All Terrain Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Electric Skateboard HQ

December 10, 2021January 1, 2022 by Paxson Lim

Propel Endeavor Pro Review — A $2000 all-terrain suspension board

Propel EV is a company that dedicates itself to making off-road suspension boards. Last year (2020), they introduced their brand with Propel X4s ($2299)—a giant heavy-duty monster of a board and then this year (2021) released the Endeavor Series: the Propel Endeavor S at $1199 and Endeavor Pro at $1999.

Compared to the X4s, the Endeavor boards are slightly smaller in size and are two-wheel drives instead of All-Wheel Drives. With that being said, I would still classify every one of them as huge heavy-duty all-terrain vehicles because, well, that’s what they are!

We’ve reviewed the Propel Endeavor S last time. And spoiler alert: despite having some flaws, Endeavor S was still an awesome board for anyone looking for an off-road suspension board without spending two grand.

To check out our review for Endeavor S, click here.

Today, we’re going to focus the spotlight on Endeavor Pro.

We’re pretty excited to try this out for a ride but first things first—let’s take a closer look at the upgrades.

ENDEAVOR PRO VS ENDEAVOR S

Propel Endeavor Pro and Endeavor S — Propel Endeavor Pro(front) and S(back)

Endeavor Pro shares very similar specs with the Endeavor S except for a few upgrades. Here are three main upgrades worth pointing out:

One: instead of a maple composite deck, Endeavor Pro has a carbon fiber deck that’s 10/10 in the design department. The engraved logos are slick! The board is stiff with a wide concave.

Two: Endeavor Pro also has a bigger battery. We’re talking about 12s5p VS 12s3p on the Endeavor S.

And three: from a LingYi ESC in the Endeavor S, Endeavor Pro uses Flipsky VESC paired with a VX2 remote. For those unfamiliar with VESC, this speed controller is commonly used for DIY boards. It’s highly configurable and always silky smooth.

To check out our unboxing for the Propel Endeavor S and Endeavor Pro, click here.

Using VESC would allow the Propel Endeavor Pro to have a higher range, top speed, and a significantly improved riding experience. We will talk about that in detail later.

Now that we have gone through the difference between Endeavor S and Pro, let’s look at Endeavor Pro’s specs alone.

Build and specs

Deck: carbon fiber deck; stiff; wide concave
Board weight: 43 lbs/19.5 kg
Wheels: 200 MM 8-inch rubber pneumatic wheels; two-wheel drive
Shock absorber: adjustable 350lb coil over shocks
Motors: 2 x 6374 belt motors
Batteries: Samsung 25Ah/1110Wh, 12S5p
Hill climb: 38%
Electronic speed controller: 12s Flipsky 4.2 VESC
Marketed top speed: 31 mph or 50 km/h
Tested top speed: 31 mph or 50 km/h
Marketed range: 71 KM for 75kg or 50 km for 100 kg rider
Tested range: 39 miles or 63 km for a 90 kg rider.

First, let’s pick up where we left off and look at the brain of the board, the VESC. Endeavor Pro started by using 12s Flipsky 4.2 with a Flipsky v1x remote. The ongoing chip shortage means VESC is hard to come by, and there was a shortage of Flipsky 4.2 VESC. During the VESC 4.2 shortage, Propel upgraded all the placed orders to VESC 6.6 with no added cost, and decided to keep both VESC options available going forward.

Don’t worry! Since Propel has configured the setting of both VESCs to be the same, both versions with different VESCs are expected to have similar performance, at least this is what we were told. This also means, if both options were available, I would rather choose to save $100 and go for the VESC 4.

With VESC, Propel Endeavor Pro loses the push to turn-on feature that Endeavor S has. It would be a significant drawback if the power button was placed below the deck, but fortunately, Propel has the great design sense to place that button right on top of the deck, saving you the trouble of becoming Elastigirl in The Incredibles.

Propel Endeavor Pro Power button — Power button is on the top

Powerful motors handle heavy-duty off-road riding very well

Speaking of superheroes and superpowers, Endeavor Pro uses 2 x 6374 belt motors. The board’s motors are powerful and not that noisy. This is the same set of motors as the one on Endeavor S, and we already know that they can handle heavy-duty off-roading very well.

Unique suspension system

For the wheels, Endeavor Pro uses 200 MM 8-inch rubber pneumatic wheels. Both Endeavor Pro and S use a suspension system that’s different from the X4s. In both setups, each truck has its own dedicated suspension system and can move up or down independent of the others. It is notable that Endeavor Pro’s “trucks” work better than what Endeavor S has installed. We’ll explain further during the riding experience.

Tested range meets marketed range

The batteries are 12s5p with 1110 watt-hours and 25 Amp-hours. The tested range is 39 miles (63 km) for a 90 kg rider. This is insane! Propel was true to their marketed range. Even Endeavor S which has a lower price range has a tested range of 26 miles (42 km). Pretty sweet!

The top speed is 31 mph (50 km/h) which the board can hit easily and quickly.

This board is definitely a monster but every monster has a weakness. Endeavor Pro, though rugged, is not waterproof. We, unfortunately, found out about that the hard way.

Before we get into the riding experience, let’s just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful and polished this machine is. The attention to detail is almost unexpected on a board that’s meant to be ridden in very harsh conditions.

