To catch up to the rest of the market, Maxfind has released 5 new electric skateboards in relatively short order. We’ve looked at the Maxfind Max 4 Pro, and today, we are looking to review the Maxfind Max 2 Pro Dual – a $569 shortboard.
You never get to make a first impression twice, and the Max 2 pro gets its first impression right.You can see right away how Maxfind puts a lot of effort into making sure the board looks good and feels premium at the same time.
Size: 31-inch short board
Top Speed: 25mph/40kmh
Range: 15miles/25km ( Our test: 12.5miles/20km)
Battery Pack: 4.4AH pack in 10s2p configuration, Samsung 22P cells
Despite being a 31-inch short board, it still packs strong performance to rival any regular size electric skateboard out there. The acceleration and breaking is quite nice. You probably will not notice much difference except for the size.
ii. Stability and Maneuverability
The lack of concavity on the deck didn’t help either, as the deck is super flat, so it’s hard to know where my feet are. I needed to check and re-check my feet placement quite often, just to be sure that I didn’t slip off the board.
iii. Vibration
Not surprisingly, you might not be too pleased with the Max 2 pro if you are riding away from its natural habitat into someplace with a rougher surface. As expected, the combo of a stiff plastic deck and hub motors means intense road vibrations. It was so bad that I felt like I was going to skid when turning on bad roads.
iv. Range& Top Speed
The marketed range is 15 miles or 25 km, but during our range test riding at medium to high speed, we got 12.5 miles or 20km, which is still quite impressive.
The top speed is a typical 25 mph (or 40 km/h), but for a mini-board, that’s super fast!
A closer look at the parts
i. Deck
The most noticeable aspect of the board is the short deck with a very nice bottom design. Most electric skateboards tend to focus primarily on the specs alone, but this time they did an astonishing job of balancing between looks and performance. Just look at this sick diamond cutting design! It’s flashy and premium at the same time.
This is not what you usually expect from an electric skateboard. This board looks extremely nice and feels well-polished. It may look like any regular board when you are on it, but when you’re carrying this board around, you will definitely see the true beauty of it.
ii. Components
By the way, did you notice that the Max 2 Pro has no functional kick-tail? If you are new to eskates and wouldn’t know how to use a kicktail anyways, this is great as it maximizes the wheelbase and stability. However, this is also a ballsy choice as it’s going to be a deal-breaker for many skaters living out there.
iii. Wheels
It uses 90 mm wheels, which are standard for many of today’s eskates.
iv. Trucks
Maxfind’s uses non-branded proprietary trucks that are both stable and agile enough to do the job.
v. Remote
The speed control is perfectly smooth, as can be expected from a Hobbywing ESC. I’m going to guess that the max 2 Pro is using the stock version of the Hobbywing ESC, with its typical 3-speed modes; but unlike the weak brakes that come with typical Hobbywing ESC, the braking on the Max 2 Pro is pretty strong – probably due to the stronger 600W hubs that Maxfind is using. For reference, a normal entry-level board has a hub motor of around 500W.
Verdict
When it comes to shortboard for last-mile commuting, we are now spoiled with choices. For those who make purchasing decisions based solely on price vs specs, the Maxfind Max 2 Pro will not be on the top of the list as it’s a $569 board with $400 specs. With the Max 2 Pro, you are paying a premium for the sleek design, the polish, and waterproofing. I think a good head to head comparison might be with the $599 Backfire Mini which is another premium, nimble, powerful shortboard with similar price and specs, plus easy battery access, but minus waterproofing.
In short, the Maxfind Max 2 Pro is a good board, as long as you know what you are paying for.
If you are interested in buying a Maxfind, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” during check out. 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!
I’ve written about many Exway boards in the past. In fact, I’ve just written about the Exway Flex, which you can find here, and I have also written previous reviews of the X1 and X1 Pro. By this point, my general impressions of Exway boards are basically the same, so it’ll be useless for me to keep rehashing the same thing.
I do have a few things I do want to talk about though, so let’s run through them.
Boardiness
If you haven’t guessed from the pictures and title, yes this is a shortboard, and that means several things. If you’re thinking about buying this board, you already know about the tradeoffs inherent to a shortboard.
