Which e-scooter is right for you?

RACQ29/07/2022

RACQ testing reveals some of the best and safest e-scooters you can buy.

E-scooter testing at RACQ Mobility Centre.

RACQ has conducted in-depth practical testing of 14 e-scooters, with a focus on safe braking and handling characteristics of the different models.

The testing was undertaken to help members who are considering the purchase of an e-scooter and came up with recommendations based on requirements and level of experience.

The test was conducted at RACQs Mobility Centre at Mt Cotton under a controlled environment.

The scooters tested covered a range of price categories, different wheel sizes, tyre types, braking and suspension systems.

The scooters were tested for handling, acceleration, braking, ergonomics, and comfort.

All were equipped with lights, warning devices and speed limiters as per the rules for personal mobility devices in Queensland.

Testing e-scooters at RACQ Mobility Centre.

How the e-scooters were tested

The scooters were put through three different riding scenarios, a higher speed slalom, a tight turns course to simulate inner city street corners and a general riding area.

Some of the handling findings were that:

The smaller cheaper scooters were less stable due to shorter and narrower deck sizes.
Scooters with smaller wheels/tyres were more susceptible to instability from bumps/potholes.
The Mercane Wide Wheel was hard to turn due to the wide tyre which was also solid rubber rather than pneumatic, making every tiny bump in the road obvious to the rider.
Narrower handlebars resulted in twitchy steering and were generally harder to steer smoothly.
Some of the suspensions were very soft which was good for soaking up bumps but caused the steering column to move forward and aft, especially when braking or accelerating.
Some of the scooters had a very sensitive throttles which made them hard to ride smoothly, particularly at lower speeds.

Braking

Braking varied a lot between the models. Some scooters had front and rear brakes, others had only a single front or single rear brake.

The test involved getting the scooters up to the maximum 25km/h speed limit and then measuring the distance to come to a complete stop.

This test was quite scary on scooters with only a front brake as the back wheel wanted to lift off the ground.

The best braking systems were the dual disc brake models.

The average braking distance achieved was 3.85m to stop from 25km/h.

The best performing e-scooter was the Benelle GT800 at 2.6m and the worst was the Mercane Jubel at 6.8m.

E-scooter testing at the Mobility Centre.

Acceleration

The acceleration speed of the scooters was mostly dependant on the size of the battery and electric motor.

Acceleration time measured was the time taken from a standstill to reach the maximum 25km/h speed limit.

The dual motor scooters were frighteningly fast and not recommended them for inexperienced riders.

The scooters with only a front wheel drive tended to spin the wheel when accelerating quickly which could lead to loss of control and a possible crash. The average time to reach the 25km/h speed limit was 6.2 seconds.

Ergonomics and usability

The ergonomics were generally good across the range but the screen resolution on some models made the display difficult to read, especially in direct sunlight.

Three of the e-scooters had the throttle lever positioned in a way that hindered access to the brake lever.

Handlebar height varied, with only one model we tested, the Bexley Blackhawk Pro, having height adjustment, and when shopping for a new e-scooter we suggest checking for this – it would pay to get a model to suit the rider’s height.

Another factor to look at is the ease of folding as this varied a lot between the models, with some models quite hard to fold.

Another notable find is to not rely on the speedometer accuracy as some models were displaying a much lower speed than the actual travel speed.

Most, however, had only a minor error and it was on the ‘safe’ side i.e., speedometer reading higher than the true speed.

Summary

In conclusion, if you’re looking at buying an e-scooter and you don’t have much riding experience, we would recommend getting a less powerful model.

Look for models with larger diameter wheels/tyres, models with dual disc brakes, wide handlebars, and a good-sized wider deck.

Before purchasing an extensive test ride should be performed to make sure the scooter is comfortable for you, handles well at all speeds, is easy to use and fold, has a clear and legible screen, plus the ability to stop quickly and safely in the event of an emergency.

E-scooter testing at the Mobility Centre.

Best overall in each category type

Beginner

For this category we looked for an e-scooter that rode smoothly, was stable at lower speeds, was economically priced and braked well.

We chose the Kugoo M2 Master at $999. It has a good-sized deck providing stability, front and rear brakes for good brake performance (4.1m), rear suspension and pneumatic tyres providing a comfortable ride.

First/last mile daily commuter

In this category we looked for an e-scooter that was easy to fold, compact and lightweight for easy transportation.

