XiaoMi M365 Electric Scooter

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#2146784 17-Dec-2018 23:52

Has anyone tried one of the Xiaomi scooters on hills around the Auckland CBD - Parnell Rise, College Hill, Nelson St etc? I've tried a Lime Scooter on some of those and it will go up on a full charge, but fails miserably on anything less than about 2/3rds charged... If the Xiaomi can make it up those hills then I'm definitely considering one as a Xmas present!

jonathan18

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#2146807 18-Dec-2018 06:06

These scooters on hills are actually almost embarrassing: they can be so slow going up even a relatively minor hill consideration has to be given to walking it up! My experience is minor rises are fine, especially if I approach them at a decent speed. Try the same rise from stationary and it can be the same slow struggle.

sonyxperiageek

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#2147487 18-Dec-2018 22:29

The XiaoMi scooter going up hills isn't actually too bad I reckon. It climbed up Ngapipi Road off Tamaki Drive in Auckland okay. It got slower at the steeper bits, but still managed to climb!

Also, mine has started its creaking at the hinged part after a few days of riding it... through some bumpy areas though! I have ordered the rubber shock absorbers.

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jonathan18

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#2147583 19-Dec-2018 09:40

sonyxperiageek:

Also, mine has started its creaking at the hinged part after a few days of riding it... through some bumpy areas though! I have ordered the rubber shock absorbers.

I'd suggest you hold off riding it as much as possible until the parts arrive - especially avoid going over bumpy areas! Luckily my parts arrived before the scooter so I've been ok, but I don't think it's worth the risk of worsening the situation. Chances are the set you bought will have three the part in different thicknesses, so you have the option of going straight to the middle thickness if there's still a level of slack with the thinnest.

If you haven't ordered the ones that sit under a screw (so can't fall out), I'd suggest a little bit of blutack or even a dollop of glue gun glue to keep it in place (I almost lost mine before doing this!).

I've also found some of the screws in the stem holding the handlebars in place came quite loose when I rode into a trench in the footpath - I now carry the right-sized hex wrench in my pack, as riding it with those loose felt quite unsafe and like it would do permanent damage.

robfish

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#2147589 19-Dec-2018 09:47

I found that a simple alternative to the 3D printed spacers is cutting some (fluffy side) velcro stick-on dots to fit.

My velcro has done its job for at least a month now.

The screws for the handle have come loose on mine a couple of times too. I am going to buy some "Locktite"

Rob

jonathan18

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#2147592 19-Dec-2018 09:54

robfish:

The screws for the handle have come loose on mine a couple of times too. I am going to buy some "Locktite"

I'm planning on doing the same - I've got the Loctite, but just waiting for the hook (that is attached using one of these screws) I bought off eBay to arrive before locing the screws tite!

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#2147634 19-Dec-2018 10:15

Those hooks only use one screw which, even with Loctite will still come loose. (I know because I tried one)

I decided to buy a leather over shoulder "man bag" - US$45 on Ali Express. Very happy with it.

Rob

jonathan18

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#2147651 19-Dec-2018 10:30

robfish:

Those hooks only use one screw which, even with Loctite will still come loose. (I know because I tried one)

I decided to buy a leather over shoulder "man bag" - US$45 on Ali Express. Very happy with it.

Fek, that was a waste of nearly $20 then!

I wear a pack when scooting to/from work, which works fine as, unlike on a bike, I'm not exactly having to work hard! The hook was more for those short trips to the supermarket or video store; that said I've had ok luck with hanging a light bag from the handlebars so that may be the long-term answer too...

jonathan18

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#2160846 14-Jan-2019 12:15

I saw a new thread asking about these scooters: @nzkiwiman, hopefully you'll get a good sense from this thread as to the capability of the Mi scooter (and being wary of the number of cheaper knock-offs also available, eg via Container Door). The main takeaway, I think, is that they're seriously good value for money, even at the full $699 price, in that they're so much more than a toy - they're actually a decent form of transport.

Nearly a month later from the post above, I'm still using mine on nearly a daily basis - unless it's p!ssing down I'm using it as my daily commute to work. I'm now riding nearly exclusively on the road - feels so much safer as I'm not ever-fearful of a car bowling me when reversing out of a driveway. Plus it's so much faster on the road in that most of the trip is completed at maximum speed - it's now just on nine minutes from home (3.5km), which is as quick as it took in the car (as I can take a shortcut). (I find that this means the battery runs down a lot quicker, as not only travelling faster but a lot less regen braking.)

Biggest issue I find with riding on the road is signalling - the handlebars are narrow enough to making riding one-handed at full-speed somewhat risky, but I'm sure it'll feel more stable in time.

Still get a lot of people staring as there are no Lime scooters where I live (so still a relative rarity - only seen two others in PN); had one run-in with a #$@# courier drive (no surprise there, and that was when I was on the footpath) ), but apart from that and a few d!cks yelling out stupid things there have been no real close calls.

davidcole

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#2160849 14-Jan-2019 12:22

jonathan18:

Biggest issue I find with riding on the road is signalling - the handlebars are narrow enough to making riding one-handed at full-speed somewhat risky, but I'm sure it'll feel more stable in time.

Sounds like you need to add some custom indicator/brake lights somehow.

