Remote Issues/Injury Reports/Wheel Lock-Ups/Speed Changes

I had the same thing happen to me about a week ago. I've got two bamboo gt boards. The first has been flawless and I loved it so much that I decided to purchase a second to share with friends. The second one arrived about two weeks ago but due to rain I didn't ride it for the first week. Once the weather cleared up I grabbed a friend and headed out to try the new one. We rode the boards about 7.5 miles when the new one decided to lock the brakes and throw me off. I was in echo mode riding next to my buddy chatting. Luckily I was only going 12mph but I still got injured pretty badly. I can't imagine ever having confidence in evolve boards ever again. I love them when they work right but I can't possibly ride something that could kill me out of nowhere. Brakes locking up with no user input is an unacceptable risk. This equipment needs to be recalled. I am a robotics engineer and I have been racking my brain as to how this could happen to no avail. Mechanical failures are one thing but they are easy to prevent by doing proper inspections before riding. On the other hand, each and every electrical problem I can think of that might cause this issue could be mitigated with proper programming and communication protocals. In my opinion this is pure and blatent disregard to the safety of evolves customers. I think we should band together and get a class action lawsuit together to force evolve to do the right thing. At this point I don't require that they refund me or even fix the problem but they need to stop selling these boards to people before someone's kid dies on one because the brakes lock.

 

Hello Rick...

If your still around I have a personal injury attorney who is in contact with evolve regarding this issue. I can get you her information if you'd like.

 

New member here from Brisbane Australia. Bought a new Bamboo GTX AT about 1 month ago with a R2 remote.
Had a similar crash yesterday, when traveling in Eco mode (as board battery was nearly dead) - going at prob 10-15km/h when board went into full wheel lock and threw me off. Thank God I wasn't going in my normal fast mode. No injuries - just gravelrash........

Have read a bit about this occurring when -
1) board battery charge is below 50%
2) if there is other wireless interference (phone, wifi)

On speaking with Evolve on the phone after the accident, they put it down to faulty brake trigger values.
Jeff Anning told me on another FB Evolve forum that there should never be wheel lockups, nor should there be any interference pickup up from outside wireless sources.

This is the 2nd time a wheel lockup has occurred to me, and I've read heaps of you have had the same.
Truthfully I love riding my Evolve, but it has made me wary of this happening again.
I'm nearly 44yo and don't bounce as well as I used too

What else do you all do to minimise these things happening when riding?

 

So since I posted I have had another accident and broke my collar bone. I was only wearing a skateboard helmet when this happened. Helmets are not enough. Get a good crash jacket, hip and flank armor too. Armor isnt cheep but cheeper than surgery.

The R2 remote is faulty I don't even use it anymore. Also the motors for GTX can over heat and lock up. I had a ride with other evolve board owners who said they had similar issues. When the motors over heat they seam to spudder a few times before they lock. If you feel that spudder pull over and let your motors cool. If you don't have the original R1 remote you should get one. I have had no connection issues with the R1 remote. Pay attention to high voltage power lines they can disrupt your remotes signal. Don't ride bike paths that follow these lines.

I'm pretty reluctant to ride after my accident which was the morning of July 4th of 2018. Great way to spend the holiday. Road twice since and didn't do more than 3 miles before feeling uneasy. Lost faith in my GTX.

Be safe out there. Get protection and wear it. Crash gear is good for one crash. Don't wear a helmet that you crashed in. It did it's job and saved you one time. Get a new helmet it's cheeper that brain surgery.

It's hard to find good flank gear. I have been using a lacross vest under my crash jacket and over my hip gear. Even at 12 miles an hour you can hurt your self pretty bad. I use a motor cycle helmet because skate board helmets still ring my bell on a wipe. Not sure a skate board helmet is meant to take inpacts at 20 mph.

If your reading this and haven't crashed yet think about getting more protection. You can protect yourself from head to toe for about $200. Doctors and surgery can cost thousands. Sorry for those of you who got hurt.

