Five years ago, electric scooters were uncommon. Not many people had them, and the ones that were rolling about town weren’t exactly jammed with features or technology. While there were a few brands available, none really excelled in any particular way, so your choice effectively boiled down to logo and colour. Apart from a few outliers, the technology was still relatively new, therefore no e-scooters stood out.
When compared to five years ago, the e-scooter market today is unrecognisable. Worldwide, over 100 brands compete to be the greatest, and new brands are joining the fray every year. We have a lot of choice between items that accomplish the bare minimum, all-rounders that don’t excel in any one category, and rocket rides that will have you keeping up with traffic. With such diversity in goods and performance, it might be tough to know where to start looking if you’re interested in buying an electric scooter.
To assist you, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide on things you should consider before you buy.
Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Buying an Electric Scooter?
If you’re new to buying e-scooters or looking to upgrade, you should still conduct your homework before making your next purchase. E-scooters are classified into several categories, and not every scooter can perform every duty. To get you started, here’s a list of questions you should ask yourself before you buy an electric scooter.
Why are you buying an electric scooter?
Before you buy anything in life, you should ask yourself these questions. Why am I doing this? Why do I truly want this? The reasons for your purchases are crucial, and your mind will frequently try to convince you that what your heart desires is a reasonable option.
Do you want to reduce your travel time? Perhaps you just want to have some fun. Perhaps you’re looking for a fresh method to have fun? Or do you simply desire an electric scooter for no particular reason?
Not knowing your motivations for choosing an e-scooter might result in an improper ride, and buying the incorrect scooter for the wrong task can result in some uncomfortable rides, problems, or worse. Knowing why you want an e-scooter in the first place has a significant influence on the items you should consider.
Take a moment to consider why you want an e-scooter, and you’ll be able to narrow down your selections to a few fantastic possibilities.
Who are you buying the e-scooter for?
Most people buy an e-scooter for themselves, therefore the decisions they should make are specific to their personal situation. But, if you are buying the scooter for someone else, you need consider additional factors.
How much do you weigh?
We’re not simply being nosy; this is a really crucial question to ask. All electric rides have a weight limit on how much weight they can safely and effectively carry. Ignoring weight limitations may lead to a slew of issues, ranging from burned-out engines and dead batteries to restricted braking and ruined suspension.
Many of these difficulties aren’t covered under warranty if they’re caused by pushing an e-scooter over its limitations, so to prevent being caught off guard, you should normally try to buy a scooter that can hold your weight plus 10% more. If you weigh 90kg, you should look for an e-scooter that can support 99kg.
Consider wearing thick clothing, carrying bags, or accessorising your bike. All of this adds to the total weight of the bike, which may frequently push it above its safe carrying limit.
The typical e-scooter has a weight restriction of roughly 100kg, but the number of rides that can sustain more than that is steadily growing.
Here are some fast picks for e-scooters that can carry more than 100kg.
Where will you be riding?
There are several components to this, ranging from your literal location to the area you’ll be traversing.
Location
Cycling in a city is different than riding in the country. Cities are better suited for rides with lower speeds, stronger brakes, more manoeuvrability, and lower weights due to traffic, other riders, and pedestrians.
Suspension, on the other hand, isn’t as important in cities because the road quality is often better and there will be more cycling routes. Also, when public transportation becomes more common, you won’t need to select a ride with a very lengthy range.
Riding in the countryside and rural areas provides its own set of obstacles. Suspension is required because to deteriorating or uneven road quality, and in the absence of frequent trains, trams, and buses, you may require a scooter capable of travelling farther between charges. But, because there is less traffic in the country, you may often select something a little more powerful. More power needs stronger brakes, so bear that in mind if you reside outside of major cities.
What Terrain Will You Be Riding On?
The terrain has a significant influence on the e-scooter you should select. You may reside in a metropolis, yet your journey may take you over gravel walkways, sand, grass, or mountainous terrain.
Most scooters can manage a little rough terrain if you keep it to a minimum, but others are built for the peaks and troughs of the route less travelled.
Tarmacked or Sealed Roads
Every e-scooter on the market can effectively handle tarmacked and sealed roads. While some are designed for offroad use, they may also be used on roadways.
