Product Reviews - Electric Skateboard HQ

September 5, 2024September 7, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Maxfind Max 5s Review – RGB everything!

This is the Maxfind Max 5s, Maxfind’s latest refresh of their affordable electric skateboard lineup. It’s priced at $499, which is a bit higher than most affordable e-skateboards that usually hover around the low $400 range. This pricing strategy is in line with Maxfind’s approach of setting a slightly higher price but offering better quality parts in exchange.

Maxfind Max 5s Specs:

Price	$499
Battery	4.4AH 10s2p 18650 cells
Controller	Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed	23.6 Mph (38 Kph)
Range	15.5 miles (25 km)
Deck	X Composite deck
Motor	650W*2 Hub drive

Deck – X Composite deck:

Starting with the deck, the Maxfind Max 5s uses the same X composite deck as the Max 6, which is said to be stronger than your average Maple and Bamboo composites. It’s a deck with only a slight flex and is pretty narrow. But we do quite like it’s pronounced U-shape concave, which makes foot placement nice and snug. The design of the shock-absorbing grip tape also looks pleasant in our eyes.

This is an integrated deck with hub motors, so it should be one of the most waterproof budget electric skateboards out there. Many eskate have some IP rating; we don’t trust those with our board, but with an integrated electronic and runs on hub motors, we trust the Max 5s IPX5 splashproof rating a little bit more.

Battery – 4.4ah, 10s2p 18650 Cells:

Moving onto the battery, the Maxfind Max 5s is powered by a 4.4AH, 10s2p configuration using 18650 cells. The marketed range is up to 15.5 miles (25km), but in our tests, we managed to achieve only 7.8 miles (12.6km).

This is a bit underwhelming, especially coming off from reviewing the Max 6, which has an extraordinary range. We expect affordable eskates to have at least a 10-mile (16km) tested range, and the Max 5s fell short of that benchmark.

Maybe, the RGB lights took a small bite out of the battery, affecting the overall range.

Esc And Remote – Hobbywing Esc And Remote:

Next, the Maxfind Max 5s uses the same tried and true Hobbywing ESC as the Max 6. For the remote, it’s likely the standard Hobbywing remote with a custom casing. It has a screen for telemetry, comes with 4 speed settings, and you can also pair it with their mobile app to customize your ride profile.

Motor – Dual 650w Hub Motors:

Moving onto the motors, the Maxfind Max 5s runs on dual 650W hub motors, which is higher than most affordable eskates that typically have around 550W. The marketed top speed is 23.6 mph (38 km/h), which is pretty standard among affordable electric skateboards, and we had no problem hitting this speed during our tests.

Truck and Wheels – 45° Max III Trucks and 90mm PU Wheels:

Photo of Maxfind Max 5s truck and wheels

Next, as for the trucks and wheels, the Maxfind Max 5s uses the same custom 45° Max III Trucks as the Max 6. These are CNC-forged trucks, which are more durable and safer than cast trucks. For some skaters, having a forged truck is a must for safety, and finding one on a $500 board is a big plus for the Max 5s.

However, there is some bad news, too. From our time with the Max 6, we know these trucks weren’t the most responsive and seemed to have a limited range of turning. More on that later.

For the wheels, you get 90mm Polyurethane wheels, which is nothing extraordinary here.

RGB Lights:

The Max 5s also has RGB atmospheric lighting underneath the deck, along the sides.The RGB lights cycle through 3 modes, none of which stay on a single color. You can turn the lights on and off with the remote. It also has a brake light that will turn red when we brake.

Although the lights are not as bright as the LED lights lining the deck, it is still a wonderful addition for a board under $500.

Specs Summary of Maxfind Max 5s:

As we mentioned, Maxfind always prices its board higher than competitors but gives a little bit more in terms of part quality. Max 5s is exactly that. If we judge the Max 5s solely on the motors and battery, it is merely on par with competitors that are priced around $400 and is about $100 overpriced.

However, it does have an interesting integrated composite deck, a safer forged truck, and the RGB ambient light. Even though we already knew the truck wasn’t the most responsive, it is at least durable and safe. And while the lights aren’t the brightest, they do add some spice to the ride.

So, if you value forged trucks and ambient light more than $100, the Max 5s will be pretty good value on paper.

