Hub Driven Archives - Electric Skateboard HQ

January 31, 2024March 7, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Tynee Mini 3 SL review – $359 !! Literally the most affordable electric skateboard.

The Tynee Mini 3 SL is outrageous.

In the electric skateboard world, brands have two tried and true methods to make their product successful. Make a board unique, or sell it at a really, really low price. Tynee with the Tynee Mini 3 Pro managed to stand out in the shortboard niche for its outrageously high torque and power, and now, with the Tynee Mini 3 SL, it will try to do the latter, be the lowest price electric shortboard, period.

Click to read our review of the Tynee Mini 3 Pro.

Just a little context: Since 2018, an entry-level electric skateboard has had a $400 price tag. Then the price crept up to $450, with increased quality, of course. However, last year, 2023, we started seeing brands offering their entry line-up at $399, which this $359 Tynee Mini 3SL one-upped.

The price war is real, and we consumers love it. The best part is the boards aren’t shabby either. Take a look at the specs.

Tynee Mini 3 SL Specs:

Price	$359.00 (216Wh)$399.00 (281Wh)
Battery	10S3P 6Ah 216Wh10S3P 7.8Ah 281Wh
Controller	12s Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed	30 mph/48 kph
Range	17 miles/ 27 km (216Wh) 20 miles/ 32 km (281Wh)
Deck	8 Ply Canadian Maple
Motor	2*550W hub motors
Net Weight	8.4 kg / 18.5 lbs

Deck – 8 Ply Canadian Maple

Starting with the deck, the Mini SL is made with an 8-ply Canadian maple and is unsurprisingly similar to the Tynee Mini 3 but with a longer kicktail. Its wide concave makes it pleasant to stand on.

The deck uses the same U-shaped concave design popularized by the late-boost Mini. Compared to other models like the Boosted Mini or Exway Wave, the Tynee Mini 3 SL has a wider concave.

ESC and Remote – Hobbywing ESC

Next, moving onto the ESC, Tynee went with the tried and true Hobbywing ESC, which comes with four-speed settings. And like all Hobbywing ESCs, it has a smart turn-on feature, meaning the board powers on automatically when the remote is turned on. It’s paired with the standard Hobbywing remote and a mobile app where you can customize the ride profile.

Battery – 6Ah 216Wh battery or 7.8Ah 281Wh:

Photo of Tynee Mini 3 SL battery enclosure

As for the battery, the Mini 3 SL comes with a 6Ah 216Wh battery or a larger 7.8Ah 281Wh battery for an extra $40.

The Mini SL Hub has a marketed range of 17 miles or 27 km using the standard 6AH battery and 20 miles or 32 km with the larger 7.8AH battery. Our unit was the smaller 216Wh version, and in our range test, we only managed to reach 11 miles or 18km with a 154 lbs or 70 kg rider riding fast. This is slightly lesser than the marketed range, as is always the case when we try to push the speed, but even then, 10 miles and 18km is what we were expecting from a $400 board, so we aren’t disappointed here.

In the worst-case scenario, it is a hub board so you can kick-push if you run a full 20 miles.

Motor – Dual 550W Hub Motors:

The Tynee Mini 3 SL, uses a dual hub motor drive at 550W max power, which is marketed with a top speed of 30 mph ( 48 kph), which is also impressive at that price point. When we took it to the road, we managed to hit 28 mph (45kph), just a hair shy of the marketed top speed.

Truck and Wheels – Tynee diamond truck 7” 43° RKP:

For the trucks, Tynee uses their Tynee PE truck, which is short of Paris Electric trucks. These were made by Tynee and were said to be designed based on Paris Trucks. Since we reviewed the other Tynee, we are familiar with Tynee PE trucks and know they are decent trucks, but unlike Paris Trucks, which were known for their responsiveness, Tynee’s trucks were designed with stability in mind.

As for the wheels, the Mini 3 SL comes with standard 90mm street wheels. 90mm wheels are pretty standard for electric skateboards; however, if you usually ride on rougher pavement, you might want to spend an extra $80 for the 105mm Donut wheels for a smoother ride.