The ridefeel will be way different than a longboard. Due to the differences in wheelbase and deck construction compared to a longboard, the Wave feels very direct and nimble. The deck has a nice bowl shaped concave that really keeps you locked in and help your feet place properly, and the kicktail is just long enough to be useful while not getting in the way. The Trist trucks really come alive with the new shortened wheelbase, and I had no problems feeling confident on the thing.
Due to the increased squirreliness of the Wave, Exway has limited the top speed to around 22mph. I personally think that’s plenty fast on a shortboard. Again, you’re really not buying this thing to go racing. Power delivery remains the same as other Exway boards; that is to say it’s smooth and handles just fine.
Swappability and Battery
Exway has done quite a few innovations here I think. It’s apparent they’ve thought about how everything goes together.
The elephant in the room is the swappable battery pack design. Exway has gone for a slide and click design for their 10S2P Sony VTC6 “smart” battery packs. The main concern with swappable packs in general is and has always been the latching mechanism. You either go too risky (see Mellow’s battery pack falling out debacle) or too annoying (Ride Unlimited’s design that requires screws). I think Exway has hit upon a fairly good mechanism here. Depressing the (very firm) latch allows the battery to slide out sideways along a rail instead of the same direction as gravity and vibration. The battery connectors themselves are recessed and fit tightly when pressed together. There’s a hidden USB charge port that’s usable when the battery is off the board. Exway has also promised a flight ready 10S1P pack variant. Overall I’m liking this setup.
Range testing the Wave produces fairly favorable results. Of course we know that manufacturer range estimates aren’t going to be what you get on a day to day basis, but I got around 7.5 miles (12 km) of hard riding (full throttle, hard takeoffs and brakes) in a hilly area weighing around 125lb (57kg), so I think if you’re just cruising in a flatter area 10 miles (16 km) or so is not an unrealistic figure to expect. It goes without saying that the test was performed will all settings turned all the way up. This makes it the longest range shortboard I’ve tested.
Amenities
The Wave has a surprising amount of amenities for a shortboard. Exway has seen fit to add an integrated RGB tail light standard. This will be a big plus for night riders. By default the tail light comes on red when braking and show increasingly rainbow patterns when accelerating, but you can also adjust light patterns in the app to have it be uh, more tame, or turn it off completely if you’re a boring Debbie Downer.
What’s more, Exway has taken a page out of Boosted’s Mini X playbook by using a semi-transparent tail puck so the tail light can shine through and light it up. The effect is pretty striking and you won’t be out $230 just for some tail lights and a transparent tail puck.
Exway also included a front light on the review units, but the front light is a $30 add-on regularly. It’s a shame it isn’t a standard add-on, it would have really completed the whole look I think. The front light is fairly bright and similarly integrated, with a double click on the remote to turn it on and off. Both the front and tail light intensities can be adjusted in the Exway app as well.
Of course, the Wave has the other usual Exway amenities as well. Remote on/off, smart battery preservation, cushioned griptape, etc. As with the Flex, Exway has chosen not to use the magnetic charge port that’s present (and seemingly becoming a bigger pain than it’s worth) on the X1 and X1 Pro.
Riding The Wave
The Wave is a good board. As a person who doesn’t normally ride or enjoy shortboards, I have to say I’m pretty happy with it. With the Wave, I think Exway has hit two out of three major market segments. They have a general consumer board in the Flex and a short range travel-able board with the Wave. It remains to be seen how the all terrain board pans out, but I have no doubt they’ll succeed with that one as well.
Indeed, what worries me isn’t Exway’s technology prowess. It’s their logistical prowess and customer support. Over the last few months, I’ve seen Exway struggle to deliver the Flex to consumers. Only now, two months since the projected ship date, are delivery reports starting to trickle in. I’d love to see Exway step up their delivery game with the Wave deliveries and communicate more with customers moving forward.
Anyways, pending delivery, I wholeheartedly recommend the Wave for shortboard enthusiasts. Of course, I’d like to spend more time with the Wave, but so far so good.
If you are interested in buying an Exway, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during check out. It will help you get a small monetary discount (-$20) 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!
