Hub Driven Archives - Electric Skateboard HQ

June 27, 2025June 27, 2025 by Paxson Lim

Meepo Mini 3 Max Review – The Best entry-level electric shortboard

The Meepo Mini 3 Max is the shortboard counterpart of the Meepo V3 Max. Both of which are setting the standard that other entry-level electric skateboards—that is, electric skateboards under $500—will be compared to.

Not because using mismatched wheels is fashionable, but because 12s3p boards for $500 is a super amazing deal.

As usual, let’s run through the specs.

Meepo Mini 3 Max Specs:

Price	$454 (with code ESHQ15)
Battery	12S3P 324WH 7.5AH
Controller	LingYi ESC
Top Speed	28 mph (45 km/h)
Range	Up to 20 miles (32 km)
Deck	8 ply maple + 1 ply bamboo veneer
Motor	2 x 800W (full magnetic hub)
Weight	19.8 lbs (9 kg)

Deck – 8 ply maple + 1 ply bamboo veneer:

Starting with the deck, the Meepo Mini 3 Max uses a 30” deck made from 8 layers of Canadian maple with 1 ply of bamboo veneer. It is a stiffer deck with a deep U-shaped concave which helps with board control.

The tail skid pad came pre-installed—something all reputable brands do now.

The kicktail is very easy to engage. Some shortboards are heavier in the front, making it hard to lift the nose, while this Meepo Mini 3 Max’s weight is distributed more toward the tail, making it easier to engage the kicktail. Sometimes we even get into accidental wheelies, though.

ESC – LingYi ESC:

Photo of Meepo Mini 3 Max remote and ESC

After dabbling with their own JK ESC, Meepo went back to Ling Yi ESC for this year’s entry-level lineup. Ling Yi ESC means the familiar 4 speed modes and 4 brake modes that can be set independently of each other. Which means no smart power-on, but push-to-start, where the board automatically powers on once it starts rolling.

This year’s Meepo also comes with a new color remote, named the M6C Remote, which is simple but fairly nice-looking.

It’s always worth mentioning that this Ling Yi ESC has some new tricks up its sleeves too—it allows advanced customization of each speed mode. So if the Pro mode is too strong for you, you can always tone it down to your liking.

Battery – 12S3P 324WH 7.5AH battery:

Living under the same enclosure is the big 12s3p 324Wh battery pack. I’m going to repeat myself and remind you that 12s3p for less than $500 was unheard of before this. For context, Meepo themselves were selling the Mini Extended Range at $599 previously, and that used a smaller 288Wh battery.

Surveying across major electric skateboard brands, you’ll see that Meepo very intentionally priced this year’s 3 Max models to have the biggest pack in this price range.

This battery is marketed to go 20 miles (32km) on a single charge, and our 165lbs (75kg) test rider managed to hit that riding fast.

Motors and Wheels – Dual 800W Full Magnetic Hub Motors and 94mm + 90mm wheels:

Despite being the smaller brother, the Mini 3 Max uses the same 800W dual hub motors as its longboard counterpart. While motor wattage never tells the full story of a motor’s power, most entry-level electric skateboards have motor wattages below 600W.

The V3 Max was marketed to go up to 28 MPH (45kph), which we had no problem reaching. And the torque was strong; strong enough to convert some belt-drive fans who, prior to this, may have exclusively bought belt-driven boards for more reliable torque.

One inescapable shortcoming of hub drives is how much vibration is conducted up through the stiff motors, though. The slightly meatier 94mm rear wheels didn’t help much, unfortunately, so you’ll have to be okay with that aspect of the ride.

Again, it’s 94mm at the back and 90mm in the front, and we did feel the tilt, but not to the extent of finding it unpleasant.

Meepo briefly considered a 105mm setup, which did improve road vibration significantly, but at the expense of strong torque. So, if you live somewhere with rough roads and can afford to lose some torque, swapping to 105mm wheels is an option.

Trucks – Standard 7-Inch Reverse Kingpin Trucks:

Next, for the trucks, Meepo went with standard 7-inch reverse kingpin trucks with double barrel bushings. There isn’t much to be said about Meepo’s Shredder trucks—they’re pretty good, fairly balanced between responsiveness and stability. Although not as precise as the top-tier branded forged trucks, they’re easy to turn, fun to carve, and stable at top speed. You can’t ask for more from a budget board.

