Kooboard Gen 2 Electric Longboard Review
The Kooboard Gen 2 electric longboard is on the wave.
The Kooboard Gen 2 it’s one of the most popular electric longboards out there and, by far, one of your most affordable options.
Relatively lightweight considering its size and suitable for riders of all heights, it brings outstanding value for money.
Its other highlights are quality materials, a swappable battery, and massive wheels. In a nutshell, the Koowheel board truly packs a punch.
Is it the right electric e-board for you? Read our Kooboard 2nd Gen review to find it out.
Table of Contents
Tech Summary
MOTOR | - Read dual Chinese hubs. - 350w each. - Claimed: 23 mph (38 km/h - at max power). - Tested: 20 mph. | DECK | - Concave shape. - Semi-rigid Canadian maple wood (7 layers). - L: 90cm; W: 25 cm (36" x 10"). - Rear thick grip tape. |
---|---|---|---|
BATTERY | - 5500 mAh, 36 volt Li-Ion. - 4300 mAh (alternative). - 20 inline cells. - LG (15 charging cycles). | CLIMBING ABILITY | - 25% inclination. Variable based on the battery power and overall weight. |
WHEELS | - 97mm diameter. - 52 mm width. - 85A hardness. - Centered core and square edges. - Four (4) colors available. | BRAKES | - Regenerative braking. |
CARRYING WEIGHT | - 130 kg max recommended. | OVERALL WEIGHT | - 17 lb (7.7 kg). - Considered heavy. |
RIDING MODES | - Two (2). | CHARGING TIME | - 2 to 3 hrs (from flat). |
Board Specs and Design
The Kooboard electric skateboard impresses at first glance with its outstanding aesthetic value. It comes with a deck made from seven (7) layers of Canadian maple wood – a choice of materials that guarantees longevity and little to no maintenance.
At the same time, the deck is much more flexible than the composite decks found on other e-longboards, such as the Teamgee H5 Electric Longboard.
A concave shape with slightly raised edges enhances balance and stability, making riding easier.
This supportive design also ensures smoother turning while protecting the delicate electronic components under the deck.
Measuring 36 inches, this e-longboard is perfect for most riders. It is exceptionally solid and beautifully crafted – perfect for commuters and beginners alike.
85A Rated Wheels
The Kooboard D3M Gen 2 has much more than an outstanding board and design. It also impresses with its wheels.
Diameter and width
There is not much to say regarding the wheels; nevertheless, expect to have 97 mm in diameter and 52 m in width. In terms of hardness, these wheels are rated 85A.
An 85A-rated wheel hardness will deliver medium hard riding; you will notice it when going through cracks.
Core location and contact patch
These medium-hard PU wheels have a flat contact patch for the rear sleeves and a bevel design for the front ones. This is good, considering you want to be able to do tight turns when required, especially at high speed.
Regarding the core location, it is not definitive to know the exact location; I believe it is centered (based on the bearing location).
Two Hub 350w Brushless Motors
We already mentioned the hub wheels; what we didn’t say is that we’re talking about two (2) 350-watt in-wheel brushless motors.
They are not as powerful as the motors found on other longboards but still deliver enough torque to power to roll up to 23 mph (38 km/h). But on the downside, it takes approx. 20 to 30 m travel to reach the claimed top speed.
The above point of view will be affected based on the rider’s weight and ground conditions (including hill grade).
The in-wheel motor design allows easy coasting when the battery runs out. The acceleration is weaker than that on belt motors, but the hub motors will last longer.
Regarding the speed, you must remember that 23 mph is the top speed enabled by the expert riding mode. Otherwise, you can expect somewhere near 20mph, which is still sufficient for most riders.
36V Li-Ion LG Battery
Another highlight of this incredible e-longboard is the battery.
In this case, you will have two (2) options to choose from: a 4300 mAH and a 5500mAH. The output power difference is evident between the two options, but in the end, it will be a matter of how much power you want to deliver to the motors.
The more power, the better torque.
You may wonder why the two (2) options differ. Perhaps this doesn’t seem like much, but the possibility of carrying extra batteries and replacing them when the original one (5500mAH) runs out of juice is priceless.
A little less priceless is the long charging time. You need to account for two (2) to three (3) hours of charge time, which is quite long compared to most e-boards.
Maybe that’s driven by the fact that you can change the batteries if needed, but if you don’t want to invest in extra cells, you’ll have to wait.
Another downside of the swappable thing is that the batteries are placed in a compartment that can be opened. In other words, this e-longboard won’t withstand heavy rain or very wet conditions.
Yet, if that’s not a concern, you’ll most likely appreciate the long battery life. Indeed, you can cover over 15 miles on a single charge.
Remote Control
The remote control is as simple as it gets. A button lets you switch between forward and reverse directions.
Control design and connectivity
Design-wise, the controller is simple but unappealing. It doesn’t quite match the rest of the board, but what I don’t like most is its size. For someone with a big hand like me, it doesn’t fit comfortably.
In addition to the above, I wouldn’t say I like the slight slow responsiveness between the board and the remote – a fact that could explain the longer time to respond to commands, especially when braking.
By contrast, the positive side of things is the information the control will give to warn you about the power performance. If you see the green lights blinking in orange color, it probably means you are losing connectivity or power in the remote or the e-board battery.
Speed modes
With this remote control, you can expect two (2) speed modes: normal and advanced.
If you select the “normal speed” (factory default), you will expect 28 km/h (around 18 mph), but if you feel like pumping up the adrenaline, then you can expect 38 mph (23 km/h). These are the manufacturer’s claim speeds, but remember that it gets affected based on different factors.
To get into the advanced mode, you must press the switching button five (5) times.
Kooboard Gen 2 Review Summary
The Kooboard Gen 2 is an excellent electric longboard for beginners and experienced riders looking for an affordable ride.
It’s an evolving skateboard ideal for daily commuting, as long as you’re not living in a colder, wetter climate.
It’s not 100% waterproof, which relates to the battery area. It also comes with removable hub motors that allow you only to change the wheels when needed.
In terms of the motor and the battery, I’m pretty happy with their performance—good final speed and a reliable battery to support the energy demand of the dual motors.
Don’t be disappointed if you find the remote control a little bothersome. It is not bad for such an affordable electric longboard.
Lastly, I believe this board lands on the heavy side of things. At least you have the opportunity to add a new battery in case you run out of juice.
Overall, I believe the Kooboard Gen 2 is a good alternative if you have a low budget and want to learn about e-boards.
Some images courtesy of Koowheel.
What is your appreciation of this e-longboard?
Kooboard Gen 2
$What we like
- ✅ Excellent range of up to 15.5 miles on a single charge.
- ✅ Swappable batteries allow to replace the flat one quick.
- ✅ Good top speed in normal skating conditions.
What we do not like
- The motor tend to rattle a lot.
- The remote control is ergonomic but too small for someone with big hands.
- Cheap quality parts. This could mean, having a none reliable longboard in the longterm.