midtier electric skateboard Archives - Electric Skateboard HQ

July 14, 2024September 6, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Maxfind Max 6 Review – Best electric skateboard under $600?

This is the Maxfind Max 6 which comes in two options: $569 for the version with PU wheels and $629 for the version with 105mm Galaxy Cloud Wheels. This means that the Max 6 is one of the very few affordable belt-driven electric longboards available out there.

Max 6 is a little bit pricier than Wowgo 3E, which was our top pick for the best electric longboard under $500; but it does undercut other midtier belt-driven electric longboards like the $629 Wowgo Pioneer X4, and the $699 Meepo NLS 3.

Read our review of the Wowgo 3E here.

Being one of the most affordable belt-driven electric longboards is a good pricing strategy, especially considering Max 6 has the specs that punch above its weight, too.

Maxfind Max 6 Specs:

Price	$569
Battery	360Wh 10s 21700 Samsung 10Ah battery
Controller	Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed	26 Mph (42 Kph)
Range	31 miles (50 km)
Deck	X Composite deck
Motor	900W*2 Belt drive
Net Weight	20.9lbs (9.5kg)

Deck – X Composite Deck:

Starting with the deck, the Max 6 uses an X composite deck, which is said to be stronger than your average Maple and Bamboo composites. It has only a slight flex.

The deck is relatively narrow, even by our Asian-feet standards, with part of our feet sticking out most of the time. We do like the pronounced U-shaped concave, and our feet are nice and snug with it. Design-wise, the shock-absorbing grip tape gives a pretty neat cyberpunk aesthetic, a nice change from the many minimalistic prints on the market.

Battery – 360Wh 10s 21700 Samsung 10Ah battery:

Photo of Maxfind Max 6 battery enclosure

Moving onto the battery, the Max 6 is powered by 21700 Samsung 40T cells, which are pretty solid cells. It’s too bad Maxfind decided on a 10s2p configuration instead of 12s2p, like the one found on both Wowgo Pioneer X4 and Meepo NLS 3. However, the range on the Max 6 turns out to be better. It is marketed to have a range of up to 31 miles (50km), and in our tests, we managed to make it to 25.5 miles (41 km). That’s 50% more than what we got from the Pioneer X4 and NLS 3.

A concern could be that using 10s instead of a 12s battery configuration gives the board less power, but we will talk about that a little bit later.

ESC and Remote -Hobbywing ESC:

Next, Maxfind went with the tried and true Hobbywing ESC. For the remote, it’s likely the standard Hobbywing remote with custom casing. It has a screen for telemetry, comes with 4 speed settings, and you can also pair it with their mobile app to customize your ride profile.

Motor – Dual 900w Belt Drive Motors:

Moving onto the motors, the Max 6 runs on some hefty dual 900W belt drive motors, which are pretty powerful for a mid-range board. The marketed top speed is a pretty modest 26 mph (42 kph), so it’s not a surprise that we managed to hit that speed in our test.

It has a 1:2.7 gear ratio, which is on the higher side.

Trucks And Wheels – Custom 45° Max Iii Trucks And 90mm Pu Wheels Or 105mm Galaxy Cloudwheels

Next, as for the trucks and wheels, the Max 6 uses their own custom 45° Max III Trucks.

It’s a CNC-forged truck, which is more durable and safer than cast trucks. For some skaters, having a forged truck is a must for safety, but finding one on a $600 board is rare, so this is a big plus point for the Max 6.

As for the wheels, you have a choice between 90mm Polyurethane wheels or a 105mm Galaxy Cloudwheels upgrade. The board also weighs about 20.9 lbs or 9.5 kg, which is pretty light and easy to carry around.

RGB Lights:

A stand-out feature is definitely their RGB atmospheric lighting, which is a collaboration with the Soundynamic brand and features sleek RGB lights on the sides of the deck.

The RGB light cycles through 3 modes: the first one is where the color switches, 2nd mode is breathing pattern, and then the last mode is blinking. The color switches by default and cannot stay a single color, to our disappointment. You can turn the lights on and off with the remote. It also has a brake light that will turn red when we brake.

Although the lights are not as bright as the LED lights lining the deck, they still add some nice flavor to the board.

Specs Summary of Maxfind Max 6:

All these years, Maxfind’s strategy has been to “price the board a little bit higher than the competition, and justify the price with higher quality parts and prettier design” The Max 6, however, is different. It arguably gives the best value for $549, especially if you value the ambiance lighting.