Our Meepo Mini 3 Max came out of the box a little looser than we liked, making it easier to turn but wobbly around the 22 mph (35 km/h) mark, but once we tightened them up a bit, it was all perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

While the front trucks are pretty standard, the back trucks on the 3 Max series are new and improved.

Usually, the back trucks are “press-fit” hub motors, which look like this—they actually rely on a bunch of screws to hold them to the “pseudo truck.”

And now, the back trucks are full axle, which look like this:

While we haven’t heard of any problems with the previous back truck, the new full axle hub motors give us better peace of mind when it comes to mechanical stability.

Riding Experience on the Meepo Mini 3 Max:

As you can see, at under $500, the Meepo 3 Max series dominates the spec sheets with its giant battery, stronger motors, and a more reliable back truck design. And these all add up to a pretty well-rounded riding experience.

Speed control is perfect—perfectly smooth and intuitive. A tad punchier than Hobbywing boards in the highest Pro mode, but this time, nothing is stopping you from going into advanced settings to tune it down. The board is agile and quick to turn. And it’s as powerful as a mid-range belt-driven board.

Verdict on the Meepo Mini 3 Max:

Until the competition catches up, the Meepo Mini 3 Max and V3 Max will remain our go-to recommendation for electric skateboards under $500. In fact, with unmatched specs and a well-rounded ride feel, the Meepo Mini 3 Max is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for an electric shortboard, regardless of budget.

And we predict it will take another big brand with enough muscle to dislodge Meepo from its position as the budget king. I don’t see how a smaller brand can match the build quality and polish of this. While many things in the world may have gotten worse over time, at least budget electric skateboards are getting better.

If you are interested in buying the Meepo, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESHQ15” to receive $15 off during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

June 16, 2025June 16, 2025 by Paxson Lim

Meepo Ampboard Review – $299, this couldn’t possibly be good.

A $299 board should be terrible, even if it’s by Meepo. And spoiler alert—the Meepo Amp board does indeed have plenty of shortcomings, but it’s also one of the most fun boards we’ve ever reviewed.

At a glance, the Meepo Amp board is a shorter longboard with drop-down brackets. It looks polished despite its $299 price tag, but there’s definitely a “price” you pay with this setup. Let’s run through the specs as usual.

Meepo Ampboard Specs:

Price	$299
Battery	63Wh, 7S1P battery
Controller	LingYi ESC
Top Speed	14 mph (22.5 km/h)
Range	9 miles (14.5 km) conservative, 5 miles (8 km) normal
Deck	33.74” Canadian maple + fiberglass
Motor	Single 540W hub motor
Weight	13.5lbs (6.1kg)

Deck – 33.74” Canadian Maple + Fiberglass:

Starting with the deck, the Ampboard is actually pretty short, at just 22 inches (57 cm), but the brackets extend the wheelbase, bringing the total length to 33 inches (85 cm).

It’s made from Canadian Maple and has a beautiful concave.

The deck has some flex, but you might wish it didn’t, as this setup offers almost no ground clearance. The design is intended to create an extremely low ride as your feet are just 32 mm from the ground. Pretty wild choice there, Meepo.

This super-low ride height is the defining feature of the Amp board, but there are other crazy design choices, so let’s move on.

Trucks – reverse kingpin Shredder trucks:

Mounted on a double-drop bracket, the Ampboard sports Meepo’s usual reverse kingpin Shredder trucks, which are solid trucks—responsive, yet stable—but stability might not even be necessary, considering how slow the board is. More on that sooner.

ESC and Battery – LingYi ESC and 7s1p 63Wh 2.5Ah Battery:

Closeup Photo of Meep Ampboard esc and battery enclosure

Photo of Meep Ampboard esc and battery enclosure

If you flip the board over, you’ll find a single enclosure housing both the battery and ESC. It’s thin and does its best to stay off the ground, but fails frequently and ends up with scratches. Luckily, it seems tough enough to handle the abuse. The slim enclosure also means a tiny battery, just 7s1p, translating to just 63Wh or 2.5Ah.

You’ll get about 9 miles (15 km) per charge if you’re conservative, and about 5 miles (8 km) in normal riding conditions. And because of this small battery, be prepared to kick-push the board frequently. It actually begs you to kick-push since the single hub motor creates almost no rolling resistance. And you’ll have to kick-push from a stop every time — not just to save battery, but also because a single hub motor takes forever to launch.

