midtier electric skateboard Archives - Page 2 of 5

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Wowgo Pioneer X4 Review – A Great All-Around Board

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Wowgo Pioneer X4. This board was released in November 2022 and is the successor to the popular Wowgo 3X.

Previously, the Wowgo 3X was known for its silky smooth riding experience thanks to its flexible deck, genuine Paris V2 trucks, and smooth urethane wheels. It was even touted as the best spiritual successor of the Boosted board.

With this in mind, another thing we’re excited about in this review is the comparison between Pioneer 4 and X4.

Pioneer X4 features a belt-driven motor unlike the hub-driven Wowgo Pioneer 4. Other than that, the two boards are identical in every other aspect. It’s only natural for e-skaters with $400 entry-level boards to consider upgrading to the Pioneer X4 at $699.

So, enough of the context. Let’s see if the Wowgo Pioneer X4 provides a similar riding feel.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 Build and Specs

Deck: Canadian maple, bamboo, fiberglass; mild concave
Electronic Speed Controller: Hobbywing V5.0 ESC; 4-speed modes, remote w/ display screen
Battery: 12S2P Samsung 40T battery
Marketed Range: 20.5 miles or 33 km
Motors: 4230 2*700W Belt
Marketed Top Speed: 28 mph or 45 kp/h
Trucks: Wowgo Trucks
Wheels: 90mm Polyurethane Wheels (can upgrade to 105mm Cloudwheels)

Let’s start with the deck. The Wowgo Pioneer X4 uses the same deck as the Wowgo Pioneer 4. The deck is a combination of Canadian Maple, bamboo, and fiberglass. Unlike the very flexible deck of the Exway Flex ER, the Pioneer X4 has a mild flex that still provides a comfortable ride without sacrificing stability.

The deck has a mild concave and is flat without any camber or rocker. This Pioneer X4 deck is less flexible than the Wowgo 3x, but it provides more stability at high speeds. The board still rocks the Boosted look, featuring an orange and black color scheme.

As for the electronics, the Pioneer X4 uses a Hobbywing ESC with four riding modes with a top speed of up to 28 mph (45 km/h). The remote control is easy to use and has a clear screen that displays speed, battery life, and riding mode.

About the battery, the Wowgo Pioneer X4 is equipped with a 12S2P Samsung 40T battery that provides a capacity of 345Wh. This battery configuration is similar to the Exway Flex ER which also features a 345Wh battery.

More Range From Pioneer X4

The Pioneer X4 has a marketed range of 20.5 miles (33 km). Riding the Pioneer X4 aggressively in the highest speed mode, our 165 lbs (75 kg) test rider managed to get 17 miles (28km) on a single charge. This is surprisingly more than what we get from the hub version Wowgo Pioneer 4.

This goes to show that your mileage may vary depending on how hard you ride the board, the road condition, and how much you just ate. If you ride conservatively, you probably can achieve the 20.5 miles (33 km) as advertised.

Effortless 28 mph Top Speed

Now, let’s talk about the motors and top speed of the Pioneer X4. The board uses 4230 700W dual belt-driven motors, which are powerful enough to take on steep hills and handle rough terrains.

The Pioneer X4 has a healthy marketed top speed of 28 mph (46 kp/h). During our top-speed test, we managed to hit exactly 28 mph (46 km/h). Nice!

For context, this is the top speed that most mid-tier electric skateboards can reach but Pioneer X4 got there without a sweat (more on that later).

Lastly, let’s talk about the wheels. The board comes with 78A soft 90mm polyurethane wheels which are pretty good and provide a smooth ride on the tarmac.

For those who plan to ride on less perfect terrain, there is an option to switch to 105mm Cloudwheels.

The Wowgo Pioneer X4 weighs in at 18 lbs (8.4kg) which is pretty standard for an electric skateboard of this size.

As you can see, the board was put together very well, as to be expected from a veteran brand.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 Ride Experience

Now that we know the build and specs, it’s time to ride!

When it comes to speed control, the Wowgo Pioneer X4 has a smooth and intuitive acceleration and braking system. The 12s Hobbywing ESC provides really smooth acceleration and braking on all four-speed modes. Nothing is surprising here as it is expected from the Hobbywing ESC.

The 12s ESC combined with a strong belt motor system should make the board feel powerful and torquey, yet it is all smooth sailing with the Wowgo Pioneer X4. It’s strong, and powerful, but not jerky even in turbo mode.

During our test, we can accelerate to 25 mph (40 km/h) in just a few seconds without sacrificing comfort. The speed ramped up so smoothly.