To illustrate, let’s compare the Max 6 to the $449 Wowgo 3E. The Maxfind Max 6 is a pretty good deal here as it has a longer range thanks to using 21700 Samsung 40T cells. It also has a stronger motor, CNC trucks, and lights.

On the other hand, when you compare up against the $629 Wowgo Pioneer X4 and $699 Meepo NLS 3, the Max 6 fairs pretty well, too.

The negatives are that it has a smaller battery and weaker power, but the positives are that it has forged instead of cast trucks and, again, has ambient lights. That’s why, if you value forged trucks and ambient lights, and are satisfied with a 10s battery, Maxfind Max 6 will be, on paper, the best board in the $500-$600 price range.

Read our review of the Meepo NLS 3 here.
Read our review of the Wowgo Pioneer X4 here.

Riding Experience of the Maxfind Max 6

The Max 6 has torque, it felt stronger than the Wowgo 3E on the get-go. The higher gear ratio probably plays a part here. Max 6 certainly gets away with using a 10s battery instead of 12s.

However, when compared against higher priced Meepo NLS 3 and the Wowgo Pioneer X4, the Max 6 does lag behind in torque and power. This is probably how the Max 6 has a lot more range than those two, by dialing back on the power and increasing battery efficiency.

The Max 6 gets to top speed pretty easily and is very stable all the way. But we do feel the trucks are a bit too resistant to turns. Let’s just say they weren’t the most responsive trucks we ever tested, but they are sure as hell stable. We tried loosening up the trucks, but even then, it was still one of those trucks that just wanted to go straight. With that said, carving is not the most fun on this board, but changing the bushings may help in these aspects.

Overall, the board feels comfortable. As we said, the concave makes our feet feel pretty welcome, and of course, Hobbywing ESC means completely smooth acceleration and braking.

The board wasn’t the best at reducing road vibration, given that it uses a stiffer deck. However, the Max 6, being a belt-driven board, is obviously better than any hub-driven board. If you really want a smoother ride, you can always just put on the Cloud Wheels.

Verdict on the Maxfind Max 6:

As you can see, Maxfind Max 6 is not perfect, a $569 board is bound to have some flaws. The Max 6 doesn’t have the most thrilling top speed, doesn’t have the most enjoyable trucks, and the built-in ambiance light is not the most eye-catching.

With that said, it is still one of the best options at its price. It has an extraordinarily good range, safer forged trucks, and, while not our favorite light setup, it is at least there. We’ve reviewed many Maxfinds, and so far, the Max 6 is our clear favorite and we wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for something below $600.

If you are interested in buying the Maxfind, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $25 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 5, 2024June 5, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Backfire Ranger X5 Review – The easiest all-terrain board

Today, we will be reviewing the Backfire Ranger X5, which came out in April 2024.

As more brands make all-terrain electric longboards with belt and gear drives in recent years, the once very popular hub-driven Backfire Ranger series seems to have been somewhat forgotten. Following the trend of belt-drive everything, Backfire released the Hammer Sledge last year, but it seems they aren’t ready to give up on the hub-driven variant just yet. Instead, this year, they released this Ranger X5, which is one of the prettiest-looking AT boards out there.

Backfire didn’t take too much risk with the design of Ranger X5, however. There’s some upgrades in parts and polish and a $200 price bump, but the Ranger X5 is essentially the ‘facelifted’ Ranger X3, as the specs are almost the same.

Backfire Ranger X5 Specs:

Price	$1299
Battery	50.4V 12S3P Samsung 40T 518Wh 90A
Controller	12s Hobbywing ESC
Top Speed	26 Mph (42 Kph)
Range	21 Miles (35 km)
Deck	ABS, Fibreglass and Maple Composite Deck
Motor	1500W*2 Dual hub motors
Net Weight	28lbs (12.8kg)

Deck – Multi-Layer Composite Deck

Starting with the deck, the Backfire Ranger X5 uses a double-drop composite deck made from ABS, glass fiber, and maple. Despite featuring ambient lighting along the deck, the X5 continues to live up to the reputation of the Ranger series for having a flexible and comfortable deck.

It is a 40” deck, longer than most longboard and similar in size to mountainboards such as the Acedeck Nyx Z3.

There is also a red accent stripe running along the edge of the deck, so even when the LED light isn’t turned on, the board maintains its black-and-red look.

ESC and Remote – 12s Hobbywing ESC:

Photo of Backfire Ranger X5 esc enclosure

As for the ESC, there seems to be no change from the X3; it was equipped with a 12s Hobbywing ESC. What sets it apart though, is the X5 comes with the stunning Halo remote, which was first seen with the Backfire Zealot X.