Riding Experience on the Maxfind Max 5s:

The general theme of the Maxfind Max 5s is that it offers an overall comfortable ride but lacks an outstanding personality.

Firstly, the board is comfortable due to the smooth speed control provided by the Hobbywing ESC. As you should already know, Hobbywing ESC is very smooth and precise with both acceleration and braking, giving the industry the gold standard for predictable and smooth control. Plus, the deck’s U-shape concave makes our feet feel snug and secure, adding to the overall comfort.

The torque is respectable for a hub drive. It’s good enough to make the ride fun but not thrilling, and wouldn’t challenge any seasoned riders. Perhaps this is a boon for beginners; you are not likely to hurt yourself with the Max 5s, while it is still plenty strong to go up any incline.

Another aspect that’s good for beginners is the stability of the trucks. This stability makes riding at top speed easy and reassuring. However, the shortfall here is that the trucks are not very responsive and have a limited turning range. We did loosen up the trucks, but it still felt pretty limited. This means the board isn’t the most fun for carving and may feel a bit stiff when trying to make sharper turns.

And about road vibrations, of course, it’s bad. This is expected since the Max 5s is a hub-driven board with a stiffer deck. While the shock-absorbing grip tape helps to some extent, it’s not a game-changer. Road vibrations are about 20% harsher than what we experienced with the Max 6, so you will feel the rougher surfaces more on this board.

Verdict – Maxfind Mas 5s:

It’s not 2017 anymore, and there are plenty of options when it comes to buying an electric skateboard for less than $500. It might sound like a criticism to say that the Max 5s’s best qualities are just its looks, the lights, and perhaps the durability of the deck and the forged truck; however, I’m sure there are people who value these qualities. And, beneath it all, the Max 5s is still a good overall ride.
If you like the looks and need a forged truck, go for it.

If you are interested in buying the Maxfind, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $25 off during checkout.
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!

August 21, 2024August 21, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Review – The most affordable electric mountainboard. Period.

Today, we’re reviewing the Ecomobl Ripper Pro, which comes in 2WD and 4WD versions.

Ecomobl is a brand known for its rugged all-terrain boards at affordable prices. At $1199, the 2WD Ecomobl Ripper Pro is quite literally the most affordable electric mountainboard on the market. As we run through the specs, you’ll see that if you were to buy the parts off the shelf and assemble a mountain board yourself, you’d probably end up spending more than $1199.

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Specs:

Price	$1199 (2WD), $1899 (4WD)
Battery	12s5p 25AH (1080 Wh)
Controller	12s Lingyi ESC
Top Speed	30-35 mph / 48-55 kph
Range	25-30 miles / 40-50 km
Deck	Maple and Fibreglass Composite deck
Motor	170kv 6382 Planetary Gear Drive Motors, 3500W each

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Deck – Maple and Fibreglass Composite:

Let’s start by talking about the deck. The Ecomobl Ripper Pro features a typical mountainboard deck made from a maple and fibreglass composite. As with many mountainboard builds, the battery box is mounted on top of the deck, right in the middle, instead of underneath. This allows the deck to remain flexible while maximizing ground clearance.

As with all mountainboard decks, it has an aggressive camber, giving the deck a good bit of flex, which is essential for off-road performance. The wide concave design makes it comfortable to stand on, providing a snug and secure feeling underfoot.

Since many people ride mountain boards with footbindings, Ecomobl has thoughtfully predrilled the deck for them, with the drill holes neatly covered under the grip tape. This feature adds to the board’s versatility, allowing riders to lean aggressively and maintain control, especially on challenging terrains.

Ecomobl Ripper Pro ESC and Remote – 12s Lingyi ESC:

For the ESC, Ecomobl went with a 12s ESC, which is most likely a Lingyi ESC. It features the Lingyi signature push-to-turn-on feature instead of the smart power-on feature where you turn on the remote, and the board automatically turns on. As usual, it comes with 4-speed modes and 4 braking modes, which can be adjusted independently. We’ll talk about how they impact the ride later.

However, instead of the typical Lingyi remote, Ecomobl pairs this with one that we haven’t seen before. It gives off the vibe of an RC remote, which I think the DIY community will love. It has all the usual information on it, like speed, ride mode, etc., but it also shows throttle input, which is unique to this remote. What’s not so nice is that the remote screen isn’t bright enough, making it hard to see what’s displayed when the sun is out.