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Handsomedan

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#2160850 14-Jan-2019 12:23

Just thought I'd resurrect this thread as I have become a recent convert to the Scooter Gang.

Seeing lots more of them around town now, too.

My main usage is to and from the bus station (North Shore, Auckland) which is a 2km each-way trip, then from bus to office (a few hundred metres unless I get off early and go for a scoot, just for the fun of it). Saves me driving the car cold to a place near the bus station (as there's never any parking) and then joining rush hour traffic on the way home.

Overall, I think it probably saves me both money and time each day...and it's a great way to commute!

No issues in the two weeks I have had it, so all going well, so far.

Most of my riding has been down hill or on flat, but the occasional upward slope is a struggle, due to me being close to 100kg...

I have the PB Tech-issue mobile holder (for the prerequisite dashboard display) and scooter bag (on the handlebars/front stem) in which I keep my charger and tools.

Those that have had one longer term - anything I should know re pitfalls, maintenance issues etc? I see they can be reflashed to produce a tad more power and torque, but I don't fancy voiding my warranty for an extra 5km/h, to be honest.

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nzkiwiman

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#2160881 14-Jan-2019 12:48

jonathan18:

I saw a new thread asking about these scooters: @nzkiwiman, hopefully you'll get a good sense from this thread as to the capability of the Mi scooter (and being wary of the number of cheaper knock-offs also available, eg via Container Door). The main takeaway, I think, is that they're seriously good value for money, even at the full $699 price, in that they're so much more than a toy - they're actually a decent form of transport.

Nearly a month later from the post above, I'm still using mine on nearly a daily basis - unless it's p!ssing down I'm using it as my daily commute to work. I'm now riding nearly exclusively on the road - feels so much safer as I'm not ever-fearful of a car bowling me when reversing out of a driveway. Plus it's so much faster on the road in that most of the trip is completed at maximum speed - it's now just on nine minutes from home (3.5km), which is as quick as it took in the car (as I can take a shortcut). (I find that this means the battery runs down a lot quicker, as not only travelling faster but a lot less regen braking.)

Biggest issue I find with riding on the road is signalling - the handlebars are narrow enough to making riding one-handed at full-speed somewhat risky, but I'm sure it'll feel more stable in time.

Still get a lot of people staring as there are no Lime scooters where I live (so still a relative rarity - only seen two others in PN); had one run-in with a #$@# courier drive (no surprise there, and that was when I was on the footpath) ), but apart from that and a few d!cks yelling out stupid things there have been no real close calls.

Thanks for the information; I completed the thread, then went to edit it as I got the feeling that maybe the M365 and the Home were the same scooter - but the boss has already locked the thread

Getting a scooter won't save me from commuting via the car to work - I live 15km away, but there are some nice hills in the way. However I would definitely use the scooter for in town transport to and from the car (saving money by parking for free) and of course random weekend riding .. until winter arrives of course.

jonathan18

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#2160884 14-Jan-2019 12:54

davidcole:

jonathan18:

Biggest issue I find with riding on the road is signalling - the handlebars are narrow enough to making riding one-handed at full-speed somewhat risky, but I'm sure it'll feel more stable in time.

Sounds like you need to add some custom indicator/brake lights somehow.

This idea has crossed my mind! The scooter does have a brake light but no turning indicators.

Of course, there's the extreme DIY approach: http://nelsonware.com/blog/2018/11/23/xiaomi-mijia-m365-arduino-turn-signals.html - but too much skill required and too much work involved. I've even seen a backpack that has indicators built in, but that's not a practical solution.

I'm sure someone has made a suitable product, just a matter of tracking it down...

jonathan18

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#2160896 14-Jan-2019 13:04

Handsomedan:

Those that have had one longer term - anything I should know re pitfalls, maintenance issues etc? I see they can be reflashed to produce a tad more power and torque, but I don't fancy voiding my warranty for an extra 5km/h, to be honest.

@Handsomedan - have you read some of the earlier posts in this thread re the identified issues with the hinge and brake light cable wear? I posted some links to the parts on eBay (or you can download the 3D plans and print them yourself). I've not installed the brake light piece yet but this is a good reminder to do so; the hinge piece I keep in place with blutak (critical if you're ever folding the scooter as otherwise it'll easily fall out).

I've not bothered with the battery cover replacement - I find the ground clearance is pretty damn high so am comfortable I'm not going to damage the base.

I've also no done the flashing for the same reason, though it's easy enough to flash it back to the original firmware. Extra speed also means extra heat - not sure I want to risk this.

Regarding accessories: @robfish is completely correct that the damn expensive hooks are a complete waste of money - I can't even screw mine in properly! I was at the Mi Store the other week when in Akld and couldn't see any of the bags they were supplying with the scooter (assume this is what you've got, Handsomedan), as I think that'll be a useful thing to have.

davidcole

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#2160903 14-Jan-2019 13:13

jonathan18:

This idea has crossed my mind! The scooter does have a brake light but no turning indicators.

Of course, there's the extreme DIY approach: http://nelsonware.com/blog/2018/11/23/xiaomi-mijia-m365-arduino-turn-signals.html - but too much skill required and too much work involved. I've even seen a backpack that has indicators built in, but that's not a practical solution.

I'm sure someone has made a suitable product, just a matter of tracking it down...

Maybe think less technological:

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