Also, since it’s using a LingYi ESC, the board automatically powers on once you start rolling.

LingYi ESCs typically deliver punchy acceleration on powerful dual hubs, but on this single hub setup, they have no choice but to feel gentle and smooth. The Amp board does come with Meepo’s new M6C remote which comes as a nice surprise, given this is Meepo’s cheapest board.

Motors and Wheels – 540W Single Hub Motor and Standard 94mm Wheels:

Powering the Ampboard is a single hub motor of 540W. Yes, single. You only get one of them.

It’ll get you up to 14 mph (22.5 km/h), which is just about faster than you can run, but only half as fast as Usain Bolt. To be fair, 14 mph is the legal limit in some places for personal mobility vehicles—good guy Meepo is just trying to help you to keep you out of trouble with the law.

And, forget about inclines with the Amp board, at least nothing steeper than you can comfortably kick-push up. Even if the board can manage, it’ll drain the battery so fast you’ll be pushing for the rest of the journey.

The standard wheels are 94 mm, not the 90mm shown here, but if you are willing to sacrifice even more torque and range, you can consider tinkering it to 105 mm wheels. This is important because of, well, ground clearance.

Ground Clearance:

If you love ultra-low ride height and are willing to sacrifice literally everything, the Amp board is exactly what you’re looking for. The clearance is so low that Meepo includes warnings: don’t ride over speed bumps, and don’t go down slopes. The board just can’t handle the angle.

You can’t bounce on the deck, either, because any bounce and it bottoms out. With our even lower 90 mm prototype setup, even carving hard scrapes the side of the deck. Still, riding this low is as fun as it looks —you feel practically on the road.

What separates you and the road is really thin. It’s a very intimate, “real feel” kind of experience.

Spec Summary of the Meepo Ampboard

By now, it’s clear that the Amp board has some big weaknesses—but also standout strengths.

The super-low ground clearance is either a deal breaker or a key feature, depending on who you ask.
A small battery and single motor means limited power, but also makes the board incredibly light, at just 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg), like a regular longboard.
The price. There are many unpowered longboards that cost much more. And Meepo didn’t cut corners on the parts either.

Verdict on the Meepo Ampboard

Ride free. Push less.

With the Amp board, you’re free to ride—as long as the ground is flat. You’ll push less, but you will still have to push.

The Amp board is best categorized as an electric-assist board, reducing your need to kick-push, rather than a fully-powered electric skateboard. For 80% of riders, this is absolutely not the board to get. But if you love ultra-low ride height, nothing else comes close.

And if you’re choosing between a regular longboard and your first electric ride, why not start with this fun little guy?

If you are interested in buying the Meepo, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $10 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!

June 15, 2025June 27, 2025 by Paxson Lim

Meepo V3 Max Review – Maximum value

We all know that Meepo made plenty of considerations in this 2025 version of their entry-level electric skateboard. We know this because we first reviewed the prototype, which then had its ESC changed, had its wheels changed, and had its motor upgraded.

And, at the end of the day, two numbers will probably define the board: the $454 price tag and the 324Wh battery.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves here. As usual, let’s run through the specs.

Meepo V3 Max Specs:

Price	$469 (with ESHQ15)
Battery	12S3P 324Wh battery
Controller	LingYi ESC
Top Speed	28 mph (45 km/h)
Range	20 miles (32 km)
Deck	8 ply maple + 1 ply bamboo veneer
Motor	2 x 800W (full magnetic hub)
Weight	19.8 lbs (9 kg)

Deck – 8 ply maple + 1 ply bamboo veneer:

Starting with the deck, Meepo V3 Max uses a 38” deck made from 8 layers of Canadian maple with 1 ply of bamboo veneers. It is a bit on the stiffer side, with only a very mild flex to it. And it has a modest concave profile, nothing too crazy here.

The V3 Max has a handle cut-out, as most entry-level electric skateboards do, which, again, while making the board look cheap, is actually infinitely convenient.

As per standard, tail guards are included even for budget electric skateboards now.

ESC – LingYi ESC:

Next, after dabbling with their own JK ESC, Meepo went back to Ling Yi ESC for this one. Which means the same old 4 speed modes and 4 brake modes that can be set independently of each other, meaning no smart power-on but push to start, where the board automatically powers on once it starts rolling.