Specs Summary of the Tynee Mini 3 SL:

As you can see, Tynee Mini 3 SL’s specs are also pretty solid. Much like the Tynee Ultra SL Hub, the range and top speed are both pretty good and is on par with boards that cost $100 more. Besides putting up decent numbers, Tynee spared no expense on the other parts either, going with the industry-standard Hobbywing ESC and a decent pair of trucks.

In short, this board, at least on paper, is a good deal for the price it’s asking. Now, it just needs to be a good ride to complete the package, and that’s what we’ll discuss next.

Riding Experience on the Tynee Mini 3 SL:

All things considered, the Tynee Mini 3 SL is a smooth, comfortable board, a good board for beginners.

First, let’s talk about speed control. To cut costs, a budget board will occasionally go with an older generation LingYi ESC that wasn’t the smoothest in speed control. And no, I am not calling out Exway Ripple or Meepo V3s here. Those two still use the latest generation of LingYi ESC, which is actually good. I am referring to those no-name brands from Amazon.

Click to read our review of the Exway Ripple.

Click to read our review of the Meepo V3s.

I am glad that Tynee didn’t do that. Tynee Mini 3 SL sticks with the tried and true Hobbywing ESC, which should come as no surprise that the controls are buttery smooth thanks to the trusty Hobbywing ESC. For those who are new to electric skateboarding, Hobbywing ESC always gives very intuitive speed control, and both the acceleration and braking ramps smoothly without any unexpected jolts.

This also means that the Tynee Mini 3 SL is the opposite of a ‘thrilling board.’ The acceleration curves weren’t aggressive enough to give you an adrenaline rush, and the power of the motors wasn’t strong enough to scare you either. If you were hoping that the board might be top of its class for its torque, just like how the Tynee Mini 3 Pro was, then you will be disappointed.

It does have enough power for a mini-board to get an average-weight rider uphill, but that’s just about it.

The board was clearly designed to be comfortable, not thrilling, and the other thing that helped it to be a comfortable ride was its trucks. As we mentioned in the introduction, the Tynee PE trucks are pretty good trucks that lean toward stability. Going fast on this small board isn’t scary, thanks to both these stable trucks and also the smooth speed control.

Turning obviously is easy; this is a shortboard, after all. The kicktail on the Tynee Mini 3 SL is also somewhat longer than average, longer than the Tynee Mini 3 and 3 Pro, for instance. Clearly, Tynee expects you to use kick turn more. We also like shortboards with good concave; it just makes the board more responsive to control and allows us to better gauge where our feet are.

So far, we like how Tynee put the Mini 3 SL together; all parts were designed with comfort in mind, except one thing: the hub motors. Hub motors are more battery efficient, quiet, require less maintenance, are more cost-effective, and free rolls better; hence can be kick pushed, They are also “very good” at passing road vibration to your knee. Shortboards with hub motors are especially uncomfortable on rough roads, and also, they also make annoying sounds on rough roads, which is, annoying.

This gets better if you pay that extra $80 to upgrade to the 105mm wheels, but if you’re just planning on cruising smooth pavements, you should be good to go.

Verdict:

With a price tag of $400, we typically look for flaws rather than hoping for a board with a big upside. And the Tynee Mini 3 SL is indeed that, a board that’s overall decent and without major flaws.

The slight disappointment here would be that the bigger 10s3p battery didn’t result in a significantly better real-world range but instead ended up only marginally outperforming its $359 price tag.

With that said, we still find that Tynee Mini 3 SL offers excellent value for money. It is a very easy ride and put together well. You can do much worse for $400, and Tynee Mini 3 SL is amongst the boards that give you the best bang for your buck.

If you are interested in buying the Tynee, 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!

January 20, 2024January 20, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Tynee Ultra SL Hub Review – The best $400 eskate, period.

Tynee just released a Student Life series, a pair of affordable electric skateboards, including the longboard Tynee Ultra SL and a mini-board Tynee Mini 3 SL.