Our pick was the Benelle GT800 at $1499, making it still relatively affordable too.

At 21kg it was one of the lightest scooters tested but still had a good range (60km), possibly enough to get you through the week’s commute.

It was easy to fold and carry with the handlebars clipping into the rear guard when folded.

Dual disc brakes provided excellent stopping power and 10-inch pneumatic tyres combined with rear suspension gave a comfortable ride.

However, the small deck size was one of the negatives of this model.

E-scooter testing at the Mobility Centre.

Performance

Some of the top-end dual motor models had blisteringly fast acceleration and sophisticated suspension systems.

For ride quality, the Bexley 10X was a standout with its adjustable coil suspension combined with a massive 2000W of power and good braking performance.

One negative from this model was that the throttle lever partially blocked access to one of the brake levers, but an even bigger negative was that we could not pick a winner for this category because all of the models were over the maximum legal length.

Results

The tables below contain the results of the testing and the specifications of all the e-scooters tested by RACQ.

The RACQ would like to acknowledge the generosity of iScoot Fortitude Valley in Brisbane for providing the scooters and safety equipment.

E-scooter	Price	Range	Weight	Top speed	Max. rider weight
Carbon Oxy 10	$2,199	55-65km	29kg	Limited to 25km/h private 70km/h	140kg
Bexly 10X	$2,069.10	40Km	36kg	Limited to 25km/h private 65km/h	120kg
Bolzzen Gladiator	$2,299	85Km	35kg	Limited to 25km/h private 75km/h	150kg
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	$2,969	65km	35kg	Limited to 25km/h private 80km/h	140kg
Benelle S350	$899	20km	14.9kg	25km/h	120kg
Benelle S500	$1,099	40km	16.6kg	Limited to 25km/h private 35km/h	120kg
Benelle GT800	$1,499	60Km	21.5kg	Limited to 25km/h private 40km/h	120kg
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	$899	40Km	17.5kg	25km/h	100kg
Mearth RS Pro	$1,499	100Km	23kg	Limited to 25km/h private 40km/h	100kg
Mearth RS	$1,299	65Km	23kg	Limited to 25km/h private 40km/h	100kg
Kugoo M2 Master	$999	30Km	23kg	Limited to 25km/h private 35km/h	120Kg
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	$1,699	70Km	24.5kg	Limited to 25km/h private 40km/h	100kg
Mercane Jubel	$1,699	60Km	22kg	Limited to 25km/h private 43km/h	100kg
InMotion S1	$1,399	95km	24kg	Limited to 25km/h private 30km/h	140kg

E-scooter	Motor power	Battery size	Brakes
Carbon Oxy 10	Dual 1000W/1600W peak	52V 18.2Ah	Dual disc and electric re-gen
Bexly 10X	Dual 1000W	52V 18.2Ah	Dual disc
Bolzzen Gladiator	Dual 1200W/4000W peak	60V 21Ah	Zoom dual hydraulic
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	Dual 1400W	60V 21Ah	Dual hydraulic disc and electric regeneration
Benelle S350	350W	36V 6Ah	Mechanical disc on rear
Benelle S500	500W	48V 9Ah	Mechanical disc on rear
Benelle GT800	800W	48V 15Ah	Dual Disc
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	350W	36V 10.2Ah	Regenerative
Mearth RS Pro	500W/850W peak	48V 15.6Ah	Front and rear disc brakes, and anti-lock electric brake
Mearth RS	500W/850W peak	36V 15.6Ah	Front and rear disc brakes, and anti-lock electric brake
Kugoo M2 Master	Dual 350W	7.5Ah	Electric front, rear mechanical disc
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	Dual 500W	48V 15Ah	Dual disc
Mercane Jubel	800W	48V 15Ah	Front drum, rear disc
InMotion S1	500W	54V 12.5Ah	Front drum, rear electric

E-scooter	Lights
Carbon Oxy 10	2 x LED front and rear in the deck
Bexly 10X	2 x LED front and rear in the deck
Bolzzen Gladiator	Dual white LEDs at the front, dual red LEDs at the back with deck Lighting
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	3 LED Front (2 in deck) rear LED and indicators/hazard lights
Benelle S350	LED head, handlebar and tail
Benelle S500	LED head, handlebar and tail
Benelle GT800	Front and rear LED
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	Front and rear LED
Mearth RS Pro	Front and rear LED
Mearth RS	Front and rear LED
Kugoo M2 Master	Front and rear LED
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	Twin LED headlight and tail/brake light
Mercane Jubel	Twin LED headlight and tail/brake light
InMotion S1	Double 1.25W readlight, customisable deck RGB LED strip with turn signal functionality, rear wheel LED brake light