This year’s Meepo does come with a new color remote, named M6C Remote, though, which is simple but fairly nice looking. But wait, this Ling Yi ESC has some new tricks up its sleeves too—it does allow advanced customization of each speed mode, so if the pro mode is too strong for you, you can always tone it down to your liking.

Battery – 12s3p 324Wh battery cell:

And beside the ESC enclosure, we have the highlight of the board—the 12s3p 324Wh battery cell. 12s3p for less than $500 is pretty much unheard of before this. For context, Meepo themselves were selling the V3 Extended Range at $599 previously. And the Extended Range series was using a smaller 288Wh battery.

Surveying across major electric skateboard brands, you will see that Meepo very intentionally priced this year’s V3 Max series to have the biggest pack in this price range.

This battery is marketed to go 20 miles (32km) in a single charge, and our 165lbs (75kg) test rider managed to get 19.5 miles (31km) riding fast.

Motors and Wheels – 800W dual hub motors and 90-94mm wheels???:

Another number that drew our attention was the 800W dual hub motors. While motor wattage never tells the full story on a motor’s power, rarely does an entry-level electric skateboard have motor wattages above 600W.

Between the prototype and production board, Meepo also upgraded the hubs from a half magnetic to a full-magnetic system, which should be better in performance and heat dissipation.

The V3 Max was marketed to go up to 28 MPH (45kph), which we had no problem reaching.

And the torque was pretty strong. We live in the world of belt drives now, so even the strongest hub motors wouldn’t have blown us away. But we can say that these hub drives have enough torque to make you not miss belt drives.

It can do steep hills without breaking a sweat. And Ling Yi ESC Pro mode made sure that you get your thrills of being rocketed forward when at full throttle from a standstill.

Fun fact: Did you know why Meepo named the board V3 Max instead of moving forward with V6, after already making V5? This is because V3’s over-the-top torque and thrill were so groundbreaking at that time that V3 is still a fan favorite to this day. That’s why Meepo was so insistent on keeping their V3 boards powerful with both the previous V3S and now the V3 Max.

What they began to do, for the first time, was to have mismatched sizes for the front wheels vs the back wheels. The front wheels of the Meepo V3 Max are both smaller at 90mm and narrower at 60 mm as compared to the back wheels, which use hub sleeves of 94mm and are 66mm wide.

The thicker back wheels reduce road vibrations through the stiff hub motors up to your leg, and wider back wheels give better grip. This actually does improve the riding experience, slightly, as one of the most frequent complaints of hub boards is how stiff the back wheels are and how badly they grip due to the stiffness.

I’m sure you could imagine a 2mm difference between front and back wheel height isn’t noticeable in any way, but it remains a mystery to us why Meepo doesn’t just make the front wheels 94mm too. Probably to save cost to hit that under $500 price tag, but we’re just guessing here.

For those who hate mismatching wheels, do know that the wheels are compatible with Cloudwheels, and the board certainly is powerful enough to drive bigger wheels—we know, we tried the 105mm prototype.

Trucks – Standard 7-Inch Reverse Kingpin Trucks:

As for the trucks, Meepo went with standard 7-inch reverse kingpin trucks with double barrel bushings. There isn’t much to be said about Meepo’s Shredder trucks—they are pretty good, pretty balanced between responsiveness and stability. It’s not as precise as the top-tier branded forged trucks, but it is easy to turn, fun to carve, and stable at top speed. You can’t ask for more from a budget board.

The back trucks on the V3 Max series are new and improved, though.

Usually, the back trucks are “press-fit” hub motors, which look like this—it actually relies on a bunch of screws to hold it to the “pseudo truck”.

And now, the back trucks are full axle, which look like this:

While we haven’t heard there were problems with the previous back truck, the new full axle hub motors would give us better peace of mind when it comes to mechanical stability.

Riding Experience of the Meepo V3 Max:

Speed control on the Meepo V3 Max is as smooth as it comes—intuitive. Thanks to the responsive trucks, carving around is fun. And the board gives you enough power to accelerate up to top speed with a push of the throttle. The acceleration remains strong at high speed all the way up to the top speed—we always feel like the board has enough muscle to go faster.

