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!
