Longboards are a great way to get around for many people, but kicking on the flats can be rather tiring. That's where motorized options like the LaGrange L1 truck come into play. Now, a new option called Kickr offers an electric motor without requiring the user to change trucks.
To use Kickr, the skater connects the device to their existing board. To do so, they wrap the battery pack around the bottom of the board, remove one of the wheel bolts and attach the motor above said wheel. Once everything's reattached, the user steps on the throttle button (which is on the strap for the battery) and the motor turns the wheel and moves the board.
The design allows the motor to work with almost any longboard, which means users can keep using the board with which they are comfortable, instead of having to adapt to a new one.
Kickr promises speeds up to 20 mph (32 km/h) and enough battery power to travel about six miles (9.6 km). A full charge of the battery should take about two hours. The device weighs less than five pounds (2.3 kg), so it shouldn't add too much weight to the board.
The execution of the prototype is a little rough to look at, but it's easy to see where the design makes sense. The final design looks a lot cleaner, but the creators haven't shown off that look in a final working prototype.
The team at Kickr is seeking funding for its motor on Kickstarter. Buyers interested in getting a kit for their longboard can do so for a minimum pledge of US$399, assuming the funding goal is met.
The pitch video below shows the motor in action.
Sources: Kickr, Kickstarter
