All Terrain Archives - Electric Skateboard HQ

August 14, 2023August 19, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Propel Pivot S Electric Skateboard Review: A Balanced Perspective

Today, we will be reviewing the Propel Pivot S.

On July 2023, Propel, a brand that’s gained quite a following for its powerful off-terrain suspension boards and its top-tier post-sales service, is now stepping into the 2-in-1 arena with the Pivot S and the Pivot GT.

There are many boards out there that have adopted the Evolve formula (Double drop deck + DKP trucks + 2 in 1 wheel), but we haven’t seen any brand make one at the price that Propel is selling Pivot S for.

Pivot S starts at $799 for the base version and $999 for the 2-in-1 package.
(The 2-in-1 package comes with both the 97mm street wheels and the 155mm wheels.)

Now, a lower price means nothing if Propel skimmed on the specs, but this doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Propel Pivot S – Specifications

Price	$799 (Street) $999 (2 in 1)
Battery	518Wh, 12S3P, Lishen LR2170SA
Controller	55A LingYi ESC
Top Speed	36mph(60kph)
Range	97mm: 26.5miles (44km) 155mm: 54 miles (87km)
Deck	Carbon hybrid BVR Unibody
Motor	2×6374 Motors/ Belt Drive
Net Weight	25.3lbs (11.5KG)

Deck – “BVR Deck”

At first glance, the Pivot S’s double-drop deck immediately grabs your attention with its carbon fiber and fiberglass build. It has that sleek, unibody design with no unsightly enclosure sticking out. Propel called this deck BVR “Bad Vibe Reduction” deck and said that by including fiberglass in the deck material, it would dampen road vibrations. Will it work? We shall see.

On the deck, there is the foam tape padding which gives a helping hand in cushioning those road vibrations on this stiff deck.

Stepping on Propel Pivot S — *Foam grip tape*

It’s around 43 inches long and 10.7 inches wide, broader than most longboard decks. And while it does have a sweet concave, the center of the deck stays pretty flat.

ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) – LingYi ESC:

Flipping the board over, you’re met with easy access to the ESC compartment, which can be popped open with five screws. Propel went for the LingYi ESC in this model, and currently, it’s paired with the standard LingYi ESC remote.

Propel Pivot S ESC assess point — 5 screws to access the ESC

It’s rather jarring that a premium carbon fiber board ended with the most generic and cheap looking remote, but luckily a new remote is on its way to replace this one soon. We’ve seen the prototype, and it’s better. Anyways, this is just a cosmetic issue, as the generic LingYi ESC was functionally perfect, no connectivity issues, durable, good battery life.

Generic Remote of the Propel Pivot S — something better-looking will replace this remote, soon.

As always, the LingYi ESC comes with ‘push to start’ features meaning the board fires up as soon as those back wheels start rolling. Like other boards with LingYi ESC, you get to choose amongst 4 acceleration modes and 4 braking modes separately, and we will talk about how they felt later.

Battery – Lishen LR2170SA

The Pivot S draws its power from a 12S3P pack with Lishen LR2170SA, 21700 cells. These cells, like those found in other premium boards such as the Exway Atlas Pro and Evolve Hadean.

This gives the board a healthy 518Wh battery, similar to Exway Atlas, and bigger than Evolve GTR’s 504Wh battery.

Propel also went further by adopting a Printed Circuit Board Assembly design with its battery, which eliminates wires. The benefit of the PCBA design is that the battery pack will be more durable, as wire could get dislodged from vibrations.

Range – A healthy 27 miles

The marketing range is 27.3 miles (44km) with 97mm wheels;
and 15.5 miles (25km) with 155mm wheels.

As usual, Propel did not exaggerate the range; our range test with 145lb (65 kg) riders yielded an impressive 14 miles (22km) on the 155mm wheels.

Double-Kingpin Truck – We’ve seen them around.

The Pivot S, like all 2-in-1 electric skateboards, has a double-kingpin truck. It appears to be one of those off-the-shelf double kingpin trucks that work well and are widely used.

Motors – Definitely Powerful!

The Propel Pivot S is powered by two 1375W belt motors. These are huge 6374 motors, and they are incredibly powerful. The board’s top speed is an impressive 37 mph (60 km/h), though we only got up to 28 mph (45 kph) before it got too scary for us. Keep in mind, at high speeds, double kingpin trucks can get wobbly.

Wheels – 97mm or 155mm

The base version features 97mm PU wheels, while the optional $200 upgrade offers 155mm wheels with a Bravura alloy hub.

Accessories – Lights & Pull bars

Pivot S, like many of Propel’s boards, came with integrated brake light, which lights up during brakes. The $999 two-in-one option also comes with a pull bar which you can install.

It should be noted that the board may only be pulled when it is in the AT configuration; pulling it in the street configuration will cause the motor to scrape the ground.

