I’ve tried a lot of scooters. Not all of them deserve a spot at the top, but some are worth considering.
Niu KQi3 Pro for $599: Over many trips, I became very fond of the KQi3 Pro and it was our top pick in this guide for quite some time. Offers great variety for the money. Despite going over steep bridges around New York City, I frequently got around 15 miles, but you can probably expect 18-20 miles (unless you’re also a tall giant like me). It goes 20 miles per hour, the 9.5-inch tubeless tires offer a comfortable ride, and the disc brakes reliably stop you quickly. You get goodies like a bell, lights, and space on the handlebars to fit a phone holder. It’s very easy to fold, but it weighs 45 pounds, so it’s not what I would call lightweight. I also wish the handlebar could be folded because it can get caught on stair railings. It’s a little older now and has been replaced by the Niu KQi 300X and 300P, so be sure to check it out on sale.
MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini special for $1,699: The instructions for assembling this scooter are vague and some steps are not even mentioned in the instruction booklet. (I found it difficult to attach the handlebar grip; isopropyl alcohol is your friend.) This is also the first time I tried the MiniMotors Dualtron app and honestly, it’s not beginner-friendly. None of the terms and functions are well explained. It’s not a scooter I would recommend to newcomers, but once you get everything up and running, the riding experience is quite enjoyable. It has a top speed of 35 mph, and although the company claims a 40-mile range, you can expect between 25 and 30 miles. It will handle slopes well, but I find it strange that, despite being quite heavy (59 pounds), it has a maximum load capacity of 200 pounds.
Segway P100S for $1,297: This Segway (8/10, Recommended) weighs 73 pounds but has a top speed of 24 mph, so it’s a little less intense than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Special. At that speed, I was able to go 16 miles with 35 percent left in the tank. If you limit your speed to 20 through the app, you should be able to easily get within 20 or 25 miles. I just hate the loud turn signal.
Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito for $899: If the lightweight Unagi Model One Voyager doesn’t interest you but you still want an ultralight scooter, check out the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, recommends). At just 29 pounds, it’s one of the lightest scooters in this guide and has a convenient built-in handle for easy carrying. It’s quick to fold and powerful, with a top speed of 24 mph. But reducing the weight of this agile scooter has disadvantages. The suspension is fine (you’ll feel most of those bumps) and the wheels are narrow. The braking system works well, but you may skid a little if you brake suddenly, and the range is mediocre (about 9 miles in my testing, over the Brooklyn Bridge). There’s also no easy way to change speed modes on the fly; You configure it before riding.
Niu KQi Air for $1,249: I was very excited to test this scooter, but my experience with it over several months is mixed. I still like it, but some quirks prevent it from being one of the best options. He KQi air It has a carbon fiber frame, allowing it to weigh just 26 pounds with a top speed of 20 mph. That makes it the lightest scooter I’ve ever tested. It’s easy to fold and has turn signals, a smart app, and reliable regenerative braking. The range is a little lackluster – I normally got just under 10 miles on a single charge – but it’s so light that when it died on my way home once, I tied it to the front basket of a Citi bike and I rode my bike home (don’t do this!). The ride quality is excellent, but I had issues with it refusing to connect to my phone until I unplugged the internal power cable at the stem. There’s anti-theft protection that sounds an alarm and slows down the scooter if someone tries to drive it away, but interestingly, while you can turn off the alarm permanently, the only way to stop it from braking while you’re moving it is to turn the scooter around. in. My initial model also stopped working completely and wouldn’t turn on, so Niu had to send me a second model. Oh, and sometimes during rides the scooter slows down and doesn’t reach its top speed until a few minutes later. I suspect there is some thermal issue causing this. Overall, there’s a lot of promise, but it’s just annoying.
TurboAnt M10 Lite for $300: This is a perfectly good budget scooter, ideal for people under 200 pounds. (I couldn’t reach its top speed of 16 mph.) Assembly requires a few extra steps (more things to bolt on, like the rear fender). I was only able to get 8 miles on it, but I like that the folding system is quick, the screen is bright, and it’s pretty light at 31 pounds. Just don’t take it up steep hills.
