Have you ever been walking around downtown and just really dislike that sore feeling your feet get after being on them for hours on end? Or how about enjoying a-little nature but don’t really enjoy walking or running? Or better yet and in my personal experience, do you have younger kids who have go carts and power wheels that you just don’t have the energy to chase and keep up with anymore? Well I certainly needed something to enjoy playtime with the kids a tad bit more and this Levy electric scooter has certainly elevated that for us. From the light weight design and sleek look it fits the versatility of a on or mildly off road scooter. 

When first unboxing this scooter it may look like it requires a lot of work but the second you peel away the protective story foam and cardboard and get the scooter out you see that it’s essentially all together. With the exception of having to put the brake lever on with the provided Allen key and then screw the handles on which are labeled left and right you’re good to go. I would advise to air up the tires to the recommended tire pressure to ensure the safest and more comfortable ride possible(included is a valve extender to better reach the valve stems on your tires). Between the very nice disk rear brake and the very stylish accent colors the scooter is ready to roll out of the box in under 10 minutes. 

Product information

This Levy plus scooter does have a the option of two larger batteries coming in at 10 ah battery allowing up to 16 miles per charge on eco and and even bigger 12.8 ah batter allowing up to 20miles per charge on eco where the original Levy scooter has a 6.4 ah battery with a maximum of 10 miles per charge on eco and with both options they have a removable battery that snaps in and out with ease. Also if you’re interested they do sell extra batteries for both models so you can swap out and continue to ride without waiting the 3.5-4 hours to charge, and charging is made very easy with a computer like charger that you can just plug into your wall outlets and plug the battery in at the bottom where there is a water tight rubber cap. Charging can be done with the battery in or out of the scooter as well!

A very cool feature this Levy scooter has is the 3 different modes for power output. On the stylish and bright lcd display located in the center of your handle bars you will see the speedometer and the battery indicator at the bottom. To the right of the speedometer there is a blank space that means you are in the beginner mode and that has a max speed of up to 6 MPH. When you press the button with three little lines directly above the power button you will see a white D illuminated on the screen that means you have entered eco mode and that has a Max speed of up to 10 MPH. Push that button one more time and you will see the D light up red and that means you are now in sport mode and that has the maximum speed of 20 MPH. In all three modes the scooter has a setting that doesn’t allow the throttle to be activated until you are going 2 MPH. Note that can be manually turned off in the settings option on the lcd screen as well. 

One very cool feature this scooter has that I have become very fond of is cruise control, yes you read that correctly this scooter has cruise control and it happens when you are holding the same speed for around 7 seconds. You will hear a relatively loud beep or chime and that informs you that you are using cruise control and can relax your thumb off the throttle and To turn the cruise off all you have to to do it lightly touch the brake or throttle and you will be in full control again. If the cruise control isn’t for you, you may go into the settings and manually turn it off so you don’t have to worry about it any longer. 

Coming in at 30 lbs they added a very easy to use folding ability, on the bottom neck of the scooter you will find a sliding lock that you can pull to the side and then you have access to a pull down lever, once pulled you will be able to bring the handle down to the base of the scooter, on the rear fender you will see a hole in the top of it where a little hook on the head of the handles will lock into securely so you can carry it one handed with ease! Such a nice feature! 

Last little bit of much necessary detail on this scooter is the 10” numeric tires that help shield you from the cracks in a sidewalk or small rocks and obstacles off road. You also get 5.5” of ground clearance! That’s plenty to get you over those speed bumps without worry! All models have a max rider weight of 275 lbs and front wheel drive.

Safety features

The Levy plus scooter is equipped with a very bright led headlight that can be manually turned on by double pressing your three line action button and turned off by doing the same. When the headlights are on the brake light is illuminated as well and when you are using the brakes it uses a strobe effect to further announce your stoping. When the headlights are off the use of the brakes will still engage the brake light to make sure your always seen when stoping. On the sides of the front and brake wheels you will find neatly placed reflective strips the front are white and the back match your scooter accent color, a very appealing touch. Also equipped is an Emergency brake. A brake like every scooter owner is familiar with, the old push the rear fender down will result in more wear to the tire but in the event that your disc brakes do malfunction you have a safe way to come to a stop. Also does come equipped with a one finger dual action bell that is loud enough to get the attention of someone walking near or maybe even a dog on the trail. Just that little extra comfort of being able to say hey here I am with the ease of a single pull of the bell. 

