Onsra Black Carve 3 Review: A Refined All-Terrain Electric Skateboard

Introduction

The Onsra Black Carve 3 is an all-terrain electric skateboard that takes a different approach from many of its competitors. Instead of chasing higher top speeds and longer range figures, Onsra focused on refining the ride experience, upgrading key components, and designing a remote control that feels genuinely thoughtful. The result is a board that stands out for its comfort, stability, and overall polish rather than raw specs.

This review covers the board’s design, components, ride performance, and who it is best suited for. It is a detailed look at what makes the Black Carve 3 one of the more compelling options in the all-terrain or 2-in-1 category.

Who the Black Carve 3 Is For

The Black Carve 3 is aimed at riders who prioritize ride quality and overall experience over maximum speed and range. It is a board for people who want a comfortable, stable, and fun ride straight out of the box, and who appreciate thoughtful design touches like a well-made remote and a thorough user manual.

It is also a strong choice for those who value buying from a company that appears professional and customer-focused. Onsra offers a 2-year warranty on the board and 1 year on the battery for customers worldwide, which is notably longer than the typical warranty offered by most other electric skateboard brands.

If you are an enthusiast who wants the fastest or longest-range board available, the Black Carve 3 may not be the best fit. But if you want a board that feels great to ride and comes from a brand that seems to care about the details, this is worth serious consideration.

Deck and Trucks

The deck on the Black Carve 3 is the same as the one used on the Black Carve 2. It is a stiff deck with a slight drop and drop-through mounted trucks. The foam grip tape helps absorb some road vibrations, which adds to the overall comfort of the ride.

The trucks are notably wide, which contributes to stability and ride comfort. They are labeled as traditional kingpin trucks, but the angle of the pivot pin is more similar to reverse kingpin trucks. This design choice makes the board feel stable at speed while still being maneuverable enough for everyday riding. At low speeds, the turn radius is a bit large, but at cruising speeds the maneuverability feels fine. Making a U-turn on a two-lane street is not a problem.

One minor concern is that the kingpin sticks out past the hanger, leaving only about 3 cm or 1.2 inches of ground clearance with the stock rubber wheels. This could potentially lead to damage to the threads at the tip over time, though this is a design issue seen on other electric skateboard trucks as well.

Wheels and Battery

The Black Carve 3 comes with either 150mm pneumatic tires or 115mm rubber wheels. The rubber wheels are some of the most cushy wheels available in that size, and they provide a smooth ride while keeping the rider closer to the ground. The pneumatic tires are a better option if you frequently ride over rough terrain, want more ground clearance, or want to adjust tire pressure.

The battery is a 648Wh unit made up of 21700 cells in a 12S3P arrangement. The cells have been upgraded from the Samsung 50E to the newer Samsung 50S, which have a much higher continuous discharge rating while maintaining the same capacity. This means the battery is effectively an upgrade even though the capacity remains the same.

Compared to other current generation all-terrain boards, the 648Wh battery is on the smaller side. It is enough for most riders, but those who value battery size above all else may want to look elsewhere. The charger outputs 4.5A, which should fully recharge the 15Ah battery in about 3.5 to 4 hours.

Remote and ESC

The Black Carve 3 uses Onsra’s own ESC, called Orion, and their own remote, called NX. These are standout components that show a significant amount of design effort.

The remote has a 1.3-inch display that shows a wide range of ride data, including current speed, ride mode, battery indicators, trip meter, odometer, ride time, current voltage, and average speed. The menu system allows you to configure the motor type, wheel size, and the performance of each of the four ride modes. Making adjustments is fast and straightforward, which is a big advantage over many other boards where such changes can be time-consuming.

One feature worth noting is Auto Reverse, which is similar to the reverse feature on VESC-based ESCs. When enabled, braking at a full stop becomes reverse after 2 seconds. The speed in reverse is the same as Eco mode, which prevents the board from accidentally flying out from under you.

The remote is ergonomic and works equally well in the left hand and right hand. The display and menu system are among the best seen on an electric skateboard remote, with a layout that feels intuitive and well thought out.

Ride Experience and Performance

The strongest ride mode on the Black Carve 3 is called Brutale, and the name accurately describes how it feels. Going from a complete stop straight to full throttle is stronger than most riders can handle, but easing into the throttle results in a smooth and controllable ride. The brakes are also excellent, with a default setting of 80% on every ride mode. They are strong when slammed on, but can also be applied gently.

The motors have been upgraded from 6368 170Kv on the Black Carve 2 to 6374 150Kv on the Black Carve 3. The stock gear ratio with the rubber wheels is 40:14, though the unit tested here was actually using a 45T wheel gear, which provides slightly stronger torque and a slightly lower top speed compared to the stock setup.

In testing, a top speed of 38 km/h was reached with the 45T pulleys. With the stock pulleys, riders should expect low to mid 40s km/h. The claimed 50 km/h top speed from Onsra may be difficult to achieve with stock parts under real-world conditions.

The range test resulted in 28 km riding down to about 10% battery. Onsra claims 45 km with the rubber wheels, which may be achievable under ideal conditions with a lighter rider and slower speeds. Many factors affect range, including weather, traffic, and riding style, so results will vary.

Buying Advice

The Onsra Black Carve 3 is priced at $1600 and was released in 2022. Compared to much of the competition, its range and top speed specs are somewhat mediocre. However, the overall ride experience is what sets it apart.

The deck, trucks, and performance make for a fun and comfortable ride straight out of the box. The remote and ESC are excellent, with a display and menu system that are among the best in the industry. The user manual is thorough and useful, especially for beginners.

Onsra also offers a 2-year warranty on the board and 1 year on the battery for customers worldwide. This is significantly longer than the typical 6-month warranty offered by most other electric skateboard brands, which adds peace of mind.

If you want a board that prioritizes ride quality, user experience, and build quality over raw speed and range, the Black Carve 3 is an excellent choice. It is a board that feels thoughtfully designed and well put together, and it is one of the best options in its category.

Conclusion

The Onsra Black Carve 3 is a refined all-terrain electric skateboard that focuses on the things that matter most for everyday riders. It offers a comfortable and stable ride, excellent components, and a remote control that sets a new standard for the industry.

While its speed and range figures may not be the most impressive on paper, the overall experience is what makes it stand out. Onsra has chosen not to join the race for more power and range, and instead invested in the details that make a board genuinely enjoyable to own and ride.

For riders who value ride quality, user experience, and a company that appears professional and customer-focused, the Black Carve 3 is one of the best boards in its category. It is a board that comes highly recommended for those who want a great ride experience without chasing extreme specs.