Category: Product Reviews

Posted on by Paxson Lim

Backfire G2T Review – Going Turbo

Backfire G2T was announced in January 2019, which was shortly after the successful production of the Backfire G2S.

G2T promised not only performance improvement but most importantly, the fix of an annoying motor vibration issue that decreased user confidence of the board. G2T also has a higher price tag of $599 versus $549.

Here is a chart from the Backfire site that summarized the differences.

Introduction to Backfire Board

For those of us who were here since 2016, Backfire didn’t give a very good first impression. They ran into some fiasco in fulfillment of their indiegogo campaign. There was an incident in which one rider was injured on their board with an alleged brake malfunction. The way they handled this incident was disastrous.

However, with time the company has gotten better and has become a lot more professional in handling matters. Despite having more sales than ever, Backfire handles the growth well. This is evident by the lack of any scandal or major complaints.

The last few products have all been very well received, be it the Backfire G2, the all terrain Ranger-X1, or the recent G2S. The company seems to be on a roll.

Backfire G2T Review

Backfire G2T received a good performance bump from the G2S:

  • Top Speed: 23.5mph (38kmh)
  • Range: 14.9mil (24km)
  • Weight: 14.5lbs (6.5kg)
  • Charge Time: 2.5hrs
  • Features: 2 hub motors, weatherproof, Regenerative braking, handles up to 30% slope.
  • Price: less than 600USD with shipping included.

Build Quality

Packaging

The packaging is pretty simple, but done nicely. It comes double boxed to prevent any damage. The unboxing experience isn’t going to “Wow” you, but it’s still definitely presentable.

Deck

Backfire G2T uses the same 37-inch, 8 layer Canadian maple longboard deck as the G2S and G2.

It has a little concave to it, so your feet know where they are when standing on the deck. It has a mild camber to it, as the deck bows upward in the center. This is to help flex, which is mild on this deck.

The grip tape comes with two options. The very recognizable blue galaxy grip tape and the more understated gold and black grip tape.

Component Enclosures and ESC

It’s not surprising that it still uses the same battery and ESC enclosure since Backfire G2. However, they are proprietary made and very nice looking.

Housed inside is a customized Hobbywing ESC, which we are all pretty familiar with. We will talk about how it contributes to ride feel later.

Wheels

Backfire G2T comes with 83mm 83A wheels and includes a set of 96mm 83A wheels for those who want their wheels larger.

The wheels are made out of pretty good urethane material.

  • 83mm hub
  • 83mm wheels
  • 96mm hub
  • 96mm wheels

Trucks

Backfire has been using Caliber II trucks for the front truck. But the back truck is still Backfire made, and they are pretty good in quality.

Extra – LED headlights

Backfire includes a Cannon LED light in the package. Let me tell you, it is FREAKING BRIGHT. It has three modes: bright, dim and flashing. (Why?)

It helps you to see the road, but the stand made the light point slightly upward, more onto afar than the road ahead. It’s brighter than Shredlight! Bonus points if you put them together.

Unlike the remote, this is charged via mini-USB.

Are you afraid of the dark? #Shredlight

Riding Experience:

Acceleration and Deceleration

There are 3 ride modes:

  1. Eco mode with a top speed of 12.4mph/20kmh
  2. Standard mode with a top speed of 23.6mph/ 38kmh
  3. Turbo mode with a top speed of 25mph/40kmh
  • Turbo mode is unleashed by pressing the Turbo button, it only lasted for 30second before switching back to the original mode.
  • Backfire G2T uses a Hobbywing ESC that was programmed to tailor the G2T. The result is awesome, simply put, it perfected the Hobbywing ESC.

Let’s talk about Eco mode first:

  • It is very tame, as expected from the beginner mode of a Hobbywing ESC powered board.
    • The acceleration is smooth and gentle. No jolts whatsoever.
    • The braking is gentle and tame too. Any veteran rider will consider it too weak to be safe but this is exactly what a novice needs – tame braking before they are accustomed to leaning backward while applying brakes.

Standard mode is where everyone but the super novice should be riding on:

  • The acceleration is as smooth as any Hobbywing ESC.
  • While testing the board, the torque especially while trying to get to the top speed felt slightly weaker than other Hobbywing board.
    • A quick visit at Skatemetric’s comparison chart proved that suspicion ( http://skatemetric.com/index.php/visualize-and-compare/ )
    • G2T Standard mode has slightly lower torque compared to similar Hobbywing powered boards such as Wowgo 2s.
  • Braking on G2T is tuned to perfection.
    • Hobbywing ESC are known to have smooth braking that errs on the weak side. While the other variant ‘LiYing’ ESC are known to have strong aggressive braking that errs on the scary side.
    • G2T’s Hobbywing ESC are tuned to allow braking that is smooth initially but ended strong. This results in braking that is smooth and gentle, yet allows you to stop in a short distance.
    • 10/10, I can’t imagine it gets any better than this.

Turbo mode can be engaged by pressing the turbo button on the remote.

This is a game-changing feature. As mentioned, Backfire G2T uses a very ubiquitous ESC which is Hobbywing ESC. Anyone who is following the Chinese budget board scene closely could tell you the only disadvantage Hobbywing ESC had on it’s primary competitor LiYing ESC is the weaker acceleration. Now with turbo mode, Backfire G2T will dominate any drag races with any ‘LiYing’ ESC board while continuing to offer smooth and precise control.