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Battery – 12s5p 1080Wh battery:

The big black box on top of the deck houses a pack of 12s5p batteries, which are 25AH or 1080 Wh. This is an unusually large battery for the price, rivalling most boards costing $2000.

The battery box is removable, making it easy to maintain or replace.

The Ecomobl Ripper Pro is marketed to have a range of 25-30 miles (40-50 km) with a 144 lbs rider. In our tests, we managed to get 24 miles (39 km) with our still relatively lightweight 154 lbs (70 kg) test rider riding fast.

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Motor – 170kv 6382 3500W Planetary Gear Drive Motors :

As for the motors, the Ripper Pro 2WD is equipped with its signature planetary gear drives. These are 170kv 6382 motors, rated at 3500 watts each. We are familiar with them from our time with the Ecomobl Telum, and they are powerful. It’s marketed to do 30-35 mph (48-55 kph), and in our test, we hit 32 mph (52 kph), right in the middle of the marketed numbers.

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Truck And Wheels – 20 Inch Suspension Trucks:

Photo of Ecomobl Ripper Pro suspension trucks

The board uses super-wide 20-inch trucks, which are CNC forged and should be durable enough for off-road abuse. The front lights are conveniently built into the front trucks and are functionally bright, making them actually useful.

Like many off-road mountainboards, the truck uses spring suspensions. This often makes the board tough to turn for featherweight riders like us but incredibly stable for straight lines and off-road terrains.

One way to remedy the turning problem is by installing footbindings, which will allow you to lean aggressively and use more of your body weight to turn the board.

Speaking of weight, the board is incredibly heavy, weighing in at 39 lbs (17.7 kg).

So if you were thinking of jumping with the footbindings to turn, you’ll need to make sure you’re not skipping leg days.

Unlike some of the older Ecomobl boards, which use airless wheels, the Ripper Pro comes with 7-inch pneumatic wheels, which should provide a softer ride compared to airless wheels.

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Spec Summary:

It’s clear that Ecomobl wants to offer the best value-for-money electric mountainboard. A 12s5p battery, planetary gear drive, and CNC parts for just $1199 is awesome.

For example, the Evolve Bamboo GTR, which we considered the best value all-terrain board now that it’s on sale at $1199, only has a 12s4p battery and regular belt drives.

And, the Backfire Ranger X3, which we love and has the exact $1199 price tag, also only has a 12s3p battery.

While we are aware that leading brands for all-terrain builds like Propel and Acedeck have more refined products, Ecomobl was all about giving you the same specs while asking for half the price.

So, Ecomobl is cheap, relatively, but what’s the catch?

Ecomobl Ripper Pro Riding Experience:

If you’re familiar with the Ecomobl Telum or any old Ecomobl boards, the Ripper feels very similar but a bit more refined.

Ecomobl feels like a raw beast. I’ve never driven a monster truck or a jeep before, but I’d imagine they share the same ride feel. Meaning – very powerful, with very strong torque, but the acceleration and braking are jerky. We have to say that we’re a little disappointed at the rawness of the speed control, as we’ve seen how the latest Lingyi ESC can be smooth yet powerful, but this one remains unrefined.

It’s also hard to maintain the board at the same speed when riding fast, as the drive system has significant drag, and merely easing off the throttle feels like braking. It may throw you off if you’re not expecting the forward momentum to halt.

Experienced riders will get used to this quickly, and some may even love the rawness of the speed control, but not us.

Another reason I describe it as a truck is that it’s not easy to turn. We’re not expecting a mountainboard to be easy to turn, but even after loosening the trucks, this is still one of the hardest boards to turn. Making L turns at intersections is challenging for us, but if you weigh more than 180 lbs (80 kg), you might find the truck just right.

Even with all that criticism, the Ripper Pro still excels at what it was designed to do: tackle unpaved paths. The planetary gear drives are strong enough to handle off-road hiking trails with ease, allowing you to both climb them and stop on an incline.

The flexible mountainboard deck, the 7-inch pneumatic wheels, and the suspension in the trucks work together to eliminate any vibrations you’d feel on bad roads while keeping the board stable when riding fast on off-road terrain.

