Hoverboards are easy and fun to use. You literally just lean forward and with a little practice and balance, you’re off. Some are the type to just hop on to any new gadget, throw caution to the wind, and take off like Wile E. Coyote. But the rest of us typically have questions like, “How fast does this thing actually go?” and “How do I control the speed?”
The Short Answer: Hoverboard Top Speeds Range From 6-13 Miles Per Hour
There are a lot of factors that determine how fast a hoverboard can go. The hoverboard’s wheel size and motor power, to riding terrain and rider weight. These all play a role in your top speed. The average hoverboard has a top speed of around six to eight miles per hour. “All-terrain” styles with bigger tires and larger motors tend to be faster, with top speeds in excess of ten miles per hour. Our Swagboard T6 Outlaw, for example, is one of the fastest on the market with a top speed of thirteen miles per hour.
Learn to Walk Before You Run
It’s a cliché, sure, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Hopping on a hoverboard for the first time and taking off at top speed will likely end up more embarrassing and painful than impressive and thrilling.
Fortunately, some self-balancing boards, like our Swagboard T1 Pro Hover Board, come equipped with learning modes designed to limit the board’s maximum speed and increase its responsiveness. If you’re a new rider, this will help you get a feel for your swag first, before you take off at full speed. Learning mode allows you to practice balance, hoverboard control and general movements so you don’t accidentally take off at full speed and end up flat on your back on the concrete.
The Need for Hoverboard Speed
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can switch into standard and eventually advanced mode (depending on the model) to access your swag’s max speed potential. How fast your hoverboard goes will depend on which style and model of board you have as much as it does on where you ride it.
The average self-balancing board maxes out around six to eight miles per hour. All-terrain boards can hit up to thirteen miles per hour. Those speeds, however, aren’t achievable on all surfaces in all conditions.
- Moving up inclines will slow you down.
- You are generally unlikely to reach maximum speeds on grass, gravel and the like.
- Heading down a hill or slope will speed you up but can also be more dangerous, so be extra cautious.
- The best place to push your hoverboard to max speeds is a clear, dry, flat and smooth stretch of pavement.
Hover Board Best Practices
Any experienced rider will tell you that taking your personal safety seriously when you’re riding your hoverboard is crucial. Disregarding safety rules for your board is the quickest way to end up with a busted board and, even worse, possibly a busted body. Additionally, many states have laws in place regarding hoverboard usage in public spaces, so you might also end up busted by the cops.
- Always wear a helmet and appropriate protective gear.
- Never ride a hoverboard in heavy rain or through deep puddles.
- Avoid cracked and uneven terrain.
- Keep your balance — This takes practice, hence the advice earlier about taking it slower in the beginning.
- It’s all in the lean — Use your core rather than your head or upper body to control the hoverboard for a smoother riding experience.
- Exercise caution when using your hoverboard in crowded areas. Just because you CAN go fast doesn’t mean you SHOULD hit top speeds every single place you ride.
Know the Laws for Public Use of Hover Boards in Your City and State
Since 2015, when hoverboards first became super popular, state and local lawmakers have rushed to put regulations into place for public use of this e-rideable. The laws vary drastically by state and even sometimes by city. California, for example, requires that hoverboard riders be over the age of 16.
Self-balancing hoverboards are still relatively new. And the laws governing them are still evolving. States and local governments are still figuring out how to classify hoverboards. Ultimately, it’s the hoverboard’s classification that will determine if it should be governed under existing laws or if new laws are needed. Your best bet is to make sure you read up on your local laws to find out what is and isn’t legal for public use in your area. This is just as important as answering the question, “How fast does this hoverboard go.”
