At 51 years old, I’m trying not to ruin myself at skate parks anymore, but I still enjoy riding a long skateboard on short trips or just out and about on a sunny day. Last month, I got to try out the reasonably-priced Meepo Flow ($699), a lovely wood-grained, electric longboard with a kicktail. But its standout feature is more about what it isn’t. Let me explain.
Like I said, my park days were over a long time ago but I still love the feeling of skateboarding down the street and even as a transportation method in city centers. About 5 years ago, I got a Boosted Mini X – That’s before the company went bankrupt. I still take it into NYC, to big trade shows, airports, and ride it along bike paths with my friends.
But the Boosted has its issues. For one, because the company went out of business, the app that controls it is not longer available. So it kind of lives in the app’s last available state (had to upgrade the phone with the app a few years ago). I realize I can find an Android APK and sideload it but that’s not how I roll these days. There was also a Ride app that worked for awhile that had some of the features but that’s also gone from the app store. But the Boosted Mini was never a perfect board for me, I’d often fall off because my stance wasn’t wide enough to handle the acceleration. Even worse, after a home renovation project that went awry, I can’t find the controller.
New Meepo Flow
When getting a new board, I also wanted to get some features that the Boosted board and some other long boards didn’t have. Namely, a kick tail. Like I said, I’m not heading to a park any time soon, but it is nice to be able to turn around in a small radius with a kick tail. The added weight of the 362Wh battery (21lbs overall) makes lifting the board something that must be done with intention. Keep in mind, the motor guards on the back will sometimes scrape a little bit on kick turns.
Also I wanted a little more style than the all black Boosted Board provided, and the bamboo/ 2 tone Meepo Flow certainly fills that checkbox.
Finally, instead of a parkboard length, I wanted something a little bit longer, which on electric skateboards in particular, is really important. Acceleration and deceleration are a lot easier to handle with a wider stance offered on longer boards. The Boosted Mini earned the nickname “ankle breaker” for this reason. But I’m still looking for some portability, and the Flow’s “goldilocks” size is the perfect mix of long enough to have a stable stance but short enough to remain portable.
Out of the box and onto the street
Meepo’s Flow was probably one of the best out-of-the-box experiences I’ve had in a while. The board was sufficiently charged as was the controller. the only other thing in the box is the controller and some tools to adjust the board and replace the belts.
Simplicity is key
There is no app. There is no connections to set up. You simply turn the controller and skateboard on and you are ready to go. You can be skateboarding within a minute of being handed the box.
I will say that out of the box, the trucks are very tight which is good for avoiding speed wobbles but not great for carving. I’m more of a slow carver so I loosened them quite a bit.
Also, these are big 105mm x 65mm wheels, and as someone used to riding a little lower on a board, this took some getting used to. The flipside is that the huge wheels take road cracks, stones and potholes like a champ. They also have enough grip not to spin out even at the 4 setting.
Have I raved enough about how much I love the simplicity of this thing?
There are basically 4 speeds.
- The controller defaults to 1 which has a very smooth uptake and slowdown. I recommend this is where people start.
- The 2 speed is where I live mostly, especially in crowded areas. Acceleration and deceleration are more significant here but nothing that will throw you off the board. Top speed approaches 15-20mph which is fine by me.
- The 3 speed is as crazy as I want to get and here I’m stable enough to stay on the board but it takes effort when speeding up and slowing down to stay on the board. I don’t feel safe at this top speed though I have hit it.
- 4 basically throws me off the board. I’ve tried being super careful and easing the speed up but I still get thrown off the board. Do not recommend unless you are a speed freak.
That’s where my 13-year-old son comes in. In the winter, he’s a competitive snowboarder. In the summer, he’s in the skate parks. He instantly fell in love with this thing, especially its ability to fly UP hills and slow down on hills. On roads he’s a speed freak, routinely pushing its 32-mph top speed which I don’t like at all from a safety standpoint. Perhaps a way to lock it at speeds 2-3 would be a nice addition for parents.
Shortcomings
If I was to change one thing about the Meepo Flow, I would probably make the main battery charger interface 100+W USB-C instead of the proprietary ST3-ish charger connector. The ST3 means that it will be hard/expensive to find extra/replacement chargers and charging while on the road. Meanwhile, the option of USB-C would allow for universal charging and even the use of external batteries to improve usage time. Heck, I could even charge my phone or the Meepo controller from my Flow e-skateboard!
Dear Micromobility industry, let’s get USB-C on all the things done!
I’m also concerned about the external nature of the belts but to be fair I’ve not yet had a problem with the belts staying firm. I’ve seen some folks in forums saying that this thing burns through belts, which can be replaced cheaply on Amazon beyond the 2 extra provided in the packaging) but maybe I’m just not going as hard as others. It might help the belts last longer if they were enclosed in casing however.
Electrek’s take
I just love the simplicity and price of this board and if it wasn’t for my son falling in love with it too, it would be my daily driver. As it stands, he wants it all the time and I’m juggling the idea of trying to resurrect my Boosted Board, getting an also interesting Meepo off road board or just getting a second Meepo Flow at $699 or perhaps a Refurbished one at $559.
MEEPO FLOW Specs:
- Range: 24miles / 38km
- Top Speed: 32mph / 52 kph
- Deck: 2 ply fiberglass + 2 ply bamboo+5 ply Canadian maple
- Dimensions: 880mmx241mm/34.6″ x 9.5″
- Hill Climbing: 26%
- Battery: 50.4 V – 12S2P Molicel P42A – 362Wh / 8.4AH
- Remote: N5S
- Motor Power: 2519 Watts x 2 brushless sensored motors HB4240 155KV Motor
- Trucks: DKP
- Charging Time: 50.4V4.5A Charger: 2h
- Max Load: 330lbs / 150kg
- Wheels: 105mm x 65mm wheels
- Weight: 21.4 lbs/ 9.7 kg
- Bushing: 100A
- Waterproof: IPX5
Author: Seth Weintraub
Source: Electrek
