The Best Electric Kick Scooters (2024) Leave a comment

I’ve examined a ton of scooters. Not all of them deserve a spot above, however some are nonetheless price contemplating. These are a couple of different good scooters I like, simply not as a lot as those above.

MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Particular for $1,399: The directions to assemble this scooter are obscure, and some steps aren’t even talked about within the instruction booklet. (I discovered the handlebar grip laborious to placed on—rubbing alcohol is your buddy.) That is additionally the primary time I attempted the MiniMotors Dualtron app, and actually, it is not beginner-friendly. Not one of the phrases and capabilities are effectively defined. It isn’t a scooter I might counsel for newcomers, however when you get every part up and operating, the using expertise is kind of good. It has a high pace of 35 mph, and whereas the corporate claims a 40-mile vary, you may count on nearer to 25 to 30 miles. It will deal with slopes simply advantageous, however I do discover it bizarre that regardless of being pretty hefty (59 kilos), it has a max load capability of 200 kilos.

Segway P100S for $1,500: This Segway (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is 73 kilos however has a max pace of 24 mph, so it is rather less intense than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Particular. At that pace, I used to be capable of get 16 miles in with 35 % left within the tank. When you restrict the pace to twenty by way of the app, you must simply be capable to get shut to twenty or 25 miles. I simply hate the loud flip sign.

Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito for $849: If the light-weight Unagi Mannequin One Voyager does not curiosity you however you continue to need an ultra-lightweight scooter, then try the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, WIRED Recommends). At simply 29 kilos, it is one of many lightest scooters on this information and has a comfortable, built-in seize deal with for straightforward toting. It is quick to fold and is highly effective, with a high pace of 24 mph. However shaving down the burden on this nimble scooter does have drawbacks. The suspension is simply OK—you will really feel most of these bumps—and the wheels are slim. The braking system works advantageous, however you would possibly encounter some skidding if you happen to make a sudden cease, and the vary is lackluster (round 9 miles in my testing, going over the Brooklyn Bridge). There’s additionally no straightforward method to change pace modes on the fly; you set it earlier than you trip.

Niu KQi Air for $1,399: I used to be so excited to check this scooter, however my expertise with it over a number of months is blended. I nonetheless prefer it, however a couple of quirks maintain it again from being a high choose. The KQi Air has a carbon fiber body, permitting it to be a mere 26 kilos with a 20-mph high pace. That makes it the lightest scooter I’ve ever examined. It is simple to fold and has flip indicators, a slick app, and dependable regenerative braking. The vary is a bit lackluster—I often acquired just below 10 miles on a single cost, but it surely’s so light-weight that when it died on my manner dwelling as soon as, I strapped it to a Citi Bike’s entrance basket and cycled dwelling (do not do that!). The trip high quality is nice, however I had points with it refusing to connect with my telephone till I disconnected the inner energy cable within the stem. There is a theft safety that sounds an alarm and slows down the scooter if somebody tries to roll it away, however bizarrely, whilst you can completely flip off the alarm, the one method to cease it from braking as you roll it’s to show the scooter on. My preliminary mannequin additionally stopped working fully and would not activate, so Niu needed to ship me a second mannequin. Oh, and generally, throughout rides, the scooter slows down and does not hit its high pace till a couple of minutes later. I think there’s some thermal challenge inflicting this. Total, there’s numerous promise, but it surely’s simply annoying.

TurboAnt M10 Lite for $290: It is a completely advantageous finances scooter finest for people below 200 kilos. (I wasn’t capable of hit its high pace of 16 mph.) The meeting requires a couple of additional steps (extra issues to screw in, just like the rear mudguard). I used to be solely capable of get round 8 miles using it, however I like that the folding system is fast, the show is vivid, and it is fairly gentle at 31 kilos. Simply do not take it up any steep hills.

Gotrax Apex for $350: The Apex is 32 kilos and straightforward to fold up. It has an built-in bell and a digital show that exhibits your pace and battery life, and it will probably go as much as 15 mph. The Apex is dependable—I’ve gone to espresso outlets, distant video shoots with a backpack stuffed with digital camera gear, and the grocery retailer—although it is not the smoothest trip. The 250-watt motor struggles with any slight incline, and slopes drain the battery quick. The battery often doled out round 9 miles for me. I am additionally tall, and I needed to consistently outstretch my arms to achieve the handlebars. You may wish to tighten the rear disc brake; it really works advantageous, however I would not have minded extra stopping energy.