The ride is slightly smoother and slightly less vibrative compared to other versions of hub wheels, thanks to its meatier back wheels. It’s a marginal difference, frankly, but we are always happy to see attempts at improvement, however minor.

Verdict on the Meepo V3 Max:

To put it simply, until the competition catches up, the Meepo V3 Max is not only the board to get for electric skateboards under $500, but also for anyone considering getting their first electric skateboard, regardless of the budget.

A 12s3p at a price below $500 is hard to come by and if it does, they won’t be as put together as well as the Meepo V3 Max, with its full-axled rear trucks and powerful hub motors.

Good board at a great price. Period.

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 by Paxson Lim

Uditer Pixel Rider Review – Hey! It is actually a good electric skateboard!

The Uditer Pixel Rider might just be the most visually striking electric skateboard we’ve ever reviewed. Its standout feature? A fully customizable LED deck powered by the iPixel app. Users can choose from a variety of preset animations—or better yet, upload their own designs for a more personal touch. While the default graphics may not be to everyone’s taste, the ability to tailor the visuals gives it a creative edge.

But let’s be honest—cool lights alone won’t cut it. Priced at $425, the Uditer Pixel sits squarely in the entry-level category, where competition is fierce. To justify its place beyond novelty, it needs to back up the flashy visuals with solid performance.

So, let’s get into the specs, they actually looks promising.

Uditer Pixel Rider Specs:

Price	$425 (after $50 off with ESKATEHQ50)
Battery	10S3P 328Wh 7.8Ah
Controller	LingYi ESC
Top Speed	28 mph (45 km/h)
Range	20 miles (32 km)
Deck	Canadian maple + fiberglass composite
Motor	2 x 600W Hub motors
Weight	26.5lbs (12kg)

Deck – Canadian Maple and Fiberglass Composite:

Starting with the deck, this LED deck measures 38” and is made from Canadian Maple and Fiberglass. To no surprise, it’s completely stiff, and because of the embedded LED components, it’s also entirely flat. Not our favorite characteristic for a skateboard deck, but an unavoidable tradeoff to make the LED feature happen.

The good news is that the deck’s surface remains grippy despite lacking traditional grip tape. It feels like clear rubber placed over the LEDs, providing excellent grip, so no complaints here. The deck looks quite ordinary when the LEDs are off, similar to Cinderella after midnight, so you’ll likely keep them on all the time, which brings us to the battery.

Battery and ESC – 10S3P 328Wh 7.8Ah and LingYi ESC

Photo of Uditer Pixel Rider esc enclosure

Photo of Uditer Pixel Rider battery enclosure

To sustain the LED display, the Uditer Pixel Rider packs a respectable 10s3p battery with 328Wh and 7.8Ah capacity, which is above-average for boards under $500. To top it off, the battery is easily swappable, which gets a thumbs up from us.

The board is marketed to reach a 25-mile (40 km) range per charge, but realistically, you should expect about 18 miles (29 km) if you ride aggressively with the LEDs on.

Our only minor nitpick is the appearance of the battery enclosure, though the practicality of the swappable feature outweighs aesthetic concerns. I’m also not a fan of the orange silicone seals, but I’ll forgive this, as they provide an IP55 waterproof rating for the electronics.

Next to the battery enclosure is the ESC. It uses a LingYi ESC, featuring the familiar 4-speed modes and 4 independent brake modes. There’s no smart power-on feature, but it includes push-to-start functionality. The remote it uses is familiar. It’s nothing fancy but gets the job done.

Trucks – 8-inch reverse kingpin trucks:

Next, Uditer equipped the board with standard 8-inch reverse kingpin trucks. Nothing extraordinary here, but they’re decent. Although they lack the precision of premium trucks, they handle high speeds and carve adequately. Impressively, these are forged trucks rather than the less durable cast trucks typically found on boards under $700.

Motors And Wheels – Dual 600w Hub Motors And 105mm Wheels:

For the motors, the Pixel Rider comes with dual 600W hub motors. These are pretty big numbers, and while motor wattage never tells the full story about a motor’s power, most entry-level electric skateboards typically have motors rated below 600W.

It has a modest top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h), which we had no problem reaching.

Uditer also equipped the Pixel Rider with 105mm Cloudwheel clones, another pleasant surprise for a board priced under $500. The board definitely needs this cushioning, considering the completely stiff deck and hub motors. With 105mm wheels, road vibrations are still strong but considerably tolerable. It would’ve been a lot worse and borderline unrideable if it’s on 90 mm.