  • It unleashes another level of torque albeit for only 30s.
  • It has a cooldown period of 30 seconds to prevent you from using it continuously.
  • In Turbo mode, the torque and acceleration are really good, but yet still perfectly smooth.
  • The top speed will increase to 25mph (40kmh) or even 27mph (44kmh) with 96mm wheels.
  • However, needing a cooldown wasn’t the only downside of the Turbo mode.
  • Transitioning from turbo mode to sports mode causes a significant loss of acceleration and resulted in a backward jolt. It spooks me every time. Samuel James @ Samjaidelaide has a habit of counting down from 30 to anticipate that jolt. Me? I just don’t use turbo that much due to that.
  • Engaging turbo mode sometimes is tricky. You have to let go of the acceleration and let the board free-wheel to start the turbo mode. If not, nothing will happen.
  • Braking wasn’t significantly different from Standard mode.
  • I have no issue with the Turbo mode per se, just the transitioning in and out of it. I wish the Turbo mode can just be a permanent mode that lasts forever but Backfire cites the need of having a cooldown system is the fear of overheating.

Stability & Maneuverability

Backfire G2T is a very stable ride. It used a stiffer deck with good concave, which helps in higher speed. The use of wider 275mm Caliber II trucks improves stability. Caliber II trucks themselves are already famous for predictable and comfortable control.

The ride height with 83mm wheels is comfortably low, making riding at top speed a comfortable ordeal. 96mm wheels introduce a fair bit of ride height, but it’s still considered a stable and comfortable ride. With 96mm wheels, I worry less about bumps and cracks but wobble starts to happen when riding at top speed. I find myself uncomfortable in pushing over 22mph (35kmh).

Turning and carving on G2T is a real treat. It’s comfortable and relaxing. Carving down a sunset path without any thoughts or worries… makes me feel like singing.

Again, the option to pick your wheel size really helps!

Vibration

There is a stretch of road that has the roughest pavement near my usual ride path. I took all my boards there to compare how they handle the vibration.

Backfire G2T scores a healthy B+, which was beyond my expectations. Typically the hub motor, 83mm wheel and relatively stiff deck aren’t the best recipe for a good vibration absorbing system.

Perhaps the soft silica gel shock pad and the high quality urethane wheel is to be thanked here.

Swapping to 96mm wheels further improves vibration dampening to A- grade.

Remote

This remote is a return to the design concept of the original Backfire G2. Of course it is a lot more improved than the G2 remote.

It features soft touch rubber to give the remote a more premium feel. It’s a tad bit big for my hand but still comfortable to hold. The thumb wheel is snappy with good travel and without any dead zone. The reverse switch is placed at the bottom with no risk of any accidental trigger. The turbo mode button is located at the side which can easily be reached by the finger.

Pressing the power button when riding triggers the cruise control, which can be disengaged by moving the thumbwheel in any direction. (I suggest acceleration to disengage as the board will behave more predictably.)

The biggest ‘Wow’ factor here is, of course, the OLED screen showing the speed, range and other telemetries. You can change between metric (mph/kmh) and wheel size by repairing your remote with your board.

All of these features makes a useful remote, and of course, as always, there is no disconnection.

Riding Experience Summary

Backfire G2T is a very fun and comfortable ride. There isn’t much to nitpick on. It has fairly good acceleration, perfectly tuned brakes, and a stable and predictable ride- thanks to the Caliber II trucks.

Some riders may see 83mm as too small to confidently ride through unpredictable terrain. Others may feel 96mm is too sluggish and too tall for a stable high-speed ride.

Having both wheel options right out of the box negates both of those complaints. However, I wish I could have a 90mm option too. I find that 90mm is just right for me.

Capability

Backfire G2T gives an overall polish and attention to detail than that of it’s rival premium boards.

When doing a side by side comparison with industry leaders such as Boosted, Evolve and Raptors 2… you will find that G2T gives a huge bang for the buck.

Range

Backfire G2T uses 10S2p Samsung 30Q batteries. This translates to 6.0AH or 216WH battery pack. For those who are not sure what that means, you can take a quick read of my “short battery guide for beginners”, or take my word for it when I say it’s a great battery pack.

  • On 83mm wheels I get around 15miles (24.7km) with an average speed of 12.5mph (20kmh).
  • On 96mm wheels, I get around 13 miles (20.8km) with an average speed of 15.8mph (25.5kmh).

With this Samsung 30Q battery pack, voltage sag isn’t noticeable until the last 25% of battery when the top speed drops by around 10%. It’s only the last 5 minutes of the ride when the board experiences a significant slowdown, signaling you that it’s time to stop.

PS: As a rule of thumb in estimating range, use the formula -> watt hour/10 = expected range in km.

*I weigh around 165lbs (75kg) and was riding in a mostly flat area in a warm climate. 

  • 83mm wheels
  • 96mm wheels

Speed

  • Marketed top speed of 23.5mph (38kmh) is the top speed.
  • My top speed test give a better result than the marketed number:
    • Standard mode 83mm wheels: 23.5mph (38kmh)
    • Turbo mode 83mm wheels: 26mph (41.8kmh)
    • Standard mode 96mm wheels: 26mph (42kmh)
    • Turbo mode 96mm wheels: 27.3mph (44kmh)
      • Probably can go faster if I muster the guts to floor it.
  • Again, I weigh 165lbs (75kg). Heavier rider would see a tiny drop in top speed.