Riding experience

Now, on to the abuse!

Our first question when testing this out was, what improvement in the riding experience does the Endeavor Pro make when compared to Endeavor S? The answer is EVERYTHING. Everything’s better, and the reason is obvious. The VESC made a lot of difference.

Flipsky VESC for the smoothest control

Our biggest complaint of the Endeavor S is the rawness of the speed control, and the Endeavor Pro avoided that downfall by using a VESC. “Avoiding the problem” is actually an understatement. The smoothness of control is one of the best qualities of Endeavor Pro.

As often is the case, an ESC upgrade makes a huge difference. There are 3-speed modes on the Endeavor Pro, and all of them are intuitive and smooth.

Endeavor Pro’s smooth control makes the ride supremely enjoyable and more comfortable. Being stronger yet smoother means the Endeavor Pro reaches its top speed fast. Even faster than the already stupidly strong Endeavor S, yet does so in a smoother manner. No more sudden jolts and jerks!

Strong and smooth braking with reverse

The brakes are strong and smooth, too. The braking control is very accurate and strong. It can come to a complete stop and ‘lock’ the wheels when going down a steep incline. On a flat surface, keeping the throttle on full brakes, and the Endeavor Pro will start to reverse at a slow speed after a small pause. This function makes three-point turns easy and is helpful when you slightly overshoot your stop.

The improvement of speed control from upgrading to VESC is easy to explain; what wasn’t easy for us to explain was the smoother turning ability.

Turning the Propel Endeavor Pro should be as hard as the Endeavor S, as they use the same trucks, but that wasn’t the case.

After messing with the truck settings on both boards, the difference is pretty significant. The Endeavor Pro felt much easier to turn. It’s not to say that the Endeavor Pro is an agile board with amazing carving experience, this is just impossible for any all-terrain suspension board; yet somehow, the Endeavor Pro is easier to turn than most suspension boards.

Could it be since Endeavor Pro is slightly heavier than Endeavor S, and the added weight makes the truck easier to turn? We’ve no exact answer but that’s the theory that we are going with.

Better than typical all-terrain off-road suspension boards

Next, let’s talk about how well the Endeavor Pro does in off-road situations. Obviously, being an off-road suspension board means the Endeavor Pro is better than a typical All-Terrain board when it comes to handling road vibration. In off-road and regular road situations, the suspension system will cushion off any road vibration completely. This is what we enjoy most about the board – going full throttle, enjoying the speed, and not be bothered by any road condition.

The motors are plenty strong to challenge any uphill trails, however, you would need to put some thought into it when approaching a bump or crack. You see, while most parts of the board have plenty of clearance, the spot near the back pulleys doesn’t have much ground clearance. If you are not careful while going up a bump, the back pulley might get caught, get stuck, and leave you flying forward. This is obviously a flaw shared by the Propel Endeavor S and a problem that the bigger X4S does not have.

Prople Endeavor Pro back pulley caught the bump — Backwheel pulley may catch a bump

To check out our review for the monsterboard Propel X4s, click here.

We also broke our external antenna on one of our rides, probably after bumping it into something. It left us with a shorter connection range for the remote, which doesn’t actually cause any problem to the riding experience or usability, or board safety.

THE SUMMARY

Now, let’s summarize.

Propel Endeavor Pro is an amazing all-terrain suspension board. If I were to nitpick, I would point out that the board couldn’t handle as harsh terrain as something like the Propel X4S could due to the lower clearance near the back wheels. I’d also warn you to not ride it into a pool as we did.

However, some minor nitpicks wouldn’t be able to shadow just how beautiful and powerful this machine is. It has massive power, amazingly smooth and intuitive control, a massive range, and almost no limits to where you can ride on.

Need I remind you that Propel EV is also a company with a great reputation for taking care of its customers?

THE VERDICT

So, here’s the verdict,

For anyone who wants an electric skateboard for a city commute or carving fun, anything from Propel EV would likely be overkill and a mismatched choice. But, for someone who is looking for an off-road suspension board, the Propel Endeavor Pro is an easy recommendation, if you have the budget.

In fact, we’d recommend Endeavor Pro over the Endeavor S because it is just so much more fun to ride with, the VESC alone would’ve made the upgrade worth it, and maximized the enjoyment you can get out of these powerful machines.

If you are interested in buying the Propel, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive 3% off during check out.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021 by Paxson Lim

Verreal RS—among the top 2 affordable DKP all-terrain boards with beefy specs?!

Today, we will be reviewing the Verreal RS.

For those who don’t know, Verreal has been around since Oct 2018 and is already a veteran in budget e-skateboards. It made its name with the Verreal F1, a board that provides a relaxing and comfortable riding experience for a reasonable price.

Affordable and comfortable has always been Verreal’s design language since then. And today, we will be reviewing the Verreal RS, their flagship product released back in 2020 and has its all-terrain kits available this 2021.

To take a look back at Verreal F1, click here.

Designed with Evolve Formula

Now, a quick overview of the RS.

Verreal RS was crafted with the Evolve formula: a double-drop deck plus double kingpin trucks with a dual-belt set-up that allows easy conversion between all-terrain and street.