In case you didn’t know, the Halo remote is really neat. It has a large display, fingerprint unlock, and a reverse switch. The remote is also long, nice to hold, and allows access to ride profile customization.

It’s heavy, feels high-end, and, well, drains the battery faster than a standard remote. But you will agree that it is a small price to pay for the features you get.

Battery – 12s3p Samsung 40T battery:

Photo of Backfire Ranger X5 battery charger

Photo of Backfire Ranger X5 battery enclosure

Another feature that doesn’t change with the X3 and X5 is that both boards use a 12s3p Samsung 40T battery, totaling 518Wh, and has a marketed range of 21miles (35km).

Motor – Dual 1500W Hub Motors, Trucks and Wheels:

Powering the Ranger X5 are dual 1500W hub motors. From what we can tell, these are identical to hub motors from the X3.

While belt and gear systems are capable of more torque, which by definition are more thrilling, the hub system has at least three advantages:

it uses less power and hence gives a better range for the same juice;
it requires less maintenance and
it’s a lot quieter.

You won’t have to worry as much about sand, sticks, and leaves becoming stuck in the motor systems when off-roading if you use a hub system.

The same stress-free design applies to the 165mm airless rubber tires, too. Without a doubt, riding on different terrain calls for different tyre pressures, and pneumatic tyres offer more comfort. But in exchange for the marginally better ride, you pay with having to manage tire pressure and risking the chance of a tire puncture in the middle of an off-road trail run. It happens more than you’d think.

The top speed on this puppy is a modest 26mph (42km/h), which we have no problem hitting.

Sadly, the double kingpin trucks—which connect to the hubs and wheels—are die-cast rather than forged. It seems to be the same truck as the one on the X3, and we’ve heard good things about it.

LED Lights:

Backfire definitely put extra effort into the light system. The LED system can be switched between multiple modes with a double-click of the power button, including solid, breathing, flashing, and off. The Ranger X5 also has extra white lights that turn red when the brakes are used in addition to the ambient LED deck. The ambient LEDs on the X5 turn on to show that it is charging when you plug it in. Of course, this is an optional feature, but it’s a nice touch.

Add-ons available for the Backfire Ranger X5:

Also, there are lots of add-ons that you can buy, like a spoiler, pull bar, and mudguards – we heard they’re useful. We don’t have those add-ons, but if you want to see how the Ranger X5 looks in its final form, check out EV Tech Steven’s reviews. Caution: his footage is too pretty, and you might be lured into buying the board and every single add-on.

The board weighs 28 lbs or 12.8 kg, which is not that heavy for an all-terrain board.

Specs Summary of the Backfire Ranger X5:

With a price tag of $1,299, the Backfire Ranger X5 doesn’t pack the biggest battery or the strongest motor. For instance, even the $1,199 Evolve Hadean Carbon AT has a slightly bigger 12s4p battery, and Evolve is not exactly known as a value brand either.

It’s clear that Backfire wants to establish the X5 as the best hub-driven all-terrain board available. A board that surpasses the likes of the Maxfind FF AT, Tynee Explorer, or Meepo City Rider 3 in terms of versatility, power, beauty, and build, and after testing the board, it is indeed better than these competitors.

Read our review of the Meepo City Rider 3 here (click)

Read our review of the Tynee Explorer here (click)

Riding Experience of the Backfire Ranger X5:

It has to be said that hub-driven all-terrain boards are an underrated breed. The worst part about hub systems is usually the road vibration and relatively harsh ride. While these are big problems when it comes to street setup, they are practically negated when the board has big 165mm wheels with a flexible deck.

The Ranger X5 is also rather good at handling lesser torque, which is another concern with the hub arrangement. These dual 1500W hub drives are sufficient to climb any steep uphill we encountered, even though the Ranger X5 was not as torquey as, say, the Acedecks all-terrains with their strong gear-drive and large gear reduction. The Ranger X5 feels 70% more powerful while in turbo mode than the Acedeck Nomad N3 and the Nyx Z3, which is more than most people would need!

Let’s just put it this way: for a rider who doesn’t insist on having the strongest torque, the Ranger X5 is the most ‘hakuna matata’ off-road board that can go through grass, water, and sand. It can get dirty without you having to worry about things getting caught in the motor system. It can ride over questionable surfaces without the worry of a punctured tire.