Today, we will be reviewing the Tynee Ultra SL, a hub-driven electric longboard priced at $399, making it among the most affordable electric longboards out there. Competition in the under $500 affordable category is pretty stiff right now, with both Meepo and Wowgo having a few really good boards at this price, so let’s see how well the Tynee Ultra SL fares against them.

Tynee Ultra SL Hub Specifications:

Price	$399
Battery	12S 50.4V 6Ah 259.2WH battery
Controller	12s Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed	28 mph (45 kph)
Range	20 miles (32 km)
Deck	8 Ply Canadian Maple
Motor	2*550W hub motors
Net Weight	8.3 kg / 18.3 lbs

Deck – 8 Ply Canadian Maple:

Starting with the deck, the Ultra SL is made with an 8-ply Canadian maple with a wide concave that’s comfortable to stand on. It has a good amount of flex, which we generally prefer over stiff decks, especially when it comes to hub-driven electric skateboards. The grip tape design is nothing special. As is often the case, Tynee likes to play it simple with a minimalistic monochrome print.

It’s also pretty nice of them to include a nose and tail protector on each end.

ESC and Remote – 12s Hobbywing ESC:

Moving onto the ESC, Tynee went with the tried and true Hobbywing ESC, which comes with four-speed settings. And like all Hobbywing ESCs, it has a smart turn-on feature, meaning the board powers on automatically when the remote is turned on. It’s paired with the standard Hobbywing remote, and there’s also a mobile app that allows you to customize the ride profile.

Battery – 12s 50.4v 6ah 259.2wh Battery:

As for the battery, the Ultra SL Hub is equipped with a 12S 50.4V 6Ah 259.2WH battery and has a marketed range of 20 miles (32 km). And in our range test, we managed to cover 11 miles (17km) with a 154 lbs (70 kg) rider riding fast. As is usually the case with the marketed range, you’d need to ride conservatively at a slower pace if you really need to get to the marketed 20-mile range in a single charge.

Although this wasn’t an amazing range, it is on par with what we expected out of a $400 board. For context, the 10-mile (18-km) tested range is what is considered standard from boards from the affordable categories.

And when worse comes to worse, it is a hub board, so you can kick-push if you completely run out of juice.

Motor – Dual 550w Hub Motors:

The Tynee Ultra SL uses a pair of 550W hub motors, which are marketed with a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph). This is also above average at this price point. When we took it to the road, we actually managed to reach THE 28 mph (45kph) threshold, so it didn’t underperform here.

Truck And Wheels – 7” 43° Reverse Kingpin Trucks And 90mm Street Wheels:

Speaking of trucks, Tynee uses their 7” 43° Reverse kingpin trucks. We are familiar with Tynee PE trucks from reviewing the other Tynee, and we know it is a decent truck that is geared more toward stability.

As for the wheels, the Ultra SL comes with standard 90mm street wheels, providing a smooth ride on various terrains. However, for riders who frequently encounter rough roads, you might want to pay that extra $109 for the 105mm Donut wheels.

Specs Summary:

As you can see, for less than $400, Tynee Ultra SL Hub has pretty good specs.

It’s not every day you can find a 12s board for that price. The range and top speed are both pretty impressive and could easily compete with boards that cost $100 more. The bigger battery and big motors are great, but Tynee didn’t skimp on the other parts either, going with the tried and true Hobbywing ESC and a decent pair of trucks.

In short, the board is above-average in value if judged solely by the numbers and the part used. So far, we see no shortcuts taken.

Riding Experience:

Overall, the Tynee Ultra SL is an easy board to ride. It is a comfortable board to ride in all but one aspect.

First, let’s talk about speed control. The acceleration and braking are both super smooth. This should come as no surprise, as you probably already know how Hobbywing ESC consistently gives the board a buttery smooth, intuitive control.