Riding Experience of the Uditer Pixel Rider:

Overall, the Pixel Rider provides a decent ride.

The LingYi ESC gives a smooth and intuitive control, though it didn’t come with the same punch and torque typically associated with LingYi systems. Which is also expected as this is a 10s setup instead of a 12s setup, and big wheels take away torque.

The dual 600W motors aren’t exhilarating but are sufficient to drive the 105mm wheels uphill comfortably. We didn’t actually feel anything amiss while riding the Pixel Rider; nothing felt lacking in the riding experience.

It offers a well-rounded ride, as any good entry-level electric skateboard should, without being particularly impressive in any aspect, which is also typical of most entry-level electric skateboards.

Verdict on the Uditer Pixel Rider:

Coming into this review, I was fully expecting the Uditer Pixel Rider to be a gimmicky board that would force buyers to choose between style and actual substance.

Then, we looked under the hood and found ourselves pretty impressed by the substance this $425 board brings to the table: a 10s3p swappable battery, forged trucks, and 105mm wheels. Even without the gimmicky LED deck, the Pixel Rider actually offers plenty for its price.

It also helps that the board delivers a riding experience that’s on par with any board under $500.

So, here’s our verdict: if you fancy yourself a board with an LED deck, go for it. And in case you’re worried about the brand, fret not—Uditer has been around for years now. They used to have some really … unusual products…, like the Uditer W3 back in 2021, but it’s good to see they’ve grown past that!

If you are interested in buying the Backfire, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $50 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 25, 2025April 25, 2025 by Paxson Lim

Tynee Explorer Pro Hub Review – Best Powerful Hub All Terrain

Not many brands dare to make high-end hub-driven all-terrain electric skateboards, as people came to expect anything more than $1000 to come with a belt or gear drive system. In fact, the Backfire Ranger X5 was the only worthwhile mention in this category until Tynee decided to make this $1,299 Tynee Explorer Pro.

The Tynee Explorer Pro did come with both belt and hub version, but we will be reviewing the hub version today.

As usual, let’s run through the specs

Tynee Explorer Pro Hub Specs:

Price	$1,299
Battery	14S4P 1008Wh Samsung 50S battery
Controller	14S Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed	31 mph (50 km/h)
Range	50 miles (80 km)
Deck	Multi-layer composite of Canadian maple, bamboo, and fiberglass
Motor	Dual 2500W Hobbywing hub motors

Deck – Multi-layer composite of Canadian maple, bamboo, and fiberglass:

Starting with the deck, it measures 38” long and 10” wide. What makes the Tynee Explorer Pro Hub unique is that it uses a multi-layer composite deck made from Canadian maple, bamboo, and fiberglass, which makes for one of the most flexible decks on an all-terrain setup, with a flex level akin to the Backfire Ranger X5.

This is also a drop-down deck, as is almost always the case with AT boards, to keep the ride lower and more stable. Tynee also added 3mm padded shock-absorbing grip tape to cut down on vibrations. The deck has some good concave, which is nice. We hate flat decks here.

ESC and Battery – 14S Hobbywing ESC and 14S4P 1008Wh Samsung 50S battery:

Photo of Tynee Explorer Pro Hub esc enclosure

Following the deck build, the electronic enclosure is also just as flexible which allows the deck to flex naturally with it. Inside, there’s a 14S4P battery and a 14S Hobbywing ESC. The Hobbywing ESC isn’t a surprise—every Tynee board comes with one—but opting for a 14S configuration instead of 12S is an interesting choice. At the very least, it shows an intention to provide as much voltage as possible to drive torque, compensating for the lack of gear reduction in a hub motor system. For context, most setups get by just fine with a 12S configuration.

The Explorer Pro also uses high-quality Samsung 50S cells, adding up to 1008Wh of battery capacity. And for the more energy-efficient hub version, Tynee claims a range of 50 miles (80km) on a single charge, while the belt version, which is less energy-efficient, is marketed to go 37 miles (60 km) on a single charge.

The Explorer Pro also comes with the standard Hobbywing remote. From there, you can tweak some settings, like speed profiles, top speed, etc. Alternatively, you can also use the mobile phone app for advanced customization.