To put this into context, the Pioneer X4 felt a bit stronger than the higher-priced Exway Flex ER-Riot. Although, it is not as strong as the power-specialist Meepo Voyager.

Also, voltage sag was not an issue for the Pioneer X4. The board can still reach its top speed at 25% battery.

Compare the Exway Flex ER in this review.

Wowgo Trucks Work Just As Well As Paris Trucks

The Pioneer X4 is a great board for carving, too. The trucks are pretty responsive and have a good return to center. Carving on the board is a lot of fun.

However, we did notice that the trucks came out of the box on the tighter side. This made sharp turns a bit difficult. It’s possible that Wowgo designed the trucks for heavier riders, or maybe they just wanted to prioritize stability.

Nonetheless, after loosening up the trucks a bit, we were able to find the perfect balance between stability and ease of turning. The trucks rode just as well as Paris trucks.

In terms of road vibration and ride-smoothness, the Wowgo Pioneer X4 also performed well. The belt drive system provides a comfortable ride even on poorly paved roads. Plus, the mild flex of the deck helps ease out the road vibrations. However, we did wish that the deck had a bit more flex (it’s personal preference) but it will also make the board even more comfortable when riding on rougher roads.

We think that most riders won’t need to upgrade to Cloudwheels. The stock wheels perform pretty well, as long as you’re not going off-road.

Learn more about Meepo Voyager X here.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 VS Exway Flex ER – Riot

There is no doubt that the Wowgo Pioneer X4 is an excellent electric skateboard and the best value-for-money choice for those who are looking for a premium ride feel on a belt-driven board.

However, is it the best board in the mid-range ($400-$800) market?

Just as the Exway Flex ER looms over the Wowgo Pioneer 4, Exway Flex ER – Riot ($799) casts its long shadow over Wowgo Pioneer X4 ($699). Exway Flex ER – Riot is approximately $150 pricier than the Wowgo Pioneer X4 after factoring shipping fee, but comes with a smartphone app, a waterproof rating, and a fast charger out of the box.

Otherwise, both boards have similar specs, the same battery size, the same 12s Hobbywing ESC, similar ride profile, similar built quality, and post-sale service.

Exway Flex ER has the more flexible deck out of the two, and Wowgo Pioneer X4 has stronger power right out of the box.

Well, it is a close call, and both are really great boards that nobody ever regrets buying. All the improvements of the Exway Flex ER are nice to have, but not really enough to sway a decision one way or the other. In the end, I guess the optimal choice comes down to things like ongoing promotion, waiting time, and stock availability.

Wowgo Pioneer X4 VERDICT

Overall, Wowgo Pioneer X4 is an excellent electric skateboard and the best value-for-money choice for those who are looking for a premium ride feel on a belt-driven board. For $699, the specs are right and the built quality is great. Whether you’re going fast or riding casually, the board delivers great power while maintaining perfect smoothness and stability.

It is easy to see the Wowgo Pioneer X4 be a board that’s universally loved, by beginners and veterans alike, just like Wowgo 3X was. Good job on this one, Wowgo.

If you are interested in buying the Wowgo, 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!

March 19, 2023July 27, 2023 by Paxson Lim

Wowgo Pioneer 4 Review – Can It Beat Exway Flex ER?

It’s been almost a year since we reviewed the Wowgo 2s Max, which we considered the best budget electric skateboard at $500.

Now, meet the Wowgo Pioneer 4—a new and better Wowgo with a $700 price tag. The name might be new but the Pioneer 4 hub and Pioneer X4 belt are actually successors of the wildly popular Wowgo 3 and 3x.

However, Wowgo Pioneer 4’s $699 retail price will be going head to head against the very popular Exway Flex ER. Direct comparisons are unavoidable, so that’s what we will do throughout this review.

Before we get into real-world riding experience, let’s run through the specs real quick!

Wowgo Pioneer 4 Build and Specs

Deck: Canadian maple, bamboo, and fiberglass; mild flex, wide and subtle concave
Electronic Speed Controller: 12s Hobbywing ESC
Battery: 12S2P 345Wh 8.0Ah Samsung 21700 40T
Marketed Range: 22 miles (35 km)
Motors: Hobbywing 2*680W HUB Motors(5230)
Marketed Top Speed: 28 mph (46 kp/h)
Trucks: 45° Reverse KingPin
Wheels: 78A soft 90 mm PU wheels (with 105mm Cloudwheels option)

The WowGo Pioneer 4 deck was made with a combination of Canadian Maple, bamboo, and fiberglass. It has a mild but respectable flex to it. The concave is wide but subtle with a flat profile. There’s no camber or rocker.