If you’re going to be riding nearly solely on this surface, an electric commuter scooter is definitely the best place to start. You can read our guide to the best electric scooters for commuting here, or browse our range of commuter e-scooters here.
These are some of our suggestions if you’ll be spending the most of your time in cities or on paved roads.
Gravel, Stone & Loose Terrain
Uneven terrain, such as rail trails, stone walks, and gravel cycling tracks, provide a few challenges for the above-mentioned commuter e-scooters.
For starters, suspension, preferably front and rear, is a necessary. A jarring ride is uncomfortable and dangerous, therefore the increased impact protection given by suspension will safeguard not just your scooter, but also you. Suspension also enhances grip and handling, providing a more manageable ride on slick roads.
Humid Areas, or Areas Prone to Rainfall
If you’ll be riding in humid or rainy conditions, you should get one with a high IP water resistant rating. Note that water damage voids your warranty, thus opting for greater water resistance ratings lessens (but does not eliminate) the possibility of your bike packing in due to water penetration.
Dry, Dusty, or Sandy Areas
Similarly, if you plan to ride in dry, dusty, or sandy conditions, seek for high IP resistance ratings, as dust intrusion is also protected by the IP rating. A vehicle with a higher IP rating safeguards against this since dust can start to grind down moving elements like as folding mechanisms, wheels, motors, suspension, and more.
Hills
Most electric scooters can handle a 10 degree incline. Some may not be able to accomplish it at high speeds, but most can if the scooter is not loaded above its maximum weight limit.
But, if you want to often tackle slopes, you might consider twin motor scooters. They have higher power and torque and are less prone to burn out.
Gower Street in Brisbane, which has an angle of 17.4 degrees, or 31%, is the steepest residential road in Australia. If your chosen e-Scooter can handle it, you shouldn’t have any trouble with hills anyplace.
Forest Trails or Tracks with Obstacles
Forest paths are lovely places to walk, but rocks, boulders, streams, and tree roots are a nightmare for even the most powerful electric scooters. If this is how you intend to use your scooter, then our list of the best scooters for camping could come in useful. Nevertheless, perhaps you’d be better off with something developed expressly for that purpose…?
How Far Will You Be Travelling Each Day?
The average range of an electric scooter between charges is growing, with the industry average range lying at 50-65km. Longer range means higher pricing, so if you only need anything for a few kilometres each day, you may save a lot of money.
Last-Mile Journeys
Last-mile treks are short segments that link bigger segments of your route, such as travelling from your house to the train station and then from the train station to work. These brief excursions are usually measured in single digits, so if that’s all you require.
Long Adventures
If you want to go far from civilisation and will be away from a power source for an extended period of time, be sure your vehicle has enough juice to do so. While scooters may be “kicked” when they run out of electricity, it’s not a particularly comfortable method to ride and can be downright exhausting if done over a long distance. Similarly, while there are many of lightweight scooters, no one wants to carry or push an e-scooter for a long distance.
Consider how far you will have to drive between charges and buy an e-scooter to match.
Do you have experience riding e-scooters?
If you’ve never rode an electric scooter before, the quickest scooter in Australia is probably not for you.
Instead, you’ll discover a few scooters that are better suited for novices, with mild acceleration, lower peak speeds, and are easier to handle.
Yet, be warned: electric scooters are not difficult to ride, so the learning curve is quick. It’s not unusual for riders to start with an entry-level e-scooter and find themselves wanting more after a few months. Moreover, e-scooters are starting to adopt ‘riding modes,’ which allow you to boost and reduce power delivery. While you may not feel ready for something more powerful, it won’t be long until you are. While making a purchase, keep this in mind.
Do You Have a Budget in Mind?
The cost of electric scooters varies greatly. While the lowest may be found for a few hundred dollars, some e-scooters rival in price with old vehicles.
While buying an electric scooter, the final thing you should consider is your budget. What you require should always come first, followed by what you desire.
It’s true what they say: “Buy Low, Buy Twice.” Beginning with a budget might cause you to overlook rides with features you truly require, leaving you with a ride that does not meet your needs. In some scenarios, you may have to upgrade sooner, and in more extreme cases, you may have to pay to repair damage caused by riding your e-scooter beyond its limitations.