Torque

The dual 350W motors are really good and silent too.

Even in the standard mode and with the bigger 96mm wheels, the board handles our stop and go test on a 15% incline without breaking a sweat.

Customer Service

There is a warehouse in Richmond, L.A., and Hamburg. So once the G2T is stock up there, a buyer can expect the board to arrive in 3-5 working days.

Customer Service is handled by local teams. This is always good news to those near the area.

  • USA – Richmond
  • Europe – Hamburg
  • Anywhere else – China

While Backfire as a company didn’t leave the best first impression when they first launched the Backfire G2, their customer communication definitely improved with more experience. Their handling of vibration issues with G2S is fair and their Ranger X1 is a successful product without controversies.

I am hopeful that they will serve their customers well.

Verdict

Backfire G2T is a complete package:

  • The board is put together with shine;
  • The riding experience is top tier;
  • The wheels size option allows G2T to be versatile for both smooth and rough pavement;
  • To top it off, Backfire offers good customer service and buying experience.

The only nick pick that I could offer is a better implementation of the turbo mode.

Asking for $599, Backfire G2T was made for those who is looking for something better than the $400 entry level board without breaking the bank.

And as no cheaper board are as good as the G2T and no premium board is too much better than it, it’s without a doubt, at this moment, the best board in the mid-tier price range.

Get 10USD off via this affiliated discount link and use code “ESKATEHQ” during checkout,
and do come back here and share your experience!

Posted on by Sophia Tung

Exway X1 Pro Review – An Absolute Riot

Follow the discussion on Reddit here

If you want the TL;DR, see end of review

Some Background

Every day, my daily commute involves one of two vehicles: the original Exway X1 or the Speedway V. If it’s raining or if I’m otherwise unable to skate, I take the Speedway. However, if it is at all possible, I take the Exway.

I really like the board. It’s my de-facto commuter vehicle. Many an errand has been run on it, and it’s even survived being run over by a car. The only real issue I take with it is the fact that in a city like San Francisco with hills all over the place, the X1’s range can become a bit short depending on where you’re going, something like 4-5 miles of hard riding. Pair this with the 85mm wheel upgrade, a necessary upgrade to make roads as bad as these bearable, and you will start wishing for a bigger battery.

So What Did Exway Do About It?

A while back, a certain person from Exway China came to visit Exway USA here in San Francisco. I talked with this person at length, and learned two things. The first was a fast charger that would charge the X1 in just under half an hour flat. The second was a long range version of the X1 called the X1 Pro. Of course, I was excited about the fast charger and picked one up as soon as I could, but I was really excited about the X1 Pro. I mean, fast charging is great, but it would be even greater if you had to do less of it.

Around half a year later, here we are. The X1 Pro is now shipping, and boy have things changed.

So What’s Changed?

The original Exway, which I reviewed here, was a light platform with excellent handling at speed. The usage of Seismic skate hardware made for a stellar ride and the durable construction easily withstood abuse. Precise control was achieved through the pairing of a well designed remote and a reliable FOC based ESC, and I’m happy to say that the remote hasn’t failed or cut out on me once.

With the X1 Pro, I’m glad to report that none of that has changed. The hardware remains just as good as before. However, that’s not to say that Exway hasn’t included a few significant improvements to makes the X1 Pro a worthy big brother to the X1. Right out of the box, the board simply feels more solid. The standard 85mm wheels are the perfect size for balancing agility with ride comfort, and with Turbo mode on, maxing out top speed felt fun.

Perhaps the biggest change though, is the extended range. I no longer have to start each ride by planning how I needed to get where I needed to go, I can now simply just go and not really have to worry about range, since I regularly get around 9 miles give or take a mile. It’s very freeing. I do still carry the fast charger with me sometimes when I know I’m going to be out for a while, but I no longer stress if I forget it.

OK, But There’s Gotta Be Tradeoffs Right?

Of course. You don’t just get extended range and increased power without sacrifice. The sacrifice in this case, however, comes in the form of a slightly heavier and thicker board. When I read about the changes, I didn’t think it would be dramatic. And to be honest, I still don’t. You definitely will notice it if you’re coming from an X1 though.

So Has Performance Really Increased Like They Said?

Yes. With the X1 Pro, we see improvements in range, torque, and top speed. With increased torque, I’m climbing hills that I was previously not able to climb at all. Range almost doubled judging by my range tests, which is good news! The most impressive though, I think, is how they managed to eke out an even higher top speed. I’ve hit 30MPH and beyond on the X1 Pro drag racing the industry standard Boosted Board. More on this later.

…So What About Riot?

Ah, Riot. When I first heard this codeword, I was just as curious as most people. I thought, when I first heard it in context, that it would be a light system or something. Now I’m not not a fan of lights on a board, but I’m no longer easily impressed on that front as there are many good options out there now.

However, when I heard that it was actually a whole hot-swappable drivetrain module, and that it was a belt drive, I immediately became excited. Thus far, I haven’t seen any mid-range belt driven boards anywhere close to the X1’s level of polish. If Exway pulls this off, they will have an even more appealing product on their hands.

