15 ms·

Introducing the 2nd Generation Boosted Board

198 points by jpb0104 10y ago

hebleb 10y ago
I'm really interested in trying this, but have little skateboarding experience. Is there a steep learning curve to riding one of these in a dense city?
- blisterpeanuts 10y ago
  You should probably wear a helmet :)
  - ljk 10y ago
    and a wrist guard
- freshfey 10y ago
  Haven't tried the Boosted Board (yet) but I've started riding a Penny board when I was 26, and all my life I was horrible at skateboarding or snowboarding (I was always an inline skater). The carving potential definitely helps and it takes getting used to, but nowadays I can use it to ride at an airport or in the city - give it a try :)
- pkrein 10y ago
  I had never skateboarded before getting a boosted board. It took me a week of commuting (20 minutes each way) to get somewhat comfortable at the top speed. There are three speed caps, slow medium fast, so you sort of level up after each ride or two. I don't think riding on a street is a good idea (seems super dangerous if there are any cars around), and my commute follows a separated-from-the-road bike path. Riding is super fun :)
  - amelius 10y ago
    > I don't think riding on a street is a good idea How are sidewalks with curbs?
    - gphil 10y ago
      In a lot of places it's illegal to ride motor vehicles on the sidewalk. I think the sweet spots for this are trails and low-traffic streets.
- frgewut 10y ago
  Also how does this compares to regular skateboard?
- fossuser 10y ago
  I've commuted a little over a thousand miles on mine. When I first got it I was worried that I might not be able to use it, but you get comfortable on it pretty quickly and it's pretty easy. Watch out for manhole covers.
- akgerber 10y ago
  I tried a non-powered longboard as a more-compact supplement to a bicycle for city transport. The handling isn't hard to pick up, but riding with traffic is more challenging, especially without a brake. I ended up just sticking with my bike. These boards appear to have engine braking, but they also note that it's subject to fail on a steep hill or when the battery runs out: http://boostedboards.com/faq/ http://boostedboards.com/faq/ So— it'd probably be useful for a flattish, quietish commute of up to a few miles where storing a bicycle would be difficult. The learning curve also probably depends on your skills with reading traffic, e.g. if you've biked or motorcycled lately. (Driving helps too but won't necessarily give you an appropriate fear of big busy streets)
- Fricken 10y ago
  The critical skill you learn as a skateboarder isn't so much how to stay on the board, but how to wipe out without hurting yourself when you inevitably get spit off.
- jboles 10y ago
  Don't ride faster than you can run until you can slow yourself down without any braking device
- ngokevin 10y ago
  I think it is easier to ride a Boosted because you don't have to learn how to push, balance, or stop. You just stand on it.
  - jboles 10y ago
    Sure it's easier to start off with one if you've never ridden a skateboard before but you will want to learn those things if you want to: (1) still be able to ride it when the battery is dead (2) not hurt yourself if the brakes fail (and Boosted specifically tells you not to rely on them)
    - ngokevin 10y ago
      I doubt people learn to do that. Even in college with everyone riding longboards, only a small number of people were proficient at pushing, and most did not know how to footbrake.
      - jboles 10y ago
        Those are what are known as 'kooks'
- willholloway 10y ago
  I haven't rode an electric, but thought a longboard would be good to cut down the 15 minute walk from the office to the subway in nyc, thinking the ability to carry it on the train would be great. I bought a nice ~$200 made in brooklyn longboard and started to use it. It did cut down the commute time, and I liked riding it, but then I hit a pebble or something and was thrown forward, the board sliding across a busy street. I am laying there, with a yellow cab having to swerve to not hit me, people honking, its amazing I didn't break anything, and me or my board didn't get run over. Longboard wheels are just too small, too easily stopped. I gave up on it and just walked, not worth broken bones or a broken skull, and having to carry a helmet negates some of the benefit anyhow. I would ride one if it had larger pneumatic tires and a foldable handlebar that would let you take a bump and stay on the board.
- rvanniekerk 10y ago
  Boosted rider with over 500 miles so far here. 0 boarding experience prior to purchasing my Boosted Board. The learning curve will be steep if you have no experience commuting on something like a bicycle. A lot of the challenge is in learning the roads and behavior of the drivers. I biked for ~ 3 years prior to getting my boosted board which contributed a lot towards knowing some of the "safer" routes. That being said, your legs and calves will hurt like hell until you start to adjust to riding every single day. I go the gym 5x a week and still get achy calves from riding long distances. I've only taken a single spill thanks to losing and regaining bluetooth connectivity going full throttle through a turn (mostly my own fault). I can't recommend Boosted Boards enough. Extremely reliable piece of tech.
blisterpeanuts 10y ago
Looks like a fun toy, though its target market is relatively limited. You're not going to see many 30+ year-olds on this thing. I'm holding out for one of these babies: https://youtu.be/kwXWTsQh3F8 https://youtu.be/kwXWTsQh3F8
- teej 10y ago
  I have seen plenty of 30+ year-olds on Boosted Boards in SF.
  - schrodinger 10y ago
    Same in NYC (I'm one of them)
- Mizza 10y ago
  I have tried a lot of products in this space, and this one is my favorite without a doubt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqOU4jx62I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqOU4jx62I
  - JPKab 10y ago
    I really like the large wheel size on this thing. It definitely lessens concerns about sidewalk cracks or foreign objects on roads suddenly causing the dreaded "sudden stop" of a skateboard which basically launches the rider.
- randlet 10y ago
  Anecdotes don't make data, but I'm 36 and recently bought a regular old skateboard so I could keep up with my kids on scooters/bikes. I get some strange looks from other parents and my friends give me some shit but it's all in good fun (they're secretly jealous I think!). I would definitely ride a boosted board if I could justify the $1500.
dabernathy89 10y ago
Something tells me Casey Neistat already has 3.
- LeonM 10y ago
  Came here for the Casey Neistat replies to be honest, but it got me thinking, why didn't they collaborate with Casey to announce the new board? Maybe today's episode will reveal more. Wouldn't it be great marketing to have an internet celebrity and #1 boosted board fanboy announce your new and improved product?
  - kamilszybalski 10y ago
    I bet they did. Would he really meet with the CEO because he left his remote back in NYC....
    - sjm-lbm 10y ago
      Right. And the premise the used to explain his trip back to SF was, let's be honest, thin at best - I like me some travel, but even I won't fly transcon just to stay in a nice hotel room. This makes a lot more sense.
      - bwilliams18 10y ago
        He was going to SF for Beme meetings presumably, and the hotel offered to make it up to him the next time he was in town. It just happened to be only a week later.
      - goatforce5 10y ago