Decide on what you want and need first, then consider pricing. With such a vast range of e-scooters available, you should be able to find one that fulfils all of your needs and wishes at a price you can afford.
Don’t let the modest prices fool you into thinking these rides are missing. Despite their reduced price, they are still excellent choices for budget-conscious rides looking for a high-quality ride.
How Fast Do You Want To Go?
For others, this is the only question that matters, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
While it’s tough to legally put the proverbial foot down, some e-scooters can achieve speeds of 70+kph, with a few hitting over 100kph.
These rides are not suited for everyday usage. They are substantial. They are potent. These can take up to half a day to charge, and they draw police-y fine-y attention.
Start looking for twin motor scooters if you’re interested in buying an e-Scooter to occasionally blow your socks off. If you’re buying something that can go fast when you need it but is also covert, look at rides like the Apollo Ghost and Apollo City. If speed isn’t an issue for you, the rides on this lightweight and portable list should suffice.
How Often Will You Be Using the E-Scooter?
This is related to the previous statement concerning the e-Scooter range. If you intend to use your e-Scooter every day, you should consider a ride with a bit greater range, as frequent battery depletion and subsequent recharging can ultimately start to restrict its longevity.
Get something with a larger range if you’re travelling far enough that your battery will be depleted every day or two.
Will You Need to Ride in the Rain?
Weather is unpredictable, and beautiful sunny downpours may quickly shift into beautiful sunny days that are perfect for e-scooter riding. Tropical locations like the Queensland coast may see monsoon-like weather more frequently than places like the Northern Territory, so you’ll need something that can handle more water than most.
Here’s a guide to IP ratings that apply to the majority of the e-scooters in our store.
- IPX4: Protects against splashing water in any direction.
- IPX5: Resistant to low-pressure water streams from any angle.
- IP54: Resistant to forceful water jets.
- IP56: No dangerous quantities of water from projected jets may enter.
- IPX6: Resistant to high-pressure water streams from any angle.
It’s crucial to remember that nothing is completely watertight. IP ratings are a guide that tells you how well your ride is protected from water jets and streams, but they are not assurances that your ride is water-tight.
Water damage may manifest itself in a variety of ways, from flickering lights to failed electric brakes. Remember that water damage is not covered under warranty, so keep your e-scooter away from water as much as possible, and wipe away splashes and drips with a dry towel as soon as possible.
Will you need to carry the e-Scooter?
If you reside in a heavily populated location, you are more likely to encounter stairs. If you’re going to be carrying your e-Scooter for any amount of time, whether it’s ascending stairs to an apartment or traversing the stairwells at work, go for something low weight.
Consider how much you can lift repeatedly in the gym if you are a gym goer. Several of our e-scooters are available to you if you don’t weigh more than 20-40kg. If that’s too much, there are a few e-scooters that weigh less than 20kg.
What are your local laws regarding e-scooter use?
Here is when things become complex. Several states distinguish between legislation and the following implementation of those laws.
The laws governing the usage of electric scooters in public places vary by state and are periodically amended. We haven’t included any legislation in this post since they would likely become out of current quickly, but make sure you understand the laws in your region regarding the usage of electric scooters before you buy. You may have difficulty getting a refund if you use your e-scooter before realising it does not fulfil the criteria of your local legislation.
Regardless of your local regulations, you may take basic precautions to protect yourself and others:
- Wear a helmet at all times; do not use a phone while riding; and do not ride under the influence of drink or drugs.
- Don’t “Double-up” (riding with a passenger);
- Do not ride on pavements or walkways intended for foot traffic.
- Observe speed restrictions;
- Avoid riding in designated pedestrian areas;
This is obviously not legal advice. Finally, understanding the rules and regulations is the rider’s obligation, and “I didn’t know” isn’t a valid justification.
Any Other Questions?
As you consider the options available to you, you may create more specific questions than those listed above. Please contact us at 1300 054 257 if you have any questions, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Anatomy of an Electric Scooter
Technical jargon ahoy! Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of buying an electric scooter, let’s look at what some of the data signify. What do you consider to be good? What kind of performance should you be looking for? How do the statistics of a scooter relate to its performance? Let’s have a peek, shall we?