It can still practically traverse any terrain that a traditional belt or gear system could and does equally well-dampening road vibration.

Ranger X5 is a little bit higher off the ground, which is not our favorite ride profile but means better ground clearance for off-road situations. And it is still pretty stable at top speed. We could stay at top speed with no speed wobble once we slightly tighten the trucks, but the highlight of the board is definitely its responsiveness. For a long AT board, the Ranger X5 is very easy to turn, thanks to the double kingpin trucks. I’d say responsiveness and maneuverability are what separates the Ranger X5 from budget all-terrain boards like the Meepo City Rider 3 and Tynee Explorer. Carving on the Ranger X5 is a lot more enjoyable and a lot more fun to ride.

And I don’t know if I still need to say this, but the speed control is perfect as Hobbywing ESC tends to be. Perfectly smooth acceleration and braking across all speed modes. No surprise here.

Verdict – Should you buy the Backfire Ranger X5:

It’s kinda funny that while the Ranger X5 is a great ride, what sets it apart is outside of the riding experience. It is a handsome-looking board with lights that call for attention. It has a stress-free ownership experience that can’t be said the same for many better and pricier boards.

I think for many casual riders who want a board with big wheels, getting the Ranger X5 makes a lot of sense. And I’d even extend the recommendation to the Ranger X3. Although we haven’t tried the $1,099 Ranger X3, its similarity to the X5 makes us pretty confident that it’s too a great option, a better board even, for those who don’t see the value in paying extra for the X5 for its polished and the looks.

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

May 11, 2024May 11, 2024 by Paxson Lim

Maxfind FF Pro Review – A Pretty Face

So, we are reviewing another Maxfind, the Maxfind FF Pro.

Maxfind has made a good few boards in their FF series, including the FF Plus, FF Belt, and FF AT. Today, we’re checking out the latest edition of the series, the $799 Maxfind FF Pro. Despite the “pro” naming, the FF Pro is actually the lowest-spec variant of the Maxfind FF series.

Maxfind FF Pro Specs:

Price	$799
Battery	SAMSUNG 12S3P 29E, 8.7Ah, 376Wh, 48V
Controller	HOBBYWING V5.0 FOC
Top Speed	28 Mph (45 Kph)
Range	27 Miles (45 Km)
Deck	X-composite + Glass Fiber
Motor	1000W*2 Hub drive
Net Weight	24 Lbs (11 Kg)

Deck – X-composite + Glass Fiber:

Starting with the deck, the Maxfind FF Pro kept the same X composite and fiberglass deck as the FF Street and the FF Belt, which is now a staple in the FF series design. The deck is wide and features a good concave for secure foot placement, just like its predecessors. It’s also a double drop deck design, which is well known for its stability and decreased riding height.

We like the rubber grip tape, as it doesn’t snag on fabrics or damage them. Another thing that sets the Maxfind FF apart is its top-accessible built-in electronics compartment, which allows easy access for hot-swapping the battery and gives it a sleek, unibody look.

Battery – SAMSUNG 12S3P 29E, 8.7Ah, 376Wh, 48V:

Photo of Maxfind FF Pro battery enclosure

Speaking of hot-swappable batteries, the FF Pro is powered by a hefty 376Wh Samsung Battery with a 12s3p configuration. While we love the convenience of the easy access battery compartment this does cause risk for water seeping in from the top.

The FF Pro is marketed to have a range of up to 27 miles (45 km) and in our tests, we managed to make it to 17 miles (27.5 km) with a 196 lbs (89 kg) rider.

ESC and Remote – Hobbywing 5.0:

Moving onto the ESC, Maxfind made no changes and stuck with the tried and true Hobbywing 5.0 ESC, which has never failed to deliver buttery smooth and intuitive control for both acceleration and braking. It comes with four-speed settings and is paired with a standard remote with an OLED display that allows you to customize your riding profile.

Motor – 1000W*2 Hub Motors:

Next, the FF Pro comes with massive 1000W dual hub motors which are marketed to have a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph) and when we took it to the streets we managed to rack up 23.6 mph (38 kph) on a windy day which is no short of impressive especially for a board that costs under $800.

Trucks and Wheels – Double KingPin Trucks and 3.8” Poly Wheels:

As for the trucks, the FF Pro sticks with the same Double KingPin Trucks as the FF Street.

The FF Pro comes with basic 3.8-inch poly wheels but you can easily switch them out for some Cloud Wheels for a smoother ride.