The trucks also contribute to this smoothness. Tynee’s PE trucks strike a pretty good balance between stability and responsiveness. They’re responsive and fun for carving but are undoubtedly geared more towards stability. Testing top speed on these trucks is pretty easy for us, as they remain stable all the way without speed wobbles.

The flexibility of the deck adds a bit to the ride’s smoothness, too. A flexible deck always feels more fun to carve on for us and also helps dampen road vibrations. We hate flat decks. Although this deck doesn’t have an aggressive concave, it has just enough for us.

There’s only one feature of the Tynee Ultra SL that detracts from ride comfort: the hub motors. As with all hub motor boards, riding on rough roads produces annoying noises, and road vibrations are still fairly strong despite the deck’s flexibility. It’s not the worst board in this sense, but it is a problem nonetheless.

These 550W hubs, however, do their job well. They might not have as much torque as a belt-driven board, such as the Wowgo 3E, but they’re certainly powerful enough to get you up any hills. The 12s battery also gives the board an extra edge in power over other 10s hubs, such as the Wowgo 2s max.

Verdict:

Without a doubt, the Tynee Ultra SL really stands out in the $400 board category, thanks to its 12s battery. But while its 12s2p battery is bigger than what you’ll find in most rivals, it doesn’t really add much to the range. Instead, it’s the power where this board really gains an edge.

Now, I’ve got to say, Tynee might have done a bit of a disservice by labeling this as just a student or beginner board. Sure, it’s an easy ride – super comfortable and incredibly smooth – which makes it a great fit for beginners. But, even seasoned eskaters would probably love how they can just turn off their brain and comfortably cruise at top speed on this board.

In short – good value, comfortable ride, Tynee Ultra SL is one of the better budget electric skateboards on the market right now.

December 20, 2023December 20, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Exway Ripple Review – The most practical last-mile options (and it’s affordable!)

Sometimes you want to make a wave, sometimes you just want to make a Ripple.

Today, we’ll be reviewing the Exway Ripple, a very portable, even air travel-friendly mini board for under $400. It has pretty underwhelming specs even for a $349 board, but reviewers all seem to like it, and we are curious to understand why.

Exway Ripple Specifications:

Price	$349
Battery	99Wh Travel Edition battery ($349)159Wh Cruiser Edition battery ($469).
Controller	10s LingYi ESC
Top Speed	16mph (25kph)
Range	7.5 miles (12 km) for Travel Edition battery 11.2 miles (18 km) for Cruiser Edition battery
Deck	30.7 ‘Flexy’ bamboo, maple and fiberglass composite
Motor	Dual 672W Hub drive motors
Net Weight	13.1lbs (5.9 kg)

Deck: 30.7 ‘Flexy’ bamboo, maple and fiberglass composite

Starting with the deck, the Ripple has a wide concave deck constructed of tough composite material made of maple, bamboo, and fiberglass. We love the RGB lights under the deck and the sleek, minimal grip tape design. It features amazing decorative LEDs at the side that indicate the battery level and brake lights that blink like a car.

ESC and Remote: 10s LingYi ESC

Moving onto the ESC, with the 10s Lingyi ESC on the Ripple, this is Lingyi’s first appearance in the Exway line. The 10s Lingyi ESC comes with 4-speed modes and is paired with the generic Lingyi remote which has an OLED display to show the speed, battery, and other info.

Battery: Travel Edition (99Wh) and Cruiser Edition (159Wh)

Photo of Exway Ripple battery and lights

As for the battery, the Ripple comes with two swappable batteries. The travel edition 99Wh battery complies with FAA and other aviation regulations so you can take it to the skies. And the 159Wh cruiser edition, which is still allowed in carry-on baggage with airline approval as most airlines have a limit of up to 160Wh. But even so, some airlines may have their own regulations when it comes to carrying Lithium-ion batteries so be sure to check your airline before traveling.

We thought the battery was hot-swappable like the Exway Wave, but it isn’t. You need to remove 9 screws to swap the battery so carrying extra battery in the backpack for extra range is not an option here.

Read our review of the Exway Wave here!

