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I’ve tested a lot of scooters. Not all of them deserve the rankings above, but some are still worth considering. Here are some other good scooters that I like, but don’t quite measure up to the ones above.
MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Special for $1,399: The instructions for assembling the scooter are pretty vague, and some steps aren’t even mentioned in the manual. (I found the handlebar grips difficult to put on—rubbing alcohol is your friend.) This was also my first time trying out the MiniMotors Dualtron app, and to be honest, it’s not beginner-friendly. There’s no clear explanation of terms or functions. This isn’t a scooter I’d recommend to a beginner, but once you get everything up and running, the riding experience is pretty great. It has a top speed of 35 mph, and while the company claims a 40-mile range, you can expect closer to 25 to 30 miles. It’ll handle inclines just fine, but I found it odd that despite its weight (59 pounds), it only has a maximum load capacity of 200 pounds.
Segway P100S for $1,500: This Segway (8/10, WIRED recommends) weighs 73 pounds but has a top speed of 24 mph, so it’s less aggressive than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Special. At that speed, I could get 16 miles on a 35 percent tank of gas. If you limit the speed to 20 via the app, you can easily get closer to 20 or 25 miles. I just hate the noisy turn signals.
Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito $849: If you don’t like the lightweight Unagi Model One Voyager scooter but still want an ultra-light scooter, consider the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, WIRED recommends). At just 29 pounds, it’s one of the lightest scooters in this guide, and it has a comfortable built-in handle for easy portability. It folds quickly and powerfully, with a top speed of 24 mph. But keeping the weight down for this nimble scooter has its drawbacks. The suspension is only okay—you’ll feel most of those bumps—and the wheels are narrow. The brakes work well, but you can get some skidding if you stop suddenly, and the range isn’t impressive (about 9 miles in my test, while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge). There’s also no easy way to change speed modes on the fly; you have to set them before you ride.
Niu KQi Air for $1,399: I was excited to test this scooter, but my experience with it over the past few months has been mixed. I still like it, but a few quirks keep it from being a top choice. KQi Air 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 folds easily and has turn signals, a smooth app, and reliable regenerative braking. Range is a little lacking—I usually get just under 10 miles on a charge, but it’s so light that when it died on the way home one time, I tie it to the front basket of the Citi Bike and rode home (don’t do that!). The ride quality is great, but I had issues with the bike refusing to connect to my phone until I disconnected the internal power cable in the trunk. There is an anti-theft system that will sound an alarm and slow the bike if someone tries to roll it, but oddly, while you can permanently disable the alarm, the only way to stop the bike from braking when you roll it is to turn it on. My original model also completely stopped working and wouldn’t turn on, so Niu had to send me a second model. Oh, and sometimes while riding, the bike slows down and doesn’t reach top speed until a few minutes later. I suspect there’s some sort of heating issue causing this. Overall, the bike is promising, but just annoying.
TurboAnt M10 Lite for $290: This is a perfect budget scooter, best suited for people under 200 pounds. (I couldn’t reach the top speed of 16 mph.) Assembly requires a few extra steps (more things to screw on, like the rear fender). I only got about 8 miles out of it, but I liked the quick-folding system, bright display, and its relatively light weight of 31 pounds. Just don’t take it up any hills.
Gotrax Apex for $350: The Apex weighs 32 pounds and folds up easily. It has a built-in bell and a digital display that shows your speed and battery life, and it can reach up to 15 mph. Apex is reliable—I hit the coffee shop, shot remote video with a backpack full of camera gear, and shopped for groceries—though it wasn’t the smoothest ride. The 250-watt motor struggled with any slight incline, and the steep inclines drained the battery quickly. The battery usually only got me about 9 miles. I’m also tall, and I had to constantly stretch my arms to reach the handlebars. You’ll want to squeeze the rear disc brake; it worked fine, but I didn’t mind the extra stopping power.
Gotrax GX2 for $1,499: The GX2 is similar to the Apollo Phantom and the Segway P100S in that it weighs 76 pounds and has plenty of power and range. The gunmetal-colored scooter looks a bit like a Transformer and can reach a top speed of 35 mph via its dual 800-watt motors, but I usually cruised at around 20 mph. It got me downtown and back to Brooklyn (a total of 18.4 miles) with a little charge left. I hated carrying it up and down stairs, as the body is super thick, making it difficult to grip. The GX2 also goes into Parking mode after a few seconds when you’re waiting at a red light, so you have to constantly remember to press the mode button to shift into drive. This is incredibly annoying, and Gotrax says there’s no way to turn it off. I was a little concerned about the build quality – the motor makes a noise like something is rubbing against it, and the noise goes away if I lightly press the left brake lever while riding. The bolt that holds the body upright drops too easily, despite having a sliding locking mechanism to keep it in place; Gotrax says it may be due to the bolt being too tight. If you see any of these issues, I recommend contacting Gotrax and having them take a look at it at your local scooter shop.
Navee S65 for $1,099: Navee is a relatively new brand that is growing its presence in the US and I had a S65 usage time (7/10, WIRED recommends). I can regularly complete 16-mile round trips at 20 mph, but that drains the battery. It has great acceleration, thanks to the hub motor, and it climbs hills with ease, but that also makes it very big. The engine noise is muted if you’re in a noisy city like New York, but it can be unnerving on quieter streets. It weighs 53 pounds, making it heavier than our top pick despite having similar range, and its customer service is still questionable because it’s so new. Still, I had fun driving it.
Evolv Terra price $1,231: I enjoyed my time with the Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED recommends). The bike weighs 53 pounds and, thanks to its slim body, isn’t too uncomfortable to carry. It’s powerful, capable of speeds up to 31 mph with both 600-watt motors on (check your local speed laws first!). Otherwise, you can cruise at 20 mph, as I did in the second-speed setting (there are three laws total) with the single motor. Range is pretty average, with about two bars left on the clock after 15 miles, so it’s possible to go well beyond 20 miles, especially if you’re careful with your speed. The suspension is fine, but the solid tires can feel quite bumpy on rough roads. The fenders also seemed pretty useless to me, as after a wet ride after rain, my back was covered in grit from the rear tire. The angle of the body is also a little too close to my body, and the lack of a thumb throttle made my wrists sore on long rides. However, you can adjust the throttle and brake angle to improve this.
Radio Flyer S533 for $599: Honestly, I was 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 keep the latch from coming undone while you ride. It’s incredibly easy to fold and unfold, and it’s light at 30 pounds. It’s not a commuter scooter by any means—my range was just under 8 miles on a single charge—and despite topping out at its 220-pound capacity, I averaged about 14 mph at its 16 mph top speed. It’s a great little scooter for going to the post office, the grocery store, or Cinnabon when my wife asks for a cinnamon roll. However, its price doesn’t match its power and performance; it should be cheaper. It’s also worth noting that the first model the company sent me wouldn’t turn on, and the second one had a flat front tire. Inflating was quick and I have had no problems since.
Apollo Air Pro (2022) for $899: I haven’t tested the new 2024 model yet, but the Apollo Air Pro (2022) is a perfect scooter (6/10, WIRED Rating); I just don’t think it’s worth the high price. It can go up to 21 mph, and I was able to ride it for about 13 to 15 miles before it died. You get all the accessories, like a headlight and bell, and there’s app connectivity to adjust the settings to your liking. However, the app is request to unlock the Air Pro’s true speed—otherwise, you’re limited to 12 mph. I was more frustrated with the folding mechanism, which takes more effort than it should. It also doesn’t accelerate very quickly and, despite weighing 39 pounds, isn’t comfortable to carry due to its thick body.