With a weight of 24 lbs. (11 kg), the board is considerably light for the battery it’s packing. It also has an ergonomic handle that you can use to conveniently pull it about when you’re not riding.

Specs Summary of the Maxfind FF Pro:

To sum up, competition is pretty stiff in the $799 range, and most boards at this price are belt-driven. Boards like the Propel Pivot S have similar specs but fare better and are much stronger with a powerful pair of belt motors. To give Maxfind some credit, if you’re a fan of hub motors, then there aren’t a lot of options at this price point. A couple of the more notable competitors are the Wowgo Pioneer 4 and the Backfire G5, both of which have slightly lower specs and retail for around $550.

Enough with the on-paper comparison, let’s hit the road and talk about how the board rides.

Riding Experience of the Maxfind FF Pro:

The overarching theme of the FF Pro is that it’s a well-rounded ride that has no significant shortcomings but, at the same time, lacks any standout moments.. The speed control is nice and comfortable, as expected from the Hobbywing ESC. Stability is quite solid, but we can’t say the same for its power, which is about average at best. The double kingpin truck’s ability to carve is pretty mediocre as its turning radius isn’t that great, but just okay-ish. We had trouble doing sharp u-turns, and its return-to-center is also quite lacking. This could be improved, perhaps, by replacing the bushings.

We think, in this case, Maxfind could’ve gone with their standard Reverse Kingpin trucks, which were pretty good and would’ve done a far better job here. Ride comfort was alright, thanks to the board’s wide and long deck with its nice concave. The grip tape is definitely a plus, and the deck’s flexibility helps dampen the road vibrations, which is a blessing when you purchase anything hub-driven.

Verdict – Is the Maxfind FF Pro any good?

So what’s the verdict? Well, it’s not our favorite board, as we at ElectricskateboardHQ love specs and performance and care a little bit less about the looks of the board.

With that said, we think the Maxfind FF Pro has a good look, and the hot-swappable battery feature is definitely a plus. While the specs and performance weren’t exactly top of the class, they are decent enough to justify the price. If you are looking for a hub-driven electric longboard that has the look, the FF Pro may suit your taste.

And, if you’re a fan of the looks but aren’t quite satisfied with the features the Maxind FF Pro has to offer, you could always look into the many other variants in the FF series with similar decks and looks but different prices and configurations.

If you are interested in buying the Maxfind, 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 30, 2023August 30, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Meepo Flow Review – Simply The Best Cruiser

Let’s first introduce the elephant in the room: Meepo Flow is the blatant copy of the Evolve Stoke, first released back in 2019. It has the exact look and uses very similar parts – a 35’ cruiser deck paired with double kingpin trucks.

However, a closer look at the specs shows that the $749 Meepo Flow might be quite a lot better than the $999 Evolve Stoke.

Specification – Meepo Flow

Price	$749
Deck	35-inch Bamboo and fibreglass. Stiff, wide concave
Trucks	Double Kingpin Trucks
Wheels	35-inch Bamboo and fiberglass. Stiff, wide concave
ESC	12s Hobbywing ESC
Motors	Dual 2519W belt-drive motors
Battery	12S2P, Molicel P42A, 362.8 Wh, 8.4AH
Top Speed	32mph (52 kph)
Range	24 miles(38 km)
Weight	24.2 lbs/(11 kg)

Deck

The Meepo Flow has the same transparent grip tape as the Evolve Stoke. It has an additional foam grip tape on the kicktail of its slightly longer 35-inch Bamboo and fiberglass composite deck. Similar to the Evolve Stoke, the Meepo deck has a wide concave and is stiff.

Looking at the photo, you might mistake the Flow as a shortboard, but at 35″ by 13.5″, it’s actually a ‘shorter’ longboard with a kicktail or a cruiser board.

Truck: Double Kingpin

The Meepo Flow is equipped with a double-kingpin truck, as per the Evolve Stoke formula. Let’s hope these trucks are good.

Wheels: OEM 105mm wheels

In contrast to the Evolve Stoke’s 85mm wheels, Meepo decided to go big with 105mm wheels. It is good to see these soft 105mm resurfaced to the market. They are the OEM wheels for the late-Boosted 105s, which Boosted previously sold at about $170 a set.

Battery: 12S2P Molicel P42A, 362Wh / 8.4AH

The Meepo Flow, like the NLS 3, has a 12S2P Molicel P42A, 362Wh / 8.4AH battery, which is significantly larger than the Evolve Stoke’s 144Wh battery. The advertised range is 23.6 miles (38km) but in our tests, we got a range of 16 miles (25.4 km) for our 155lb (70kg) rider riding fast. Again, the outcome is similar to that of the NLS 3.