The marketed range of the Ripple is 13.5 miles or 18 km with the cruiser edition battery and 8 miles or 12 km with the travel edition battery. In our tests, we were able to travel 8 miles or 13 km at high speed using the Cruiser Edition battery, with a rider weighing 154 lbs or 70 kg. The range of the 99wh travel battery is either 6 miles or 10 km, which is a pretty limited range, to be honest, but that’s what you can expect from a battery this small. It’s advertised as a last mile solution as most people walk a mile after their main mode of transport to get to their final destination and eskates like these are a perfect alternative when commuting between college classes, getting to a bus stop, or even a quick trip to the corner shop.

And when worst comes to worst, it is a hub board so you can kick-push if you completely run out of juice.

Motor: Dual 672W Hub drive motors

The Exway Ripple uses a hub motor drive at 672W max power, which is marketed with a top speed of 16 mph or 25 kph, which means it’s definitely not built for speed but for casual cruising or beginners. But this makes it too slow for shared roads so you’re going to have to use it on pavements and sidewalks only. Surprisingly, when we took it to the road, we managed to hit 20 mph or 32 km/h, which still isn’t that fast but definitely exceeded the advertised top speed. I am guessing that Exway understates its top speed in order to comply with regulations some countries have. For instance, Singapore has 16mph or 25 kph as the speed limit for PEV.

Truck And Wheels: Reverse Kingpin Trucks And 77mm Polyurethane Wheels

For the trucks, Exway decided to equip Trist 7″ Reverse Kingpin trucks on the Ripple, which sets the Ripple apart from other $400 boards that typically use a cast truck. The back trucks of the Ripple also are made to look much better than most off-the-shelf hub trucks, in which its motors are typically screwed onto a pseudo truck. However, Exway came up with a smarter concept to have the truck’s axles inserted straight into the hub motor wheels, tucking the motor wires away and giving the Ripple a more traditional look.

In general, the trucks on the Ripple are excellent, but for a budget-conscious consumer, this might be overkill because even generic back trucks have shown to be reliable and sturdy enough, and since the Ripple’s power is limited, a reinforced truck is unlikely to be necessary. However, Exway Ripple is not about value for money; rather, it’s about refined quality, and this is just one example of that.

As for the wheels, we believe that Ripple’s tiny 75mm polyurethane wheels are the board’s biggest drawback and a deal-breaker for many. Nowadays, it’s uncommon to encounter boards with wheels smaller than 90 mm, and for good reason. Your ride is essentially limited to sidewalks and well-paved roads with 75mm wheels. Riding over rough asphalt for even a mile would be unpleasant.

Specs Summary – the Exway Ripple is not very competitive:

As you can see, Exway Ripple is a lot more polished than your typical $400 board but comes with much lower specs. We expect a $400 board to have at least a 10s2p 144wh battery and a 25mph or 40kph top speed, and even with promotion prices, Ripple will never compete with similar-priced competitors in specs.

When you compare it to the Meepo Atom 216Wh battery and its top speed of 29 mph or 47 kph, you can see that the stats differ significantly.

Read our review of the Meepo Atom here!

Our expectations for a $400 board are exceeded by the integrated lights and forged trucks. We also really value its exceptionally lightweight—just 13,1 lbs. (5.9 kg)! You will have to construct your own shortboard, as we did with our Orbiter Shrink a few years ago if you want a good one that is any lighter.

Riding Experience on the Exway Ripple

Like a surf skate with surf trucks that allow for sharp turns, the Exway Ripple is an incredibly fun board to ride on smooth roads and pathways. It will wobble a little if you try to ride it straight, so you have to go with the flow and carve things to keep it steady. The deck has a great size, a good tail, and a nice concave. It feels wider than it is, even though it is only 30″. It’s entertaining to use the kicktail, and if we had the skills, we could definitely use Ripple for tricks.

