Bajaboard Archives - Electric Skateboard HQ

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!

April 20, 2021April 21, 2021 by Paxson Lim

Propel X4s Review – Unlock all path

Today, we will be reviewing the Propel X4S, a heavy-duty all-terrain electric skateboard by Propel EV.

Propel EV is not a new company; it’s one that was previously named Cycleagle and has been making prototype all-terrain electric skateboards for more than 5 years now. From what I know, they have a solid founding team, and what I have heard about them from others is not much different from what they write about themselves on their own website.

Propel EV makes heavy-duty all-terrain electric skateboards, or put simply, Baja-clones. They are trying to break into the market with the Propel X4S which is selling for $2650 now with 2 batteries. While this is a hefty price, Propel X4s is still more than $1000 cheaper when compared to a Bajaboard; and if it can sing “everything you can be I can be better” to the Bajaboard, then it deserves some serious attention.

So, is Propel X4s a good enough heavy duty all terrain machine? Let’s find out.

Propel X4S Specs and Built

Let’s talk about build details and specs. What are we really getting for Propel X4S nearly 3 grand price tag?

Carbon Fiber Deck: 46.4 inches (1180mm) long & 22 inches (560mm) wide
Electronic Speed Controller: Customized LingYi ESC
Belt Motors: four 1500W, size 6374
Top Speed: 27mph (45kmh).
Battery: 10s6p Samsung 35E (came with 2)
Range: 17 miles (27km) x 2 batteries
Wheels: 10-inch pneumatic tires
Suspension System: Vertical Shock Absorption
Weight: 60lb/27kg
Price: $2650 (extra battery included)

I have to emphasize that this board is HUGE.

It weighs 60lb (27kg), and its carbon fiber deck is 46.4 inches (1180mm) long and 22 inches (560mm) wide. If you’re driving a hatchback (I am), this board might not fit in your trunk (it almost doesn’t!).

Deck

It also has a gorgeous carbon fiber deck with a very aggressive concave to give you better control.

Wheels

For the monster wheels, it uses giant 10-inch pneumatic tires. You can rollover just about anything! Propel X4S will let you traverse nearly any terrain.

Suspension Systems

Next, let’s focus on the suspension system.

For the Propel, or any Baja clone, the ultimate battle is obviously their ability to handle shocks and bumps from very rough terrain.

Propel X4S’ suspension has been built to handle vertical shock absorption.

The vertical shock absorption can be adjusted if desired. All you have to do is adjust the spring load on the coils. These coils will control how much vertical bounce you have on the deck.

Think of it as a replacement for the deck flexibility in any regular longboard deck.

SPOILER ALERT: this kind of suspension system is really awesome! We can officially state that there is ZERO vibration, no matter how crazy the terrain is!

There is another set of springs that controls the turning of the board.

These springs are the ones below the board which can be easily tightened and compressed.

Like the bushings on a truck hanger, the more you tighten these springs, the stiffer your board will be.

Having tight springs on the Propel X4S means less turning radius for you, but will surely make the ride feel more solid at top speed.

If you loosen the turning springs, your ride will be more carvey. Depending on what you prefer, adjust the springs according to your weight and particular needs.

It’s advised to adjust them a couple turns down from stock, but ultimately this is a matter of rider preference.

4 WD & huge Battery

The Propel wants to equip you with enough power to cross through the harshest terrain.

The X4S uses four 1500W belt motors with the size of 6374, combined with the 10s6p Samsung 35E battery. This power gives the board enough torque to pick up the steepest incline I can find on a mountain trail at a top speed of 27mph (45kmh).

The standard price of $2650 comes with 2 battery packs, and each will last you 17 miles (27km) in range.

In our range test, we managed to get 2 more miles out of each battery, putting the total range of both packs at 37 miles(60km). Pretty solid!

Electronic Speed Control (ESC)

Last but not least, the electronic speed controller of this board uses a Customized LingYi ESC.