Click here to read our review of the Meepo NLS 3 (AKA Meepo Envy)

ESC (Electronic Speed Controller): 12s Hobbywing ESC

The Meepo Flow uses a 12s Hobbywing ESC, which is smoother than the current-generation LingYi ESC and far superior to any ESC used by Evolve on their boards. This ESC is paired with the Meepo M4s remote, which includes a display which displays your speed and other information.

Motor: Dual 2519W belt-drive motors

This model has the same dual belt system as the NLS 3 and is far more powerful than Evolve Stoke’s dual 1500W motors. The advertised top speed is 32 mph (51.5 km h), and our tests clocked it at 30 mph.

Specs Summary of the Meepo Flow

Meepo Flow is almost the same board as the Meepo NLS 3, just with a new deck and double kingpin trucks. These are good specifications for $749, especially if you put it beside the 10s2p 144wh Evolve Stoke. But, hey, the ride experience is more important than the stats on paper, so let’s get to it.

Riding Experience

Luckily, the Flow did not disappoint. It’s a lot of fun to ride the Meepo Flow.

Speed control on the Meepo Flow is perfect, and that is no surprise at all. After all, it was using the tried and true 12s Hobbywing ESC that delivers perfectly smooth and intuitive controlsWe are also not surprised by the power that the Flow has, since it is using the same exact motors as the NLS 3, which we reviewed a while ago. Much like the NLS 3, Meepo Flow is not insanely powerful, but is powerful and comparable to any board under $900. Accelerating uphill is not gonna be a problem even for the heaviest rider.

The biggest highlight for us is definitely the cruiser deck. We don’t see cruiser boards too often, but more companies ought to make them. The board’s length is somewhere between a shortboard and a longboard. And it offers the best of both worlds; the board is stable at high speeds yet nimble for short turns. Because of the double kingpin trucks and shorter wheelbase, it can make a very tight U-turn.

These double kingpin trucks are also pretty good among the best; they clearly turn very well, as do all double kingpin trucks, but they aren’t too loose and stay stable at high speeds. We feel comfortable riding them at top speed.

Despite the weight of the board, the kicktail is easy to use, too. However, there is a flaw in this design. The motor guards will rub against the ground when you use the kicktail, so you are bound to get scratches on it.

Another highlight of the board is the 105mm wheels; now we know why the Boosted 105s were so talked about.

Amongst oversized street wheels, they’re the best we’ve tried so far at handling bumps, even better than the 105mm cloudwheels. They are also really grippy, giving the ride that nice sticky feel. If you enjoy soft wheels, you will like these 105mm wheels.

Our team generally likes big wheels because we don’t have the smoothest roads where we ride, and 105mm gives us peace of mind when riding because sticks, stones, and potholes won’t catch the wheels and send us flying.

Having 4 meaty yet soft wheels also takes away most of the road vibrations.

One big downside, though, is that the board is bulky and hard to carry around. Unlike most longboards, you can’t pull it like a suitcase, and lifting it can be a real workout. The board might be shaped like a shortboard, but it is certainly far from portable.

The Verdict

For the past 6 years, we’ve been reviewing electric skateboards, and not many have a cruiser deck. The last cruiser we reviewed was, in fact, the Evolve Stoke! It gave a fantastic ride but was overpriced for what it was. The Meepo Flow, on the other hand, is everything that the Evolve Stoke could be at a lower cost. It’s a comfortable cruiser board with 105mm wheels, has 12s Hobbywing ESC for ultra-smooth speed control, double-kingpin trucks for tight bends, and an easy-to-use kicktail.

Coming into the review, we thought the Meepo Flow was merely a cheap knockoff of the Evolve, but it turned out to be an “Evolve Stoke done right” and is now one of our favorite boards.

If you are interested in buying a 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!

August 14, 2023August 19, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Propel Pivot S Electric Skateboard Review: A Balanced Perspective

Today, we will be reviewing the Propel Pivot S.

On July 2023, Propel, a brand that’s gained quite a following for its powerful off-terrain suspension boards and its top-tier post-sales service, is now stepping into the 2-in-1 arena with the Pivot S and the Pivot GT.

There are many boards out there that have adopted the Evolve formula (Double drop deck + DKP trucks + 2 in 1 wheel), but we haven’t seen any brand make one at the price that Propel is selling Pivot S for.