“Well why would you want a belt driven board Sof?” you may ask. Let me explain.

The main appeals of belt driven boards are twofold: torque and full urethane drive wheels. Gearing ratios mean you have control over geared speed and torque. This means you can climb steeper hills, take off the line harder, and hit higher top speeds faster. Fully urethane drive wheels mean you will have a way more comfortable ride since you’ve got more urethane between you and the road. The downside of course means that now there are belts that may wear out or snap, but those events do not occur often with correctly set up belt systems.

But anyways, without further delay, let me present you an exclusive preview of Riot, the X1 Pro’s hot-swappable, belt-drive module.

First, let’s get some specs out of the way.

  • Dual 5255 motors with 4235 stators (for reference 5065 motors have 4035 stators)
  • 200KV winding
  • 1:2.57 gear ratio
  • 255-5m-10 belts
  • 5.2nm^2 of torque
  • Rear mountable for better pothole and curb clearance

Impressive stuff on such a diminutive form factor. What does it look like then?

Really nice stuff.

So does it perform?

Hell yes it does.

The best way to understand it would be to take a look at the drag race video I put together below with my friend Neil. We tried to even the variables as much as possible, which is why I’m wearing a weighted backpack and Neil is wearing nothing. Neil is around 160LB and I was around 150LB with the backpack. Racing against the Boosted Dual+ and the Stealth, the X1 Pro just fucks off.

Well that’s pretty impressive. I’m convinced. Where do I get Riot?

It’ll be available as an add-on to the X1 Pro April 2019.

So you recommend the X1 Pro?

Yes. The X1 Pro is a board designed with intention and attention to detail. It is the ideal board for an urban commuter who wants to also have fun all the time. If you are that person, the X1 Pro should be at the top of your prospective purchases list.

Posted on by Sophia Tung

EFlow X2 Electric Cruiser – “It’s Fine”

He sniff

Follow the discussion on Reddit here

If you want the TL;DR, see end of review

Let’s talk about “China Boards”

Meepo. Wowgo. Ownboard. Teamgee. There are countless “brands” that are putting out boards that sell at cheap prices but have off the shelf components. These boards flood the low end market, resulting in very similar products, the only differentiating factor at times being the form factor. In this review, we’re taking a look at one such product, the EFlow Electric Cruiser X2.

Due to the nature of these types of boards, I’m going to write this review somewhat differently than my previous ones. I’m going to use a bullet point format as an experiment. Sections will consist of Features, Test Results, Pros, Cons, and Closing Thoughts. I will also do a mini teardown so y’all curious peekers can see what goes into these types of boards.

He pose

Features

  • Dual hub motors
  • 17mph advertised top speed
  • 3 ride modes
  • Standard “Boosted style” Hobbywing remote
  • Tiny form factor
  • 25% incline
  • IP65 liquid and dust rersistance
  • 10.8lb weight
  • Distinctive look and feel
  • Plastic deck construction with integrated enclosure
  • 10S1P Samsung INR18650-25R battery pack

Test Results

  • Extremely tiny platform suitable for low speed, low traffic density, low range transportation
  • Hobbywing remote paired with FOC based ESC makes for inoffensive board control
  • Eked out 3.5 miles of real world riding on top speed mode on hilly terrain
  • Truck and wheel hardware is just “fine”, stock bushings were atrocious
  • Dual hub motors do not provide much torque, not unexpected on a 1P battery setup. Steepest I was able to take it up was around 20% or so.

Teardown

On the test bench
11 screws hold the electronics cover closed
Some important bits labeled. Potted electronics… dangit
We can see it’s a 10S1P pack, but besides the cells being made by Samsung, we don’t really know anything else. Let’s find out!
Huge BMS for a 10S1P running the entire length of the pack
Cutting through the fishpaper reveals that they’re 25R cells, a relatively low discharge model for low power draw electronics and possibly quite a big of sag…

Pros

  • Extreme small size makes it easy to carry anywhere and unobtrusive to store
  • Built in rails under the deck contribute to ease of carry
  • Relatively quick charge time on a 2A charger due to smaller battery pack
  • Rock solid remote and control scheme due to Hobbywing ESC and remote
  • Inoffensive all-in-one package makes for a great errand board or campus cruiser
  • Kicktail is effective for what it is

Cons

  • Lack of top end, torque, and platform area means it’s annoying to ride across more varied terrain
  • Silver paint job on the plastic deck is very easy to scratch off, looks and feels cheap up close
  • Every time I use the kicktail I get scared I’m going to snap it off. Seems to be more for aesthetic than actual use

Closing Thoughts

  • Honestly, most everything about this board is just “fine”
  • If you know what you’re getting into in terms of range and use case, you will enjoy it
  • Be careful with the kicktail
Posted on by Sophia Tung

Unlimited Eon R Kit vs. Mellow Drive: The Ultimate Showdown

Follow the discussion on Reddit here

If you want the TL;DR, see end of review

Update from Paxson:
On 10th July 2019, Unlimited announced the fusion between them and the Loaded. Hence born Unlimited X Loaded. You can read about the news and the changes on Unlimited after the update here.
The following post is written prior to the update, but almost all of it stays relevant.

