In my Meepo NLS review, I mentioned that I have installed Flipsky FSESC Dual 4.20 plus into my NLS and it has completely unleashed the potential of the board.
Besides improving the smoothness of the acceleration and braking (they are both now perfectly smooth), Flipsky ESC also unleashed a stronger torque and hence faster acceleration.
Flipsky powered NLS now dusts Backfire G2T in a drag race. It’s not even a contest.
Drag Race: Flipsky powered NLS VS Turbo G2T
I’ve received a lot of message on how to install Flipsky into NLS. Though most are just asking about the settings, I decided to write the full tutorial for those who never installed a VESC prior to this. For those who are just looking for the VESC-tool settings that I used, just skip to the end of the post.
If you are not a fan of reading and want to see a 7 minutes silent video of the actual footage on how we install this, you’re in luck! Click the link below.
WARNING: Changing the ESC should void the manufacturer warranty as it pushes your board to a limit not intended by the manufacturer and may fry your parts. Do this at your own risk.
Remove whatever screws is in your way and remove the stock ESC.
2. Installing the power button
Flipsky power switch is bigger than NLS’s, and the stock power button can’t be plugged into Flipsky ESC.
We drill a bigger hole for the Flipsky power switch.
3. Installing the hall sensor wires
NLS hall sensor doesn’t have a TMP wire
Flipsky FSESC receives a 6 pin connector for motor sensor while NLS hub motors use sensor connector with 5 pin head as it doesn’t have the temperature sensor.
We will have to convert the NLS hub sensor wires to a 6 pin sensor connector. As we don’t have an unused 6 pin sensor head lying around, we harvested the one that comes with Flipsky.
We have to change the connector from left(5pin), to the right(6pin)
4. Installing the power cable
After ascertaining the poles of the power battery power cable, we solder the XT60 (Male) connector to the power cable from VESC.
5. Connecting the motor wires
NLS hubs use MR30 connectors. You will have a lot of option to connect it to Flipsky ESC, including cutting the MR30 connector and solders the wires directly.
NLS motor use MR30 connector
We choose to put MR30 connector on to the Flipsky ESC because it will allow us to swap back to the stock ESC easily (and make comparison test easier)
We solder the motor wires in this arrangement: From left to right, it should be Blue, Green, Yellow, then Yellow, Green, Blue. Of course, place a shrink tube in to seal the connection when the solder was done.
we cut the bullet connector
and solder wire to wire
This is the arrangement. Blue Green Yellow, Yellow Green Blue.
6a. Connecting the receiver (For Nano Remote)
This is pretty straight forward, connect the receiver to the VESC. You should plug into Channel 1.
6b. Connecting the receiver (For VX1 remote)
Plug everything according to your ESC version. You can refer to a photo from Flipsky’s website.
Solder the white wire to the red power cable.
7. VESC setting
Connect your Flipsky ESC to a Window PC via a USB cable. Run VESC-tools and update into the correct firmware version.
7a) Input setup Wizard.
Run the input setup Wizard to configure your remote. (VX1 remote doesn’t need you to do this)
7b) Input setup Wizard.
Run Motor Setting Wizard.
Motor Type: FOC Motor Current Max: 40A Motor Current Max Brake: -30A Battery Current Max: 30A Battery Current Max Regen: -10A
Battery Cutoff Calculator: Cells: 10 Hit Apply. Next.
It was over a year ago when I wrote about my findings after diving deep into the realm of Chinese Electric Skateboards. A lot has changed since then, and yet a lot also remains the same.
In 2019, anyone who is looking for a sub $500 entry level electric skateboard will find that segment of the market being dominated by new Chinese brands which provide the best value to money preposition.
Just to prove my point, try naming to me an electric skateboard under $500 that’s not made from a Chinese company.
… Acton Blink S?
Okay fine, maybe one. But Acton Blink S is just another Chinese manufactured product behind an American logo that has customer service that isn’t significantly better than that of established Chinese brands.
But where should you look? There are so many of them on the market. Anyone who is not already in the loop might find trouble separating the rubbish from the legit and the gem.
Lots of options for example, on Aliexpress.
Inclusion Criteria and Method
It’s a long process trying to get a grip on this market. I’ve reached out to all of the more reputable players in this market to request review units.
The criteria to be included is quite simple:
Is an electric longboard
Priced under $500
Can be trusted in Post-sales services
The brands that look to fulfil that criteria are:
Meepo Classic
Backfire G2 2019
Wowgo 2s
Ownboard W1s
Verreal F1
Teamgee H5, H6 and H9 (often under $500 after discount)
Yeeplay M2S, H2B
AEBoard AE1
Teemo boards
Jackzoom
Panther x3s
Harvoo
Notable exclusions of this criteria:
Backfire G2 (Because it has been discontinued, and the G2s and G2T are above the cut off price) (Andddd it’s back!)
Koowheels (Although I don’t have a high opinion of the Koowheels, but the reason of exclusion is the cut off price)
I-Wonder – More of a manufacturer, I am unsure of it’s 1 to 1 post-sales service quality.
Winboard’s- Big OEM manufacturer attempted to get into retail. Their retail line-ups are all priced above the cut-off $500 price tag.
Maxfinds – not a brand that’s known for quality. Performance is pretty lacking.
How did it go? Well, most of the included brands agreed to have their boards reviewed.
Teemo stopped replying to emails after a few to and fro, which is fair.
Jackzoom, Panther x3s and Harvoo never replied to my initial and the follow-up ‘hellos’. I think it’s pretty safe to say that if they don’t even bother to reply to a blogger, they won’t reply to regular customers – and hence failed criteria number 3.
So here is the summary of the selection:
Before we began
It is helpful to recognize that most of the Chinese vendors at this segment are aggregators who assembles parts available in the market to build their own product.
This results in many of these boards riding or even looking very similar.
This is not any more obvious and impactful than the choice of ESC. As this directly effects how the board controls.
At this point in time, all the boards in this list use one of these two: ESC -‘LingYi’ ESC or Hobbywing ESC.
LingYi ESC vs Hobbywing ESC
LiYing ESC
Hobbywing ESC
LingYi ESC has the biggest market share at this point in time.
A lot of big manufacturers will have LingYi in its ESC, tuned and tinkered to their liking of course.