As always, Wowgo put on a foam grip tape to improve vibration absorption, which helps when riding on rough roads. The design on the grip tape is alright, but we really like the graphic design on the bottom of the deck. The stealthy black and gray color theme gave the board a premium look. As you can see, the board’s overall polish and build quality are also tip-top.

The Wowgo Pioneer 4 also uses a 12s Hobbywing ESC. The brand claims to be a newer 5.0 version, not that we notice any difference. Of course, it also comes with a smart power-on feature.

There are 4-speed modes, with the highest speed mode named Turbo. As usual, it uses the familiar remote that comes with telemetry.

Now, let’s look at the trucks. Wowgo Pioneer 4 uses a 45-degree reverse kingpin truck. Compared to the Wowgo 2s Max 50-degree trucks, these trucks felt more satisfying to carve and easier to turn.

As for the motors, Wowgo Pioneer 4 uses 680W dual hub motors. These should be powerful enough. For context, the very strong Meepo V4s were rocking dual 540W motors, and the Wowgo 2s Max dual motors also gave more power than anyone would need.

To check out our Meepo V4S review, click here.

On the other hand, the similarly priced Exway Flex ER does have a much higher wattage on its hub motors. On paper, the Exway Flex ER rocks dual 1000w hub motors. Then again, motor wattage is a poor judgment of a board’s actual torque and power. Fortunately, we have reviewed both of these boards and will compare them later.

This 680W motor on the Pioneer 4 does have a healthy marketed top speed of 28 mph or 46 kph, and we managed to hit 44 km/h during our top-speed test. This is the same result we got from the Exway Flex ER.

When it comes to power, Wowgo Pioneer 4 uses a 12S2P 8.0 AH battery with good Samsung 40T cells. This gave a battery pack of 345wh in size and had a marketed range of 22 miles or 35km. Exway Flex ER also has the same battery configuration and size.

Riding the Pioneer 4 aggressively in the highest speed mode, our 155 lbs or 70 kg test rider managed to get 15.5 miles or 25 km. If you ride conservatively, you probably can achieve the 22 miles or 35 km as advertised.

Now, let us look away from the electronics and move on to the wheels. Wowgo Pioneer 4’s standard wheels are 78A soft 90 mm PU wheels. These wheels perform pretty well on tarmac roads.

There are also 105mm Cloudwheels available as an added option. We will talk about how they perform later.

The board weighs 18 lbs or 8.2kg and comes with a 6-month warranty. The board was put together really well, certainly as good as the Exway Flex ER or any premium brand.

Interested to learn more about Exway Flex ER? Click here.

Wowgo Pioneer 4 Ride Experience

Now that we know the build and specs, it’s time to ride!

First, let’s talk about speed control. Wowgo Pioneer’s speed control is perfect, as can be expected from the 12s Hobbywing ESC.

Both the acceleration and braking of the Pioneer are buttery smooth and intuitive. The motors feel powerful, and the braking is very strong too.

Pioneer 4’s dual 680W motors perform just about as well as Exway Flex ER’s dual 1000W motors. In fact, if you did not use Exway’s mobile app to max out the power configuration, the stock Wowgo Pioneer 4 is actually the more muscular ride out of the two.

With that being said, both boards are powerful enough for even the heaviest rider.

When it comes to turning and carving, we’re pretty impressed with how Pioneer 4’s trucks perform. The board is fun to carve and responsive to control. Sharp turns are not a problem.

Right out of the box, the Flex ER is much more nimble and carves harder compared to Exway Flex ER. The Pioneer, on the other hand, is more stable and allows a relaxed ride even at top speed.

Like all hub-driven boards, Wowgo Pioneer 4 rides the best on a well-paved road. You can feel the strong road vibrations on poorly paved roads, but it’s tolerable. Unlike the Backfire Era 2, the Wowgo Pioneer 4 performs much-much better on the poorly paved tarmac. At the end of the day, having a flexible deck and using foam grip tape will help.

In case you don’t know yet, Backfire Era 2 is the most portable eskate we reviewed! Learn more here.

Install the 105mm Cloudwheels and it improves further. Just keep in mind that you will sacrifice some range and some of that ‘sticking to ground ride feel’.

To round up the riding experience, Wowgo Pioneer 4 is an all-around great board that both beginners and veterans will like. It has great torque, good range, and is a comfortable ride. It has good specs for $699. It is very well-built, and it looks nice.

