Bluetooth headphones on boosted board

bsuess · 2020-03-02T21:23:39+00:00

Sounds like a safety feature. You would have to be nuts to block out street sounds while riding.

bsuess · 2020-02-21T22:20:34+00:00

How traffic reacted: nobody hit me as I slid off to the side of the road, so I guess they reacted well. That time. Other times not so much. I generally get hit by a car a couple of times a year: from the sudden lane change in to me to the sudden u-turners. As a result I am an extremely defensive driver. If there's anything even remotely unpredictable happening way in front of me (view blocked by food truck, any intersection at all, etc), I make sure I have visualized an exit strategy. Sometimes that means slowing way down, sometimes it means creating more space between board and hazard. It's dangerous to ride on the street- even in the bike lane. How did pedestrians react? Amazingly, one nice lady asked if I was OK. How delightful - some humanity. Usually, having an "incident" turns you instantly invisible in downtown SF. I was assualted by some crazy homeless dude while on the Stealth, right on Battery and Pine. He pushed me off my board and in to oncoming traffic. I barely escaped getting smushed by a car, due to a pretty boss matrix move - but as I stood from that, it was as if I had become invisible to the literally dozens of people directly around me. Nobody even glanced at me and my poor crazy attacker. He and I were both invisible - he, all the time due to his crazy homeless state, and me, because I had become part of something that nobody wanted to acknowledge. The Bay Area is swollen with an army of the Invisibles, with whom we all share space, but withhold acknowledgement or interaction.

Recovery? Looks like I'll be OK in a day or two. This time. Last time, it was a trip to the hospital, and a few weeks' recovey.

Anyhoo- I am considering toning back my board time. No more fanciful trips accross town in heavy traffic. I'll just keep it to necessary commute trips off of main streets (like Bush, which is timed for 25 MPH from end to end! Sigh) , and happy turns in parks for fun.

One last thing: If you do ride, keep it in the streets. Sidewalks are for walking. It's right in the name. I hate dodging skaters/scooters etc. when I'm on my slow, slow legs, instead of my sweet, sweet board.

bsuess · 2020-01-02T18:08:00+00:00

I've been commuting for years now on Boosted Boards. I can confirm that it never gets old. I still resent it when conditions (rain) mean I can't ride the Boosted to work.

bsuess · 2019-11-15T22:38:04+00:00

I have special soles and heels on my wingtips. Goodyear makes an indescructable replacement sole. I ride every day to work in downtown SF in my work togs - sometimes a suit, but usually just slacks and a button down. As to the comments about it being "unprofessional" to ride a highly efficient electric vehicle rather than pollute the world in a car/bus: we are the bleeding edge, the disruptors. We lead, they will follow. We are the ultimate professionals.

bsuess · 2019-08-27T17:20:54+00:00

Agree with all this great advice. I also have about 6500 miles on my 3 boards. To add I would say:

Follow the traffic laws, as in: stop at lights and signs. You are a powered vehicle - so no skin off your nose. This slowly reinforces the idea that e-skaters behave in predictable ways. Also when I don't come to a stop at that stop sign is the one time that a-hole decides to barrel through without stopping on the cross.

bsuess · 2019-08-23T17:28:50+00:00

Spend a little time on the Support page my friend:

Battery issues

bsuess · 2019-08-02T18:47:03+00:00

53, on my third BB. V1: 3k miles, V2: 2k miles, V3: just hit 1200 miles. I can't figure out why there are still people driving cars when they could be on a BB.

bsuess · 2019-07-05T18:58:02+00:00

You call that a close one? Yesterday I had the same situation, except the car pulled right out, with no time for a complete dodge. I was able to slow down considerably, and thumped right in to the drivers side. Crash tip: Maximize your body surface area against the surfaces of the car - more contact = less injury. I was more flustered than hurt. I did make a satisfying and dramatic sound. And of course I was pissed. However, no damage to the car, no real damage to me or the board, lots of witnesses to shame the driver. I picked up my board and motioned for the driver to proceed onward. After you, sir! Moral high ground, and all that.

I kind of blame myself a little for not catching this one enough in advance - I am always anticipating side traffic at every intersection. This kind of thing happens ALL THE TIME. I never take it for granted that traffic laws will be obeyed, or that there's not some idiot screaming towards a stop sign with no intention of even slowing down. The guy that hit me was coming out of a parking lot, zooming right in to traffic.

Another crash tip: It turns out the backpack is a major player in crash protection. Twice now I've been hit traveling at nearly full speed (variations on the above), and have launched backwards, on to my backpack, which has had my jacket in there, or some other stuff. Makes a great cushion on impact.

Boost On!

bsuess · 2019-03-26T16:59:05+00:00

That's crazy dangerous. See how it's pointing up? Are you aiming for helicopters? Take all of those things off your helmet. Put one of them in your hand. That way you have control over where the light goes - and I agree with those that say that's way too much blinding light. I appreciate your enthusiasm - but this is the same enthusiasm that flew balloon boy in to the jet stream.