 

I cant believe theres an ever growing list of lockup failures and Evolve just keep releasing new boards and sucking in new potentual victims, without any honest recognition of a serious, potentially fatal, flaw in design. (Mainly because they refuse to open themselves to litigation through acknowledgement)
Had Evolve approached this openly with yheir customers early on there probably wouldnt be more victims STILL posting about their accidents and injuries.
Shameful from Evolve. Just egregiously defiant.
PS Anyone want to buy a Bamboo GT with spares?, only been crashed 3 times... no bloodstains on the deck...

 

Such a shame LordSheffield , I know the feeling well.
Ive been unable to pinpoint any repeatable conditions which cause dropouts and lockups. Its just totally random.
TBH after my own experiences and reading these and other posts all I can say now is... shoulda got a Boosted. Noone has ever complained about them...

 

I have both bamboo gt and boosted v2+
The boosted is reliable and you know always will work range is terrible but I only have the SR battery..

The evolve is a beautiful carving machine and I love it just as much .. I've had drop out issues and the battery is very bad only after the second year of using it .. The AT wheels range is so bad I can't put them on.. Luckily I've only had drop outs, no lockups...
I think the drop out are due to the battery.
I'm looking to replace it soon with a 18650 pack and see what happens..

 

I had the same the other day. First ride after getting my board back from Evolve. 40km flat out and bam! The brakes come on. Evolve say it is impossible basically call me a liar. So now Im takung them to Small Claims tribunal in aus. I do this for all the Evolve riders who this has happened to. It is an absolute death trap as far as 8m concerned. Wish me luck. And all t hge haters give me hate. Hehehe

 

Did it really brake or did it lock-up? And how long did it brake for and wan't it just the board not accelerating anymore did it really want to stop the momentum? -- regenerative braking?

It's possible that 1 single packet from a nearby device happened to match the throttle packet of the remote but it's very rare unless there's another board nearby, but if you have V1 protocol the chance increases a lot.

This is my Adruino with only 1 nRF24+ radio hacking the connection and taking over control in ~1 second.. I can do way faster with multiple radio's... If someone is an asshole and does this close to you you could die.. (i.e. I can reverse you when you're going 40KM/h and make it happen immediately by changing the mode and simulate a non-throttle packet.. the microsecond your remote tells it to throttle the motors go full throttle in reverse.. I can also make unbind the remote by negotiating a new key with the board and you loose full control....

 

So

 

And in my opinion it definitly braked coz ive been flat out and just let the throttle of all the way instantly and i didnt go flying tgen I just coasted.

 

You can try by while riding hold the left button (rebind) but be careful; it will disconnect and coasts until it rebinds. If it really did brake there may be a board close that's on the same channel (only 14 possibilities) and has the same 8bit key (only 256 possibilities) so if there's another board close change is 1/3584 you are on the same channel/key combination and if one of you brakes and the other board is a V1 board it's nasty!

Other possibility is I'm not the only one with a MITM device for Evolve boards and someone is being a real d*ck with it.

Lastly a bluetooth headset or watch or some other IoT thingy was sending on that channel and the packet happened to match a throttle packet for evolve. (unlikely if you are on V2 protocol)

You can check the protocol on the remote under more info somewhere (can't check a.t.m., my remote is not nearby)

Throttle packet
14 1b 39 00 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 xx xx xx xx 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

0x14 = header
0x1b = throttle
0x39 0x00 = speed (signed)
0x14 is probably a check
xx xx xx xx is the product ID of the board you connected to (only in V2 protocol)

This has a CRC16 that must match so it's not so easy to randomly spoof a throttle packet unless you know the productid / you need to target a V2 board but not a V1 board!

Anybody on a V1 board you could just superman by broadcasting throttle -500 packets (or reverse) on all channels + all keys -- i.e. keep sending the packet 3584 times (all channel key combinations)

By the way.. finding the channel takes longer then cracking the key and I'm doing it in a pretty clean spectrum so on the road it would probably take longer then a second because it would see carrier on other channels and try brute force them too.
Also my MITM device sees and uses the procuct-id from the connection so if someone is doing that to your connection you are pretty much screwed...