The VERDICT – All-Around Board for Beginner and Veteran Eskaters

However, is it the best board in the $400-$800 range? Or perhaps, we should just cut to the chase and ask ourselves, is the Wowgo Pioneer 4 a better buy than the Exway Flex ER which has the same battery size, same 12s Hobbywing ESC, similar ride profile, and similar built quality, and post-sale service?

Well, it is a close call, but I guess it comes down to things like ongoing promotion, waiting time, and stock availability.

When factoring in the shipping fee, Exway Flex ER can be $150 pricier than the Wowgo Pioneer. With that higher price, you do get a smartphone app, a waterproof rating, and a fast charger out of the box.

If those features aren’t important to you, or you are the frugal type, go with Wowgo Pioneer 4 instead; it is a similar board for less money.

If you are interested in buying the Wowgo, 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!

You can now get Wowgo Pioneer 4 on Amazon! (Click here)

February 8, 2022February 25, 2022 by Paxson Lim

Tynee Board Mini (Belt) Review—not so tiny in power!

In this review, we will be looking at the belt-driven shortboard from Tynee Board which was “creatively” named the Tynee Board Mini. We have been reviewing a lot of Tynee Boards recently, but this one, we were told, was special. According to the company themselves, Tynee Board Mini is one of the hottest selling boards from the brand’s line-up. At first glance, it’s not hard to tell why.

Tynee Board Mini is a $579 10s2p belt-driven electric shortboard that has also copied its look from the late Boosted Mini. There is a 10s3p 8.7AH version available for $629, too. The belt-driven mid-tier electric skateboard is a niche that doesn’t have much competition, so it’s not surprising that the board is selling well if it’s decent. So is it?

As usual, let’s take a deeper look at its build and specs.

Build and specs – Tynee Board Mini

Deck: stiff maple; flat camber and rocker; wide concave
ESC: 12s Hobbywing ESC; 4 speed modes; smart power-on
Batteries: $579 version – 5.0 AH 180 wh Samsung; $629 version – 8.7 AH 313 wh
Marketed range: $579 version – 12 miles / 19 km; $629 version – 22 miles / 35 km
Motors: 5250 Hobbywing Belt
Marketed Top Speed: 24 mph or 38 km/h
Trucks: Tynee Proprietary Reverse KingPin Trucks (Paris V3 clones)
Wheels: 90 mm x 62 MM street wheels, 78 A durometer
Weight: 15.2 lbs / 6.9 kg
Lights: Headlights and Taillights

Tynee Board Mini uses a wide concave deck similar to the Boosted Mini. It’s stiff and is made of maple.

As for the electronic speed controller, Tynee Board Mini uses a 12s Hobbywing ESC with 4-speed modes and smart power-on. Any eskate veteran should already know the Hobbywing ESC demonstrates a perfectly smooth and intuitive control.

Two battery options for $579 and $629 version

Moving on to the batteries, there are 2 options available: $579 for 5.0 AH 180 wh a Samsung battery or $629 for 8.7 AH 313 wh a long-range battery. The marketed range for the 5 AH version is 12 miles or 19 km. For the 8.7AH version, the marketed range is 22 miles or 35 km.

We got the $579 version, so with the 5.0 AH Samsung battery, our 95kg rider got 12 miles or 19 km. That’s pretty solid.

It’s a pretty good range for a belt-driven sub-$600 board, but confusing at the same time. The Wowgo Mini 2 which runs on dual hub drives gave us the same range. Hub drives are supposed to be more battery efficient than belt-driven motors. Even Tynee Mini’s nearest competitor, Ownboard M1, only has a marketed range of 7.5 miles or 12 km for $569. Some sorcery, this is.

Tynee Board Mini is also using Hobbywing 5250 belt motors with a top speed of 24 mph or 38 km/h. The wheels on this board are 90 mm x 62 MM street wheels with a 78 A durometer.

Tynee proprietary reverse kingpin trucks for stability

As for the trucks, Tynee Board Mini uses their proprietary Reverse Kingpin trucks which are based on the upgraded Paris V3. We reviewed this way back from Tynee Board Ultra and know it’s geared towards stability—a little bit more on it later.

To read our review on Tynee Board Ultra, click here.

This shortie weighs 15.2 lbs or 6.9 kg which is pretty average and easy to carry around.

Now that we know the build and specs of Tynee Board Mini, it’s time to ride!

