Use your own deck
Turn your favorite board into an electric skateboard with the Unlimited x Loaded electric skateboard conversion kit. The kit is a collaboration between Unlimited, who makes the electrical components, and Loaded, a respected longboard and skateboard company.
It starts at $769 and you can use it on just about any board you want, even a penny board. An electric penny board might be fun but you might want to consider using a longboard for comfort, stability, and speed.
There are three version to choose from:
Solo |
Cruiser |
Race |
---|---|---|
$769 |
$1,099 |
$1,349 |
23 mph/37 kph |
23 mph/37 kph |
26 mph/42 kph |
7 miles/11 km |
13 miles/21 km |
13 miles/21 km |
4.4 lbs/2 kg |
6.6 lbs/3 kg |
9 lbs/4 kg |
9º uphill |
9º uphill |
20º uphill |
1 motor, 1 battery |
1 motor, 2 batteries |
2 motors, 2 batteries |
The conversion kit comes with high end components including 4 Orangatan wheels, one of the best skateboard wheel on the market, and Paris trucks, one of best trucks for control and carving. The batteries are mounted on a carbon plate to keep weight down.
It even comes with a torque wrench in addition to a slimline skate tool to ensure that you properly install the kit on your own board.
Using the companion app, you can tune the ride and change how it brakes, top speed, acceleration, and power. You can also choose from 3 other preset modes.
Other features include ‘push to start', regenerative braking, and cruise control.
Reportedly, one downside of this kit is the remote. The buttons are too close together that you tend to push a button you don't intend to. Because you'd have to hold it a way so as not to accidentally press the buttons, you end up with little to hold on.
Unless you opt for the race version, another downside is the brakes. When you're braking with one wheel, it's not great. But braking with wheels, as you would with the Race version, is good.
Use Loaded's deck
If you have a deck you really want to use for the conversion kit, go for it. But the decks from Loaded comes highly recommended because they're some of the best longboard and skateboard decks you can find. Loaded used to be Boosted's suppliers before they decided to make their own boards.
For the Solo version, you can upgrade to include the Omakase deck, which is designed for the Unlimited x Loaded electric skateboard conversion kit. It has wide body for stability and a kicktail for for freestyle tricks and surfy maneuvers.
Made of three-layer bamboo core is sandwiched between fiberglass/epoxy layers for lightweight strength, the Omakase is great for cruising, commuting, freeride, and freestyle longboarding alike.
If you buy the Omakase deck alone it would cost $132 from Loaded's website. But if you upgrade from the Solo kit ($769) to the Omakase Solo Complete ($949), it would cost $180 extra. However, the Solo kit alone does not come with trucks. The Omakase Solo Complete comes with Paris V3 180mm 43° t.rucks.
For the Cruiser and Race version, you can either upgrade to the Flex 1 Icarus or Basalt Tesseract deck. Both Cruiser Kit and Race Kit (without the deck) do not come with trucks.
The Icarus is made of bamboo and fiberglass to provide lively and energetic flex for hard carving and pumping with a cork bottom layer for vibration damping. Flex 1 is ideal for heavier riders or aggressive tricksters seeking more stiffness and stability.
It also has drop-through truck mounting for stability and easier pushing. Cambered profile and variable edge concave create a lively and precise riding experience. Cutouts combine with flared wheel wells to maximize clearance for big wheels and allow deep carves and tight turns. Minimal nose and tail kicks help navigate city streets and open the door for freestyle trickery.
The Icarus deck alone cost $215 from Loaded's website. Upgrading from the Cruiser kit ($1,099) to the Cruiser Icarus Complete ($1,349) and Race Kit ($1,349) to the Race Icarus Complete will cost you an extra $250 but includes Paris V3 180mm 50° trucks.
The Basalt Tesseract deck is made dual bamboo cores sandwiched between layers of basalt fabric to create a strong and lightweight structure with the perfect balance of flex and pop for a more dynamic and forgiving ride.
Like the Icarus, the Tesseract also has a cork bottom layer to provide vibration damping. It has curves to cradle your feet for locked-in slides and wheel well flares that increase wheel clearance and create ergonomic reference points for your feet.
The Tesseract is designed for hilly descents, snappy slides, lofty ollies, techy manual combos, and cross-steps galore. The Basalt Tesseract deck alone cost $210 from Loaded's website. The Cruiser Tesseract Complete (1,349) and the Race Tesseract Complete ($1,599) is $250 extra from the conversion kits alone but also comes with Paris V3 180mm 43° trucks.
Pros
- Fits most decks
- Affordable entry level version
- Goes as fast as a Boosted board
- Cruise control available
Cons
- Remote control could be better
- The conversion kits don't come with trucks
- One motor versions not great at climbing and braking
Conclusion:
The Unlimited x Loaded electric skateboard conversion kit starts at $769, which is not bad if you just want to dip your into electric boards. It fits most boards and has a pretty good top speed. Climbing and braking is not great though for the kits with one motor (Solo Kit and Cruiser Kit).
The Race version can climb 20º gradients and have good braking. All the kits (without a deck) do not come with trucks. The Complete versions (with deck) come with high end trucks that are great for carving.
Overall, not a bad buy even for the Race Complete versions, which are as expensive as Boosted Stealth.
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