In fact, Verreal RS is the most affordable Evolve clone out there. The 10s4p street with 576 Wh costs $759 while the 10s4p AT version costs $1179. For more context, the Evolve GTR street with a 10s4p battery will cost you $1549. That’s double the price of Verreal RS street. Pretty sweet!

Build and specs

Now, as per usual, let’s dive deep into the specs.

Deck: 7-ply Canadian Maple, 2-ply Bamboo; mild flex; subtle wide concave
Camber/rocker: Drop-down deck
ESC: 10S Hobbywing ESC; 4-speed modes; no smart power-on; generic Hobbywing remote
Motor type: 6368 belt motors, 2 x 1500 W, 170 kV
Marketed Topspeed: 25 mph or 40 km/h on AT wheels; 27 mph or 43 km/h on Cloudwheels.
Trucks: Forged DKP Trucks
Wheels: Street wheels: 90 mm / 97 mm; Cloudwheels: 105 mm, 120 mm; All-terrain: 7-inch pneumatics
Battery: 16 AH (576 Wh) – $779; 20 AH (720 Wh) – $979; All-terrain – $1179
Marketed range: Street wheels: 16 AH – 25 miles (40 km)/20 AH – 31 miles (50 km); All-terrain wheels: 20 AH – 28 miles (45 km) for a 75kg rider; 17 miles or 28 km for a 100 kg rider

Verreal RS has a deck with a mild flex. It’s made out of 7-ply Canadian maple combined with 2-ply bamboo. Sticking with the Evolve formula, the deck used is a double-drop deck with subtle wide concave.

The electronic speed controller is a 10S Hobbywing ESC with 4-speed modes paired with a generic Hobbywing remote. This is likely an older generation of Hobbywing ESC and the board doesn’t power on automatically by turning on the remote.

Belt motors have the same rating as the latest Evolve Hadean

Verreal RS also uses 6368 belt motors with 2 x 1500 W and 170 kV which has the same rating as the one on the latest Evolve Hadean.

The marketed top speed is 25 mph or 40 km/h on AT wheels and 27 mph or 43 km/h on 120mm Cloudwheels.

To know more about the specs of Evolve Hadean, click here.

For the trucks, Verreal RS said they use forged Double Kingpin trucks. Double Kingpin trucks will allow easier changes in direction with tighter turns. We’ll talk more about the quality of carving later during the ride experience.

3 options for wheels

What took this board on another level though, is its selection for wheels. Verreal RS offers 3 types of wheels to choose from. You can use street wheels in 90 mm or 97 mm, Cloudwheels in 105 mm or 120 mm, and all-terrain pneumatic wheels in 7 inches.

In this post, we will be reviewing the all-terrain set-up and 105 mm Cloudwheels set-up.

Having 3 options may seem really cool, but we hesitate to recommend regular street wheels for the RS since the board already has a pretty low ground clearance even with our 105mm Cloudwheels. We shudder to think how terrible it would be if regular street wheels are used.

Aside from a selection of wheels, Verreal RS also allows 2 battery options: 16 AH (576 Wh) for $759 and 20 AH (720 Wh) for $979. You’ll need to top-up $200 more for the all-terrain version which costs $1179.

For this review, we will be using units with 20 AH batteries.

The marketed range of Verreal RS is 25 miles or 40 kilometers for the 16 AH battery, and 31 miles or 50 kilometers for the 20 AH battery.

Range might be the best thing about this board

Using AT wheels, this board was marketed to get a range of 28 miles or 45 kilometers for a 75 kg rider. For a 100 kg rider, the marketed range is 17 miles.

When we put it to the test, we got 28 miles or 45 kilometers of range with 105 mm Cloudwheels and 22.5 miles or 36.2 kilometers with AT wheels.

For its price, Verreal RS really does provide a lot of range. It is arguably the best part of the specs.

Riding Experience

Now that we know the build and specs, it’s time to ride!

Riding Verreal RS felt like Wowgo AT2 but with way more stability. The deck felt a little shorter compared to other AT boards, but the subtle wide concave is nice.

The control is very smooth, and the board’s acceleration strength is not crazy strong even on mode 4. It felt a little bit less strong compared to Wowgo AT2, but the feeling of not getting thrown off the board even when changing to top speed is awesome.

Much more stable DKP trucks

Overall, the ride felt really stable due to Verreal’s version of double kingpin trucks as compared to other brands. To put in some context, the Verreal RS is a much more stable ride compared to the likes of Wowgo AT2 and the Exway Atlas. This also means that it is not as carv-y as the other double kingpin trucks, but that is not a problem. Double kingpin trucks are already more carv-y than your regular reverse kingpin trucks.

This also means that you can easily change into top speed without getting off-balanced with the Verreal RS. Going uphill won’t be a problem, either.

To watch our real-world range test for Exway Atlas, click here.

Enjoyable low ground clearance

The double drop deck of Verreal RS also allows a very low riding height. This again, adds more stability, but we also like the carving feel of being this close to the tarmac. It is as if we are one with the road. The bottom enclosure clearly didn’t enjoy this as much as we did, though!

Also, I’ve always found that a drop-through deck has a way of reducing road vibration. You’ll still feel them when using 105 mm clouds, but if you want to reduce the vibration more, 7-inch pneumatics is the way to go.