Before I begin, I must disclose that I’ve had a long history with the EL1.
Hoyt St. first sent an EL1 to me all the way back in May of 2019. At first, they didn’t want me to write a review on it because they wanted to slowly ramp up production and had kinks to work out. Instead, Hoyt simply wanted me to test it really hard and see what I could do with it, then report back my opinions. I was happy to do this, and the conversation back and forth has been constant since then.
Today’s date is June 5th, 2020. It’s been a whole year plus some since I first stepped on the EL1. Hoyt has finally given me the OK to write my review. And I have some thoughts.
It’s All In The Details
The Hoyt EL1 is an unconventional package indeed. From the moment you open the box, the attention to detail is apparent. For example, each EL1 comes with a carrying bag. This isn’t your run of the mill carrying bag mind you. Not only did Hoyt custom design this bag specifically for the EL1, they also had the forethought to make the bag a part of the packaging as a replacement for your typical environmentally unfriendly styrofoam.
Inside the carrying/shipping bag, the remote control and charger is tucked away in their own specially designed pouches. Everything has a place, even the simple, well written, color printed instruction manual. Who even prints instruction manuals in color these days? Hoyt does apparently.
The details don’t stop at packaging. Everything about the board screams attention to detail. From the risk of death warning labels, to the slightly dimpled power indicator lights on the nose, to the tastefully engraved “Handcrafted In Oregon” and “Bamboo Revolution” badges on the underside of the enclosure sandwich which meets the topside to create one single flowing shape.
If it sounds a bit like I’m fangirling already, that’s because I am. I really like the design and shape of the board. I think it’s beautiful. I mean just look at those self tensioning motors mounts!
But all the detail in the world won’t make a difference if the end product is no good right?
Good Skating
What’s my definition of “good skating”? Well, for starters, the board must be comfortable. I don’t just mean the deck, although that does play a big part in it. I mean the wholistic experience. From the geometry in the concave of the deck to the ridefeel of the narrower contact patch and hardness of the wheel, the EL1 as a complete package is simply primed for good skating.
The non-flex, dropdown deck has just the right curves for you to brace against under hard acceleration and braking. The Caliber trucks lend themself to fairly precise carving and nuanced control. The Zoobomb wheels, while not the best urethane I’ve ever ridden, do a fine job of gripping the road and sliding out when you need them to. It’s clear that Hoyt put a major emphasis on designing something that skated well.
But the skate setup isn’t the only thing good here. In electric skateboarding we care about the electronics right? Why else would we be here?
Designed Dependability
Well I’m here to report that the electronics are great as well.
The EL1 (and indeed Hoyt’s entire future lineup) is built on VESC tech. The VESC, or Vedder Electronic Speed Controller, is a super capable, super powerful, open source speed controller design made specifically for applications such as electric skateboards, drones, scooters, robotics, and the like.
Why is this important? Well this means that the hardware in the Hoyt is endlessly configurable and extensible. Want telemetry logging? Stick a Bluetooth module in there. Want more powerful acceleration or braking or a different throttle curve? Just tune it.
Another advantage of the VESC is that it has been vetted in countless test cases by countless people in countless environments. Run within its hardware limits, it’s rock solid and dependable, and Hoyt has certainly harnessed its power well.
The particular VESC revision that Hoyt is running in their boards is the 4.12 hardware revision. This doesn’t really mean much to the end user, but for those who care, it means a couple things. First, it does really well at 10S (42V) but not so well at 12S (50.4V). Second, it doesn’t do well running in FOC (Field Oriented Control) mode, a motor control method that, while more refined in feeling, is more demanding for the controller than the alternative: BLDC (BrushLess Direct Current) control. Hoyt knows this, and so optimized their setup to play to the 4.12 hardware’s strengths. The result is great dependability.
Besides the controllers, the motors are also high quality and built to last. Hoyt sources their motors custom from KDE, a US based motor design and manufacturing firm specializing in military grade motors. These motors are built to withstand way higher than normal operating temperatures while performing at a high level, and I think it’s a testament to its engineering that I’ve never heard of anybody having issues with the motors specifically.