        Google I/O is currently on and he's buddy-buddy with the YouTube folks, so it may be that he's managing to attend to a few different matters while he's out there. (Also, he's going to hit 3 million subscribers in the next day or two. It's a big week for him!)
    - skdoo 10y ago
      Yup! He actually just asked where he could get one, and I was close enough that I dropped one off with him.
jordanlev 10y ago
Congrats! Comment about your website: I tried seeing the pricing and where to order/buy, but clicking the "hamburger menu" at the top-right of the screen did nothing. (I'm on an iPhone, latest version of iOS).
- donpdonp 10y ago
  Here is some pricing info from the site. The blog post says "Starting today, you can reserve your board with a refundable $100 deposit." and the total board price is Dual+ $1499, Dual $1299, Single $999. Extra $100 for "Extended Range" battery.
dayglo 10y ago
Ive been waiting 13 months for my marbel board (http://ridemarbel.com http://ridemarbel.com). They're ignoring all attempts to get refunds too. Time to try and get a chargeback and get one of these.
- desmat 10y ago
  Same here, still chasing them for a refund but not holding my breath. My feeling is that they have a great product but can't get their production groove going, hitting delays, defects and requests for refunds. Wouldn't surprise me if they went out of business soon. The irony is that I chose Marbel over Boosted for the better range over a year ago!
- goatforce5 10y ago
  You're well beyond the normal limits for being able to initiate a chargeback i'm afraid. But no harm in asking your card issuer to see if they can help.
- heimatau 10y ago
  Damn, they haven't tweeted since Jan [1]. And their last FB post is the same time/related [2]. Seems like they went AWOL. [1] https://twitter.com/RideMarbel/status/693081497264373760 https://twitter.com/RideMarbel/status/693081497264373760 [2] https://www.facebook.com/ridemarbel/videos/vb.758872810803445/1118088611548528/?type=2&theater https://www.facebook.com/ridemarbel/videos/vb.75887281080344...
- antfarm 10y ago
  https://www.reddit.com/r/marbel/comments/3s0i7v/successful_refunds/ https://www.reddit.com/r/marbel/comments/3s0i7v/successful_r...
jonnycowboy 10y ago
Really glad to see Boosted survived through YC and the 4 years subsequent. Looks like a great redesign - the waterproofing alone makes it worth it. Good job to the team!
eyeareque 10y ago
I have over 200 miles on my Dual+, and I have to say it is still so much fun to ride. As far as quality and design goes, they really do great work. I took the controller apart once to see how it worked. You can see they really put a lot of thought and durability into the feel and use. Also, when the belt loosened up a little on me I assumed I would need to take it apart and retighten everything. Nope, you just loosen one allen screw, and a spring pushes the belt to the proper tightness, and then you re-tighten the screw, so easy and well engineered throughout. My only gripe was that you could only go 5 miles (in the fastest mode) riding the way I do. But I see they've addressed that. I just pre-ordered the new one and I can't wait to ride longer distances.
- codemac 10y ago
  Since you seem to ride one of these a lot, I'm curious if you ever used a long board before. How you would feel if you had to use a long board instead of a boosted board for a day? It seems insane to me to charge a skateboard, but since I've moved to a very hilly area it does make sense, just maybe not at 1500 bucks for me.
  - skdoo 10y ago
    Hi - one of the founders here. I'd never skateboarded or longboarded before working on this project. I found I used a Boosted board very differently than I would use a longboard - for me it's replaced many car trips and many Uber/Lyft rides. This made up for the price quite quickly.
  - eyeareque 10y ago
    It might sound like a lot of money but once you try one you're going to see how much fun they are. They really are well built too. I think the same loaded longboard without a motor or batteries is over 300 dollars. Boosted didn't go cheap any aspects of the board, it very well built and designed. I have used a longboard and I also grew up skateboarding/surfing/snowboarding/etc. I also have a carver board. I love all types of skateboards, but this one is something else. I would say it most reminds me of snowboarding, especially when carving at high speeds.
  - 10y ago
wyldfire 10y ago
This looks like a neat product. Where's the throttle/drive enable?
- jo909 10y ago
  You use a special handheld Bluetooth remote to accelerate and break.
deleted 10y ago
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samcheng 10y ago
I'm happy to see Boosted continuing to develop their product. Yesterday morning, I came off the Caltrain (walking my bike), and there was a guy with a classic short board with flat gray tape. As I heard that telltale clack-and-roll and watched the guy kick down the sidewalk, I overheard two guys joking that it was really strange to see a guy with an "old-school non-motorized" skateboard coming off the train. Congratulations, Boosted, you've reached male-SF-techie hegemony!
- jonathankoren 10y ago
  That loser probably only paid $30 for that retro-board too. ;) I never can get over the price for a Boosted board. $1500. Wow.
  - giarc 10y ago
    $1500 may seem like a lot for such a small piece of hardware, but it is a form of transportation. As someone else mentioned in this thread, in 3 months they reduced their uber bill by $1500 after only 3 months of owning a board.
    - gk1 10y ago
      That's not exactly a fair comparison. Compare it instead to a bike, which can be bought used for under $500, will last much longer, is much less likely to break, and doesn't need to be charged daily. Or, as parent implied, compare it to a skateboard: Under $200 new, no recharging, fewer things that can fail, lasts for years (might need to replace the deck a few times, $50 each), easier to transport, doesn't make you look weird.[1] [1] I know in places like SF and NYC nobody will bat an eye at somebody riding this, but in cities like Baltimore, the owners of a Boosted Board probably number in the single-digits.
      - skdoo 10y ago
        Founder here. Actually, we see people using it because they prefer it to a bike in certain situations. It's compatible with most public transit and ridesharing, and there's little to no risk of theft. Compared to a normal skateboard or bike, you also don't risk being sweaty when you arrive at work. Bikes also require more regular maintenance, which isn't expensive but can be time-consuming. We've seen it enthusiastically adopted in many cities outside SF and NY.
samstave 10y ago
Just a thought I've always had about these is that it would be cool if the front and rear had a slot for a GoPro camera option, so that you have vids of each trip, and evidence of anything goes awry
- gk1 10y ago
  Can't you just use a GoPro Session with their flat adhesive mount? I never used it so I don't know, but seems as though it could work. http://shop.gopro.com/mounts/curved-plus-flat-adhesive-mounts/AACFT-001.html http://shop.gopro.com/mounts/curved-plus-flat-adhesive-mount...
  - boxcardavin 10y ago
    The whole deck (top) of the board is grip tape which is a glue paper covered in sand, so almost nothing will stick to the pebbled surface. A company makes an aluminum mount but skateboards rattle like mad and like to destroy mounted electronics eventually.
- rvanniekerk 10y ago
  In my experience, the vibrations on the board are far too strong to get any type of decent video while riding down the road. Always comes out looking extremely shaky.