Pivot S starts at $799 for the base version and $999 for the 2-in-1 package.
(The 2-in-1 package comes with both the 97mm street wheels and the 155mm wheels.)

Now, a lower price means nothing if Propel skimmed on the specs, but this doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Propel Pivot S – Specifications

Price	$799 (Street) $999 (2 in 1)
Battery	518Wh, 12S3P, Lishen LR2170SA
Controller	55A LingYi ESC
Top Speed	36mph(60kph)
Range	97mm: 26.5miles (44km) 155mm: 54 miles (87km)
Deck	Carbon hybrid BVR Unibody
Motor	2×6374 Motors/ Belt Drive
Net Weight	25.3lbs (11.5KG)

Deck – “BVR Deck”

At first glance, the Pivot S’s double-drop deck immediately grabs your attention with its carbon fiber and fiberglass build. It has that sleek, unibody design with no unsightly enclosure sticking out. Propel called this deck BVR “Bad Vibe Reduction” deck and said that by including fiberglass in the deck material, it would dampen road vibrations. Will it work? We shall see.

On the deck, there is the foam tape padding which gives a helping hand in cushioning those road vibrations on this stiff deck.

Stepping on Propel Pivot S — *Foam grip tape*

It’s around 43 inches long and 10.7 inches wide, broader than most longboard decks. And while it does have a sweet concave, the center of the deck stays pretty flat.

ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) – LingYi ESC:

Flipping the board over, you’re met with easy access to the ESC compartment, which can be popped open with five screws. Propel went for the LingYi ESC in this model, and currently, it’s paired with the standard LingYi ESC remote.

Propel Pivot S ESC assess point — 5 screws to access the ESC

It’s rather jarring that a premium carbon fiber board ended with the most generic and cheap looking remote, but luckily a new remote is on its way to replace this one soon. We’ve seen the prototype, and it’s better. Anyways, this is just a cosmetic issue, as the generic LingYi ESC was functionally perfect, no connectivity issues, durable, good battery life.

Generic Remote of the Propel Pivot S — something better-looking will replace this remote, soon.

As always, the LingYi ESC comes with ‘push to start’ features meaning the board fires up as soon as those back wheels start rolling. Like other boards with LingYi ESC, you get to choose amongst 4 acceleration modes and 4 braking modes separately, and we will talk about how they felt later.

Battery – Lishen LR2170SA

The Pivot S draws its power from a 12S3P pack with Lishen LR2170SA, 21700 cells. These cells, like those found in other premium boards such as the Exway Atlas Pro and Evolve Hadean.

This gives the board a healthy 518Wh battery, similar to Exway Atlas, and bigger than Evolve GTR’s 504Wh battery.

Propel also went further by adopting a Printed Circuit Board Assembly design with its battery, which eliminates wires. The benefit of the PCBA design is that the battery pack will be more durable, as wire could get dislodged from vibrations.

Range – A healthy 27 miles

The marketing range is 27.3 miles (44km) with 97mm wheels;
and 15.5 miles (25km) with 155mm wheels.

As usual, Propel did not exaggerate the range; our range test with 145lb (65 kg) riders yielded an impressive 14 miles (22km) on the 155mm wheels.

Double-Kingpin Truck – We’ve seen them around.

The Pivot S, like all 2-in-1 electric skateboards, has a double-kingpin truck. It appears to be one of those off-the-shelf double kingpin trucks that work well and are widely used.

Motors – Definitely Powerful!

The Propel Pivot S is powered by two 1375W belt motors. These are huge 6374 motors, and they are incredibly powerful. The board’s top speed is an impressive 37 mph (60 km/h), though we only got up to 28 mph (45 kph) before it got too scary for us. Keep in mind, at high speeds, double kingpin trucks can get wobbly.

Wheels – 97mm or 155mm

The base version features 97mm PU wheels, while the optional $200 upgrade offers 155mm wheels with a Bravura alloy hub.

Accessories – Lights & Pull bars

Pivot S, like many of Propel’s boards, came with integrated brake light, which lights up during brakes. The $999 two-in-one option also comes with a pull bar which you can install.

It should be noted that the board may only be pulled when it is in the AT configuration; pulling it in the street configuration will cause the motor to scrape the ground.

Propel Pivot S motor guard scraping the ground — *In street wheel configuration, the board shouldn’t be pulled.*

You can also buy a headlight kit, which can be integrated into the board, but it’s an additional $150 investment.