The LingYi ESC performs admirably in terms of speed control. When combined with relatively weak motors, LingYi ESCs were still flawless even years ago, when they still trailed Hobbywing ESCs in terms of smooth speed control. Since Exway Ripple has a tame motor and LingYi ESC has advanced to the point where it performs on par with Hobbywing ESC, it should come as no surprise that the speed control is incredibly smooth and intuitive.

Clearly, Exway Ripple lacks strength and speed. If you dare to join group rides with it, you will be left behind due to its top speed of 20 mph (32 kph). Although it isn’t really fast, riding on it feels very quick and agile.

Although the motors are strong enough to get me up most inclines, I wouldn’t trust them to get me up anything very steep. Keep to flat, well-paved roads and imagine it as a motorized surf skate.

The Verdict – Is Exway Ripple good?

Photo of Exway Ripple underside lights off

Photo of Exway Ripple underside lights on

Exway Ripple is a niche product that everybody can just look at and instantly know if it’s for or not for them.

For instance, Exway Ripple is designed for skaters who make fun of us eskater for our heavy boards, 105mm wheels, and incapacity to ollie up a curb. The board is the most agile and portable available, and its lightweight design should allow it to perform all skate tricks.

Exway Ripple is an enjoyable and useful electric surf skate with a long list of features that are off-limits for those of us who aren’t skilled at ollies. 75mm hub motor wheels are not the right choice if you ride on rough terrain. The larger 159wh battery may not be sufficient if range is a concern. If you need torque or speed, Ripple will be too weak.

But if you live in a place with good public transport or are traveling somewhere with good pavement, the Exway Ripple is the board you should get. A 15 mph speed limit on the sidewalk doesn’t affect the board’s maximum speed, and its agility makes it easier to maneuver among other pedestrians. It always makes sense to trade off extra battery for less weight if you know you will need to carry the board with you for portions of the trip.

If you are interested in buying the Ripple 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!

August 23, 2023August 23, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Vokboard Riot V2 Review: The other guys at $449.

Today, we will be reviewing the Vokboard Riot V2.

Priced at $449, the Riot V2 has entered as a contender among other affordable electric skateboards priced below $500. As you may know, the budget segment of electric skateboards has always been dominated by big Chinese brands like Meepo, Wowgo, and Backfire. These giant skateboard manufacturers can usually churn out high-quality skateboards while maintaining affordability due to their large production scale.

So, being a challenger to the status quo, we are interested to see what this new Vokboard brand is bringing to the table. Will it be able to hold on its own among the other heavyweights in the price range of $500 and below?

Vokboard Riot V2 Specifications:

Price: $449
Deck: Canadian Maple; a mild amount of flexibility, no concave
Electronic Speed Controller: LingYi ESC; 4-speed modes, push-to-start
Remote: LingYi with telemetry screen
Battery: 10s3p, 288WH, 8.0 ah
Marketed Range: 21 miles (35 KM)
Motors: Dual 600w Hub
Marketed Top Speed: 28.5 mp/h (46 km/h)
Trucks: Generic RKP trucks
Wheels: 90MM or + 105 mm
Weight: 15 lbs (6.8 kg)

Deck: Broad and Flat

The Vokboard Riot V2’s deck is broad and flat. It’s made of Canadian Maple and has mild flexibility. It is also pretty flat without much concave.

Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) – 10s LingYi ESC

The Riot V2 uses a 10s LingYi ESC, which allows four different riding and braking modes.

If you’ve come across our previous review on any electronic skateboard that uses LingYi ESC, you know that the ESC’s performance is usually pretty consistent and reliable.

It comes paired with the generic LingYi remote that comes with a telemetry display.

Battery: 10s3p Setup

The Riot V2 is equipped with a 10s3p, 288WH, 8.0Ah battery, which stands out in its price range, considering it’s almost two times the size as what we usually see from $500 boards.

Vokboard claims that the battery life can last up to the range of 21miles (35 km), and as we tested it with a rider of 154 lbs (70 kg) cruising at a moderate speed, we managed to cover around 16 miles (26 km) on a single charge.