Power & Motor
As you might expect, the power of an e-scooter comes from its motor, and that power is measured in Watts (W). The more powerful the scooter, the higher the motor wattage. Power can refer to top speed, torque, and acceleration, or a combination of the three.
Power also influences weight limit, hill climb, and, while not the sole parameter that matters when evaluating a scooter’s overall performance, it does influence peak speed.
This graph depicts the link between the average peak speed and motor power of the electric scooters offered on Electric Kicks as of October 2022.
Power is relative to what you require, making it impossible to distinguish ‘good’ power from anything else. Good power is often defined as whatever takes you about without difficulty, and this depends on how you want to use your vehicle. Typically, an e-scooter used for commuting should have a power range of 500-1,000W. 150-500 watts is ideal for children’s scooters, while above 1,000W is ideal for quick rides and pleasure.
Power, as a measure, does not ensure a rapid ride because the battery and controller both influence how that power is channelled through the e-scooter.
Range
The greatest distance an electric scooter can travel on a single charge is measured in kilometres, as you might expect.
In most cases, these values are created under perfect testing settings by the manufacturer and are impossible to recreate in the real world. As a result, it is uncommon for an e-scooter to reach its maximum range on a regular basis.
Additional aspects, like as how the scooter is ridden, come into play. Cycling at or over the weight limit, uphill, or at high speed can affect total range, so consider it as a guide only, not a promise.
The EMove Cruiser is the sole exception to this rule, with a ‘Real World’ range of 100km. In actuality, users have been able to achieve within 5 kilometres of the promised range, which is excellent for an electric scooter.
Batteries
Batteries power the whole ride, including electronic brakes, LCD panels, lights, horns, motors, and controllers. The performance of a battery is divided into three categories:
- Voltage (V)
- Amperage (Ah)
- Capacity (Wh)
It’s worth mentioning that a greater voltage combined with a lower amperage can occasionally provide the same results as a lower voltage battery producing a higher amperage, and that high voltage or amperage alone is not enough to ensure a decent range.
Simply said, the more powerful the battery, the longer the range of an electric scooter.
Similar to electricity, a good battery is one that has enough power to allow you to perform what you need to do, therefore range is definitely a better statistic to consider rather than the battery itself. Yet, battery power has an effect on acceleration and torque, therefore high voltage combined with high amperage typically equals quick acceleration. In contrast, lesser voltage and amperage often indicate low acceleration.
It’s worth mentioning that a large capacity battery with a strong motor may have a lesser range than expected since the motor consumes more power. These rides are also often heavier.
Brakes
All electric scooters include brakes, however the kind and quantity of brakes varies. Below is a list of the many types of brakes found on electric scooters:
Mechanical Disc Brakes
They are controlled by a cable that presses two brake pads against a disc. Because the disc is attached to the wheel, as it slows down due to friction with the brake pads, the wheel slows down as well. Mechanical brakes are easy to fix and replace, but they aren’t as powerful as hydraulic brakes.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes
They operate similarly to mechanical brakes, except that instead of a cable, hydraulic fluid is used to drive the brake pads together. Hydraulic brakes are more powerful, but they are more difficult to calibrate, fix, and replace.
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking is a sort of electrical brake that converts braking energy and pushes it back into the battery, therefore helping to charge the battery. Regen braking isn’t a novel concept, but it hasn’t been mastered on electric scooters until Apollo released the Apollo City 2022 and Air 2022. It’s not yet prevalent on e-scooters, and the energy it saves is usually enough to provide an extra 1-2kms of range to the battery, if that.
Foot Brake
Some of the earliest electric scooters included foot brakes, although they are currently uncommon on all save rides intended for youngsters. They are operated by standing on the fender above the back tyre and pressing the fender into the wheel to produce fiction. They are relatively trouble-free since they lack mechanical, hydraulic, or electric components. Nevertheless, at high speeds, they have a higher risk of creating uncontrollable sliding, which is why they are often seen on children’s e-scooters that aren’t capable of reaching high speeds in the first place. Also, if they break, you lose the majority of your stopping strength.
