I’ve examined a ton of scooters. Not all of them deserve a spot above, however some are nonetheless value contemplating.
Niu KQi3 Pro for $599: Over many rides, I turned fairly keen on the KQi3 Professional, and it was our prime choose on this information for fairly a while. It affords nice vary for the cash. Regardless of using over steep bridges round New York Metropolis, I steadily obtained round 15 miles out of it, however you possibly can in all probability anticipate 18 to twenty miles (until you are additionally a tall large like me). It goes 20 miles per hour, the 9.5-inch tubeless tires supply a comfortable experience, and the disc brakes reliably deliver it to a fast cease. You get perks like a bell, lights, and area on the handlebar for attaching a cellphone mount. It is tremendous simple to fold, but it surely weighs 45 kilos, so it is not what I would name light-weight. I additionally want the handlebars may fold down since they’ll snag on stair railings. It is barely older now and has been changed by the Niu KQi 300X and 300P, so ensure you catch it on sale.
MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Special for $1,699: 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 exhausting 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 features are nicely defined. It isn’t a scooter I would recommend for newcomers, however when you get every part up and operating, the using expertise is kind of good. It has a prime pace of 35 mph, and whereas the corporate claims a 40-mile vary, you possibly can anticipate nearer to 25 to 30 miles. It will deal with slopes simply high quality, 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 $1,297: 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 in a position to get 16 miles in with 35 p.c left within the tank. When you restrict the pace to twenty by way of the app, it’s best to simply be capable to get shut to twenty or 25 miles. I simply hate the loud flip sign.
Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito for $899: If the light-weight Unagi Mannequin One Voyager does not curiosity you however you continue to need an ultra-lightweight scooter, then take a look at 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 prime pace of 24 mph. However shaving down the load on this nimble scooter does have drawbacks. The suspension is simply OK—you may really feel most of these bumps—and the wheels are slender. The braking system works high quality, however you would possibly encounter some skidding for those who make a sudden cease, and the vary is lackluster (round 9 miles in my testing, going over the Brooklyn Bridge). There’s additionally no simple solution to change pace modes on the fly; you set it earlier than you experience.
Niu KQi Air for $1,249: I used to be so excited to check this scooter, however my expertise with it over a number of months is combined. I nonetheless prefer it, however a number of quirks maintain it again from being a prime choose. The KQi Air has a carbon fiber body, permitting it to be a mere 26 kilos with a 20-mph prime pace. That makes it the lightest scooter I’ve ever examined. It is easy to fold and has flip alerts, a slick app, and dependable regenerative braking. The vary is a bit lackluster—I often obtained slightly below 10 miles on a single cost, but it surely’s so light-weight that when it died on my manner residence as soon as, I strapped it to a Citi Bike’s front basket and cycled residence (do not do that!). The experience high quality is nice, however I had points with it refusing to connect with my cellphone 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 solution 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 prime pace till a couple of minutes later. I believe there’s some thermal concern inflicting this. General, there’s numerous promise, but it surely’s simply annoying.
TurboAnt M10 Lite for $300: It is a completely high quality funds scooter greatest for people below 200 kilos. (I wasn’t in a position to hit its prime pace of 16 mph.) The meeting requires a number of additional steps (extra issues to screw in, just like the rear mudguard). I used to be solely in a position to get round 8 miles using it, however I like that the folding system is fast, the show is shiny, and it is fairly mild 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 could possibly go as much as 15 mph. The Apex is reliable—I’ve gone to espresso outlets, distant video shoots with a backpack filled with digital camera gear, and the grocery retailer—although it is not the smoothest experience. 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 continually outstretch my arms to succeed in the handlebars. You will wish to tighten the rear disc brake; it really works high quality, however I would not have minded extra stopping energy.
Gotrax GX2 for $1,399: 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 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 tough to know. Once you’re ready at a lightweight, the GX2 additionally switches to Parking mode after a number of seconds, so that you continually have to recollect to press the mode button to modify it to the driving gear. It is tremendous annoying, and Gotrax says there is no solution to disable it. I’m a little bit involved about construct high quality—the motor makes a noise as if one thing is brushing towards it, and this sound disappears if I frivolously 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’d 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 $960: 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 in a position to often 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 for those who’re in a loud metropolis like New York, however it could possibly make you self-conscious on quiet streets. It is 53 kilos, so it is heavier than our prime 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 $1,212: I loved my time with the Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It is 53 kilos and because of the skinny stem, not too annoying to hold. It is highly effective, with the potential to go as quick as 31 miles per hour once you interact each 600-watt motors (verify your native pace legal guidelines first!). In any other case, you possibly can 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 could possibly doubtlessly final greater than 20 miles, particularly for those who’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 experience post-rain, my again was lined in specks of grime kicked up from the rear tire. The stem’s angle was additionally a little bit too near my physique, and the dearth of a thumb throttle meant my wrist damage after lengthy rides. You possibly can tweak the angle of the throttle and brakes to enhance this although.
Radio Flyer S533 for $599: Actually, I am stunned at how nicely this scooter did in my assessments. The folding mechanism is only a latch and a sleeve you pull right down to preserve the latch from coming undone whilst you experience. It is tremendous simple 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 prime pace. It is a good little scooter for going to the submit workplace, grocery retailer, or Cinnabon when my spouse asks for a cinnamon roll. Nonetheless, its worth does not match its energy and efficiency; it ought to be cheaper. It is also value 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 not had issues since.
Apollo Air Pro (2022) for $949: I’ve not examined the brand new 2024 mannequin, however the Apollo Air Professional (2022) was a wonderfully high quality scooter (6/10, WIRED Review); I simply do not suppose it is well worth the excessive worth. It goes as much as 21 mph, and I used to be in a position to experience it for about 13 to fifteen miles earlier than it died. You get all of the accouterments, like a entrance mild and bell, and there is app connectivity to tweak settings to your liking. Nonetheless, 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 ought to 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.