Conclusion

Overall I would have to say I am throughly happy and impressed with this scooter. Between having something to run around with the kids on to taking it on a nature ride down the river path. It can be easily folded and put in the car or carried into your hotel room on your trips to the city or your commutes to work. I really do like the looks and feel while riding as well it is very smooth and comfortable and makes it a breeze to use. Even my wife who’s always been afraid of trying new things gave it a try and we started her out going through the beginner – sport and she quickly became comfortable enough to use it on sport. That is mainly what makes this so great is how easy it is to use from the box to every day. 

For more information, visit levyelectric.com, Facebook, and Instagram.

Bicycle riding has always been an activity I’ve enjoyed. I remember when I first learned how to ride and how much fun it was to ride in our neighborhood when the weather was nice. I would take off after school and come home when the sun started to set. Unfortunately, bike riding is a pastime that I fell out of practice with as I got older.

In the past few years, we’ve had a few electronic scooters and miniature bikes cross our paths for review but none of them really filled that bicycle void for me. Then, the Aventon PACE 500.2 Step-Through Ebike was delivered and I was reunited with cycling in a brand new way.

About Aventon

Aventon is a company that focuses on providing e-mobility for everyone. “Form. Freedom. Function.” — is their mantra. Aventon believes that every person deserves the power to move freely and they strive to provide top-tier products at attainable prices.

Founded in 2012, Aventon has become one of the world’s leading bicycle manufacturers. Aventon has quickly become known for its innovative designs, high-quality components, and commitment to customer service. With their products available both online and in stores, they have developed an impressive following among cycling enthusiasts.

The PACE 500 Step-Through Ebike is a revolutionary creation that combines the best features of a mountain bike with innovative technology. The ebike has a 500W motor and an integrated rechargeable battery that gives the user extra power as they ride. The bike also features a headlight and taillight for added safety.

Main Features

• 28MPH Top Speed
• 40 Miles Average Range
• Integrated Components
• App Sync Functionality
• Backlit color display with app sync
• Upright step-through frame
• Adjustable stem
• Puncture-resistant tires
• Integrated lights
• Integrated motor and battery
• Pedal assist & throttle

Technical Specifications: Pace 500 ST v2 – March 2022 Release

Real-World Testing

• On Throttle: Up to 20 MPH; 30-mile range (no pedaling)
• On Pedal Assist: 1 → speed 10 MPH, range 47 miles; 2 → speed 17 MPH, range 37 miles; 3 → speed 20 MPH, range 30 miles; 4 → speed 25 MPH, range 25 miles; 5 → speed 28 MPH, range 24 miles

Pricing & Availability

The list price for the PACE 500.2 is $1,699.00 from aventon.com. At the time of publishing, Aventon is offering a discounted price of $1,599.00 and customers have the option to make monthly payments through Affirm.

The model of the PACE 500.2 that we were provided is the ‘step-through’ version. There is also a Step-Over model and the bicycle can be purchased in either Ghost White or Celeste. There are two size options, too — S/M (Height: 4’11” – 5’7”) or M/L (Height: 5’7” – 6’1”). Both sizes are the same price.

User Experience

The PACE 500 ebike arrives in a very large shipping carton. Some assembly is required but it’s manageable. The main body is all in one piece and the user really only has to connect the power cables to the battery, secure the front wheel, and attach the handlebar. The instructions were a little confusing to me and because of that, the assembly process took longer than it should have in my opinion.

Once the ebike is assembled, the instructions suggest connecting the app to your smartphone. You can ride the bike without doing this step but you lose some of the benefits of the Ebike that way. The app provides users with the option to keep a detailed record of your rides. It will record and track elements of your ride including —

• Max Speed
• Average Speed
• Trip
• CO2 Reduced
• Time
• Calories burned
• Elevation

The one caveat to using the app is that you can only sync to it when the bike is powered on. I didn’t have any issues with connecting to or setting up the app but when it came to keeping track of rides, the app fell a little flat because it wasn’t automatically syncing the bike records to my phone. In my opinion, the app has potential but falls flat for me.

I did use the bike’s display to keep track of my pace while I rode. Aside from that, I ended up using the workout function on my Apple Watch more than the Aventon app because it ended up being more reliable.

At the time I started riding the bicycle the seasons were starting to change from fall to winter. The first time I rode it, it was a short ride down the street. At first, I didn’t engage the pedal assist so I could see how comfortable the bike was without any of the electronic elements. After I got the feel of the bicycle, I turned on the pedal assist on Level 1. I remember thinking, “Oh! that’s what pedal assist does.”

I came home from my ride with a big, goofy grin on my face. It was the most fun I’ve had riding a bike since I first learned how to. At that point, I decided I would ride every night after work until the weather got too cold to be bearable. Unfortunately, that was only a couple of weeks.