  - qq66 10y ago
    A shaky looking video might be useless as entertainment but still may have forensic value in the event of a crash / etc.
orblivion 10y ago
But you still can't ride slowly downhill for too long without it cutting out the brakes to prevent overcharging?
- karlcoelho1 10y ago
  I can't believe this is an actual problem. Too much charge... Anyway, wouldn't it make more sense to walk a bit when you are on a downhill, less tiresome than going uphill.
  - schwap 10y ago
    I mean you're generating energy. It's like your filling up a bucket. Once the bucket is full what can you do with the excess?
    - orblivion 10y ago
      They could switch to brakes that drain energy. That's a lot more work I'm sure, and maybe they needed an MVP. But for version 2 I'd think they'd make it a priority. I think this board is really cool but until they fix this I'm not in the market.
      - boxcardavin 10y ago
        I've got 500 miles on my board and it has never been a problem, just something to be aware of. Adding mechanical brakes would involve one or two servos, two sets of brake disks and pads, and a few dozen more parts. That's a lot of hardware for a problem that few experience so it will likely never happen.
        orblivion 10y ago
        If it were an annoyance, sure, but this is a safety issue. If they at least gave you a clear warning of some sort that would be okay actually.
6stringmerc 10y ago
Looks cool. Very much dig the approach to having modular components. Gotta say seeing this kind of evolution is exciting for my own pursuits as well (personal mobility with power assist). But one thing sticks out to me: The 80mm wheels - polyurethane? No mention of different wheel/tire combinations for different terrain though? Like, I get there may be dynamics and clearance issues with feet, and some rolling resistance / unsprung weight / geometry to consider, but I don't like the idea of the wheels. Are there any thoughts regarding making a strong rim and high quality rubber / treaded tire (inflated?) that would reflect influence from automotive technology[1], versus the holdover from the skate/longboard world? [1] For reference, I see Ford is about to "mass produce" carbon fibre composite wheel rims (still very limited) and I've followed tire tech through various racing outlets, and would probably contact Michelin as my first choice.
ASinclair 10y ago
I own a first gen. The only negative is the disdain people show you while riding. I get shit from skaters and random people. The high price tag was manageable for me but it causes people to put you in that "rich techie" bucket and talk shit. Though maybe I'm just too self-conscious. It's super fun to ride though. I was comfortable on a normal longboard before getting one. I'd say it's worth learning the ropes on a regular longboard first so you can get comfortable with braking without the engine in case things go south.
- tommoor 10y ago
  I've found the opposite, get nothing but interest when riding a boosted. Everyone wants to know what it is and where they can get one :)
  - ASinclair 10y ago
    It's a mix. I do get those same positive interactions too. Especially when I skate by parks with families. Lots of former skater dads want a spin! I think the negative situations just stand out more.
- etrautmann 10y ago
  I find this sentiment incredibly odd. It's my commute, and it's super fun. Why would I possibly care if some skater kid thinks it's "cheating" and what would that even mean? It's such an inane point of view, I feel pretty comfortable ignoring it completely.
- primitivesuave 10y ago
  Sometimes I like to blow people's minds by gently pedaling once before engaging the motors. Bystanders are visibly baffled by how one kick could produce so much momentum.
- arkadiyt 10y ago
  This is the only reason I haven't bought one - I see people in SF riding them all the time and they look like so much fun, but I get enough techie hate as it is :\
hanklazard 10y ago
Congrats to the founders, Boosted is truly a great product. I've been using a (less expensive) electric skateboard, but I think I'm going to sell it and grab one of the 2nd Gen Boosteds for commuting around Boston. I was hoping that there would be a more compact version for improved portability. @skdoo -- any chance we'll see something like this in the future?
- skdoo 10y ago
  Thanks! The problem with more compact designs is decreased wheelbase, which affects stability at speed. We've prototyped some, though.
  - hanklazard 10y ago
    Yeah, I definitely get that. Still, if it was an option, a few of my friends and I would be all over it!
  - jboles 10y ago
    I'd definitely consider one if it was available. My current board is an Original Apex 34 [0] which though not as flexy as the Loaded is a great size for zooming around the city, hopping on/off trains buses etc [0] http://original-longboardshop.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/apex34.193154452_std.jpg http://original-longboardshop.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/im...
muraiki 10y ago
I'm glad to see "The Bluetooth radio that connects the board to the remote is upgraded for improved signal strength and security." I read an article a while back about hacking into a few brands of electric skateboards: https://www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-can-seize-control-of-electric-skateboards-and-toss-riders-boosted-revo/ https://www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-can-seize-control-of-e... Also, be sure to wear a helmet. Unlike riding a bicycle, various seemingly small obstacles can cause a longboard to come to an immediate stop, sending you flying. I'd love to see a board that address this problem somehow, as that's a big safety concern for me.
- 6stringmerc 10y ago
  I was thinking that adding some basic 'suspension' components or re-vising the wheels from hard polyurethane skateboard type to "miniturized rim/tire combo" would offer numerous different potential terrain and handling dynamics. I like to think many would be improvements.
  - muraiki 10y ago
    There are actually various types of off road longboards, which usually also add a manual brake. I don't think any of them are powered, though. Living in a hilly city makes longboard commuting not worth it.
    - 6stringmerc 10y ago
      I've visited SF and NYC, not frequently but I know how to get around, so I'm surprised they sound like such target markets (other than $$$). Where I live and work (Dallas area), there are actually quite a surprising number of longboard riders in various areas. For a very car-centric culture in Texas, there is a big local push to make things more pedestrian / low-key friendly - best example being the music & arts hotspot (now gentrifying yay) called Deep Ellum. Lots of Ruckus scooters, long boards, beards and piercings kind of area. Honestly I think the Boosted Boards would be great for the general North Texas terrain - flat! - but the condition of the pavement / concrete and gaps caused by high heat and brief winter freezes leaves the conditions very sub-optimal. I have friends into RC cars and seeing the different wheel rim & tire combinations made me think "Why not apply this kind of tech to this board here?" because with a general upgrade I think a Boosted Board would work a whole lot better. Offhand and all, but gut instinct.
Analemma_ 10y ago
Does anyone here have any experience with one of these in a hilly city? Does it work, or is the utility so compromised that it's no longer worth it? I wouldn't mind one but I'm in Seattle and afraid that our inclines would severely crimp it.