As an aside, this board is so reliable that it’s the one I lend out to experienced riders who ask me to borrow a board simply because I know they won’t break it even if they ride it hard. It’s also simply a great ride but you know. I digress.
Modularity
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the EL1 is the modularity aspect of its battery pack design.
When Hoyt first launched the EL1, they had gone where no other manufacturer had really gone before, and the EL1 battery packs are, in my opinion, the cleanest solution I’ve seen to the problem of battery modularity. With the main goal being the flyability of the board, Hoyt had specially designed 10S1P battery packs featuring individual BMS and battery level indicators. These battery packs slotted neatly into the belly of the board and connected to the main power rail using blade connectors. In my opinion, this is an incredibly clean, wire-free, and foolproof method for managing modular battery packs.
In an interesting turn of events however, Hoyt has recently decided to abandon the blade connector design for a more traditional XT60 connector for their battery packs. Hoyt tells me that they made this decision due to a small number of users reporting that the blade connectors were wearing out under intense stress and vibration. Although I’m sad to see the blade connectors go, I understand the reliability standpoint. The new XT60 design is more flexible while still retaining modularity. What’s more, it opens up the possibility of easily building your own battery packs.
The EL1 also allows the usual wheel and drivetrain gearing changes that usually comes with a belt driven board, and since you have direct access to the VESC’s settings with the EL1, I would even say that these choices combined with some settings adjustments are even more effective here. Hoyt is even going to offer 5″ pneumatic tire options as well as non-modular battery packs for increased range.
Performance
I will say that while it’s not the fastest board on the market topping out at 24mph-ish real world, Hoyt’s investment in engineering has certainly shone through in the end product.
Torque is great. I weigh around 125lb and live in San Francisco, one of the hilliest cities in the world. From my time spent with this board, I can report that this board has more than enough torque to get me up any hill. I’ve gladly let my friends try the EL1, and they all say the same thing. Plenty of power and good braking. Plus, I actually think it is “fast enough.”
And here we get to the only thing that reeeeaaally gets me about the EL1.
The range.
There’s no two ways about it: I think it’s lacking for a $2,000+ board. Realistically riding, I can get maybe 8-10 miles in the city, 12 if I really stretch it. If you’re on flatter ground with less stop and go traffic, that figure will improve, but honestly not by that much. Hoyt’s own range calculator suggests as much about the lacking range, so you should really understand your riding conditions before buying this board.
“But Sof,” you say, “what about flyability?” And that’s a fair question. After all, I did say that Hoyt had designed these packs with flight in mind. To that question I would reply that while the EL1 is indeed flyable, I wouldn’t buy it for a travel board.
There are other great options for travel boards (Unlimited x Loaded kit on a shortboard, Exway Wave) that are lighter and less cumbersome if that is really your main focus. I think the EL1 should be considered more a prosumer board that just happens to be flyable more than anything else, and in that sense, I think maintaining flyability was probably a misstep. You end up with range that doesn’t satisfy the prosumer and a pricepoint that doesn’t really jive with the more casual consumer.
While Hoyt is, as mentioned above, offering a single Samsung 40T 10S3P pack, I haven’t tested it for range. Theoretically, the 40T pack will provide just over 60% more capacity than the original three 10S1P modular 25R packs the board ships with, so extrapolating linearly I may get up to 13-16 of realistic, hard riding miles on a charge with the 40T pack. But I’m a believer of not buying products based on promised future upgrades, even when I have full faith the manufacturer will deliver on their promise, so I’ll make my conclusions when Hoyt starts shipping the 40T packs.
What About The Remote?
Yes, let’s talk about the remote.
The Hoyt Puck is arguably one of the more interesting, if not the most interesting, remotes in eskate. Inspired by slide pucks common in the world of downhill longboarding, the round, curved design is certainly unique and maybe even polarizing to some. When it was first introduced, many wondered just how well this remote would work in practice.
Honestly, I’ve grown to really like it. Despite its strange appearance, it’s comfortable to hold in the hand. I think it’s the first eskate remote to really take into consideration left handedness, with all buttons just as accessible when in left handed mode as in right handed mode. Hoyt offers weight options for the thumbwheel so you can adjust it to your preference as well.
