’s here to stay are the 45° Shredder Downhill Trucks. These trucks are known to be stable rather than carv-y. 

To check out our review on Meepo V4 for comparison, click here.

Two Options for Batteries

So, did Meepo change anything for the batteries? The Meepo V4S is keeping the same two options for batteries: a normal 4AH 144Wh battery with a marketed range of 10 miles or 16km and an extended range version of 288Wh battery with a marketed range of 18 miles or 29km. 

We received the basic version of the board, and our heavyweight 95kg rider managed to reach a maximum distance of 6 miles or 10km out of the 10 miles or 16km marketed range. It is nowhere near the marketed range but as usual, weight and speed play a huge factor in achieving the maximum possible range of a board. 

Meepo also admits that using 105 mm wheels will sacrifice the range by a bit and they insist that everyone should get the ER version for more range.

On the bright side, the battery is fast charging. You can reach a full charge in just 30 minutes by purchasing a separate 8A fast charger for the board.

Now that we know all about the specs of the Meepo V4S, let’s talk about everything in action!

Meepo Shuffle S (V4S) Riding Experience

From the get-go, the Meepo V4S is a budget board on steroids! Riding around the V4S is super strong. So I guess, it does live up to the well-known Meepo reputation of delivering a bit of punch when it comes to acceleration and braking. 

The controls are still smooth and are not entirely aggressive but beginners should be careful when riding the board for the first time. The board can catch you off guard with its punchy acceleration. With that said, this new Ling Yi ESC did a good job at delivering a smooth ride with the board but it still falls a bit behind the Wowgo 2S Max’s silky smooth 12S Hobbywing ESC. 

Interested in Wowgo 2S Max? Click here.

Overkill Acceleration Power

Once you get used to it, we are pretty sure that a lot of riders out there would appreciate the punchiness of this board. It turns out that the drop in motor wattage number doesn’t really affect the actual performance that much, since the V4 already has a pretty overkill acceleration power.

The deck is without a doubt the charming point of the V4S. It is nice to stand on with the lower ride height. The board’s concave is also very easy to feel while riding and secures your feet at all speed modes. The board is not flexible during rides, which highlights stability when riding at higher speeds. 

The 105 mm Donut Wheels definitely did their job at absorbing road vibrations, especially on rough roads. But as we all know, hub motors are still hub motors and when the roads get shittier, you would still feel the vibrations traveling through your spine.

To check out our review on Cloudwheel Donuts, click here.

Shredder Trucks Are Geared Towards Stability

As always, Meepo’s 45° Shredder trucks are biased towards stability, while 50° trucks, such as the Poseidon trucks on the Wowgo 2s Max, would be more carv-y than stable.

With that said, it’s a nice pair of trucks. While the Shredder trucks do not rise to the level of branded trucks such as the Caliber II or Paris, they are definitely just as good as the other proprietary trucks found among affordable eskates. The trucks are decent for carving, have a good return to the center, and are absolutely stable to ride at top speed.

Big 105mm Wheels to the Rescue!

It has to be said that, Meepo’s 105mm semi-AT wheels are not Cloudwheels, and is not as good as the genuine Cloudwheels when it comes to ride smoothness.

However, at the end of the day, every millimeter helps when it comes to reducing road vibration. These 105mm wheels do make a huge difference, when compared to a 90mm (such as the one on original V4), when riding on bad roads.

Making 105mm a default wheel size is especially helpful for eskate beginners or commuters, who above all else, value “not flying off the board for failing to dodge a stick.” 

Meepo Shuffle S VERDICT – Punchy Acceleration and Braking!

So, here comes the verdict. For a board retailing at 500 USD and is now priced lower at 419 USD with Meepo’s current sale, the V4S is a good board with a pretty great design and polish. The addition of 105 mm Wheels would probably split the crowd. For some, it sacrifices range and reduces carving fun; for others, especially beginners, it makes the board much more usable, comfortable and safe.Well, at least you can always shell out more and go with the ER version if range is a concern.

At the end of the day, Meepo V4s is still one of the top choices for an affordable $419 and THE CHOICE for anyone looking for a sub $500 board with big wheels, or a budget board with strong torque.  

If you are interested in buying the Meepoboard, be sure to use our affiliate link here.
It will help us out and you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

Posted on by Ziyad Khairi

Tynee Mini 2 Review – Champion of All Mini Boards?!

Everyone appreciates a healthy bit of rivalry between tech companies. When these companies compete with each other by making a better product, the side that benefits the most is us consumers.