 

By the way, if the analog reading of the throttle would fail somehow and give negative values/the mcu in the remote fails to read correctly it could also mess up a lot!
I never had real issues with the remote except for the connection sometimes so I keep it as close to the board as possible and that helps a lot! (arm with the remote is always behind me!)

My remote looks like **** by now, it's electrical tape with a couple of wires coming out for charging. I have ordered a new R1 remote, maybe I get lucky and get one with a wacky throttle too... If it's acting weird I can emulate a board on my Arduino and see what the remote is sending.

 

You know alot more about it than me that is for sure. Im now pushing Evolve got more senior technical guys on the case and seem to take me serious. I strongly believe there is a correlation between work just done and the problem being there and perhaps with the work notes for the work done on my board and some investigations, they may just be able to pin point the problem. I have strong support from the retailer that sold me the board. I said pair up your remote and take it for a spin! He said no thanks. So as a joke after speaking some more with Evolve I said whos got the bihgest balls and dare take my board for a test ride and empty the rest of that battery (80%) to see the provlem for themselves. Full armor recommend . Hehehe. Board is going back to Evolve they give me refund coz I all ready have $1400 on the gtr pre order and I will never ride the gtx again unfortunately. Theres perhaps good reason why they staryed from scratch with the gtr.

 

GTR uses bluetooth, if they did it correctly it's way harder to hack/MITM the connection.
But they could also have made the nRF24+ foolproof if they used the right tools like encryption, channel hopping, key rotations.
Also is would have been very easy to use the entire pipe address instead of only the last byte and add an session key and increment so you know you are talking to the right board and are not getting multiple commands from multiple sources..

If you have an Arduino and a nRF24+ you could use a small program to test the remote controller.. you just throttle and wiggle the remote and check the values it's sending to to board..

 

I'm curious, got a new controller that doesn't work on my board because it's on another channel range.
The new remote starts around nRF24 channel 0x33 and that's pretty close to where WiFI and my mouse and more sits so I would expect more problems with the new remote!

So I have a brand new remote that does not want to connect to my board but I can connect to my Arduino and the protocol is the same.. just the wrong channels.

Wondering what's the difference and what channel range the most problems are at.
Looking at the spectrum I'm feeling lucky with my old remote..

I'll probably end up desoldering the mcu from the old remote and soldering it on the new one. :-(

 

THIS JUST HAPPENED to me the day before yesterday. It was nothing but sunshine, no water anywhere, & I’d been riding for about 15minutes, including a few minutes rest. The board was working beautifully. Best fun.


THEN!!

I was travelling at 35kmh on a straight flat cement path (with AT wheels on my Bamboo GTR, battery around 60%) and then THE WHEELS LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. Before i knew it i was scratching along the cement. Can you ******* Imagine that? It actually would have been hilarious to see!

When i picked my self up two ladies who were driving past had stopped and turned around. They witnessed the whole thing and were obviously concerned and offered a lift. I said nah its ok ill just freewheel it back to my car.

So they left and i went back to pick up my board which was still stopped back in the middle of the path. My controller was not connected anymore. My boards blue light was now flashing instead of solid, both motors were warm but not hot, AND THE BACK WHEELS ARE STILL LOCKED UP. I can rotate them with two handed force but they won’t freewheel at all- this confirms i did not hit the brakes myself! So I’m now bleeding alone and I carry the board on my shoulder back to my car a kilometre away.


I never had faults with my board, and it literally is my favourite thing. I promote the **** out of it to everybody i can, I take better care of every piece of it than myself, ensuring that it is always safe and ready before i ride. I take precaution in wearing protective gear too.

I have LOVED the last 6months of riding my BGTR and i am still in disbelief, I cannot believe this is happening to people. It’s a catastrophic malfunction and something is wrong.


