

Hungarian scooter in global top class
Just a few weeks ago we introduced to our readers the Boardy, a foldable board-scooter developed in Hungary. Since then we had the opportunity to test the ‘Mercedes of all scooters’. We were curious to find out whether the Boardy merits that label.
I have to confess that after writing the first article about the Boardy, I could hardly wait to get to test it because surfing international scooter forums on the web (e.g. letskickscoot.com), I found that one of the recurring terms to describe it was a ‘smooth riding experience’.
What catches the attention already at first sight of the Boardy is its design, of course.The wooden frame lends it a kind of unique look I have never seen before in a scooter before. At first, one cannot really decide whether it is a skateboard with scooter wheels or a scooter with a skateboard mounted on it.

Aside from the frame, almost all parts are made of aluminium, and the materials are emphatically visible: there is no paint or cover anywhere. In this scooter everything is what it looks to be! And this rendezvous of metal, wood and composites is a real feast for the eye. Stylishness and high quality are clearly visible even to those who are not experts at the technical parts.The version I got to test was a bamboo-covered base model, but as I found out, there are special versions too, covered with exotic wood or even carbon.
The design is spectacularly perfect, which tickles my devilish side, so I decided to look for a mistake in it. “This wooden frame must be heavy,” I thought. But when I lifted it, I was stunned to find that it does not seem to weigh more than traditional scooters with small wheels. Or in fact, due to its large dimensions, I feel it even a little lighter than other scooters. In other words, the Boardy is surprisingly light!

Its designer himself brought the Boardy for me to test, and he kindly offered to join me for the first few kilometres of the ride. One of the greatest advantages of scooting together is that you can ride down the street side by side, talking with the person riding next to you. This also allowed me to hear more about the Boardy from its developer. He told me, for example, that the base version weighs as little as 5.8kg, and even the XL, meant for riders with a large body,weighs just only 6 kg. ‘Riders with a large body’ here means a 2-meter tall person, weighing 125kg.Furthermore,as I was told, although there is no XS version, with the handlebars in the lowest position, a 145-150 cm ridercan also ride the Boardy comfortably.
But let us get back to the “smoothride” experience.Riding just a few meters it was clear to me that that experience was certainly there.This means that all those Boardy buyers living in California knew well what they were saying, and we did not need to go all the way to Long Beach for a bit of ‘smooth ride’.Whether on rutted and broken pavement or on ground-stone bike paths – the ride will be smooth. Just out of curiosity, I tried the Boardy on cobblestone. Well, let us be honest: the cobblestone takes a little bit away from the smooth ride experience, but even there the Boardy remains stable and safe.It seems that this board scooter can really be used on any road surface.
I have used quite a few scooters in my life, including models by makers famous across the globe, but none of them even compared to the Boardy. This scooter’s most surprising feature is its comfort, the silent and smooth ride. It is clearly a totally different quality from those of scooters I had experienced with other scooters. No wobbling, rattling, cracking, jolting. It rides on concrete pavers like other scooters do on asphalt, and it goes up and down curbs as if they weren’t even there. During the ride, I feel the flexible frame constantly working under my body to protect my knees and spine.
The smooth ride results primarily from the fully flexible frame, which absorbs vibrations and jolts. At the same time, the large inflated wheels also play an important part. As the designer notes: these are not children’s bicycle wheels. In fact, they are scaled down adult bicycle wheels, with quick-release hubs, stainless spokes and tires inflatable up to 4 bars.In other words, these wheels are no kids’ stuff! And if you want an even more serious model, you can order your Boardy with closed shell hubs with bearings, colour spokes and rims as extras.