During that time, I started averaging 5 miles per night around our house. I used pedal assist regularly on Level 3 and would sometimes kick it up to Level 4. One of the things I liked about this is that it allowed me to enjoy bike riding without feeling completely dead at the end of it.

Since I’ve been an adult I’ve struggled with enjoying bike rides because my body isn’t used to it. Because of being out of shape, I end up dead tired and unable to ride the next day. The pedal assist function made it possible for me to enjoy the ride and get the basic movement benefits of the bike ride without feeling worthless after it was over.

The gears shift easily. The shifter is located on the right handle with the control for the display on the left handle. There were a couple of times that the gears slipped when I shifted but overall, they shifted up and down with no problems. I ended up finding a good balance between the gear and the pedal assist level. I tried to keep a steady pace while still feeling resistance while I pedaled.

The battery life is very impressive. On a full charge, I was able to get almost a full week of rides in. Since I wasn’t using the ebike for long-distance rides, I’m willing to bet I was getting a better battery life out of it than some people who might be using it for distance rides. I was consistently using pedal assist and since I was riding at night, I always had the headlight on. I did notice a substantial power loss from the pedal assist as the battery level decreased. I think I only let it get as low as 30% before I charged it.

Conclusion

The Aventon 500.2 Step-Through Ebike is a great choice for anyone looking to get into the world of electric bicycles. It has a powerful motor and battery combination, providing enough range and power to tackle city streets or hills with ease. The step-through frame makes it easy to mount and dismount, while the adjustable handlebar height ensures each rider can find their perfect fit.

Its LCD display allows riders to easily keep track of speed, battery level, and other metrics while they ride. The ebike feels a lot like a mountain bike and it’s built to handle rough terrain. The app could use some work but the bike itself is a joy to ride.

For more information, visit aventon.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

Traveling has never been so fun

One thing I have learned from visiting CES, other conventions, and day trips is that after walking for hours upon hours I would be in misery by the end of the day. Instead of enjoying my work trip, I started to dread it and since I am flat-footed it affected, me more than the average person. Because of this, I started looking for alternate modes of transportation like Uber, Joyride and other options like what you find in Nashville, and even pay-for electric scooters that are starting to pop-up in bigger cities. The scooters are by far the most fun option and when I used them, I felt like I was still able to enjoy the outdoor sites while traveling through the city. The love of this particular mode of transportation led me to wanting one of my own that I could take with me anywhere. Enter the GXL Commuter Scooter (Version 2) from GoTrax.

DETAILS

The GXL Commuter Scooter is a powerful electric scooter that features 8.5” air-filled tires and a 250-watt motor. The scooter can travel at speeds of up to 15.5 mph and distances between 9-12 miles with a full battery charge (36v). The distance you can travel largely depends on the speed you are maintaining and the type of terrain you are traversing. The scooter weighs 27 pounds, which isn’t ‘light,’ but it’s not so heavy that folding it up for transport is an issue. There are two big additions to the GXL Commuter Scooter version 2 that weren’t in the original — a hand-brake and a reinforced baseboard and fender. The device will support up to 220 pounds.

FAST FACTS

• Tires are ‘pneumatic tires’ and are designed to absorb the shock of bumpy city streets
• GXL features a lever-activated folding frame
• There are 2 speed settings available – 1st gear at 10 mph or 2nd gear at 15.5 mph
• Charging time for a full battery is approximately 3-4 hours
• Scooter is equipped with a headlight for nighttime commutes

IMPRESSIONS

The GXL Commuter Scooter came in a decent box with sufficient packaging. I didn’t have a horrible time getting it unboxed and even though it was a little bulky, it wasn’t too unwildy for one person to handle. Out of the box, there is very little assembly required. The main body of the scooter is already put together and the user only needs to attach the ‘head’ of the scooter, which contains the controls, handbrake, headlight, and console among other things. This process wasn’t difficult, but it does take patience. The brake line must be attached in this step and it has quite a lot of tension with it. So, it might take someone a few tries before you get it just right.

Naturally, I wanted to ride it right away. Unfortunately, it was not fully charged in the box. So, I had to plug it in and let it sit for a couple of hours before I could give it a test ride. I love where the charging port is located (just below the handlebars) because it’s easy to access and the rubber that covers it simply peels away when you need to uncover the port. I would say that the specified charging time is pretty accurate. I never timed it with a stopwatch, but after a couple of hours, there was a decent charge available to be able to use the scooter. I would say it charges in about half the time as our electric bicycle does.

