MBS Dylan Warren II First Impression
This is a first impression of the DWII. TLDR
The MBS DWII delivers a more comfortable and predictable platform to electrify at a better price point compared to Trampa. This however comes at the cost of the board not being as lively and as surfy.
I will be dialing in the board in the following weeks including trying the various shock block setup to see if I can find the balance of ride feel and stability. I will also be putting the larger 170kv torqueboard motors on. I’ll update this post with any significant finding (here’s your cue to bookmark this :D)
Background
My Trampa based build had been my daily commuter.
It’s a great board for the pothole \ crack ridden roads of boston.
Very versatile, I have no problem keeping it under control at speeds up to 35mph and the flexy deck combine with spring trucks is a lot of fun to ride.
There are however a few drawbacks.
- Although I can keep the board under control at decent speed but I have to actively work to keep it stable. The springs have great snapback but they do oscillate \ wobble.
- Chamber is great for the board to act as a spring but it results in uneven pressure being applied to your foot and ankle. My foot \ ankle fatigues with longer rides.
- Lack of concave makes it harder to turn. You have to lean, you need bindings. Hard carves are really hard to do without them
Enter MBS’s lineup
- Shock blocks VS spring to help manage the wobbles. A block of thane\rubber does not oscillate like springs do. This also allows the location of the shock blocks to be closer to the center of truck which should allow for easier carving
- Very light chamber should allow for more even pressure across the feet.
- Asymmetrical concave should not just make the board more steerable but more comfortable as well.
First Impression
Again note that this is after 2 rides. I’ll follow up with a more detailed review after.
Comfort
As expected the board was significantly more comfortable to stand on. It felt close to a standard longboard. I did not miss the chamber at all and the concave was a good fit to the profile of my foot. I was surprised that even with a stiff deck I did not feel a significant increase in vibration VS the trampa. The tires and shockpads that came with the complete did a really good job dampening everything.
Control
Once again MBS delivers on the promise. The steering was predictable. I felt no wobble. Entering and exiting carves were smooth. The concave def help with the turning, I can steer the board more with just my foot as oppose to always having to lean. The bindings are excellent (Review here:https://www.electric-skateboard.builders/t/mbs-bindings-first-impression-for-those-who-really-want-to-be-one-with-their-board/71900) and the griptape are like super glue. No seriously… these grip tape are nuts. They really hold you in place…. And will probably take chunk off your skin if you rub against them… Theres no moving or shifting around once you are locked in.
The Ride
So this is where it gets interesting. Everything is very buttoned up with the board which results in the ride in being almost a little muted. You can pump during the carve but because the deck is stiff you don’t feel it as much. You still hard carve but the rebound is linear and predictable as oppose to the snapback that you feel with springs. Its not as lively and if you are looking for a surfy feel the spring trucks actually does a better job delivering that.
Conclusion
The MBS DWII delivers a comfortable and predictable platform to electrify. I found that it delivered more comfort and greater control at a better price point compared to Trampa. This however comes at the cost of the board not being as lively and as surfy. There isn’t a “better” platform here. Once again you have to ask yourself what you are looking for. A good analogy for car lovers, do you want a pre Audi Lambo where you’d have to work to keep it under control or it’d rip your grinning face off or post Audi Lambo where you can trust it to do what you tell it to do and allow you to push the limit further.
Again this is without really having time to dial in the board which I would be doing in the upcoming weeks to see if I can find a balance between fun x control.
More Pictures here
https://www.electric-skateboard.builders/t/no-words-just-pictures-delete-words-2/88821/479
Parts + Stuff
- MBS DWII Complete <link>
- Idea TD MBS mount with Idler <link>
- Janux wheel pulley <link>
- Custom CNC ESC box
- Foxbox unity
- Torqueboard 190 kv Motors <link>
- 12s high discharge lipo