I was so lucky this happened where it happened- on a clean smooth cement path with no solid objects around to **** me right up.

As well as skate shoes and long pants, I had a left hand wrist guard and my helmet which I’m so grateful for- otherwise I’d Be in hospital or a bloody box. In hindsight i wish i had more PPE on, it is a mistake not too, every time. I should wear all pads and gloves as well as helmet.

I’m missing skin, rashed up my shoulder, i have whiplash, my wrist guard and pants are torn up and my helmet is now broken and cooked.


SO

Ive contacted the Evolve store where i purchased the board and he has asked me to send it back to them, along with a report, so that they can determine what went wrong before making the repairs. I asked him how do they expect me to ever have confidence in my “repaired” GTR?? I asked the guy if he would get on it and ride it knowing that it could happen without warning?? He didn’t answer but said it can be fixed.

So I’m now in the middle of packing it up to send back and filling out my report. But I’m wounded with damaged goods, and out of pocket with no Eboard. Integrity lost.


This has destroyed the trust i had for my board i told him, and i don’t want it. He told me he’s stacked heaps of things and is always nervous getting back on but does, and you know what- i am the same, I will take responsibility for my own mistakes and get back to what i love. BUT this was not a user error and completely unpredictable- THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED FULLY AND BOARD DISCONNECT WHEN TRAVELLING AT ANY SPEED, and they’re still locked up- are you kidding me? This is a code red malfunction and should be impossible! I’m lucky I wasn’t bombing a bitumen hill or passing trees/posts or a park bench.

I will ride Eboard again one day, but not until this is fixed for everybody!


As you can tell I’m pissed off. And I’m gutted. I’m never getting back on this particular Eboard and i wouldn’t let anyone else. I got so lucky and others have had this happen to them and haven’t been as fortunate to which I’m much further saddened. I’m so sorry you’ve been ****** up badly people. I’m sorry guys to rip on this board too because i love riding it so much!


If vehicles of any sort have similar issues they get recalled. They bloody get recalled until there is a guarantee that this does not happen ever. I love Evolve and their mission, but that will change if this is not rectified appropriately and promptly.


Ill be contacting every single person i can over time who’s had this same issue and updating this thread If required. Ive got the time.

I also have a video of the board with its ceased wheels and disconnection flashing light. Location details. Witnesses. Photos and videos of my wounds.

Sure I am in pain, i cant work, and cant wipe my arse properly nor feed and clean myself easily for the rest of the week at least, but grateful I’m not seriously injured. Pain and scars dont bother me too much, but now i have to challenge evolve to rebuild my trust in their products because absolutely i want an Eboard, just not one that does this! How are you going to fix this evolve? And how are you going to work with the people who’ve experienced this, to rebuild their trust? There is a right way, and it will take time. We have time, so lets do it right, right??


Btw- It cost me over $2100 to buy this BGTR alone. Ive had it since September 2019. And it still looks and feels in good condition- i ride street wheels more often.


Please message me ASAP for any details if you like or have experienced this life threatening malfunction

 

Hi man please see my reply to Kevlarpies on this thread, the same thing happened to me!

 

Hi man the same thing on Wednesday just happened to me on my BGTR. I was going 35kmh in pro mode, AT wheels. Was working beautifully and then without warning LOCK UP. And they’re still locked up today. Please refer my reply to Kevlarpies on this thread also

 

THIS JUST HAPPENED to me the day before yesterday. It was nothing but sunshine, no water anywhere, & I’d been riding for about 15minutes, including a few minutes rest. The board was working beautifully. Best fun.


THEN!!

I was travelling at 35kmh on a straight flat cement path (with AT wheels on my Bamboo GTR, battery around 60%) and then THE WHEELS LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. Before i knew it i was scratching along the cement. Can you ******* Imagine that? It actually would have been hilarious to see!

