June 24, 2019

With the number of different electric skateboards on the market, how do you know which one is best for your needs? Which board will allow you to travel the most distance without charging the battery? Evolve, an electric skateboard company founded by Australian couple Fleur and Jeff Anning, have created a board that may be everything you’re looking for.

The Bamboo GTX is Evolve’s latest electric skateboard. It promises to take you up steep hills, travel long distances, and reach higher speeds than most of its competitors. And there’s no worry of the battery quitting on you. Take a look.

Product Features

Evolve Bamboo GTX Series

  • Weight Capacity: 220 lbs.
  • Top Speed: 22-25 mph
  • Top Range: 18.5 miles
  • Watts: 3,000W
  • Battery Charge Time: 4-5 hours

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The Evolve Bamboo GTX isn’t just any skateboard. Due to the motor and remote, your foot won’t be necessary to gain momentum. The Bamboo GTX reaches speeds of 22-26 mph. This varies depending on rider weight, terrain, and rider style.

The skateboard offers a 3000 w dual belt-driven motor to help with steep hills and overall power. The battery will take you about 31 miles, depending – again – on the terrain and weight or style of the rider. The only downside here? It takes over 5 hours to charge.

About the Wireless Control System

Although the board has been updated on the Bamboo GTX, its remote has stayed identical to past models. There are four different riding modes you can toggle with the use of two buttons: FAST, SLOW, ECO, and Safe. The board also includes a ‘GT’ mode, designed to help go up steep hills in record time. It has a 25% gradient.

The throttle is a small trigger on the back of the device. But be conservative with it; the more you throttle, the more battery you use. The most you’ll get out of it is 31 miles and only 16 if using the all-terrain (AT) wheels.

The brake will slow you down gradually, but tends to jerk a little if you try to stop on a dime. Give yourself some room.

The remote also features a backlit LCD screen, which provides the speed, battery life, range, riding mode, and distance traveled.

Why Pick the Evolve Bamboo GTX Electric Skateboard?

The Evolve Bamboo GTX skateboard may seem like a toy. In truth, it’s anything but. This is not a skateboard for young kids; the price alone indicates this. With a top speed ranging from 22 to 26 mph and a battery life of 31 miles, this is for the older teen or adult looking for a different way to travel around town.

You don’t need to stick to just roads and trails, though. Switch to the all-terrain wheels and you can take it over tarmac, concrete, dirt, short grass, and any other kinds of uneven or rocky terrain. If you’re running errands or just travelling a busy commute to work, the wheels and battery will get you there without much fuss. The wheels are easy to change out and the battery can be charged anywhere with a wall outlet.

Even better, you have a clever option for charging up the battery. The Bamboo GTX board has one very unique feature: regenerative braking. What does that mean? This means when you slow down, the battery slowly charges, so you can use it for longer periods of time.

While the price is a bit steep, it comes with perks.

If you’re running errands or travelling a busy commute to work, the wheels and the battery will get you there without much fuss.

Pros

  • Top speed of 26 mph
  • Travel 31 miles on one charge
  • Quiet
  • Comfortable deck with gold accents
  • Great at climbing steep hills
  • Flawless on rough terrain

Cons

  • Expensive $1,800 price tag
  • Braking issues
  • Heavy to carry around
  • Remote looks cheap
  • Slow to charge
  • Low range on all-terrain wheels

How to Ride the Evolve Bamboo GTX Electric Skateboard

  1. When the Bamboo GTX All-Terrain first arrives, plug it in and fully charge it overnight. The green light on the battery will turn on when it’s fully powered up. Make sure to also charge the remote by using the micro USB. A red light on the battery and remote indicates they’re charging.
  2. Turn the board on by pressing the on/off button. The button will flash a single time it’s powered up without hitch. Press the button again to turn the board off and the light will go out. To power up the remote control, press and hold the on/off button for 1 second.
  3. Next, you can sync the remote to the board. Press the left sync button on the remote for 1 second. A white antenna symbol will flash on the remote’s LCD screen. When the remote and board are paired, the antenna will turn to a solid symbol and the battery display will show how much it’s charged.
  4. Now you’re ready to ride. Place both feet on the board to properly balance and make sure you’re comfortable before proceeding. To start, the board will begin in Safe mode. This is a safety feature that makes you click the Mode button, so you know which speed you’re beginning at.
  5. Once you have your preferred mode set, slowly press the throttle trigger on the remote to accelerate. If you’re comfortable, you can speed up from there by placing more pressure on the trigger.
  6. When you’re ready to brake, slowly push the trigger forward. The pressure, the stronger the brake will be. Shift your weight slightly to the back foot and slow with it at first. Give yourself room to come to a natural stop. You don’t want to roar to a screeching halt by braking too hard.
  7. To change speed modes, press the on/off button quickly. You will see the speed mode change on the LCD screen. If you’re a beginner, start off at ‘SLOW’ and move up from there. ECO works best for rides with no incline, FAST is perfect for more advanced riders and is good on hills, and GT is for the expert rider.
  8. When changing the wheels, you’ll need to change the wheel setting on the remote too. First, press the left sync button twice to access the proper menu screen. Then, quickly press the on/off to show the wheel settings. Use the left sync button to scroll, and select the wheel and gear setting you need.
  9. To turn or swerve around obstacles, operate this Evolve Bamboo model like any typical skateboard. Move your body weight from one side of the board to the other, while trying to keep your center of gravity as low as possible. A slower speed will make this more difficult, but it’s safer.

4 / 5

Our Final Verdict

Evolve outdid themselves with the Bamboo GTX electric skateboard. The top speed and range ensure you can ride for miles without worrying of the battery life. The all-terrain wheels and 25% gradient eliminate worry about what terrain you’ll find while riding around. The price is steep and the braking system could use an update, but if you can afford it, this skateboard is definitely worth a try.

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