I’ve tested a lot of scooters. Not all of them deserve a spot above, but some are still worth considering.
Niu KQi3 Pro $599: After riding it many times, I really like the KQi3 Pro. For quite some time, the KQi3 Pro was my top pick in this guide. We offer a wide range of products with excellent cost performance. Despite driving on steep bridges around New York City, I frequently ran about 25 miles, but you can probably expect 18 to 20 miles (unless you’re a tall giant like me). ). Traveling at 20 mph, the 9.5-inch tubeless tires provide a comfortable ride, and the disc brakes ensure quick stops. You get perks like space on the handlebars for attaching bells, lights, and cell phone mounts. It’s very easy to fold, but it weighs 45 pounds, so it’s not exactly lightweight. I also wish the handlebars could be folded down as they can get caught on stair railings. It’s a bit older now and has been replaced by the Niu KQi 300X and 300P. Be sure to get it while it’s on sale.
MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Special $1,699: The assembly instructions for this scooter are vague, and some steps aren’t even in the instructions. (I found it difficult to put on the handlebar grips. Rubbing alcohol is your friend.) I also tried the MiniMotors Dualtron app for the first time, and to be honest, it’s not for beginners. None of the terms or features are fully explained. It’s not a scooter I’d recommend for beginners, but once you have everything set up and running, the ride quality is very good. Top speed is 35 miles per hour, and the company claims a range of 40 miles, but you can expect closer to 25 to 30 miles. It’s okay on hills, but I find it odd that it has a maximum load capacity of 200 pounds, even though it’s quite heavy (59 pounds).
Segway P100S $1,297: This Segway (8/10, WIRED Recommended) weighs 73 pounds, but has a top speed of 24 miles per hour, so it’s a little less strong than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Special. At that speed I was able to go 16 miles with 35% left in the tank. If you limit your speed to 20 in the app, you should be able to easily get closer to 20 or 25 mph. I just don’t like noisy turn signals.
Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito for $899: If you’re not into the lightweight Unagi Model One Voyager but still want an ultralight scooter, check out the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, WIRED Recommends). At just 29 pounds, this scooter is one of the lightest scooters in this guide and comes with a comfortable built-in grab handle for easy transport. It folds quickly and is strong, with a top speed of 24 miles per hour. However, the lightweight nature of this nimble scooter also has its drawbacks. The suspension is perfectly fine and you’ll feel most bumps, but the wheels are skinny. The braking system works well, but you can run into skids if you stop suddenly, and the range is sluggish (about 9 miles over the Brooklyn Bridge in testing). There’s also no easy way to change speed modes on the fly. Set before riding.
Niu KQi Air $1,249: I was very excited to test this scooter, but my experience over several months has been mixed. I still like it, but it has a few quirks that keep it from being a top pick. The KQi Air has a carbon fiber frame, weighs just 26 pounds, and has a top speed of 20 mph. This makes it the lightest scooter I’ve ever tested. It’s easy to fold, has turn signals, a slick app, and reliable regenerative braking. Range is a little poor. You can typically travel just under 10 miles on a single charge, but it’s so light that once I ran out of charge on my way home, I strapped it to the front basket of my Citi Bike and rode my bike home. please). this! ). The ride is great, but I had an issue with it refusing to connect to my phone until I disconnected the stem’s internal power cable. There is an anti-theft feature that sounds an alarm and slows down the scooter if someone tries to roll it, but strangely, although you can permanently turn off the alarm, it doesn’t apply the brakes when rolling. The only way to stop it is to rotate the scooter. Above. My first model also completely stopped working and wouldn’t turn on, so Niu sent me a second one. Oh, and sometimes the scooter slows down while riding and doesn’t reach top speed until a few minutes later. I think it’s caused by some kind of thermal issue. All in all, there’s a lot to be desired, but it’s just a hassle.
TurboAnt M10 Lite $300: This is a perfectly good budget scooter that is perfect for people under 200 pounds. (I wasn’t able to reach a top speed of 16 mph.) Assembly requires a few extra steps (more stuff to screw in, like the rear mudguard). I only got about 8 miles on it, but I liked how quick the folding system was, the bright display, and how light it was at 31 pounds. Just don’t ride on steep slopes.
