Lycaon Board Review: Is the GR Worth It?
A no-hype look at the Lycaon GR electric skateboard: the huge battery, the rough spots, and whether this budget board is right for you.
If you have been hunting for an honest Lycaon board review, you are in the right place. The Lycaon GR is a budget-friendly electric skateboard that made a lot of noise for one big reason: range. On paper it promises up to 23 miles on a charge, dual hub motors, and a top speed near 25 mph, all for less than the price of a premium Boosted or Evolve board. That combo turns heads. But a spec sheet only tells half the story, and cheap boards love to hide their weak spots.
So we dug in. This review pulls together hands-on test data, real-world range numbers, and the little details that owners only notice after a few weeks of riding. The goal is simple: help you decide if the Lycaon GR is a smart buy or a board you will outgrow (or regret) in a month.
Quick heads-up before we roll. Lycaon is a newer company that mostly sells straight from its own website, not big retail stores. That shapes a lot of what follows, from warranty worries to how you actually get one. If Amazon shipping and easy returns matter to you, hang on until the end, because we have a widely available alternative that fits the same budget.
Lycaon Board Review: The Quick Verdict
Short on time? Here is the honest take. The Lycaon GR is a lot of electric skateboard for the money, and its headline feature, range, is the real deal. For riders who care most about how far they can go on one charge, few boards near $500 come close. It launched around $599 and has since been discounted into the $400 to $550 range, which makes that big 280Wh battery feel like a genuine bargain.
Where it stumbles is ride quality and polish. The hub motors and stiff setup let a lot of road buzz reach your feet, and the stock trucks and bushings feel generic. Lycaon is also a young brand with a thin track record, so support and long-term reliability are still question marks. None of that is a dealbreaker for the right rider, but you should know it going in.
Bottom line: the Lycaon GR is a strong pick for a budget commuter or a newer rider who wants maximum miles and does not mind a firmer ride. If you want plush comfort, big-name support, or all-terrain grip, look elsewhere.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 23-25 mph (tested ~23 mph) |
| Real-world range | 15-20 miles (23 mi claimed) |
| Motors | Dual hub, 480W each (960W total) |
| Battery | 36V 7.8Ah, 280.8Wh (10S3P) |
| Charge time | ~3.5 hours |
| Deck | 36.8 in, 8-ply Canadian maple |
| Wheels | 90mm, 78A polyurethane |
| Max hill climb | ~20% grade |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs |
| Water resistance | IP54 |
| Price | Around $400-$550 |
What You Get: Specs and Build
Let us open the box and look at what the Lycaon GR is actually made of. This is a full-size street board, not a mini cruiser, and the build reflects a clear priority: pack in a large battery and keep the price low.
The deck is a 36.8-inch, 8-ply Canadian maple platform with a moderate flex. Riders keep pointing out that it looks and feels a lot like the deck on Backfire’s Galaxy series, which is a compliment at this price. It has a subtle concave that helps lock your feet in during quick stops.
- Deck: 36.8 in x 8.9 in, 8-ply Canadian maple, moderate flex
- Motors: dual 480W hub motors (960W total, ~2000W peak)
- Battery: 36V 7.8Ah, 280.8Wh, 10S3P 18650 cells
- Wheels: 90mm, 78A polyurethane over hub motors
- Weight: 17.9 lbs, with an IP54 water-resistance rating
- Electronics: Hobbywing ESC and Hobbywing Gen2 LCD remote
Battery and motors
The star is a 36V, 7.8Ah pack rated at 280.8Wh, built from 18650 cells in a 10S3P layout. Power goes to dual hub motors rated 480W each, or 960W total, with peaks near 2000W. Charge time is about 3.5 hours. The cells are from Jingnoo rather than a big name like Samsung, which is the main reliability question mark.
Wheels, trucks, and clearance
You get 90mm, 78A polyurethane wheels wrapped over the hub motors, plus 9.8-inch gravity-cast trucks with a double-barrel bushing setup. Ground clearance is only about 2 inches, so watch curbs and deep cracks, especially if you are a heavier rider.
How It Rides: Speed, Range, and Hills
This is where the Lycaon GR earns its fans. Acceleration is genuinely quick for a budget board. In hands-on testing it hit about 15 mph in roughly 4.6 seconds and pushed on to a real top speed around 23 to 25 mph. That is plenty fast for most riders, and honestly faster than a lot of beginners will ever want to go.
Range is the headline, and it mostly holds up. Lycaon advertises up to 23 miles, and while you will not see that number in the real world, the tested figures are still excellent for the class. Expect roughly 14 miles if you ride hard and fast, climbing to nearly 20 miles if you keep it in a calmer eco setting. For a sub-$550 board, that is class-leading distance and enough for a full week of short commutes on one charge.