A classic example of this in the e-skate industry would be the rivalry between Tynee Mini and Exway Wave. That’s why when Tynee announced the release of their mini-board’s newest version, we just can’t wait to get our hands on it. Here’s our Tynee Mini 2 review!

Tynee Mini 2 Build and Specs

  • Electronic Speed Controller: 12s Hobbywing ESC
  • Deck: genuine Canadian maple, wide concave with kicktail
  • Battery: Molicel 6.0 AH 216 Wh or Molicel 10.1 AH 363 Wh
  • Marketed Range: 14 miles or 22 km; 25 miles or 40km
  • Motors: 2x550W hub motors or 2x850W belt-driven motors
  • Marketed Top Speed: 30 miles or 48 km per hour
  • Trucks: Tynee PE upgraded on Paris V3, 7 inches, 43°
  • Wheels: 90 mm PU wheels or 105 mm Cloudwheels

On paper, the Tynee Mini 2 is impressive. The mini board uses a deck made of genuine Canadian maple with a concave similar to the previous Mini model, Boosted Mini, and Meepo Mini 2. 

During our test, the wide concave of the board greatly helped riders experience a stable and comfortable ride. The leg placement on the deck is very natural and secure. Slipping won’t be an issue. The Tynee Mini 2’s deck is also stiff and does not have any flex to it just like all mini boards in the market. 

As for the electronic speed controller, the Mini 2 uses a 12s Hobbywing ESC with 4-speed modes and a smart power-on feature. For those who don’t know yet, Hobbywing ESC is the gold standard for a buttery smooth and precise board control. 

Two options of Molicel batteries for power

Now, let’s move on to the board’s power source. There are two options available for the Mini 2. The first is the Molicel 6.0 AH 216 Wh battery with a marketed range of 14 miles or 22 km. For more range, there’s an option of a Molicel 10.1 AH 363 Wh battery with a marketed range of 25 miles or 40km.

We got the second version, and the range test only hit 12.4 miles or 20 km with our 216 lbs or 98 kg rider at speed mode 4. For most viewers out there weighing around 154 lbs or 70 kg, you can expect 22 miles or 35 km of range at speed mode 4.

While the Tynee Mini 2 didn’t reach the marketed range in our test, it is important to note that this board uses Molicel which is one of the best cells for electric skateboards. Tynee Mini 2 sells at 629 USD for the smaller battery version, and 769 USD for the bigger one.

This gives the Tynee Mini 2 a huge advantage over the Exway Wave Riot which only has a marketed range of 12.4 miles or 20 km on the standard battery. Although, keep in mind that the Wave Riot’s battery can be easily swapped out to keep the board nimble and sleek.

To read our Exway Wave Review, click here.

Hub and belt-driven motors

The Tynee Mini 2 gives two options for the motors as well. You can either opt for the 2x550W hub motors or the 2x850W belt-driven motors which is the one we used for our test rides. 

We highly recommend the 2x850W belt-driven motor version if comfort is a priority on your checklist. These motors are paired with stock 90 mm wheels with a marketed speed of 30 miles or 48 km per hour. 

For a mini-board, this is a bit overkill but those who love to go fast certainly wouldn’t mind. In our test, the rider did manage to get a top speed of 28 miles or 45 km per hour. Pushing it to the max speed can be a bit risky, though.

Tynee PE trucks are here to stay

Tynee Mini 2 PE Trucks

As for the trucks, Tynee Mini 2 keeps its proprietary Reverse KingPin trucks from the previous model which are based on the upgraded Paris V3. After seeing these trucks on three different models, we can safely say that these are geared towards stability but at the same time can carve pretty well. 

Finally, the new board comes with built-in brake lights and a kick tail for kick turns.”. It’s also nice that the Tynee Mini 2 has an IPX6 water-resistant rating but as we all know, we shouldn’t trust that too much. 

To read our Tynee Board Classic Review, click here.

Tynee Mini 2 Riding Experience

Tynee Mini 2 Kicktail

Now that we’ve covered the specs and numbers, it’s time to ride!

The headliner for the Tynee Mini 2 is definitely its acceleration. For a lot of people, whenever a mini-board is mentioned, speed and acceleration are rarely the biggest concern. Mini boards are, well, mini, and aren’t designed for high speed.