The Rundown: Mellow Drive (April 2018)

Note: The version of the Mellow Drive I reviewed was from before their switch to paid software unlocks. I will not be covering that in this review.

The Mellow Drive. The swappable, flexible drive kit that started everything. Originally conceived as a Kickstarter project and funded on June 11th, 2015, it’s famous for enabling the dream of turning any board electric. The dream was within reach!

The hardware engineering on the Mellow Drive is flawless. Heavy, durable construction can be consistently used to describe every facet of the physical product. It’s impressive, really, how nice the drive unit itself feels in the hand. It’s so hefty and solid in fact that I would say you can knock somebody out with it.

The battery packs are well engineered as well. 7S2P and each with its own BMS, they’re water resistant up to IP65. I was given two batteries to test, and had no difficulty carrying one in a small backpack to swap out on rides. At under 99Wh, they fall below most airlines’ safety regulations and so can be carried onto planes to double as a battery pack to charge your stuff (USB port is included on each pack).

The Mellow app provides a really nice interface for looking at vital information on the fly. Setup is easy. All you have to do is connect the app to the Drive. Software updates are also provided this way, and are pretty easy to apply. During troubleshooting sessions with Mellow, the level of access they were able to obtain through the app was astounding. It’s really all a very, very nice setup.

The Rundown: Unlimited Eon R Kit

If the Mellow Drive is the ruling big brother from Germany, the Unlimited Eon is the underdog younger brother from Spain.

Where Mellow went for the one piece design, Unlimited went for the fully modular approach. The entire drive system is meant to fit on almost any setup you can think of. The hubs are designed to be installable on almost any truck, and the battery and ESC setup under almost any deck. The only limitations are drop decks and trucks with non-standard axles, such as the 10mm on Surf-Rodz.

Speaking of the battery and ESC setup, I’m quite impressed with their forward thinking approach. Each ESC runs FOC and comes in a pigtailed module that connects to each other via an external CANbus module. That same middleman module also allows the ESCs to connect to the battery modules, which are each 10s1p packs with their own BMS and rated IP65. What this means is you can have ultimate flexibility in your setup. Want to optimize for mileage? Run one ESC with two batteries. Want to optimize for board weight? Run one ESC with one battery and carry the extra one. Want power? Slap both batteries and ESCs on there my dude. It’s also worth noting that the batteries come with USB ports for charging devices as well. Unlimited does provide a fast charger, although only a 3A fast charger as the internal PCB traces may burn at a higher amperage I’m told.

Unlimited does have an app, though it’s only a very basic one for updating firmwares. I was not able to test it as I had to return my review unit before the app was released, but I was able to take a look at it after the fact and can only assume it works though the interface is extremely utilitarian.

The Matchup: Flexibility

Consider: any deck? or any deck and any truck? I’ll take the latter please. The Unlimited hub system is really a game changing system. Easy to install on almost anything with no modifications and easy to remove after, I was able to put it in many ridiculous configurations and setups. At one point I even put it on a G|Bomb push pumping setup.

The Matchup: Cruise

Living in San Francisco means it’s much easier to get from point A to point B using alternative transportation methods due to traffic and street layout. However, the frequent and frequently steep hills means that it takes a vehicle with decent power and good brakes to get up and down those hills to cross town. Unfortunately for Mellow, it sort of all starts to fall apart once you start maneuvering those hills. The max hill grade for the Mellow Drive is about 20%, or 11-12 degrees. I found this to be true most of the time, although many times the Drive would start beeping at me and slowing down going up a 9-10 degree hill, and I’m not even that heavy (125lb). The Unlimited kit would power up the same hills no problem, though even though it’s rated for 36% grade hills (20 degree), it can’t reasonably power up anything more than 25%.

Going downhill sucks as well on the Mellow Drive. Often times, I have to brake down a hill and stop at an intersection while still on the hill. The Mellow Drive does this thing where it will actually cut brakes once you drop below a certain ERPM. What this effectively means is that I will almost stop at an intersection then the brakes will suddenly let go and I’ll start rolling again. It got to the point where I had to start relying on foot braking more than the actual brakes. The Unlimited R Kit didn’t have these issues, though the brakes on both drive units were pretty weak so weren’t that effective at stopping you anyways.

There’s also a feature that stops the Mellow Drive from accelerating without a rider on it, although it doesn’t always work. I’ve had the Drive shoot into traffic a couple times, as well as cut power while I was doing some heavy acceleration. I did bring the issue up to Mellow, and the response I got back after much troubleshooting was that I was likely too light and that it wasn’t likely to be fixed. Welp.

Where the Mellow Drive really shines, though, is flat, wide open spaces where I can just crank the throttle all the way up and carve. There’s no other feeling that can come close to carving at speed on a smooth, long road devoid of pedestrians, and the Mellow Drive simply delivers on that front. While testing, I found zen by going to Crissy Field, turning on Endless mode, and just carving without having to deal with a remote. While the R Kit does also have cruise control capabilities, it doesn’t feel as refined and sort of “jerks” into the mode when the button is held and vibrates when it’s activated while not moving, a side effect of unsensored motors. In comparison, the cruise mode on the Mellow simply feels a lot more refined.