Beyond ergonomics, in typical Hoyt fashion, the remote has proven to be absolutely rock solid in terms of performance and reliability. Ask anybody in the DIY community what remote they would recommend if you wanted a consistently reliable remote, and I’ll bet maybe 90% of them would say the Hoyt Puck. The Puck’s reliability is so well known, in fact, that other premium eskate manufacturers are offering the Hoyt Puck for their boards. Case in point: Lacroix’s customized Hoyt Pucks.
The only minor annoyance I have with the Puck is that there’s no board battery indicator on the remote itself. However, I’m ok with that actually when the Puck is paired with the EL1, as the EL1 features a sleek battery gauge right on the nose of the deck.
Hoyt says you should try the Puck before you knock it, and I really agree. It’s an ergonomic remote with a proven history of reliability. Plus it’s CNC’d out of Bamboo with an aluminum thumbwheel, comes in a variety of stains, and customizable with engravings. What other manufacturer would do this for individual remotes?
In Good Company
I want to take a moment to talk about Hoyt the company. Being a small operation, they can be uniquely personal about the products and services they offer. For example, in addition to the remote customizations, Hoyt offers a range of customization options for the EL1 itself from artwork directly applied on the deck to different wood stains to unique veneers to bespoke whole-deck laser map engravings. You can even get glass frit gripping on your deck: a high class upgrade to the usual boring grip tape offerings.
And that’s not all. A couple months ago, I got the message from Hoyt asking me to send in my EL1 for the blade connector to XT60 conversion. What surprised me was how painless the entire process was. There were no costs involved and the turnaround was fast. I’m told by various customers that they’ve had similar experiences with Hoyt and the services they provide.
I would also like to commend Hoyt for doing this blanket recall. I have many friends in the business of building and selling hardware, and they all tell me that one of their greatest fears is issuing a recall. In addition to the complexity of communicating with the customer and processing the hardware that comes in, Hoyt is taking on a huge financial loss for what seemed to me like a relatively minor issue. However, I think this just further speaks to the character of the company and the people who run it. In the end, they didn’t really have to do this. But they did, and I think that’s pretty awesome.
Hoyt even offers a free tune up service for customers for the first year after purchase. I mean come on! The deference that Hoyt shows to the customer is what really sets them apart in this industry, and I hope as they continue to grow as they maintain their level of service.
Wrapping Up
So what do I think about the EL1?
I think if you appreciate rideability, details, durability, and good engineering, you will like this board. I think if you are prioritizing miles per dollar, you should look elsewhere. I think the EL1 is, in the end, a tantalizing niche offering.
But most of all, I think the EL1 is a stepping stone platform for Hoyt’s future. With the EL1, Hoyt’s basically done a year long engineering verification on their platform, figuring out all the kinks and feeling out their style. I’ve been privy to their roadmap after the EL1, and Hoyt’s definitely gearing up to make a huge splash.
And when they do, I’ll be there to cheer for them.
You might not know it, but Raldey is actually a famous brand. They were the manufacturer for some of the big-name companies inside and outside of China. They also own the IP for electric skateboard manufacturing in China, so everybody in the eskate business knows about them.
And recently, Raldey has taken steps to enter the consumer market.
Before I performed my review, I had heard that there were flaws in the ride ‘feel’ for the other Raldey boards, so I didn’t get my hopes up. But after trying it… I am pretty excited to share what I found!
Radley MT-V3
Let’s cut to the chase and start by comparing the marketed specs with our test result.
Top Speed: 29mph/ 45kmh —— (Our test: 22mph/ 35kmh)
For the deck, Raldey uses an 8 ply Canada Maple deck with W concave, with a little bit of micro drop. My feet felt really comfortable on it. It has some flex to it, but nothing crazy, this isn’t a bamboo deck after all.
Enclosure
And this enclosure, I love it. It is a full-length plastic enclosure that has a look of carbon fiber. It allows the deck to flex, while keeping the internals protected. I especially love how this enclosure keeps the internals of the board neat and tidy – as a matter of fact, I plan to use it for many of my future DIY builds.