Well, good to see a familiar part in a machine that’s anything but familiar to us, and the only part that we have criticism for.

First, on the remote. Propel uses the generic LingYi ESC remote with telemetry on it – that generic LingYi Remote that has mislabelled the speed-mode button as “reverse” button, but everyone was so used to it at this point that it no longer bothers us.

While the remote is 100% in functionality—comfortable in hand and doesn’t disconnect; given the price though, we expected something classier to match the rest of this polished board.

Obviously, this was just a small disappointment that Propel EV could easily fix in the future. Next, let’s talk about the riding experience and speed control with LingYi ESC.

Riding Experience – Speed control

The Ling Yi ESC has its usual 4 acceleration modes and 4 brakes modes, independent of each other.

After reviewing a few boards that feature LingYi ESCs, we noticed that this speed controller’s ‘roughness’ increases as the board includes bigger motors.

A LingYi ESC will maneuver with near-perfect smoothness in both acceleration and deceleration for your usual dual hub electric skateboard; but since Propel X4s has more and bigger motors, the board speed control is 3rd and 4th speed modes are anything but silky smooth. There is a rawness in it, those who like it describe it as punchy and powerful; those who don’t like it will describe it as jerky. With that said, it honestly isn’t a big deal. Smoothness comes second to power for boards that specialize in all-terrain uses, and the 1st and 2nd-speed modes are gentle enough for even the very beginners.

Initially, I was a little bit bothered by the rawness of the control, you see, I knew LingYi ESC was always gonna be raw and punchy on the Pro-mode, and I for one never ride LingYi on Pro mode, I usually stick to 3rd speed mode (High mode). However, with the Propel X4s I was forced to ride on Pro mode, or so I thought, as I was climbing pretty steep inclines on mud and rock trails, and I thought I need all the power I could get.

towing Trampa uphill, on mere 2nd speed mode? Easy.

Then, somewhere in the middle of the ride, I realized that to have enough power to climb a 30% incline, from a standstill, staying on 2nd speed mode (medium speed mode) would be more than enough for Propel X4s. The same is true for braking while going downhill. 2nd braking mode is strong enough to slowly brakes to a complete stop. That’s a game-changer for me!

Now, when I am running on a challenging trail, I would just put on Medium speed mode. Control smoothness is no longer a problem! With the power of 4 wheel drives, Propel X4s can climb up an incline, merely using the 2nd-speed mode, from a standstill, and doesn’t even feel like it’s trying. It’s an amazing feeling!

Turning and Carving

Stepping on the board, you will immediately feel its height off the ground. The deck is wide, and the concave locks your feet in place.

Turning on the board is easy and feels tight. Propel X4s actually turns easier for me than Trampa or Lacroix. I can carve on it, better than when I was on Trampa or Lacroix, but obviously still a lot less fun than carving on a regular skate truck. Interestingly, despite looking completely different than a regular longboard, a heavy-duty all-terrain board like the Propel actually rides and controls exactly the same as a regular eskate.

Returning to the center is great as well, and that adds to stability on high speed, not that it was a concern in the first place. Heavy board tends to feel stable for me, and Propel X4s was 3 time heavier than a regular eskate..

Road vibration

The suspension system works really well, as expected.

10-inch pneumatic wheels plus vertical suspension system work together and took away all the vibration you can feel from the road. The feeling is very similar to riding in a car. You won’t feel any gravel, and you can’t tell how poorly the road was paved. When you run into a bump or hole, the entire platform absorbs the shock and bounces up and down. You won’t feel the shock, but you would still need to be careful not to be bumped off the deck, especially when you hit something with just one of the wheels and the board tilts a little bit.

When encountering obstacles like curbs, you can just ride over them without second thoughts. The clearance of the board is also designed to be high enough without having curbs bumping the bottom of the deck.

When running on off-road trails, a heavy-duty all-terrain board such as this will truly shine. The different between this, and the other all-terrain board be it Evolve, Trampa or Ecomobl ET, is that with this, you stop avoiding obstacles. The board can and will roll over anything, and will climb anything.