The Matchup: Performance

There’s no question the R Kit is simply way more performant than the Mellow Drive. Off the line, the R Kit can put out more torque and so wins straight up. The R Kit hub motors are pretty strong and though it is unsensored (mandating kick pushing off the line to get started), the R Kit takes off faster once the ESC catches.

Now, you must allow me to rant a little bit as I’m passionate about this subject. Personally, I’m not a fan of unsensored motors for eskate. In a city like San Francisco (and this is true for any dense urban environment as well), having the ability to accelerate from standstill without having to kickpush is a godsend. Often times, it’s hard to achieve an acceptable speed kickpushing uphill for the ESC to discover the stator position, which means you can’t accelerate. Sensored motors solve this problem handily and I don’t quite understand why they still aren’t considered standard.

Unsensored motors aside, riding hard on the highest speed modes finds that the R Kit lasts longer (though not that much longer) than the Mellow on one battery. This makes sense since the R Kit technically has six more cells than the Mellow Drive. There is a caveat to this though, which is the fact that we’re comparing two physical batteries for the R Kit to one physical battery for the Mellow. If you want to swap batteries for the R Kit and carry extra batteries with you, you will need to carry two physical batteries vs. the one battery for the Mellow Drive.

The Matchup: Remote

Now we must discuss a huge sticking point for most electric skateboards: the remote. The Mellow Drive remote is… not too great. While it does have a rock solid connection, the remote is largely ruined by its form factor and ergonomics. The slide mechanism, while novel, is not great in practice. It often sticks and yields less than ideal control, and while Mellow has done throttle control smoothing to try and remedy the issue, it just doesn’t induce confidence.

It’s also often hard to see what mode you’re in in direct sunlight. The mode indicators are hard to read, and there’s no speed indication, an unfortunate omission.

On the other hand, the Unlimited remote is ergonomic and fits quite well in my small hands. It uses a more traditional thumbwheel with nub based approach, and really is quite well designed. Again, rock solid connection here, and the integrated display is quite readable in direct sunlight. This isn’t to say that I don’t take issue with some aspects of the design, however. The battery indicator on the remote showing the R Kit’s battery status never quite reached full. At first I thought it might be a pack balancing issue, but I was not able to fix it even if I charged the batteries separately. Navigating settings was also a slight bit difficult due to a combination of slightly questionable English translations and settings bugs, chief amongst which was I wasn’t able to get the measurement units settings to persist across remote restarts. This was supposed to be fixed in an upcoming update, though I never saw the update. There is also a cruise control button on the remote, though I found it funny that it would just vibrate the motors if you pressed it while standing still.

The Verdict

In the end, it depends on what you’re after. I can’t speak to the durability of the R Kit, but I’ve heard good things about how much the Mellow Drive can take a beating. I can’t speak to the effectiveness of the friction mount system employed by Unlimited in their hub motor mounting system, but I have never had an issue while using my review unit. If you’re looking for power, Unlimited might be a good bet. If you’re looking to just cruise on mostly flat terrain, Endless Mode on the Mellow Drive is very enticing.

TL;DR

I’ve included a pared down version of my notes that I took while reviewing the two drive kits. Use them as a tl;dr of the above.

As of September 2019

Mellow Notes:

  • Sensored but no standing start, cites safety but is major inconvenience
  • No-rider safety braking system works most of the time but not all the time, board shoots into traffic
  • Braking doesn’t work without weight, and cuts off once drive senses you’re adequately slow. Weird when going down hill and reaching bottom. when board rolls away you have to chase it instead of just braking
  • Push start is a bit unforgiving. You can only kick it once, kick it twice and you’ll likely lose your balance
  • Remote slide mechanism is a bit “tacky”, not a completely smooth as I’d hoped, otherwise pretty effective Remote
  • Onboarding UX is excellent. UX in general is excellent for the most part, including in app. Too many manufacturers forget about the UX part
  • Batteries feel solid this time around, unlikely to fall out
  • Doesn’t run for very long on top power mode

Unlimited R Kit Notes:

  • Unsensored, must push above certain erpm to start, big dislike
  • Lightweight and properly powerful
  • Pretty small and nice remote
  • Hub motors were mountable on any truck I tried, very solidly built and clever securing mechanism. Super innovative
  • Custom built ESC they call “MESC”, R kit links dual MESCs together via CANbus, passthrough charging multiple packs at once. Very clever.
  • UX was a bit confusing and felt unpolished
  • App launched as of 12/07/18, feels super unfinished, was not able to test if functional
  • Unable to use faster charger than 3A because charging traces may burn internally
  • Batteries last an ok distance on top power mode, 8-9 miles

Note On Unlimited Kit Availability

While Unlimited kits have been shipping, the R kit is currently unavailable for purchase. Unlimited states the following: “We are currently manufacturing a big batch of product that we are hoping to have available during spring to summer.”

Update by Paxson:
Along with the announcement of Unlimited X Loaded, Unlimited Kits are now available for purchase. Finally, the wait is over.
Check out Unlimited X Loaded here.

Posted on by Paxson Lim

Meepo Classic – A classic in the making

Foreword

Meepo has decided to end 2018 strong by releasing the 4th generation of their base line-up, Meepo Classic.

After staying with the old standard look for the past 3 generation, Meepo finally decided to switch things up and give us something much different in terms of looks, feels and fun. 

