I’m a New Yorker. Born here and skate here. There’s a certain pride New Yorkers have in their city. It’s not a forgiving city, and the streets are some of the most dangerous for non-vehicles in the world. The sidewalk surfers of New York pride themselves on tackling the city’s poor infrastructure, crumbling roads, and dangerous cab drivers. We use sidewalks, bike lanes, car lanes, and even bus lanes to get about.
Some New Yorkers have realized something though. Pushing is tough. In this city, electric skateboards are becoming more popular. They’re faster than car traffic, crush buses, are more portable than electric scooters, more reliable than the subway, and they’re green. Sure, you can get all of that in a standard longboard, which is even more green, but it’s a lot of effort. Not everyone wants to show up at the office every day in the summer dripping in sweat.
So why all this talk of New York, it’s hot, unforgiving streets, and electric skateboards? Because today, one of New York’s own, Bustin Boards, has revealed their upcoming Dualomo V2 e-boards. They promise to cut back on the things that make electric skateboards a pain: looks, weight, speed, and, worst of all, price.
Bustin’s complete setups start at $599, for an electric skateboard that outperforms $1,200+ skateboards.
E-skateboards aren’t just priced for politicians, doctors, and programmers anymore.
From the city where you can get some of the best pizza in the world for $1 comes the e-board priced for everyone.
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Bustin + Dualomo Designs
Bustin has previously sold their “hybrid” Dualomo skateboards. However, the company has now combined with Dualomo Designs, and they’re offering a new skateboard that cuts costs while giving consumers what they want out of an electric skateboard: power, reliability, a hybrid design, and, surprisingly, silence. But most of all, Bustin is improving on the price.
Dualomo 2
Design
The Dualomo 2 improves on the already popular original. Each deck is based on a currently offered Bustin Board. Either the Yoface cruiser or the Sportster freeride/push board. They all feature reverse kingpin trucks for stability at speed, and a wide wheelbase. Unlike the block you typically see on the bottom of an electric skateboard, or the visible bands and gearing, Bustin’s Dualomo has a wood-looking battery base running the length of the board. It’s more narrow, for better ground clearance, and doesn’t look out of place on a skateboard.
These things are, most frequently, wood, after all.
Bustin has focused on making these “hybrid” boards. They want users to push with them if they want to. New to skating and not yet able to master a good stand up slide to cut speed? That’s fine. The electric motors will serve as your brakes.
Power
Power comes via hub motors hidden in the wheels. Even the smallest setup has 83mm wheels and a max speed of 24 MPH. It can tackle a 20% grade incline. These are power and torque figures usually reserved for the high end models of an e-board lineup. However, for Bustin, it’s just the beginning.
Power goes up to 30 MPH with a 30% grade incline, via two motors hidden in the rear wheels. These wheels come on the Sportster models, and are 90mm in size. 90mm should feel quite comfortable on rough streets, even here in NYC.
Silence
Bustin promises these will sound less like the angry hornets nest produced by the gearing in other electric motors. Bustin’ goes so far as to guess that baby chipmunks might power other e-boards in their giveaway survey. I, for one, do not like animal cruelty. I don’t want to be invisible or perfectly silent on the streets, but part of the reason I don’t skate by street deck as often is its hard 100a durometer wheels, which make a racket. Being able to zip along traffic, even in a quiet neighborhood, is definitely a positive aspect.
Price
Okay, here’s the kicker. A complete Yoface-S model, with 24 MPH top speed and a 20% grade climb is… $599. I love the Loaded+Unlimited kits I wrote about before, but those, with just the batteries and motor, start at $769 for less power. These are complete kits with more power and more range for $170 less. Then there’s the Sportster-S, with a 27 MPH top speed and 25% incline. That’s $699. Finally, there’s the Sportster-Z, with a 30 MPH top speed and enough torque and grip for a 30% incline. That’s $899.
For comparison, the fastest Boosted Board can only get up to 24 MPH (Bustin’s minimum), tackle a 25% grade, and costs $1,599. They’re louder, look bulkier, and have less ground clearance. Oh, and their wheels are smaller.
You’ll also be able to buy 100mm wheels for $100, an extra remote for the same price, and extra chargers from $60, so you can keep one at home and one at the office.
Whoa
Right? I got the email from Bustin’s marketing today and was floored. I let out an audible “Holy crap!” You can reserve one now for half the price, putting down as little as $299 now and paying the rest in October, when the board will launch. Of course, in Bustin’s hometown of New York, that’s when the weather will start getting more harsh for skating. Still, pair them with some goggles or a visor, a nice leather jacket, and a good helmet, and you’ll be ready for most seasons.
This summer has been hot. Despite the fact that my office was often chilly, I needed a fan to cool off in the mornings after skating in. I love skating, and I love the exercise, but it was a bit much in the morning. A little boost to ease my commute and keep me cool would have been very welcome. Bustin’s Dualomo 2 looks to bridge the gap between longboard and e-board, offering a hybrid design everyone can get behind. It’s priced for skaters, too. With this, Bustin is giving a traditional NYC greeting to the rest of the e-board industry.
Hey, I’m skatin’ here!