Electric Braking
Electrical braking and regenerative braking function similarly, with the exception that an electric brake does not charge the battery. A button or lever initiates an electrical circuit that engages the brake, but with electronic braking, that’s all.
Drum Brakes
Drum brakes are frequently seen on less expensive scooters with lower peak speeds since they are less strong than disc brakes. They function by having ‘feet’ or pads within the wheel that push on the inside of the rim. They require little maintenance because they are completely enclosed within the wheel of the scooter and are relatively shielded from the outdoors.
Changing them, on the other hand, may be a time-consuming and difficult task without the assistance of a professional. Stopping is an important element of an e-scooter for safety and control. Several electric scooters combine different types of brakes.
For example, the Apollo City 2022 includes front and rear drum brakes as well as a regenerative brake. If you intend to go quickly and frequently downhill, get more powerful disc brakes. If you want to do more mild travels, you have a wider choice of brakes.
Controllers
An electric motor’s speed is controlled by the controller, an electronic device. As it gets input from the throttle, the ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) regulates the flow of electricity from the battery to the motor.
The controller also controls power return to the battery in electric scooters with electronic brakes.
While twin motor scooters often have two controllers governed by a single input (throttle) so they may operate simultaneously, electric scooters with one motor typically only have one controller.
Because the controller is typically where speed and power limits are located, it is a frequent target for those looking to ‘flash’ their e-scooters in order to eliminate any factory-imposed constraints. While doing so increases the power and speed of your scooter, it also voids any warranty and reduces the ride’s overall lifetime.
Throttle
The throttle is the e-start scooter’s button, and the rider uses it to propel the scooter. Throttles are available in a variety of forms, with the best one for you being more a question of personal choice than practicality.
Thumb Throttle
Thumb throttles are located directly beneath the handlebars and may be manipulated with the rider’s thumb without removing the hands from the grip. These are frequently challenging to replace and are most frequently seen on entry-level e-scooters.
While they are the most ergonomic throttles available, they can be difficult to operate over bumps and uneven terrain since the thumb will bounce on the throttle.
They are good for commuter e-scooters or anything that won’t be tackling difficult terrain on a frequent basis, but you should look into alternative throttle types when going on harder areas.
Since thumb throttles do not come with built-in screens, e-scooters that use them usually have a separate screen somewhere else.
Trigger Throttle
Trigger throttles, which are typically featured on high-performance e-scooters, are actuated with the rider’s index finger. They are mounted above the handlebars and offer more functionality than a thumb throttle.
A built-in LCD panel will display the speed, range, battery %, riding mode, and odometer. In addition, the trigger throttle houses the power button and the e-scooter settings.
Trigger throttles are simpler to control at high speeds since the rider’s hand is more steady; nevertheless, some riders believe the higher location of the trigger causes an unpleasant riding posture, causing their trigger hand to cramp.
Because they are frequently seen on quicker rides, trigger throttles are generally a sign that the ride is more forceful in nature if you are searching for a calm and easy-going ride. They are quite sensitive and cause rapid acceleration, making them rather dangerous if you will be spending any time near barriers or locations with people.
Yet, if power and speed are what you want, trigger throttles are the way to go.
Twist Throttle
Twist throttles are comparable to those seen on motor motorcycles and are not commonly found on e-scooters. They are activated when the user turns the throttle on the handlebars, often with their index and thumb.
They have superb control and an ergonomic hand position. Riders do not need to have their finger on a trigger or take their thumb from the handlebars to operate them. They are simpler to steer through bumps since the hand is maintained stable by its grasp on the rest of the handlebars.
They are uncommon on e-scooters, and some riders believe they can interfere with brake operation since they cannot maintain their fingertips on the brakes while still operating the throttle.
Twist throttles aren’t common on e-scooters, and unlike finger and thumb throttles, they don’t exist on a specific model of e-scooter. For instance, the Fiido Q1 uses a twist throttle to power a 250W motor with a top speed of 25kph. On the other hand, the Segway-Ninebot GT2 also has a twist throttle and can reach 70kph with its two 1,500W motors, so there’s no real reason to jump at the chance to acquire a thumb-throttle e-scooter. Similarly, there is no compelling reason to avoid twist throttles.
