If you have spent some time in the eskate community, you probably know of Maxfind. The company has been on the market since 2015, producing budget boards that were not appealing to the typical eskate enthusiast. The competition was just better in terms of build quality, reputation, and price-value ratio. Recently, Maxfind has seriously stepped up their game, releasing a new line up with 3 exciting products. We will also take a closer look at one of their new boards, the Maxfind Max4 Pro, which is basically a Conversion Kit (Maxfind M5 Drive Kit) strapped to a deck. In short, I will be covering both the Board and the Kit. The big question is, after years of making beginner-grade boards, is Maxfind finally ready to compete?
Check out the Board and the Kit at Maxfind’s Website
Pros and Cons
Pros
Clean and trendy look
Can be used as a drive Kit
Swappable battery
Premium and durable enclosure
Responsive control (Hobbywing ESC)
Smooth acceleration and braking
Strong hub motors
Great looking, durable trucks
Good for sliding
Cons
The deck is very stiff
The deck is narrow
If the road is rough, the board is loud (rattling sound)
Advertised range is an overstatement
Wheels are too hard for my taste (good for sliding but not for aggressive carving)
Not comfortable to carry due to its design
Overall Riding Experience
The riding experience is solid, with nice acceleration and a top speed that will probably satisfy the majority of eskaters. Controllability is super smooth due to the Hobbywing ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) It offers a soft yet strong acceleration and braking, inspiring a calm confidence. The 750 Watt Hub motors are stronger than most of Maxfind’s budget boards competitors, which usually only bring 400w to the table. With this kind of power, it should not be a surprise that Max4 Pro can climb hills relatively easy. I don’t find the deck super comfortable, as it is very stiff and narrow, leaving my toes and heels overhanging the deck. Like with other hub motor boards with stiff decks, rough roads are a pain, and the wheels are a bit too hard for my style of riding. Though the board started slipping in aggressive carving, I believe it would probably be suitable for beginners who want to learn slide.
Acceleration & Brakes
As mentioned, the acceleration and braking on the Maxfind 4 Pro is very smooth, which is expected with a Hobbywing ESC. You can select between 4 Speed Modes, with different top speed, acceleration and braking curves. Mode 1 is beginner-friendly, while mode 4 unleashes the full power of the board.
Range
The marketed range of 12 miles (20 km) was probably measured under “ideal conditions”, meaning a light rider, speed mode 1, riding on a flat surface without stops and no wind for long stretches. In my trials, I hit around 9 miles (14 km) in real-life range. What was the difference? At 165lbs in speed mode 4, with numerous stop-and-gos, wind, some hill climbs, and a lot of carving, I was not holding out. The outcome of the range test was definitely not a huge surprise as the Maxfind Max4 Pro uses a 158 Wh battery. With a battery this size, you can’t expect this board to be a long-distance traveler! Depending on various factors you can presume a range of 7 – 12 miles, this should be a realistic estimation.
But there is more to the range story: the Max4 pro and the M5 Drive Kit feature a swappable battery system. You have the option to buy separate 158 Wh or 216Wh batteries. So you can carry a spare battery in your backpack to increase the range. I like!
Weight and Portability
At 16 lbs (7.5 kg) the Max4 Pro is not super heavy, but keep in mind the inherent problem with weight distribution suffered by all eskate conversion kits. Due to the necessary design of a conversion Kit (all electronic parts are located on one side), these boards are not comfortable to carry. When a board comes prefabricated, deck and all, the manufacturer can spread out the components and optimize for balance.
Build Quality
The build quality is somewhere between solid, and great! The enclosure of the battery and ESC is made out of aluminum; it’s super durable, sleek, and good-looking. Although was impressed at first glance, I found something to complain about. It seems like there is too much room for the 158 Wh battery, which makes perfect sense as the 216 Wh battery has bigger dimensions and also has to fit. The excess room results in a rattling sound when riding over rough pavement. Nothing to worry about, and you can put a layer of foam into the enclosure to mitigate the rattle, but it bears mentioning. Beyond that, the trucks look gorgeous, and I am really in love with their texture. Wheels, motors, and remote control are solid, but nothing fancy. The only part I am really not happy with is the deck. As I’ve said, it’s just too narrow and a bit stiff for my liking.