Traditional scooters are wide enough for you only to travel with one foot planted lengthwise on the board, and the other behind it across. This forces you to use only one leg to kick.By contrast, the Boardy’s board is wide enough for two large male shoes next to each other lengthwise. As a result, you can use either leg to kick – changing the legs for every kick if you want!Furthermore, the large inflatable Continental tires (yes, the same brand as on my car) provide an incredibly easy and long roll. With one kick I can roll so far that I even forget which leg I used to kick. You can travel comfortably at a speed three to four times that of walking, that is, at about 15-16 km/h. At the same time, the designer says a sporty rider can travel at speeds up to 35 km/hon a level road. He even demonstrated that during our test ride…

What also adds greatly to the Boardyexperience is that its board lays very low. As a result, instead of needing to bend your knee almost to squatting at every kick to reach the road, here it is almost enough just to move your foot. Thanks to the combo of switching legs to kick, low board and bicycle wheels, you don’t get tired even if you ride for hours, travelling 20 or 30 kilometres.And also it is not proven scientifically or with measurements, I get the feeling that the flexible frame helps kick-riding.
And last but not least: what also adds to the experience is the comfort of having a handbrake, which is as important when zigzagging on a street full of people as when you are riding downhill. The Boardy features only a front brake but it is efficient enough. And although most people are usually afraid to use a front brake, I can tell you by experience that they will definitely not fall on their face if they use it on the Boardy. (Its large wheels and low centre of gravity make the Boardyvery safe against falling forward anyway). Moreover, the brake lever can be locked, just like handbrakes in cars. This means you can lock the wheel to keep your scooter from rolling even when you lean against a wall or a pillar. (I have seen such brake lever on bicycles too, and I don’t see why this useful extra is not used more widely.)

One question that comes to my mind about it is why the lever is on the left, while it would be more logical on the right. The designer explains me immediately that people usually hold their cellular phones, ice cream or shopping bags in their right hand, and so, they hold the bar with their left.
To sum it all up I can say that the test ride on this scooter was almost as if I had been riding a bike all across the city. Maybe the speed was a little lower but, in exchange for that, I could ride on the pavement, with people walking there, and when I reached my destination, all I had to do was step off my scooter and walk inside the shopping mall, pushing my vehicle. (I guess this explains clearly whypeople opt for scooters over bikes in the city.)
On my way back I take the tram for a few stops, just to see how riding the Boardy combines with public transport in case it rains.And here is what I found: the Boardy is your ideal commuter vehicle. It takes just about four or five seconds to fold, and takes up no more space than a scooter with small wheels. You can lift it by the head-tube with just one hand, and carry it like a bag that weighs 5.8kg.
I am planning to take the Boardy soon on a test ride at lake Velencei or Balaton, and also on a longer bike track. When folded, three of four Boardys fit into an average-size car’s luggage compartment, so all I need to do is get hold of a few more Boardies, and then I can take all my family for a ride.

In my opinion, we have really found the Mercedes of all scooters. Right now, I cannot even think of any way a compact scooter could offer more or be of higher quality than the Boardy. Perhaps a rear mudguard would be useful (there is no need for one in the front as the board curving upwards protects the rider from splashes of water or mud). But as I found out from the designer, an attachable rear mudguard, with personalized mounting options will soon be available in the webshop.
Whom would I recommend the Boardy for? I would say it is for people who do not want to give up the pleasure of scooting just because pavements are rutted or streets are covered with cobblestones. And for those who have already fallen hard off scooters with small wheels. And those who would like to have a real brake on their scooter. And those who need a city vehicle but want to spare the troubles of using a bicycle. And those who buy things to use them for years without any problems.And finally, for those who like unique design and are ready to pay for a truly innovative quality product.
I guess there is only one question to be answered at this point: Is the Mercedes of all scooters priced in line with that label? Well, it is a difficult question. It also depends on whether you compare it to small-wheel scooters that cost a under or around 100 euro or to premium category kick-bikes. After testing the Boardy today, I think the best way to look at it is that the Boardy does not cost more than a medium category bicycle, for, in fact, the Boardy is at least as much of a bicycle as a scooter. Plus, in Hungary you can get it a little cheaper that the 500 euro standard price. All you need to do for that is contact the manufacturer and ask for a ‘local price’.