RioRand Hoverboard Review: Is It Still Worth Buying?
An honest look at RioRand’s pioneering 2015 hoverboard, how it rode, why it isn’t UL2272 certified, and the safer boards to buy today.
Welcome to our honest RioRand hoverboard review. If you’ve landed here, you’re probably holding an old board, eyeing a cheap used listing, or just curious about one of the names that kicked off the whole hoverboard craze. The RioRand hoverboard was one of the very first self-balancing scooters to reach US shoppers back in 2015, and it earned a loyal little following as an affordable, beginner-friendly ride.
But a lot has changed since then. RioRand no longer makes hoverboards, the brand now sells electronics and motor parts, and this board comes from the era before UL2272, the fire-safety standard every good hoverboard passes today. That single fact shapes this entire review, so we won’t bury it.
Below, we’ll walk through exactly what the RioRand offered, how it rode, the honest truth about its safety, whether you can still buy one, and the safer, better boards worth your money in 2026. Think of this as the advice a riding buddy would give you before you spend a dime.
- What Is the RioRand Hoverboard?
- RioRand Hoverboard Specs and Features
- What the RioRand Hoverboard Was Like to Ride
- The Big Safety Question: Was the RioRand UL2272 Certified?
- RioRand Hoverboard Pros and Cons
- Can You Still Buy a RioRand Hoverboard in 2026?
- What to Buy Instead: Modern UL2272 Hoverboards
What Is the RioRand Hoverboard?
Let’s set the scene. Back in 2014 and 2015, self-balancing scooters exploded out of nowhere, and the RioRand hoverboard was right there at the start. It wasn’t a big, established brand, because almost none of them were. Most early boards rolled off the same factory lines in Shenzhen, China, and got sold under dozens of different labels. RioRand was one of those labels, and its full name was the mouthful ‘RioRand Two Wheeled Mini Smart Self Balancing Board.’ Priced under $300, it was one of the more affordable ways to join the craze when rivals were asking $400 to $600.
The RioRand was a simple, no-frills board built for beginners. You steered it by leaning, tilting forward to roll ahead, leaning back to slow and stop, and pressing one foot down to spin. It had a metal alloy frame, small 6.5-inch wheels, and a one-year warranty. Here’s the honest part, though: RioRand the company has long since moved on from hoverboards. Today the name mostly appears on electronics like brushless DC motor controllers and hobby parts on Amazon. So if you’re here because you found one in a closet, inherited one, or spotted a cheap used listing, this review will tell you exactly what you’re dealing with.
- Released: around 2015, during the first hoverboard boom
- Type: two-wheeled, lean-to-steer self-balancing scooter
- Original price: under $300
- Status in 2026: discontinued, found only secondhand
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wheel size | 6.5-inch solid rubber |
| Top speed | About 6-8 mph (original spec ~10 km/h) |
| Range | Claimed ~20 km (12 mi); real-world 6-10 mi |
| Board weight | About 22 lbs (10 kg) |
| Max rider weight | 220 lbs (100 kg) |
| Charge time | About 1.5-2 hours |
| Balance system | Dual gyroscope, 360-degree turning |
| Safety certification | None (pre-UL2272) |
| Warranty (original) | 1 year |
| Price when new | Under $300 |
RioRand Hoverboard Specs and Features
On paper, the RioRand hoverboard was typical for its time. It ran on small 6.5-inch wheels, topped out around 6 to 8 mph, and claimed up to 20 km (about 12 miles) of range on a charge. In the real world you’d more likely see 6 to 10 miles, and less if you’re a heavier rider or heading uphill. It weighed about 22 pounds, supported riders up to 220 pounds (100 kg), and took roughly 90 minutes to two hours to charge.
Where RioRand tried to stand out was the safety and comfort touches, at least by 2015 standards. It used a dual self-balancing control system, which basically means each foot pad had its own gyroscope and motor, so the board could keep you level and spin a full 360 degrees in place. A ‘speed protection’ mode tilted the pedals back to warn you when you were going too fast, and the board gave voice and LED alerts when the battery ran low or when you powered it on. None of this is fancy by today’s standards, but it made the RioRand approachable for first-timers.
The balance system
Two independent gyroscope-and-motor units, one under each foot, kept the board level and let it pivot in place. Lean to go, lean back to stop, press one toe to turn.
Speed protection mode
When you pushed the board too fast, the front of the pedals tilted up to nudge your feet back and cap your speed, a simple way to prevent runaway acceleration.
Battery and charging
A lithium-ion pack delivered a claimed 20 km range and recharged in about 90 minutes to two hours. That same battery is now the board’s biggest liability, as we’ll cover below.
What the RioRand Hoverboard Was Like to Ride
So how did it actually feel to ride? For a beginner, the RioRand was forgiving. Most people got the hang of it in 10 to 20 minutes. The trick was always the same: step on one foot at a time, keep your knees soft, and look ahead instead of down at your feet. Once you relaxed, the board did the balancing for you, and gentle leaning got you gliding around smoothly.