Weight
This is a rather simple metric. Weight is often measured in kilos and shows how heavy the e-Scooter is.
There is a link between power and weight, with faster scooters often weighing more due to the amount of componentry necessary to provide that power.
There isn’t really a weight suggestion because it all depends on what you’re comfortable carrying. If you don’t mind carrying a 40kg scooter up stairs, go for it. If it doesn’t work for you, you should probably avoid the 40kg scooter.
Several jurisdictions have rules that require e-scooters to be under a specific weight to be legal, so check your local laws before purchasing your favorite scooter to ensure it won’t be seized.
Rider Weight
The weight limit, measured in kilos, is the maximum weight that an electric scooter can safely and effectively bear. It is often referred to as carrying capacity or weight capacity.
Always adhere to the maximum rider weight on an e-scooter. Overloading your scooter by putting more weight on it than it can manage is the quickest way to become the proud owner of a dead scooter.
Ignoring weight limitations can cause controllers and motors to burn out, ruin suspension, prematurely effect batteries, impair acceleration, lower peak speed, and finally cause the scooter to pack in. It’s simple to tell whether an e-scooter has been overloaded, and if it’s evident that your ride has been pushed past its limitations, repairs may not be covered by warranty.
As previously stated, choose an e-scooter that can handle your weight plus 10%, and make additional allowances for any baggage or accessories you may be carrying.
Charge Time
In hours, this is how long it will take your ride to fully charge from empty. This is normally merely an advise, and you shouldn’t be concerned if, like most e-scooter users, you’ll be charging it overnight or while at work.
Climb Angle
The climb angle of an e-scooter indicates how steep a hill it can comfortably manage. It is expressed in degrees (°) or percentage inclination (%).
It’s important to consider climb angles because lesser powered e-scooters will struggle to traverse slopes, especially if they’re reaching their weight limit.
If you’re wondering what the difference between a climb angle as a percentage and a climb angle as a degree is, a percentage incline is almost double the degree inclination, thus if an e-scooter has a climb angle of 20%, it can comfortably tackle climbs of about 10°.
The steepest road in Australia is 17.4° or 31%, thus anything with a climb angle of 20° or higher should be able to manage Australia’s hills. They may not do it quickly, but the less power you have, the more battery life will be utilized to go up those hills, reducing total range. Similarly, if your e-scooter is traveling uphills at or above its suggested weight limit, pushing it up steep slopes on a regular basis might produce difficulties that grow over time.
Lighting
While regulations all around the world require every scooter to have lights of some kind, whether built in or just attached to the handlebars, it is becoming more and more common to see electric scooters with built-in lights.
While the lights featured in each scooter vary, here is a rundown of the many types of lights you may find on e-scooters and what they are excellent for:
Headlights
Headlights are located at the front of the scooter and illuminate the route in front of you. These are often located on or near the handlebars, however other versions have lights located directly above the front wheel, on the stem, or even incorporated into the deck itself.
Headlights on e-scooters are often better at assisting other road users to see you than they are at assisting you to see, so if you’re going to be riding in the dark, we recommend investing in a brighter light that fits to the handlebars, such as the Gaciron family of lights.
Taillights
These are the red lights on the back of the e-scooter. These are commonly found on the rear fender or incorporated into the back of the deck and make it easy to see you from behind. Tail lights frequently serve as brake lights as well.
Brake lights
Most e-scooters with tail lights also feature brake lights that activate when the rider pushes the scooter’s different brake levers.
Indicators
E-scooters can include indicators that alert other road users when you are turning, just as cars and motorbikes. They are less frequent than the other lights mentioned above, but they are becoming more prevalent, especially since certain legislation require e-Scooters to have indicators in order to be utilized on public highways.
Atmospheric Lights
Atmospheric lights have two functions: they assist the cyclist be seen from all sides and they look great.
These are frequently incorporated into the deck, beam downward onto the ground under the scooter. Some feature fixed colors, while others may be programmed to cycle through a variety of colors for optimum impact.
