For a brand new firm to enter the eskate scene with a premium board, particularly a premium shortboard, is a slightly daring transfer, however that’s precisely what Basecamp has accomplished with the Basecamp Ghost. In 2022, Basecamp had simply begun producing electrical skateboards, and in 2024, they may introduce the $1,599 Basecamp Ghost, an electrical shortboard. Despite the fact that it’s on pre-order for $1,299, it’s nonetheless some of the costly electrical shortboards accessible. We anticipate premium components all through the board due to the hefty price ticket.
Basecamp Ghost Specs
| Value | $1299 |
| Battery | 12S2P, Molicel P42A, 373 Wh, 8.4AH |
| Controller | Basecamp {custom} ESC |
| Prime Pace | 34mph (55kph) |
| Vary | 25 miles (40 km) |
| Deck | 31.1 inches T700 3K Carbon Fiber |
| Motor | Belt, 2 x 3000W Hobbywing 5255 |
| Web Weight | 19 LBS / 8.6 KG |
Deck: 31.1 inches T700 3K Carbon Fiber
Beginning off with the deck, it’s a glossy 31.1-inch Carbon Fibre Deck with a unibody design and no bulging digital enclosures. The deck of the Meepo Hurricane can also be constructed of T700 3K Carbon Fibre, however not like many carbon fiber decks, that are designed to be completely flat, the Ghost has a pleasant concave to it.
The Basecamp Ghost additionally has a tiny kicktail, which suggests two issues:
1) It’s extra for present than anything, and
2) Regardless of the deck’s general size of 31.1 inches, which is akin to a mini-board, the wheelbase and stance are literally fairly large, resembling cruiser boards just like the Tynee Stinger and Meepo Circulate.
Click on right here to learn our evaluation of the Tynee Stinger.
Click on her to learn our evaluation of the Meepo Circulate.
This implies it’s way more secure than a typical mini board with out increasing the footprint or compromising portability.
Portability can also be a novel energy of this board; the carbon fiber materials permits the deck to be lighter, and the entire board comes collectively at a carry-friendly 19 lbs or 8.6 KG.
Truck and Wheels: 7075 aluminum alloy and 90 MM 76A PU Wheels
Now let’s speak about vans. These are high-quality CNC vans which are engraved from 7075 aluminum alloy, so they need to carry out extremely nicely and be much more sturdy than typical forged vans.
The wheels are 90 MM 76A PU Wheels and regardless of being marketed as essentially the most snug wheels accessible, these appear very commonplace to us regardless of utilizing the late-Boosted Hemotox know-how.
Battery: 12S2P, Molicel P42A, 373 Wh
For the battery, Basecamp went with a 12S2P, Molicel P42A, 373 Wh. On one hand, that is fairly underwhelming for any board over $700, however then again, a much bigger battery will cut back the portability, which is among the distinctive upsides Ghost has going for itself.
On the very least, it’s utilizing the very best cell attainable with Molicel P42A. The Ghost is marketed at a variety of 25 miles or 40 km. In our checks, we managed to succeed in 19 miles or 30 km with a 154 lbs or 70 kg rider driving quick modes 3 and 4, which remains to be a wholesome vary.
ESC: Basecamp Custom-made ESC
Shifting onto the ESC, Basecamp determined to design their very own for the Ghost.
Initially, we had been cautious of the declare, as there had been many small manufacturers that launched boards with quote-unquote personalized ESC however, in fact, had been simply utilizing a model of Lingyi ESC.Nonetheless, this isn’t the case with Ghost; what’s inside the Ghost gave us the impression of a VESC. It contains sensible turn-on options, which let the board to change on routinely when the distant is turned on, like many VESC do these days. It additionally got here with 4-speed modes.
So we reached out to Basecamp, they usually informed us that it’s an XESC and claims that it’s superior to VESC. This Basecamp XESC does present for a similar customizing capabilities as a VESC, though we don’t like to check the 2. It permits for personalization of virtually every part, together with swapping out motors, batteries, and so forth. And you may change the settings straight from the distant, very handy. I feel that is the place Ghost tries to set itself aside and attempt to be as custom-friendly as attainable, catering to the DIY crowd. Warning, although, the superior customization with the professional settings will void the 1 yr guarantee, so mess around at your individual threat.
The distant may be very good, too, it’s very ergonomic and comfy to carry. The throttle dial has a whole lot of journey, which all the time interprets to extra exact management.