- jinxedID 10y ago
  I'm in Vancouver, BC and the Dual+ can handle any hill here
  - Analemma_ 10y ago
    Sounds good, although I have something of a weight problem as well and so I bet it would struggle with me. Maybe this can be the reward I promise myself if I manage to actually lose weight. Thanks!
- trevorcreech 10y ago
  Their FAQ says the Dual+ can handle a 25% grade.
- beamatronic 10y ago
  I believe it was actually developed in San Francisco with hills in mind.
- JeffreyKaine 10y ago
  I've clocked over 400 miles on my Dual+, most of that has been in the hills of SF. I go up a 20% grade at ~15MPH just fine. Best part is, you gain a lot of that charge back on the way back down :)
ausjke 10y ago
if the battery can be recharged on the move(e.g. you're on a slow down slope, or just leveraging your body weight on the board, use these natural forces to recharge the battery), then it could be "revolutionary"
- Analemma_ 10y ago
  It has regenerative braking (see http://boostedboards.com/faq/ http://boostedboards.com/faq/ towards the bottom of the Product tab)
niallmcginley 10y ago
http://boostedboards.com/?ct-referral-code=ua109zfz- http://boostedboards.com/?ct-referral-code=ua109zfz- if anyone is considering pre-ordering the 2nd gen boosted board, here's my referral link which will get you $100 off!!
westwooded 10y ago
Competition really heating up in this space. The other leading electric skateboard company from Australia just announced their second generation too and it has a whopping 31 mile range. Evolve Carbon GT: http://www.gizmag.com/carbon-gt-electric-skateboard-review/43307/ http://www.gizmag.com/carbon-gt-electric-skateboard-review/4...
- heimatau 10y ago
  Solid find. I haven't seen them yet. They may interest me for my personal needs. Thanks!! I'm looking for a rubber tire long board, looks like they have a decent model. Woot! :)
beamatronic 10y ago
I see a number of used ones on Craigslist and I was surprised to see there is not much of a a price discount. Most of these are asking $1000+ http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=boosted+board&sort=rel&srchType=T&hasPic=1 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=boosted+board&s...
thesimon 10y ago
>International customers will be responsible for shipping fees and additional local duties or taxes. Would've been great to see at least a cost estimate. It's hard to tell how large the packaging is and how much the weight is. And dropping $1000+ > just to get slapped with some unknown shipping fee is a bit strange. Edit: Nevermind, just checked the laws. Because the board is faster than 6km/h, you would need lights, bell, reflectors, insurance, a license plate and a drivers license in Germany. Yikes. Let's hope that gets changed.
azdle 10y ago
Are there advantages to sticking with such small wheels on a powered board like this? I'd think that something like this [1] but with a motor would be way more usable on real-world streets. In general though, I really do think that these kinds of "personal transportation" devices are the way of the future. I ride my self-balancing electric unicycle [2] from the light-rail to the office any time it's nice out and I'm not hauling anything in. It's the best way to get around in the city as far as I'm concerned. I feel like it's a better solution because of the big, pneumatic tire. I can ride it up a bump of about an inch without even thinking. I feel like it'd be quite a challenge to ride something with wheels that small on the roads/sidewalks/trails around here (Minnesota). [1] http://imgur.com/jm5NoCJ.jpg http://imgur.com/jm5NoCJ.jpg [2] http://i.imgur.com/lHoVGQ3.jpg http://i.imgur.com/lHoVGQ3.jpg Edit: I will say, the one thing I'm really jealous at with the boosted board is that it's half the weight of my wheel and apparently has the same range. Carrying this thing around for extended periods of time can get tiring.
- phasmantistes 10y ago
  The primary reason you don't use those large wheels is the same reason that the boosted board has the same range as your monowheel at half the weight: large wheels (especially air-filled ones) with tread have incredibly high rolling resistance, which has to be constantly overcome by the battery.
  - jboles 10y ago
    I think the weight is due to having 4 much smaller diameter wheels, which means the torque moment of force and motor size is much smaller
- whamlastxmas 10y ago
  With wheels like that it would no longer handle like a long board. I suspect it would be much less agile.
eonw 10y ago
its interesting that people have used this as a commuter solution, i never thought of that. i guess bikes make more sense to me, and i live where there are lots of hills. now it makes sense to me how the pricepoint works. i have a lot of recreational toys, but couldnt bring myself to pay $1800 for an electric skateboard that didnt go all that far. cool to see the technology improving and the different uses it has shown.
- heimatau 10y ago
  I agree the $1800 price tag is a bit much. Not only that, if it truly were a 'commuter solution', it wouldn't need new wheels so often. I don't think this company is thinking about long-term and sustainability enough. Why not rubber tires? I wish these companies would stop the incremental long board design and just think different. Why don't we have cheap, semi-durable, electric long boards? Or Tesla's patents in use for long boards? bikes? Motorcycles? I wish I had the skills, I'd do it. Sure, R/D is a high cost but...there are better models to disrupt an industry than this snail-pace innovation. If boosted boards could merge with E-glide [1], we'd have a bad ass true commuter solution. Then maybe pool resources to improve the battery and we'd have a product that disrupts things. EDITED: Since I'm getting down votes, let me clarify. Replacement wheels cost $105[2], motor belt $25 [3]. On their website, they say [4] that the belts should be replaced every 200-400 miles. I doubt the wheels will last that long with normal use but let's be generous. 800 miles on the wheels. If this were to be truly disruptive and would replace local commuting, it would need to do about 5,000 miles per year based on 20 miles a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. (this would be 250-500 charges per year). Adding up the entire maintenance costs (735 yr in wheels, 300 in belts = 1,000 year in maintenance), I feel electric long boarding is only after hobbyists and not disruptive enough. [1] https://e-glide.com/electric-skateboard-store/electric-skateboards/gt-powerboard-aluminum https://e-glide.com/electric-skateboard-store/electric-skate... [2] http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/replacement-wheels?variant=1141768980 http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/replacement-wheels?va... [3] http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/motor-belt-service-kit?variant=1141718288 http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/motor-belt-service-ki... [4] http://boostedboards.com/faq/ http://boostedboards.com/faq/
syngrog66 10y ago
This isn't a product for me but its always good to see more transportation options and see folks trying to innovate, and iterate.
dvcrn 10y ago
I was just about to order a inboard due to the international shipping limitations on the first gen boosted. It seems to still have the classic belt based design instead of wheel based on on the inboard. Is anyone here with more insights which board might actually be better?