When i picked my self up two ladies who were driving past had stopped and turned around. They witnessed the whole thing and were obviously concerned and offered a lift. I said nah its ok ill just freewheel it back to my car.

So they left and i went back to pick up my board which was still stopped back in the middle of the path. My controller was not connected anymore. My boards blue light was now flashing instead of solid, both motors were warm but not hot, AND THE BACK WHEELS ARE STILL LOCKED UP. I can rotate them with two handed force but they won’t freewheel at all- this confirms i did not hit the brakes myself! So I’m now bleeding alone and I carry the board on my shoulder back to my car a kilometre away.


I never had faults with my board, and it literally is my favourite thing. I promote the **** out of it to everybody i can, I take better care of every piece of it than myself, ensuring that it is always safe and ready before i ride. I take precaution in wearing protective gear too.

I have LOVED the last 6months of riding my BGTR and i am still in disbelief, I cannot believe this is happening to people. It’s a catastrophic malfunction and something is wrong.


I was so lucky this happened where it happened- on a clean smooth cement path with no solid objects around to **** me right up.

As well as skate shoes and long pants, I had a left hand wrist guard and my helmet which I’m so grateful for- otherwise I’d Be in hospital or a bloody box. In hindsight i wish i had more PPE on, it is a mistake not too, every time. I should wear all pads and gloves as well as helmet.

I’m missing skin, rashed up my shoulder, i have whiplash, my wrist guard and pants are torn up and my helmet is now broken and cooked.


SO

Ive contacted the Evolve store where i purchased the board and he has asked me to send it back to them, along with a report, so that they can determine what went wrong before making the repairs. I asked him how do they expect me to ever have confidence in my “repaired” GTR?? I asked the guy if he would get on it and ride it knowing that it could happen without warning?? He didn’t answer but said it can be fixed.

So I’m now in the middle of packing it up to send back and filling out my report. But I’m wounded with damaged goods, and out of pocket with no Eboard. Integrity lost.


This has destroyed the trust i had for my board i told him, and i don’t want it. He told me he’s stacked heaps of things and is always nervous getting back on but does, and you know what- i am the same, I will take responsibility for my own mistakes and get back to what i love. BUT this was not a user error and completely unpredictable- THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED FULLY AND BOARD DISCONNECT WHEN TRAVELLING AT ANY SPEED, and they’re still locked up- are you kidding me? This is a code red malfunction and should be impossible! I’m lucky I wasn’t bombing a bitumen hill or passing trees/posts or a park bench.

I will ride Eboard again one day, but not until this is fixed for everybody!


As you can tell I’m pissed off. And I’m gutted. I’m never getting back on this particular Eboard and i wouldn’t let anyone else. I got so lucky and others have had this happen to them and haven’t been as fortunate to which I’m much further saddened. I’m so sorry you’ve been ****** up badly people. I’m sorry guys to rip on this board too because i love riding it so much!


If vehicles of any sort have similar issues they get recalled. They bloody get recalled until there is a guarantee that this does not happen ever. I love Evolve and their mission, but that will change if this is not rectified appropriately and promptly.


Ill be contacting every single person i can over time who’s had this same issue and updating this thread If required. Ive got the time.

I also have a video of the board with its ceased wheels and disconnection flashing light. Location details. Witnesses. Photos and videos of my wounds.

I am in pain, i cant work, and cant wipe my arse properly nor feed and clean myself easily for the rest of the week at least, but grateful I’m not seriously injured. Pain and scars dont bother me too much, but now i have to challenge evolve to rebuild my trust in their products because absolutely i want an Eboard, just not one that does this! How are you going to fix this evolve? And how are you going to work with the people who’ve experienced this, to rebuild their trust? There is a right way, and it will take time. We have time, so lets do it right, right??


Btw- It cost me over $2100 to buy this BGTR alone. Ive had it since September 2019. And it still looks and feels in good condition- i ride street wheels more often.


Please message me ASAP for any details if you like or have experienced this life threatening malfunction