The GXL Commuter Scooter is super easy to use. Once it’s fully charged, you simply power the scooter on, select first or second gear, kick off with one foot, and press the throttle to go. There are some electric transportation options that require an app, but this one does not. That was rather refreshing to know that the GXL Commuter Scooter has autonomy from a mobile device and that you don’t always have to have that connection in order to use the scooter.

One of the reasons I really love having electric transportation options like the GXL Commuter Scooter is because it’s something that my teenage daughter can use to get back and forth to work. She works less than a mile from where we live, but if she were to walk back and forth, she would have to cross busy roads and it’s just much easier for her — especially at night — to use this scooter. Because she does do this on occasion, I’m really grateful the scooter has both a bell and a headlight.

My daughter has used both this scooter and the aforementioned electric bicycle and she actually prefers the scooter. She said that it’s much easier to use, can be stored easier, and it’s just more fun because it feels like you are going so much faster. The speed isn’t spectacular, but for an electric scooter, it’s more than enough for shorter commutes like what she has to do on a regular basis.

As much as I love this scooter, there is one small shortcoming — hills. While the scooter does a great job on even terrain, going up hills or inclines really isn’t its strong point. It will get you there, but it’s not an easy climb and I found that sometimes it’s just easier to push it uphill rather than try to ride it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The GXL Commuter Scooter is a great companion for any sort of travel. It can help get you from point A to point B so that you can save your feet for more important walking. As far as expense goes, it’s still an investment at $300, but that’s a far less expensive electronic transportation option than something like a Boosted Rev (MSRP $1600). If you are looking for an electric scooter I would recommend the GXL Commuter Scooter from GoTrax because it’s perfect for adults of any skill level. GoTrax does offer several different types of scooters to suit all ages, but I think for most adults, the GXL Commuter Scooter is the way to go.

For more details, visit GOTRAX, Facebook, and Twitter.

When I was younger, I always had an interest in skateboarding. I would ride my skateboard and felt pretty confident in my skills. In the past few years, I haven’t had much of a chance to really enjoy skateboarding and when the opportunity for me to try the Swagskate Penny Electric Skateboard (formerly known as Spectra Mini) by SWAGBOARD came up, I jumped at it. I was super excited when I heard of this skateboard as I have been looking for another outdoor activity to do after school. I was becoming bored with the same old routine and now that it is here, I can go out and skate around with friends while listening to music and learning this new activity.

DETAILS

The Swagskate Penny is classified as a ‘penny board’ which is a type of plastic skateboard known as a ‘short cruiser’. They are known for being smaller in size than standard boards. The Swagskate Penny is different than those ‘traditional’ penny boards in that it’s made with a maple board instead of plastic. It’s still small measuring only 23 inches in length. It is quite a bit heavier than traditional boards though (approximately 9.2 lbs) due to the electronics/motor located on the board. The Swagskate Penny can travel quite a distance (up to 5.6 miles) at a top speed of 9.3 miles per hour on a full battery charge. The board charges with a convenient MagCharger that snaps onto its magnetic charging port. After a 22-30 minute charge, the board can be ready to ride. The board uses regenerative braking technology that will recharge your board when you decelerate or descend down a hill.

In addition to its premium design, the Swagskate Penny has a few additional special features like the SenDeck gyroscopic sensors that detect changes in your posture and riding style. The board features a built-in A.I. self-learning system that will learn how you ride to improve your overall experience. Since it’s a ‘connected’ board, you do need the mobile app (available on iOS and Android) for keeping the board updated and operating it. The eboard Go App is a Bluetooth App Remote that controls firmware upgrades, speed modes, and monitors the battery status of the board.

With the help of the mobile app, you can use your smartphone as a remote to adjust your speed and accelerate. You always have the option to move in a more traditional method and use the app’s Pedal To Go Mode to get a boost when you kick off.

Additional Features:

• Turning Assist: The skateboard’s hub motor engages an optimized differential to help smooth out each turn you make.
• Hands-Free Riding: A 3D posture control system uses pressure sensors beneath its SenDeck to allow you to control the Swagskate Penny by shifting your weight.
• Ultra-bright LED Indicators: From sunrise to sundown, the electric skateboard’s LED indicators show its current battery status and alert oncoming cars or pedestrians of your presence.

USER EXPERIENCE

The skateboard arrived in a pretty standard retail box. The exterior of the box has an image of the product with the name clearly printed on it. The skateboard is surrounded by Styrofoam and is well stabilized inside the box. It comes packaged with a user guide, skateboard key, and power supply. I was pretty taken with the quality of the skateboard when we unboxed it. It was very stylish and built with the same premium quality that some larger brands feature. Other than its size, the Swagskate Penny doesn’t really remind me of a penny board at all.