Generally speaking, the profile of the LingYi ESC is a harsher acceleration and stronger braking. But it is very difficult to assume a boards behavior just by knowing it’s using the LingYi ESC, as brands do tinker it to suit their idea of good speed control. In doing so, this will change them quite a bit.
Eg, Winboards introduces an aggressive speed ramp in the control, making it less difficult for absolute beginners, but may frustrate those who like a precise control. Meepo use of LingYi is mainly to maximise on the acceleration and braking, in order to make a more aggressive and thrilling ride.
For the last year, many brands have moved away from LingYi ESC to the HobbyWing ESC.
The notable brands that use a variation of LingYi ESC currently are: Meepo NLS, Yeeplay M2s, Original Backfire G2, Winboard, Teamgee.
Some will tell you the rise of HobbyWing ESC is the best thing that has happened to budget electric skateboards.
HobbyWing ESC saw its first international debut when Wowgo 2s started using it. (Or did Ownboard do it first? Man… these things are hard to keep track of.)
If a board uses this remote… then you know you have Hobbywing ESC.
Hobbywing ESC gains a quick popularity for its amazing performance. It’s smooth in both acceleration and braking, the control is precise, there are no latency issues and the control behavior is consistent throughout different speeds.
Some say it is even better than the Boosted board… that’s how good it is.
Some companies tune the Hobbywing ESC to get the most out of their board, but we generally can expect similar behavior on the Hobbywing ESC.
The notable brands that use a variation of Hobbywing ESC currently are – Meepo Classic, Backfire G2s, Wowgo, Ownboard, Verreal, AEBoards and higher end stuff like Exway X1 are using a custom version of it too.
But I digress, now the boards.
I’ve reviewed most of the boards. Now this will be the summarized thoughts about them and how well they fare against each other.
If you would like to learn more about them, there are always the in-depth full reviews that I’ve published.
Obviously the newer stuff is going to fare better than a dated product.
For those who don’t know, Meepo is the current leading budget brand that pioneered the Chinese budget board movement. Since its debut in 2017, MeepoBoard is now a mature brand that has refined its product. Their customer service, though not award winning, is reasonably good and serviceable.
Meepo Classic just came out in early 2019, it aims to replace the last gen Meepo V2, and it’s my favorite budget electric skateboard right now.
I think Meepo picked all the right parts when putting together the Meepo Classic.
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I especially love the gorgeous double-drop deck which allows a very comfortable, stable low ride. Meepo’s shredder truck provides a good balance between maneuvrebility and stability and is another strong point for the board too.
With all of that said, the best move the Classic made undoubtedly is the switch to HobbyWing ESC. Though some people will miss the aggressive ride of the old LingYi ESC, most people will find a relaxing, smooth ride of HobbyWing ESC. This is a welcoming change – especially for beginners who are looking for their first board.
While I was working on this post, Backfire updated the Backfire G2.
While I never tried the newer version of the G2, I do have the G2T and the original G2. And I would say the updated Backfire G2 2019 is probably one of the best budget board money can buy.
Compare to most budget boards, the new Backfire G2 has the advantage of having bigger 5AH battery, and much better polish. The deck Backfire uses, in my opinion, are inferior to Meepo V2/ Meepo Classics but much better than the flat deck that Wowgo 2S and Ownboard W1S uses.
It also uses the Hobbywing which promises smooth acceleration and braking. Sadly, unlike its pricier siblings, G2 won’t come with the caliber trucks.
Smaller 83mm wheels might be a deal-breaker for those who have to dealt with poor and bumpy road. Although you can technically put on the bigger 96mm hub sleeve on G2’s hubs, the width of its truck wasn’t long enough and you will risk wheel bites. You can solve that by swapping in the longer Caliber II trucks, but at that point, you would be better off by paying extra 200$ and go for the G2T.
Verreal is one of the newer brands that tried to mimic the success of MeepoBoard, and it is doing quite well at that.
Verreal has a good track record in customer service and continue to offergood price to value.
Its latest product and current flagship, Verreal F1, is one of the better takes on a budget board.
Its use of a micro-drop deck and Hobbywing ESC results in a very responsive, agile, and zippy ride. It’s a lot of people’s favorite budget board and after putting it through the paces myself, it’s easy to understand why.
The low-light of the Verreal F1 is that the board’s polish and finishing is still leaving a lot to be desired. F1 also does cheap out a little bit on small parts, such as the bearings.
Though in exchange, the board usually is asking a bit less… especially after discounts as compared to other boards on the list!
As an OEM manufacturer that joined the retail game, Ownboard has a huge advantage right from the get go.
Almost from the get go, Ownboard built with higher quality parts and used good polish. Its customer service is generally considered good.
Ownboard W1S is one of the better iterations of the ‘typical’ budget board. It uses Hobbywing ESC which allows great control and it uses Paris-cloned trucks that offer great maneuverability. Ceramic bearings and its special foam-padded ‘EVA grip tape’ are the other highlights of the board.
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The only weak point of this board would probably be the flat deck. The 6 ply maple +2 ply bamboo deck offer a fair amount of flex, but a little bit of concave would make it a lot better.
What makes Ownboard W1S a good deal is the option to go with 6AH Samsung 30Q battery – for just US$457.00. If by any chance a flat deck is what you are looking for (wut?), or you are going to deck swap any time down the line, Ownboard W1s is a very good choice.
Wowgo is the first competitor of Meepo and made Chinese budget brands a thing.
It has successfully shook the earlier image of a scrappy brand with weird taste in marketing and established itself as a major player in the budget board segment.
Product quality, polish and customer service of Wowgo are all good now.
The Wowgo 2S is especially significant, being the product that elevated the budget segment to another level. Being the first to make the Hobbywing ESC famous, Wowgo 2s was dubbed the Boosted killer for its comfortable control that rivals the top brands.
Today, it is still among the best budget boards on the market. But unfortunately, one-upped by its doppleganger Ownboard W1s that uses slightly better parts in the deck, bearings and trucks.
The differences are not all that significant and Wowgo 2S is still a good choice if you can get it at a better price.
Yeeplay M2S is another new brand coming out from the same mold of Meepo, Wowgo andOwnboard. Heck, even its products look like it came out of the same mold as the original Meepo, Wowgo and Ownboards.