Verdict:

Let’s put it this way. The premium brands in the off-road category right now are Propels and Acedecks. Their $2000 boards handle off-road incredibly well while also being smooth and responsive enough to be fun regular city rides. The same can’t be said about the Ecomobl Ripper Pro. It’s not refined, smooth, or responsive enough to be a regular city ride, but it still does off-road well and costs only half as much.

If you want to get into electric mountainboarding, Ecomobl is a good way to enter. It has a decent build, a good-looking design, and practical integrated head and taillights. It’s not perfect, but it sure as hell is the most affordable option available.

If you are interested in buying the Ecomobl, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $50 off during checkout.
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!

August 20, 2024August 20, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Voyager Limited X Review

Today, we are reviewing the Meepo Voyager X Limited which started as a limited version of the Meepo Voyager X but will not be a limited edition board. This version comes with some upgrades, including swapping the belt drive for a gear drive, adding some flair with the LED strip along the deck, and an updated ESC and remote pairing.

We are usually not too excited about the facelift version of products we’ve already reviewed but we liked the original Voyager X, which was a polished ride capable of explosive torque upon the push of the throttle. We didn’t think a few upgrades would be worth a revisit, but boy, were we wrong. The X Limited has so much to offer.

Read our review of the OG Meepo Voyager X here.

Voyager Limited X Specs:

Price	$1099
Battery	12S3P Molicel P42A 544Wh
Controller	12s Lingyi ESC
Top Speed	23.6 Mph (38 Kph)
Range	15.5 miles (25 km)
Deck	Bamboo and Fibreglass Composite deck
Motor	6358 Dual 2800W gear drive

Deck – Bamboo and Fibreglass Composite:

Photo of Meepo Voyager X Limited deck lights

Starting with the deck, this one is very similar to the Voyager X, which is a comfortable deck that we liked. It is made of a bamboo and fibreglass composite that has good flexibility. The Voyager X Limited keeps the pleasing design of the original Meepo Voyager but adds a nice-looking ambient LED strip along the edge of the deck which gives it a bright golden halo around the board.

The deck has a medium flex and a nice wide concave, making our feet feel nice and snug.

ESC and Remote – 12s Lingyi ESC and M6s remote:

Photo of Meepo Voyager X Limited esc enclosure

Next, for the ESC, Meepo went with a 12s Lingyi ESC, which has a push-to-turn-on feature. Meepo paired it with the new M6s remote, which comes with a new functionality allowing in-depth customization of top speed and acceleration strength. These are very nice features, especially when the Lingyi ESC was already capable of super powerful acceleration that not everyone can master, but there are also a few things we didn’t like.

The remote feels cheap and plasticky and lacks the typical silicone grip on the enclosure. But what’s more annoying is you have to double-click the buttons to change the speed, which does take some getting used to.

Motor – 6358 Dual 2800w Gear Drive:

Photo of Meepo Voyager X Limited gear drive motors

Photo of Meepo Voyager X Limited gear drive

As for the motors, the X Limited is equipped with some hefty 6358 Dual 2800W gear drive motors. As we all know, gear drives are some of the strongest types of e-skate motors, and these are advertised to be able to hit a top speed of 37 mph (60 kph), which is pretty crazy. You have to move over to all-terrain territory to find boards that can go that fast, and certainly not at this price.

In our test, we didn’t have the guts to go THAT fast, but we can certainly say that the board gets to 31 mph (50 kph) with ease and looks like it has no problem getting to 37 mph. It’s scarily fast!

Battery – 12S3P Molicel P42A 544Wh:

Photo of Meepo Voyager X Limited battery charger

Photo of Meepo Voyager X Limited battery enclosure

Moving on to the battery, the X Limited runs on a solid 12S3P Molicel P42A 544Wh battery, the exact same one as the Meepo Voyager X. This board is marketed to have a range of up to 30.5 miles (49 km) and in our tests, we managed to rack up 30 miles (48 km) with our 154 lbs (70 kg) rider riding fast. These are great results and very similar to the range we got from the OG Voyager X. We were expecting the change to a gear drive might give better range, as it should be more efficient, but I guess any fuel saved from eliminating the belt has been offset by using more powerful motors.

Truck and Wheels – Forged, of course:

Photo of Meepo Voyager X Limited trucks and wheels

Next, for the truck and wheels, Meepo went with their own forged 50-degree Reverse Kingpin Shredder trucks. We came to expect forged trucks for boards that cross the $1000 mark, as boards at this price are capable of going really fast, and die-cast trucks are less durable and can even pose a safety risk.

