“I was an original Ecomobl owner, and now I have a M24 Pro with 10” wheels and it’s great.”
—Zat
The evolution of off-road electric skateboarding is quite fascinating, especially with the niche community of DIY enthusiasts pushing the boundaries before commercial options became widely available.
Early Days of DIY Off-Road Electric Skateboards
In the early days, off-road electric skateboarding was largely driven by passionate DIYers. These enthusiasts would often start with regular electric skateboards and then heavily modify them to handle rough terrains. Key modifications included:
Large Pneumatic Tires
To better handle dirt, gravel, and uneven surfaces, DIYers would swap out standard wheels for large, pneumatic tires.
Powerful Motors
Off-road conditions require more torque, so these DIY boards often featured much larger and more powerful motors.
Huge Batteries
To ensure longer rides and more power for the beefy motors, they used bigger battery packs.
Custom Decks and Trucks
To handle the stress of off-road use, stronger and more durable decks and trucks were essential.
Transition to Commercial Off-Road Boards
As the demand for off-road electric skateboards grew, manufacturers took notice and began developing purpose-built boards. The transition saw several notable developments:
Pneumatic Tires
Commercial boards started coming with pneumatic tires standard, allowing for better shock absorption and traction on rough terrains.
Improved Suspension Systems
Manufacturers like Ecomobl began integrating advanced suspension systems to enhance rider comfort and control.
Robust Construction
These boards were built with tougher materials and components to withstand the rigors of off-road riding.
Rise of High-Performance Commercial Boards
In recent years, high-performance off-road electric skateboards have gained significant traction. The Ecomobl M24 Pro is a prime example of this evolution, featuring:
Full Suspension
With full suspension, the M24 Pro offers a smooth ride even on the roughest terrains, making it more akin to an off-road vehicle than a traditional skateboard.
Large Wheels
The 10″ wheels provide excellent clearance and stability, crucial for tackling obstacles and uneven surfaces.
Powerful Motors and Long Battery Life
Modern commercial boards now come with powerful motors and substantial battery packs, ensuring both power and longevity.
– **Enhanced Control Systems**: Advanced control systems and remote controls have improved the safety and responsiveness of these boards.
Off-Road Electric Skateboarding Today
Today, off-road electric skateboarding is more accessible than ever. Riders can choose from a variety of commercially available boards designed to handle different types of terrain, from dirt trails to rocky paths. These boards are increasingly being used in a manner similar to off-road snowboarding, complete with bindings and other accessories to enhance control and performance.
Review: An offroad electric skateboard for everyone
M24 Pro’ weigh
The Ecomobl M24 Pro is offroad boards, weigh 60 lbs, and that’s just too much for most people. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a place in the market,This board can handle streets — including some of the awful streets here in New York — and some offroad terrain.
There’s a meaningful compromise at play here: the Ecomobl M24 Pro is a bit of pain to lug around, but in return, you get big, knobby tires that really stick to the pavement, suspension that easily handles cracks and bumps, and just enough ground clearance to make it over those huge steel plates they put on the ground here in New York to cover gas line repair work. For those not in the know, those steel plates will absolutely wreck you if you try to take them with 80mm PU wheels.
So is the Ecomobl M24 Pro a street board with offroad credibility, or just an electric skateboard that’s actually safe enough for people to ride? The answer is both
M24 Pro’motor
Obviously, if you’re going to push a big board like this, you need beefy motors. Ecomobl M24 Pro decided to use four 3,500 watt “6374” motors that connect to the wheels via panetary gear drive.
M24 Pro’remote
I usually ride the Ecomobl M24 Pro in “SET1” because I’m 32 and want to keep all my bones unbroken. The motor controller on the Ecomobl M24 Pro has four modes, but I don’t ride any of these boards at top speed because, again, bones. What I can tell you is that the motors and planetary gear drive in the Ecomobl M24 Pro deliver the torque you’re looking for. You can go irresponsibly fast on grass and dirt, and it’s a lot of fun.
M24 Pro’battery
There are two models of the M24: the M24 2WD model that we’re testing and the M24 Pro 4WD model, which costs significantly more at $2,399. There are only a couple of differences between the two: the M24 Pro model has all-wheel drive and a Samsung 40T 12S5P 20Ah battery, which is almost double the 12S4P battery in the M24 2WD model.
As a somewhat heavier rider, the quoted 28 km (17.3-mile) range was exactly on point in my testing. That’s more than enough for casual riding and commuting in the city but probably won’t be enough if you’re riding on trails with a lot of elevation gain.
Despite doubling the battery capacity, the Pro model only weighs about six pounds more, so if money is no object, I would go with that one.
I’ve established that the Ecomobl M24 Pro is great on the streets, especially bad ones, but what happens when you go offroad?
First, I should explain that the suspension and steering on my test board were quite tight right out of the box. This actually makes sense considering the board is mostly for use on pavement, but after loosening things up a bit, I started getting the suspension travel I was looking for.
Once that was done, I took the board to the park, looked both ways for park rangers, and took off on some grass and dirt paths. (Don’t worry, I did my best not to damage any grass or plant life.) Anyway, this is something you just have to try; there’s no way not to smile when you’re (metaphorically) ripping up the trail.
Value
At $2,399, the Ecomobl M24 Pro feels pretty accurately priced for an enthusiast board. But at $1,499, the M24 2WD model is a very compelling deal. Here are some competing “all-terrain” boards from some of the most established brands:
– Backfire Hammer: $1,399
– Ecomobl M24 2WD: $1,499
– Ecomobl M24 Pro: $2,399
– Exway Carbon 2WD: $1,439.10
– Meepo Hurricane: $1,799
– Onsra Black Carve AT 2: $1,989
Of these, only the Ecomobl has suspension. So when you consider the Ecomobl’s battery capacity, build quality, power, and suspension, $1,499 starts to look like an absolute steal.
