Want an E-Board This Christmas but Don't Have $2K for a Monster? Not a Problem

While you’ve been locked up in your house making cookies for Santa’s arrival, the team at Loaded Boards and Unlimited (the same one that’ve been pumping out these e-bike conversion kits), has put together a new e-board conversion kit line. In total, there are three new kits, each one with 2 or 3 variations of ‘sub-kits.'

The least expensive of these stocking stuffers is the Solo kit. What do we get when we spend $769 on what is essentially a skateboard truck with a built-in motor? Well, a whole lot more than just that. Aside from being incredibly small, simple to set up and use, it’s a real monster.

Out of the box, you receive one motor, motor liner, wheels with bearings, battery, controller, a baseplate, charger, and remote control. And, of course, an assembly kit with tool. You don’t need to bring anything of your own. If you have this delivered to the skatepark you’re riding in, you can just put it together right there on the curb.

Still, a conversion kit is much more than just wam, bam, thank you ma’am. It’s got to perform, and this one does. The 840W max output motor, which is essentially housed in only one wheel, is enough to shoot the 240-lbs (109-kg) board to 23 mph (37 kph). If that’s not enough, it also cranks out enough torque to keep you rolling up a 9-degree hill.

As for your juice box, a lithium-ion battery with 36V nominal rating offers 90Wh of life. While, that’s a little small, think about what it’s strapped to. It’s not some giant e-MTB frame that has room for something bigger, it’s a skateboard. And smashing around at 23 mph on a skateboard is no easy feat with quarantine-legs. Even if it’s only good for only a seven-mile (11-km) range.

But there is a catch to this low range: regenerative braking. Yeah, technology has gotten this small. Yet, we don’t know how much more this adds to the already existing range.

The entire ride is controlled by a handheld remote with two buttons on it. The ‘A’ button holds your current speed, while the ‘B’ kicks the motor into full throttle and shoots you off like you’ve got nitro in your butt.

Now, the Solo, too, has a sub-kit, the Omakase kit. If you choose to pay out the $949 required, you’ll get a special lightweight deck with pair of Paris V3 180mm trucks and that bottom graphic on the board.

I don’t know about you folks, but two things have happened this past year. The first is boredom, and the second is weight gain. It’s what happens when you sit around and do everything at home. Oh, and the usual holiday weight gain is coming up too.

So what are you going to do after the snow melts and the streets (hopefully) open again? You’re going to hit the tarmac with everything you got for Christmas. But do take it easy at first, we’re sure everyone’s joint and muscles are at grandma level.