THE VERDICT

I’m sure you notice we have been using Wowgo AT2 in comparison a lot in this review, this is no accident as Wowgo AT2 was our favorite budget Evolve clone up to this point. So this begs the question, after we’ve tried the Verreal RS, do we now have a new favorite?

When you are looking for a budget Dual Kingpin all-terrain board, Verreal RS is amongst the best choices you have at the $1000 mark, but so is Wowgo AT2.

Here’s our thought: It depends (duh)! Compared to Wowgo AT 2, Verreal RS can give you 25% more battery and more stability. On the flip side, Wowgo AT does have nicer things such as slightly better post-sale service, slightly better polish, and some nice features such as the smart turn-on.

To summarize, Verreal RS offered beefy specs, superior range, comfortable control, and a comfortable riding experience that‘s geared towards stability. It’s also very versatile for supporting different wheel configurations. If you are willing to put up with the inconsistent post-sale service, the Verreal RS is definitely amongst the top 2 choices when looking for an affordable Dual Kingpin all-terrain board.

Click here to check out Verreal RS

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 by Paxson Lim

Propel Endeavor S Review — affordable off-road suspension board is finally a thing!

Today we will be reviewing the Propel Endeavor S, which costs only $999—a price point that is nearly impossible when it comes to off-road suspension boards.

Life as an Eskate reviewer can be unexciting when we’re always reviewing the same boards on the same paths…

Once in a while though, a certain brand or board will surprise you and spice things up!

If you haven’t noticed, Propel EV has established its name by creating high-end off-road suspension boards. Since their first board, the Propel X4s ($2299), Propel EV meant business in bringing true all-terrain riding to the masses. Their latest pair of products, the Propel Endeavor S and Pro is Propel latest attempt to refine off-road riding experience. The Endeavor S in particular wants to do that without hurting your wallet.

The Endeavor S costs $999 and its big brother Endeavor Pro costs around $2000 (depending on configuration).
We will be reviewing the Endeavor Pro next, but the star of today will be the Endeavor S.

As usual, let’s start with the specs.

Propel Endeavor S – Build and specs

Board length: 112 cm/ 44.4”
Board weight: 37.5 lbs/17 kg
Deck: Maple Composite
Trucks: Independent Suspension Systems
Electronic Speed Controller: 12s LingYi ESC
Battery: 12s3p with 15AH or 666 wh
Marketed range: 28 miles for a 165 lbs rider and 17 miles for a 220 lbs rider
Tested range: 26 miles for a 200 lbs rider
Wheels: 8” (200mm) pneumatic wheels

Propel EV Endeavor S is 112 cm or 44.4” long. The actual deck where you’ll stand is only 30.7” (780mm), which is surprisingly short.

A heavyweight shorty

To put this into perspective, a typical shortboard deck is also around 30”. However, being shorter doesn’t really compromise the stability, since the board has a wheelbase that is wider than its deck. The “shorter length,” also helps the board to fit into more car trunks.

Propel Endeavor S may be cuter in terms of size but this baby is still heavyweight as it is 37.5 lbs (17kg).

Maple composite deck

Unlike the higher-priced Endeavor Pro which has a carbon fiber deck, the Endeavor S is made of a maple composite deck. You can expect the board to be completely stiff thanks to the enclosure underneath. Still, you’ll find comfort on the deck’s concave which is nice and wide.

Let’s move on to the trucks!

The Propel Endeavor S uses different trucks and suspension systems than the X4s. What remains the same is the feature of each truck and suspension system to move up and down separately from each other. We will talk more about the riding experience with these babies later.

8” pneumatic wheels

For the wheels, Propel uses large 8” (200mm) pneumatic wheels with tread patterns for better grip in all-terrain use. Since you can adjust the tire pressure of pneumatic wheels, you can always match the wheels to your level of comfort.

To learn how to change pneumatic tires on Endeavor S and Pro, click here.

Now, let’s go over to the electronic parts.

The Propel Endeavor S uses a 12s LingYi ESC with a generic LingYi remote, while the Endeavor Pro uses a VESC with a VX2 remote.

Knowing the ESC, you might already have an idea of the characteristics of the speed control on both boards. If you don’t, not to worry, we’ll talk about it in detail later.

Going with a LingYi ESC also means the Endeavor S has the push-to-turn-on feature, which is always convenient. It wouldn’t be a big deal going without it, though, since Propel brilliantly placed the power button on top of the board. Now that’s pretty cool!

Underrated range

The Endeavor S uses a pack of 12s3p batteries which gives us 15AH or 666wh, while the Endeavor Pro is almost 2 times bigger and uses a pack of 12s5p batteries which is 25Ah or 1110wh in size.

This gives the Endeavor S a marketed range of 28 miles (45 KM) for a 165 lbs (75kg) rider and 17miles (28km) for a 220 lbs (100 kg) rider. Our in-house 200 lbs (90kg) test rider actually achieved a test range of 26miles (42km). It’s refreshing to see a company underpromise then overdeliver with the range, it says a lot about the type of the company Propel is.

Loaded with value for $999

Going through the specs, it is absolutely mind-blowing that Propel can put in so much value for the price of $999. A regular All-Terrain board from a budget eskate brand would already cost as much. But don’t forget, Endeavor S is not your regular All-Terrain board, and Propel is not a budget brand either. Just look at the kickass polish of the board and you’ll know. It’s amazing!