198 points by jpb0104 10y ago

I'm really interested in trying this, but have little skateboarding experience. Is there a steep learning curve to riding one of these in a dense city?

blisterpeanuts 10y ago
You should probably wear a helmet :)
- ljk 10y ago
  and a wrist guard
freshfey 10y ago
Haven't tried the Boosted Board (yet) but I've started riding a Penny board when I was 26, and all my life I was horrible at skateboarding or snowboarding (I was always an inline skater). The carving potential definitely helps and it takes getting used to, but nowadays I can use it to ride at an airport or in the city - give it a try :)
pkrein 10y ago
I had never skateboarded before getting a boosted board. It took me a week of commuting (20 minutes each way) to get somewhat comfortable at the top speed. There are three speed caps, slow medium fast, so you sort of level up after each ride or two. I don't think riding on a street is a good idea (seems super dangerous if there are any cars around), and my commute follows a separated-from-the-road bike path. Riding is super fun :)
- amelius 10y ago
  > I don't think riding on a street is a good idea How are sidewalks with curbs?
  - gphil 10y ago
    In a lot of places it's illegal to ride motor vehicles on the sidewalk. I think the sweet spots for this are trails and low-traffic streets.
frgewut 10y ago
Also how does this compares to regular skateboard?
fossuser 10y ago
I've commuted a little over a thousand miles on mine. When I first got it I was worried that I might not be able to use it, but you get comfortable on it pretty quickly and it's pretty easy. Watch out for manhole covers.
akgerber 10y ago
I tried a non-powered longboard as a more-compact supplement to a bicycle for city transport. The handling isn't hard to pick up, but riding with traffic is more challenging, especially without a brake. I ended up just sticking with my bike. These boards appear to have engine braking, but they also note that it's subject to fail on a steep hill or when the battery runs out: http://boostedboards.com/faq/ http://boostedboards.com/faq/ So— it'd probably be useful for a flattish, quietish commute of up to a few miles where storing a bicycle would be difficult. The learning curve also probably depends on your skills with reading traffic, e.g. if you've biked or motorcycled lately. (Driving helps too but won't necessarily give you an appropriate fear of big busy streets)
Fricken 10y ago
The critical skill you learn as a skateboarder isn't so much how to stay on the board, but how to wipe out without hurting yourself when you inevitably get spit off.
jboles 10y ago
Don't ride faster than you can run until you can slow yourself down without any braking device
ngokevin 10y ago
I think it is easier to ride a Boosted because you don't have to learn how to push, balance, or stop. You just stand on it.
- jboles 10y ago
  Sure it's easier to start off with one if you've never ridden a skateboard before but you will want to learn those things if you want to: (1) still be able to ride it when the battery is dead (2) not hurt yourself if the brakes fail (and Boosted specifically tells you not to rely on them)
  - ngokevin 10y ago
    I doubt people learn to do that. Even in college with everyone riding longboards, only a small number of people were proficient at pushing, and most did not know how to footbrake.
    - jboles 10y ago
      Those are what are known as 'kooks'
willholloway 10y ago
I haven't rode an electric, but thought a longboard would be good to cut down the 15 minute walk from the office to the subway in nyc, thinking the ability to carry it on the train would be great. I bought a nice ~$200 made in brooklyn longboard and started to use it. It did cut down the commute time, and I liked riding it, but then I hit a pebble or something and was thrown forward, the board sliding across a busy street. I am laying there, with a yellow cab having to swerve to not hit me, people honking, its amazing I didn't break anything, and me or my board didn't get run over. Longboard wheels are just too small, too easily stopped. I gave up on it and just walked, not worth broken bones or a broken skull, and having to carry a helmet negates some of the benefit anyhow. I would ride one if it had larger pneumatic tires and a foldable handlebar that would let you take a bump and stay on the board.
rvanniekerk 10y ago
Boosted rider with over 500 miles so far here. 0 boarding experience prior to purchasing my Boosted Board. The learning curve will be steep if you have no experience commuting on something like a bicycle. A lot of the challenge is in learning the roads and behavior of the drivers. I biked for ~ 3 years prior to getting my boosted board which contributed a lot towards knowing some of the "safer" routes. That being said, your legs and calves will hurt like hell until you start to adjust to riding every single day. I go the gym 5x a week and still get achy calves from riding long distances. I've only taken a single spill thanks to losing and regaining bluetooth connectivity going full throttle through a turn (mostly my own fault). I can't recommend Boosted Boards enough. Extremely reliable piece of tech.

blisterpeanuts 10y ago

Looks like a fun toy, though its target market is relatively limited. You're not going to see many 30+ year-olds on this thing. I'm holding out for one of these babies: https://youtu.be/kwXWTsQh3F8 https://youtu.be/kwXWTsQh3F8

teej 10y ago
I have seen plenty of 30+ year-olds on Boosted Boards in SF.
- schrodinger 10y ago
  Same in NYC (I'm one of them)
Mizza 10y ago
I have tried a lot of products in this space, and this one is my favorite without a doubt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqOU4jx62I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqOU4jx62I
- JPKab 10y ago
  I really like the large wheel size on this thing. It definitely lessens concerns about sidewalk cracks or foreign objects on roads suddenly causing the dreaded "sudden stop" of a skateboard which basically launches the rider.
randlet 10y ago
Anecdotes don't make data, but I'm 36 and recently bought a regular old skateboard so I could keep up with my kids on scooters/bikes. I get some strange looks from other parents and my friends give me some shit but it's all in good fun (they're secretly jealous I think!). I would definitely ride a boosted board if I could justify the $1500.

dabernathy89 10y ago

Something tells me Casey Neistat already has 3.