Water Proofing
Another interesting thing I want to mention is the declared water-resistance of the kit. Maxfind claims to have ESC IPX7, hub motor IP66, battery IP65 rated parts – meaning dust-tight and resistant to water jets. I cannot verify whether that’s true or not, but it does appear they’ve taken the usual measures.
Wheels
Something I want to criticize specifically is the wheels. I am not super happy with them as they seem to be pretty rigid. Maxfind says on their website that the wheels have 78A Duro, but I am skeptical about that. The wheels definitely feel harder that rating indicates. They don’t offer tons of grip, and I slipped out twice during aggressive carving tests.
Trucks
The trucks are arguably the most beautiful I’ve have seen. Well done Maxfind! What I find a bit weird is their width. The trucks are, like the deck, pretty narrow. Nothing too major, but I would have preferred wider ones…even if that only gave me more to look at!
Shipping Time
Maxfind offers US-based shipping – hurray! Hence if the board or Kit is in stock you will have it within a week. If you are outside the US you have to fight with the typical long shipping times (2 – 8 weeks) associated with Chinese eskate brands.
Customer Service
The customer service is probably acceptable in China, but doesn’t meet western standards.
Price
Among budget board dominators like the Meepo V3, or Backfire G2, the Maxfind Max 4 Pro is more a bit more expensive. For that, you will get stronger motors, smoother control, 9 months of warranty and a swappable and upgradable kit.
Model | Maxfind Max4Pro | Meepo V3 | Backfire G2 |
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Price | $ 619 | $ 419 | $ 419 |
Battery Size | 156 Wh | 144 Wh | 180 Wh |
Range | 12 miles (20 km) | 11 miles (18 km) | 11 miles (18 km) |
Top Speed | 26 mph (42 km/h) | 28 mph (45 km/h) | 24 mph (38 km/h) |
Motors | 2 x 750 Watt | 2 x 540 Watt | 2 x 400 Watt |
Weight | 16 lbs (7.5 kg) | 16 lbs (7.2 kg) | 14.5 lbs (6.5 kg) |
Hill Climb | 30% | 30% | 25% |
Max Load | 220 lbs (100 kg) | 300 lbs (136 kg) | 260 lbs (118 kg) |
Recharge Time | 2 hours | 2 hours | 3.5 hours |
Warranty | 9 months | 6 months | 6 months |
Wheel Sizes (Stock) | 96 mm | 90 mm | 96 mm |
Special Features | DIY Kit, swappable battery, strong hub motors | One of the most sold boards ever | Big Battery for the price |
Compared to other drive kits, like Loaded x Unlimited, Mellow, or Revel, the Maxfind M5 Drive Kit is more affordable.
Model | Maxfind M5 Drive Kit | Loaded x Unlimited Kit | Revel Kit |
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Price | $ 569 | $ 1199 | $ 649 |
Battery Size | 156 Wh | 180 Wh | 144 Wh |
Range | 12 miles (20 km) | 13 miles (21 km) | 8 miles (13 km) |
Top Speed | 26 mph (42 km/h) | 23 mph (37 km/h) | 28 Mph / 45 Kmh |
Motors | 2 x 750 Watt | 2 x 840 Watt | 2 x 1100 Watt |
Weight | 14 Ibs (6.5 kg) | 9 lbs (4 kg) | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
Hill Climb | 30% | 36% | 20% |
Max Load | 220 lbs (100 kg) | 240 lbs (110 kg) | 264 lbs (120 kg) |
Recharge Time | 2 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours |
Warranty | 9 months | 12 months | 6 months |
Wheel Sizes (Stock) | 96 mm | 85 mm | 90 mm |
Shipping Time | 1 Week | 1 Week | 3 Weeks |
Special Features | super durable case, swappable battery | Different Mods are possible | Swappable Battery |
Conclusion
Pros
Clean and trendy look
Can be used as a drive Kit
Swappable battery
Premium, durable enclosure
Responsive control (Hobbywing ESC)
Smooth acceleration and braking
Strong hub motors
Great looking, durable trucks
Good for sliding
Cons
The deck is very stiff
The deck is narrow
If the road is rough, the board is loud (rattling sound)
Advertised range is an exaggeration
Wheels are too hard for my taste (good for sliding but not for aggressive carving)
Not comfortable to carry due to its design
So, what is the take-home here? If you are looking for an electric skateboard conversion Kit the M5 Drive Kit from Maxfind is a serious contender. The Maxfind justifies its price.
Check out the Board and the Kit at Maxfind’s Website