Oh, by the way, it’s important to mention that the board is not rated to be waterproof… don’t ask us how we found out….

Propel Endeavor S – Riding experience

Now that we have broken down all the specs, it’s time to ride!

First, let’s talk about acceleration. Pairing a set of huge motors with a LingYi ESC means that the Endeavor S controls are powerful, but aren’t perfectly smooth like most typical electric skateboards. On a side note, the Endeavor Pro with its VESC is both powerful and smooth.

Very aggressive 4th-speed mode

The LingYi ESC allows the Propel Endeavor S to have four-speed modes and 4 brake modes independent of each other. The highest acceleration mode is very aggressive and is scary to use, my suggestion is just to ignore it. Stick with the first 3 modes, which are much less harsh and already plenty strong. Personally, I absolutely see no reason to use the 4th mode for the higher torque that you won’t need.

The brake modes on the Endeavor S took us by surprise, as they don’t have the same flaw of the acceleration and are strong but smooth.

Now that we’ve talked about speed control, let’s talk about the maneuverability of the board.

Off-road suspension boards are pretty heavy and have a long wheelbase. This means that the sharpest turns aren’t what you should be expecting for Propel Endeavor S.

We’ve seen lots of other reviews mentioning the Endeavor S is easy to turn, but our experience didn’t match that. We’ve loosened the trucks to the max, and yet we were struggling to make sharp turns.

The only explanation we have is that we are all scrawny Asians weighing under 160 lbs (70 kg). If you are much heavier than us you would probably turn the board fine, but don’t expect it to be good for carving fun.

Absorbs road bumps for stability

While carving and turning might not be what any off-road suspension board shines at, staying stable on poor road conditions definitely is. Hitting the top speed is easy.

The board not only accelerates fast, but it is also perfectly stable and absorbs road bumps almost completely. This might be the most enjoyable part of the board, going full throttle without a fear in the world.

Mini-car in urban commuting

Will this board make me fearless in the world of urban commuting, too?

It depends.

Riding the Endeavor S on sidewalks with 90-degree turns would be quite disastrous, and you would be better off getting a double kingpin All-Terrain longboard.

However, if you ditch the sidewalk and ride on the road itself, you will have a wonderful experience. You fear no road condition because you are basically riding a mini-car.

While the Propel Endeavor S’ usefulness for commuting heavily depends on the kinds of commute you do with it, its performance on off-road adventures will always be amazing.

To check out another board that’s best for urban commuting, click here.

When riding up and down mountain trails, the Propel S lacks neither power nor stability. Because the shock absorbers in each wheel are independent of each other, all 4 wheels can keep contact with the ground when riding on uneven terrain.

Beware the back wheels’ ground clearance

Propel Endeavor S might be your strongest budget and quality all-terrain board, but even the powerful have an Achilles heel.

And we mean it.

Propel Endeavor S has a weak spot near the back wheels and pulley. While the deck itself has a healthy 4.3-inch (11cm) clearance from the ground, the pulley beside the wheel doesn’t.

If you don’t plan your approach up and down a bump, the pulley will catch the obstacle and things could get ugly. On a side note, this is a problem that the X4s don’t have.

To check out our review on Propel X4s, click here.

To put things into context in an off-road adventure: The Endeavor S as an off-road suspension board is a league above your typical All-Terrain boards, even when those All-terrain boards might be two times its price.

But the Propel X4s is even better in the same situation.

THE VERDICT

Now, to summarize:

The Endeavor S is an affordable off-road suspension board that doesn’t skimp on polish, specs, or performance.

It has 2 main weaknesses.

1) the LingYi ESC gives the board an unusable 4th acceleration mode, and less than perfect acceleration smoothness.

2) given that Endeavor S is an off-road suspension board, it is difficult to turn, especially if you are a lightweight rider.

With that said, when it comes to off-road riding, stability is preferred over maneuverability, and silky-smooth speed modes are often unimportant.

So, should you buy it?

Well, frankly speaking, if you are looking for a traditional skating experience with lots of carving, off-road suspension boards shouldn’t even be on your list.

However, if you are looking for a mountain trail riding experience and don’t have 2 grand to spend, the Endeavor S will be everything you need… and for the price, there is nothing else that’s quite like it.

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

December 21, 2020December 21, 2020 by Paxson Lim

Ownboard AT 1W Review – Good Evolve clone?

The Ownboard AT1W is a board that hasn’t been talked about much, beyond how it stole its graphic design from the Evolve GTR. If you look past the design shenanigans, the Ownboard AT1W is actually a pretty beefy board worthy of some attention!

Ownboard AT-1W Review

Deck Size: 39-inch (99cm)
Top Speed: 25mph (45kmh)
Range: 24miles (40km)
Battery Pack: 432Wh (Sanyo GA in a 10s4p, 14Ah)
Weight: 27.5lbs/ 12.5kg
Motor: 2 x 1200W hub motors.
Wheels: 105mm rubber wheels
Price: 799 USD
Features:
- Remote with Telemetry,
- Swappable Wheel Sleeves

Beyond just copying the grip tape design, Ownboard also kept most of the Evolve formula – using a double kingpin truck, Double drop deck, and a 10s4p battery configuration. The battery cells on this one, however, are Sanyo GA, and the total pack is 432wh in size.