Propel Pivot S motor guard scraping the ground — *In street wheel configuration, the board shouldn’t be pulled.*

You can also buy a headlight kit, which can be integrated into the board, but it’s an additional $150 investment.

Spec Summary:

Propel Pivot S (Street) – $799:

A 12s3p carbon fiber board built with high-quality materials from a brand recognized for excellent customer service feels like a value at $799. In reality, there isn’t another product that compares. A better match would be the $849 14s2p Backfire Zealot S2 or the $999 12s3p Meepo Voyager X. Both boards are more expensive and, as you will see, provide different riding experiences. They also are not carbon fiber electric skateboards.

Read our review of the Backfire Zealot S2 here.

Read our review of the Meepo Voyager X here.

Propel Pivot S (2-in-1) – $999:

Pivot S as a carbon fiber two-in-one all-terrain electric skateboard, on the other hand, competes directly with the similarly priced Exway Atlas at $999. Both have a 518wh battery, and the devil is in the details when it comes to choosing between the two. So let’s next talk about how the board rides.

Riding Experience of the Propel Pivot S:

The Pivot S, like many other electric skateboards debuted this year, is focused on power. When you equip a skateboard built for propelling AT wheels upwards with 97mm urethane wheels, you get a skateboard with plenty of power.

Fortunately, the latest version of LingYi ESC has pretty smooth controls. The first three acceleration modes are, as always, pleasant and easy to use, while the fourth ‘PRO mode’ feels too powerful for the average street rider.

When the throttle is pushed, it punches strongly. Adrenaline junkies will enjoy it, but most riders won’t need to switch to PRO mode unless they’re riding in an all-terrain setup.

The stronger brakes are another advantage of the LingYi ESC. On an incline, LingYi ESC can better stop the wheels, whereas Hobbywing ESC usually can’t hold the board in place and will roll down the slope. This function will be useful if you plan on doing some uphill longboarding, and the Pivot S certainly offers plenty of power for uphill runs!

Besides the nuances of LingYi ESC, the board rides pretty much as well as one would expect from what we’ve seen on paper. The double-drop carbon fiber deck reduces ride height, and we always enjoy riding near the ground.

Some reviewers mentioned that the deck may be too wide and too flat in the middle, and it was uncomfortable for them as they couldn’t feel the deck concave when riding. We don’t share that opinion. The deck is comfortable for us, so I guess this is pretty subjective.

Pivot S’s large, stiff deck helps with the board’s stability, which is important because the dual kingpin trucks can feel wobbly at high speed.

You might feel more comfortable at high speeds if you’re a better rider than us or tighten the trucks further, but I’d recommend against having twin kingpin trucks if your primary goal is to ride quickly. These trucks are undoubtedly great for carving.

BVR “Bad Vibe Reduction” – Still lots of Bad Vibe

Let’s talk about the vibration now. Even with Propel’s best efforts, even going as far as branding the deck THE “Bad Vibe Reduction” deck, foam grip tape, and those massive 97mm wheels, stiff decks feel terrible on uneven roads. We can hear rattling noises and feel road vibrations in our knees. This is just part of the bargain when getting a carbon fiber street setup, so be prepared.

riding shots of Propel Pivot S on poor roads

However, switching to the 155mm all-terrain wheels makes a huge difference. They absorb a lot of road vibrations while maintaining a low-to-the-ground ride experience. It’s quite nice. We’d go so far as to suggest that the AT setup is a must-have for anyone who rides on unpaved roads regularly.

Propel Pivot S versus Exway Atlas:

As previously said, the Propel Pivot S with 155mm wheels will almost certainly be compared to the Exway Atlas. In their all-terrain configuration, both boards will set you back $999.

In comparison, the Exway Atlas has a smoother ride thanks to its Hobbywing ESC and precision CNC-forged axles. It also appears more sophisticated, thanks to its style and abundance of add-on accessories. However, the Propel Pivot S has greater power, while the Exway Atlas has a reputation for being an underpowered all-terrain board. Propel also appears to offer stronger post-sale service at the moment.

Propel Pivot S Verdict:

Once again, Propel didn’t disappoint with the Propel Pivot S. It is a powerful board built well by a reliable brand. For $999, the 2-in-1 package is a pretty good deal for anyone looking for something similar (and better) to the Evolve Carbon GTR.

When it comes to value proposition, the 97mm street set-up of the Pivot S is even better.

Unlike the 2 in 1 setup, which has competition, the street setup Pivot S is virtually unparalleled at $799. There is no other board that comes close to matching the value offered by the Pivot S. If you want a carbon fiber board with double kingpin trucks, Propel Pivot S should be the first choice for anyone shopping in this price range.

If you are interested in buying a Propel, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive 3% 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!

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Acedeck Ares X1 4WD Review – Insane Power and Stability!

