Bamboo GT Series Review 2020. Evolve Electric Skateboards
High powered, all terrain bamboo electric skateboards.
Evolve Bamboo GT series Key Features
Take a look at the key features of the Bamboo GT series and continue reading for the in depth Evolve Bamboo GT series review.
| Dimensions | Speed | Range | Charging time | Weight | Smartphone app | Waterproof rating | Lights | Max weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Length 96 cm (38 inches) Deck wheelbase 73 cm (29 inches) | ~36-42 km/h (22 - 26 m/h) on both setups | Street GT 35 km (21 miles) All Terrain GT km (12.5 miles) | 3-4 hours | Street GT 7.9 kg (17 lbs) All Terrain GT 9.5 kg (20 lbs) | No | No waterproof rating | No | 100 kg (220 lbs) |
Evolve Bamboo GT series Overview
The Evolve Skateboards company started making electric skateboards in 2010 and doesn’t show any signs of slowing. The Australian company’s love for extreme sports such as surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding led to creating modern, versatile electric skateboards that allow you to enjoy cruising and carving, provide a fast commute in the city and most also extreme electric skateboard off-roading.
Evolve skateboards are more focused on people who already love longboards and have the urge for additional power to carve, cruise, go off-road or just have the need for speed.
If you are not a skateboarder or extreme sports fanatic – no big deal! The Bamboo GT series is designed to please all kind of needs whether it be city commuting, slow long distance riding, or having fun carving on a dirt road.
What models are in the Evolve Bamboo GT Series?
In this Bamboo GT Series review, we’ll examine the three options available with the Evolve Bamboo GT series:
- A street electric skateboard
- An all-terrain electric skateboard
- A 2in1 package for all your needs.
No matter if you are looking for a new hobby or a greener means of transport, you should be able to find a build that suits you.
Speed, Power & Distance
Evolve Skateboards are known to be one of the best performing electric skateboards on the market. They’re very powerful, fast, and can go for long distances which is a struggle for any electric vehicle. The excellent performance and power are achieved through 3000 Watt dual brushless motor power.
How fast does it go?
Evolve Bamboo GT maximum speed is 36-42 km/h (22 – 26 m/h) depending on the board setup and wheels. Going that fast on the streets and pavements is already intense, just imagine how much fun it is reaching such speeds when offroading!
High maximum speed allows enjoying the longboard experience without even needing to go downhill. In fact, you can go uphill without much trouble. The Bamboo GT series packs serious acceleration that can take you up to 25% gradient hills with no trouble. Having such a high climbing capability is a rare feature in the electric skateboard market.
Does it have more than one speed setting?
What if you are new to electric skateboards but want to enjoy all the fun it provides? Or want to commute in busy street traffic without going as fast as cars on the road? This is where Evolve Skateboards versatility comes into play. The Evolve Bamboo GT has 4 speed modes:
- Slow – 20% of power with limited speed
- Eco – 40% of power with limited speed
- Fast – 60% of power with full speed
- GT – 100% of power with full speed and max acceleration
As you can see Bamboo GT series skateboards can be used by most people, whether they need adrenaline and speed, have to commute in busy streets, or are just starting to learn how to ride electric skateboards.
What age/weight is it suitable for?
Because of high performance Evolve skateboards advise children younger than 14 years not to use the skateboard unless under adult supervision.
Evolve Bamboo GT max rider weight is 100 kg (220 lbs) which is not that high considering some other electric skateboards we’ve reviewed, but should suitable for most riders.
What is the range/distance?
Long range is another property that sets Evolve skateboards apart from the competition in electric skateboards market. Evolve Bamboo GT street setup allows to go for 35 km (21 miles) with a full charge. As with all electric skateboards they usually don’t reach max speed but even then Evolve Bamboo GT street will go around 2 times further than most of their competitors.
The Evolve Bamboo GT All Terrain setup has a lower distance because it needs more power for bigger wheels to go through rougher terrain. Its max distance is 20 km (12.5 miles) of pure fun and adrenaline.
Can it be used offroad?
We already revealed that you can go freestyling in most places with Bamboo GT All Terrain setup. The 7-inch hard compound rubber wheels give great grip on earth, rocks, dirt, or short grass.
Knowing that the street version wheels perform well on smooth pavements and streets with little to no gaps or short joints the all-terrain setup comes in very handy. If you need to commute to work in a city that has rough pathways or even cobblestone the Bamboo GT AT will be much more efficient and faster.
Battery Life & Charging
How long does it take to charge?
Evolve Bamboo GT series e-skateboards are equipped with 36V 6.5ah Lithium-Ion battery that will charge 0-100% in 3-4 hours. You also have the option to additionally purchase a fast charger that will charge your battery in just 1.5-2 hours time.
Battery protection & safety
We couldn’t find any information on battery protection on the company’s webpage. We don’t think that Evolve Skateboards would bypass safety features on the battery, however, we would advise to take proper care when charging and handling the battery.
How long will the battery last for?
The battery should last around 1000 charge cycles. Having in mind the range you can get with a full charge Evolve batteries will serve a long time compared to many other e-boards.