Riding experience of Tynee Board Mini

As we have mentioned, the acceleration and smoothness of a Hobbywing ESC are always expected. While it is a pretty smooth ride, this shortie can also punch. Power on a belt-driven shortboard is what shines the most for Tynee Board Mini.

Not so tiny in power

The current gold standard for mid-tier shortboards that every shortboard should be compared to is, for now, the Wowgo Mini 2. In a few reviews back, we commented that the Wowgo Mini 2 has a pretty darn strong acceleration. Well, the Tynee Board Mini is stronger than that just by the virtue of being a belt-driven board. The brake is also strong and very smooth.

When it comes to maneuvering the board, it is just okay. It’s less fun to carve compared to Wowgo Mini 2 and Exway Wave, but it’s considerably stable at all speed controls.

You would expect a shortboard with the name “Tiny” and Mini to be the most agile boards amongst all shortboards. Sadly, this is not the case. Tynee Boards are amongst the less carvy boards as compared to Wowgo Mini 2 and Exway Wave.

To read our review on Wowgo Mini 2, click here.

Tynee’s proprietary trucks, although based on Paris V3, are biased towards stability. As a result, it doesn’t feel as nimble as most shortboards. This is not a bad thing, though. Being more stable than carvy is better for the Tynee Mini since it packs a bigger punch than most shortboards.

Stability over maneuverability

A lack of carving quality is also not a problem when it comes to shortboards with a kicktail. Yep, this shortboard has a kicktail and even highlighted it as “sexy kicktail” (what is that supposed to mean lol).

However, the kicktail is not the easiest to use. It’s just too short to be easily engaged. On the flip side, this ‘design flaw’ might actually be a plus for more inexperienced riders. After all, the shorter kicktail was a tradeoff made to maximize its wheelbase for maximizing stability. A harder-to-engage kicktail also means fewer chances of an accidental wheelie.

Another downside of the Tynee Mini is its vibration handling ability, which is the flaw of all shortboards. Unlike longboards that have long flexible decks to absorb some of the road vibrations, shortboards are generally harsher when riding through rough pavements.

Tynee Board Mini wasn’t an exception to this problem, but being a belt-driven board that has 4 real wheels does mean that it’s still a tad bit better than every hub-driven shortboard in this department.

To put this all together, this is how Tynee Mini rides.

For $579, Tynee Board Mini gives you power and stability unmatched by its peers. This also means that it’s less nimble and despite the light 15.2lbs (6.9 kg) weight, the shortboard still feels heavy under the feet. The kicktail is not the easiest to use, but beginners might see this as a feature more than a bug.

THE VERDICT – Tynee Board Mini (Belt)

So, is the Tynee Board Mini the best shortboard out there?

Tynee Board Mini with belt motors can be an easy recommendation for anyone who is looking for a belt-driven shortboard. Whether you are a heavier rider looking for a shortboard that packs torques, or someone who just couldn’t stand the ride feel of hub-motors, Tynee Board Mini Belt should be your best option. Not only because it provides a lot of value for the price, but also because there really are no other options for this price.

RIDE SAFE, GUYS.

If you are interested in buying the Tyneeboard, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $10 off during check out.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!

January 2, 2022January 24, 2022 by Paxson Lim

Tynee Board Ultra Review—13s batteries for a mid-tier eskate?

So! Today we will be looking at the Tynee Board Ultra, the flagship product of the Tynee board brand.

In our previous review of Tynee Board Pro, we’ve mentioned that Tynee Board is a company that’s not so tiny since they are founded by giant industry veterans who parted ways with a major eskate brand. Tynee has put out a lot of muscle with its very competitive products since its founding, and today, we will be reviewing Tynee Board’s latest flagship board—the Tynee Board Ultra.

The Tynee Board Ultra is a $609 board or $729 if you’re going to get it with Cloudwheels, so it’s a mid-tier electric skateboard playing in the same ballpark with Exway Flex Riot ($594) and Wowgo 3 ($529).

To check out our previous review for the Tynee Board Pro, click here.

Formulated boosted-style

As a matter of fact, these three boards are built with the same formula—using flexible decks, plus Hobbywing ESC for the smoothest control, and adding on some dual belt drives for power and tada! You get a recipe similar to the late-Boosted board—a comfortable board that’s strong in power, smooth in control, and fun for carving.

To separate Ultra from the rest, Tynee packed this board with 13s batteries for better power. To give you a little background, most boards at this price are still with 10s batteries and at best, 12s. Now the question is, can Tynee Board Ultra truly demonstrate a stronger power with these extra series of batteries? We will see. As usual, let’s go through the specs.