LeonM 10y ago
Came here for the Casey Neistat replies to be honest, but it got me thinking, why didn't they collaborate with Casey to announce the new board? Maybe today's episode will reveal more. Wouldn't it be great marketing to have an internet celebrity and #1 boosted board fanboy announce your new and improved product?
- kamilszybalski 10y ago
  I bet they did. Would he really meet with the CEO because he left his remote back in NYC....
  - sjm-lbm 10y ago
    Right. And the premise the used to explain his trip back to SF was, let's be honest, thin at best - I like me some travel, but even I won't fly transcon just to stay in a nice hotel room. This makes a lot more sense.
    - bwilliams18 10y ago
      He was going to SF for Beme meetings presumably, and the hotel offered to make it up to him the next time he was in town. It just happened to be only a week later.
    - goatforce5 10y ago
      Google I/O is currently on and he's buddy-buddy with the YouTube folks, so it may be that he's managing to attend to a few different matters while he's out there. (Also, he's going to hit 3 million subscribers in the next day or two. It's a big week for him!)
  - skdoo 10y ago
    Yup! He actually just asked where he could get one, and I was close enough that I dropped one off with him.

jordanlev 10y ago

Congrats! Comment about your website: I tried seeing the pricing and where to order/buy, but clicking the "hamburger menu" at the top-right of the screen did nothing. (I'm on an iPhone, latest version of iOS).

donpdonp 10y ago
Here is some pricing info from the site. The blog post says "Starting today, you can reserve your board with a refundable $100 deposit." and the total board price is Dual+ $1499, Dual $1299, Single $999. Extra $100 for "Extended Range" battery.

dayglo 10y ago

Ive been waiting 13 months for my marbel board (http://ridemarbel.com http://ridemarbel.com). They're ignoring all attempts to get refunds too. Time to try and get a chargeback and get one of these.

desmat 10y ago
Same here, still chasing them for a refund but not holding my breath. My feeling is that they have a great product but can't get their production groove going, hitting delays, defects and requests for refunds. Wouldn't surprise me if they went out of business soon. The irony is that I chose Marbel over Boosted for the better range over a year ago!
goatforce5 10y ago
You're well beyond the normal limits for being able to initiate a chargeback i'm afraid. But no harm in asking your card issuer to see if they can help.
heimatau 10y ago
Damn, they haven't tweeted since Jan [1]. And their last FB post is the same time/related [2]. Seems like they went AWOL. [1] https://twitter.com/RideMarbel/status/693081497264373760 https://twitter.com/RideMarbel/status/693081497264373760 [2] https://www.facebook.com/ridemarbel/videos/vb.758872810803445/1118088611548528/?type=2&theater https://www.facebook.com/ridemarbel/videos/vb.75887281080344...
antfarm 10y ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/marbel/comments/3s0i7v/successful_refunds/ https://www.reddit.com/r/marbel/comments/3s0i7v/successful_r...

jonnycowboy 10y ago

Really glad to see Boosted survived through YC and the 4 years subsequent. Looks like a great redesign - the waterproofing alone makes it worth it. Good job to the team!

eyeareque 10y ago

I have over 200 miles on my Dual+, and I have to say it is still so much fun to ride. As far as quality and design goes, they really do great work. I took the controller apart once to see how it worked. You can see they really put a lot of thought and durability into the feel and use. Also, when the belt loosened up a little on me I assumed I would need to take it apart and retighten everything. Nope, you just loosen one allen screw, and a spring pushes the belt to the proper tightness, and then you re-tighten the screw, so easy and well engineered throughout. My only gripe was that you could only go 5 miles (in the fastest mode) riding the way I do. But I see they've addressed that. I just pre-ordered the new one and I can't wait to ride longer distances.

codemac 10y ago
Since you seem to ride one of these a lot, I'm curious if you ever used a long board before. How you would feel if you had to use a long board instead of a boosted board for a day? It seems insane to me to charge a skateboard, but since I've moved to a very hilly area it does make sense, just maybe not at 1500 bucks for me.
- skdoo 10y ago
  Hi - one of the founders here. I'd never skateboarded or longboarded before working on this project. I found I used a Boosted board very differently than I would use a longboard - for me it's replaced many car trips and many Uber/Lyft rides. This made up for the price quite quickly.
- eyeareque 10y ago
  It might sound like a lot of money but once you try one you're going to see how much fun they are. They really are well built too. I think the same loaded longboard without a motor or batteries is over 300 dollars. Boosted didn't go cheap any aspects of the board, it very well built and designed. I have used a longboard and I also grew up skateboarding/surfing/snowboarding/etc. I also have a carver board. I love all types of skateboards, but this one is something else. I would say it most reminds me of snowboarding, especially when carving at high speeds.
- 10y ago

wyldfire 10y ago

This looks like a neat product. Where's the throttle/drive enable?

jo909 10y ago
You use a special handheld Bluetooth remote to accelerate and break.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

samcheng 10y ago

I'm happy to see Boosted continuing to develop their product. Yesterday morning, I came off the Caltrain (walking my bike), and there was a guy with a classic short board with flat gray tape. As I heard that telltale clack-and-roll and watched the guy kick down the sidewalk, I overheard two guys joking that it was really strange to see a guy with an "old-school non-motorized" skateboard coming off the train. Congratulations, Boosted, you've reached male-SF-techie hegemony!

jonathankoren 10y ago
That loser probably only paid $30 for that retro-board too. ;) I never can get over the price for a Boosted board. $1500. Wow.
- giarc 10y ago
  $1500 may seem like a lot for such a small piece of hardware, but it is a form of transportation. As someone else mentioned in this thread, in 3 months they reduced their uber bill by $1500 after only 3 months of owning a board.
  - gk1 10y ago
    That's not exactly a fair comparison. Compare it instead to a bike, which can be bought used for under $500, will last much longer, is much less likely to break, and doesn't need to be charged daily. Or, as parent implied, compare it to a skateboard: Under $200 new, no recharging, fewer things that can fail, lasts for years (might need to replace the deck a few times, $50 each), easier to transport, doesn't make you look weird.[1] [1] I know in places like SF and NYC nobody will bat an eye at somebody riding this, but in cities like Baltimore, the owners of a Boosted Board probably number in the single-digits.
    - skdoo 10y ago
      Founder here. Actually, we see people using it because they prefer it to a bike in certain situations. It's compatible with most public transit and ridesharing, and there's little to no risk of theft. Compared to a normal skateboard or bike, you also don't risk being sweaty when you arrive at work. Bikes also require more regular maintenance, which isn't expensive but can be time-consuming. We've seen it enthusiastically adopted in many cities outside SF and NY.

samstave 10y ago

Just a thought I've always had about these is that it would be cool if the front and rear had a slot for a GoPro camera option, so that you have vids of each trip, and evidence of anything goes awry

gk1 10y ago
Can't you just use a GoPro Session with their flat adhesive mount? I never used it so I don't know, but seems as though it could work. http://shop.gopro.com/mounts/curved-plus-flat-adhesive-mounts/AACFT-001.html http://shop.gopro.com/mounts/curved-plus-flat-adhesive-mount...
- boxcardavin 10y ago
  The whole deck (top) of the board is grip tape which is a glue paper covered in sand, so almost nothing will stick to the pebbled surface. A company makes an aluminum mount but skateboards rattle like mad and like to destroy mounted electronics eventually.
rvanniekerk 10y ago
In my experience, the vibrations on the board are far too strong to get any type of decent video while riding down the road. Always comes out looking extremely shaky.
- qq66 10y ago
  A shaky looking video might be useless as entertainment but still may have forensic value in the event of a crash / etc.

