I’ve test driven a lot of scooters, and while not all of them are worthy of a high ranking, some are still worth considering.
Niu KQi Pro $640: After many rides, I really grew to like the KQi3 Pro and it was my top pick in this guide for a long time. It has a great range for the price. I only managed to get about 15 miles out of it, even though I was riding over some steep bridges in New York City. I’d say you could probably get 18-20 miles out of it (unless you’re a tall giant like me). It runs at 20 mph, the 9.5″ tubeless tires provide a comfortable ride, and the disc brakes ensure quick stopping. Perks include space on the handlebars to mount a bell, light, and phone mount. It folds up very easily, but it weighs 45 pounds, so it’s not exactly lightweight. It would also be nice if the handlebars could fold up, as it can get caught on stair railings. It’s a bit outdated now and has been replaced by the Niu KQi 300X and 300P, so be sure to pick one up while it’s on sale.
MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Special $1,399: The assembly instructions for this scooter are vague, and some steps are not even mentioned in the manual. (It was difficult to put on the handle grips, so use rubbing alcohol.) I also tried the MiniMotors Dualtron app for the first time, and to be honest, it’s not beginner-friendly. The terms and functions are not explained well enough. It’s not a scooter I would recommend for beginners, but once you’ve set it up and started, it’s a pretty good ride. The top speed is 35 mph, and although the manufacturer claims a 40-mile range, you can expect around 25 to 30 miles. It can ride up hills without any problems, but I think it’s odd that it’s quite heavy (59 lbs) and has a maximum load capacity of 200 lbs.
Segway P100S $1,500: This Segway (8/10, WIRED Recommended) weighs 73 pounds, but its top speed is 24 mph, a little more modest than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Special. At that speed, I was able to get 10 miles on a 35% battery. If you limit the speed to 20 in the app, you can easily get closer to 20 or 25 mph. I just don’t like the noisy turn signals.
Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito $899: If the lightweight Unagi Model One Voyager isn’t your thing but you’re looking for an ultra-lightweight scooter, check out the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, WIRED Recommended). At just 29 pounds, it’s one of the lightest scooters in this guide and has a built-in handle for easy transport. It folds quickly and is powerful, with a top speed of 24 mph. But this agile scooter’s light weight comes with a downside: the suspension is so-so, you’ll feel most bumps, and the wheels are skinny. The braking system works well, but it can skid under hard braking, and the range is lackluster (about 9 miles in my test across the Brooklyn Bridge). There’s also no easy way to change speed modes on the fly, so you have to set them before you get on.
Niu KQi Air $1,099: I was excited to test ride this scooter, but after using it for a few months, I’ve had mixed results. I still like it, but a few quirks 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. It’s the lightest scooter I’ve tested. It folds easily, has turn signals, a slick app, and reliable regenerative braking. The range leaves something to be desired. It only gets a little under 10 miles on a single charge, but it’s so light that if the battery dies on the way home, Attached to the front basket of a city bike And then I rode my bike home (don’t do this!). The ride is great, but I had issues with not being able to connect to my phone until I removed the internal power cable in the stem. It has an anti-theft feature, if someone tries to roll the scooter it will alarm and slow you down, but the weird thing is that although the alarm can be turned off permanently, the only way to stop it from braking while rolling is to turn the scooter on. Niu sent me a second model because my first model also stopped working completely and would not turn on. Oh, and sometimes the scooter slows down while riding and hits top speed after a few minutes. I think this is due to a heat issue. Overall, a lot to look forward to, but it’s frustrating anyway.
TurboAnt M10 Lite $300: This is a perfect low-cost scooter for anyone under 200 pounds. (I didn’t reach a top speed of 16 mph.) There are a few extra steps to assemble (more things to screw on, like the rear mudguard). I only got about 5 miles out of it. But I like the quick folding system, bright display, and the fact that it weighs 31 pounds, which is pretty light. Just don’t ride it on steep hills.