Motors: Dual 600w Hub Motors

Vokboard Riot V2 comes with dual 600w hub motors. These are respectable numbers, and the boar does have an impressive top speed of 28.5mph (46 kph). We manage to hit the top speed, but it does take time to accelerate up to the top speed.

Weight: 17.6 lbs (8 kg)

Despite having a larger battery and dual hub motors, the Riot V2 manages to keep its weight at 17.6 lbs or 8 kg.

Vokboard Riot V2’s Specification Summary

In general, the Riot V2 is not a sophisticated board; it has simple features to go with its simple looks. Much like other smaller brands, the Riot V2 was assembled using off-the-shelf parts.

Saving money from having to invest in special molds probably allows Vokboard to put a bigger battery in the Riot V2. However, range means nothing if the board is no fun to ride. This, then, brings us to the next section, the riding experience.

The Riding Experience of Vokboard Riot V2

The VokboardRiot V2 uses LingYi ESC, which has a reputation for being smooth in the first three speed modes and raw a jerky with its highest speed mode. Well, this wasn’t the case with the Riot V2, most likely because the motors on the Riot V2 aren’t the most powerful.

On paper, the dual 600w hub motors should be very powerful, but we know that motor wattage isn’t exactly a good indicator of a board’s torque and power, and Riot V2 is a good example of that. While the board really is able to achieve a top speed of 28.5 mp/h (46 km/h), it doesn’t accelerate super fast and will take some time before it gets there.\With that said, these motors are still strong enough to make your everyday rides fun, and beginners might even appreciate the tamer profile of the ride.

The Riot V2 does offer a stable handle when going fast, and there are no speed wobbles. The trucks were on the tighter side, and the board was especially stable when going straight. However, this does make it resistant to steer and makes it hard to make very tight turns.

In the aspect of road vibrations, the Riot V2 does a decent job of reducing the vibrations despite its stiff deck. Although it doesn’t give you the “floating” sensation that those premium boards with shock-absorbing features provide, it’s considered comfortably smooth, especially for boards at this price point. That being said, the larger battery packs lowered the ground clearance and might lead to occasional scrapes over speed bumps.

Verdict: The Vokboard Riot V2 – A Competitive Choice Under $500

When all is said and done, the Vokboard Riot V2 does offer a respectable riding experience while boasting a range far beyond what’s expected for its price. While it lacks exciting power or an extraordinary ride feel, it delivers where it counts: the range. If you’re in search of a budget board that can take you the extra mile, the Vokboard Riot V2 is a board worth considering.

If you are interested in buying the Vokboard be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ23” 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!

July 23, 2023July 31, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Meepo Mini 3S Review (Meepo Atom): Powerful and Affordable!

Today we will be reviewing the Meepo Mini 3s, also known as the Meepo Atom.

The Mini 3s, priced at $469, is essentially the do-over of the $429 Meepo Mini 5, a few-month-old predecessor. For those who might be confused about the naming, the Mini 3s and the Meepo V3s were both released as successors to the much-loved 2020 Meepo V3, a board that gained notoriety as the most powerful affordable electric longboard on the market.

Check out our review of the Meepo V3s here!

Meepo Mini 3S Specifications:

Price: $469
Deck: 30″ 8-ply Canadian maple; a comfortable amount of flex, mild concave
Electronic Speed Controller: LingYi ESC; 4-speed modes, push-to-start
Remote: M4s remote with telemetry screen
Battery: 10s2p battery with 21700 cells (Molicel P42A), 216Wh
Marketed Range: Standard – 17 miles (27km)
Motors: Dual 540W Hub
Marketed Top Speed: 29mph (47kph)
Trucks: Meepo Signature Shredder Trucks (7-inch 45°)
Wheels: 90mm PU (Compatible with 105mm donut wheels)
Weight: 18.5 lbs (8.4kg).

As you can see, Meepo Atom (Mini 3s) wasn’t trying to be groundbreaking in design. It has the same color scheme as the Meepo V3s, which also was pretty similar to the 2020 Meepo V3. It also uses the same electronic enclosure.