The weight of it is disproportionate to its size in my opinion. I have actually ridden it quite a bit in our neighborhood and found myself with a dead battery pretty quickly. When that happens, it’s pretty awkward to have to haul back to my house. If something could be modified to make it just a little lighter, that would be amazing.

Aside from its weight, I don’t have a lot of complaints. The Swagskate Penny has a good smooth ride to it. I feel as though it takes a lot of skill to get the board to turn to the side when you are going around corners. It’s really fun to crouch down and ride from a low angle and the app is easy to use. I’ve had a few experiences with personal electronic transportation devices and found the eboard Go App to be one of the easiest to use. In addition to the app giving you remote control over the board, you can also lean forward or backward to start moving. Whenever you lift your foot off the front of the board, it slows the board down long enough for you to hop off.

CONCLUSION

The Swagskate Penny is a really fun transportation device that I can see being very handy in smaller communities or on college campuses (as suggested on the Swagtron website). It will move really fast when you need it to and you get a good feeling riding it. I have had experience with other electronic skateboards, hoverboards, and eBikes. Out of all of those options, I like the Swagskate Penny the best along with my hoverboard. I love it and anyone looking to enhance their transportation options will too.

For more information, visit swagtron.com.
Find Swagtron on Facebook and Twitter.

Get around with this awesome electric bike

In certain parts of the world, you can get around easily without having a ‘real’ car. I’ve seen lots of people use public transportation (like buses and subways) to get from point A to point B and I’ve always been envious of that. I’d love to have the opportunity to hop on a scooter or electric skateboard to travel through a concrete jungle rather than get into my car. Even though my geographic location doesn’t quite lend itself to that type of transportation, I’m grateful that personal electric vehicles exist because they are a blast to use. I’ve been a fan of these devices ever since I saw the first Boosted Board. My love only deepened when I had the chance to try a Boosted Board and now, I’ve ventured off onto other personal electric vehicles like the SwagCycle Pro from Swagtron.

DETAILS

The SwagCycle Pro is one of the models of e-bike that Swagtron produces amidst the many e-rideables they design. It’s considered an ‘advanced’ e-bike as it pairs with a companion app for monitoring and fine-tuning controls of the cycle itself. The SwagCycle Pro features a foldable frame for easy storage and can support up to 264 pounds. The bike is rated IP54, which means it’s dust resistant as well as water/splash resistant. You can take the SwagCycle Pro off-road and ride as easily as you can on smooth pavement thanks to the 12” front and 10” back air-filled tires. 

The SwagCycle Pro produces zero emissions. It runs off of a rechargeable 37V lithium ion battery and charges with the use of an A/C cable (included). There is a battery indicator located on top of the handlebars so you know when you need to recharge the cycle. You can also monitor this from the aforementioned app. There is even a standard USB port built into the battery so that you can charge your phone from it if needed. The bicycle can travel distances of up to 15.5 miles on a single charge and reach speeds of up to 18MPH. The bike even has enough torque to move up inclines up to 12º. 

The bicycle is pedal-free and powered by a motor that is located in the rear tire. After a gentle kick-off when you start out, your momentum is controlled by the throttle on the handle and you can rest your feet on the foot pegs that live on the front wheel. Swagtron designed the SwagCycle Pro to be used in any environment including low-light situations. There is a headlight located on the front of the bike so that you can see where you are going even when it’s dark out. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The SwagCycle Pro ships in a plain cardboard box with the words “Swagtron” and “SwagCycle Pro” stamped on the outside of it. Inside the box, you will find the cycle mostly assembled. In fact, all you really have to install are the foot pegs and the seat. Those parts come packaged along with the bike. A user manual with assembly instructions is included. Aside from attaching the foot pegs and installing the seat, you really only have to remove the cardboard and bubble wrap from the frame of the SwagCycle Pro before riding it. 

Before your first ride, you should make sure that the battery is fully charged and complete basic safety checks. Once that’s finished, hop on the bike, kick off and go. If you know how to ride a basic two-wheeled bicycle, you can ride and enjoy the SwagCycle Pro. 

This compact bike can break down quite easily and I was actually able to travel with it. In the past couple of months, I took it with me on several road trips including one to Nashville, TN and one to Florida. I have flat feet and longer walks can be really painful for me. Having the SwagCycle Pro available for me to use for travel has been a lifesaver in these cases. The only downside is that I look a little like a circus bear on a unicycle. I guess that’s the curse of being a bigger guy who rides a bike with smaller wheels. 