Where it struggled is exactly where every small-wheeled board struggles. Those 6.5-inch wheels were fine on smooth floors, driveways, and flat sidewalks, but they hated bumps, cracks, pebbles, and grass. Hit a crack at speed and the board could stop dead while you kept going. Hills were a slog too, because the little motors ran out of steam on anything steep, and cold weather sapped the range.
Real-world numbers landed below the spec sheet, which is completely normal. Expect closer to 6 to 10 miles of range and a top speed that feels quick precisely because you’re standing on a wobbly little platform with zero suspension. Fun in a driveway or a gym? Absolutely. A serious way to get across town? Not really. It was best thought of as an indoor and smooth-pavement toy, not a commuter.
The Big Safety Question: Was the RioRand UL2272 Certified?
Here’s the single most important thing in this whole review: the RioRand hoverboard is not UL2272 certified. It can’t be, because it came out before that safety standard even existed. UL2272 is the electrical and fire-safety test that every trustworthy hoverboard passes today, and it wasn’t published until February 2016. The RioRand launched in 2015, smack in the middle of the era when cheap hoverboards were making headlines for catching fire.
That fire scare was real and it was big. In 2015 and early 2016, dozens of boards overheated, melted, or burst into flames while charging, usually because of low-quality lithium battery cells and no unified safety testing. Airlines banned them. Retailers pulled them. In July 2016, US safety regulators pushed a recall of roughly half a million hoverboards across multiple brands. UL2272 was created to fix exactly this, stress-testing the battery, charger, and wiring so a board won’t cook itself.
So what does that mean for a RioRand today? Two things. First, it was never certified, so you have no assurance its battery and charging system were built safely. Second, and this is the bigger issue, that battery is now eight to ten years old. Old lithium packs degrade, swell, and become far more likely to overheat, especially if they’ve been sitting drained in a hot garage. If you own one, never charge it unattended, never leave it plugged in overnight, and stop using it immediately if the battery looks puffy, smells odd, or gets hot.
RioRand Hoverboard Pros and Cons
No product is all good or all bad, and the RioRand had genuine strengths in its day. The problem is that time has not been kind to it. Here’s the honest tally, and notice a pattern as you read: the good stuff is all in the past tense, while the drawbacks are all about right now.
- Pro: easy to learn and forgiving for first-timers
- Pro: lightweight and easy to carry at ~22 lbs
- Pro: affordable when new (under $300)
- Con: no UL2272 certification, a serious safety gap
- Con: aging battery that is now a fire hazard
- Con: no support, warranty, or parts in 2026
What the RioRand got right
It was beginner-friendly and easy to learn, light at about 22 pounds, affordable when new, built around a sturdy metal alloy frame, and simple to control with lean-to-steer and a 360-degree spin.
Where it falls short today
It is not UL2272 certified, its battery is now a real fire risk, there’s no brand support, warranty, or spare parts, the small 6.5-inch wheels can’t handle bumps or hills, and the original manual was famously confusing and poorly translated.
Can You Still Buy a RioRand Hoverboard in 2026?
Short answer: not new. RioRand doesn’t sell hoverboards anymore, so you won’t find a fresh, boxed one from the brand. What you might stumble on is a used board on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, a garage sale, or the back of a friend’s closet. And I get the appeal, because a $50 hoverboard sounds like a steal.
But think about what you’re actually buying. You’re getting an uncertified board with a battery that’s approaching a decade old, no warranty, no customer support, and no guaranteed source for a replacement charger or foot sensor. Generic 6.5-inch parts sometimes fit, but the wrong charger voltage or a mismatched battery is exactly how these boards turn dangerous. You’d be spending real money to inherit someone else’s fire risk.
My honest take: for the $50 to $100 a used RioRand might cost, you’re within striking distance of a brand-new, UL2272-certified board that comes with a warranty and modern safety testing. Unless you want it purely as a collector’s curiosity or a display piece, the math almost always favors buying new.
What to Buy Instead: Modern UL2272 Hoverboards
The good news is that modern hoverboards are cheaper, safer, and far better than anything from 2015. For the price the RioRand once sold at, you can get a certified board with Bluetooth, LED lights, an app, and a real warranty. The single most important box to tick is UL2272 certification. Look for the holographic sticker and a listing that says both the board (UL2272) and the battery (UL2271) are certified.
For most beginners and families, a solid 6.5-inch UL2272 board like the Gyroor G11 is the natural successor to what the RioRand tried to be. Same friendly footprint, but with real safety testing behind it. If you want something for a bigger rider or rougher ground, step up to an 8.5-inch off-road model from Gyroor, Hover-1, or Swagtron. And for younger kids, look for boards rated for their weight with a beginner or ‘training’ mode.
The board we recommend below is our top pick for anyone who was considering a RioRand and wants a safe, modern alternative that won’t break the bank.