E-scooter	Suspension	Water resistance	Tyre size and type
Carbon Oxy 10	Front and rear coil spring C type		10" pneumatic
Bexly 10X	Adjustable coil spring front and rear	IPX4 splash resistant	10" pneumatic
Bolzzen Gladiator	Front and rear coil spring C type	IP54 light rain	10" pneumatic
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	Twin front and rear spring		10" pneumatic
Benelle S350	Rear spring		8.5" pneumatic
Benelle S500	Rear spring		8.5" pneumatic
Benelle GT800	Rear		10" pneumatic
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	None	IPX5 sustained low-pressure spray	10" pneumatic
Mearth RS Pro	None	IPX4 splash resistant	Explosion proof
Mearth RS	None	IPX4 splash resistant	Explosion proof
Kugoo M2 Master	Rear Spring		8.5" pneumatic
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	Front and rear rubber cart		7.5" solid
Mercane Jubel	None	IP54 light rain	12" pneumatic
InMotion S1	Twin Front Shocks, Rear Spring		10" pneumatic (tubeless)

E-scooter	Handlebar width	Size unfolded	Size folded
Carbon Oxy 10	610mm	1270mm (L) x 610mm (W) x 1330mm (H)	1270mm (L) x 610mm (W) x 550mm (H)
Bexly 10X	640mm	1270mm (L) x 640mm (W) x 1300mm (H)	1270mm (L) x 640mm (W) x 550mm (H)
Bolzzen Gladiator	610mm	1350mm (L) x 610mm (W) x 1160-1340mm (H)(Adjustable)	1350mm (L) x 290 mm (W) x 550mm (H)
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	700mm	1260mm (L) x 700mm (W) x 1310mm (H)	1260mm (L) x 700mm (W) x 550mm (H)
Benelle S350	520mm	1080mm (L) x 520mm (W) x 1110mm (H)	1310mm (L) x 520mm (W) x 330mm (H)
Benelle S500	520mm	1080mm (L) x 520mm (W) x 1110mm (H)	1310mm (L) x 520mm (W) x 330mm (H)
Benelle GT800	635mm	1130mm (L) x 635mm (W) x 1190 mm (H)	1130mm (L) x 635mm (W) x 530mm (H)
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	472mm	1109mm (L) x 472mm (W) x 1146mm (H)	1109mm (L) x 472mm (W) x 534mm (H)
Mearth RS Pro	500mm	1110mm (L) x 500mm (W) x 1230mm (H)	1110mm (L) x 500mm (W) x 540mm (H)
Mearth RS	500mm	1110mm (L) x 500mm (W) x 1230mm (H)	1110mm (L) x 500mm (W) x 540mm (H)
Kugoo M2 Master	515mm	1205mm (L) x 515mm (W) x 1145mm (H)	1205mm (L) x 515mm (W) x 550mm (H)
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	570mm	1070mm (L) x 570mm (W) x 1160mm (H)	1070mm (L) x 570mm (W) x 480mm (H)
Mercane Jubel	555mm	1265mm (L) x 555mm (W) x 1166mm (H)	1265mm (L) x 240mm (W) x 518mm (H)
InMotion S1	520mm	1250mm (L) x 520mm (W) x 1275mm (H)	1250mm (L) x 520mm (W) x 560mm (H)

E-scooter	Charge Time	Display	App	Bell
Carbon Oxy 10	8-10 hrs	Battery, mileage, speed, headlight, voltage, mode	No	Yes
Bexly 10X	8-10 hrs	Battery, mileage, speed, headlight, voltage, mode	No	Yes
Bolzzen Gladiator	12 hrs, 6 hrs fast	Battery, mileage, speed, headlight, voltage, mode	No	Yes
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	12 hrs, 6 hrs fast	Battery, speed, headlight, mode, trip	Yes	Yes
Benelle S350	3-4 hrs	Battery, mileage, speed, headlight	No	Yes
Benelle S500	3-4 hrs	Battery, mileage, speed, headlight	No	Yes
Benelle GT800	5-6 hrs	Battery, mileage, speed, headlight	No	Yes
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	6 hrs	Battery, speed, headlight, mode	Yes	Yes rotary
Mearth RS Pro	8 -9 hrs	Battery, speed, mode	No	Yes
Mearth RS	8 - 9 hrs	Battery, speed, mode	No	Yes
Kugoo M2 Master	6 - 7 hrs	Battery, speed, headlight, mode	No	Yes
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	8 hrs	Battery, mileage, speed, headlight, voltage, mode	No	Yes
Mercane Jubel	6-8 hrs	Speed, mode, cruise, battery, faults	No	Yes
InMotion S1	7.2 hrs 3.6 hrs fast	Speed, mode, battery, Bluetooth, turn signal	No	Yes

