Electric Skateboard Buyers' Guide To The Best Setup With The Revel Kit

Electric Skateboard Buyers' Guide To The Best Setup With The Revel Kit

We've gotten lots of questions from aspiring skateboarders over the years, so we thought making this post might offer some help. Building your first electric skateboard setup is exciting and full of nuance. We're here to help you navigate all your choices.

This post will cover longboarding basics, as well as Revel electric skateboard specific questions to give you the most confidence when choosing your setup. 

General Skate Questions

What board length and deck shape should I choose for an electric skateboard?

 

longboard shapes guide to electric skateboard decks 

One of the best features of the Revel Kit is the ability to install it on a variety of decks. Navigating the different longboard shapes, sizes, and concaves to pair with the Revel electric skateboard kit has never been easier.

There are more skateboard and longboard shapes than we could possibly cover in one post. To give you an idea of the basics, we'll explore just a few of the most popular longboard shapes along with some pros and cons of each:

Best Longboard For Beginners

guide best longboard for beginners pintail deck shape

If you are new to skateboarding or consider yourself a beginner, we recommend going with a longer board. A long, pintail shape can be especially good for learning. The reason behind this is because a longboard has increased flex, better stability, and will help you get comfortable with turning. Once you progress, it's sure to keep up with you as you start to carve harder and handle more hills.

Most pintail decks should also have wheel wells, the subtle sections carved out of the deck on all four corners near the wheels. This helps avoid wheel bite, which is when a wheel comes into contact with the deck during a turn, abruptly stopping the forward motion.

While the pintail shape is often many people's first longboard shape, we consider any deck 37 inches and above enough length to provide all of the benefits listed above to those learning how to longboard.

Cruiser Boards

cruiser style longboard shape for electric skateboard

 

Cruiser boards are often referred to as a hybrid of a longboard and skateboard. They offer a different skating experience, providing an exceptionally tight turning radius and gentle kick tail—perfect for weaving through busy sidewalks.

Usually, these compact skateboards are 32 inches or less in length, so they're suitable for those who have experience riding skateboards or are confident on a longer board. 

Cutaway Decks

cutaway longboard shape

Cutaways on all four corners and allow for plenty of rotation from the trucks while removing the potential for wheel bite. If you like to carve hard, longboard dance or just cruise along, this could be a great choice for a loose feel and plenty of range of motion.

Drop-Through Longboards

drop through longboard deck shape

Now to get technical. Drop-through longboard decks also feature cutaways on all four sides, but the name refers to the holes where you mount the trucks. Trucks are "dropped through" the deck and secured with the base plate on top.

The main advantage of drop-through decks is that it sits closer to the ground and the lowered platform allows for greater stability at high speeds.

The Revel electric skateboard kit works with drop-through longboarding decks and top-mount longboarding decks. When using a drop-through deck, you'll just need to make sure you buy truck cover plates to attach to the top.

Drop-down decks are not compatible, although a micro-drop can be corrected with the use of a riser.

Popsicle Deck 

popcicle longboard shape double kicktail

Popsicle decks look the most like a regular street skateboard. Usually they have a kicktail on both sides and can range in size from looking like a regular skateboard to being as long as a longboard.

These decks are usually great for riders who are experienced on traditional skateboards. The double kicktail can be a bit unstable for those newer to longboarding, but great for those who know how to use them to pop small tricks, slides and sharp turns.

All in all, these are only suggestions and finding the right board for you will take some research and experimentation.

What is a skateboard's wheelbase? What length should I choose?

The best way to determine if your deck will fit the Revel Kit is by measuring the wheelbase.
diagram how to measure skateboard wheelbase, length and width
If the wheelbase is longer than 10", the the kit will fit but the battery cannot be removed. In order to be able to slide the battery in and out, the wheelbase needs to be at least 15".
You can also attach two Revel Kits to one board if it has a long enough wheelbase. For this "4WD" setup, the wheelbase will need to be at least 25" to give you enough room for both kits, plus room to swap the Revel batteries with ease.

What skateboard bushings should I use on an electric longboard?

longboard bushing diagram

Bushings are some of the smallest items on your longboard, but offer the greatest benefits in terms of comfort and control. When customized to match your weight and riding style, your riding is set to improve drastically.

There are a few types of bushing shapes that are commonly used, which are standard, cone, and barrel shapes:

  • Standard bushings describe a set of bushings made up of one barrel and one cone bushing. This combination gives the longboard a smaller turning radius while still maintaining a good level of stability. 
  • Barrel bushings have a symmetrical cylindrical shape (same width at top and bottom) and are the most common choice for all styles of riding, but especially if you plan on riding at higher speeds.
  • Cone bushings have a "conical" shape and are normally used for cruising and carving purposes because they have the least amount of mass,  therefore providing less resistance when turning.