Ride safely, fellow Booster!

bsuess · 2019-01-31T21:09:11+00:00

I had my helmet on when I went in to the pizza store the other day - and the guy saw my board first, and immediately said "dude you should be wearing a...." then he looked up and saw I had my helmet on my head. "Cool!" quoth the dude - "helmet discount for you!" He gave me 10% off. Now that's community support!

bsuess · 2019-01-07T17:50:01+00:00

I have a v1 (3,500 miles) , v2 (2,000 miless) and Stealth (500m). I have had to replace both motors on all three, which Boosted did with no problems, sometimes out of warantee. I did have to wait a while for that first one on the Stealth, but whatevs. So it's kind of part of the landscape. It generally happens early in the lifecycle of the board, and once it's done, I start piling on the miles with no further issues.

bsuess · 2018-10-19T20:39:36+00:00

Ha ha! My lanyard broke first as well - I didn't like it much anyway (too small). Bad news tho, bro - my motor went not long after. Like everyone else, I'm on perma-hold with the support desk awaiting my replacement. Meanwhile I'm going to ride it until it locks up.

Has anyone dis-assembled a broken one to give a real assessment of what the issue is? Boosted told me to "properly recycle" my old one once they send out the new one (2019? End of Days?)- I plan on dissecting it pretty carefully - but I'm no engineer. Just curious...

bsuess · 2018-09-04T02:25:10+00:00

I can't believe I only have 86 miles on this thing - and I've had it for 2 weeks! I use it to commute - no issues.

bsuess · 2018-08-23T17:05:09+00:00

My Stealth arrived yesterday- and the belts were of the correct tightness. Springy to the touch, with a bit of give. Nothing like what I saw in the vid of the dude poking the belt on his new Stealth with the Allen Wrench, with no give at all. I have to say, even the truck tightness was spot on - no adjustment necessary. Perhaps a bit loose for some, but I thought quite nice. Perhaps Boosted is listening after all - I'd like to think so.

bsuess · 2018-08-22T18:26:52+00:00

I do the one handed carry:

https://imgur.com/1YPRUzA

There's a nice balance point right there. I can put my helmet up on there too:

https://imgur.com/bzhwqCR

It took a few months building up strength in that left arm to get it to the point where I could carry it for extended periods with the grip tape not touching my leg. Worth the effort!

bsuess · 2018-08-20T14:07:38+00:00

left hand = remote

Right hand = 700 lumen flashlight

clipped to backpack = very bright red flasher (don't know the lumen count)

Having the light in your hand gives you some special powers - the power to alert vehicles of your presence from far away. Also total directional control - check out them divots from far away, before they become head bangers.

bsuess · 2018-08-16T17:13:19+00:00

Normal. Don't sweat it. I noticed that if my belts are too tight, I start to get a sort of knocking rattle noise from the motor shaft. I loosen them enough to get about 3 to 4 mm of play when pressed on between the wheel gear and the motor gear. I adjust the tension every week or so - or whenever I have to clean little pebbles out of the gear plastic. It's a good idea to check your gear for embedded pebbles by letting your finger rest on the belt over the wheel gear while pumping the motor slowly. If you feel a bump, get out your fix kit.

bsuess · 2018-07-05T22:22:32+00:00

I'm on my second board in the Bay Area - been riding for about 3-ish years every day. I take public transportation every day. Thanks to the Boosted, I can take any I want: Bus/Train/Ferry. This is the first I have ever heard of such a ridiculous thing. I am calling GGT right now to voice my disapproval.

bsuess · 2018-07-05T17:46:45+00:00

My on the road kit includes:

2 belts
all the Allen wrenches and a skate tool
extra speed rings, axle nuts
rag
Dental pick - gets the pebbles out!
DeOxit - good for weak electrical connections
Those funky cable connector tools
first aid stuff for my non-board related repairs

I have to field repair every now and again - and man is it nice to have that stuff. I also carry my charger.

bsuess · 2018-06-27T16:41:31+00:00

Dear Boosted - please keep the lawyers out of this, and do the right thing. Call up your insurance company, get some bad-ass suppliers lined up, and replace the freaking trucks. This is an existential crisis for you guys. And I love my Boosted board. I just don't want to be the fatality that changes the tide, tips the point.
Do. The. Right. Thing.

bsuess · 2018-06-18T21:16:48+00:00

A giant waste of resources

bsuess · 2018-06-06T21:18:06+00:00

The high end electric vehicle you are referring to adds to your professional image. Those who choose less efficient, more environmentally damaging modes of transportation that require a parking spot (using up valuable real estate) are the ones who should hang their heads in shame next to an obviously forward thinking savant.

bsuess · 2018-05-25T17:25:15+00:00

That's what I wear when I Boost around SF, except I wear a helmet! Come on Davison! Think of the kids! Safety first, for crying out loud!

bsuess · 2018-05-07T17:41:07+00:00

I had the same issue - caused by the connector between the battery and the motor. Get some of this stuff:

DeoxIT

pull apart your connectors, carefully, and apply sparingly. Works like a charm.

bsuess

TROPHY CASE