My 16-year old daughter has really taken a liking to the SwagCycle Pro, too. I dare say she has fallen in LOVE with it. While I have been testing it over the past few months she has sometimes argued with me about taking it. She has pretty much claimed it from me and I now have to ask for permission from the queen to ride it. We live in a neighborhood that has little car traffic and lots of back streets that are fun to ride around on the bike. She will take it from the house and ride around for hours exploring our area. She’s never complained about the bike giving her any issues and says it’s very comfortable to ride — even longer distances. 

One of the features that make this bike ‘advanced’ is the incorporation of the mobile app. I like this as an option as the app will log your trips, speed, and help you monitor your battery life. I don’t like that in order to view it, you have to use your phone while you are riding. With this in mind, it would be great if Swagtron would include a phone mount for the SwagCycle Pro. I believe most universal mounts would probably work for this sort of application, but having one that was sure to work with the bike would be awesome. In my experience with it, I found that the SwagCycle Pro connected to my iPhone every time I used it with the app. I’ve been able to easily map my rides and I love being able to see what my average speed was from a trip. 

CONCLUSION

Since I grew up skateboarding I was bound to have a love for powered skating rigs right off the bat. The SwagCycle Pro, however, turned me into a big fan and supporter of other rides like scooters and e-bikes. I have had the chance to review a few different types of electric battery powered rides and all of them have there ups and downs but the one I have found to enjoy the most other than the Boosted Board is the SwagCycle Pro from Swagtron. This is a great vehicle option for beginners as well as more advanced users.

For more details, visit Swagtron.
Find Swagtron on Facebook and Twitter.

Meant for a fun ride just about anywhere.

I’ve always liked to be on the move. I love taking walks around our neighborhood, riding my bike to a local park, and I’ve even done my fair share of skateboarding. With that in mind, I think it’s only natural that I felt drawn to the hoverboard craze that blew up a few years ago (no pun intended). When I first saw people riding them on TV I thought, “I could do that.” It was only recently that I got to try out that theory when visiting some friends on a family vacation. My friend Ava had a hoverboard and she was nice enough to let me try it. It was a blast and I decided to find my own. After some research, I decided on the Horizon App-enabled Bluetooth Hoverboard by Hover-1. 

DETAILS

The Horizon hoverboard is one of several models that Hover-1 offers. I have the 8” Wheel model of the Horizon which is self-balancing and electric. The built-in rechargeable battery (36V, 4 Ah Lithium-ion) provides up to 2 hours of run time. This translates to roughly an 8.4-mile range. It does have a battery indicator at your feet, which is very easy to read even when you are riding it. The ‘bluetooth’ part of the product name relates to the built-in Bluetooth speaker which syncs with your phone for wireless music streaming. The hoverboard has LED headlights and brake lights for extra visibility at night. 

The Horizon hoverboard is reported to have a top speed of 7.45 mph (thanks to the 8” wheels) and can hold a capacity of 220 lbs. This hoverboard is also app-enabled. The app will allow you to monitor your battery life, range, your personal effort vs. the motor, and will even allow you to plan out routes.

USER EXPERIENCE

The Hover Board is an amazing product. It is meant for fun almost anywhere. I’ve personally ridden mine inside our house, outside in Florida, on tile, and on regular old concrete. I think the 8” wheels really make a big difference when it comes to how smooth of a ride you get with the hoverboard. I’ve not had any issues with the wheels getting stuck somewhere or caught up on a foreign object. That said, you should always be aware of your surroundings. 

One of the biggest things I’ve learned since I’ve had the hoverboard is patience. For example, it takes time and effort to balance and learn how to move properly to get the most of out of your hoverboard experience. That takes patience.

The hoverboard is heavy to pick up and move from place to place. It weighs 24.5 pounds. The packaging for it was great. It was completely stable so that nothing was broken inside. I even transported it on a 900-mile road trip inside its original box. When you take the hoverboard out of its box, it literally shines. My first experience with the Horizon hoverboard was tricky but I soon got a hold of it. The first time I got onto the hoverboard I drove right into something. Even though I had a small set back, I got right back on it and tried again.

My favorite thing about the hoverboard is the getting on part. It takes absolute skill to balance and shift your weight to stay on top. The app is a nice addition to the hoverboard. It’s available for download for free and it allows you to customize your experience with the Horizon by letting you do things like changing the color of light on the back of the hoverboard. You can also monitor your speed and change modes between Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert. You even have the option to change your vehicle’s name. 