Motor: Belt, 2 x 3000W Hobbywing 5255
Final however not least is the motors; the Basecamp Ghost makes use of a belt drive system with two 3000W Hobbywing 5255. These are fairly good motors and might go as much as 34 mph or 55kph.In our checks, we managed to hit 30 mph or 48 kph earlier than we ran out of street, however the board feels prefer it may actually go to 55 kph, which is loopy for a shortboard.
Specs Abstract:
To sum it up, Basecamp Ghost was nicely assembled and is really constructed of high-quality parts. Moreover, the board incorporates a 1-year assure and an IP 65 waterproof ranking.
Simply going by the specs made it clear that this positively wasn’t a board that finances consumers would attain for, as a 12s2p battery for $1,299 is fairly steep. Nonetheless, since individuals used to buy Boosted for comparable specs at a better value, we all know that some shoppers are keen to pay extra for a premium expertise.
Using Expertise
Basecamp Ghost rides extra like a cruiser board and fewer like a shortboard. The wheelbase is wider than most minis, and it reminds us of the Tynee Stinger and Meepo Circulate we simply reviewed, simply with a narrower deck and a milder concave.
What Basecamp Ghost did higher than these cruisers is the velocity management. No matter ESC Basecamp put into this board, it actually does its job nicely, even higher than the most recent gen of Hobbywing ESC.
First, you get excellent smoothness in how the velocity ramps up. Second, how the velocity mode was designed is smart too. The third velocity mode permits you to entry the very best prime velocity whereas accelerating easily as much as the highest velocity. The 4th velocity mode was configured to be very intuitive, too. It has a easy and mild preliminary initiation, however when you push the throttle all the way in which up, it offers you the additional energy and the kick.
And, the throttle has a whole lot of journey and therefore offers you extra exact management of the acceleration. You may maintain the throttle within the midpoint, and it’s already loads sturdy, and there’s a lot extra room so that you can push the dial all the way in which up, and the acceleration simply ramps up exactly as strongly as you need it to. And if by some means you need the velocity management to behave in another way, you’ll be able to all the time tinker with it your self.
Energy
In addition to a better-than-most velocity management, Basecamp Ghost is extra highly effective than most shortboards too, and we predict nothing much less from a premium board at this value. The highly effective twin 3000W Hobbywing motors don’t allow you to down. For context, the Basecamp Ghost remains to be some of the highly effective mini boards we evaluated, however not being as mad as sure powerhouses just like the Tynee Mini 3 Professional.
It could possibly go as much as 34 mph or 55 kph, and the setup is fairly secure. Though we do not need a protracted, straight, protected street to succeed in the board’s limits, we are able to think about driving that quick on this 31-inch board. And that brings us to the purpose, the Basecamp Ghost prioritizes stability over responsiveness.
Responsiveness and Stability
Due to its longer wheelbase and lack of a kicktail, the board is extra secure than the typical micro board and rides like a 35-inch cruiser board with a kicktail. The CNC vans are nice; they’re exact but in addition extra biased towards stability than responsiveness. We expect this leaning in direction of stability is smart as Ghost clearly ought to be ridden quick, and any board this size has no drawback turning tight corners anyway. Though carving is clearly not this board’s sturdy go well with—it’s not a longboard with a versatile deck and twin kingpin vans— however it’s nonetheless fairly fulfilling although.
Vibration
So, the driving expertise on the Ghost is fairly superb, nevertheless, it does have one weak point that got here with the design, which is street vibration. With 90mm wheels and a carbon fiber deck, the board conducts disagreeable street vibrations too nicely. Moreover, since you’d usually lay your foot squarely on prime of the vans, the vibration would move immediately from the wheels to the vans to your knee. Though it will possibly’t be helped, buying a small board comes with this inconvenience. Sporting bigger wheels may be useful.
Verdict of Basecamp Ghost:
The Basecamp Ghost is undoubtedly a premium board and, therefore not for everybody.
If you’d like a carbon fiber quick cruiser that’s gentle and moveable, highly effective and secure, with excellent velocity management, then Basecamp Ghost will probably be what you construct. It’s also one of many uncommon non-boutique boards which are DIY-friendly, because it has an ESC that permits tinkering with its components.
All in all, it’s not a board that we value-counting plebs at ESHQ would purchase, but when we’re stealing one board from an electrical shortboard retailer, we will certainly be taking this one.
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