The deciding factor for most people is its portability and how easy it is to travel or commute with these mini boards. However, Tynee is breaking this tradition and mindset with the Tynee Mini 2. The acceleration on this board is buttery smooth and intuitive thanks to the 12s Hobbywing ESC and the belt-driven system. 

Ridiculous top speed for a mini board

The ridiculous marketed max speed of 30 miles or 48km per hour breaks the norm that a mini-board shouldn’t go fast. Testing it out went pretty well due to its power, concave maple deck, and longer wheelbase. This build formula is able to handle things well at higher speeds. 

Tynee Mini 2 is stable at 22 miles or 35 km per hour and if you’re feeling a little brave, you can go for 28 miles or 45 km per hour. 

Well, the speed and acceleration are highly appreciated and very welcome, since the Tynee Mini 2 is equipped with a powerful and smooth braking system.

To read our Tynee Board Ultra Review, click here.

Tynee PE trucks are geared towards stability

The carving experience on the Mini 2 is also decent as it feels fun to carve but falls behind the Trist Trucks of Exway Wave, a board that’s more nimble and agile. 

While the Mini 2 does have a kicktail, it does not live up to its full potential due to the heavy battery at the bottom part of the deck. These made the kicktail dependent on strength but if you give it some practice, you can make it work. 

Another thing that the Tynee Mini 2 can work out is the ride experience on rough roads. In general, mini boards are bad for rough roads due to their stiff and short design. Fortunately, Tynee Mini 2 is a little forgiving, thanks to the belt-driven system. You’ll still feel the vibrations, though.

Tynee Mini 2 VERDICT – not so mini in stability and top speed

Tynee Mini 2 is a high-performance mini-board that gives a huge amount of power and range. We are happy that Tynee updated their Mini version for better performance. The price is absolutely reasonable with its killer specs and value. It is, in our opinion, the most powerful mini electric skateboard at this price point. 

Tynee Mini 2 also rides like a champ, breaking the record for the most stable mini-board to ride at high speed. If you compare it to the WowGo Mini 2 and Exway Wave, Tynee Mini 2 is less nimble and carve-y. It is also quite hefty and bulky due to the bigger batteries and its double enclosures.  

All things said, if speed and range are everything to you and are not particularly concerned about premium polish and features, like a swappable battery, then this is definitely the mini-board for you. 

If you are interested in buying the Tynee, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive 5% off during check out.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

If you liked this Tynee Mini 2 Review, check out our other articles at Electric Skateboard HQ! RIDE SAFE, GUYS.

Posted on by Ziyad Khairi

Cloudwheels Review – I must break you. Will I?

This content is brought to you by our dear friend from Electric Skateboard Malaysia.

Cloudwheels, are they any good? Do they actually feel like riding on the clouds?

Today we, Electric Skateboard Malaysia, are going to go over the all-new Discovery Cloudwheels, from iWonder, and let you know what we think of them!

We tested the 105mm Cloudwheels on an Exway Riot Flex over the course of about 187 miles, or 300 Kilometres. Since iWonder markets these as ‘All Terrain’ wheels, I tested them on just about every terrain possible. After all that testing, today I’m going to tell you all about the strengths and weaknesses of the Cloudwheels.

Let’s get started!

Discovery Cloudwheels – The Pros and Cons

The Cloudwheels really excel on rough roads. Riding them on those conditions you can feel the difference compared to normal street wheels. They absorb road vibrations very well and had no problem going through cracks and potholes. They call this cushioning effect ‘damping core technology’. I have no idea what that means, but it looks like they put some kind of cushion or foam inside the wheels, to absorb road vibrations.

I would say that they successfully reduce around 60% of road vibrations. But you shouldn’t expect them to be as comfortable as an All-terrain pneumatic tire, those are a night and day difference.

Cloudwheels help to reduce a portion of the road vibrations, making riding on rough roads bearable. Pneumatic wheels, on the other hand, basically cancel out all road vibrations and are way more comfortable.

Testing Various Surfaces

On sand, Cloudwheels just roll and do their job without a problem. They grip more, so they spin well on sand compared to street wheels. But I wouldn’t try to carve on sand, it’s still slippery and you will probably fall down. 

On Grass it will spin well, if your motors have the power and torque to do so.

On small pebbles, the Cloudwheels perform okay. I would not call them comfortable, but it’s not that bad.

On rocks and small stones, it’s a different story.  You’ll end up with a headache because the vibrations are too strong.

It’s just not meant for riding on that type of material. It would be terrible for beginners especially, but I wouldn’t recommend it at all since you could fall down.