Meepo also kept the motor mount part of the truck in silver steel color, as if to make it clear that these are forged trucks. I personally like the look; some don’t.

The Voyager X Limited came with some white 90mm 78A wheels. It’s graded as 78A, but it doesn’t feel that soft. More on that later.

The board weighs in at 24 lbs or 11 kg.

Meepo Voyager X Limited Spec Summary:

For $1099, the Voyager X Limited has the craziest top speed in the $1000 category. Its range is pretty great for the price too.

If you compare it to the Voyager X, which is still selling at $949, picking this X Limited version is definitely a no-brainer. The gear drive upgrade itself is perhaps worth the $200 extra, and on top of that, you get the pretty ambient lights, the latest ESC which allows for in-depth ride profile customization, and a fast charger.

It’s no wonder the Voyager X Limited has been running out of stock. It is too fast, too pretty, and too much value to be selling at $1099. But does it have a ride quality that matches the looks and specs? Let’s hit the road and see how it rides.

Riding Experience of the Meepo Voyager X:

Meepo has traditionally designed their boards to be fast and aggressive, and it is immediately clear to us that they went to another level with the Voyager X Limited. If you’re a newbie or someone who just prefers to ride slow and safe, this is not the board for you. It’s not that the board is incapable of a smooth and easy ride, but you will be wasting what the Voyager Limited is capable of. Riding slow on a Voyager Limited is like buying a muscle car just for commuting to work, and the Voyager X Limited is indeed the muscle car of the e-skate world.

To illustrate how much muscle the board has, we tried mini drag races with motorcycles and won with the Voyager Limited, no cap. Its punch rivals some of the four-wheel drives we tested.

Regarding speed control, the first two modes of this Lingyi ESC are as smooth and intuitive as the gold standard set by Hobbywing ESCs. The third and fourth modes are very aggressive by default, with less linear acceleration and more of an exponential acceleration ramp. By default, the fourth mode is just bonkers. You really need to brace yourself and press hard on your front foot upon pulling the throttle, as this is definitely a treat for speed demons. You can go with the second mode if you want a more relaxed ride or obviously cop out by tuning down the acceleration strength from the remote.

This is a very powerful board; fortunately, it also has good trucks capable of harnessing that power. The CNC Forged Shredder trucks are outstanding. Stable at high speed, and precise and responsive for carving.

The deck also adds to the carving fun. While the board specializes in torque and speed, this does not take away from how comfortable the board is on a regular chill ride. Its medium flex, comfortable concave, and responsive trucks come together really well, and we enjoy riding the Voyager Limited slow almost as much as we enjoy rocketing off with it.

Now, it sounds much like an ad for the board, so let’s shift gears to talking about what we don’t like about it. First of all, these are not our favorite wheels in the world. They are similar to Boa wheels, we guess? They are too hard for our liking and don’t feel as grippy. We would much prefer Meepo to equip the board with their Cyclone 105mm wheels, which are soft and sweet. The Voyager is not bad at reducing road vibration, but going with soft grippy 105mm wheels would improve it that much more.

We already said we don’t like the remote, but we also much prefer the smart power-on of a Hobbywing ESC versus the push-to-start feature of the Lingyi ESC.

Verdict:

I think the Meepo Voyager X Limited is a winner. On paper, it packs great specs for the price it’s asking. Great battery, over-the-top top speed, beautiful lights, and it even comes with a fast charger. On the road, it is as enjoyable as any premium board to ride slow and carve around; yet it blows everyone out of the park when it comes to exhilarating acceleration and crazily ‘unsafe’ top speed.

If you like powerful electric skateboards, this one is for you. Do ride safely though!

If you are interested in buying the Meepo, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $10 off during checkout.
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!

July 14, 2024September 6, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Maxfind Max 6 Review – Best electric skateboard under $600?

This is the Maxfind Max 6 which comes in two options: $569 for the version with PU wheels and $629 for the version with 105mm Galaxy Cloud Wheels. This means that the Max 6 is one of the very few affordable belt-driven electric longboards available out there.

Max 6 is a little bit pricier than Wowgo 3E, which was our top pick for the best electric longboard under $500; but it does undercut other midtier belt-driven electric longboards like the $629 Wowgo Pioneer X4, and the $699 Meepo NLS 3.