Introduction to MeepoBoards

Honestly, I do not think MeepoBoards needs any further introductions.

It is the brand that ignited the budget board market back in August 2017.
It is also the leading electric skateboard brand coming out of the China market.

Through this one short year, Kieran, the founder, has grown MeepoBoard from a small 3 person team to a full-fledged electric skateboard powerhouse.

Hey, we actually interviewed his 3 person operation back when he was just starting out with his original Meepo!

Meepo Classic Review

Meepo Classic stays true to its principle on delivery of a huge value for the price tag:

  • Top Speed: 25mph (40kmh)
  • Range: 11mil (18km)
  • Weight: 16lbs (7.2kg)
  • Charge Time: 3hrs
  • Features: 2 hub motors, weatherproof, Regenerative braking, handles up to 30% slope.
  • Price: less than 450 USD with shipping included.

Build Quality

Packaging

The elephant in the room will be how Meepo cloned the box design from the Enertion Raptor. 

Well.. bad Meepo.

So they have a really pretty box now. That’s a fact now.

The unboxing experience is actually awesome and that’s not something I say often about a Chinese budget board.

The inside of the box is pretty neat. It comes packed with appropriate use of an adequate amount of foam padding to keep the board protected.

The board also comes with T-Tool, an Allan key, a wrist band, some stickers, some name cards and- as per tradition- some extra foam padding for deck swap which I don’t think you should be using because spoiler alert… the deck is awesome.

Deck

I love this 9 ply maple deck that Meepo Classic is using. It’s easily the best quality deck on any budget board. 

It’s a gorgeous drop-through deck with a rocker and a nice concave. Standing and controlling the board is so comfortable with the low ride height and the concave on the board.

Height clearance might be a concern, this photo is taken over a speed ramp

It does have some flex to it, but understandably not very much, as it’s already so close to the ground.

Flex enough to scrap the ground…

The grip tape is nice too- not too harsh on skin or fabric. 

Love it, love it.

Component Enclosures and ESC

Meepo Classic stayed with the classic plastic enclosure.

This is supposed to be lighter but I would prefer them swapping over to the steel enclosure because plastics do crack over time and getting hit to the ground repeatedly is just going to accelerate that.

This is a drop-through deck with a rocker that gave only 1cm ground clearance after all.

After the first production run with LiYing ESC, Meepo decided to permanently switch to the Hobbywing ESC, which is the world’s favorite affordable ESC right now. We will get into its performance later in the riding experience section.

  • Old LiYing ESC
  • New Hobbywing ESC

Wheels

Meepo Classic continues to use the same 90mm size hub and wheels, which is the industry norm right now.

The front wheel is 78A, and is as good as any stock wheel can get.

The hub motors has received an upgrade over the V2. It was said to be improved from the last version in quality and power. The PU sleeves is swappable, and the PU sleeves will only set you back 19USD(shipped) per sleeves to replace.

Although the bearing on the Meepo wasn’t branded, on a side by side comparison it rolls better than most generic boards. The bearing is manufactured by C&U Group, a name that might mean something to somebody else, not to me though.

Trucks

For the trucks, the Meepo Classic uses the Shredder trucks, which is a clone of Bear Kodiak trucks. (Of course, it’s not a forged truck like the bears truck is.)

Shredder trucks are practically my favorite budget trucks right now. It allows the use of tall barrel bushing. I find even in stock setting, Shredder trucks gave a better return to the center and are more springy than any non-branded trucks.

In fact, I would consider swapping all of my budget board electric skateboards to shredder trucks… that’s the extent of how much I like them.

Riding Experience:

Acceleration and Deceleration

There are 3 ride modes:

  1. Slow mode with a top speed of 12.4mph/20kmh
  2. Medium mode with a top speed of 18.6mph/ 30kmh
  3. Fast mode with a top speed of 25mph/ 40kmh

After adamantly sticking to the ‘LingYi’ ESC for so long, Meepo made a last minute change and transitioned to the more popular HobbyWing ESC – at least for the Meepo Classic.

I have reviewed both versions of this board and I would say this is a very welcomed change.

The Hobbywing ESC is famous for its butter smooth speed changes, precise control with no latency and consistent behavior in the whole speed range.
Some say this control is even better than the Boosted, which is the highest praise that can be offered.

This translates to a very comfortable ride. The board behaves precisely as you will let it, much in distinction to the initial ‘LingYi’ ESC version- which has acceleration come in a delayed “wave” and are more aggressive in both acceleration and deceleration.

It is worth noting that Hobbywing ESC are also known to have smooth and gentle braking that might be a bit too weak for some. I for one have developed a taste for strong, aggressive braking with time and truly miss the initial ‘LingYi’ version that brakes so strong the wheel almost slides.

The idea of the new Hobbywing ESC being precise and lag-less also means that it doesn’t introduce any delay to gradually ramping up the speed when you trigger the throttle. That means, the board has a very zappy nature. A beginner without good throttle control might feel threatened by how the board zaps away if they push the throttle too hard.

But don’t worry, the majority of beginner riders learn and love this control in just a few rides.

With all that said, the final version of Meepo Classic with Hobbywing ESC is still the best version of Meepo, catering well to both beginners and most advanced riders.