Tynee Board Ultra – Build and specs

Deck: bamboo and fiberglass; flexi-deck, no concave, camber
Board weight: 16.9 lbs/7.7.kg
ESC: 13s Hobbywing ESC with smart power-on
Batteries: 13s2p 18500, 281 Wh, 7.8 Ah
Motors: Hobbywing 5255 dual belt, 2 * 600 W 170kv
Trucks: Tynee PE trucks (Paris V3 clone)
Marketed top speed: 28mph or 45 km/h
Marketed range: 18.6 miles or 30 km
Wheels: 90 MM x 62 MM 78 A; 105 MM Cloudwheels

Tynee Board Ultra’s deck is a combination of bamboo and fiberglass with no concave and is flexible with camber.

Ultra also uses a 13s Hobbywing ESC with 4-speed modes and smart power-on. Its electronic enclosure is made of nylon and fiberglass, and it’s pretty sleek.

What do you think about Tynee Board Ultra’s very classic vibe? Let us know in the comments section!

Tynee Board also mentioned that the board is IP 54 waterproof, but as always, we would advise not to take any waterproof rating of any boards too seriously.

Better power but with measly range

Tynee Board Ultra flexible deck bamboo and fiberglass
Tynee Board Ultra 13s Hobbywing ESC 4-speed modes smart power-on
Tynee Board Ultra nylon and fiberglass enclosure dual-belt drive 5255 Hobbywing motors 2 * 600 W 170kv

Now let’s go to their upgrade, the 13s2p 18500 cell batteries. These add up to 281 Watt-hours or 7.8 Amp-hours in size. A higher series of batteries promised better power, but that didn’t add up to the range.

Tynee Board Ultra has a marketed range of 18.6 miles or 30 km. There’s a chance you can go that far by riding slow, but that won’t utilize the power of a 13s board.

We tested the board riding fast, and our 155 lbs (70 kg) rider got only 10 miles or 16.5 km for range. Our 200 lbs or 90 kg riders only got a measly 8 miles or 13 km. Let’s just say it left us wanting more.

Tynee PE trucks as Paris V3 clones

For the trucks, Tynee Board uses its proprietary truck named Tynee PE trucks, which are based on the upgraded Paris V3. Tynee seems to be pretty confident with their trucks, backing it up with a lifetime warranty. We will talk about how the trucks will ride a bit later.

As for the motors, Tynee Board Ultra uses Hobbywing 5255 belt motors, 2 * 600 W with 170kv. These motors compete on the same level as most belt-driven boards at this price range.

Combining these motors and ESC allowed the board to have a marketed top speed of 28mph or 45 km/h, which we were able to hit pretty easily. Tynee Board Ultra retains a healthy 25mph or 40km/h top speed even as it drops below the half battery, which is not something every board does, mind you.

Lastly, Tynee Board Ultra is available for both street wheels and Cloudwheels. The board uses your typical street wheels in 90 MM x 62 MM with a 78 A durometer and is also compatible with 105 MM Cloudwheels.

As you can see, the polish of the Tynee Board Ultra is pretty good. It does not shout premium, but it is definitely well built.

Tynee Board Ultra – Riding experience

Now that we’ve run through the specs, it’s time to ride!

The best trait of Tynee Board Ultra is the smoothness of its ride feel. Carving is fun with its flexible deck that also helps reduce vibration from the road. If you’re the type who can’t tolerate road vibration at all, you can always spend an extra $120 and get the 105 MM Cloudwheels.

PE trucks handle top speed with a smooth ride feeling

Moving on to the trucks, we still prefer branded Paris trucks over Tynee PE trucks, but these PE trucks aren’t that bad. It has a good return to center and is very responsive. It can also handle high speed without compromising the silky-smooth ride. The board is quite stable, although the bounce of the flexible deck can take away some stability at top speed, especially on rougher roads.

Acceleration power with a massive punch

When it comes to speed control, the Hobbywing ESC has always perfected a very smooth and intuitive control across all 4-speed modes.

So, let’s now talk about power. The acceleration power for Ultra is very strong, indeed. The 13s batteries did not disappoint, either. More powerful than most of its peers, you will be hard-pressed to find similarly priced boards that pack a massive punch than the Tynee Ultra. Among the boards we’ve tested, only a few do better than the Tynee Ultra in the torque department. (For example, the Beastboard Viper – Torque Specialist and Ownboard W2 Pro).

To check out our review on the Beastboard Viper, click here.