orblivion 10y ago

But you still can't ride slowly downhill for too long without it cutting out the brakes to prevent overcharging?

karlcoelho1 10y ago
I can't believe this is an actual problem. Too much charge... Anyway, wouldn't it make more sense to walk a bit when you are on a downhill, less tiresome than going uphill.
- schwap 10y ago
  I mean you're generating energy. It's like your filling up a bucket. Once the bucket is full what can you do with the excess?
  - orblivion 10y ago
    They could switch to brakes that drain energy. That's a lot more work I'm sure, and maybe they needed an MVP. But for version 2 I'd think they'd make it a priority. I think this board is really cool but until they fix this I'm not in the market.
    - boxcardavin 10y ago
      I've got 500 miles on my board and it has never been a problem, just something to be aware of. Adding mechanical brakes would involve one or two servos, two sets of brake disks and pads, and a few dozen more parts. That's a lot of hardware for a problem that few experience so it will likely never happen.
      - orblivion 10y ago
        If it were an annoyance, sure, but this is a safety issue. If they at least gave you a clear warning of some sort that would be okay actually.

6stringmerc 10y ago

Looks cool. Very much dig the approach to having modular components. Gotta say seeing this kind of evolution is exciting for my own pursuits as well (personal mobility with power assist). But one thing sticks out to me: The 80mm wheels - polyurethane? No mention of different wheel/tire combinations for different terrain though? Like, I get there may be dynamics and clearance issues with feet, and some rolling resistance / unsprung weight / geometry to consider, but I don't like the idea of the wheels. Are there any thoughts regarding making a strong rim and high quality rubber / treaded tire (inflated?) that would reflect influence from automotive technology[1], versus the holdover from the skate/longboard world? [1] For reference, I see Ford is about to "mass produce" carbon fibre composite wheel rims (still very limited) and I've followed tire tech through various racing outlets, and would probably contact Michelin as my first choice.

ASinclair 10y ago

I own a first gen. The only negative is the disdain people show you while riding. I get shit from skaters and random people. The high price tag was manageable for me but it causes people to put you in that "rich techie" bucket and talk shit. Though maybe I'm just too self-conscious. It's super fun to ride though. I was comfortable on a normal longboard before getting one. I'd say it's worth learning the ropes on a regular longboard first so you can get comfortable with braking without the engine in case things go south.

tommoor 10y ago
I've found the opposite, get nothing but interest when riding a boosted. Everyone wants to know what it is and where they can get one :)
- ASinclair 10y ago
  It's a mix. I do get those same positive interactions too. Especially when I skate by parks with families. Lots of former skater dads want a spin! I think the negative situations just stand out more.
etrautmann 10y ago
I find this sentiment incredibly odd. It's my commute, and it's super fun. Why would I possibly care if some skater kid thinks it's "cheating" and what would that even mean? It's such an inane point of view, I feel pretty comfortable ignoring it completely.
primitivesuave 10y ago
Sometimes I like to blow people's minds by gently pedaling once before engaging the motors. Bystanders are visibly baffled by how one kick could produce so much momentum.
arkadiyt 10y ago
This is the only reason I haven't bought one - I see people in SF riding them all the time and they look like so much fun, but I get enough techie hate as it is :\

hanklazard 10y ago

Congrats to the founders, Boosted is truly a great product. I've been using a (less expensive) electric skateboard, but I think I'm going to sell it and grab one of the 2nd Gen Boosteds for commuting around Boston. I was hoping that there would be a more compact version for improved portability. @skdoo -- any chance we'll see something like this in the future?

skdoo 10y ago
Thanks! The problem with more compact designs is decreased wheelbase, which affects stability at speed. We've prototyped some, though.
- hanklazard 10y ago
  Yeah, I definitely get that. Still, if it was an option, a few of my friends and I would be all over it!
- jboles 10y ago
  I'd definitely consider one if it was available. My current board is an Original Apex 34 [0] which though not as flexy as the Loaded is a great size for zooming around the city, hopping on/off trains buses etc [0] http://original-longboardshop.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/apex34.193154452_std.jpg http://original-longboardshop.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/im...

muraiki 10y ago

I'm glad to see "The Bluetooth radio that connects the board to the remote is upgraded for improved signal strength and security." I read an article a while back about hacking into a few brands of electric skateboards: https://www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-can-seize-control-of-electric-skateboards-and-toss-riders-boosted-revo/ https://www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-can-seize-control-of-e... Also, be sure to wear a helmet. Unlike riding a bicycle, various seemingly small obstacles can cause a longboard to come to an immediate stop, sending you flying. I'd love to see a board that address this problem somehow, as that's a big safety concern for me.

6stringmerc 10y ago
I was thinking that adding some basic 'suspension' components or re-vising the wheels from hard polyurethane skateboard type to "miniturized rim/tire combo" would offer numerous different potential terrain and handling dynamics. I like to think many would be improvements.
- muraiki 10y ago
  There are actually various types of off road longboards, which usually also add a manual brake. I don't think any of them are powered, though. Living in a hilly city makes longboard commuting not worth it.
  - 6stringmerc 10y ago
    I've visited SF and NYC, not frequently but I know how to get around, so I'm surprised they sound like such target markets (other than $$$). Where I live and work (Dallas area), there are actually quite a surprising number of longboard riders in various areas. For a very car-centric culture in Texas, there is a big local push to make things more pedestrian / low-key friendly - best example being the music & arts hotspot (now gentrifying yay) called Deep Ellum. Lots of Ruckus scooters, long boards, beards and piercings kind of area. Honestly I think the Boosted Boards would be great for the general North Texas terrain - flat! - but the condition of the pavement / concrete and gaps caused by high heat and brief winter freezes leaves the conditions very sub-optimal. I have friends into RC cars and seeing the different wheel rim & tire combinations made me think "Why not apply this kind of tech to this board here?" because with a general upgrade I think a Boosted Board would work a whole lot better. Offhand and all, but gut instinct.