So, naming the Cloudwheels ‘all-terrain’ is a bit of an exaggeration. Instead of calling them ‘All Terrain’, I would have called them ‘Hybrid wheels’, meaning that they are between street and all-terrain wheels.

What makes Cloudwheels unique

To understand why Cloudwheels are special, you need to understand the difference between street wheels and all terrain wheels.

Street wheels are fun to ride because they free roll very well without resistance. They give you the most torque and highest top speed. They are also lightweight, so you’ll achieve maximum range, but they suffer on rough roads.

AT, or all terrain wheels, on the other hand, are very comfortable, but they will effectively cut your maximum range in half. If your board is able to go 30 miles (50 km), you’re only going to get about a 15 mile (25 km) range. AT Wheels also grip more, so they free roll less, meaning that they are slow. Another problem is that AT wheels are very large, and can only be used on giant boards, like the Ownboard Bamboo, WowGo at2, and evolve GTR series.

This is where Cloudwheels come in. They sit between street and AT wheels. They are more comfortable than street wheels, but not as comfortable as AT wheels. But the best part is that you can use them on almost all boards that use a belt-drive setup.

They also don’t add much weight, so your range will only be reduced by a small amount.

Here is an example of the Exway Flex Riot. You can see that they can’t use AT wheels because they simply will not fit.

For boards like this, using cloudwheels is the best option if you are looking to reduce road vibrations while riding.

The original cloudwheels that I have were not very durable and chipped easily. However, after testing these I can say that this new version survived my tests.

I tried to destroy them by riding off-road, but surprisingly there was no chipping at all. 187 miles (300km) on rough roads and they still look brand new.

So, are cloudwheels perfect?

The answer is no, and here is a quick list of the small sacrifices that you will have to make.

First, due to the tread pattern on the wheels, Cloudwheels free roll less than street wheels, and because they roll less, you will lose a bit of range

Second, on wet roads, just like any other PU wheels, they are slippery. The best wheels for wet roads are rubber.

Third, you will lose a little bit of torque when you switch from street wheels to cloudwheels. It’s not really noticeable in a daily-use scenario, but it is most noticeable when going uphill.

So, what’s the verdict?

The new Discovery Cloudwheels by iWonder are great, and I consider that the sacrifices are pretty small.

They fit most boards. They Look good. They come in different colors to match your board and enhance the aesthetics.

The Cloudwheels give you a slight increase in top speed, and most importantly they perform great on rough roads, especially on boards that can’t use the full-size all terrain wheels. This is the best choice currently available. They aren’t true all-terrain wheels, but if you are skilled you can make them work.

By the way, the Cloudwheels come in two sizes: 105mm and 120mm. Choose the 105mm for boards like the Exway Flex, Backfire Zealot and WowGo 3x. Pick up the 120mm for big boards like the Evolve GTR.

And if you are from Malaysia, be sure to check out our online store @ https://electricskateboardmalaysia.com/ when you want to grab something! Cheers!

If you are interested in buying a Cloudwheel, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount ($10 off) and helps us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

That’s all for this review! If u have any questions, please leave a comment below!

Posted on by Ziyad Khairi

Backfire G2 Black 2020 Review – Any surprises?

I consider Backfire to be among the Top 3 Chinese electric skateboard brands right now, and they are in the prime position to compete for the crown as the best entry-level electric longboard. With improving aftersales service and polish, the Backfire G2 Black, 2020 edition, could be a no brainer for anyone who is looking for a budget board.

Backfire G2 2020 Review – the Blackfire 20

The new Backfire G2 Black is a good representation and measure for what you can get with $419 in 2020.

  • Deck Size: 38-inch x 9-inch (97cm x 23cm)
  • Top Speed: 24mph (38km)
  • Range: 11-12.5miles (18-20km)
  • Battery Pack: 188Wh 10s2p (5.2Ah 42V)
  • Weight: 17lbs/ 7.8kg
  • Motor: 2 x 400W hub motors.
  • Wheels: 96mm 78A
  • Price: 399-419 USD

The Parts:

Deck

The Blackfire 20 uses a 38” (96.5cm) deck made out of fiberglass, bamboo, and maple. It has a tiny bit of flex, but when I was riding it, the board felt stiff.

I think we are just pampered by having reviewed too many much more expensive boards, with better decks. The deck only has a tiny concave, so small that it’s barely noticeable. There is not much camber to it either, mostly a flat profile.