Spec Summary:

Propel Pivot S (Street) – $799:

A 12s3p carbon fiber board built with high-quality materials from a brand recognized for excellent customer service feels like a value at $799. In reality, there isn’t another product that compares. A better match would be the $849 14s2p Backfire Zealot S2 or the $999 12s3p Meepo Voyager X. Both boards are more expensive and, as you will see, provide different riding experiences. They also are not carbon fiber electric skateboards.

Read our review of the Backfire Zealot S2 here.

Read our review of the Meepo Voyager X here.

Propel Pivot S (2-in-1) – $999:

Pivot S as a carbon fiber two-in-one all-terrain electric skateboard, on the other hand, competes directly with the similarly priced Exway Atlas at $999. Both have a 518wh battery, and the devil is in the details when it comes to choosing between the two. So let’s next talk about how the board rides.

Riding Experience of the Propel Pivot S:

The Pivot S, like many other electric skateboards debuted this year, is focused on power. When you equip a skateboard built for propelling AT wheels upwards with 97mm urethane wheels, you get a skateboard with plenty of power.

Fortunately, the latest version of LingYi ESC has pretty smooth controls. The first three acceleration modes are, as always, pleasant and easy to use, while the fourth ‘PRO mode’ feels too powerful for the average street rider.

When the throttle is pushed, it punches strongly. Adrenaline junkies will enjoy it, but most riders won’t need to switch to PRO mode unless they’re riding in an all-terrain setup.

The stronger brakes are another advantage of the LingYi ESC. On an incline, LingYi ESC can better stop the wheels, whereas Hobbywing ESC usually can’t hold the board in place and will roll down the slope. This function will be useful if you plan on doing some uphill longboarding, and the Pivot S certainly offers plenty of power for uphill runs!

Besides the nuances of LingYi ESC, the board rides pretty much as well as one would expect from what we’ve seen on paper. The double-drop carbon fiber deck reduces ride height, and we always enjoy riding near the ground.

Some reviewers mentioned that the deck may be too wide and too flat in the middle, and it was uncomfortable for them as they couldn’t feel the deck concave when riding. We don’t share that opinion. The deck is comfortable for us, so I guess this is pretty subjective.

Pivot S’s large, stiff deck helps with the board’s stability, which is important because the dual kingpin trucks can feel wobbly at high speed.

You might feel more comfortable at high speeds if you’re a better rider than us or tighten the trucks further, but I’d recommend against having twin kingpin trucks if your primary goal is to ride quickly. These trucks are undoubtedly great for carving.

BVR “Bad Vibe Reduction” – Still lots of Bad Vibe

Let’s talk about the vibration now. Even with Propel’s best efforts, even going as far as branding the deck THE “Bad Vibe Reduction” deck, foam grip tape, and those massive 97mm wheels, stiff decks feel terrible on uneven roads. We can hear rattling noises and feel road vibrations in our knees. This is just part of the bargain when getting a carbon fiber street setup, so be prepared.

riding shots of Propel Pivot S on poor roads

However, switching to the 155mm all-terrain wheels makes a huge difference. They absorb a lot of road vibrations while maintaining a low-to-the-ground ride experience. It’s quite nice. We’d go so far as to suggest that the AT setup is a must-have for anyone who rides on unpaved roads regularly.

Propel Pivot S versus Exway Atlas:

As previously said, the Propel Pivot S with 155mm wheels will almost certainly be compared to the Exway Atlas. In their all-terrain configuration, both boards will set you back $999.

In comparison, the Exway Atlas has a smoother ride thanks to its Hobbywing ESC and precision CNC-forged axles. It also appears more sophisticated, thanks to its style and abundance of add-on accessories. However, the Propel Pivot S has greater power, while the Exway Atlas has a reputation for being an underpowered all-terrain board. Propel also appears to offer stronger post-sale service at the moment.

Propel Pivot S Verdict:

Once again, Propel didn’t disappoint with the Propel Pivot S. It is a powerful board built well by a reliable brand. For $999, the 2-in-1 package is a pretty good deal for anyone looking for something similar (and better) to the Evolve Carbon GTR.

When it comes to value proposition, the 97mm street set-up of the Pivot S is even better.

Unlike the 2 in 1 setup, which has competition, the street setup Pivot S is virtually unparalleled at $799. There is no other board that comes close to matching the value offered by the Pivot S. If you want a carbon fiber board with double kingpin trucks, Propel Pivot S should be the first choice for anyone shopping in this price range.

If you are interested in buying a Propel, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive 3% 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!