Personal Electronic Transportation
Since approximately September of 2021, my preferred mode of transportation has been personal electronic transportation devices (PETs). These include things such as electric bikes, electric kickscooters, and electric motorcycles. Primarily, I have opted for electric kickscooters.
I made my first purchase almost immediately after watching a video on YouTube by MKBHD. I initially opted for the XR Elite from GoTrax. Currently, my main vehicle is the NAMI Burn-e2.
| Device Name | Max MPH | Tires | Weight | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XR Elite | 15.5MPH | Pneumatic | 32lbs | $499.99 |
| Apollo Explore | 32MPH | Pneumatic | 52lbs | $1,399.99 |
| XR Ultra | 14MPH | Pneumatic | 26lbs | $399.99 |
| GT SE | 25MPH | Solid | 30lbs | $999.99 |
| NAMI Burn-e2 | 45MPH | Tubeless | 100lbs | $3,399 |
These reviews will be ordered in sequence to when I received each scooter.
GoTrax XR Elite
This was my first starter electric kickscooter. While it was very much intended for a short-term trial to prepare myself for faster and riskier rides (such as motorcycling), I essentially fell in love with getting around town effortlessly. This has a proprietary firmware only GoTrax devices use, so it is hard limited on the set speed of 15.5MPH. The device takes two steps to fold, but the entire process can be done in about five seconds. While rides can be rough, they aren't uncomfortable unless you are on off-road terrain. The device is easily transportable in a back seat or a bus. After almost a year, I did begin to grow sick of its limited range and power output.
It sports a bell and headlight, both of which have been above average compared to the other devices on this list. It also features a cruise control that performs remarkably inconsistently. In theory, holding the acceleration for ten seconds automatically triggers it (without any auditory or visual cues, which is dangerous); there's also no way to disable this feature either.
This scooter ultimately was replaced with the Apollo Explore as its stem eventually failed to open fully, collapsing mid-ride.
Apollo Explore
The Apollo Explore was the next upgrade to the XR Elite. It sports 10 inch tires, an upgrade from the smaller and less stable 8 inch tires of before. The top speed is almost exactly doubled, meaning that I can use the bike lanes to get around town even quicker than before. I got my first Apollo Explore in around August of 2022, while receiving my second in December. I could never recommend this device or company given that it is aware of manufacturing issues, but only uses those issues to advertise the next revision of their device. In addition, in accordance to its warranty policy, the buyer has to pay approximately 1/10th of the cost of the scooter at a minimum for a diagnostic to determine if an issue falls under warranty. My first Explore broke down to the point where the handlebars and onboard devices were unaligned and unstable. My second one had a factory defective battery.. Both instances of support were disappointing, where in the first, a representative told me that the breakdown is expected, but not so soon after owning the scooter. The second instance is where the $100, non-refundable diagnostic is required to determine warranty status.
This also suffers from design issues. The charge ports are located at the bottom of the device, where sand, dirt, and water rests. They also stick out to the point where if you dare brush the scooter against anything, you might not be able to charge it once you get home.
The scooter is rear-wheel drive, meaning that unless you turn off zero-start, you can kiss your rear fender goodbye. Dismounting the scooter a grip on the handlebar to stabilise the device so it doesn't fall. If you accidentally accelerate the scooter while dismounting, there is nothing stopping the device from accelerating without you. Since you are dismounting, you still have a grip on the device while not standing on it. This can cause the front of the scooter to zoom into the air and come crashing down on its rear wheel, damaging the fender or other components.
This scooter would benefit from putting, at least, minimal thought into the design and longevity of their devices. Solid tires would be nice as well.
GoTrax XR Ultra
As both Apollo Explore devices were utter failures, I did need a cheap last-mile backup to get to work consistently. I found a GoTrax XR Ultra off of Facebook Marketplace for $250, but this was marked down to $200 once I arrived and the seller noticed that the power button was jammed in and damaged, making it impossible for the scooter to turn on. The seller was ashamed, but I told him that it wasn't an issue, and I purchased it anyway. I ended up repairing the button with zero further issues.
It is similar to the XR Elite, other than less than half of the range and notably lower / inconsistent top speed. That is to say, I have never achieved 15.5mph as a top speed. This maxes out around 12 to 14 miles per hour. It is not particularly enjoyable to use this scooter at all, but it worked for what I needed it to.
E-TWOW GT SE
For a time, while it worked, these electric-two wheels were my holy grail. This was my electric scooter of choice when it worked as intended. It solved almost all of my issues with the Apollo Explore 2021, including
- Solid tires
- Front-wheel drive
- Portability and foldability
- Bluetooth and application support
- Significantly above average aftersales support
I'll never have to worry about flats or become boggled down with routine maintenance... or such was the intention. This device also has functional mobile application support, allowing the user to remotely lock the device, and monitor its performance. Unlike the Explore, this electric scooter can be folded down with the press of a heel in less than two seconds, and conveniently store itself under a bus seat. Taking the compromise of ten less kilometers per hour was an easy decision.
The GT SE did essentially require one modification out of the box, however. There exists a set of buzzers that double as the horn of the vehicle. These buzzers trigger with every press of any button on the device, including simply turning it on. It is loud enough to disturb my neighborhood on a brisk morning.
So the very first thing I did, before I rode it even once, was disassemble the device and remove the buzzer speakers entirely from the motherboard. Much better.
Unfortunately, my device has been plagued with controller issues, making the device present itself as completely dead even after charging. eWheels has sent out multiple controllers each time it happened, overnight, free of charge, but this is the maintenance that I came to avoid. In addition, many of the screws have been damaged after servicing the device repeatedly, meaning I am currently without a way to replace the controller this time.
NAMI Burn-e 2
This is my current electric scooter. It certainly isn't perfect, but it is one of the better scooters I've ridden. For $3.5k, it sure better be.
Whose idea was it to manufacture a scooter without fenders...