by Chris |
Last Updated: September 1, 2021 Slick Revolution Flex 2.0
Pros
- High top speed
- Long range
- Powerful motor
- Hub drives
- Built for rough terrain
- Multiple wheel choices
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- Not quite as fast as the x1 Pro
- Overpowered for use on smooth pavement
- Too much for a beginner to handle.
One of the few UK based electric skateboard companies, Slick Revolution has made a name for themselves building quality boards from innovative materials. Their boards are designed with a lot of flex in the deck to made riding on rough pavement more comfortable, and their rough stuff wheels are designed to handle everything from pebbles to low curbs without issue.
In the past, they’ve built their boards from bamboo, but the newer models of the Flex have been redesigned with new materials.
Key Features
- Top speed of 27 miles per hour
- Range of up to 19 miles
- 2 x 1200W 190KV Motors
- Max load of 265lbs
- 0-20mph in 7.9 seconds
- 36.8 inch deck
- Charges in 6 hours (there’s a faster charger available that will charge it in 3 hours, but it’s sold separately)
- Deck made of carbon fiber and Italian poplar wood for maximum strength and flexibility
- Designed from the bottom up as an eskate platform
- 10mm deck drop lowers center of gravity for more stability
- 3 speed modes
- 3 braking speeds
- Redesigned controller with LCD screen
- Choose between 83mm Slick wheels and 110mm Rough Stuff wheels
- 12 month warranty
- Financing available
Design and Construction
Slick Revolution wants their boards to handle the roughest pavement out there- after all, roads in the UK are old, and some of them are still using cobblestone. That means they build tough, flexible boards that give a smooth ride over rough terrain.
These aren’t all-terrain boards though; you can’t take one off-road. They’re built for old pavement, not rocks and dirt.
The deck on these new boards is made of a carbon fiber shell wrapped around a core of Italian poplar wood- this wood is renowned for its strength and light weight. This combination of tough, lightweight materials keeps the board strong yet flexible, and allows to to hit high speeds and have a long range.
2 cross layups and a central strip provide added strength without sacrificing any flexibility.
Remote Control
One of the complaints about Slick Revolutions boards in the past has been the remote controls, which always felt somewhat cheap. In response, they’ve completely redesigned their remotes.
The new controller boasts an LCD display that will show your live speed while you’re riding, so you always know exactly how fast you’re going. It also has a menu that allows you to access all the features of your board.
You get three different speed modes, and three brake modes to go with them. The throttle wheel has been redesigned to allow for smoother acceleration and there’s now a dead mans trigger for safety.
The new remote feels every bit as premium as the rest of the board, and the new LCD display is a nice touch.
Motor
This board has two 1200 watt hub motors, which gives you a lot of power. The hub motors are also much quieter and more reliable than a belt or chain motor.
The powerful motors allow this board to climb hills with a 25% grade; that’s significant, since hub motors usually have more trouble on hills than belt motors. Hub motors also allow you to use your electric skateboard just like a regular long board if your battery dies, whereas a belt motor is much more difficult to use if you run out of power.
Wheels
As mentioned earlier, there are two different wheel options when you purchase this board.
The 83mm Slick wheels are traditional skateboard style wheels. The smaller size provides better torque and acceleration, but also lowers your top speed. These wheels are ideal for smooth pavement.
The 110mm Rough Stuff wheels are probably the more popular choice. These are big, tough wheels. Although you won’t accelerate as quickly, these wheels give you a higher top speed.
Most importantly, the Rough Stuff wheels handle rough terrain beautifully. They’re designed to smooth out a bumpy ride, and can even go over a low curb with no problem.
Since the whole board is built for handling rough pavement, the Rough Stuff wheels are going to be the ideal choice for most people buying this board.
Range and Speed
The listed top speed of 27mph is only achievable with the Rough Stuff wheels; if you get the Slick wheels, your top speed drops to 25mph, which is still a respectable speed.
It’s probably true that those top speeds were measured on perfectly flat ground with a full charge and somebody weighing in well below the max load on the board, but you should still expect this board to hit high speeds easily. Just remember that the top speed will be affected by terrain and weight.
The same goes for the range. The maximum range is listed at 19 miles, but there are a lot of factors that go into that. If you’re on the heavier side, the range will drop. If the roads you’re riding on are rough, the range will drop. If you’re moving at full speed the whole way, the range will drop.
Still, with a maximum range of 19 miles on a full charge, you can drop the range a lot and still have an impressive range.
Other Features
The deck has a 10mm drop to lower your center of gravity. This creates a lot more stability at high speed, especially if you have to make a turn. The ride will feel more comfortable too. It also has 85A urethane rails. These help dampen your ride and keep your board looking brand new for a lot longer.
Overall
The Slick Revolution Flex 2.0 Carbon is a well-designed and well-made board. It’s tough and lightweight, and has all the speed and range you could want. The flexible deck and big wheels provide a smooth, comfortable ride even on rough pavement and the hub drives are quiet and reliable.
The new remote seals the deal; with the LCD screen displaying all the information you could want and providing seamless control, Slick Revolution has addressed the biggest complaint that users had about the older models they made.
How Does it Compare?
Slick Revolution Flex 2.0 vs exway x1 Pro
These are two boards with very similar features. Both boards claim high speeds, long range, comfortable rides, and precision control. So, how do they stack up?
The x1 has a slightly higher maximum speed, at 29mph vs the 27mph of the Flex. It has a shorter range, though: 16 miles instead of the 19 promised by Slick Revolution.
The x1 comes with a remote equipped with an LCD screen, just like the Flex, and has 4 speed modes to the Flex’s 3. It also vibrates the remote when it detects unusual conditions- a nice touch.
The x1 only comes with smooth, 85mm wheels. If you’ll be riding on smooth, flat, well-maintained roads the x1 might be a better choice, since it offers slightly more speed.
The Flex 2.0 is still the best option for those who’ll be riding over rougher terrain. Read our review.
Slick Revolution Flex 2.0 vs Vokul v1 Cruiser
The Vokul has a max range of 10 miles, and a max speed of 13mph. Its 350W motor puts out a lot less power than the one the Flex uses, although it’s still a hub drive.
This is a slower, weaker board in every way, but that’s not always a bad thing.
The Slick Revolution Flex 2.0 is fast, powerful board. In fact, it’s probably too much for beginners to handle. The Vokul is a much better choice for beginners; the controls are similar, so once you’ve mastered them on the Vokul you can upgrade to the Flex. Read our review.
Slick Revolution Flex 2.0 vs Boosted Boards Boosted Plus
Boosted Boards is one of the most well-known names in the industry. The Boosted Plus is their electric long board, and it has some impressive features.
It’s speed tops out at 22 mph, and it has a 14 mile range. The super flex composite deck makes for a comfortable ride, and while the remote doesn’t have an actual screen, it does have clear battery indicators on it so you’ll always be aware of your battery life.
The Flex is faster and has a longer range. Like the Vokul, the Boosted Plus may be a better choice for beginners and like the x1 Pro, it may be a better choice for those who are riding primarily on flat, smooth ground. The Flex, though, is still a better choice for rough terrain.
Summary
The Slick Revolution Flex 2.0 is a well-built board that will serve you well. It’s fast and has a long range, and it will keep you comfortable even on rough, uneven pavement.
It’s probably a bit too fast for a beginner to handle easily, and it’s overpowered if you live somewhere the roads are very smooth. If you’re riding over rough ground, though, it’s ideal.