The company is still very young, and there is still much speculation as to how it will handle post-sale service. The good thing is – there aren’t any complaints heard about this brand so far – and as usual, the earlier customers would usually be treated royally.
Yeeplay M2S itself is a valid option of a budget board. It uses one of the broader decks with good concave, making it a very comfortable ride. The use of Paris-cloned trucks allow the board to be maneuvreble and turny.
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However it opted for ‘LiYing’ ESC, which has a more aggressive control. This caters better to specific crowds, but beginners are unlikely to favor it much. And hence making other boards on this list better alternatives.
Yeeplay recently released a belt drive ‘H2B’, which could be the only option for someone looking for a budget belt drive board.
I did not review the board, but performance could be postulated through the part used. LiYing ESC promised a more aggressive acceleration and braking. Using the same deck as Ownboard W1S means enough flex, but too bad no concave.
If you are planning to buy a Yeeplay, perhaps you are digging that exotic grip tape. Just be informed that the priced listed on the website at this point in time is not inclusive of a delivery fee.
AEBoard made a splash entry in to the market with boards that offer a lot of batteries for the price that it’s asking.
As it is the case for Yeeplay, AEBoard too is very new to the scene. No precedent can be known on how they handle customer complaints. Recently, however, I was able to help an unhappy customer get his purchase refunded, so I at least know my readers will be taken care of.
AEBoard AE1
The AE1 basically tries to offer as much value as possible while asking for as little as possible. The biggest ‘Wow’ factor here is the use of 10s3p battery while only asking for the entry level $430.
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The use of broad micro-drop deck with good concave – plus the use of Hobbywing ESC – makes AE1 a very comfortable ride.
The base level 10s3p 20R Samsung battery is less impressive as initially assumed though. Basically, it’s performance is only equal to the $457 Ownboard W1S with a 10S2p Samsung 30Q battery – same performance with the extra weight of 10 batteries.
However, the biggest downside of all would definitely be the stiffness of the deck reinforced by the board length aluminium enclosure below the deck. It has zero gives. You know you are stepping on steel immediately as you step onto the board. This result in god-awful vibration when riding on a less than perfect road.
And, being a new company, the packaging and finishing of AEBoard is pretty raw.
All in all, AE1 has the most amount of battery to for the price it’s asking and is definitely a good base for future DIY tinkering. For someone who doesn’t mind extra-steel-like-stiff deck (it’s REALLY STIFF), and is looking for range, AE1 should be the board to check out. You can even upgrade the battery to a Panasonic 9.6AH battery for 25mile (40km) range (or Sanyo for even more range.)
While I was working on this piece, AEBoard launched a few new boards which is creatively named AE2 and AF. (Chinese market move so fast, I can barely catch up).
While AE2 seems to be a Wowgo 2S/ Ownboard W1S clone, AF is worth paying attention to as it has some very practical features
AE2, tell me if it doesn’t look like Wowgo 2s or Ownboard W1S
AEBoard AF
While I have not personally reviewed AF, I certain would suggest anyone looking for a budget board to consider it.
Reason? While most of the parts used in AF are old news, it is the only budget board in this list that allows hot swappable battery. On top of that, the battery that it’s carrying has the standard 4AH, 144wh capacity.
The advantage of hot swappable battery over bigger battery pack is, obviously, is the weight – You don’t need to carry the batteries that you don’t plan to use.
Hot swappable battery
Plus, this definitely solves the ultra-super-stiff deck complaints that I have on the AE1. Basically, I think of it as Wowgo 2s with concave deck plus hot-swappable battery. AF is definitely worth considering over AE2, Wowgo 2s, and the W1s.
Similar to Ownboard, Teamgee is another manufacturer turned retailer.
Just like the Ownboard, Teamgee maintains a certain standard in their products and customers care since day 1. That said, Teamgee is still young in the international scene and though there has been no bad news about the customer service so far, we are yet to see how well its’ post-sale service stands when some serious complaint comes in.
Unlike Ownboard however, Teamgee is not a follower of the generic Chinese budget board trend. It has a slim body design that hides all of the electronics inside the decks.
As a result, the board looks very much like a regular long board to non-prying eyes.
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To cater to beginners, Teamgee also introduced heavy filtering to control input. This is done to soften the speed changes, however it also causes a noticeable delay between control input and the boards reactions.
This is done to cater to beginner crowd, who might find precise or zappy control intimidating. Many people will, however, be frustrated with the lag and the weaker acceleration.
Both the H5 and H6 are beautifully designed and give a reasonably good skating experience. H6 with the pintail deck has a very surfy feel and H5 with the broad dropdown deck has a stable ride.
Just be informed that stiff deck, relatively weak performance and voltage sags are what you have to be able to put up with when dropping $500 on these boards.
Even after trying the boards back to back to back, it is sometimes hard to tell the differences between two boards.
As a reviewer, my recommendations are based on the average taste of an average eskater but as any other personal purchase, personal preference often trumps everything else.
Hopefully with all of the information provided here, and the vetting done to screen out questionable brands, this can help you with your purchasing decision.
For those who are from a European country, you can choose to shop from a local dealer – Speedio. Speedio is an Electric Skateboard re-seller based in the Czech Republic. While you do pay a little premium, they offer a 2-year warranty, local support, and fast 2-5 days shipping.
As we all certainly know, Meepo has been the most dominant
force in the budget eskate segment ever since their founding in 2017.
While they are practically unrivaled in the budget segment,
their successes are nearly confined to the sub $500 price range.
Meepo tried to break free from this price confinement, when
they announced Meepo NLS on January 2019 after lots of teaser and marketing
effort leading up to it.
For Meepo, there is a lot of weight riding on the success of
NLS.
Though they had sold higher-priced AWD GT to torque-addict,
the success of NLS means a lot more to Meepo as it is the product that they
designed for mass appeal – and it might just decide if they can break out from
the entry-budget level into a higher priced market.
With the strategic importance of the product, a lot of
effort is put into the design of the product.
Comparing to all other lines of Meepo products, NLS truly
separates itself from looks to rides. Those differences will become evident as
we walk you through the board.