Design and Ergonomics
Evolve Bamboo GT series design is quite simple, it resembles a longboard and as its name states, it looks like bamboo… The board itself is quite stiff but still has some flex to provide a comfortable ride when cruising or carving. Having a wide board makes it very comfortable to ride and change feet positioning as needed.
Since Evolve skateboards are designed by longboarders, snowboarders and surfers most of the focus was put into the performance. For us, it lacks a little finesse and aesthetics. The 2 1500 Watt uncovered motors on the back of the board make it look a little unfinished and in the development phase. But really, it’s just a small detail that might not bother others.
What material is it made from?
Evolve Bamboo GT series skateboards are made from 7-ply Canadian maple and 2-ply laminated Bamboo. The softwood material gives the longboard the flexibility that is required for proper cruising and carving experience.
Being made of a light wood the Bamboo GT skateboards should be light, but the powerful motors and battery do add a lot of weight. The street setup weighs 7.9kg (17 lbs) and the all-terrain setup 9.5kg (21 lbs) because of the bigger rubber wheels.
Remote control
We were surprised with the remote of evolve skateboards. Their new upgraded R2 remote connects through 2.4G connection and allows you to see live information like speed, distance, battery state on the LCD screen.
Using the remote you can switch speed modes quite easily.
Additionally, we really like how the remote is designed. Having a dead-man switch is already commendable so you would avoid accidental acceleration but the remotes brake trigger responds to how much you push it in. This means that it does not use full force as soon as you touch it, the more you push it in the faster you stop. This allows for a smooth and gradual stop. Also, if you simultaneously push both acceleration and brake triggers the later will be given priority and you will stop.
Does the board connect to your smartphone via app or Bluetooth?
Currently, there is no smartphone application available.
Does it have suspension?
No suspension on the Bamboo GT series, however, when using street setup to ride on roads and smooth pavements there is no need for suspension. Slightly flexible board and great wheels with super carve trucks will give a stable and proper longboard experience.
If your path is rocky, uneven, or with small gaps, the street setup will definitely be very bumpy and very hard to ride. In this case, we would suggest using the all-terrain setup. Big wheels will not mitigate all the bumps but should definitely get you to your destination.
Build quality and ease of use
Even tho we don’t really fancy the looks of the Bamboo GT series we cannot say anything bad about the build quality. High-quality wood and bamboo deck feels like a good quality longboard.
The trucks and mounts of the skateboard feel very tough and stable and two powerful brushless motors on the back are actually really silent.
If you are an experienced skateboarder or longboarder you will have no trouble using this energetic e-board. The wonderful R2 remote is easy to master and very comfortable to control.
Don’t be afraid if you are just getting introduced to skateboards or electric alternative vehicles. Bamboo GT series 4 speed modes provide comfortable learning curve even for beginners who haven’t stepped on a skateboard once.
Safety and usability on the road
It is now probably clear that you can use Bamboo GT series skateboard on roads and pavements and offroading. But which setup should you choose, the street, all-terrain, or 2in1 package?
We believe that the best option is to pick up a 2in1 package. Even if you want to commute in the city or like carving on smooth paths, there will probably come a time when you will want to go off-roading with this powerhouse electric skateboard. Off-roading is extremely fun on this skateboard and even our testers who never tried carving had fun learning it on hard earth.
Having a responsive remote and good brakes will provide a quick stop when needed, but that’s not enough to be safe. Riding this swift electric skateboard you need proper safety gear like helmet and protection pads.
Also, take care when riding at night. Evolve Skateboards don’t have any lights or blinkers for night riding.
Is the Bamboo GT waterproof?
Evolve skateboards have not released any waterproof grade with their boards. So, no, Bamboo GT series is not waterproof and should be kept away from puddles, rain, or any other water sources. This is a bit strange since its meant for offroading and is really one of the most negative points in this Bamboo GT series review. The boards are expensive, so be careful to only use in dry conditions.
Maneuverability
The street and all-terrain skateboards are as maneuverable as most longboards, so you probably won’t be making sharp turns, but you can easily carve and have a smooth ride even when going fast due to 12-inch trucks.
Restrictions and availability
You can purchase Evolve Skateboards from a lot of countries, check their international stockists for availability.
Finally, don’t forget to check your local laws if you are going to ride this powerful electric transportation vehicle on public roads or pavements. Every country and even state has different laws for alternative transportation. Be responsible and abide by the rules.
Bamboo GT Series Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals 2020
Many savvy skaters will be seeking the latest discounts and Bamboo GT Series Black Friday deals. Furthermore, will there be Cyber Monday deals on the Bamboo GT Series ? With over year on the market now, we believe this to be more than likely. However, we have been unable to find any websites currently offering Bamboo GT Series Black Friday pre-order deals. If you do, sure to fact check. Some websites raise prices just before Black Friday and these “discounted” deals actually cost more! So if you’re looking to buy we think it will be worth waiting until Thanksgiving and deals week to get the best price. Any price information, news, and Bamboo GT Series Black Friday 2020 deals we come across will be listed on this page, so check back soon! Discover our list of possible Black Friday electric skateboard deals this 2020!