Gotrax Apex $350: The Apex is 32 pounds and folds easily. It has a built-in bell, a digital display that shows your speed and battery level, and can go up to 15 mph. The Apex has been reliable and I’ve taken it to coffee shops, remote video shoots with a backpack full of camera gear, and the grocery store, but it’s not the most comfortable ride. The 250 watt motor struggles with even the slightest incline, and inclines drain the battery quickly. In my case, the battery usually lasted about 9 miles. Also, I’m tall, so I constantly had to stretch my arms out to reach the handlebars. I’d prefer the rear disc brake to be tightened. It works fine, but I wish it had more stopping power.
Gotrax GX2 $1,499: 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 can get it up to 35 mph, but I usually rode it at 20 mph. I did a round trip from Midtown to Brooklyn (18.4 miles total) and still had some battery left. I hate taking it up and down stairs because the stem is so thick and hard to hold. When you’re waiting at a stoplight, the GX2 switches to parking mode after a few seconds, so you have to constantly remember to press the mode button to switch to driving gear. This is very annoying, and Gotrax says there’s no way to disable it. I’m a bit concerned about the build quality. The motor makes a grinding noise, but this goes away if you lightly press the left brake lever while driving. The latch that keeps the stem upright can easily fall down, despite being secured with a slide-lock mechanism, and Gotrax says it may simply be tightened too much. If you notice any of these issues, they recommend contacting Gotrax and arranging a trip to your local scooter shop to take a look.
Navee S65 $960: Navee is a relatively new brand that is expanding its presence in the US, and I had a lot of fun with the S65 (7/10, WIRED Recommended). I was able to regularly complete 16 mile round trips at 20mph, which pretty much drained the battery. Acceleration is great thanks to the geared hub motor, and it’s easy to get up hills, but it’s also noisyYou won’t hear the motor in a busy city like New York, but it might be annoying on quieter streets. At 53 pounds, it’s heavier than our top pick, even though it has a similar range, and because it’s new, customer service has been spotty. Still, it was fun to ride.
Evolv Terra $1,231: I had a good time with the Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED Recommended). It weighs 53 pounds, and the stem is thin so it’s not too hard to carry around. It’s powerful, and with the two 600-watt motors running you can go up to 31 mph (check your local speed limits first!). If not, you can cruise at 20 mph with the single motor and two speed settings (there are three in total). The range is pretty average, with about 2 bars left on the meter after 15 miles, so you could get more than 20 miles, especially if you’re going at a moderate speed. The suspension is fine, but the solid tires feel pretty lumpy on rough roads. The fenders seemed almost useless to me, too, as my back was covered in dirt particles kicked up by the rear wheel after a wet ride after a rain. The stem angle was also too close to my body, and the lack of a thumb throttle made my wrists hurt after long rides. However, by tweaking the throttle and brake angles this can be improved.
Radio Flyer S533 $599: Honestly, I was surprised that this scooter did so well in our tests. The folding mechanism is just a latch and sleeve that you pull down to prevent the latch from coming off while riding. It’s very easy to fold and unfold, and it’s light at 30 pounds. It’s not a commuter scooter. I got less than 8 miles on a single charge. I also averaged about 14 mph out of a maximum speed of 16 mph, even though I exceeded the 220 pound load capacity. It’s a nice little scooter for trips to the post office or grocery store, or to Cinnabon when my wife wants a cinnamon roll. However, the price is not worth the power and performance. It should be cheaper. It’s also worth noting that the first model the company sent me would not turn on, and the second had a deflated front wheel. I was able to inflate it quickly, and haven’t had any issues since.
Apollo Air Pro (2022) $849: I haven’t tried the new 2024 model, but the Apollo Air Pro (2022) was a decent scooter (6/10, WIRED review). I just don’t think it’s worth the high price tag. It can go up to 21 mph, and I could ride it for about 13-15 miles before the battery died. It comes with all the bells and accessories, and the app lets you adjust the settings to your liking. The app is a bit slow, but… Required You need this to unlock the true speed of the Air Pro; otherwise, the top speed is limited to 12 mph. I’m more frustrated with the folding mechanism, which is more work than it needs to be, doesn’t accelerate quickly, and even though it weighs 39 pounds, the thick stem makes it awkward to carry.