Meepo NLS Review
This the marketed specs of Meepo NLS:
Top Speed: 26mph (42kmh)
Range: 14mil (22.5km)
Weight: 16lbs (7.2kg)
Charge Time: 2.5hrs
Features: 2 hub motors, weatherproof, Regenerative braking, handles up to 30% slope.
Price: 599USD with shipping included.
Build Quality
Deck
The most distinctive features that separate Meepo NLS with
other board has to be the deck.
Meepo set out to create a super flexible deck, and the bamboo + fiberglass deck deliver just that. You will instantly notice the flex and bounciness when you set your foot on it.
If you are a big fan of the flexible deck, this will suit your taste. It makes a fun ride.
Although, Meepo has chosen to run the cable along the top side of the deck underneath the grip tape. It does not affect the ride in anyways, but you can argue that it is a bit of an eyesore – a blemish on an otherwise excellent and polish product.
Component Enclosures and ESC
Gone are the generic enclosure as Meepo uses a new plastic enclosure. It’s pretty and with a heat sink attached.
The best part about this enclosure is the button to show
battery percentage; a godsend when you are charging the board.
There is a USB port too, but I bet most of us wouldn’t be using our 17lbs Eskate as portable power bank any time soon.
Wheels
Meepo NLS goes experimental by using huge 100mm wheels.
The front wheel is 78A, and they felt pretty good.
The 100mm hub motors have swappable urethane and are not yet listed for sale on the Meepo website.
I clearly can’t comment on the long-term durability of the hub, but what I do know is that if you are unlucky, or dumb enough to ride on sharp stones, it can only take the first acceleration and some bad luck to chipped the hub.
I peel that piece off and continue on, and so far, the hub sleeves have held up well.
Trucks
For the trucks, the Meepo NLS uses the Shredder trucks, which is a clone of Bear Kodiak trucks. (Of course, it’s not a forged truck like the bears truck is.)
I use to said that Shredder truck is my favorite budget truck, and that still holds true. It allows the use of tall barrel bushing. I find even in stock setting, Shredder truck gave a better return to center and are more springy than any non-branded trucks.
In fact, I would consider swapping all my budget board electric skateboard to shredder truck, that the extent of how much I like it.
Capability
Range
Meepo NLS is rocking a 10s2p 25R battery. That’s a 5.0AH 180Wh battery pack that set to give you 14 miles or 22.5km of range. My range test falls abit short of the mark and just gets me to 11.8miles or 19km.
Good thing is, there is minimum voltage sag and the board stays fun until almost the very end.
PS: As a rule of thumb in estimating range, use the formula -> watt hour/10 = expected range in km. *I weigh around 165lbs (75kg) and was riding in a mostly flat area in a warm climate.
Speed
Hitting the marketed top speed 26mph/42kmh is not a problem. My top speed on the sports tracker shows a high speed of 27mph (43.6kmh).
I was not comfortable riding at top speed on NLS, so testing the high speed is a bit of a challenge. I will get into that later.
Torque
The Meepo NLS’s uses dual 400W hub motors.
Generally, the bigger the wheel, the weaker the torque. NLS can handle most inclines during our standard stop-and-go test; it still passes our standards at a 15% graded incline.
Riding Experience:
Acceleration and Deceleration
The Meepo NLS has four speed modes:
Beginner mode with a top speed of 10mph/16kmh
Eco mode with a top speed of 15mph/ 25kmh
Expert mode with a top speed of 25mph/ 40kmh
Pro mode with a top speed of 25mph/ 40kmh
While some Meepo line-up such as the Classic has begun to switch over to Hobbywing ESC, Meepo NLS still uses the ubiquitous ‘LingYi’ Electronic Speed Controller that can also be found on the Yeeplay M2s, Panther X3S etc.
The behavior of ‘LingYi’ ESC is pretty well known, and it has received a minor update as of recent.
Let’s talk about the acceleration first.
The acceleration of the first two modes is pretty gentle, catering to the beginners and for those who like casual riding.
The majority of riders will spend their time in the 3rd expert mode. It unlocks the top speed of 25mph(40kmh) but will only slowly accelerate up to that. As compared to the previous versions, the expert mode seems to be toned down a bit in its aggressiveness.
The 4th pro mode is very aggressive, but yet smoother compares to the last generation. The old pro mode is not for me, too aggressive, but I am comfortable riding on the new pro mode now.
All in all, the behavior of this ‘LingYi’ ESC can be described as aggressive, reasonably smooth, and thrilling.
The thing I don’t like about the acceleration is that there is a latency between your throttle input and the response. The acceleration feels like a wave of force that ‘arrives’ after you call for it with your remote.
It gives a sudden initial big push that felt ‘fast’ yet in a drag race; it doesn’t transform to a faster pick up as the initial torque is not sustained.
Some like the thrilling start, but most don’t.
How about the braking?
The unique part of this updated ‘LingYi’ ESC is the ability for you to adjust braking power.
I’ve developed a taste for strong braking recently, and
Meepo’s braking is where I want it to be. However, the braking curve is more abrupt, unlike the
smoothness of the newest Hobbywing ESC or a VESC.
The strongest braking is really powerful, almost as if you are engaging the ABS braking system on a car. It feels like the wheel is going to stop to a slide, but it doesn’t. This certainly cuts down the stopping distance.
If you are not up for strong braking, you can switch to a weaker braking mode by holding the brake and pressing on the power button.
In summary, with ‘LiYing ESC’ the control of Meepo NLS is, at best, a B+. It is still miles ahead of some last generation control, but with the newest generation Hobbywing ESC (those with Turbo mode) behaving outstanding in everything from torque, to smoothness, to braking, ‘LiYing ESC’ can’t help but feeling half generation behind.
Stability & Maneuverability
Meepo NLS is fun in slow cruising. The maneuvrability is as good as expected with the use of shredder truck.
Carving on NLS is fun.
You will have less worry going through huge bumps as the 100mm wheels roll over everything. Stability however, is not a strong suit for the NLS.
100mm wheels mean you are riding pretty high off the ground. That plus a bouncy deck, soft stock bushing means the NLS felt a bit wobbly and unstable in top speed.
I don’t think this is an over-the-top, top-speed board, even when 26mph (42kmh) felt too fast and unsafe on NLS. Things improved dramatically; however once swapping over to a harder and shorter bushing. As shredder bushing are extra tall (20mm) to allow trucks to lean and turn more, it adds to the instability and wobbliness in high speed.
