December 4, 2018
Skateboards are no longer the toys you see kids riding around your neighborhood on. Now, they have motors and remote controls! These are definitely not the skateboards of your youth. But with so many new designs hitting the market, how do you know which to pick?
Backfire was co-founded in 2009 by two avid skateboarders, who started the business to provide affordable and high quality boards. They’ve recently unveiled their New G2 Electric Skateboard. It’s not only fast and stable, but, as the company promises, affordable as well. Not all electric boards can say that. Let’s take a closer look at all this model has to offer.
Product Features
- Weight Capacity: 260 lbs.
- Top Speed: 23.5 mph
- Top Range: 8-10 miles
- Watts: 750W
- Battery Charge Time: 3.5 hours
The Backfire New G2 is not your average skateboard. It has two 350 watt, in-hub motors to ensure the rider can reach the maximum speed of 23.5 mph. While it doesn’t have the longest battery range on the market, it will take you 8 to 10 miles on one charge.
This electric skateboard also has a 25 percent gradient, ensuring you can travel up steep hills without any issues. The G2 is made of eight layers of hard rock maple wood, lending to its both lightweight and flexible nature.
The one downside is the charge time. It takes 3.5 hours to charge the battery to full strength. The remote takes far less time, only requiring 30 minutes to charge fully.
About the Wireless Control System
The wireless control system on the Backfire New G2 uses a remote to control the board. Using a 2.4 GHz radio, the remote controller includes two buttons and a slide switch to change the riding mode and the board’s direction. The switch can also turn the board on and off.
Using the remote, you can go forward and reverse, as well as control the speed you wish to travel at. But remember, the faster you go, the more battery you’ll use.
The throttle is located on top of the remote. Push the lever forward to accelerate and pull the throttle backward to decelerate or brake. But make sure to pull it back slowly – you don’t want to brake too hard and send yourself flying.
There are also a set of indicator lights on the side of the remote, telling you which mode you’re currently riding in and how much battery life is left. To charge the remote, you simply need any USB port. That can be attached to your computer or via a plug, depending on your preferences.
Why Pick the Backfire New G2 Electric Skateboard?
While you may think of skateboards as being a toy for kids, the Backfire New G2 is anything but a toy. With two built-in motors, you can go much faster on this skateboard than you ever could with the manual ones. At 23.5 mph, this is more a means of transport than a toy.
On a full charge, you can take it to work, to class, or to run a few errands and get back home, so long as you don’t live too far away. Once you reach your destination, you can plug the board and remote into any nearby outlet and be ready to go home at the end of the day.
The price of this Backfire board makes it even more attractive. At just under $400, this is one of the most affordable electric skateboards on the market. As a bonus, with the G2, the lower price does not mean fewer features. There aren’t as many riding modes as you might have seen in comparable models, but the high speed makes up for that.
The board is also light at 14.3 lbs., meaning it can easily be carried if necessary. A lighter board also gives you an easier, more comfortable ride. The motor doesn’t need to work as hard to move you forward, so it can work to on giving you a smoother experience.
You’ll find the Backfire New G2 skateboard provides stellar ride performance while getting you from point A to point B.
Pros
- Affordable price tag
- Performs at fast speeds
- Comfortable, smooth ride
- Braking at a slow speed is perfect
- Easy to carve and turn
- Responsive remote control
Cons
- Not the best on steep hills
- Not for bumpy terrain
- Jumpy brakes at high speed
- Cheap-looking remote
- Not for riding on wet surfaces
- Long recharge time
How to Ride the Backfire New G2 Electric Skateboard
The Backfire New G2 Electric Skateboard is fairly simple to set up and ride. Here is what you need to know:
- Turn the remote and board on: To power up the remote, press the on/off switch for three seconds until it lights up. For the board, turn on the power switch (located on the undercarriage of the board). The indicator on the board will also light up once it’s fully powered.
- Beep, beep: Listen for a beeping sound when the board and the remote are on. Once you hear it, you’ll know the board and remote are synced properly. After that’s confirmed, the battery indicator on the remote will tell you how much life remains on the battery. One light equals 25 percent battery, two lights equals 50 percent, three lights equal 75 percent, and fours lights will indicate that you are at full power.
- Step up: Now you can step on the board with both feet and get comfortable. You don’t want to press any buttons before you are stable. Then, slowly push the throttle switch forward to begin to gain speed. Keep a low center of gravity and maintain a wide stance. This will help ensure you stay balanced and secured throughout the experience. Once you are comfortable with a lower speed, you can slowly move to a higher one.
- Braking: To brake, pull the throttle back toward you and lean backward on the board, so as to ensure you aren’t jerked forward too much. If you try to brake at high speeds or too quickly, you may end up flying off the front of the board.
- Speed modes: Pick one of the speed modes using the ride mode switch on the remote. Choose Sports mode for fast speeds (top speed: 23.5 mph) or Economic mode for a slower pace (top speed: 12.4 mph).
- Shutting it down: Use the same buttons and switches to turn off the remote and board as you did when powering them up. Once everything is shut off, you can store it away.
3.5 / 5
Our Final Verdict
3.5 / 5
Despite the affordable price, Backfire’s New G2 does not hold back on speed or the amount of features it offers. You can go just as fast on the G2 as you can on many of the more expensive boards, all without losing the ease of use. You may not have the same range as other models and may need to stay on smoother terrain, but if you remain within those parameters, you’ll find the G2 offers stellar ride performance while getting you from point A to point B. When you don’t have to break the bank to afford it, what more can you ask for?