CONCLUSION

The Horizon hoverboard drives smoothly and looks great. It’s moderately priced in comparison with other hoverboards, but I think it makes sense to spend a little more and get a good, quality product this hoverboard. I can recommend this for any level of users. Beginners will be able to learn easily with it and more advanced riders can start strong and do tricks with it right out of the box. I’m very happy with my Horizon hoverboard and if I had the choice, I would get it all over again. 

For more information, visit hover-1.com
Find Hover-1 on Facebook and Twitter.

When I was younger, I found myself drawn to skateboarding. Even though I don’t skate anymore, I still identify myself as a skater. Because of this, I have found electric skateboards to be a really interesting evolution of the sport. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to review really cool devices like the Boostedboard. Electric devices like skateboards are perfect for so many different types of people and thus has opened me up to exploring other types of unique transportation. This is where the Scooterboard comes into play.

DETAILS

Scooterboard looks like a scooter but rides like a board. It’s in the ‘electric rideable’ category that BoostedBoard occupies, but Scooterboard has 3 wheels and a single-handed handle. It utilizes a lean-to-steer axle and has the stability of a scooter. The rear wheel is motorized and the Scooterboard features a form-mounted swiveling front truck for a large leaning angle and sharper steering. The lean-to-steer controls of the Scooterboard allows riders to cruise and maneuver with ease. The three-wheeled device with large air tires gives riders a smooth experience on the road or off with just the right amount of grip. Scooterboard is a rechargeable device (2.5 hours for a full charge) and the motor uses 250W of power. The board has a top speed of 15.5 mph (according to myinmotion.com) and has two modes — casual and power. With power mode, you can potentially reach that top speed. Scooterboard weighs 22 pounds. It folds up for easy pull-behind transportation or storage.

The Scooterboard has a reported range of 7.5 miles per charge (depending on conditions) and has enough power to climb hills up to 8º (depends on payload). Scooterboard does not require a controller because the throttle and brake are built into the handle. It does feature power regeneration during braking and kick-offs and the motor has very little to no resistance when its powered off. When you receive the Scooterboard, you will find the following inside the box: Scooterboard, charger, handle adjustment tool, and user manual. There is no assembly required, but you should read the instruction manual completely before using the device.

USER EXPERIENCE

I found that using the Scooterboard is pretty easy — even switching to power mode is quite easy. You simply hold the brake in and press the accelerator five times to switch between modes. You will know when you are in power mode because the motor gets louder. The size of the wheels really lets you flow over cracks and even enjoy some off-roading if you wish. For this device, there were two primary testers — myself and my teenage daughter. My experience was a bit less enjoyable than hers, but we both agreed that Scooterboard is a unique rideable device.

MY EXPERIENCE: I found Scooterboard to have a nice, smooth ride, but was lacking in the power department. I believe that part of the issue I was having had to do with the weight restrictions on the device. I am right at the weight limit for the device so I wasn’t able to get the top advertised speed of 15.5MPH. I would switch it into Power mode because in the Casual mode it would hardly go any faster than me walking down the road. Since I’m not over the weight limit, I don’t think that is the cause of the power problem I was having.

MARIA’S EXPERIENCE: My teenage daughter, Maria, LOVED riding the Scooterboard. She has a much different frame than I do (about 100 pounds less than me and 6 inches shorter) so I’m sure that helped the board manage the power better. Maria had been a very active ACTON Blink Lite rider. She loves electric rideable devices and was able to get a faster, longer trip on the Scooterboard than I was. Maria actually told me that this is now her favorite powered device to ride. Even though her time on the Scooterboard was better than mine she still was not able to get the full speed from it. At one point, I drove my truck alongside her to see how fast she was able to go on Power mode and found she was only going between 10-12 MPH.

CONCLUSION

If it was up to my experience with the Scooterboard only and I was rating it between 1-5 stars, I would be slapping a two-star rating on the device. Fortunately, that’s not the case and Maria’s 5-star rating makes our rating average out to 3.5-4 stars. I wish I could have had the same experience as her because, for a person of her size, it was perfect. Perhaps we had a defective unit, but if not, it would be great to see InMotion change the weight requirements to be less so that people who are closer to that 265-pound mark won’t expect to get the same riding experience as someone who is 165 pounds.Scooterboard seems like its built well, for my daughter it goes fast and has a great range. For me, I won’t be able to recommend it as my experience was nowhere close to her.
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For more details, visit inmotion.
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Two years ago when I went to CES for the first time, I had my first experience with an electric skateboard. When I was a kid, I was an avid skateboarder — I practically lived on a board and had I grown up in a more skateboard-friendly area, I might have actually pursued it as a professional. I was actually that good. A knee injury from an unrelated activity stopped me in my tracks though. I had heard about electric skateboards prior to CES and had wanted to try them for some time. I finally got my opportunity in the middle of the Las Vegas Convention Center when I met the ACTON team and was able to try out one of their boards.