This is obviously how Meepo keeps its cost down. Now, let’s take a deeper look at each of the parts.

Deck: Broad for a shortboard (12.6″)

The deck of the Mini 3S measures 30″ x 12.6″, which is considered wide for a shortboard. It’s a stiff deck made from Canadian Maple and features a dish-shaped concave with a spacious kicktail. Meepo also included a skid plate on the kicktail to allow for worry-free use of the kicktail or tail brakes.

Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) – LingYi ESC

The Mini 3S uses the 10S LingYi ESC, known for its punchy acceleration. There’s also a push-to-start feature, so the board automatically turns on when you start rolling. Additionally, the Mini 3S is paired with the Meepo M4S remote, which comes with a display that shows telemetry. The ESC allows switching between 4 acceleration modes and 4 brake modes, independent of each other.

Battery: 10s2p Molicel P42A

Meepo Mini 3s is equipped with a 10s2p 216Wh battery, using 21700 cells. These cells hold more power than the 18650 cells used in the Meepo Mini 5 and most other entry-level electric skateboards.

Meepo claims the Mini 3S can go 17 miles or 27 km on a single charge. However, in our testing, a 165lbs (75kg) rider achieved 13 miles (21km) on the highest speed mode. This range is slightly better than most entry-level electric skateboards.

Big Motors – Dual 540W Hub

The Mini 3S uses dual 540W hub motors, a step up from the 500W motors found on the Mini 5. Meepo lists the Mini 3S as having a top speed of 29 mph (47 kph).

We did not have the courage to get to that top speed. We got to 22mph (35 kph), and aborted there. .

Shredder Trucks and 90mm Wheels

Just like Meepo Mini 5, the Mini 3s use Meepo’s Shredder trucks, 7” 45° RKP trucks.

The trucks come right out of the box with firm 100A bushings but Meepo also included \a set of 92A bushings for those who prefer softer trucks.

The wheels are standard 90mm street wheels, but these are compatible with 105mm donut wheels.

The Riding Experience of Meepo Mini 3s (Meepo Atom)

First impression of the Mini 3s? This board is powerful.

In recent times, ‘power’ seems to be the aim of brands when designing new electric shortboards. Boards like the $899 Tynee Mini 3 Pro, the $699 Verreal Ace, and the $469 Meepo Mini 3s Atom all embrace this trend. Fortunately, Meepo Mini 3s handles the power with grace.

While the highest speed mode of the LingYi ESC is punchy and thrilling, the board’s wide 7” trucks, stiffer bushing, and wider deck with a comfortable concave all contribute to a stable and smooth ride. The board performs well up to speeds of around 22mph (35 kph), after which the ride might become a bit intimidating for us.

For those who prefer a shortboard for a relaxing commute, the Mini 3s can do that too. The first three speed modes offer gentle and smooth rides, perfect for beginners and for those who enjoy carefree cruising.

It’s great for riding on sidewalks too, The trucks are nimble enough for tight turns, and the kicktail is easy to use for kick turns and tail brakes. (We had come across some other shortboard that kicktail was way too short, making it borderline unusable and was merely ‘decorative’.)

This board is pretty addictive to ride. It’s fun to have this much power on your ‘thumb tips’. Besides that, the board is also fun to just ride around, as it is agile and responsive.

However, as with all hub-driven electric shortboards, Meepo Mini 3s is NOT fun when the roads are rough. The vibration will travel up the trucks, through the stiff deck, and straight into your knee.

Verdict: The Meepo Mini 3s – One of the Best Under $500

All things considered, we think the Meepo Mini 3s Atom is one of the best electric shortboards under $500. It’s not just powerful, but it handles everything else rather well, too. It’s a fun and agile board for sidewalk cruising, a comfortable ride for relaxed carving, and an exhilarating machine to race down straight roads. At this point, the Meepo Mini 5 is completely overshadowed by the Mini 3s. So if you’re in the market for an entry-level electric shortboard that delivers on all fronts, the Meepo Mini 3s should be among your first consideration.

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