Acedeck is a brand new electric skateboard founded in 2022, and they’re not playing around. It entered the market with an all-terrain beast with top-tier specs and looks ready to go head-to-head with the likes of Meepo Hurricane, Exway Atlas, and Ownboard Zeus. It’s pretty funny to us that Acedeck even went along with the Greek God naming trend and named its board after the Greek God of War (not Kratos) – Ares X1.

In this review, we’re going to take a look at the $2049 Acedeck Ares X1 4WD version. Before we challenge the board with real-world scenarios, let’s run through the build and specs real quick!

Acedeck Ares X1 Build and Specs

Deck: Carbon fiber, wide concave
Electronic Speed Controller: 12s customized Hobbywing ESC
Batteries: 14s4p 870wh 16.8 AH Molicel
Marketed Range: 22 miles (35 km) in 4WD; 40 miles (65km) in 2WD
Motors: 6348 3500w Belt
Marketed Top Speed: 37 mph (60 km/h)
Trucks: 11-inch traditional kingpin
Wheels: 8-inch pneumatic

First thing first, let’s talk about the deck. Ares X1 uses a wide concave carbon fiber deck with a beautiful marble finish at the bottom. Carbon fiber decks don’t flex and Acedeck worked this out by installing huge 8-inch pneumatic wheels.

These all-terrain-friendly wheels make sure the board can handle rough terrains. The rims of the wheels are CNC aluminum which should help the board remain stable at speeds.

There are two 12s customized Hobbywing ESC for this board, each of them supporting the powerful belt drive motors. The ESCs have a smart turn-on feature with 4-speed modes.

Powering the board is a huge pack of Molicel 14s4p 870wh 16.8 AH battery pack that gives the board a marketed range of 22 miles (35 km) when using 4WD or 40 miles (65 km) when using 2WD.

Another eskate board that uses Molicel batteries is the Tynee Board Explorer. Read its full review here.

Great range, especially for a 4WD

During our test, our 155 lbs rider managed to get 24 miles or 38 km riding the board aggressively. Kudos to Acedeck for keeping it real with the range.

Although the range wasn’t mindblowing, we’re still pretty satisfied with its stamina considering that it’s a powerful 4WD board with power-hungry motors.

Insane Top Speed

Speaking of motors, the Ares X1 is using big 6348 3500w belt-driven motors so that’s a total of 14,000w of power which is insane. The board is marketed to go up to 37 mph or 60 km/h but we only have the guts to push it to 31 mph or 50km/h.

Ares X1 reaches 31 mph with ease, so we think the board could probably hit the 37 mph it promised, but to be honest, 31 mph is enough for most of us. On a side note, the board also handles that speed with good stability.

Another board with a 35 mph top speed is the Meepo Hurricane. Check out our review here!

Great Stability with Traditional Kingpin Trucks

The secret to that stability comes from the 11-inch wide CNC’d traditional kingpin trucks. Most all-terrain boards copied the Evolve formula and used double kingpin trucks for their all-terrain board. Double Kingpin trucks allow easier turning for the board and serve fun carving.

While this is great when you are riding slowly, riding above 30 mph on double kingpin trucks can be dangerous if you don’t have the necessary skills. With that said, we totally agree with Acedeck’s choice of sacrificing a little bit of carve-y-ness for a lot more stability here.

Acedeck Ares X1 Ride Experience

Now that we have an overview of the specs, let’s ride this monster!

As expected, this board has insane power with super punchy and smooth acceleration. You will still need to be careful not to be thrown off the board when you hit that acceleration.

The same goes for braking, the braking is smooth but because it’s 4WD, it’s insanely strong. So, keep in mind to lean back when you brake hard.

Looking for an AT board that’s cheaper than Acedeck Ares, Exway Atlas, and Meepo Hurricane? Check out our Wowgo AT2 Plus Review here.

Power Made for Conquering Mountain Trails

At first, we feel that this kind of power is a waste because it’s simply too much for most people to handle. But, we completely changed our mind when we took the Acedeck Ares X1 up on a super steep mountain trail. While boards like Meepo Hurricane struggle with overcoming hills, we managed to just blast through the same steep inclines without breaking a sweat on Ares X1.

And, comparing Ares X1 to the non-pro version of Atlas 4WD, we feel the Ares X1 has double the Atlas power. It makes a lot of sense since the God of War should be more powerful than the Titan that holds up the sky.

4WD also means you have a better grip. This will come in handy when carving or when riding through wet roads as you have less chance of skidding. So, if you don’t ride aggressively, you can consider the 2WD version instead and get a much better range with it.

Riding experience on the Ares X1

The wide carbon fiber deck felt pretty comfortable to stand on and does a good job of securing our feet on the board. The traditional kingpin trucks, on the other hand, keep the board’s profile more stable rather than carve-y. When we compare the carving experience to the double kingpin trucks on Exway Atlas, we feel that the Ares X1 is less fun to carve. But, when comparing the stability, Ares X1 wins—hands down.

