I’ve tried a lot of scooters. Not all of them deserve a spot on this list, but some are worth it. Here are some other good scooters that I like, but not as much as the ones above.
MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Special for $1,399: The instructions for assembling this scooter are vague, and some steps aren’t even mentioned in the instruction manual (I found it difficult to put on the handlebars – isopropyl alcohol is your friend). This is also my first time trying out the MiniMotors Dualtron app, and honestly, it’s not beginner-friendly. None of the terms and functions are explained well. It’s not a scooter I would recommend for beginners, but once you get everything up and running, the riding experience is quite enjoyable. It has a top speed of 35 mph, and while the company claims a 40-mile range, you can expect a range closer to 25 or 30 miles. It will handle inclines just fine, but I find it odd that despite being fairly heavy (59 pounds), it has a maximum load capacity of 200 pounds.
Segway P100S for $1,500: This Segway (8/10, WIRED Recommends) weighs 33kg but has a top speed of 38km/h, so it’s a bit less intense than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Special. At that speed, I was able to ride 26km with 35% battery left. If you limit the speed to 32km/h via the app, you should be able to easily ride between 32-40km/h. I hate the loud turn signal.
Fluidfreeride Mosquito for $849: If the lightweight Unagi Model One Voyager doesn’t interest you but you still want an ultralight scooter, then check out the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, WIRED Recommends). At just 13kg, it’s one of the lightest scooters in this guide, and it has a convenient built-in grab handle for easy transport. It folds quickly and is powerful, with a top speed of 38km/h. But shaving weight off this nimble scooter has its drawbacks. The suspension is fine (you’ll notice most bumps) and the wheels are narrow. The braking system works well, but you might find you slip a bit if you make a sudden stop, and the range is mediocre (around 14km in my testing, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge). There’s also no easy way to change speed modes on the fly—you set that before you ride.
Niu KQi Air for $1,399: I was really excited to try this scooter, but my experience with it over several months has been mixed. I still like it, but a few quirks keep it from being a top choice. KQi Air It has a carbon fiber frame, allowing it to weigh just 26 pounds and reach 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 slick app, and reliable regenerative braking. The range is a little mediocre — I typically got just under 10 miles on a single charge — but it’s so light that when it shut off once on the way home, I was left with no juice. I tied it to the front basket of a Citi Bike and I cycled home (don’t do this!). The ride quality is great, but I did have issues with it refusing to connect to my phone until I unplugged the internal power cable at the stem. There is anti-theft protection that sounds an alarm and slows the scooter down if someone tries to drive it away, but oddly, while you can turn the alarm off permanently, the only way to stop it from braking while you’re moving it is to turn the scooter on. My initial model also completely stopped working and wouldn’t turn on, so Niu had to send me a second model. Oh, and sometimes during rides the scooter will slow down and not reach its full speed until a few minutes later. I suspect there’s some thermal issue causing this. Overall, it’s very promising, but it’s just plain annoying.
TurboAnt M10 Lite for $290: This is a great value scooter for people under 200 pounds (I wasn’t able to hit its top speed of 16 mph). Assembly requires a few extra steps (more things to screw on, like the rear fender). I was only able to get about 8 miles on it, but I like that the folding system is quick, the display is bright, and it’s fairly light (31 pounds). Just don’t take it up any steep hills.
Gotrax Apex for $350: The Apex weighs 32 pounds and is easy to fold. It has a built-in bell and a digital display that shows speed and battery life, and can reach speeds of up to 15 mph. Apex is reliable—I’ve ridden to coffee shops, to shoot videos from a distance with a backpack full of camera gear, and to the supermarket, though it’s not the smoothest ride. The 250-watt motor struggles with any slight incline, and hills drain the battery quickly. The battery used to last around 14.5 kilometres in my case. I’m also tall and had to constantly stretch my arms to reach the handlebars. The rear disc brake is handy to squeeze – it works well, but I wouldn’t have minded more stopping power.
Gotrax GX2 for $1,499: The GX2 is similar to the Apollo Phantom and Segway P100S in that it weighs 75 pounds and has plenty of power and range. This metal scooter looks a bit like a Transformer and can hit a top speed of 35 mph thanks to two 800-watt motors, but I typically rode it at 20 mph. It got me all the way to downtown and back to Brooklyn (a total of 18.5 miles) with some battery life to spare. I hate carrying it up and down stairs, because the stem is so thick, making it hard to grip. When you’re waiting at a traffic light, the GX2 also switches to parking mode after a few seconds, so you have to constantly remember to press the mode button to switch it into drive gear. It’s super annoying, and Gotrax says there’s no way to turn it off. I’m a little concerned about the build quality – the motor makes a noise like something is rubbing against it, and this sound goes away if I lightly press the left brake lever while riding. The latch that keeps the stem upright comes down too easily, despite it featuring a sliding locking mechanism to hold it in place – Gotrax says this could simply be due to it being installed too tightly. If you notice any of these issues, I recommend contacting Gotrax and going to a local scooter shop to have it taken a look.
Navee S65 for $1,099: Navee is a relatively new brand that is increasing its presence in the US and I had a great experience. time using the S65 (7/10, WIRED 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 geared hub motor, and climbs hills with ease, but this also makes it very highThe engine sound goes away if you’re in a noisy city like New York, but it can make you feel uncomfortable on quiet streets. It weighs 24kg, so it’s heavier than our top pick despite having a similar range, and its customer service is uncertain because it’s so new. Still, I had fun riding it.
Evolv Terra for $1,231: I enjoyed my time with the Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It weighs 53 pounds, and thanks to the slim stem, it’s not too cumbersome to carry around. It’s powerful, with the potential to go as fast as 31 miles per hour when you engage both 600-watt motors (check your local speed laws first!). Otherwise, you can cruise along at 20 mph like I did on the second-gear speed setting (there are three total) with the single motor. The range is pretty average, with about two bars remaining 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 the solid tires on rougher roads can feel pretty bumpy. I also found the fenders to be pretty useless as, after a wet ride after rain, my back was covered in flecks of dirt kicked up from the rear tire. The stem angle was also too close to my body and the lack of a thumb throttle meant my wrist hurt after long rides. However, you can adjust the angle of the throttle and brakes to improve this.
Flyer S533 Radio for $599: I’m honestly surprised at how well this scooter fared in my testing. The folding mechanism is just a latch and a sleeve that you pull down to stop the latch from coming loose while riding. It’s very easy to fold and unfold, and it weighs 14kg. It’s not a commuter scooter by any means (my range was around 13km on a single charge), and despite exceeding its 100kg load capacity, I averaged 22km/h of its 26km/h top speed. It’s a nice little scooter for commuting to the post office, grocery store, or Cinnabon when my wife asks me for a cinnamon roll. Its price doesn’t match its power and performance, though – it should be cheaper. It’s also worth noting that the first model the company sent me wouldn’t turn on, and the second model had a flat front wheel. Inflating it was a quick affair, and I haven’t had any issues since.
Apollo Air Pro (2022) for $899: I haven’t tried the new 2024 model, but the Apollo Air Pro (2022) is a perfect scooter (6/10, WIRED review) – I just don’t think it’s worth the high price. It tops out at 21 mph, and I was able to ride it for about 13 to 15 miles before it broke down. It has all the accessories, like a front light and bell, and there’s connectivity via app to adjust the settings to your liking. The app is a bit tricky, though. required to unlock the Air Pro’s true speed; otherwise, it’s limited to 12 mph. I’m most annoyed with the folding mechanism, which is more work than it should be. It also doesn’t accelerate too quickly, and despite its 39-pound weight, it’s awkward to carry around because of its thick stem.