You wouldn’t need to worry about going uphill with this board, ever. The braking is very strong and smooth, as expected from the latest gen of Hobbywing ESC.

Eliminates voltage sag

Another special factor about Ultra’s ESC configuration is that it eliminates voltage sag. The board retains its strong power down to the last 10% battery. One downside with this configuration though, is that the board sometimes allows us to ride it down to 0% battery. This can surprise you if you aren’t being careful. Thankfully, all electric skateboards at present are programmed to brake gently to a stop upon disconnection.

With that, the power of the Ultra can come as a double-edged sword.

First, it allows a strong ride even when the battery is low. You get to drain through the battery really fast as a result.

Second, the board has a higher top speed (28mph or 45km/h), and utilizing them with a bouncy flexy deck is quite scary. It might come out as a fancy feature after all.

These are obviously minor nitpicks, but it’s worth considering a board with a stiffer deck if going fast is high on your priority list.

THE VERDICT – Is Tynee Board Ultra worth your money?

Alright, time to summarize!

The Tynee Board Ultra is a well-polished, boosted-style board deserving its $609 price tag. You get a smooth riding experience and strong power that lasts down to the very last percent of the battery, which, unfortunately, happens too soon (8 miles) when riding fast.

When it comes to the brand Tynee, I do feel comfortable recommending it as it is run by industry veterans who have proven that they know what they are doing. This young brand has also kept its reputation intact, which is harder than it sounds among Chinese eskate brands.

So, for those who expect a lot of range from a mid-tier electric skateboard, the Tynee Board Ultra should not be on your buying list. But for those who do not want to compromise on torque and power, even during the last leg of the ride, I’m sure Tyneeboard Ultra will make you very happy.

If you are interested in buying the Tyneeboard Ultra, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $10 off during check out.
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 22, 2021May 22, 2021 by Paxson Lim

Ownboard W2 Pro Review – should it get some hype?

Today, we will be reviewing the Ownboard W2 Pro.

It’s a $699 USD dual belt-drive electric skateboard that’s the newest flagship of Ownboard.

Ownboard hasn’t been given much attention lately, and they had a pretty rough 2020. Their Bamboo AT took a backseat to Wowgo’s AT2; while in the mid-tier segment, the Exway Flex and Backfire Zealot stole the scene from their W2 model.

So can their latest flagship, Ownboard W2 Pro, help them get the spotlight this time?

Ownboard W2 Pro is the big brother of W2 and is designed to challenge the Backfire Zealot and Exway Flex’s overall performance.

That’s why it’s not a big news for both the price and specs of Ownboard W2 Pro compete against the Backfire Zealot—the best midtier longboard available right now, at least from our perspective.

Will the W2 Pro compete against the top dogs this time around?

As usual, let’s run through the specs first.

Build and Specs

Deck: Bamboo + fiberglass, flexible, no concave, camber/rocker profile
Electronic Speed Controller (ESC): 12s Hobbywing ESC
Marketed Top Speed: 26mph (42 km/h)
Battery: 12s2p 21700 cells, 8.0Ah and 345.6 wh
Marketed Range: 18.5 miles (30km)
Wheels: 105mm Cloudwheels, 40T Abec pulley, can be changed with other pulleys (32T Abec pulley and 36T Kegel pulley)
Trucks: Paris clone (customized with PU ring)
Weight: 19.5 lbs (8.8 kg)

The Ownboard W2 Pro uses a flexible deck that’s made up of bamboo and fiberglass. It has no concave and gives a flat profile.

The board also uses the 12s Hobbywing for the electronic speed controller (ESC) and paired it with a generic OLED remote.

If you’re familiar with Hobbywing ESC, you would already know that this speed controller will give you silky smooth acceleration and braking, with intuitive control.

This is an older generation of the Hobbywing ESC, though, which means it has no smart power-on feature.

For the battery, the Ownboard W2 Pro uses 12s2p 21700 cells that will give you 8.0 AH and 345.6 WH. The marketed range is 18.5 miles or 30 km and we managed to hit 19miles or 31 km. Pretty cool!

The W2 Pro also went with aluminum alloy die-casting for the battery enclosure as compared with the usual plastic enclosure for durability.

And for higher power density, Ownboard W2 Pro uses dual 750W motors with 160 Kilo-volts and 5255 dual belt motors. These belt motors are similarly rated to the one on Backfire Zealot.

To know more about the Backfire Zealot, click here.

In our speed test, we were able to hit its top speed of 26mph or 42 km/h.

Now, let’s move on to the wheels.