And the ESC it uses is the widely popular Hobbywing ESC.

The Ownboard AT1W uses 105mm rubber wheels and powers itself with two 1200W hub motors. This yields a top speed of 25mph (45kmh) and a range of 24miles (40km).

In short, you can think of the AT1W is as an Evolve Bamboo GTR with 105mm rubber wheels and hub motors. Obviously, as the AT1W uses hub motors, there is no way to convert it to pneumatic AT wheels.

So you might be thinking: there are many many Evolve clones out there, so why should someone care about this one in particular? Well, the Ownboard AT1W is definitely one of the more affordable Evolve clone, and $799 is a good price for any eskate with 10s4p battery. What I meant to say is that Ownboard AT1W looks good on paper, and what we are trying to know is if it is also good to ride.

First, let’s talk about the numbers.

Numbers & Performance:

Range:

The 10s4p 432wh Sanyo GA batteries did hit the full range of 24miles or 40km it promised. However, we can’t verify the marketed top speed, which is 25mph(45kmh), as the board was too wobbly for us to comfortably reach that speed. That’s is even after tightening the Double kingpin trucks all the way down.

Top Speed:

We aborted our test at 21mph (35kmh) and called it a day. The board definitely can hit the marketed top-speed 25mph (45kmh), it just that we as the rider couldn’t. We will talk more about the truck letter,

Riding Experience

Speed Control – Buttery Smooth

So, let’s talk about the riding experience. First, let’s talk about speed control. The Ownboard AT1W uses a customized Hobbywing ESC, similar to their other products. That means buttery smooth speed change with fairly good strength in the brakes. Unlike the Exway and Wowgo boards, there is no smart-power-on for this one, which is too bad.

Torque – Sufficient but not very powerful

Many of us love to hate the 10s set-up as it bottlenecks the torque, especially when combined with hub motors and big wheels. As that is exactly what the AT1W is, it’s no surprise that the torque on this one isn’t amazing. While going uphill wasn’t an issue for us, we had issues when trying to ride it off roads. For example, when we are riding it on thick grass, the board was unable to start from a standstill due to the lack of torque. This will probably be a dealbreaker for those who really love torque.

Manoeuvrability – Twitchy trucks

As I mentioned just now, this pair of double kingpin truck Ownboard uses is not great. You see, when it comes to double kingpin trucks on an eskate; some brands did get it right, but many didn’t, and those who didn’t get it right usually end up with wobbly trucks. Ownboard’s double kingpin trucks are obviously the latter, and in our opinion, this is the most significant weakness of the AT1W. It has poor return to center, so when you make a turn, it doesn’t rebound back and help you recenter. The lack of rebound also means it doesn’t help to stay centered. Of course, the double kingpin trucks do allow a small turning radius for tight turns – so there’s that.

The flaw with the truck is such a shame, as the rest of the board is very likable.

Vs Road vibration – great

Underneath the pretty grip tape, there is a wide deck with moderate flex and a comfortable concave. Our feet felt pretty comfortable on the deck. The flex of the deck, the drop through set-up, and big 105mm wheels also means that road vibration is pretty well absorbed, and riding on the rough road is actually alright.

The 105mm rubber wheels did their job well and will roll over most terrain, but all-terrain they are not. They can do grass, sand, and rough road; but gravel and stones are definitely off-limits. The accurate name for this board should be Ownboard Semi-AT1W, but I guess this doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Issue – 1) Poor bottom clearance

105mm wheels on a double drop deck also mean that the bottom of the deck has very little clearance. I promise that you will rub the bottom of the deck on every single speed bump out there. This again is a point against off-road uses.

Issue – 2) Rubber wheels aren’t durable

Another thing that many people love to hate about rubber wheels is that they tend to wear fast. Well, they do, but at least the rubber sleeve is replaceable.

Verdict:

Should wobbly trucks and poor ground clearance stop you from considering this $799 board?

Let’s look at it this way: the AT1W is not for someone who is looking for an All-Terrain board, I hope that’s pretty clear by now. It’s also not for those who like to ride really fast, as the trucks are pretty wobbly.

Who is the Ownboard AT1W good for?

Perhaps someone who needs the range, who needs the safety provided by relatively large 105mm wheels, and who doesn’t typically ride fast and really likes the maneuverability of a double kingpin truck; but someone who, at the same time, doesn’t like the maintenance of a belt-drive and prefers the hassle-free hub drive.

I don’t think this description matches a lot of riders out there, but if that description fits you, then consider Ownboard AT1W.

So, what do you think? Do you like the look of this AT1W, and what do you think about it? Let us know in the comment section.

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

September 29, 2020September 30, 2020 by Paxson Lim

Ecomobl ET Review – True AT?

Being an electric skateboard reviewer and getting the opportunity to sample a huge variety of different eskates is fun. However, I’ve never gotten my hands on any board that can be called a true off-road build.

Take the Wowgo AT 2, a board that we reviewed a while ago (spoiler alert! It’s great!). It has 7” pneumatic wheels and powerful motors that allow you transverse harsh terrain, but no one in their right mind would use it to climb a mountain trail. The board is too delicate for that.