Analemma_ 10y ago

Does anyone here have any experience with one of these in a hilly city? Does it work, or is the utility so compromised that it's no longer worth it? I wouldn't mind one but I'm in Seattle and afraid that our inclines would severely crimp it.

jinxedID 10y ago
I'm in Vancouver, BC and the Dual+ can handle any hill here
- Analemma_ 10y ago
  Sounds good, although I have something of a weight problem as well and so I bet it would struggle with me. Maybe this can be the reward I promise myself if I manage to actually lose weight. Thanks!
trevorcreech 10y ago
Their FAQ says the Dual+ can handle a 25% grade.
beamatronic 10y ago
I believe it was actually developed in San Francisco with hills in mind.
JeffreyKaine 10y ago
I've clocked over 400 miles on my Dual+, most of that has been in the hills of SF. I go up a 20% grade at ~15MPH just fine. Best part is, you gain a lot of that charge back on the way back down :)

ausjke 10y ago

if the battery can be recharged on the move(e.g. you're on a slow down slope, or just leveraging your body weight on the board, use these natural forces to recharge the battery), then it could be "revolutionary"

Analemma_ 10y ago
It has regenerative braking (see http://boostedboards.com/faq/ http://boostedboards.com/faq/ towards the bottom of the Product tab)

niallmcginley 10y ago

http://boostedboards.com/?ct-referral-code=ua109zfz- http://boostedboards.com/?ct-referral-code=ua109zfz- if anyone is considering pre-ordering the 2nd gen boosted board, here's my referral link which will get you $100 off!!

westwooded 10y ago

Competition really heating up in this space. The other leading electric skateboard company from Australia just announced their second generation too and it has a whopping 31 mile range. Evolve Carbon GT: http://www.gizmag.com/carbon-gt-electric-skateboard-review/43307/ http://www.gizmag.com/carbon-gt-electric-skateboard-review/4...

heimatau 10y ago
Solid find. I haven't seen them yet. They may interest me for my personal needs. Thanks!! I'm looking for a rubber tire long board, looks like they have a decent model. Woot! :)

beamatronic 10y ago

I see a number of used ones on Craigslist and I was surprised to see there is not much of a a price discount. Most of these are asking $1000+ http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=boosted+board&sort=rel&srchType=T&hasPic=1 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=boosted+board&s...

thesimon 10y ago

>International customers will be responsible for shipping fees and additional local duties or taxes. Would've been great to see at least a cost estimate. It's hard to tell how large the packaging is and how much the weight is. And dropping $1000+ > just to get slapped with some unknown shipping fee is a bit strange. Edit: Nevermind, just checked the laws. Because the board is faster than 6km/h, you would need lights, bell, reflectors, insurance, a license plate and a drivers license in Germany. Yikes. Let's hope that gets changed.

azdle 10y ago

Are there advantages to sticking with such small wheels on a powered board like this? I'd think that something like this [1] but with a motor would be way more usable on real-world streets. In general though, I really do think that these kinds of "personal transportation" devices are the way of the future. I ride my self-balancing electric unicycle [2] from the light-rail to the office any time it's nice out and I'm not hauling anything in. It's the best way to get around in the city as far as I'm concerned. I feel like it's a better solution because of the big, pneumatic tire. I can ride it up a bump of about an inch without even thinking. I feel like it'd be quite a challenge to ride something with wheels that small on the roads/sidewalks/trails around here (Minnesota). [1] http://imgur.com/jm5NoCJ.jpg http://imgur.com/jm5NoCJ.jpg [2] http://i.imgur.com/lHoVGQ3.jpg http://i.imgur.com/lHoVGQ3.jpg Edit: I will say, the one thing I'm really jealous at with the boosted board is that it's half the weight of my wheel and apparently has the same range. Carrying this thing around for extended periods of time can get tiring.

phasmantistes 10y ago
The primary reason you don't use those large wheels is the same reason that the boosted board has the same range as your monowheel at half the weight: large wheels (especially air-filled ones) with tread have incredibly high rolling resistance, which has to be constantly overcome by the battery.
- jboles 10y ago
  I think the weight is due to having 4 much smaller diameter wheels, which means the torque moment of force and motor size is much smaller
whamlastxmas 10y ago
With wheels like that it would no longer handle like a long board. I suspect it would be much less agile.

eonw 10y ago

its interesting that people have used this as a commuter solution, i never thought of that. i guess bikes make more sense to me, and i live where there are lots of hills. now it makes sense to me how the pricepoint works. i have a lot of recreational toys, but couldnt bring myself to pay $1800 for an electric skateboard that didnt go all that far. cool to see the technology improving and the different uses it has shown.

heimatau 10y ago
I agree the $1800 price tag is a bit much. Not only that, if it truly were a 'commuter solution', it wouldn't need new wheels so often. I don't think this company is thinking about long-term and sustainability enough. Why not rubber tires? I wish these companies would stop the incremental long board design and just think different. Why don't we have cheap, semi-durable, electric long boards? Or Tesla's patents in use for long boards? bikes? Motorcycles? I wish I had the skills, I'd do it. Sure, R/D is a high cost but...there are better models to disrupt an industry than this snail-pace innovation. If boosted boards could merge with E-glide [1], we'd have a bad ass true commuter solution. Then maybe pool resources to improve the battery and we'd have a product that disrupts things. EDITED: Since I'm getting down votes, let me clarify. Replacement wheels cost $105[2], motor belt $25 [3]. On their website, they say [4] that the belts should be replaced every 200-400 miles. I doubt the wheels will last that long with normal use but let's be generous. 800 miles on the wheels. If this were to be truly disruptive and would replace local commuting, it would need to do about 5,000 miles per year based on 20 miles a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. (this would be 250-500 charges per year). Adding up the entire maintenance costs (735 yr in wheels, 300 in belts = 1,000 year in maintenance), I feel electric long boarding is only after hobbyists and not disruptive enough. [1] https://e-glide.com/electric-skateboard-store/electric-skateboards/gt-powerboard-aluminum https://e-glide.com/electric-skateboard-store/electric-skate... [2] http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/replacement-wheels?variant=1141768980 http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/replacement-wheels?va... [3] http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/motor-belt-service-kit?variant=1141718288 http://shop.boostedboards.com/products/motor-belt-service-ki... [4] http://boostedboards.com/faq/ http://boostedboards.com/faq/

syngrog66 10y ago

This isn't a product for me but its always good to see more transportation options and see folks trying to innovate, and iterate.

dvcrn 10y ago

I was just about to order a inboard due to the international shipping limitations on the first gen boosted. It seems to still have the classic belt based design instead of wheel based on on the inboard. Is anyone here with more insights which board might actually be better?