The Electric opportunity for MTB

[Flexboardz]

Well, if we look at the last +-20 years of mountainboard history, the few of us left to know about it have to agree that it was basically an industrial/commercial failure.

The initial promise of the "Summer snowboarding" never really happened. Climbing uphill with heavy board and gear is a simple explanation since mtb resorts have never been really developed.

The powerkite segment helped during few years but there is not always a flat windy ground available in the neighbourhood.

The All-Terrain promise of mountainboarding disappeared due to the lack of energy (hills with a lift or windy places) to move around.

Today, the availability of cheap electric motor/battery makes possible to get E-mtb at reasonable prices. Compared to skate, mtb is the perfect vehicle to ride around a city walkway, bikelanes, parks...or to make a race with few friends!

Trampa (one of the few brands to survive beside mbs) added E-board components to their range of products and I think that it's a great move.

It might even be the beginning of the mtb rebirth (I'm generally overoptimistic though)

[Tornado]

I hope you are right as I'd really like to see a "revival" with mountainboarding whether it be with the development of a "mainstream" electric kit or something else. Unfortunately I'm not banking on the electric kit based solely on the initial cost being what it currently is.

[Flexboardz]

You are right, costs, availability and reliability of efficient electric kits have long been prohibitive...it was the DIY era!

But it is greatly improving lately, at least for the skateboard format... an electric kit(motor+battery+controller) for skateboard can be found for few $100's (from 200$ to 400$). Still lacking a bit of reliability but quickly improving

Also, hoverboards and other solowheels prices are down to few $100's...much less in used conditions and they are quite easy to adapt for mtb electric kit

So hopefully, it won't be long before an electric kit will be available for mtb at reasonable price... enough to have fun on a mountainboard on any flat ground ... or to use it for urban transportation

[Mikael]

I'm a lot more supportive of electric mountainboards for urban transportation than for riding actual dirt.
What little electric mountainboard riding I've seen made me want to scream. The large torque you get means that wheels slip super easily and cause damage to tracks. Probably not a huge deal with so few boards, but it only takes a couple of them to get all mountainboards banned from a BMX track.
That, and if I'm being honest, riding looks and feels worse when you hold something in your hand, brakes or throttles.

So, go urban electric boards! Stay home electric dirt boards!

[Flexboardz]

I take the opportunity to sincerely thank you to bring back the forum...that's a piece of culture that you saved here (at least a sum of experience, knowledge and good sense) ! Also, welcome back in France.

I agree that E-mountainboard is a better format for urban commuting than skateboard (safety, comfort,...) and should have some success in the future

Also, I agree that holding a throttle/brake to adjust speed is not natural... but it can be changed easily.

It's also true that first generation of Eboards were generally overpowered which is counterproductive as it make it heavier, more expensive, inefficient, noisy...a wrong design probably linked to our automotive culture.

In any case, powered board are only there to compensate for lack of slope, wind or any kind of energy to bring fun. Not needed on dedicated riding spot! Just the opposite, it's here to compensate for the lack of spots as you could make a race with few friends at the closest park or on a parking lot even if it's dead flat...

Basically, my point was mainly industry oriented, hoping that the new E-mtb market will bring new riders in new places with new kinds of ride, new image.... well anything that can initiate the second mtb revolution

[Mikael]

You're very welcome

Glad to see we agree too!

[Flexboardz]

I also wanted to add that Trampa recently added electric boards (and accessories) to its products range.

As Trampa is the only mtb brand that managed to survive (beside mbs) and grow, they might have some good market feelings....

[BgSurfer]

Other than an affordable electric MB, I don't think a second mountainboard revolution will be anytime soon.
The Inboard in wheel electric skateboard with in-wheel motors is a significant improvement in electric board technology. But the price is too high for most people at $1400.

IMO biggest problem for lack of standard MB popularity is price and riding areas. A nice longoard (LB) skateboard is $150+/- vs $500+/- for a good MB. Mountainboards are pretty much limited to fairly steep grades and slopes relative to LB skate boards. Offroad riding areas are limited too, relative to the broad availability of paved areas for skateboard use.

[Flexboardz]

"IMO biggest problem for lack of standard MB popularity is price and riding areas"
Agree 100% : price is the main problem/driver and it is supposed to lower when(if) Eboard market develop enough to bring scale benefits...

And for the lack of riding area, Eboards might be a solution as slope is not needed anymore... so it's quite easy to make a track : a small parking lot, few cones and an Eboard....
It's particularly true for the passionate carver like you (and me) (we all know how difficult it is to find a perfect empty wide road with the right grade).

It could even be interesting to measure carving/cornering performance with a chronometer on a short track...

[Flexboardz]

My ambition for 2017 : Flexboardz G2 E-board using standard RC components and closed geared transmission... and pretty soon without hand held remote control

[BgSurfer]

Are you still producing FlexzBoards 4-wheelers commercially?

[Flexboardz]

I am struggling to start the production of a new generation of Flexboardz (and Flexscoot)