Hills are the soft spot. The GR can grind up a 20 percent grade, so it will handle typical city bridges and driveways. But because it runs at 36V with hub motors, steep climbs feel slow and a little strained. If your daily route has big, sustained hills, this is not the torque monster you want.
Braking is smooth but on the tighter side, which new riders often appreciate. It stops with confidence without throwing you forward, as long as you are not in the most aggressive mode.
The Remote and Ride Modes
The controller is a bright spot. Earlier units shipped with a LingYi remote, but current boards use a Hobbywing Gen2 controller with an LCD screen. Hobbywing is a trusted name in this space, and the upgrade makes throttle control noticeably smoother and more predictable. The screen shows your speed, battery level, and current mode at a glance.
You get four speed modes and four braking modes, plus cruise control. That range of settings is a big deal for a budget board, because it lets the GR grow with you instead of scaring you off on day one.
- L mode: gentle and nearly kid-proof, perfect for your first hour
- M mode: relaxed cruising for casual rides and bike paths
- H mode: the everyday sweet spot for commuting with pep
- H+ mode: full power and top speed for confident riders only
- Cruise control: hold a steady pace without feathering the throttle
Why the modes matter
A brand-new rider can start in L mode, build confidence, and slowly work up to H+ over a few weeks, all on the same board. Pair that with four brake levels and you can tune how grabby the stopping feels. It is one of the most beginner-friendly setups you will find at this price.
The Not-So-Great Parts (Uncovered)
Time to lift the hood on the weak spots, because a fair Lycaon board review has to. None of these are secrets to owners, but they rarely show up in the flashy marketing.
First, vibration. Hub motors plus firm 78A wheels and rigid risers mean road buzz travels right up into your feet. On smooth pavement it is fine, but on chip-seal or cracked sidewalks the ride gets jittery and tiring. Most reviewers land it around a B-minus for comfort.
Second, the trucks and bushings. They feel generic, and the stock bushings are the cheapest part of the board. The good news is this is an easy, affordable fix, and swapping in quality aftermarket bushings makes a big difference in both stability and comfort.
Third, the brand itself. Lycaon is young with a limited history, so long-term reliability and post-sale support are still unproven. The battery cells are budget-tier rather than name-brand, which adds a small question mark to how the pack ages. On the plus side, Lycaon now runs a US warehouse, so shipping and warranty claims are far less painful than they once were.
Lycaon GR vs the Competition
The budget e-skate world is crowded, and the Lycaon GR fights brands like Meepo, WowGo, Backfire, and Hiboy. Each one leans a different direction, so the right pick depends on what you value most.
If you want raw top speed, boards like the Meepo V5 edge ahead. If you want the smoothest ride and best support, Backfire has a longer reputation. But if range-per-dollar is your top priority, the Lycaon GR is hard to beat. Its oversized battery simply goes farther than most rivals at the same price.
The catch is availability. Meepo, WowGo, and Backfire all sell direct too, while boards like the Hiboy S22 show up on Amazon with fast Prime shipping and easy returns. For a lot of buyers, that convenience is worth trading a few miles of range for peace of mind.
- Best range for the money: Lycaon GR
- Best top speed: Meepo V5
- Best all-around support and reputation: Backfire
- Easiest to buy and return: Hiboy S22 on Amazon
Who Should Buy It (and Who Shouldn’t)
So who is the Lycaon GR really for? It is a great match for budget commuters and value hunters who want the most range they can get for around $500 and do not mind a firmer ride. It also works well for newer riders, thanks to that gentle L mode and the four-stage speed system that lets you build up slowly.
It is a poor match for a few groups. If you live somewhere hilly, the modest torque will frustrate you. If comfort is your top priority, the road buzz will wear you down. And if you need rock-solid brand support or the ability to return a board easily, a young direct-sale company is a gamble you may not want to take.
Think of the GR as a specialist. It is not trying to be the best all-around board. It is trying to give you the biggest battery and the longest range for the least money, and at that one job it succeeds. Go in knowing what you are trading away, and you will likely be happy.
| Ride mode | Average speed | Tested range |
|---|---|---|
| Range / Eco (L) | 12.9 mph | 19.8 miles |
| Regular (M/H) | 15.1 mph | 17.1 miles |
| Speed (H+) | 18.0 mph | 14.2 miles |
| Board | Top speed | Real range | Motors | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lycaon GR | 23-25 mph | 15-20 mi | Dual hub | ~$400-550 |
| Meepo V5 | ~28 mph | 11-14 mi | Dual hub | ~$500 |
| WowGo 3E | ~26 mph | 10-12 mi | Dual hub | ~$550 |
| Backfire G2 Black | ~23 mph | 12-14 mi | Dual hub | ~$540 |
| Hiboy S22 | ~18.6 mph | 12.5 mi | Dual hub | ~$320 |
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Fix: Do not expect the full 23 miles. Plan around 15 to 20 miles in normal riding, and ride in a lower speed mode when you need to squeeze out every last mile.