We tried to change into 115 mm rubber wheels just to check if this will boost Ares X1’s carving ability. Lo and behold, the Ares X1 instantly became a carving machine. The traditional kingpin trucks carve nicely with a good return to the center.

The combination of 4WD, lower center of gravity, and rubber wheels allows reckless carving without worrying about skidding. We recommend the 115 mm rubber wheels if you don’t usually venture off-road and want maximum carving experience with the board.

Off the road, the 8-inch wheels are comfortable enough. It also absorbs most of the road vibrations well. But, when riding on rough rocks, you can still feel the bumpiness of the ride as the board lacks any kind of suspension. Obviously, a bamboo deck would be better in this case but hey, you can’t have it all.

Acedeck Ares X1 VERDICT – Best AT Specs for the Price

Now, to summarize:

The Ares X1 4WD is a powerful all-terrain electric skateboard that focuses on having the best specs you can have with your money. However, since Acedeck is a new brand, we do have reservations about the durability and post-sales service.

Our review unit, like some prototype boards, did come in with battery and remote issues. Nevertheless, Acedeck was proactive in helping us troubleshoot and fix these issues. So far, words on the street are that the company seems to be doing rather well in after-sales care, but only time can tell if they can keep that up.

With that said, if you don’t mind taking the risk to go with a new brand and want a carbon fiber board with insane power, good range, and stability, the Ares X1 should be on your list to consider. After all, it has the performance and the ride quality to justify the price.

If you are interested in buying the Acedeck, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $40 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!

December 29, 2022December 29, 2022 by Paxson Lim

Ecomobl Telum Review – Electric Mountainboard!

Hardcore eskaters will probably tell you that a high-performance electric skateboard should be a Trampa build. These are boards made of flexible carbon fiber with a high camber deck, big pneumatic wheels, and runs with super powerful belt or gear drive motors. More often than not, there is also an electronic box on the top side of the deck.

While a Trampa build may not be the sleek and polished look that appeals to casuals, it is an iconic design that promises super-high performance.

Now, Ecomobl, a brand known for specializing in making affordable all-terrain electric skateboards, just made its very own electric mountainboard with this iconic look. This is the Ecomobl Telum, a $1799 electric mountainboard.

And yes, $1799 is considered affordable for an electric mountainboard with this build and specs. Let’s run through them real quick!

Ecomobl Telum Build and Specs

Deck: carbon fiber deck; flexible with high camber; comes with detachable foot bindings
Electronic Speed Controller: 12s LingYi ESC; 4-speed modes, 4 braking modes
Battery: 768-watt hours battery pack; Samsung 40T cells, 12s4p configuration
Marketed Range: 23 miles or 37 km
Motors: 7000w 170 kV 6382 motors; Ecomobl signature planetary gear drive
Top Speed: 30 mph or 48 km/h
Trucks: Super wide 20-inch trucks
Wheels: 8-inch airless wheels

First, let’s talk about the carbon fiber deck. As we mentioned in the intro, Trampa is responsible for all the hype on this kind of deck. It is flexible with an exaggerated camber arch to absorb road vibration. The board comes with foot bindings that can be installed on the deck. The footbinding is worn with an easy and simple locking mechanism, just strap them on or off the board and voila, it’s done.

ESC Enclosure Above the Deck For Maximum Ground Clearance

Unlike your typical pre-built electric skateboard, mountain boards usually don’t put an electronic enclosure below the deck. This was done to maximize ground clearance. Instead, the electronic box is placed on top of the deck, right in the middle.

There is certainly a lot of juice packed inside this ‘lunch box’. Powering the board is a 768 wh battery pack with good Samsung 40T cells in 12s4p configuration. This battery pack is marketed to provide 23 miles or 37 km of range. During our test, our 155 pounds rider managed to get 30 km when riding aggressively.

For the ESC, Ecomobl Telum uses a customized 12S Lingyi ESC with 4-speed modes and 4 braking modes. We will talk about how they impact the ride later.

Read about another mountainboard – the Propel X4S – here.

Ecomobl Telum’s Signature Planetary Gear Drive at 30MPH

Ecomobl Telum kept its signature planetary gear drive system which can be found on most of their boards. These 7000w 170 kV 6382 motors allow the board to go to 48 km/h or 30 mph which we managed to hit with ease and comfort as the board is very stable.

Speaking of stability, the board uses super-wide 20-inch trucks. This allows the board to be stable at faster speed modes but also means that it’s not going to be easy to turn. So, this is where the footbinding comes in clutch as it allows you to lean aggressively to turn the board.

And, if that’s not enough, you can jump to turn but definitely commit to your leg days since the board weighs 39 lbs or 17.6 kg.