Back to the Raldey, inside the enclosure, we have the ESC. Raldey told me this ESC is proprietary, and if it’s not, I sure can’t tell. It looks like a Hobbywing casing, but the remote pairs to a LingYi ESC and the board has a kick push to turn on just like any LingYi ESC.
Riding experiences on Raldey MT-V3
Speed Control
And since we are at it, let’s talk about the speed control. Simply put, I’m amazed by it. Whatever this thing is, it is absolutely smooth like any Hobbywing ESC; and both the acceleration and the braking are plenty strong, just like those of a LingYi ESC. For me, it is perfect.
Your standard LingYi ESC remote
Both acceleration and braking have 4 strength levels that you can adjust irrespective of each other. Personally, I put both acceleration and braking into the highest “pro” mode, as the speed changes are so precise and silky that I don’t need to tame it down.
Yes, I know there will be people who want the brakes to be even stronger, especially those who are accustomed to Pro strength braking in traditional LingYi ESC, but I’m sure they are in the minority here.
Power and Torque
Now, let’s talk about power. This pair of 900W hub motors only gets me to 22mph (35kmh), though I may not have tried hard enough on the top speed test – but anyhow, I’m usually not in a ‘need for speed’ mindset when I’m riding a semi-AT. What the Raldey MT V3 brings is not speed, but torque. Large wheels with hub motors usually mean poor torque, but this Raldey MT V3 is a BEAST when it comes to climbing hills. We rode up a pretty steep hill and it doesn’t even feel like a challenge to this board.
And when it comes to rough terrain, this good boy fit right in. 120mm Rubber wheels means a fairly good grip, and they take away lots of the vibrations. Let’s just say this is a more appropriate off-road wheel than the cloud wheels, which felt more delicate.
Trucks
The wide 9-inch truck is not branded and is nothing to write home about. The bushings were not the best, and the truck has a little bit of “slop” and doesn’t return to center as well as branded trucks and bushings. It is, however, wide and stable.
Why so excited? Verdict:
So, why am I so excited about this board?
When I started researching electric skateboards in 2016, my goal was to find myself a beginner-friendly eskate to commute in a small town with less than perfect roads. After 4 years, after reviewing countless eskates, I would say this Raldey board is the perfect board for that purpose.
Big wheels to handle poor roads, a stable ride that is easy to learn, plenty of range for commuting and great torque for uphill situations; Perfect control that allows half of my brain to turn off during rides, not too heavy to lug around, and waterproof in case it rains. Honestly, as a lazy person who doesn’t like to hold a screwdriver, I prefer hub motors that simply work, over belt drives that need more upkeep. Let’s put it this way: if I were to DIY myself a commuter board, it would end up almost exactly the same as Raldey MT-V3… well, maybe with better bushing.
Simply put, to anyone new to the hobby who is thinking about getting an eskate for commuting, this is the perfect board. Period.
If you are interested in buying an Raldey, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during check out. 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!
Maxfind, a Chinese brand that has been around since the beginning of time. A brand that delivers budget boards in nice packages for casual eskaters, but has always been ignored by eskate enthusiasts, as their price vs value proposition was not as high as the other Chinese brands. If you have read my previous takes on Chinese brand, you might have sensed that I hated the brand, that’s because their product and marketing strategies made me feel that they are just preying on the less informed buyers.
Well, that idea of mine has been shaken up with the new lineups that Maxfind introduced awhile ago, and today, we are going to talk about the Maxfind Max 4 Pro.
Maxfind Max 4 Pro
The specs are the least interesting part of the Max 4 Pro, so we’ll just quickly run through them.
Top Speed: 26mph/ 42kmh
Range: 15mil/ 25km (4.4AH Samsung 22p, 10s2p)
Weight: 16lbs/ 7.5kg
Charge Time: 120min
Price: 619USD with shipping included. (Ships from USA or China)
Features: IP65 Waterproof, hot-swappable battery, remote with telemetry, swappable PU-sleeves
Wait a second. You might be saying, “all the numbers sound like a typical entry-level board, EXCEPT that last one. The price!” Yes, the Max 4 Pro is retailing $200 pricier than your typical entry-level budget board, so what is Maxfind doing to justify the price?
