Which e-scooter is right for you?

EVs

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


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