Other from amazing lighting effects, atmospheric lights don’t really add much to the trip.
Tyres
Not all tyres are created equal, and they may have a significant influence on your ride. Sadly, one of the most significant disadvantages of electric scooters is that their tyres are prone to punctures, and because they are still a new technology, spare tyres and service centers capable of fitting them are few. But, this is progressively improving, and if you purchase from Electric Kicks, we sell a full variety of spare tyres as well as servicing partners in most states.
Pneumatic Tyres
Pneumatic tyres are comprised of flexible rubber that is filled with air and maintains its structure by the use of air pressure. Rubber is fairly elastic, thus pneumatic tyres absorb shock better.
The sort of ride they provide may also be altered by adding or removing air, with more air enhancing speed and acceleration at the expense of grip and less air improving grip at the expense of speed and acceleration.
- These tyres lack inner tubes and instead function by generating an airtight gap between the tyre and the rim. They are normally more robust and puncture resistant, although they are usually reserved for more powerful scooters. The disadvantage is that if they acquire a puncture, the entire tyre must be changed.
- They are more popular on entry-level commuter e-scooters. Between the tyre and the rim, an inflated inner tube contains the air that gives the tyre its shape. The tyres used in combination with inner tubes are often thinner, increasing the risk of punctures. But, in some cases, the inner tube can be patched, lowering repair expenses. For larger punctures or pinch punctures, just the tube must be changed; in rare circumstances, the tyre must also be replaced.
Solid Tyres
Solid tyres are solid blocks of strong rubber or polyurethane foam. They have the least technological prowess, simply being a lump of rubber that someone shaped into a circle.
They are impervious to punctures because they lack air, and they are inexpensive since they lack technological components.
Unfortunately, because they are solid, they have limited grip and stress absorption, resulting in an unstable and unpleasant ride. Furthermore, because they are not flexible, they wear out rapidly.
Similarly, they are difficult to replace since they often necessitate the removal of the entire wheel as well as any motors or components included within the wheel.
Puncture Proof & Self Healing Tyres
Puncture resistant tyres are high-quality tyres with a layer of fiber under the tread that prevents sharp objects from piercing the inner tube. In rare situations, they can also have a hardened tread, albeit this might reduce ride comfort.
Self-healing tyres include a gel substance that is produced when something enters the tyre’s air bladder. The gel hardens as it dries, filling the opening and preventing more air from escaping. The tyre will almost certainly need to be pumped, but the air should remain after that.
Both of these tyres are normally more expensive than regular tyres, but they reduce the likelihood of tyres needing to be fixed or replaced. However, they will ultimately reach their full shelf life, and while these two types of tyres last longer, they are more expensive to replace.
There is no right or wrong type of tyre, however if you intend on going on excursions or spending a lot of time riding on loose terrain like gravel, we recommend puncture proof or self mending tyres like those found on the Apollo City 2022 or the Segway-Ninebot Max G30P.
Suspension
Suspension is becoming increasingly frequent on electric scooters, which is a good thing. It not only enhances riding comfort and boosts overall grip, but it may also protect the scooter from severe shocks.
There are several forms of suspension available:
Spring Suspension
A spring in spring suspension extends and shrinks to absorb shocks. It works well as a shock absorber and is quite simple to maintain.
Hydraulic suspension absorbs impact by moving an actuator in and out using hydraulic fluid. It is often more costly than other forms of suspension, but it keeps your wheels securely planted on the ground. It’s mostly found on ridiculous-level scooters.
Air piston suspension works by compressing and then expanding the air within a cylinder. While riding over a bump, the piston compresses the air, but when the air expands naturally, the piston is pushed back out, giving the necessary shock absorption to safely navigate the barrier.
Rubber, as a flexible and pliable material, may provide adequate suspension, but it wears out rapidly. If you intend to traverse difficult or loose terrain, consider hydraulic or spring suspension. Spring and air piston suspension should be enough for bumps on otherwise smooth roads.
Water Resistance
The IP rating system, which stands for Ingress Protection, measures water resistance. This technique also assesses an item’s resistance to dust and other particle penetration.