Motors and Wheels – Dual 2,500W Hobbywing hub motors and 7” (165mm) airless all-terrain wheels:

Photo of Tynee Explorer Pro Hub hub motors

Powering the Tynee Explorer Pro Hub is a pair of 2,500W hub motors. While numbers aren’t everything, the fact that these are the highest-wattage hub motors we’ve seen in the market speaks volumes.

Interestingly, the hub setup comes with smaller 165mm airless wheels, which slightly lowers the top speed in contrast to the belt setup, which uses 175mm pneumatic wheels. The hub version tops out at 31 mph (50 km/h), while the belt version can reach 37 mph (60 km/h).

We’re guessing Tynee chose to trade top speed for better acceleration when opting for smaller wheels on the hub version to boost low-end torque, especially during takeoff. In all honesty, it was the right call because the Tynee Explorer Pro takes off strong.

You really have to brace yourself and press against the deck if you go full throttle from a standstill—otherwise, you’re getting thrown off. Besides good acceleration, the board brakes pretty strongly, too.

We’re pretty impressed that a hub drive can produce that kind of power. Sure, at this price, it’s still a step back compared to powerful belt and gear drives, but for a hub drive? This is impressive.

While belt and gear drive systems are often preferred for their higher torque and aggressive acceleration, hub motors have their own advantages. It’s more power-efficient, which means better range per charge; it requires lower maintenance, since there are no belts to replace or adjust and lastly it’s a quieter operation.

An additional benefit when using hub motors on an all-terrain board is that you don’t have to worry about debris—no sand, sticks, or leaves clogging up the drivetrain. It’s a hassle-free setup that works well for both urban and off-road riding.

Another worry-free option are the 6-inch (165mm) airless rubber tires, which eliminate the need to adjust air pressure or deal with flats. Pneumatic tires may provide a little smoother ride, but they also carry the risk of punctures and pressure loss, which can cause serious problems while riding.

We rode on grass without getting stuck thanks to these tires’ respectable grip.

Trucks – Precision TKP trucks:

As for the trucks, the Explorer Pro uses TKP trucks, which are becoming more and more popular in high-performance builds, instead of the more conventional double kingpin setups.

For those who prefer DKP trucks, Tynee offers a DKP baseplate, allowing riders to swap to a DKP setup if they want. They also offer a lifetime warranty on all their trucks, which is a nice touch.

These TKP trucks perform as expected—more carvy than reverse kingpin trucks but not as extreme as DKP trucks. That also means more stability than DKP, making high-speed riding easier and more reliable.

We can see why Tynee went with TKP trucks here. Since they designed the board for both hub and belt setups, and the belt version can hit 37 mph or 60 km/h, hence prioritizing stability makes sense. Riding the Explorer Pro at 31 mph feels comfortable and controlled, thanks to the extra effort in keeping the board stable.

Tynee Explorer Pro Hub – Specs Summary and Verdict:

To put it short, at $1,299, the Tynee Explorer Pro is a solid value buy.

Take a look at this chart I made for our blog post on the best affordable all-terrain electric skateboards:

You can see that the Tynee Explorer Pro gives you a lot more battery for the price.

I’d assume that hub systems cost less, which frees up more budget for the battery, but then again, the Ranger X5 and the Maxfind FF AT also use hub motors but don’t give you nearly as much juice.

The Tynee Explorer Pro Hub is most obviously comparable to the Backfire Ranger X5. Both have flexible decks, airless wheels, and hub-driven all-terrain boards. Both are excellent for riders who want a comfortable, low-maintenance board that is stress-free. They aren’t ideal for riding on steep mountain routes, but they are decent enough to glide over gravel roads, grass, cracks, and bumps.

The Ranger X5 has more style, thanks to its beautiful lighting, but the Tynee Explorer Pro is notably more powerful. It has stronger torque, a higher top speed, and significantly more range. The Explorer Pro also sits lower to the ground, whereas the Ranger X5 rides a bit higher.

For casual riders who just want a big-wheel board without the hassle, a hub-driven all-terrain board makes a lot of sense. The Tynee Explorer Pro and even the $999 non-Pro version offer exactly what you need—without having to pay a premium tax. This is a board that we can wholeheartedly recommend.

Tynee made its name with powerful premium shortboards, but the Explorer series shows they can do all-terrain longboards just as well. Let’s see if stepping outside of their specialty pays off!

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!