Choose your own wheels

The Ownboard W2 Pro uses 105 mm Cloudwheels which have a good ceramic bearing. These are good semi-all terrain wheels that can handle most road conditions.

If you prefer a different style, Ownboard also made a few different wheel pulleys available to purchase so you can change your wheels effortlessly.

The available pulleys are the 32T Abec pulley and 36T Kegel pulley. The board comes with the 40T Abec pulleys for the Cloudwheels.

Ownboard also gave a few tips such as pairing 90 mm wheels with the 32T Abec and at least 100 mm or bigger wheels for the 36T Kegel. Torqueboard or Boa’s 110 mm wheels are among the recommended options for the 36T Kegel pulley.

Suggestions aside, you still have the freedom to choose any type of wheels on your checklist since the pulleys are available.

You can even experiment with Windwheels! They are wonderful in handling road vibrations, too.

Customized Paris clone trucks

The trucks are a Paris clone with a few adjustments. Many of the boards in this price range use branded trucks so this might be a disappointment for some. For instance, Wowgo 3 uses genuine Paris trucks while Backfire uses Caliber II. As for Exway, they have their own proprietary Trist trucks, while Meepo uses unbranded OEM Boosted trucks for their NLS belt.

But branded or not, the important thing is still on how well the truck performs. We’ll talk about that later in the riding experience.

Lastly, the Ownboard W2 Pro weighs 19.4 lbs or 8.8 kg.

Overall, the board is pretty polished, not as refined as most premium boards obviously, but for $699, it’s fine.

Now it’s time to ride!

Riding experience

The Ownboard W2 Pro has 3-speed modes that are perfectly smooth. The top speed mode has very steady yet effortless acceleration and brakes.

To be honest, the W2 Pro goes up on our list of tested boards with the strongest torque in the mid-range category. We’ll go ahead and say that this ride is as strong as the Beastboard Viper—another power freak we tested. We were amazed!

To learn more about the Beastboard Viper, click here.

Even with a low battery, the W2 Pro’s torque remains strong, but the top speed will be capped at 20.5mph or 33 km/h.

The board isn’t difficult to maneuver, either. The Paris clone truck Ownboard used is not the same as the average Paris clone. Ownboard made some modifications to the truck, as the result, the trucks are actually very good! In our opinion, it is surprisingly on the same level as with Exway’s Trist Trucks.

The rebound to the center is good, and the board ride is very secure at high speed. Carving is superb and fun with the W2 Pro. The board is very responsive.

On the downside, the lack of concave on the deck did make us feel hesitant when riding at top speed. We had trouble gripping with our foot position, and that took away the cool vibe.

Still, if you consider the great combination of smooth control + a flexible deck + good quality trucks, then you would get a board that does wonders for carving.

So how was the ride with Ownboard’s W2 Pro on smooth and rough roads?

Here’s what we got:

On a smooth road, the narrow contact patch of the Cloudwheels took away the sticky, grippy smoothness of the ride. This made carving less fun as compared with your regular street wheels, thankfully, Ownboard W2 Pro allows you to change into regular street wheels easily.

When riding on rough roads, this is where the 105 mm Cloudwheels shines. These wheels won’t break a sweat on crossing over bumps and holes, and they cushion you in the vibrations safely.

Finally, here’s our verdict.

THE VERDICT

All specs and riding experience considered, should Ownboard finally get some hype in the eskate community?

Definitely.

Ownboard W2 Pro is a board that deserves more attention. The board combines power and smoothness perfectly. Plus, this baby is great in both performance and riding experience.

However, is it great enough to outdo the Backfire Zealot as the best electric skateboard under $700?

Well, that depends.

Backfire is still the champ when it comes to delivery and post-sale service.
Ownboard may come weaker in both brand and polish, but they make up for it by offering more value for your buck.
With Cloudwheels coming in stock for the Ownboard W2 Pro and not on Backfire Zealot, you get to save $150 on the Cloudwheels by choosing Ownboard—especially if your goal is to have a semi-AT board on the go.

The Ownboard W2 Pro is much stronger in torque, too.

So the big deciding factor is, will you pick polish or value?

While the Ownboard W2 Pro and Backfire Zealot are pretty much tie in most aspects, I suspect most of us will find the more polished Zealot an overall better choice. However, the Ownboard W2 Pro might suit you better if you want something with stronger acceleration or prefer Cloudwheels to come in pre-installed.

So while Ownboard W2 Pro won’t replace Backfire Zealot on our Best Electric Skateboard list just yet, it’s nonetheless a very good choice worthy of your attention.

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