The
board was priced at $2,000, but as of today, Boosted Boards is offering a line
of three products: Single, Dual and Dual+ models with boards starting at $999
for the Single, $1,299 for the Dual and $1,499 for the Dual+ (the original
model), all significantly cheaper than the original board’s price tag of
$2,000. Furthermore, for those who bit the bullet and bought the pricey boards
early on, Boosted Board is showing its thanks with a price adjustment (up to
$500 back). They have some more sweet perks that you can find on their website,
including free upgrades as well as an extended warranty for current owners.
I
should preface my comments with the disclaimer that I am an intermediate-to-experienced
longboarder, having used one as my main mode of transportation over my freshman
and sophomore years on the Farm. Occasionally, I sought out some hills in the
area for recreation (the hill from the Knoll to Theta Delt, looping back down
to Mayfield, for example, is a monster) so I’m fairly comfortable with speed.
For the most part, I’ve used my longboard to commute to classes, so that’s the
angle from which I’ll be reviewing the Boosted Board.
THE
BOARD
The
board is made with Loaded’s bamboo deck and Orangatang wheels in Caliber
trucks. It has a 6-mile range, gets up to 20 miles per hour (the new Dual+ gets
up to 25 mph, check out more of the updated specs below), and can climb up to a
15 percent grade. With the 40V lithium-ion phosphate battery, the board comes
in at just 15 pounds, impressive for its power. The batteries, located around
the housing, keep the board’s center of gravity very low, making for a smooth
ride.
HOW
TO
You
begin by switching on the remote and turning on the motor on the underside of
the board. There is an arrow on one tail of the board showing which way the
acceleration goes. The remote itself has a gun-like trigger button (which
activates the motor) and a dial that you push forward or backward to control
acceleration. You tap the power button of the remote three times to switch from
beginner to expert mode (and vice versa to get back to beginner), which allows
you to go at a much faster speed and powerfully climb hills.
BRAKING
Once
you become comfortable with the notion of applying acceleration in the opposite
direction to slow down, then braking actually becomes a supremely gratifying
activity when boarding. The Boosted Board has regenerative braking, which seemed
cool at first but actually became somewhat intrusive when it came to riding at
higher speeds.
One
problem that I assume is because of the regenerative braking is that when you
let go of the acceleration, you feel a slight jolt backwards (whereas I imagine
that without the braking, you would continue riding at the same pace, slowing
down at a more gradual rate). As such, you have to keep your thumb dialed all
the way forward in order to continue riding at the same pace. Eventually, if
you make the mile-long commute from Tresidder to Gates, then your hand starts
cramping when you speed along Serra Mall, the straight stretch in front of
Memorial Church.
BEGINNER
AND EXPERT MODE
Beginner
mode was a leisurely riding pace for an experienced longboarder, although often
a little too slow for someone accustomed to speeding down hills through
Stanford’s circle of death at a healthy speed. In general, I can see the
board’s beginner mode as a viable way to get people started on longboarding.
People quickly acclimate to the beginner mode speed and become comfortable
leaning to turn right or left.
Perhaps
my biggest complaint (and in my opinion, the lowest-hanging fruit to improve
the boards) is the sheer difference in speed and sensitivity between the
beginner and expert modes. On expert mode, the speed feels uncomfortably fast
on flat ground, even to the most experienced longboarder. Although it becomes a
lot more useful when climbing up hills, you have to exert a crazy amount of
control on the hyper-sensitive dial.
Anyone
who casually longboards and has a healthy risk aversion would probably be
hesitant to use expert mode regularly, because an accidental twitch of the
thumb might send the board flying out from under you. Boosted Boards could
greatly benefit from the addition of a middle ground between the two modes that
helps you ease into the speed more comfortably. That said, for cautious,
experienced longboarders, expert mode can be a load of fun speeding past bikes
and golf carts with ease.
OVERALL
Initially,
the board was priced at $2000, which is a steep price to pay for any college
student. However, with the new base price of $999, the board is a viable option
for college students looking for a fast, portable means of last-mile
transportation around campus. At its updated price, I would buy a board,
although I believe Yuneec’s E-Go board is a cheaper, albeit less powerful
alternative ($700). This is simply a matter of personal choice, since I would rather
have the enhanced capabilities the Boosted offers with the greater power
output, which makes for significantly easier ascents up hills and faster speeds
all-around, which makes for a special board that can be more than just a
transportation device. We wish them the best of luck!
The
updated Boosted line:
Boosted
Single
The
Single drive is the most portable vehicle in the line. With its new one-motor
drive system outputting 1,000 watts of power, it can reach a speed of 18 mph
and has an increased range of seven miles. The board climbs hills up to a 15
percent grade and weighs just 13.5 lbs. Priced at just $999, the Single drive
is available for pre-order now and will ship in limited quantities in January
2015.
Boosted
Dual
The
Dual drive features a unique twin-motor system for superior handling. The 1,500
watt board has a top speed of 20 mph, a range of six miles, a weight of 15 lbs.
and the ability to climb hills up to a 20 percent grade. The twin motors enable
balanced carving up and down hills, appealing to surfers, snowboarders and
recreational riders alike. The Dual drive is available immediately in limited
quantities for $1,299.
Boosted
Dual+
The
original and acclaimed Boosted board, now called the Dual+, was designed for
riders who demand the very best performance. The Dual+ features a 2,000 watt
power system, has a 6-mile range and weighs 15 lbs. With its upgraded software,
the board has a top speed of up to 22 mph and can climb grades up to an amazing
25 percent, making it the most powerful light electric vehicle ever built. The
Dual+ drive is available immediately in limited quantities for $1,499.
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| www.mandalibre.com |
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