- UL2272 (board) and UL2271 (battery) certification, non-negotiable
- A weight range that actually fits the rider
- A beginner or training mode for first-timers
- Bluetooth, LED lights, and an app if you want the fun extras
- An established brand with a warranty and US support
| Feature | RioRand (2015) | Gyroor G11 | SISIGAD 6.5″ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheel size | 6.5 in | 6.5 in | 6.5 in |
| Top speed | ~6-8 mph | ~7.75 mph | ~7.5 mph |
| Range | ~6-10 mi | ~7.5 mi | ~6-8 mi |
| Max load | 220 lbs | ~220 lbs | ~200 lbs |
| UL2272 certified | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth + LED | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price (2026) | Used only | ~$130-160 | ~$100-140 |
| Warranty & support | None | Yes | Yes |
| Year | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 2014-2015 | Self-balancing scooters (including RioRand) flood the market from overseas factories with no unified safety standard. |
| Late 2015 | Reports of hoverboards catching fire while charging spread; airlines and major retailers start banning them. |
| Feb 2016 | UL publishes the UL 2272 electrical safety standard for self-balancing scooters. |
| July 2016 | US regulators push a recall of about 500,000 hoverboards across multiple brands deemed unsafe. |
| 2017-2019 | UL2272 becomes the norm; trusted brands like Segway, Swagtron, Gyroor, and Hover-1 take over. |
| 2020-2026 | Certified boards add Bluetooth, apps, and off-road tires; pre-2016 boards like the RioRand are considered obsolete. |
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Fix: The battery is eight-plus years old and was never certified. A new UL2272 board often costs about the same and is far safer, so put your money there instead.
Fix: Only charge while you’re awake and nearby, on a hard non-flammable surface, and unplug it the moment it’s full. Old lithium packs fail most often while charging.
Fix: Only use a charger that matches the board’s exact voltage and amperage. The wrong one can overheat an aging battery and start a fire.
Fix: Even 6 to 8 mph causes real injuries on hard ground when a small wheel catches a crack. Always wear a helmet and, ideally, wrist guards.
Pro Tips
- 💡 Before your first ride, step on with one foot on carpet and hold a wall or a friend’s hand until the board settles level.
- 💡 If the board rolls or drifts on its own when you step off, it needs recalibrating (power off, set it flat, and follow the reset steps). Never ride a drifting board.
- 💡 Charge in an open area like a garage or tile floor, set a timer, and pull the plug the second the light turns green.
- 💡 Store lithium boards indoors at room temperature with about a 50 to 60 percent charge. Heat and deep discharge kill old packs fast.
- 💡 If you’re keeping a RioRand purely for nostalgia, treat it as a display piece or a light indoor cruiser only, and don’t hand it to a child.
A Real-Life Example
A reader named Dave emailed us after finding his daughter’s old RioRand board in the garage. It hadn’t been touched in years, so he plugged it in to surprise her. Within twenty minutes the charger felt hot and the battery casing looked slightly puffed up, which are two classic warning signs on an aging pre-UL2272 pack.
To his credit, Dave did exactly the right thing. He unplugged it, moved it outside, let it cool, and took the battery to a hardware store for recycling. Then he spent about the same money he’d have paid for a used board on a new certified one. His daughter got her hoverboard, and nobody had to worry about a garage fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the RioRand hoverboard is no longer made or sold new. RioRand moved away from self-balancing scooters years ago and now focuses on electronics like brushless motor controllers. Any board you find today is a used unit from around 2015 to 2016, so treat every listing as a secondhand purchase with an aging battery.
No, the RioRand hoverboard is not UL2272 certified because it was released before that safety standard existed. UL2272 was published in February 2016, and the RioRand came out in 2015 during the era when some cheap hoverboards caught fire. If you own one, never charge it unattended, and seriously consider replacing it with a certified board.
The RioRand hoverboard tops out at roughly 6 to 8 mph. The original listing quoted about 10 km/h, which is a gentle jogging pace. That was normal for early boards and honestly feels plenty fast when you’re standing on a small 6.5-inch-wheeled board with no suspension.
The RioRand hoverboard originally sold for under $300. That made it one of the cheaper options in 2015, when many hoverboards ran $400 to $600. Today a used one might go for $50 to $100, but a brand-new UL2272-certified board often costs about the same, so paying for the old one rarely makes sense.
Sometimes, but it’s risky. Generic 6.5-inch hoverboard chargers and parts like foot sensors may physically fit, but voltage and connector differences can damage the board or create a fire hazard. Using the wrong charger on an old lithium battery is exactly how these boards get dangerous, so a lost charger is a strong sign to retire the board.
A modern UL2272-certified board like the Gyroor G11 is a far safer and smarter buy. For around $130 to $160 you get certified battery safety, Bluetooth, LED lights, and a real warranty. Other solid picks include SISIGAD, Hover-1, and Swagtron models, and any of them beats an uncertified board that’s nearly a decade old.
Final Checklist ✅
- ✅ Look for the UL2272 holographic sticker before buying any hoverboard
- ✅ If you own a RioRand, inspect the battery area for swelling, dents, or a burning smell
- ✅ Only charge with the exact original charger, never a random substitute
- ✅ Charge on a hard surface away from carpet, beds, and exits, and never overnight
- ✅ Wear a helmet and wrist guards every ride, especially on an old board
- ✅ Test the board on carpet or grass first to check for drifting or wobble
- ✅ Keep kids under 8 off any hoverboard, certified or not