Changing those back to a shorter Orangatang Nipple works wonder for me and allows me to ride comfortably at top speed. I strongly suggest everyone do the same unless you weigh like a feather.
Vibration
The best-selling point for Meepo NLS is undoubtedly its ability to handle poor roads. 100mm wheels with thick urethane sleeves plus flexy deck create an amazing vibration dampening system.
It definitely scores an A+ here, even better than some belt-driven boards!
For those who are wary of road condition, NLS got your back.
Be it cobblestone, poorly paved road, cracks or those
tactile paving on footpaths, 100mm means Hakuna Matata.
It can even go over rough speed bumps!
Don’t try this with your 96mm wheels. It can’t go over.
Remote
NLS purchase came with an NR remote. I don’t have one with me so that I can’t comment on that. While it looks funny, it is pretty practical with the flashlight attached on the tip.
For those who don’t like the NR remote, rest assure that NLS does still come with the familiar V2 remote.
It has an ergonomic design and is comfortable in hand. The soft touch plastic gave the remote a premium feel.
You can change between speed mode by a short press on the power button and can similarly change the braking settings by a quick press on the power button while holding the brake.
Ultimately, there were no disconnection issues and is overall, a pretty decent remote.
Customer Service
Before we get into the final verdict, let’s talk about Meepo’s customer service.
Generally speaking, Meepo’s has one of the better customer service teams among the budget brands. You can reach them via Facebook, Wechat, or email and even some of their brand ambassadors can help you solve your problem.
However, being the best-selling budget board brands means they have a lot more customers to serve and from time to time experience lapses in their customer service.
Most of the time, people who need help eventually get through to them, and even when they reply slow. They always try to do the right things by the customers.
The most valuable part about buying the Meepo is the Meepo community. Every potential issue will be exposed, and a solution found by its community members. Some weird rattling noise? Someone who had that problem
knows the exact solution. Want to do some DIY upgrade? Chances are there is already a
guide or Facebook post about it.
That’s why I have no trouble recommending Meepo as a brand.
Verdict
Meepo NLS is the most interesting Meepo product so far.
Breaking away from generic parts and general riding experience, NLS is trying something different with super flexible deck, giant 100mm hubs, and quirky but hopefully practical remote.
With NLS, Meepo has reached a level where it is overall a really good board; therefore, what is lacking will definitely stand out. A better ESC or even better, a VESC would have perfected both the control and the performance of the board. And more thoughts on the riding experience would see the board shipped with a shorter bushing as the default setting.
I know it as fact, as my Flipsky 4.20 plus VESC equipped Meepo NLS with purple nipples is freaking perfect.
If you do decide to buy a Meepo, use our promo code “ESHQ” to get 15 USD off. Not only will it help us, but it will tag your purchase as an ESHQ customer and may even get you some preferential treatment in the process! =P
Meepo has decided to end 2018 strong by releasing the 4th generation of their base line-up, Meepo Classic.
After staying with the old standard look for the past 3 generation, Meepo finally decided to switch things up and give us something much different in terms of looks, feels and fun.
Introduction to MeepoBoards
Honestly, I do not think MeepoBoards needs any further introductions.
It is the brand that ignited the budget board market back in August 2017. It is also the leading electric skateboard brand coming out of the China market.
Through this one short year, Kieran, the founder, has grown MeepoBoard from a small 3 person team to a full-fledged electric skateboard powerhouse.
Meepo Classic stays true to its principle on delivery of a huge value for the price tag:
Top Speed: 25mph (40kmh)
Range: 11mil (18km)
Weight: 16lbs (7.2kg)
Charge Time: 3hrs
Features: 2 hub motors, weatherproof, Regenerative braking, handles up to 30% slope.
Price: less than 450 USD with shipping included.
Build Quality
Packaging
The elephant in the room will be how Meepo cloned the box design from the Enertion Raptor.
Well.. bad Meepo.
So they have a really pretty box now. That’s a fact now.
The unboxing experience is actually awesome and that’s not something I say often about a Chinese budget board.
The inside of the box is pretty neat. It comes packed with appropriate use of an adequate amount of foam padding to keep the board protected.
The board also comes with T-Tool, an Allan key, a wrist band, some stickers, some name cards and- as per tradition- some extra foam padding for deck swap which I don’t think you should be using because spoiler alert… the deck is awesome.
Deck
I love this 9 ply maple deck that Meepo Classic is using. It’s easily the best quality deck on any budget board.
It’s a gorgeous drop-through deck with a rocker and a nice concave. Standing and controlling the board is so comfortable with the low ride height and the concave on the board.
Height clearance might be a concern, this photo is taken over a speed ramp
It does have some flex to it, but understandably not very much, as it’s already so close to the ground.
Flex enough to scrap the ground…
The grip tape is nice too- not too harsh on skin or fabric.
Love it, love it.
Component Enclosures and ESC
Meepo Classic stayed with the classic plastic enclosure.
This is supposed to be lighter but I would prefer them swapping over to the steel enclosure because plastics do crack over time and getting hit to the ground repeatedly is just going to accelerate that.
This is a drop-through deck with a rocker that gave only 1cm ground clearance after all.
After the first production run with LiYing ESC, Meepo decided to permanently switch to the Hobbywing ESC, which is the world’s favorite affordable ESC right now. We will get into its performance later in the riding experience section.
Old LiYing ESC
New Hobbywing ESC
Wheels
Meepo Classic continues to use the same 90mm size hub and wheels, which is the industry norm right now.
The front wheel is 78A, and is as good as any stock wheel can get.
The hub motors has received an upgrade over the V2. It was said to be improved from the last version in quality and power. The PU sleeves is swappable, and the PU sleeves will only set you back 19USD(shipped) per sleeves to replace.
Although the bearing on the Meepo wasn’t branded, on a side by side comparison it rolls better than most generic boards. The bearing is manufactured by C&U Group, a name that might mean something to somebody else, not to me though.
Trucks
For the trucks, the Meepo Classic uses the Shredder trucks, which is a clone of Bear Kodiak trucks. (Of course, it’s not a forged truck like the bears truck is.)