Integrated Front and Tail Lights for Superb Night Rides

Ecomobl Telum also comes with integrated front and taillights. These lights are more useful than you might think, and they are super bright. Look! It’s even brighter than some car’s headlights.

And, having an integrated lighting system is super convenient. For starters, you don’t have to charge them separately. Plus, you don’t have to worry about them dislodging when going off-road. The red tail lights also light up when you apply brakes. The lights can be turned on or off by long pressing the reverse button.

Ecomobl like building their boards with headlights and taillights. Read about Ecomobl ET2 here.

Ecomobl Telum Riding Experience

Now that we have an overview of the specs, let’s ride this monster!

The first topic is about control. The control is punchy with its powerful acceleration but frankly, a bit rough. This often happens when Lingyi ESC is combined with powerful motors.

You can feel the slight jerkiness when the gear drive accelerates. One workaround that can be done is simply staying in a lower acceleration mode, which will be gentle, yet powerful enough for any incline.

Speaking of power, these 7000w planetary gear drives are super strong—strong enough for the steep incline of mountain trails.

The braking is nice and strong, too. As mentioned, its strength can be adjusted independently from the acceleration modes.

Spring Suspensions as the MVP

The wide carbon fiber deck felt pretty comfortable to stand on but the MVP of the ride is actually the spring suspensions. These spring suspensions absorb a lot of shocks which is very important when doing trail runs. On normal roads, you won’t feel anything no matter how bad the pavement is.

The foot bindings also have a major part in the ride. When riding on mountain trails, it provides the necessary stability and also prevents the bouncy deck from throwing you off like a trampoline.

The 20” wide trucks are hard to turn but the foot bindings allow us to put as much of our 165 lbs body weight to force the turn. And, to do some mini-hops if all else fails.

Off the Road Will Always Be Home

Obviously, the natural habitat for Ecomobl Telum belongs off the road. The clearance of the deck makes rolling through rocks a walk in the park. This might be subject to change, but our Ecomobl Telum came with 8-inch airless wheels. These are beefy wheels, but we can still feel the road vibrations when riding through harsh pebbles and small stones.

We changed the wheels into 9” pneumatics and liked them a lot more. The rides are noticeably smoother during off-road rides. Good thing is that the 9” pneumatics wheels are now the default option at the moment.

Ecomobl Telum VERDICT – Affordable and High Quality

Now, to summarize:

The ECOMOBL Telum is an affordable off-road suspension mountain board that doesn’t skim on polish, specs, or performance. It has 2 main weaknesses. First, a powerful but slightly harsh acceleration, which kept some of us at lower speed mode. And second, it’s tough to turn, which is kinda part of the deal when getting an off-road suspension board. The board is not made for tight quarters and certainly not for carving.

With all that said, the Ecomobl Telum did well in what it was designed to do, which is off-road riding. After all, when running up mountain trails, stability is preferred over maneuverability while power takes priority over silky-smooth acceleration.

So, should you buy it?

No, if you are looking for an electric skateboard for the city.

Yes, if you are looking for a board that can bring you to places—or mountains—that you have never been to.

Or perhaps, you are looking for a monster that you can count on to outrun and outlast the pack on group rides. That, Ecomobl Telum can do very well, at a very good price.

If you are interested in buying the Ecomobl, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “100offcode” 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!

December 4, 2022December 18, 2022 by Paxson Lim

Tynee Board Explorer Review — The First Tynee All-Terrain Eskate!

Tynee Board is a brand that focuses on delivering the best value for the price. Granted, this can be said for most Chinese brands, but Tynee had a lot of success in doing so. For one, the Tynee Mini 2, is one of our favorite mini boards for its power and specs.

Interested to know why Tynee Mini 2 is our all-time favorite mini board? Click here.

Mid 2022, Tynee releases their first all-terrain electric skateboard — the Tynee Explorer at $1199. While this is considered an ‘entry-level price’ for an all-terrain electric skateboard, it has a top-notch polish with specs that exceed what most people need. Here’s a rundown of Tynee Board Explorer’s build and specs!

Tynee Board Explorer Build and Specs

Deck: Flexible bamboo and fiberglass; double-drop and subtle wide concave
Electronic Speed Controller: Customizable 12s Hobbywing ESC – smart turn-on, can change speed, torque, and braking power from the remote
Batteries: 21700 Molicel P42A, 12s4p configuration
Marketed Range: 31 miles (50 km)
Motors: 35000W 6374 belt motors
Marketed Top Speed: 31 mph (50 km/h)
Wheels: 150mm pneumatic all-terrain wheels
Trucks: Traditional Kingpin (can add $50 for Double Kingpin Trucks)

Just by looking at the deck, you can already see that its appearance is quote-unquote ‘heavily inspired by Evolve Bamboo GTR.’ The transparent grip tape showcasing the beautiful bamboo deck is classic. The deck has a lot of flex thanks to the bamboo and fiberglass materials.