Gotrax Apex for $350: The Apex weighs 32 pounds and is easy to fold. It has a built-in buzzer and a digital display that shows speed and battery life, and can go up to 15 mph. He Apex is reliable—I’ve gone to coffee shops, remote video shoots with a backpack full of camera equipment, and the supermarket, although it’s not the easiest trip. The 250-watt motor struggles with any slight incline, and inclines drain the battery quickly. The battery usually lasted me about 9 miles. I’m also tall and had to constantly stretch my arms to reach the handlebars. You’ll want to tighten the rear disc brake; It runs fine, but I wouldn’t have minded more braking power.
Gotrax GX2 for $1,399: The GX2 is similar to the Apollo Phantom and Segway P100S in that it weighs 76 pounds and has plenty of power and range. This bronze scooter looks a bit like a Transformer and can reach a top speed of 35 mph thanks to its dual 800-watt motors, but I normally rode it at 20 mph. It took me downtown and back to Brooklyn (a total of 18.4 miles) with some juice left over. I hate going up and down stairs with it, because the stem is very thick, making it difficult to grip. When you’re waiting at a traffic light, the GX2 also switches to park mode after a few seconds, so you have to constantly remember to press the mode button to shift into drive gear. It’s very annoying and Gotrax says there’s no way to disable it. I’m a little worried about the build quality: the engine makes a noise like something is rubbing against it and this sound disappears if I lightly press the left brake lever while driving. The latch to keep the stem upright comes down too easily, despite a sliding locking mechanism to keep it in place; Gotrax says it could simply be because it is installed too tight. If you see any of these issues, I recommend contacting Gotrax and going to a local scooter shop to have them take a look.
Navee S65 for $960: Navee is a relatively new brand that is growing its presence in the US and I had a great time using the S65 (7/10, recommends). I was able to regularly complete 16-mile round trips at 20 mph, but that pretty much drained the battery. It has great acceleration, thanks to its reduction hub motor, and climbs slopes with ease, but this also makes very noisy. The engine sound disappears if you’re in a noisy city like New York, but it can make you feel self-conscious on quiet streets. It weighs 53 pounds, making it heavier than our top pick despite having a similar range, and their customer service is up in the air because it’s so new. Still, I had fun riding it.
Evolv Terra for $1,212: I enjoyed my time with Evolv Terra (7/10, recommends). It weighs 53 pounds and, thanks to the slim stem, isn’t too bothersome to carry. It’s powerful, with the potential to reach speeds of up to 31 miles per hour when both 600-watt motors are engaged (check your local speed laws first!). Otherwise, you can cruise at 20 mph like I did in second gear (there are three in total) on a single motor. Range is pretty average, with about two bars left on the meter after 15 miles, so it can potentially last 20+ miles, especially if you’re conservative with your speeds. The suspension is fine, but solid tires on rougher roads can feel quite bumpy. I also found the fenders pretty useless as, after a wet ride after rain, my back was covered in specks of dirt kicked up by the rear tire. The angle of the stem was also too close to my body, and the lack of a thumb throttle meant my wrist ached after long rides. However, you can modify the angle of the throttle and brakes to improve this.
Radio Flyer S533 for $599: I’m honestly surprised at how well this scooter did in my testing. The folding mechanism is just a latch and a sleeve that you pull down to prevent the latch from coming undone while driving. It is very easy to fold and unfold, and weighs 30 pounds. It’s by no means a commuter scooter (my range was around 8 miles on a single charge), and despite exceeding its 220-pound carrying capacity, I averaged about 14 mph off its 16 mph top speed. It’s a nice little scooter to take to the post office, the grocery store, or Cinnabon when my wife orders a cinnamon roll. However, its price does not live up to its power and performance; it should be cheaper. It’s also worth noting that the first model the company sent me would not start and the second model had a flat front tire. Inflating it was a quick affair and I haven’t had any problems since.
Apollo Air Pro (2022) for $949: I haven’t tested the new 2024 model, but the Apollo Air Pro (2022) was a perfectly good scooter (6/10, review); I just don’t think it’s worth the high price. It goes 21mph and I was able to drive it 13-15 miles before it died. You get all the bells and whistles, like a front light and doorbell, and there’s app connectivity to adjust settings to your liking. However, the application is requested to unlock the true speed of the Air Pro; otherwise you will be restricted to 12 mph. I’m most annoyed with the folding mechanism, which requires more work than it should. It also doesn’t accelerate much and, despite its 39-pound weight, is awkward to carry due to its thick stem.