Durometer is the other important factor when choosing bushings, and sometimes is referred to as "hardness." Harder bushings provide more resistance (better for larger riders) and softer bushings provide less resistance (better for smaller riders). 

Here is a chart guide for choosing appropriate bushings according to your ride style and weight class.

longboard bushings hardness weight chart

Revel Kits come pre-installed with a double barrel setup rated at 91a (medium) harness.

Revel Kit Questions

What is the top speed of an electric skateboard?

revel remote top speed

Speed is remote controlled and can be affected by many factors, such as rider weight, weather conditions, surface conditions, wheel choice, riding style and board setup. With that being said, the Revel Kit has been tested to go up to a top speed of 28mph in optimal conditions and even faster in a 4WD setup.

On the Revel remote, you can control your top speed and set your speed mode from four options:

  • Speed mode 1: Goes up to 9 mph or 15 km/hr
  • Speed mode 2: Goes up to 16 mph or 22 km/hr
  • Speed mode 3: Goes up to 22 mph or 35 km/hr
  • Speed mode 4: Goes up to 28 mph or 45 km/hr

We also recommend tracking your speed and other stats with MapMyRide, a free fitness tracking app equipped with a skateboarding mode, giving you the power to break down the science behind your skate sessions.

What kind of wheels can I use on an electric skateboard?

The Revel Kit comes with a set of black 90mm 74a wheels that are high quality and great for general riding.

For those who want to switch it up, our skateboard kit with direct-drive motors is compatible with most wheels featuring a ABEC 11 or Orangatang wheel core. Wheels range in diameter from 85mm all the way up to 120mm, so choosing what's right for you depends on your goals, whether it's more tread, stylish colors or top speed that you want.

Smaller wheels (85mm - 95mm) will give you better battery life for those long distance rides, while bigger wheels (100mm+) will allow you to achieve higher speeds when you're in the mood to race your friends.

Here are some of the most popular compatible wheels that our customers pair with the Revel Kit:

  • 85mm Caguama
  • 90mm Hyperdrive
  • 100mm Hyperdrive
  • 90mm Boa
  • 100mm Boa
  • 105mm Cloudwheels
  • 120mm Cloudwheels
  • 110mm Torque Boards

All of the wheel options above will go over bumps and cracks with ease, giving you a smooth and comfortable ride no matter where you take it.

Do I need adapters for my electric skateboard wheels?

The Revel motorized skateboard kit comes with both ABEC-11 and Orangatang adapters, allowing you to shred what you please. All new Revel Kits come with ABEC-11 adapters that are compatible with Discovery Cloudwheels right out of the box. No need to order extras.

Which battery should I choose?

revel electric skateboard battery

The Revel Kit has two battery pack options. The Extended Range battery will have you riding up to 15 miles, while the Standard Range battery can last up to 10 miles. Both lithium batteries are the same size and are nearly identical in weight. The main reason our customers choose the Standard Range is for air travel.

With Revel's removable battery, there's no need to carefully plan your day around outlets for recharging. Carry a spare and swap an empty battery for a full one in seconds. 

We also offer Revel Kit bundles for a special price when buying an electric skateboard from Revel with a spare battery, or when buying two Revel Kits at a time (whether you attach both to one board or want to set up two separate boards).

Can you take an electric skateboard on a plane? What are the air-travel guidelines?

Yes, the Revel Standard Range battery was built for this purpose. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration and the International Air Transport Association, our 144wh Standard Range Electric Skateboard Battery is suitable for travel with prior airline approval.

More Frequently Asked Questions About The Revel Kit

 revel kit overview parts

For more information about Revel, head to the FAQ's page.
 

 


6 comments


  • Revel Boards

    @Jim Pariso: Electric skateboards powered by hub motors are typically a bit more rough to ride, due to the thin urethane sleeve covering the motors. Our kit uses a direct drive powertrain and standard loongboard wheels, so that should not be a problem!


  • Revel Boards

    @Sean Murphy: Riding in 4WD should give you a few more miles per hour on the top end. And yes, you could potentially use a 4WD build and only one kit at a time, for basically double the range!


  • Jim Pariso

    I’m an old guy looking to convert my board to an electric set-up. I have heard that the wheels on electric skateboards are harder than standard urethan wheels. Is this the case?


  • Sean Murphy

    What is the top speed with two kits on one board?
    Also, can a 2 kit board be used only engaging only one kit at a time for extended distance?
    Thanks


  • Michael H Mathew

    Good information for beginners. Worth of money to buy Revel kits.


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