DENVER — It’s the classic example of life imitating art. It was the mode of transportation for Marty McFly in “Back to the Future Part 2.” After this Christmas, it will be the mode of transportation for a lot of teenagers.

They’re called hoverboards.

“We’ve decided to call them motor boards,” said Gal Barak from Swift Motor Board in Cherry Creek North.

Motor boards, hoverboards, balancing boards, balancing scooter or even smart hover board. Whatever you call it, people want it. It’s very Segway-esque, but modified by design and price to appeal to the masses.

“The batteries power a gyroscopic motor. It’s some sort of physics technology, it keeps yourself balanced,” Barak said.

Hoverboards are made by many manufacturers and all work pretty much the same. But they all don’t perform the same. Officials in  Louisiana said a home was destroyed by fire started by a faulty hoverboard made by Fit Turbo.

In Florida, a man recorded his hoverboard as it burned, melted and then finally exploded.

“I came outside, turned it on. I came down the sidewalk, probably not even a hundred feet and it exploded. Boom!” he said.

Nearly all hoverboards are made in China so how does one know if it will excite … or ignite?

Buy one with a warranty for starters. Buy from a person face to face or at a brick-and-mortar store. Or buy online from a reputable source.

The causes of the exploding hoverboards are under investigation.