Stability & Maneuverability

(Left) Meepo Classic are a little bit lower than the also very nice (right) Verreal F1

It’s no surprise that a drop-through deck makes the most stable ride.

Being inches from the ground really makes keeping balance much easier.

The shredder trucks allow very nice rebound to center when turning. However, stock bushing might be too soft and trucks too loose, to be a top speed machine. Just by tightening the trucks, the board will be more stable for top speed yet carvy enough for turns.

The shredder trucks gave really great turning and carving. Perhaps it is the use of tall barrel bushings or perhaps it’s all about the trucks. Either way, the Meepo Classic is fun to carve, easy to turn, and it does that well without compromising on stability.

Vibration

I call this path the foot massage. The engineer who is responsible for this road should be executed.

Although the deck doesn’t have the most flex in the world, it does have enough of it. That plus the thickness of having 9 plies of Maple deck is thick enough to absorb some of those vibrations.

As a matter of fact, I would give Meepo Classic an A- in vibration handling. It’s pretty good, as good as it gets on hubs.

It’s by far the most comfortable ride on a poor road amongst all the budget boards I’ve tested.

Remote

Changing from the ‘LingYi’ ESC to the HobbyWing ESC means a different remote.

The Meepo Classic will use the standard remote that every other HobbyWing board uses.

I have no complaint though (except now I have to label every one them cause they are the same), cause it is a very good remote.

Looks nice and feels nice in hand.

Good springing dial with a reasonable amount of travel.

Reverse button is at the side so there is no accidental press.

It is a simple remote without many bells and whistles, but importantly without connection issues either.

P.S.: No flashlight, that’s NLS.

Riding Experience Summary

Even if you are not a sucker for drop-through deck like me, the ride that you can get on Meepo Classic will likely still impress you.

  • Deck swapped Backfire G2S on double riser, VS AEboard AE1 with micro-drop deck, vs drop-through + rocker deck of Meepo Classic. See how huge is the difference is!

Smooth acceleration and braking profile, use of a very responsive Shredder Trucks, awesome deck with good concave, Meepo Classic is an enjoyable ride!

For a hub board, it even handles poor riding surfaces fairly well!

Capability

Meepo Classic retained the very competitive states of it’s predecessor.

Note: Going with HobbyWing ESC means Meepo Classic will not have the smart turn on (roll to power on the board) features. Sad.

Range

Meepo Classic is rocking a 4.0AH 144Wh battery pack.

My range test gets me 9miles (14.5km) with an average speed of 15miles(24.5km).

Voltage sag is not a huge issue with the top speed maintaining at near 25mph(40kmh) up to the very last 0.5miles (1 kilometer).

By the way, this board pushes until the very end. When the battery starts to beep, it means it’s not long before it must stop. Don’t push the range if you are not preparing to kick pushes.

Actually I ride mostly near 18.5mph(30kmh), the stopping dragged the Avg speed down

PS: As a rule of thumb in estimating range, use the formula -> watt hour/10 = expected range in km.

*I weigh around 165lbs (75kg) and was riding in a mostly flat area in a warm climate. 

Speed

Hitting the marketed top speed 25mph/40kmh is not a problem. You will get there really fast on a full charge, and a bit slower when the battery isn’t full, but you will get there.

Voltage sag only appears minutes before the board stops, so that’s really awesome.

Torque

The Meepo Classic’s dual 400W hub motors work about the same as the other Chinese budget boards.

It can handle most incline, and our standard stop and go test, on a 15% graded incline and it poses no challenge to it.

Customer Service

Generally speaking, Meepo’s has some of the better customer service among the budget brands. You can reach them via Facebook, via Wechat, via mail and there are a few brand ambassadors that can help you solve your problem.

However, being the best selling budget board brand means they have a lot more customers to serve and from time to time experience lapses in their customer service.

But you can eventually get through to them. Even when they reply slow, you can still be assured that they will do the right things by the customers.

The most valuable part about buying the Meepo is the Meepo community. Every potential issue will be exposed and solution found by the community members. Some weird rattling noise? Someone who had that problem knows the exact solution.Want to do some DIY upgrade? Chances are there is already a guide or Facebook post about it.
When you buy a Meepo, you will never be alone.

Verdict

As the Meepo moves away from the ‘LingYi’ ESC to the HobbyWing ESC, it became very difficult to find anything to nitpick on.

Let me get down to brass tacks, I think Meepo Classic is the best affordable eskate on the market for now, for most people.

With the Classic, Meepo had really came a long way and learnt from the mistake of its previous product. The result is gonna be a new classic indeed.

Gone are the scrappy packaging and garage quality finishing. Now the whole product is tip-top from the package down to the board itself.

Gone are the harsh aggressive control. As Meepo embraces the popular HobbyWing ESC (at least for the Classic) that are both smoother and more precise.

Gone are the weird convex deck that inspires the deck-swap movement. The Meepo Classic now rocks one of the best deck you can find on a production board.

And this complete package is only asking for the standard $430 entry level budget board price! Crazy!

I have no hesitation in recommending Meepo Classic to anyone looking for an electric skateboard. This board for now, until something better eventually comes along, are the best option for most people and should be the first consideration when looking for a board.

Visit MeepoBoard @ www.meepoboard.com