Read our review of the Wowgo 3E here.

Being one of the most affordable belt-driven electric longboards is a good pricing strategy, especially considering Max 6 has the specs that punch above its weight, too.

Maxfind Max 6 Specs:

Price	$569
Battery	360Wh 10s 21700 Samsung 10Ah battery
Controller	Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed	26 Mph (42 Kph)
Range	31 miles (50 km)
Deck	X Composite deck
Motor	900W*2 Belt drive
Net Weight	20.9lbs (9.5kg)

Deck – X Composite Deck:

Starting with the deck, the Max 6 uses an X composite deck, which is said to be stronger than your average Maple and Bamboo composites. It has only a slight flex.

The deck is relatively narrow, even by our Asian-feet standards, with part of our feet sticking out most of the time. We do like the pronounced U-shaped concave, and our feet are nice and snug with it. Design-wise, the shock-absorbing grip tape gives a pretty neat cyberpunk aesthetic, a nice change from the many minimalistic prints on the market.

Battery – 360Wh 10s 21700 Samsung 10Ah battery:

Photo of Maxfind Max 6 battery enclosure

Moving onto the battery, the Max 6 is powered by 21700 Samsung 40T cells, which are pretty solid cells. It’s too bad Maxfind decided on a 10s2p configuration instead of 12s2p, like the one found on both Wowgo Pioneer X4 and Meepo NLS 3. However, the range on the Max 6 turns out to be better. It is marketed to have a range of up to 31 miles (50km), and in our tests, we managed to make it to 25.5 miles (41 km). That’s 50% more than what we got from the Pioneer X4 and NLS 3.

A concern could be that using 10s instead of a 12s battery configuration gives the board less power, but we will talk about that a little bit later.

ESC and Remote -Hobbywing ESC:

Next, Maxfind went with the tried and true Hobbywing ESC. For the remote, it’s likely the standard Hobbywing remote with custom casing. It has a screen for telemetry, comes with 4 speed settings, and you can also pair it with their mobile app to customize your ride profile.

Motor – Dual 900w Belt Drive Motors:

Moving onto the motors, the Max 6 runs on some hefty dual 900W belt drive motors, which are pretty powerful for a mid-range board. The marketed top speed is a pretty modest 26 mph (42 kph), so it’s not a surprise that we managed to hit that speed in our test.

It has a 1:2.7 gear ratio, which is on the higher side.

Trucks And Wheels – Custom 45° Max Iii Trucks And 90mm Pu Wheels Or 105mm Galaxy Cloudwheels

Next, as for the trucks and wheels, the Max 6 uses their own custom 45° Max III Trucks.

It’s a CNC-forged truck, which is more durable and safer than cast trucks. For some skaters, having a forged truck is a must for safety, but finding one on a $600 board is rare, so this is a big plus point for the Max 6.

As for the wheels, you have a choice between 90mm Polyurethane wheels or a 105mm Galaxy Cloudwheels upgrade. The board also weighs about 20.9 lbs or 9.5 kg, which is pretty light and easy to carry around.

RGB Lights:

A stand-out feature is definitely their RGB atmospheric lighting, which is a collaboration with the Soundynamic brand and features sleek RGB lights on the sides of the deck.

The RGB light cycles through 3 modes: the first one is where the color switches, 2nd mode is breathing pattern, and then the last mode is blinking. The color switches by default and cannot stay a single color, to our disappointment. You can turn the lights on and off with the remote. It also has a brake light that will turn red when we brake.

Although the lights are not as bright as the LED lights lining the deck, they still add some nice flavor to the board.

Specs Summary of Maxfind Max 6:

All these years, Maxfind’s strategy has been to “price the board a little bit higher than the competition, and justify the price with higher quality parts and prettier design” The Max 6, however, is different. It arguably gives the best value for $549, especially if you value the ambiance lighting.

To illustrate, let’s compare the Max 6 to the $449 Wowgo 3E. The Maxfind Max 6 is a pretty good deal here as it has a longer range thanks to using 21700 Samsung 40T cells. It also has a stronger motor, CNC trucks, and lights.

On the other hand, when you compare up against the $629 Wowgo Pioneer X4 and $699 Meepo NLS 3, the Max 6 fairs pretty well, too.