That’s why, when Ecomobl offered to send us an Ecomobl ET for a review, I knew I needed to climb a mountain with it. It brags about being a “True All-Terrain Board” after all.

True All Terrain huh
Extra Griptape? Yeah, definitely needed that.

Ecomobl?

Hold on, let’s rewind a bit. “Who is this Ecomobl,” you may be asking. Honestly, I had to do some research on the brand before agreeing to do this review. Being a little bit reserved is always good when a brand’s flagship product looks like a copy of another brand’s products. Let’s introduce the elephant in the room: the Ecomobl M24 looks like a Bajaboard, with the upside of being $1000 cheaper and more available outside of Australia.

After doing a little bit of digging, I found that although Ecomobl itself is pretty new to most of us and to the consumer markets, they have actually been manufacturing and supplying Eskate parts to other eskate brands for a while now. In 2020, word of mouth started to spread, people started taking chances on their product and so far, the after-sale service has really been on point. Something like a ratio of 10 praises to 1 complaint.

Want to see it for yourself?
Check out Ecomobl Owner’s Group and Ecomobl Official group.

Ecomobl ET Review

Now that we’ve talked about the brand, let’s talk about the board, the Ecomobl ET. This is not their flagship product, that would be the Baja-like M24; but in my opinion, the ET is a very important board not only for Ecomobl but for the eskate community as a whole.

Why?

This is the cheapest it gets for you to get something that can climb a mountain trail – I’m not talking about grass, stick, and stones; I’m talking about sand, mud, rocks and huge cracks on a steep incline. So, if this board turns out to be good, it might serve as a gateway drug between street eskating and mountain eskating. A lot of wallets are at risk here.

Deck Size: 39-inch x 9.8-inch (99cm x 25cm)
Top Speed: 35mph/56km
Range: 20-25miles/32-40km
Battery Pack: 648Wh 12s3p Samsung 50E (or Samsung 40T)
Weight: 27lbs/12.2kg
Motor: 2 x 2000W planetary gear drive.
Wheels: 6″ airless rubber wheels (150mm)
Features:
- LingYi ESC with push to turn on.
  - The option of Range-focus ESC or Power-focus ESC
- Integrated board light, headlight and taillights.
- IP 56 Waterproof
Price: 1159 USD

By the way, the review unit that I receive is with the Samsung 50E batteries and with Range Focus ESC.

We will talk about their potential differences when we speak about the range.

First, let me show you the parts:

Deck

Ecomobl ET uses a 39 inch deck with aggressive drop. There is some nice concave to it so you know where you feet are. Aggressive drop deck not only makes the ride lower and more stable, the drop also serves as a step for you to place your feet during steep incline or decline. Nice!

Even with the aggressive drop, there is a 4″ (10cm) ground clearance. That’s pretty enough for most terrain.

Enclosure

Using a full length aluminium enclosure means you can forget about having any flex on the deck. I don’t know if I can fault them for going with the aluminium enclosure as you do need something that’s strong enough to withstand abuse, and this enclosure is that. It’s also pretty well sealed, giving me a peace of mind when riding not only through puddle but through muds.

This also makes cleaning the board a much easier process.
It’s IP 56 waterproof.

Trucks

Ecomobl ET uses a 15″ (38cm) (in axle width) trucks.
Right out of the box, the trucks are too loose and it takes me a while to find the right tightness on the trucks. With the right truck tightness, I got a pretty good balance between stability and maneuvrebility.

I think upgrading the bushing would further improve it.

Wheels

(150mm) 6″ airless rubber wheels can indeed roll over anything that’s meant to be rolled over. Pneumatic wheels are softer, that’s for sure, but airless wheel don’t get punctured when riding over dodgy terrain.

Planetary Gear Drive

Ecomobl ET uses a gear drive that I’ve never seen before. They call it planetary gear drive and they are 2000W per piece.

Besides looking fascinating when spinning, the gear drive makes a loud, rather sharp mechanical noise when accelerating.

It also freerolls okay-ly, meaning not as resistant as a belt-motor but not as freely as a hub or a regular gear drive.

Battery

As mentioned, there is two battery variant both in 12s3p settings:

Samsung 50E in 15 AH setting (648wh) or
Samsung 40T in 14 AH setting (518wh)

Although Samsung 50E has a higher AH rating (5000mah vs 4000mah in 40T), Samsung 40T is actually considered a better cell as it has less voltage sag.

It means, with Samsung 40T, the board stays “stronger” when battery drains, meaning happier ride and it might still give you almost the same range as the theoretically bigger pack of Samsung 50E anyways!

PS: My review unit has Samsung 50E.

ESC

As mentioned, there are 2 version of ESC.

Range focus ESC
Power focus ESC

Both are LingYi ESC; the differences lies just within the settings.

PS: My review unit has the Range focus ESC.

Remotes

Standard LingYi ESC remote with telemetry, and the standard mislabelled reverse button.

The reverse button is speed mode, double tap power button to reverse.

The remote needs no further introduction. It’s comfortable in hand; it has good connectivity.

I just wish it look cooler.

Lights

Ecomobl ETs come with integrated lighting systems. You can turn it on or off by holding the reverse button for 3 second.

The lights are cool, and very very useful. They are the headlight, board lights and taillights.

The board lights are an LED stripes lining the enclosure, they are purple. I hate that colour, I wish it was white or yellow or red or anything not purple.

