To test electric scooters, we ride them around a New Jersey suburb and, if the scooter is light and small enough, we take it on a train and into New York City. As increasing numbers of people are bringing scooters on public transportation, we like to see how easy it is to lug a scooter up stairs, and to see how well it can be stowed under a seat. Almost all electric scooters will also come with a bell or horn so you can warn others that you’re approaching — but this doesn’t mean you should ride recklessly.
The Icon’s front headlight is mounted pretty low to the ground — just above the front wheel — so it provides some, but not great, visibility in darker conditions. I did like the rear brake lights, which are nicely integrated into the rear of the Icon’s frame. On the left handlebar is a push-button electric brake; you can also step on the rear fender to slow the scooter down. Some 20 years razor electric scooter ago, Razor invented the scooter craze with its simple, iconic aluminum scooter that quickly became an icon during the dot-com boom. While many of the companies from that era have gone bust, Razor is still around, and has revisited its original design for the electric scooter era. The push button throttle and up to 60 minutes of extended drive time – your freedom radius just expanded.
With its twist-grip acceleration control and hand-operated rear brake, the E300 HD puts power and control in your hands. With the 24V rechargeable battery system, the E300 HD travels up to 10 miles (16 km) or up to 40 minutes of continuous use on a single charge. The push-button throttle control provides an intuitive, instant connection to the high-torque, 22-volt lithium-ion powered motor for quick acceleration and smooth cruising.
The E100 sports a twist-grip throttle and enough oomph to let them scoot around at speeds up to 10 miles per hour for about 40 minutes. Yes, the Razor Icon looks tremendous, but underneath its shiny aluminum exterior is an electric scooter that offers a good value for its features. So with the Razer Icon, you’ll be able to get around on an affordable electric scooter with a great retro look. At 10 amazing miles per hour, with a push-button throttle, and a kick-start in-wheel hub motor, the Power Core 90 is a maintenance free, energy efficient way to take your fun even farther. The Unagi Model One Voyager is incredibly light and its dual motors gives it more power than most electric scooters its size. At 26.5 pounds, the Razor Icon is the same weight as the Unagi Model One and GoTrax GXL V2.
The Glion Balto is the best electric scooter for those who want something they can use to pick up groceries or carry things to and from the store. With an estimated 40-mile range, this scooter will get you where you need to go — wherever it is. Our biggest complaint with the E100 — and common to most Razor scooters under $200 — is that it lacks reflectors or a bell or horn. Other than that, the biggest problem you’ll have with the Razor E100 is getting your kid off it. Unfortunately, the combination of the motor, hard composite wheels, and lack of suspension made the E100 a loud scooter. Whether it was from the noise or from the recalcitrance of an 8-year-old, Chase didn’t always come back to his dad when asked.
There’s nothing worse than having to fumble with a latch when you’re rushing to catch a train — and your fellow passengers will appreciate it, too. We also really like that the Balto comes with a side-view mirror, lights, and turn signals, razor electric scooter which made us feel safer in traffic. And, the Balto’s battery is removable, so you don’t have to park the scooter near an outlet. As a bonus, you can also use the battery to charge your phone — but you’ll need to buy an adapter first.
For this Razor Icon review, I took the scooter out for a number of rides to see how it would perform in the city and the burbs. The 24V rechargeable battery system provides up to 40 minutes of continuous ride time on a single charge. The thumb-activated throttle is designed for easy manipulation enhancing smooth acceleration. The dual-braking system, a hand-operated front brake and a rear fender brake, provides responsive braking effects.
It comes in a variety of colors and features twist-grip acceleration controls, as well as a hand-operated front brake. The E100 tops out at 10 mph but offers enough torque for heading uphill or over steep bumps. And with 40 minutes of drive time, that’s plenty to get to school and back with a pit stop in between. Thanks to its dual 250-watt motors, the Unagi Model One Voyager powers up hills with aplomb, zipping along twice as fast as other scooters with just a single motor. Using both motors (you can opt to use just one) causes the battery life to drop significantly lower than the scooter’s advertised 20-mile range. Commuter scooters don’t need to be the fastest things around, but it helps if they can manage at least 15 MPH for a sustained time so that you’re not holding up anyone in the bike lane.
The Hiboy S2 has several features you don’t typically find on a budget electric scooter. These include such things as dual brakes — both regenerative and a mechanical disk — and lights, not just in the front and back, but around the sides of the scooter, too. Not only does it make you more visible, but it’s also a really cool effect. To be sure, its actual range is a good deal less than its advertised range of 40 miles, especially when you’re cruising up hills, but was plenty long enough to get us around for a week without recharging. You can also use the Niu app to customize the Kqi3 Max’s ride, and even lock it.
Extra features like headlights, reflectors and available speedometer also factored into our commuter picks. I also liked the very clean design of the Hiboy S2; there aren’t a lot of dangling wires and such. The one caveat is its rear latching mechanism, which was a bit finicky. The S2’s 350-Watt motor proved up to the task for most situations, but like most budget scooters, I found it had trouble on hills. Its battery life is good for a scooter in this price range, but expect to charge it every few days if you plan on doing a lot of riding. Regardless of the electric scooter you choose, we suggest plenty of practice before you hit the road.