The Razor E100 is a capable and dependable electric scooter for kids that doesn’t cost too much. It’s a bit noisy, so we suggest opting for the PowerCore E100, which is about $10 more, but has a hub-mounted motor. The Razor Icon is its aptly named successor, adding a motor but keeping the same overall look. Beneath the exterior, though, is a great midrange scooter that’s affordably priced, with good range and a suitably strong motor.
Unlike many other electric scooters, the E100’s front tube does not fold down for transportation or storage. “The controls are easy to use, but I wish the scooter could fold up and be packed into my dad’s car,” said Chase. A small red LED display on the right handlebar shows your speed and battery life, and it has two buttons to turn the scooter on and off, and to activate its head and tail lights.
And, it’s important to always wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter. The E100 has a 100-Watt motor that’s connected to the rear wheel via a chain, which made the scooter a lot louder than those with motors connected directly to the rear wheel. The Razor PowerCore E100, which has a hub-mounted motor, should be quieter. What is of greater concern is the lack of reflectors or other safety measures. While we don’t expect a scooter at this price to have head or tail lights, we would like to see both front and rear reflectors, as well as a bell for warning others. These are standard safety features for bicycles, and should be for scooters as well.
Always follow the instructions and wear proper protective equipment when using any type of scooter, bike, or cart. For the performance-based, higher-end rides, we consider range, speed and braking mechanisms, but we also looked at suspension. If you’re paying upward of $1,000 for an electric scooter, it should be comfortable to ride and able to scale curbs, hills and bumpy roads.
Read on for all of our favorite picks for the best electric scooters. He found the controls to be well placed and let him quickly brake or accelerate while riding. The handbrake, which connects to the front wheel, was strong enough to bring the E100 to a fast stop, even when going quickly down a hill. However, the lack of suspension made bumps in the road and on sidewalks a little tough on the scooter.
Apollo’s app even lets you customize the scooter’s performance, and has a remote-locking function, which engages the scooter’s brakes, so that others can’t ride it. If you’re looking for something sleeker, the Razor Power A2 has a similar range razor power scooter but uses a lithium ion battery, which makes for a slimmer deck. Razer says that the Icon’s 36V battery is good for about 18 miles of range under ideal circumstances; I came closer to 10 in my riding, which included a number of hills.
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 razor moped scooter 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.