Ecomobl reps describe this color as electric blue and maybe it is in some situations but let’s face it; it’s purple.

The headlights are white and they are bright enough. Not as bright as the Shredlights or the Backfire Canon headlight but they are good enough.

The tail lights are slightly angled upward so it is visible to anyone behind you. They are red, of course.

All 3 light systems lit up every time you engage the brakes, much like how it is on a car, even if you didn’t switch them on. And as far as I know, there is no way to make them stay off.

Q1: Is the Ecomobl ET a capable mountain trail hiking board?

Yeap!

I rode the ET up a rough mountain trail through mud and sand, stones and cracks, and it can handle them, which is amazing!

This is the first time that I was able to ride on a path like this and it is really something else. Now I understand why mountain biking and mountain boarding are popular. And finally, it is a $1000 production board that can hang with the likes of the Trampa DIY build that’s at least 2 times the price!

The big wheels were able to handle all of the cracks I faced, and the 2000w planetary gear drive motor is strong enough to handle any incline as long as the wheels get traction. The aggressive drop on the decks serves as a step during sleep inclines or declines, and hence allows me to keep myself onboard both uphill and downhill.

The super-stiff deck does take some fun out of a street ride, but I think it is a logical choice for a board that is designed to go on a mountain trail. A flex deck would have bounced me off the board like a trampoline.

The 6” airless wheels are second best in cushioning the vibrations from rough terrain. Pneumatic wheels are, after all, the gold standard.

The airless 6” wheels nonetheless did a decent job and make stone and pebble roads at least tolerable. Plus, you don’t have to worry about puncturing them and ruining the rest of your trip, where you are forced to drag your board downhill as a punctured wheel means it impossible to make turns. Don’t ask me how I know…

Pneumatic wheels are comfortable, but also runs a risk of flat tire.

Q2: How smooth is the speed control?

Does the LingYi ESC do well in the Ecomobl ET? Throughout the years, and after … was it 7 iterations? … LingYi ESCs have become very close to Hobbywing ESCs when it comes to control smoothness. It is now at the point where they are difficult to differentiate from one another. The stereotype that LingYi ESCs are jerky and strong, while Hobbywing ESCs are smooth but weak, is no longer true.

However, I have to take that back when it comes to the Ecomobl ET. The control of the Ecomobl ET, with its LingYi ESC, is very stereotypical of that raw and punchy feeling, as compared to, for example, the Hobbywing ESC on the Wowgo AT 2 – or even those of the customized LingYi ESC on the Raldey MT-V3.

I am guessing that the powerful motor accentuates the jolt and makes the imperfections much more obvious. With that said, the control of the Ecomobl ET still fell within what I would consider as “Smooth enough that I can relax while riding it” – but perfectly smooth it is not. The Brakes are strong, however, and that I like.

Q3: Is the Ecomobl ET fun to ride?

Depends on your definition of fun, actually. If your idea of a good AT ride is a buttery smooth ride, with the smooth carving of double kingpin trucks, then Ecomobl ET is definitely not it. Your ideal board would be something like the Evolve or Wowgo AT 2.

If you want a board that seemingly has the power of a jeep, can handle terrain like a jeep, and will make loud mechanical sounds when it accelerates, the Ecomobl ET would be a great board for you.

Maneuverability is good, it turns easily and unlike Trampa Builds, making a U-turn on a double lane road is possible with the Ecomobl ET. Everything is great, provided you find the right tightness and configuration on the trucks and bushings. The trucks are very loose when they arrive, and if not tightened things could get sketchy when riding fast.

Now, let’s talk about the numbers.

Top Speed

First, let’s talk about the top speed, others have told me that hitting the marketed top speed of 35mph or 56kmh is possible, but 33mph (53kmh) is a more reasonable expectation. I did not try the top speed as I kinda value my life… but I can say that the board felt it had a lot more to give when I hit 25mph (40kmh), even when there were only 2 bars of battery left; and with the trucks tightened it felt very stable at that speed.

Range

I hit 17miles (28km) and still had 1.5 bars of battery left, so I have no doubt it can hit the 20miles(32km), the lower end of the marketed range.

Again, my battery is a Samsung 50E pack and theoretically, the newer Samsung 40T pack would have less voltage sag and allow the board to retain a stronger torque even when the battery is low, and maybe even better longevity. This is not to say that I’m not satisfied with the Samsung 50E packs though, they work fine for me.

Verdict: Is Ecomobl ET good?

So, the verdict. Why do I like a $1200 board that’s not perfectly smooth in control, that’s not buttery smooth in carving, that has no flex in it, and has a motor that screams like a rusted motorcycle?

It is because no matter the faults, at the end of the day, it is one of the few boards on the market, that can be abused to climb a muddy mountain trail. The high I got from doing that is really something else.

Plus, even when riding on road, not needing to worry about road condition, puddles, belt-maintenance and about keeping the lights charged are just wonderful for a lazy person like me.

So yes, I think a lot of people would be really happy with the Ecomobl ET.

Check out the Ecomobl ET product page by clicking here.

If you are interested in buying an Ecomobl, be sure to use code: “Electric Skateboard HQ 5％OFF” during checkout.
It will help you get a pretty significant 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!