Dedicated to the ‘Evolve’ formula, Tynee Explorer uses a double-drop deck to reduce the riding height. Combined with the subtle wide concave, this makes riding on the Explorer quite comfortable. It helps us know where our feet are and keep them secure during a ride.

New Hobbywing ESC – Allows Speed Control Customization

While the Hobbywing electronic speed controller is very widely used, Tynee Explorer’s Hobbywing ESC had something special to it. This Tynee Explorer’s Hobbywing ESC allows riders to customize speed control right from the remote. The speed, torque, and braking power can all be adjusted individually in different riding modes.Unlike other Hobbywing ESC that comes with customization function (e.g. Exway), this customization function does not come with an app, which can either be a plus point or a minus point depending on who you ask.

What’s universally loved, however, is the forward and reverse switch on the side of the remote. It makes changing directions easier and less prone to unintentional press.

And, obviously, there is the smart turn on feature, where the board power-on upon turning on the remote.

Competitive Battery Spec Against Middle to High-End Eskates

Next, powering the ESC is a pack of 21700 Molicel P42A cells in a 12s4p configuration. This brings us to a total of 725.8-watt hours and a marketed range of 31 miles or 50 km. This is a competitive battery spec that most middle to high-end electric skateboards share.

For context, Evolve Carbon Hadean, Exway Atlas, and Meepo Hurricane all come with a 12s4p battery pack. And, Molicel is a great battery cell, so this isn’t the case of ‘using cheap cells to pad up the specs’.

With aggressive riding, our 155 lbs test rider managed to get 28 miles (42 km) out of a single charge. We’re really happy with this result, especially considering that we were riding fast. Obviously, changing to Cloudwheels should extend the range further, around 44 miles (70 km).

In a nutshell, the batteries are good. So, let’s talk about the motors!

Powering the board is a set of 3500w 6374 belt motors. These are indeed powerful motors and it does translate to a strong ride. Riding uphill will definitely be easy no matter how heavy the rider may be.

With this setup, the board’s marketed top speed is 31 mph(50 km/h). While we didn’t manage to hit that, we did get pretty close. Our personal best was 29 mp(48 km/h). It’s a respectable top speed, but obviously, nothing to write home about considering there are scarier boards out there.

Fancy a scary board? Read our Tynee Board Ultra Review here.

Chill Ride With Pneumatic AT Wheels

Tynee Board Explorer comes with 150 mm pneumatic all-terrain wheels. These 6-inch wheels are plenty capable of absorbing road vibrations on poorly paved roads. Big wheels plus the flexible bamboo deck are great combinations to smoothen out bumps on the road.

We have terrible roads where we ride, and the Explorer keeps it comfortable. It’s pretty chill even when going off-road. Granted, it would’ve been better if they went with even bigger wheels at 175 mm, but, this is definitely good enough for most situations.

As for the trucks, the Tynee Explorer comes in default with traditional kingpin trucks. There’s an available option to go with Double Kingpin trucks for an extra $50.

In general, Double Kingpin Trucks are much more turn-ey and allow a tighter turning radius. Although, this pair of traditional kingpin trucks on Tynee Board Explorer is really good. There is little reason to go for double kingpin trucks. We’ll talk more about the riding experience on these trucks later.

All in all, the whole package weighs around 30.4 lbs or 13.8kg. The board is also rated IP67 waterproof. We never took the waterproof claims on electric skateboards seriously, regardless of the brand, and we suggest you don’t go riding in the rain with any eskate.

Here’s an experience of why we have major trust issues with waterproof ratings — check out our Propel Endeavor Pro review.

Tynee Board Explorer Riding Experience

Finally, let’s talk about the riding experience on the Tynee Explorer.

The riding experience is really pleasant. It’s very relaxing, maybe even a tad bit conservative, and it’s easy to see why.

First, the 12s Hobbywing ESC, while strong, is super smooth in both acceleration and braking. On the highest speed mode, the board is plenty powerful but Tynee clearly had configured the board to prioritize smoothness over power.

You see, most of the higher-end boards now come with crazy acceleration when throttled, and we didn’t feel that from the Explorer. This is something that the Explorer clearly should be capable of given the specs. That being said, we enjoy how the speed control was configured. The power is more than enough anyways, and we appreciate the easy ride.

Stable at 25 Mph

Besides the electronics, the skateboard part of the Explorer comes together well, too. Using a double drop deck, the board adds stability with a low riding height. The drop-down deck also gave our feet a place to push against while going up or downhill.

The board felt so stable and we would often find ourselves going 25 mph without realizing it. Seasoned riders would be able to ride at top speed with ease. Opting out of the dual kingpin truck set-up, at least for the default option, certainly made the board much more stable.

