What to look for...
So, you’re looking for the best bit of cutting-edge tech to play with. A fast and agile electric scooter designed specifically for fun needs to deliver on excitement and thrill factor to make sure you arrive smiling. Here are the 3 most important features you need to consider when choosing an electric scooter:
Top Speed
Speed is important for getting your dose of adrenaline. Electric scooters tend to start at top speeds of 15mph and for many this is more than enough to feel the buzz and get you smiling - trust us, 15mph on a scooter feels an awful lot faster than 15mph in a car! But if you really want to feel the wind in your cheeks, we strongly recommend you consider an upgraded model. These start at 18mph and range all the way to a hair-raising 40mph.
It’s important to bear in mind that faster scooters require bigger batteries and more powerful motors which are generally more expensive, however in our experience you really do get what you pay for in terms of performance. A motor power of 300 watts is an adequate starting point and we recommend you power up accordingly from there. We do not recommend anything under 300W for areas with steeper hills.
Tip: for extra oomph look for a scooter with dual motors. Warning: always wear a helmet when riding your scooter at any speed. Electric scooters are safe to ride, but accidents still happen. 7 out of 10 serious head injuries could have been avoided by wearing a helmet. To protect yourself we strongly recommend the Xiaomi MI Black helmet.
Suspension
Suspension on an e-scooter works the same as a car, smoothing out bumps and indentations in the ground. Without it you will get some vibration which can be uncomfortable on longer rides – and where’s the fun in that?
If you want an off-roader that sails over rougher terrain, strongly consider purchasing a scooter with quality suspension. Suspension can either be attached to the front, rear or both wheels.
You should also consider tyre type. Air-filled (pneumatic) tyres have the advantage of added shock absorption and better handling/traction than solid rubber tyres.
However, air-filled tyres are prone to punctures and require maintenance. Just like a car, you will need to regularly check your air pressure and refill when low. Correct tyre pressure is vital for safety, braking effectiveness and grip. Under-inflation will cause wear, halve your battery range and will stop you from reaching those top speeds.
Tip: if you’re opting for air-filled tyres it’s essential you purchase a pump with a pressure gauge to keep your tyres topped up to the recommended PSI.
Changing e-scooter tyres is a nightmare which, trust us - you want to avoid. It’s far more difficult than repairing a bicycle puncture. To protect yourself from punctures we strongly recommend you purchase our ‘puncture protection fluid’. Apply this before your first ride and you may never need to change your tyres at all.
Brakes
Your safety always come first, and brakes are a vital feature if you are looking for a more powerful electric scooter. Especially when riding downhill.
There are four main brake types. In order of least to most effective: 1) electric and/or regenerative brakes, 2) foot brakes, 3) drum brakes and 4) disc brakes.
Electric and regenerative brakes are the weakest. If you are traveling at 15+mph and need to stop quickly these will be the least effective.
Foot brakes are activated by pushing your foot down on the rear mud guard. They have slightly more stopping power but are not as comfortable or effective as drum or disc brakes.
Drum brakes are enclosed inside the wheel hub and are generally lower maintenance than other braking types and have consistent performance in wet conditions.
Disc brakes have the most stopping power and are lighter than drum brakes which helps to lighten the overall load for extra speed. While drum and disc brakes are the best of all they will wear out over time and will eventually need to be serviced, just like a car.
Tip: make sure you service your electric scooter regularly to keep it in full working order. Looking after your scooter properly is important.
Anything we've forgotten?
Aesthetics
Looking good is all part of the fun, right? So, let’s not forget the aesthetics. You want an electric scooter that looks cool and one you can be proud of.
We’ve tested upwards of 50 different scooter models and found that some manufacturers cut costs by borrowing cheap components from bicycles, and it shows! This doesn’t generally affect the functionality of the electric scooter, but they can look like cheap home-made devices.
We are proud to have hand-picked our range of e-scooters for both quality and style but, if you do want to modify your look further we suggest you check out our custom graphics kits - from sleek motorsport inspired designs to urban cool camo prints, we're sure you'll find a style that suits you.
Tip: if you’re stuck for inspiration check out some of the latest celebrities to style up their scoot on our Instagram!
Warning: if you’re going to ride at night, strongly consider adding some flashing red rear lights to your helmet or backpack – after all, safety comes before style.