It was an eye-opening experience and the few minutes I had with them made me want more. Needless to say, since that time, any chance I get to play on an electric skateboard, I jump at it because it takes me back to a place in life that I now miss as an adult. Plus who doesn’t love being able to jump on a board and ride to Starbucks without having to push off and pump around town? I want to skate — I just don’t want to work to do it. Hence, why electric skateboards are so appealing. Just recently, I was offered the opportunity to try out the Blink Lite Electric Skateboard from ACTON and I couldn’t wait to get started.

The Blink Lite is the world’s lightest electric skateboard. Weighing in at only 7.7 pounds, Blink Lite can take you anywhere you want to go. The bonus is that because of its compact design, the Blink Lite can go a lot of places that the larger electric boards can’t. The board measures 30.5 x 10 x 6.6 in with a wheel size of 70mm. The board itself is made from Canadian Maple Wood and it’s powered by a 1 hub motor with a total of 250W of power. It has a maximum speed of 10 MPH and a range of 5 miles.

There are two side lights included on the board in case you use it in low light settings and it only takes about 2 hours to recharge the battery. Blink Lite also has a wireless remote control and an iOS app that helps keep track of your travels. The board actually uses regenerative braking, which will recharge the battery some when the rider is using the brakes. There is a weight limit for the board — 160 pounds — but if you are heavier than that, the Blink Lite will carry you, but just not perform as well.

The Blink Lite is incredibly simple to use. The controller has a soft feel to it which makes it easy to hold onto and the controls are virtual “go” and “stop”. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. If you want more precise options, you can switch back and forth between the three user modes, which are accessible through the iOS/Android app. You can also monitor your battery level and track your routes/distances.

I actually had a lot of fun riding the board. It has a smooth ride and isn’t overly complicated. It gives you the chance to ride without over thinking what you are doing. One issue I did have was that riding for an extended period of time caused my feet to hurt. There are two reasons for this — 1. I have flat feet and 2. the board doesn’t have a lot of flex to it. This means that whenever I hit bumps, my feet would absorb the impact causing them to hurt more. Other than that, I didn’t really have any issues to speak of.

A couple of months ago, I reviewed the 2nd Generation Boosted Board and while it was an exciting ride, it was also intimidating and at times a bit scary. It has a top speed of 22 MPH (more than double that of the Blink Lite) and a belt drive system, which is more powerful than a hub motor. I have seen many videos of this larger board used in urban settings where it’s practical to get from place to place in the city, but for smaller neighborhoods and college campuses, it just makes sense to have something that is smaller like the Blink Lite.

As my header above would suggest, I think this board is ideal for college students. Because of its compact nature and lower top speed, I think this would be the ultimate option for students to use to jump from class to class without needing to walk. I believe Blink Lite would be especially handy on larger college campuses where students have to travel a great distance to get from building to building. For example, Indiana University has a campus that is over 1,900 acres. Using an electric skateboard to get from class to class would just make for an easier commute. Blink Lite is easy to ride and because of its compact size, it’s easy to store while you’re in class. It’s important to note that while it’s a great idea for riding around colleges, it may not be allowed everywhere. The colleges here in Evansville have banned skateboards on their campuses due to property destruction in the past. It’s just something to be aware of.

Aside from college students, Blink Lite is also great for teenagers. My 15-year-old daughter has really taken a liking to the board. So much so that she wants to ride it more often than I do. She’s been hitting the streets around our neighborhood daily since we got the skateboard and it’s really the first thing she wants to do when she gets home from school. She’s really doing a great job negotiating turns with it and riding it around our quiet neighborhood. She had some previous experience on a standard skateboard so it wasn’t completely foreign to her. She actually tried the Boosted Board, too, and said she was scared by it. That’s something I really like about the Blink — it’s designed more like a street board and it’s far less intimidating.

Blink Lite is honestly great for anyone who enjoys being outdoors and it’s even great for skateboarding enthusiasts (like myself). While I found the insane acceleration and top end speed of the Boosted Board exhilarating and a bit dangerous, I find the Blink Lite to be ideal for most users since it’s a less powerful option and much more compact. Anyone living in a small space or needing an easy to keep out of the way device will appreciate Blink Lite.
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For more information, visit actonglobal.com/product/blink-lite.
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