Traditional Kingpin Trucks Are Surprisingly Great

Lately, traditional kingpin trucks have become more popular among electric skateboards, particularly all-terrain eskates. Many all-terrain electric skateboards now offer options between double kingpin trucks and traditional kingpin trucks. Initially, we thought that the stock set-up using traditional kingpin trucks is going to be difficult to turn and terrible for carving, but we are happy to say that we were proven wrong!

This pair of traditional kingpin trucks really hits the sweet spot. It’s stable at high speed and still pretty awesome for turning and carving. In our opinion, it’s as good as any double kingpin truck in terms of carving, and we’ve tested a lot of them. However, double kingpin trucks do still allow a much tighter turn with a much smaller turning radius. With that said, we still much prefer the added stability of the traditional kingpin trucks and don’t think there is a need to pay extra for the double kingpin trucks.

Tynee Board Explorer VERDICT — Should Be Named Tynee Board Vacation?!

So, here’s our verdict on the Tynee Board Explorer.

Well, the Tynee Board Explorer is an easy board to ride and an easy board to recommend.

While Tynee Explorer isn’t the cheapest entry-level all-terrain board out there, Tynee Explorer is stronger and more polished than any of its lower-priced competitors.

Ironically, while the name ‘Explorer’ suggests an adrenaline-filled experience, the Tynee Board Explorer is actually more relaxing than thrilling.

Relaxing, smooth, and easy is how we would describe the Explorer. Well, I guess naming it Tynee Board Vacation just wouldn’t have the same ring to it.

So, for beginners in search of good all-terrain boards that are relaxing to ride, Tynee Explorer is one of the better choices. For advanced riders looking for thrills, you guys might want to look elsewhere, as this beast might just be too easy for you to tame.

If you are interested in buying the Tynee, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $15 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 31, 2022August 31, 2022 by Ziyad Khairi

Wowgo AT2 Plus Review – Cheaper than Exway Atlas and Meepo Hurricane, but better?

When Wowgo launched the old AT2 in 2020, we knew right away that it was going to be popular. At $1099, the board wears the Evolve formula very well (Evolve formula: flexible drop deck + 7-inch pneumatic wheels that could be converted into street wheels + Double Kingpin Trucks—a recipe for a really smooth ride).

This year, Wowgo is giving us the AT2 Plus. It’s a sequel to the AT2 that came just at the right time. The competition shouts “stiff” with boards like Exway Atlas and Meepo Hurricane. The Wowgo AT2 Plus is definitely meant to challenge Meepo and Exway.

Compared to the Meepo Hurricane and Exway Atlas which are priced at around $1599, Wowgo AT2 Plus is selling at just $1229 for the all-terrain version and $1349 for the 2-in-1 package which includes 120mm Cloudwheels. Pretty cheap in comparison, eh?

So, is being one of the most affordable 2-in-1 boards the only thing the Wowgo AT2 Plus is good for? Or will the board outperform the pricier duo? Let’s find out in this Wowgo AT2 Plus review!

Wowgo AT2 Plus Build and Specs

Deck: double drop with subtle wide concave; fiberglass, bamboo, and Canadian maple
Electronic Speed Controller: 12s Hobbywing ESC
Motors: 2100W belt motors
Marketed top speed: 31 mph / 50 kp/h
Batteries: 43.2 V, 14 Ah, 604 Wh, 12S4P configuration
Marketed range: 18 miles or 30 km
Trucks: 12-inch Front and Rear Double Kingpin Truck
Wheels: 2 in 1 (175 mm Pneumatic Wheels + 120 mm CloudWheels)

Wowgo AT2 Plus uses a double drop deck made of fiberglass, bamboo, and Canadian maple. It has a subtle wide concave that doesn’t feel significant but has a nice flex to it.

This time around, Wowgo gave the board a fresh grip tape design which we really like. It looks pretty futuristic!

Beneath the deck, we have a flexible enclosure that contains a 12s4p 604 Wh battery pack made out of Panasonic cells. Although it’s an upgrade from the previous 10s4p 504Wh pack on the AT2, this battery configuration offers the same modest marketed range of 18 miles or 30 km when using the AT wheels and 27 miles or 45 km on the Cloudwheels configuration.

Our 155 lbs or 70kg test rider put the numbers to the test and got 14 miles or 23 km out of the AT setup. The test ride is pretty aggressive and pushes for top speed multiple times. We believe that with Cloudwheels, you can get up to 25 miles or 40 km of range without a problem.

To read our Wowgo AT2 review, click here.

Upgrades on ESC, motors, wheels, and rear lights?!

Wowgo didn’t stop the upgrades there and improved the electronic speed controller as well. The Wowgo AT2 Plus uses a 12s Hobbywing ESC coming from the 10s Hobbywing ESC on the AT2. The remote remains the same with a smart turn-on feature, and acceleration and braking are still super smooth.

