ENDEAVOR S1 VS ENDEAVOR PRO

Endeavor Pro shares very similar specs with the Endeavor S except for a few upgrades. Here are three main upgrades worth pointing out:

One: instead of a maple composite deck, Endeavor Pro has a carbon fibre deck that’s 10/10 in the design department. The engraved logos are slick! The board is stiff with a broad concave. 

Two: Endeavor Pro also has a bigger battery. We’re talking about 12s5p VS 12s3p on the Endeavor S. 

And three: from a LingYi ESC in the Endeavor S, Endeavor Pro uses Flipsky VESC paired with a VX2 remote. For those unfamiliar with VESC, this speed controller is commonly used for DIY boards. It’s highly configurable and always silky smooth.

Using VESC would allow the Propel Endeavor Pro to have a higher range, top speed, and a significantly improved riding experience. We will talk about that in detail later.

Now that we have gone through the difference between Endeavor S and Pro let’s look at Endeavor Pro’s specs alone. 

Build and specs

  • Deck: carbon fibre deck; stiff; wide concave
  • Board weight: 43 lbs/19.5 kg 
  • Wheels: 200 MM 8-inch rubber pneumatic wheels; two-wheel drive
  • Shock absorber: adjustable 350lb coil-over shocks
  • Motors: 2 x 6374 belt motors
  • Batteries: Samsung 25Ah/1110Wh, 12S5p
  • Hill climb: 38%
  • Electronic speed controller: 12s Flipsky 4.2 VESC
  • Marketed top speed: 31 mph or 50 km/h
  • Tested top speed: 31 mph or 50 km/h
  • Marketed range: 71 KM for 75kg or 50 km for 100 kg rider
  • Tested range: 39 miles or 63 km for a 90 kg rider.

First, let’s pick up where we left off and look at the brain of the board, the VESC. Endeavour Pro started by using 12s Flipsky 4.2 with a Flipsky v1x remote. The ongoing chip shortage means VESC is hard to come by, and there was a shortage of Flipsky 4.2 VESC. During the VESC 4.2 shortage, Propel upgraded all the placed orders to VESC 6.6 with no added cost and decided to keep both VESC options available.

Don’t worry! Since Propel has configured the setting of both VESCs to be the same, both versions with different VESCs are expected to have similar performance; at least, this is what we were told. If both options were available, I would instead choose to save $100 and go for the VESC 4.

With VESC, Propel Endeavor Pro loses the push to turn-on feature that Endeavor S has. It would be a significant drawback if the power button were placed below the deck. Still, fortunately, Propel has the excellent design sense to put that button right on top of the deck, saving you the trouble of becoming Elastigirl in The Incredibles.

Powerful motors handle heavy-duty off-road riding very well.

Speaking of superheroes and superpowers, Endeavor Pro uses 2 x 6374 belt motors. The board’s engines are powerful and not that noisy. This is the same set of motors like the one on Endeavor S, and we already know that they can handle heavy-duty off-roading very well.

Unique suspension system 

For the wheels, Endeavor Pro uses 200 MM 8-inch rubber pneumatic wheels. Both Endeavor Pro and S use a suspension system different from the X4s. Each truck has its dedicated suspension system in both setups and can move up or down independent of the others. It is notable that Endeavor Pro’s “trucks” work better than what Endeavor S has installed. We’ll explain further during the riding experience.

The tested range meets a marketed range.

The batteries are 12s5p with 1110 watt-hours and 25 Amp-hours. The tested range is 39 miles (63 km) for a 90 kg rider. This is insane! Propel was true to its marketed content. Even Endeavor S, which has a lower price range, has a tested range of 26 miles (42 km). Pretty sweet!

The top speed is 31 mph (50 km/h), which the board can hit easily and quickly.

This board is a monster, but every monster has a weakness. Endeavor Pro, though rugged, is not waterproof. We, unfortunately, found out about that the hard way.

Before we get into the riding experience, let’s take a moment to appreciate how beautiful and polished this machine is. The attention to detail is almost unexpected on a board meant to be ridden in very harsh conditions. 

Riding experience

Now, on to the abuse!

When testing this out, our first question was, what improvement in the riding experience does the Endeavor Pro make compared to Endeavor S? The answer is EVERYTHING. Everything’s better, and the reason is apparent. The VESC made a lot of difference.

Flipsky VESC for the smoothest control

Our biggest complaint of the Endeavor S is the rawness of the speed control, and the Endeavor Pro avoided that downfall by using a VESC. “Avoiding the problem” is an understatement. The smoothness of power is one of the best qualities of Endeavor Pro.

As often is the case, an ESC upgrade makes a huge difference. There are 3-speed modes on the Endeavor Pro, and all of them are intuitive and smooth.

Endeavor Pro’s smooth control makes the ride supremely enjoyable and more comfortable. Being firmer yet smoother means the Endeavor Pro reaches its top speed fast. Even faster than the already stupidly strong Endeavor S, yet does so in a smoother manner. No more sudden jolts and jerks! 

Strong and smooth braking with reverse

Next, let’s talk about how well the Endeavor Pro does in off-road situations. Being an off-road suspension board means the Endeavor Pro is better than a typical All-Terrain board when it comes to handling road vibration. The suspension system will thoroughly cushion any road vibration in off-road and regular road situations. This is what we enjoy most about the board – going full throttle, enjoying the speed, and not being bothered by any road condition.

The motors are plenty strong to challenge any uphill trails. However, you need to put some thought into it when approaching a bump or crack. While most parts of the board have plenty of clearance, the spot near the back pulleys doesn’t have much ground clearance. If you are not careful while going up a bump, the rear pulley might get caught, get stuck, and leave you flying forward. This flaw is shared by the Propel Endeavor S and is a problem that the bigger X4S does not have. 

THE SUMMARY

Now, let’s summarize.

Propel Endeavor Pro is a unique all-terrain suspension board. If I were to nitpick, I would point out that the board couldn’t handle as harsh terrain as something like the Propel X4S could due to the lower clearance near the back wheels. I’d also warn you not to ride it into a pool as we did.

However, some minor nitpicks wouldn’t be able to shadow just how beautiful and powerful this machine is. It has massive power, amazingly smooth and intuitive control, an enormous range, and almost no limits to where you can ride on.

Need I remind you that Propel EV is also a company with an excellent reputation for taking care of its customers? 

THE VERDICT

So, here’s the verdict,

Anything from Propel EV would likely be overkill and unsuitable for anyone who wants an electric skateboard for a city commute or carving fun. But, for someone looking for an off-road suspension board, the Propel Endeavor Pro is an easy recommendation if you have the budget. 

We’d recommend Endeavor Pro over the Endeavor S because it is so much more fun to ride with; the VESC alone would’ve made the upgrade worth it and maximized the enjoyment you can get out of these powerful machines.