E-scooter	Ergonomics	Build Quality
Carbon Oxy 10	Steering column coupling difficult to use	Very good
Bexly 10X	Steering column coupling difficult to use	Very good
Bolzzen Gladiator	Steering column coupling difficult to use	Very good
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	Adjustable height of handlebars good	Very good
Benelle S350	Narrow and short deck. Good display. Hard to fold steering column.	Good
Benelle S500	Narrow and short deck. Good display. Hard to fold steering column.	Good
Benelle GT800	Narrow and short deck. Good display.	Good
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	Narrow deck. Flimsy guards.	Fair
Mearth RS Pro	Nice display and bar grips.	Good
Mearth RS	Nice display and bar grips.	Good
Kugoo M2 Master	Reasonable display.	Good
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	Display hard to read.	Good
Mercane Jubel	Display hard to read.	Good
InMotion S1	Tall handlebars suit a taller rider.	Very good

E-scooter	Acceleration	Braking	Handling
Carbon Oxy 10	4.3s	3.1m	Suspension and wide deck aide stability but soft suspension hinder braking and acceleration.
Bexly 10X	4.3s	4.3m	Suspension and wide deck aide stability. Bigger coil springs handle better.
Bolzzen Gladiator	5s	5m	Suspension and wide deck aide stability but soft suspension hinder braking and acceleration.
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	3.6s	3.5m	Suspension and wide deck aide stability.
Benelle S350	10.5s	4.2m	Front wheel drive provides little grip. Small deck makes it hard to balance at low speed.
Benelle S500	10.4s	4.2m	Front wheel drive provides little grip. Small deck makes it hard to balance at low speed.
Benelle GT800	5s	2.6m	Larger wheels and rear drive improve ride. Small deck makes it hard to balance at low speed.
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	8s	3.5m	Unsteady at low speed due to narrow deck.
Mearth RS Pro	5.5s	3m	Narrow handlebars make the steering twitchy.
Mearth RS	5.5s	2.7m	Narrow handlebars make the steering twitchy.
Kugoo M2 Master	6.3s	4.1m	Stable at low speeds
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	4.6s	4m	Steering hard due to wide wheel. Movement in steering column as suspension bounces.
Mercane Jubel	7.6s	6.8m	Wide deck and large wheels make in very stable
InMotion S1	6.2s	3m	Nice large deck, good stability.

E-scooter	Comfort	Speedo Accuracy
Carbon Oxy 10	Throttle controller blocks brake lever. Smooth ride.	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
Bexly 10X	Throttle controller blocks brake lever. Smooth ride.	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
Bolzzen Gladiator	Throttle controller blocks brake lever. Smooth ride.	25km/h at 20km/h displayed
Bexly Blackhawk Pro	Touchy throttle makes it hard to ride	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
Benelle S350	Reasonable ride quality.	23km/h at 25km/h displayed
Benelle S500	Reasonable ride quality.	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
Benelle GT800	Reasonable ride quality.	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
Segway Ninebot Max G30L	Front brake only very un-nerving.	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
Mearth RS Pro	Speed limiter surges making a constant speed uncomfortable.	23km/h at 25km/h displayed
Mearth RS	Speed limiter surges making a constant speed uncomfortable.	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
Kugoo M2 Master	Reasonable ride quality.	20km/h at 25km/h displayed
Mercane Wide Wheel Pro Dual 15Ah	Not comfortable to ride. Solid tyres feel every bump.	27km/h at 25km/h displayed
Mercane Jubel	Terrible brakes let it down.	24km/h at 25km/h displayed
InMotion S1	Good ride quality.	23km/h at 25km/h displayed