The trucks on Wowgo AT2 Plus use 12-inch Double Kingpin Trucks for easier turning and maneuverability. It comes in 175mm pneumatic wheels by default but you can purchase the 2-in-1 version to get the 120 mm Cloudwheels.

Powering these wheels is a set of 2100W belt motors which are again, an upgrade to the previous 1500W motors on the AT2.

These new motors increase the top speed of the Wowgo AT2 Plus to 31mph or 50km/h after doing some tweaking to the board… We’ll share this tweak with you in a bit!

The board weighs around 30 lbs or 13.6 kg and it comes with rear lights which are pretty nice. The automatic on and off feature is an awesome bonus that night riders will surely enjoy.

As you can see, the Wowgo AT2 Plus specs got a little bit of boost, not to mention a nice design update. The board looks well built and polished but how does everything perform on the streets? Well, it’s time to ride!

Want to learn more about Cloudwheels for your electric skateboard? Click here.

Wowgo AT2 Plus Ride Experience

Hopping onto the board, we can instantly tell that Wowgo is going for a buttery smooth setup. The acceleration is the smoothest that we’ve tried on any eskate. You can fully hit the throttle without getting thrown off the board.

Braking is also very smooth and safe for beginners. You can engage full braking without falling out of balance. Advanced riders will wish it had more punch to it, though. The braking on Meepo Hurricane and Atlas 4WD is still stronger at stopping very quickly.

When it comes to power, the board is deceptively powerful. It is much stronger than the old Wowgo AT2 and can handle any incline with ease. The acceleration ramps up so smoothly, that you can ride fast with comfort. Make no mistake though, the AT2 Plus still can’t compete with the likes of Meepo Hurricane in a drag race but the power is more than enough for riding in the meanest streets.

Interested in Meepo Hurricane, click here to learn more.

Secret tweak for stability at top speed

Next, let’s talk about maneuvering and as it turns out, it’s quite difficult to explain.

You see, the prototype of the AT2 Plus came out to have very loose trucks and soft 90a bushing. This initial setting felt nice to carve around but you really need to be mindful of the limitations. You can unintentionally slide if you aren’t careful.

It’s easy to turn and carve in this configuration, especially for beginners. This stock setting, after all, makes the Wowgo AT2 one of the smoothest boards amongst all AT boards. However, the trade-off comes in the form of speed wobbles, which will be there even at moderate speed.

Alas, after some deliberation, Wowgo decided to replace the soft 90a bushings with something much harder and ended up with 95a bushings on the front and 97a bushings on the back.

When we tried this new configuration, the strengths and weaknesses flipped. The board is super stable now with no problem pushing up to 31 mph but the board is no longer easy to turn for us.

With all that said, we are 150 lbs Asians. So, if you weigh 180 lbs, this new set-up might just be right for you. Otherwise, you might need to take matters into your own hands and experiment with more bushing yourself. Luckily, changing the bushings is neither difficult nor pricey.

Choose your preferred wheels for a different feel

Now, let’s talk about ride comfort. The flexible deck and 175 mm wheels ride smoothly even in harsh road conditions. To put some context, going off-road on the Wowgo AT2 Plus is more comfortable than with the Atlas and Hurricane. The flexible deck acts like a suspension that eases bumpiness from off-road rides.

Swapping to the 120 mm Cloudwheels provides a much different ride feel. Since the board is really low, it almost feels like riding right above the ground thanks to the double-drop deck. This is akin to the feeling of driving a race car, not that we have been in one.

The lower center of gravity helps the board to be insanely stable at high speed. However, be careful when you pass speed bumps as the board will often bottom out and get scratches. Or, you can just get used to it like we do… like our poor Meepo Hurricane…

It’s worth noting that you will have to pay an extra $120 for the Cloudwheels, and you should probably go with that option. This is not what we normally recommend, as our personal experience suggested that street wheels don’t usually end up getting too much play time in 2-in-1 boards. In the Wowgo AT2 Plus case, however, you might need the street set-up for the range. As our range test shows, the AT2 Plus has a very average range (14 miles, 23 km), and going with a Cloudwheels setup would be the easiest way to extend the range(25 miles or 40 km).

Well, that’s about everything, so let’s tie it all up.

The VERDICT – one of the best affordable 2-in-1 boards

Wowgo AT2 Plus is a pretty board with all the right ingredients. While the balance between stability and easy turning might require some extra tinkering on your part, and the range is merely average, Wowgo AT2 Plus is built well with good power and great ride comfort.

Is it a better performing board over Meepo Hurricane and Exway Atlas?

Of course not, the other two clearly out-specced the Wowgo AT2 Plus.

However, being $300 cheaper is not nothing either, and there’s no reason to pay for extra range or power that you won’t need. With all things considered, we think Wowgo AT2 Plus is, at the end of the day, one of the best affordable 2-in-1 boards available right now.

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