Max 4 Pro is not actually, not your typical eskate, it’s more like a Drive Kit
First, the Maxfind Max 4 Pro is actually not a regular eskate, instead, it is a removable drive kit, marketed with a complementary deck. They are selling the DIY drive kit for $569. Drive kits that are designed to be slapped on any deck and instantly turn them into an Eskate have always been pricier. Mellow, Unlimited, Revel. All pricey.
The battery is hot-swappable
The Max 4 Pro comes with all the benefits of being a drive kit. It has an easy hot-swappable battery, you just need to undo a thumbscrew, and voila, the battery can just slide out. Maxfind also included an extra charging cable to charge the battery separately, which is a nice touch too!
It’s waterproof
The second justification of the price is that the Max 4 Pro is waterproofed. (IP X7 on the ESC, and IP65 on both the battery and hub motors). I don’t know how much faith you can put into any eskate company’s IP rating claims, but at least you don’t have to worry if you accidentally spill coffee on it.
It’s pretty well polished
Finally, Maxfind did show their manufacturing prowess and gave their boards a good polish. The Max 4 Pro is beautifully packaged, and it’s 8 ply maple deck with carbon fiber coating is just beautiful. It uses a metal enclosure. The trucks, bushings, and bearings are not branded but look high quality nonetheless.
Premium = Customer service?
In Maxfind’s case, I’m not sure about that. It’s not to say that the company has any bad reputation, it just that I have never heard anyone singing their praises, and for a brand that’s been out there for so long, there should really be people singing their praises.
Field test: (Did all this translate into good ride feel?)
Deck:
I know, it looks pretty flexible but it’s maples.
The 8-ply maple deck is flat, without concave, but still does a good job keeping my feet comfortable. It has only a mild flex in it, which helps maintain stability, but unfortunately does not improve vibration.
Speed control:
Acceleration and braking are intuitive and smooth, as expected from a Hobbywing ESC. Maxfind did make some adjustments, however, especially on the braking for the Max 4 Pro. Unlike generic Hobbywing ESCs, which traditionally have dangerously weak brakes, the strength and smoothness on the Max 4 are exactly how we like it.
Carving:
Carving on these pairs of Caliber II clones is a pretty great experience, and fairly stable, even when riding at top speed.
Range test:
The removable battery pack is made of 4.4AH Samsung 22P cells in 10s2p configuration. It has a marketed range of 15miles (24km) but – our range test got us to only 11.5 miles (18.5km) riding in top mood throughout. I know, the result surprised no one as these are pretty standard numbers for most 4AH entry-level board.
Top-speed:
We hit the 26mph (40kmh) top-speed, which surprised no one. After all, the Max 4 Pro has a pair of 750W hub motors (with removable sleeves) and that’s stronger than most entry-level and mid-range hubs. The stronger hubs did translate to our ride when it comes to conquering rougher terrain and hills.
Misc:
By the way, I like how most boards have bigger wheels now. The board uses large 96mm wheels, which are safer for beginners but can also help ease the vibration on rough roads. We’ve said that Max 4 Pro wasn’t GREAT when it comes to handling vibration, so imagine how much worse it would be if they chose to use the 80mms on it.
Did he die?
Verdict:
Max 4 Pro is still not about price vs value proposition. Think of it this way –
For $619, you get a package that:
Shares the same spec with regular $400 entry-level eskate, but
Waterproof,
Hot-swappable battery,
Easy deck swap (It’s a drive kit!)
Slightly better ride feel (and torque)
Better polish
I’d say it’s worthy of the price.
All in all, the Max 4 Pro is a nice board that we enjoyed, but I suspect that many buyers would opt for the $569 Drive Kit Pro, as it’s actually the real MVP here.
If you are interested in buying a Maxfind, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during check out. 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!
Oh, one Quick note on Max 4 normie (AKA not Pro)
The Maxfind 4 standard (without the ‘Pro’) is $100 cheaper, but it has weaker hubs, smaller 90mm wheels, and a generic Hobbywing ESC without the OLED Remote. Just think of it as your typical Hobbywing budget board with a $100 price premium for also being a drive kit and having good polish.