As the shock absorbers in each wheel are independent of each other, all 4 wheels will still be in contact with the ground (or try their best) even when riding on uneven terrain.

As mentioned, even with just the 2nd speed mode, you can start from a complete stop when riding up a steep hill. Going down the hill, the super-strong brakes will allow the board to stop completely. The board can do anything, and the only limit will be your ability to stay on the board and not falling off. By the way, Propel team, if you are reading this, please build in foot bindings, please.

With that said, on a regular road, you can throttle up and let your mind wander. Nothing on the road can threaten you. Even a reckless driver would have their eyeballs stuck on this extraordinary monster under your feet.

(Disclaimer: Please do still pay attention to your safety while riding, you might still hit a dog or something.)

THE VERDICT

All build, specs, and perks considered, should you get a Propel X4S?

I guess at this point, you already know the answer.

If you are in the market for a heavy-duty all-terrain vehicle, the Propel X4s is going to be great for you. It has everything that you need to help you enjoy yourselves on mountain trails; it’s well built by a legit company and has a good price. However, if you’re looking for a regular longboard ride for flat surface roads, then Propel X4s is obviously a little too much.

The experience would be like choosing to drive a tank just because the road has some potholes along the way. The thing is 60lb after all!

If you are interested in buying a Propel, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and uses code: “ESKATEHQ” during checkout.
It will help you get a 3% off 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!

July 14, 2019July 14, 2019 by Zafrie Izzat Zakaria

Bajaboard releases Bajaboard S2

On 10th October 2019, Bajaboard announced the Bajaboard S2.

For those who are new here, Bajaboard is an Australian brand famous for its super expensive off-road electric skateboard. It is actually, pushing the limit of what can be defines as an electric skateboard because many had felt it rides more like an electric vehicle than your typical eskate.

They have made a few changes this round

This new Bajaboard is notably smaller than the previous G4/G4X.
This makes the S2 is much more portable if you need to transport it in cars or on public transport. That is, as portable as something that weighs 35lbs(16kg) can be.

Bajaboard is renowned for its stability thanks to its proprietary shock-suspension design, making it one of the best off-road vehicles. The new S2 uses a brand new mono-shock suspension design, which should improve on that of the previous versions. In addition to the coil shocks, lighter air shocks are now in play!

The S2 has a few key difference as compared to previous versions

Key Differences in the Bajaboard S2:

S2 has 8″ tyre option, as well as the 10″. Larger for extra ride height off-road, smaller for better efficiency on the tarmac.

Comes with super bright headlight, tail/brake lights, and INDICATORS. Make your commute that little bit safer.

Lighter than the G4, the lightest possible weight is 15.5kg (34lbs). It is more suitable for bunny hops and jumps if that’s your thing.

The Bajaboard Specs:

Top speed: 53kph – 32mph

Range: 30km – 18mi

Weight: 16kg – 35lbs

For any Bajaboard model, there is the option of customizing possible by the ‘build your S2 board’ system offered by the site. The options include a bigger motor, 8 inches VS 10 inch wheels, bigger battery, and foot binding option. You can also buy the standard built.

Pricing

Full Price for the Bajaboard S2 is USD 3299

Considering the price, you should know that the Bajaboard S2 is one of the most premium products in electric skateboard space, right up there with Lacroix and Trampa custom builds.

Luckily, the preorder for the Bajaboard S2 price will be cheaper at USD 2399

It is only slightly cheaper than standard build Bajaboard G4, which is now selling for $2899. Price is not inclusive of shipping, as the company is from Australia, overseas buyers should be expected to pay hundreds on top of the listed price for shipping.

Shipping

Bajaboard is currently only offering to ship in October. While we generally advise against pre-ordering any eskate, seeing that its Bajaboard we are talking about here, it’s up to you if you want to grab the pre-order price and pull the trigger.