The negatives are that it has a smaller battery and weaker power, but the positives are that it has forged instead of cast trucks and, again, has ambient lights. That’s why, if you value forged trucks and ambient lights, and are satisfied with a 10s battery, Maxfind Max 6 will be, on paper, the best board in the $500-$600 price range.

Read our review of the Meepo NLS 3 here.
Read our review of the Wowgo Pioneer X4 here.

Riding Experience of the Maxfind Max 6

The Max 6 has torque, it felt stronger than the Wowgo 3E on the get-go. The higher gear ratio probably plays a part here. Max 6 certainly gets away with using a 10s battery instead of 12s.

However, when compared against higher priced Meepo NLS 3 and the Wowgo Pioneer X4, the Max 6 does lag behind in torque and power. This is probably how the Max 6 has a lot more range than those two, by dialing back on the power and increasing battery efficiency.

The Max 6 gets to top speed pretty easily and is very stable all the way. But we do feel the trucks are a bit too resistant to turns. Let’s just say they weren’t the most responsive trucks we ever tested, but they are sure as hell stable. We tried loosening up the trucks, but even then, it was still one of those trucks that just wanted to go straight. With that said, carving is not the most fun on this board, but changing the bushings may help in these aspects.

Overall, the board feels comfortable. As we said, the concave makes our feet feel pretty welcome, and of course, Hobbywing ESC means completely smooth acceleration and braking.

The board wasn’t the best at reducing road vibration, given that it uses a stiffer deck. However, the Max 6, being a belt-driven board, is obviously better than any hub-driven board. If you really want a smoother ride, you can always just put on the Cloud Wheels.

Verdict on the Maxfind Max 6:

As you can see, Maxfind Max 6 is not perfect, a $569 board is bound to have some flaws. The Max 6 doesn’t have the most thrilling top speed, doesn’t have the most enjoyable trucks, and the built-in ambiance light is not the most eye-catching.

With that said, it is still one of the best options at its price. It has an extraordinarily good range, safer forged trucks, and, while not our favorite light setup, it is at least there. We’ve reviewed many Maxfinds, and so far, the Max 6 is our clear favorite and we wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for something below $600.

June 17, 2024June 19, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Veymax Roadster X4 Review – $439 electric longboard!

We’ve never heard of Veymax prior, but since we are committed to cover every board under $500, we have to give this $439 hub-board with clean design a try. We already have pretty good options in the all-rounded $399 Wowgo 2s Max and thrilling $439 Meepo v3s, so let’s see if the Veymax Roadster X4 has anything new to offer.

Read our review of the Wowgo 2s Max here.

Read our review of the Meepo V3s here.

Veymax Roadster X4 Specs:

Price	$439
Battery	12S2P 216Wh 18650 25P10S2P 288Wh 21700 Samsung 40T
Controller	LingYi 8.0 ESC
Top Speed	29 Mph (46 Kph)
Range	X4 model – 13 miles / 21kmX4S model – 17.4 miles / 28km
Deck	Canadian Maple and Fiberglass
Motor	550W*2 Hub drive
Net Weight	20.5lbs (9.3kg)

Deck – Canadian Maple and Fibreglass:

Starting with the deck, the deck of Roadster is made up of a mix of Canadian maple and fiberglass. It has a very wide deck, making it very comfortable to stand on, and a wider deck means added stability at high speeds, as well as comfort. The deck is a bit stiff with only a mild flex. Veymax also included nose and tail guards, which is also a nice touch,

Battery – 12S2P 216Wh 18650 25P:

Next, for the battery, you get two options: the X4 model comes with a standard 12s2p using 18650 25P cells, which totals 216Wh battery, while the X4S model comes with 10s2p using 21700 Samsung 40T, which totals 288Wh battery.

This is a little bit interesting as the standard model uses a 12s battery, while the upgraded version X4S uses a lesser 10s battery but with a better 21700 Samsung 40T. 21700 cells are obviously better, but the difference in power for both variants might be narrower than first thought. Anyway, we only received the X4 for the review, so we’ve no way of knowing how X4S compares.

The marketed range for the X4 model is 13 miles or 21km, while the X4S model is marketed to reach 18 miles (28km). Our range test on the Roadster X4 resulted in 17 miles or 27.36 km with a 119lbs (54 kg) rider riding fast. This is pretty surprising, and the first time, our range test yielded a range that was significantly higher than the marketed range. A heavier rider would probably get the marketed range and no more than that, but this is still pretty good news, considering most brands drastically overstates the range on their board.