Gotrax Apex $350: The Apex is 32 pounds and folds easily. It has an integrated bell and a digital display that shows speed and battery life, and can travel up to 15 miles per hour. Apex is reliable. I went to coffee shops, did some remote video shooting with a backpack full of camera gear, and went to the grocery store. However, the ride is not at all smooth. The 250-watt motor doesn’t like even the slightest incline, and the battery drains faster on hills. In my case, the battery range was usually about 9 miles. I’m also tall so I had to constantly stretch my arms to reach the handlebars. It would be a good idea to strengthen the rear disc brakes. It works fine, but I wouldn’t mind it if it had more stopping power.
Gotrax GX2 $1,399: The GX2 is similar to the Apollo Phantom and Segway P100S in that it weighs 76 pounds and has a lot of power and range. This gunmetal scooter looks a bit like a Transformer, and its dual 800-watt motors allow it to reach a top speed of 35 mph, although I usually rode it at 20 mph. With some juice left, I drove to Midtown and back to Brooklyn (29.4 miles total). I don’t like carrying it up and down stairs because the stems are very thick and hard to grip. Even when you’re at a traffic light, the GX2 switches into parking mode after a few seconds, so you always have to remember to press the mode button to switch into drive gear. This is extremely annoying and Gotrax says there is no way to disable it. I’m a little concerned about the construction, but the motor makes a rubbing noise, but if you lightly press the left brake lever while driving, this noise disappears. The latch that keeps the stem upright comes off easily, even though there is a slide-lock mechanism that holds the stem in place. Gotrax says it may just be attached too tightly. If you find any of these issues, we recommend contacting Gotrax and having them take a look at your local scooter shop.
Navee S65 $960: Navee is a relatively new brand with a growing presence in the US, and I had a great time using the S65 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). I was able to regularly complete 16 mile round trips at 20 mph, but that drained the battery quite a bit. The geared hub motor provides good acceleration and makes it easy to climb hills, but it also makes a lot of noise. In a noisy city like New York, you won’t hear the motor, but it can be noticeable on quiet streets. It weighs 53 pounds, so it’s heavier than the top model we chose despite a similar range. Also, since it’s so new, the customer service is very good. Still, it was a fun ride.
Evolv Terra $1,212: We had a great time with Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It weighs 53 pounds, but the thin stem makes it easy to carry. With both 600-watt motors running, it’s powerful, with the potential to go as fast as 31 miles per hour (check your local speed laws first). Otherwise, you can cruise at 20 mph using the single motor as I did with the second gear speed settings (there are 3 total). Range is pretty average, with about 2 bars left on the meter after 15 miles, so it could potentially last 20 miles or more, especially if you keep your speed conservative. The suspension is fine, but the stiff tires can feel quite bumpy on rough roads. The fenders also seemed completely useless to me as my back was covered in patches of mud kicked up from the rear tire after a wet ride after the rain. The stem angle was also too close to the body and the lack of a thumb throttle made my wrists hurt after long rides. However, you can improve this by adjusting the throttle and brake angles.
Radio Flyer S533 $599: Honestly, I’m surprised at how well this scooter performed in my testing. The folding mechanism is just a latch and a sleeve that you pull down to prevent the latch from coming loose while riding. It’s very easy to fold and unfold and weighs only 30 pounds. This is by no means a commuter scooter. The range on a single charge was less than 8 miles. Despite carrying more than 220 pounds, top speed averaged around 14 out of 16 miles per hour. It’s the perfect little scooter to take to the post office, grocery store, or Cinnabon when my wife asks for cinnamon rolls. However, its price doesn’t match its power and performance. It should be cheaper. It is also worth noting that the first model the company sent me did not turn on, and the second model had a missing front tire. It was easy to inflate and I haven’t had any problems since.
Apollo Air Pro (2022) $949: We didn’t test the new 2024 model, but the Apollo Air Pro (2022) was a perfectly fine scooter (6/10, WIRED review). I just don’t think it’s worth paying the high price. At a top speed of 31 mph, I was able to ride about 13-15 miles before it broke down. It comes with all accessories such as a front light and bell, and with app connectivity you can adjust the settings to your liking. But to unlock Air Pro’s true speed, you need an app. Otherwise, you will be limited to 12 mph. I’m even more disgusted that the folding mechanism is so much more work than it needs to be. It also doesn’t accelerate as quickly, and despite its 39-pound weight, the thick stem makes it uncomfortable to carry.