Shredder trucks are practically my favorite budget trucks right now. It allows the use of tall barrel bushing. I find even in stock setting, Shredder trucks gave a better return to the center and are more springy than any non-branded trucks.
In fact, I would consider swapping all of my budget board electric skateboards to shredder trucks… that’s the extent of how much I like them.
Riding Experience:
Acceleration and Deceleration
There are 3 ride modes:
Slow mode with a top speed of 12.4mph/20kmh
Medium mode with a top speed of 18.6mph/ 30kmh
Fast mode with a top speed of 25mph/ 40kmh
After adamantly sticking to the ‘LingYi’ ESC for so long, Meepo made a last minute change and transitioned to the more popular HobbyWing ESC – at least for the Meepo Classic.
I have reviewed both versions of this board and I would say this is a very welcomed change.
The Hobbywing ESC is famous for its butter smooth speed changes, precise control with no latency and consistent behavior in the whole speed range. Some say this control is even better than the Boosted, which is the highest praise that can be offered.
This translates to a very comfortable ride. The board behaves precisely as you will let it, much in distinction to the initial ‘LingYi’ ESC version- which has acceleration come in a delayed “wave” and are more aggressive in both acceleration and deceleration.
It is worth noting that Hobbywing ESC are also known to have smooth and gentle braking that might be a bit too weak for some. I for one have developed a taste for strong, aggressive braking with time and truly miss the initial ‘LingYi’ version that brakes so strong the wheel almost slides.
The idea of the new Hobbywing ESC being precise and lag-less also means that it doesn’t introduce any delay to gradually ramping up the speed when you trigger the throttle. That means, the board has a very zappy nature. A beginner without good throttle control might feel threatened by how the board zaps away if they push the throttle too hard.
But don’t worry, the majority of beginner riders learn and love this control in just a few rides.
With all that said, the final version of Meepo Classic with Hobbywing ESC is still the best version of Meepo, catering well to both beginners and most advanced riders.
Stability & Maneuverability
(Left) Meepo Classic are a little bit lower than the also very nice (right) Verreal F1
It’s no surprise that a drop-through deck makes the most stable ride.
Being inches from the ground really makes keeping balance much easier.
The shredder trucks allow very nice rebound to center when turning. However, stock bushing might be too soft and trucks too loose, to be a top speed machine. Just by tightening the trucks, the board will be more stable for top speed yet carvy enough for turns.
The shredder trucks gave really great turning and carving. Perhaps it is the use of tall barrel bushings or perhaps it’s all about the trucks. Either way, the Meepo Classic is fun to carve, easy to turn, and it does that well without compromising on stability.
Vibration
I call this path the foot massage. The engineer who is responsible for this road should be executed.
Although the deck doesn’t have the most flex in the world, it does have enough of it. That plus the thickness of having 9 plies of Maple deck is thick enough to absorb some of those vibrations.
As a matter of fact, I would give Meepo Classic an A- in vibration handling. It’s pretty good, as good as it gets on hubs.
It’s by far the most comfortable ride on a poor road amongst all the budget boards I’ve tested.
Remote
Changing from the ‘LingYi’ ESC to the HobbyWing ESC means a different remote.
The Meepo Classic will use the standard remote that every other HobbyWing board uses.
I have no complaint though (except now I have to label every one them cause they are the same), cause it is a very good remote.
Looks nice and feels nice in hand.
Good springing dial with a reasonable amount of travel.
Reverse button is at the side so there is no accidental press.
It is a simple remote without many bells and whistles, but importantly without connection issues either.
P.S.: No flashlight, that’s NLS.
Riding Experience Summary
Even if you are not a sucker for drop-through deck like me, the ride that you can get on Meepo Classic will likely still impress you.
Deck swapped Backfire G2S on double riser, VS AEboard AE1 with micro-drop deck, vs drop-through + rocker deck of Meepo Classic. See how huge is the difference is!
Smooth acceleration and braking profile, use of a very responsive Shredder Trucks, awesome deck with good concave, Meepo Classic is an enjoyable ride!
For a hub board, it even handles poor riding surfaces fairly well!
Capability
Meepo Classic retained the very competitive states of it’s predecessor.
Note: Going with HobbyWing ESC means Meepo Classic will not have the smart turn on (roll to power on the board) features. Sad.
Range
Meepo Classic is rocking a 4.0AH 144Wh battery pack.
My range test gets me 9miles (14.5km) with an average speed of 15miles(24.5km).
Voltage sag is not a huge issue with the top speed maintaining at near 25mph(40kmh) up to the very last 0.5miles (1 kilometer).
By the way, this board pushes until the very end. When the battery starts to beep, it means it’s not long before it must stop. Don’t push the range if you are not preparing to kick pushes.
Actually I ride mostly near 18.5mph(30kmh), the stopping dragged the Avg speed down
PS: As a rule of thumb in estimating range, use the formula -> watt hour/10 = expected range in km.
*I weigh around 165lbs (75kg) and was riding in a mostly flat area in a warm climate.
Speed
Hitting the marketed top speed 25mph/40kmh is not a problem. You will get there really fast on a full charge, and a bit slower when the battery isn’t full, but you will get there.
Voltage sag only appears minutes before the board stops, so that’s really awesome.
Torque
The Meepo Classic’s dual 400W hub motors work about the same as the other Chinese budget boards.
It can handle most incline, and our standard stop and go test, on a 15% graded incline and it poses no challenge to it.
Customer Service
Generally speaking, Meepo’s has some of the better customer service among the budget brands. You can reach them via Facebook, via Wechat, via mail and there are a few brand ambassadors that can help you solve your problem.
However, being the best selling budget board brand means they have a lot more customers to serve and from time to time experience lapses in their customer service.
But you can eventually get through to them. Even when they reply slow, you can still be assured that they will do the right things by the customers.
The most valuable part about buying the Meepo is the Meepo community. Every potential issue will be exposed and solution found by the community members. Some weird rattling noise? Someone who had that problem knows the exact solution.Want to do some DIY upgrade? Chances are there is already a guide or Facebook post about it. When you buy a Meepo, you will never be alone.
Verdict
As the Meepo moves away from the ‘LingYi’ ESC to the HobbyWing ESC, it became very difficult to find anything to nitpick on.
Let me get down to brass tacks, I think Meepo Classic is the best affordable eskate on the market for now, for most people.