ESC and Remote – LingYi 8.0 ESC:

Moving onto the ESC, Veymax went with a Lingyi 8.0 ESC on the Roadster. The Lingyi ESC has a push-to-turn-on feature, four speed modes, and four brake modes. It is paired with the generic Lingyi remote, which has an OLED display to show the speed, battery, and other info.

Motor – Dual 550W Hub Drive:

Next, powering the Roadster is a pair of 550W hub motors, which is about an average amount of power for any eskate in the under $500 price bracket. Hub motors have the upsides of being maintenance-free, and you can kick-push the board if you run out of battery. The Roadster is marketed at a top speed of 29 mph (46 kph), which is above average in the budget board category, and when we took it to the streets, we managed to hit the marketed top speed.

Trucks and Wheels – Reverse Kingpin trucks and 105mm Jellywheels:

Next, let’s talk about the trucks. They are 7.5-inch reverse kingpin trucks with a 45° base plate angle, and the bushings given are 92A durometer. The Roadster also comes with 105mm Jelly wheels, which looks to have a good tread and contact patch. This should help with vibration absorption and slight off-road use. making them big and chunky, which helps absorb vibrations.

Specs summary of the Roadster X4:

To sum it up, most of the specs are on par with the industry leaders – High top speed, above-average battery size, and good 550W motors. Giving entry-level hub boards 105mm wheels makes sense, as beginners to semi-experienced riders would value safety from sticks and stones and road vibrations more than the sticky smooth ride feel offered by premium PU wheels. Another cool feature of the Roadster is its LED tail lights that come with 6 mode settings for additional customization to your ride.

The Roadster weighs in at about 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg), which is a bit on the heavier side for a budget tier board, but it should help with its stability, which is always a plus.

Riding Experience on the Roadster X4:

Starting off with its speed control, the version of LingYi ESC that Veymax uses is probably one of the most current. It is perfectly smooth in both acceleration and braking, making it an intuitive board to ride, even for beginners.

And once you are accustomed to the board, you can turn up to the “Pro” mode, where the gloves come off. The highest “Pro” mode of the Ling Yi ESC gives a thrilling, quick acceleration, more so than your typical $400 electric longboard. It takes off really quickly and gets you to that 29mph top speed very quickly. I like to classify entry-level electric skateboards into two types: the relaxing kind, which wouldn’t hurt you, and the thrilling kind, which gives you a rush. Roadster X4 certainly falls into the latter category.

With the very high 28mph ( kmh) top speed, we have to talk about the stability of the ride.

First, the deck.The deck is about 1.5cm wider than Exway Flex and Meepo V4s. Having a wide deck to place our feet helps, and a stiff deck that doesn’t bounce around helps the board to feel stable during high speed. However, we do wish for more concave on the deck, Roadster only have a pretty mild concave on the very wide deck.

Another factor that affects the stability of the trucks is the trucks. The trucks are pretty average; they were pretty stable until they approached top speed, and we started to feel a bit of wobble around 28mph ( kmh). Tightening the truck would certainly help, but the truck was already pretty average in maneuverability and carving fun, too. Perhaps investing in a pair of better bushing would improve both these aspects. Veymax was well aware of these shortcomings and told us that new trucks are in the works.

Then, there are the wheels.

These 105mm Jellywheels are no cloudwheels. They are harder and don’t soak up as much vibration as we would hope. However, expecting cloudwheels to come in stock for a board just north of $400 might be asking a little bit too much. Compared to 90mm PU, which was the standard for this price, these 105mm were still less rough and more immune to pebbles when riding fast. There is safety in wheel size, and 105mm is better than 90mm in that one aspect.

Verdict – Should you buy the Veymax Roadster X4 ?

The Roadster is a pretty board that went for a ride profile similar to that of the Meepo V3s.

It’s definitely a thrilling board that has one of the highest top speeds in this category. Compared to the big dogs, the Veymax Roadster may be a little bit less refined when it comes to its trucks and deck, but it has a better range than most, and the practicality of its big 105mm wheels is another plus. It’s a good alternative to the Meepo V3s, especially if you like the practicality of big wheels.

If you are interested in buying the Veymax, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive 5% off during checkout.
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!