Gotrax GX2 for $1,499: The GX2 is akin to the Apollo Phantom and Segway P100S in that it is 76 kilos and packs numerous energy and vary. This gunmetal scooter appears to be like a bit like a Transformer and may hit a max pace of 35 mph by way of the twin 800-watt motors, however I often rode it at 20 mph. It took me to midtown and again to Brooklyn (a complete of 18.4 miles) with some juice left over. I hate carrying it up and down the steps, as a result of the stem is tremendous thick, making it troublesome to understand. Whenever you’re ready at a light-weight, the GX2 additionally switches to Parking mode after a couple of seconds, so that you consistently have to recollect to press the mode button to change it to the driving gear. It is tremendous annoying, and Gotrax says there isn’t any method to disable it. I’m a bit of involved about construct high quality—the motor makes a noise as if one thing is brushing in opposition to it, and this sound disappears if I calmly press the left brake lever whereas using. The latch to maintain the stem upright comes down too simply, regardless of a sliding lock mechanism to maintain it in place; Gotrax says it would simply be that it is put in too tightly. When you see any of those points, I like to recommend reaching out to Gotrax and going to a neighborhood scooter store to have them have a look.

Navee S65 for $1,099: Navee is a comparatively new model rising its presence within the US, and I had a good time utilizing the S65 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). I used to be capable of commonly full 16-mile spherical journeys at 20 mph, however that just about depleted the battery. It has nice acceleration, because of its geared hub motor, and it climbs slopes with ease, however this additionally makes it very loud. The motor’s sound disappears if you happen to’re in a loud metropolis like New York, however it will probably make you self-conscious on quiet streets. It is 53 kilos, so it is heavier than our high choose regardless of an identical vary, and its customer support is up within the air since it is so new. Nonetheless, I had enjoyable using it.

Evolv Terra for $1,231: I loved my time with the Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It is 53 kilos and due to the skinny stem, not too annoying to hold. It is highly effective, with the potential to go as quick as 31 miles per hour whenever you have interaction each 600-watt motors (test your native pace legal guidelines first!). In any other case, you may cruise alongside at 20 mph as I did on the second gear pace setting (there are three in complete) with the one motor. Vary is fairly common, with round two bars left on the meter after 15 miles, so it will probably doubtlessly final greater than 20 miles, particularly if you happen to’re conservative with its speeds. The suspension is OK however the strong tires on rougher roads can really feel fairly bumpy. The fenders additionally appeared fairly ineffective to me as, after a moist trip post-rain, my again was coated in specks of filth kicked up from the rear tire. The stem’s angle was additionally a bit of too near my physique, and the shortage of a thumb throttle meant my wrist harm after lengthy rides. You possibly can tweak the angle of the throttle and brakes to enhance this although.

Radio Flyer S533 for $599: Truthfully, I am stunned at how effectively this scooter did in my checks. The folding mechanism is only a latch and a sleeve you pull right down to hold the latch from coming undone whilst you trip. It is tremendous straightforward to fold and unfold, and light-weight at 30 kilos. It isn’t a commuter scooter by any means—my vary hovered below 8 miles on a single cost—and regardless of exceeding its 220-pound load capability, I averaged round 14 mph of its 16 mph high pace. It is a good little scooter for going to the publish workplace, grocery retailer, or Cinnabon when my spouse asks for a cinnamon roll. Nevertheless, its worth does not match its energy and efficiency; it must be cheaper. It is also price noting that the primary mannequin the corporate despatched me did not activate and the second mannequin had a deflated entrance tire. Inflating it was a fast affair and I have never had issues since.

Apollo Air Professional (2022) for $899: I’ve not examined the brand new 2024 mannequin, however the Apollo Air Professional (2022) was a superbly advantageous scooter (6/10, WIRED Evaluate); I simply do not assume it is definitely worth the excessive worth. It goes as much as 21 mph, and I used to be capable of trip it for about 13 to fifteen miles earlier than it died. You get all of the accouterments, like a entrance gentle and bell, and there is app connectivity to tweak settings to your liking. Nevertheless, the app is required to unlock the Air Professional’s true pace—in any other case, you are restricted to 12 mph. I am extra miffed on the folding mechanism, which is extra work than it must be. It additionally does not speed up too quick and, regardless of its 39-pound weight, is uncomfortable to hold attributable to its thick stem.