With the Classic, Meepo had really came a long way and learnt from the mistake of its previous product. The result is gonna be a new classic indeed.
Gone are the scrappy packaging and garage quality finishing. Now the whole product is tip-top from the package down to the board itself.
Gone are the harsh aggressive control. As Meepo embraces the popular HobbyWing ESC (at least for the Classic) that are both smoother and more precise.
Gone are the weird convex deck that inspires the deck-swap movement. The Meepo Classic now rocks one of the best deck you can find on a production board.
And this complete package is only asking for the standard $430 entry level budget board price! Crazy!
I have no hesitation in recommending Meepo Classic to anyone looking for an electric skateboard. This board for now, until something better eventually comes along, are the best option for most people and should be the first consideration when looking for a board.
In the electric skateboard world, the budget board segment definitely sees the toughest competition. Brands from China are always trying to out-compete each other through upgrades, price, and customer support.
MeepoBoards, the company that ignited the affordable eskate market definitely has not stayed idle. Meepo refreshed its lineup just like the Boosted, and gave all its boards the 2.0 update – which includes improved remote, trucks, ESC, motors and of course – looks.
While these improvements have helped to maintain Meepo’s position as the leading affordable brand in the eskate market, the most interesting news that comes with the update is the revival of the Meepo Campus in the form of the Meepo Campus 2.0.
This is the board we will be reviewing today.
Introduction to MeepoBoard
MeepoBoard’s story is something that many of us are very familiar with, but for the sake of those who aren’t, it is worth retelling.
MeepoBoard is undoubtedly the most popular budget board brand in the market right now, but the story of how the eskate giant came to be, surprisingly, is a Cinderella story. The founder of MeepoBoard, Kieran, was a young engineer who worked sales in an electric skateboard company. Disagreeing with the company’s focus on pushing sales while disregarding quality, Kieran decided to try his luck in selling a self-assembled board on Youtube. After a few successful sales, he decided to set up his own eskate brand with a focus on affordability, practicality and customer satisfaction.
In a world where any electric skateboard under $700 was either a toy or thrash, Kieran’s Meepo was asking for half of that price while delivering decent performance. Kieran figured with word of mouth , existing customers vouching for the quality of the Meepo and his post-sales service, MeepoBoard could break the hesitance of international buyers towards cheap Chinese Boards.
True enough, a dozen positive customer reviews on Redditt and a featured interview post with us later, the floodgate was opened. With weekly orders in the hundreds and customers lining up – willing to wait for months to get their Meepo, MeepoBoard has not only established itself but also set up the affordable eskate market as we know it.
With the meteoric rise of the MeepoBoard, other Chinese electric skateboard manufacturers have moved into the niche and “Meepo-clones” have become a thing. And now, thanks to the affordable electric skateboard movement that Meepo created, anyone can own an electric skateboard.
Meepo Campus
The last generation of the Meepo Campus was a nickel board series known as the Meepo Penny.
Meepo Penny
Meepo Campus
It was never supposed to be the focal point of MeepoBoard, but many still seek out this lesser known little brother of the Meepo for its form factor and price.
The Meepo Penny later received some upgrades to become Meepo Campus, which was often sought after for the same reasons.
Because the Meepo Penny and the Meepo Campus weren’t very powerful boards, Kieran thought that the board might not be right for a lot of people and chose not to market it heavily.
Hence, when the 30” Meepo Board became available, the Campus was quietly discontinued. Well, that didn’t last long! To Meepo fans delight, the Campus board has been brought back to life with the 2.0 update.
Is it any good though? read on.
Meepo Campus 2.0 Review
So how did the Meepo Campus 2.0 come to be?
Well, apparently the Campus 2.0 was designed by Kieran for his wife’s commute. Aimed to be lighter, tamer and beginner friendly, the Campus 2.0 kept the portable mindset that the Campus series was known for with tons of other improvements.
Meepo Campus 2.0 Specs
The Meepo Campus 2 saw lots of improvement in specs but also gained some weight.
Top Speed: 18mph (30kmh)
Range: 10mil (16km)
Weight: 12.5lbs (5.5kg)
Charge Time: 2 Hours
Features: Weatherproof, Regenerative Braking.
Price: 299 USD.
Build Quality
This is 2018 and cheap Chinese Boards are not cheap in quality anymore. From the packaging to the finishing, 2nd Gen Meepo is evolving from its garage-made origin.
From the carrying handle of the box to the fitting cut out from the protective foam, the Meepo Campus 2.0 looks good right off the bat.
While the makeshift A4 printed instruction manual and the lack of design on the instruction booklet were two dead give-aways of Meepo’s garage-made origin, they also remind us that Meepo’s priority has always been affordability and practicality with polish being something extra.
Deck
The Campus 2 come with a broad 32” Canadian maple deck with a kicktail. It has a slight concave to it and feels good underfoot.
Instead of a regular grip tape, the Campus 2.0 uses a non-abrasive foam tape.
I am sure there are skaters who would prefer a regular grip tape but this foam tape worked for me (and my pants, my car seat, my skateboard carrying bag – they all hate the regular sandpaper grip tape).
The foam tape definitely wears faster than regular grip tapes, but its a tradeoff I am willing to make. I wonder if it makes doing tricks harder though?
Wheels
The 83MM 78a wheels were great. They’re soft, big (for a skateboard this size anyway), and all yellow. (not sure how I feel about the color though.)
Trucks
The 2nd generation Meepo boards have upgraded trucks. The Campus 2.0 trucks are now beefier compare to the 1st gen Meepo.
Time to put rest to the thought that Meepo doesn’t have good trucks.
ESC
With an updated ESC, the Meepo Campus retained the popular smart turn on feature (board turns on when pushed). The board will also turn itself off if left idle with the remote off, and I really love this power switch button.
Summary of Build Quality
The Meepo Campus 2.0 is a beautiful product. The finish is great, the parts look good, and everything was put together solidly. By looking at it, you wouldn’t believe that this puppy costs under $300 bucks. Impressive!
Riding Experience:
Acceleration and Deceleration
All of the 2nd Gen Meepo boards come with 4 riding mode, Beginner, Eco, Expert and Pro. But to be honest, the Meepo Campus 2.0 probably doesn’t need them. The Meepo Campus 2.0 has only one hub motor and a single hub motor can only do so much for acceleration and braking.