Trucks

Unlike their premium line-up, the G2 Black is not using Caliber II trucks, but instead it features Backfire’s own proprietary trucks. We will talk about how they ride shortly.

Wheels

Continuing the tradition, the Backfire G2 uses 96mm wheels with 83A. Most beginners love larger wheels sizes, so going with 96mm is appropriate for the niche it’s trying to serve.

Larger wheels can roll over bigger stuff, hence safer. It also helps to dampen some of those road vibrations when riding on rough pavement.

Battery & Range

The Backfire G2 Black uses 5.2AH battery pack, with non-branded cells in 10s2p configuration. That’s 187.2WH, and it promises a modest range of 12.5 miles (20km), which we are able to hit. Most brand has moved away from using genuine Samsung 20R for their budget line-up, as generic battery are not only cheaper but has better numbers on paper. So far, there is no noticeable performance drop, but will this translate to worse battery longevity? I’m afraid is a questions that can only time would answer.

In the budget board war, Blackfire 20’s batteries are slightly larger than it’s peers. To be precise, the standard is 4.0AH, while the Blackfire has 5.2AH. Again, showing that going with generic battery cell do give you an edge at least on the numbers.

Motors & Top Speed

Backfire G2 Black 2020 uses a set of 400W hub motors and that yield a top speed of 24mph (38km/h). We managed to hit the marketed top-speed during our test, no surprise here.

In 2020, 400W hubs are considered standard for entry-level board, as they are functionally strong enough; However, you indeed can find entry-level boards with stronger hubs. For instance, both the Meepo and Wowgo have 540W, and Meepo brags about them quite abit.

ESC and Speed Control

Blackfire 20 uses the latest Hobbywing ESC, which has the updated remote, but in usual Backfire tradition only 2-speed modes. No smart turn-on here, which is disappointing.

The Hobbywing ESC is buttery smooth, but you already know that. Everyone except beginners will be using the higher ‘Sport’ mode, as it is just as smooth as the Eco mode. The brakes are sufficiently strong here; at this point I am confident in the braking strength of Hobbywing ESCs. In fact, in 2020, I found that only the most generic Hobbywing ESC has weak brakes.

Ride Feel and Board Control

While going with Hobbywing ESC means you won’t be wrong with the speed control, the entire riding experience obviously are more than just the electronics.

First, let’s again talk about the trucks.

The Backfire proprietary trucks pale in comparison to branded trucks and came in on the tighter side. After loosening them up a bit, we would say this truck veers towards being more stable than carve-y.

Next, the deck. The fiberglass, bamboo and maple deck has only a little flex to it, and hence, again, not extraordinary for carving but great for cruising at high speed. I would love if the deck has a little bit more concave to it, so I could more easily feel my foot position without having to look down.

Stiff decks + hub motors also means the board is not the most fun to carve in and doesn’t lend much in reducing road vibration. As the previous-gen Backfire G2 Black, just a solid B in handling road vibration.

With that said, you can cruise in high speed on this thing pretty comfortably.

I get the feeling that Blackfire 20 is designed for with stability as the first consideration, something that I suppose would be a priority for newcomers to this hobby.

Summary

As a reviewer, Backfire G2 2020 is a very boring board. It has no special strength to talk about, no unique personality to angle on, and there is also not any glaring weakness to talk about.

But, please don’t confuse boring with bad.

Indeed, the Backfire G2 Black is mediocre when you compare it to higher-priced boards that have a better ride feel and far better performance, but for $419, the Backfire G2 Black 2020 delivers what it needs to deliver and some more.

It has comfortable and safe speed control, an above-average performance at the entry-level price and a top tier build quality and polish. Also, while not rated to be waterproof, the electronic components are themselves sealed, which should give good water resistance. While it has some trouble with rough road surfaces, it will ride just as nice as any board on regular roads.

Verdict

Good performance, pretty standard riding experience and top tier polish, Backfire G2 Black is undoubtedly a worthy contestant as the best entry-level electric longboard in current year and the year to come.

What’s more, while individual preference might mean everyone has a different pick as their best entry-level board, Backfire, at least at the time of this post, should come up on top when it comes to brands.
I hate to parrot their marketing pitch but, having a local warehouse in US and Europe is indeed a huge plus when it comes to delivery and aftersales service.

So yes, I do think the Backfire G2 2020 should be the standard that other entry-level boards would be compared to, and a safe pick for everyone.

If you are interested in buying a Backfire, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and helps us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!