Fix: The cheap stock bushings cause a lot of the wobble and harsh feel. A $10 to $20 set of quality aftermarket bushings transforms stability and comfort in about 15 minutes.
Fix: Start in L or M mode until your balance and braking feel natural. The GR is quick, and full power on your first ride is how beginners get hurt. Work up gradually.
Fix: With only about 2 inches underneath, take curbs, speed bumps, and deep cracks slowly and at an angle so the battery housing does not scrape or get damaged.
Pro Tips
- 💡 Ride in the Range or Eco mode when you want maximum distance. Slowing your average speed just a few mph can add several extra miles per charge.
- 💡 Swap the stock bushings and add soft riser pads. This one cheap upgrade cuts the road buzz and tightens up the loose steering feel dramatically.
- 💡 For daily use, charge to about 80 to 90 percent instead of always topping off to 100. It is gentler on the budget cells and helps the battery last longer.
- 💡 Keep the wheels, bearings, and truck bolts clean and snug. A quick check before each ride prevents the rattles and wobbles that budget boards are prone to.
- 💡 Always ride with a certified helmet and consider slide gloves. At 23-plus mph, protective gear is not optional, no matter how confident you feel.
A Real-Life Example
I lent a Lycaon GR to a friend who commutes about four miles each way to a downtown office. His verdict after two weeks: he loved that he only had to charge it every three or four days, something his old budget board could never manage. The big battery was the clear winner. His one gripe was the ride on the rougher stretch of his route, where the buzz through the deck left his feet a little numb by the time he arrived.
He fixed most of that for under twenty dollars. A set of softer aftermarket bushings and a pair of rubber riser pads took the edge off the vibration and made the board feel steadier at speed. He is still riding it happily, and he tells everyone the same thing: buy it for the range, budget a small upgrade for the comfort, and you will be glad you did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for the right rider the Lycaon GR is a strong value. Its standout feature is class-leading range for the price, thanks to an unusually large battery. The trade-offs are noticeable road vibration, generic stock trucks, and a young brand with a limited track record. If you want maximum miles on a budget and ride mostly flat, smooth streets, it is a smart buy.
The Lycaon GR tops out around 23 to 25 mph, and independent testing clocked it near 23 mph. It gets there quickly too, hitting about 15 mph in roughly 4.6 seconds. That is fast enough for most riders and genuinely quick for a board in this price range, so beginners should ease in using the lower speed modes first.
Expect about 15 to 20 real-world miles, not the 23 miles on the box. In testing it went roughly 14 miles ridden hard and fast, and nearly 20 miles in a calm eco setting. That is still excellent for the class, and enough distance to cover a week of short commutes on a single charge for most people.
Lycaon is a legitimate but young company, so its long-term reliability and support are still unproven. It mostly sells directly through its own website rather than major retailers. The good news is that it now runs a US warehouse, which makes shipping and warranty claims far smoother than they were in the brand’s early days. Buy with realistic expectations about support.
Light moisture is okay, but heavy rain is not recommended. The board carries an IP54 rating, meaning it resists dust and water splashes for normal daily use. That covers a surprise drizzle or damp pavement, but you should never ride through puddles or standing water. Water damage to the battery or electronics is not usually covered under warranty.
It depends on your priority. The Meepo V5 is faster at the top end and comes from a brand with a longer reputation and bigger accessory ecosystem. The Lycaon GR fights back with noticeably more range for a similar or lower price. Pick the Meepo for speed and support, and pick the Lycaon if squeezing the most miles out of every charge matters most.
Final Checklist ✅
- ✅ Confirm the current price and check for the frequent discount below $550
- ✅ Verify the board ships from the US warehouse to avoid long waits and customs fees
- ✅ Budget an extra $15 to $20 for aftermarket bushings and riser pads
- ✅ Buy a certified helmet, and add slide gloves and pads for faster riding
- ✅ Start in L or M speed mode and practice braking before going faster
- ✅ Plan your route around the 20-percent hill limit if you live somewhere steep
- ✅ Charge fully before the first ride and expect 15 to 20 real-world miles