In general, the greater the IP rating, the better the water resistance. Here are the most frequent IP ratings seen on e-Scooters, and what they mean:
- IPX4: Protects against splashing water in any direction.
- IPX5: Resistant to low-pressure water streams from any angle.
- IP54: Resistant to forceful water jets.
- IP56: No dangerous quantities of water from projected jets may enter.
- IPX6: Resistant to high-pressure water streams from any angle.
Most e-scooters can tolerate a little rain and dampness, but don’t ride in the rain on a regular basis. Even with greater IP ratings, we recommend avoiding heavy rain and puddles. Similarly, even if your bike becomes dirty from time to time, we recommend keeping it away from pressure washers and simply wiping it down.
Maintenance
If you want your electric scooter to last, you must maintain it. If you have no technical expertise, no tools, and no intention of maintaining your ride, we recommend investigating nearby service centers before purchasing anything, as shipping an e-scooter to a repair center may be a costly exercise.
Here’s what you should be prepared to do to keep your scooter in good working order.
Keep Your Tyres Inflated
Under-inflated tyres are more likely to puncture, so check your tyre pressures every 1-2 weeks and pump them up to the optimum pressure if necessary. Most e-scooter tyres can be inflated using a conventional bike pump, so no additional tools are required. You may also acquire automated tyre inflators that remove the guessing out of inflating tyres.
Keep Your Bolts Tightened
Several bolts running from the front to the back of electric scooters fall loose over time. Every month or so, you should check over all bolts with an appropriate tool (typically an Allen Key similar to those found at your favorite Swedish furniture store) to verify that all bolts are snug and secure.
Therefore, avoid overtightening bolts. This can cause bolts to shear, rendering them unusable. If you believe you are pushing too hard to tighten a bolt, you most likely are.
Keep Your Ride Clean
Dust, grime, and water can accumulate and enter the components of your e-scooter. It’s better to clean out your vehicle with a dry or lightly wet towel to eliminate any particles before they begin to accumulate.
Keep Your Cables Tight
This is more applicable to mechanical disc brakes, which are controlled by a cable connecting the brake lever to the brake. These wires might slide and stretch over time, so you should keep them tight. But, if you tighten them too much, you may accidentally cause the brakes to be partially ‘on,’ causing the brake pads to scrape against the disc. This can quickly wear down brakes and put undue strain on the motors and controls.
Keep Your Moving Parts Lubricated
Sometimes apply a little quantity of spray lubrication to the wheel bearings, suspension, and folding mechanism, wiping away any excess with a dry towel. Avoid putting any oil on your brakes unless you want to go out smashing face first into whatever you were trying to avoid.
Warranty Policy
Like other new items, electric scooters should be backed by a guarantee that protects the owner in the case of a manufacturing flaw. The warranty allows the user to a free repair or, in the event that the fault cannot be rectified, a full replacement.
While Australian consumer law requires that every new goods be protected by some kind of guarantee, what that warranty entails differs from store to store. Similarly, some scooter manufactures, like as Apollo, provide a personalized warranty that entitles users to extended warranty terms, capped-price service, or low-cost components.
You may also discover that some sections of the e-Scooter are not covered by the warranty or have a different guarantee period than the rest of the scooter. For example, the scooter’s frame, including the deck, stem, and handlebars, may be warrantied for 12 months, but the battery is only warrantied for 6 months, and the tyres are not warrantied at all.
This is important information to have, so always read and comprehend the warranty policy before purchasing.
Servicing
We previously noted that locating electric scooter servicing centers might be difficult. While the situation is improving, you should always buy from a store that has a service network. This eliminates the effort and guesswork of attempting to discover possible providers, as you really just have bike shops for assistance, and some simply refuse to work on e-scooters.
Yet, the service network is simply one component of this. Check to see whether your preferred provider has spare parts in stock or a means to rapidly obtain spare parts.
If there are no service centers near you, you may have to return your e-scooter back to the manufacturer (wouldn’t it be nice if you saved the box…?)
Unless there’s a warranty claim somewhere in there, you’ll probably have to cover shipping expenses both ways. Keep this in mind while purchasing an e-scooter, especially if you live in a rural place.