All of the riding modes come with gentle acceleration and deceleration, and only the pro-mode has a little kick during acceleration.
This is definitely a beginner’s board. The acceleration is very gentle, even in pro-mode – too weak for someone who likes the thrill of a fast start, but good for someone who wants absolutely no risk of falling.
Kick pushing to start is definitely a good idea. Braking is definitely gentle and butter smooth, say goodbye to the braking jerk of the previous gen Meepos. The downside? It is weak. Takes a long time to brake to a full stop and full braking down a hill is not possible, it can only slow you down to a safe speed so that you can walk off the board. Again, single hub motor has its limitation.
Vibration & Stability
Single hub motor = three 83mm 78a soft skateboard wheels = better vibration dampening and more comfortable ride.
However, you will definitely be standing on top of the truck so your legs will feel every vibration. Riding it on cobblestone and poorer road surfaces feels… acceptable, but definitely not as good as most larger electric longboards. The Campus 2.0 has a broad deck and feels stabler than most longboards once you tighten the trucks. You can’t go fast enough to become very unstable anyway.
Tight maneuvers are what the Campus 2.0 does best. With the short wheelbase, the turning radius is great, perfect to navigate around tight spaces. What’s more, there is a kicktail for kick turns.
There is, however, a risk of wheel bite. The board has wheel wells but unfortunately, at the tightest turn, the wheels will still bite. I decided to tighten the trucks, sacrifice maneuverability for safety and sure enough, after the truck have been tightened, I can’t get the wheels to bite anymore.
*I have contacted Kieran on this and was informed that they are now using a harder bushing to prevent wheel bite. They are also installing a higher riser and making a bigger wheel well .
Remote Control
The remote is definitely more ergometric and better looking.
It uses a dial to allow finer acceleration control.
As I mentioned, there are 4 riding modes. Changing the riding modes mid-ride is even possible!
The remote also features an LED indicator showing the board and remote battery as well as a reverse button.
Nothing too fancy and of course, no disconnection issues.
Summary of Riding Experience
With smooth acceleration and braking, soft bushings, good maneuverability, the Meepo Campus is both fun to ride and practical as a mobility device.
It cannot provide the thrill of a high-speed ride but the campus 2.0 is definitely good enough for a leisurely slow ride.
If I am being totally honest, the lack of adrenaline rush is what makes the Campus 2.0 my current personal favorite Eskate – I have a peace of mind when I am on it.
Beginners and non-skaters would definitely appreciate the configuration.
Capability
Range
Can’t be a good last mile option if it can’t go many miles, can it? The Meepo Campus 2.0 is using a 4AH, Sanyo 10S1P, 144wh battery and is advertised with a serviceable 10mile(16km) range.
My personal range test, running on a flat surface between 9 to 15 mph (15-25kmh) lasted me around 13miles(22km) before the battery went dry. There is almost no voltage sag either! (my weight 165lbs/ 75kg)
The range is definitely an upgrade from the original Meepo Campus.
Speed
Speed is definitely not the priority for Campus 2.0.
That said, it can still get up to 18mph(30kmh). (Full speed tuck, with a little help from the wind.) Even then, as the acceleration is slow, you will definitely still get dusted if you choose to take the Campus 2.0 to a group ride.
But considering what its made for, sidewalks, and within building compounds, the top speed is definitely sufficient.
Torque
Its called Meepo Campus and campuses are supposed to be flat. The Meepo Campus is definitely torque-challenged and could not perform a stop and go on a multistorey car park ramp. To my surprise, it did manage to hold the board to a stop and not continue rolling.
Stop and go on this incline, however, didn’t seem to challenge the board at all. It went up from resting position without a problem.
Riding modes affect the torque as well. If you are facing any incline, any at all, you should be using only the expert or pro mode. Other modes handicap the Campus 2 so much that it can’t start from an imperceptible incline with you on it.
Honestly, I was expecting a far worse performance from a single hub motor board but I actually find the results acceptable.
With that being said, torque is definitely the biggest limitation of the Campus 2.0, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone heavy or who lives in hilly areas.
Customer Service
Customer service doesn’t come with a board at this price, unless it has a Meepo logo on it.
Product quality and post-sale service are what separates an affordable electric skateboard from a toy that you use for a single weekend then store away in the garage, never to see daylight again.
Simply put, the Meepo Campus 2.0 is the cheapest electric skateboard on the market that meets the customer service requirement, and hence the only electric skateboard I can recommend at this price point.
Other Features
It has smart turn on. Auto shut-off. Has a non-abrasive grip tape and that’s pretty much it. Nothing fancy, all the budget probably went into making the core part of the electric skateboard.
Verdict
Meepo makes eskates that allow everyone to ride, and the Meepo Campus 2.0 is the epitome of that, pushing the affordability to the extreme.
The Campus 2 is an easy recommendation. With good value and an insane price, the value per dollar ratio is just through the roof.
Not to take away the fact that the board is pretty good but with this price tag, you won’t do too bad even if you just buy the board to salvage its parts – and per usual, tinkering and upgrades are always easy with the Meepos.
It is perfect for beginners, for children and for someone who just wants to experience eskating. It’s also perfect for someone who doesn’t need torque and doesn’t care about top speed.
For the above reasons, the Meepo Campus 2 is at the moment, my favorite board. Its performance is enough for me in most situations and its portability and ease of handling (that non-abrasive grip tape makes a difference) make it my go-to choice for last-mile commuting and rides within building compounds. (Well, technically my favorite board at the moment is Arc Aileron V2 but it costs 3x more.)
With that said, it is important for me to make it clear that Meepo Campus 2.0 is definitely NOT a beast. It’s a tame puppy. It fetches your newspaper and makes life fun and won’t hurt you, but don’t ever expect it to outperform any big dogs. At least not without some tinkering.
$299 used to get you a toy, well, not anymore.
Wanna hear bad news? It is only available in the USA.
For those who are from a European country, you can choose to shop from a local dealer – Speedio. Speedio is an Electric Skateboard re-seller based in the Czech Republic. While you do pay a little premium, they offer a 2-year warranty, local support, and fast 2-5 days shipping.
