Electric scooter options

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SomePostman

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#273198 10-Aug-2020 09:58

I currently pay $170 per month to park my car, so have been considering buying an electric scooter and parking a little further out of the CBD where there is free parking and using an electric scooter to get in. On wet days I could still use public parking at $15 a day and still be much better off. Do you currently do something similar or have a recommendation?

I'm slightly over 100kg and things like the Xiaomi M365 and Segway ES2 have a 100kg limit. I'm guessing they probably still work at 105kg with reduced speed and range, but it's a matter of whether they wouldn't honour the warranty if it broke within a year. I won't be commuting to work on it, only do a few km per day.

Also, before you suggest I bike, I drop my daughter at her school on the way to work. I would happily walk the distance from where I park, but it's more a matter of how long it takes me to get to my desk and working... I don't want to be strolling in after 9am.

Handsomedan

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#2537678 10-Aug-2020 10:25

I have a Mi M365 Pro and weigh 92kg plus bags/clothes etc. I know of many much heavier people that ride these with no issues.

I use mine to commute to the bus station, then from the bus stop in town to my office which is a couple of Km's each way on each leg, so around 5km each way a day give or take.

I had the original M365 but found that the battery sag (reduction in torque/power) when at or about 50% charge was getting annoying and the battery needed charging more often than I would have hoped.

My Pro, on the other hand, has a larger battery, more powerful motor and is all together a better experience.

I've modded my Firmware and get almost no battery sag until I am at or about 15% battery, which is fantastic for longer rides or for less frequent charging.

Hills can be your only real problem for a heavier rider - too steep and you'll need to push and there's also the potential for over-burdening the motor, which will cause it to stop temporarily. Also riding down a steep hill with KERS on (regenerative braking) if you have a full battery can also have some unintended consequences, but I have never personally experienced these issues.

I would make sure you do a bit of research and see what you really want from it. It may seem that the basic model Segway/Mi will do for you right now, but you quickly get used to the speed/power and want more. A little more out of either the Segway ES4 or the Xiaomi M365 Pro will probably see you through that OK.

There are more expensive and more powerful scooters out there, but from a budget-scooter perspective you've probably picked the ones that are least risk.

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Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#2537723 10-Aug-2020 10:38

I hope you're not over 50 and considering an M365 Pro....

Handsomedan

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#2537836 10-Aug-2020 12:22

Wheelbarrow01:

I hope you're not over 50 and considering an M365 Pro....

Ha ha - my kids tried to make my scooter theirs as soon as I turned 50, because of that!!!

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jonathan18

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#2538288 10-Aug-2020 21:14

A few of us on here own Zero scooters - a decent thread on them here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=245371. I like my Zero 10 scooter, but don't love it - a few too many design flaws for me to recommend wholeheartedly.

But as for using a scooter for commuting -yep, totally recommend it. I had a flatty that didn't get around to fixing for many months (plus this included lock-down); after fixing it a couple of weeks ago it's been great being back on it - I've not driven my car to work once since fixing it.

I'd agree about getting a model that's grunty enough to deal with both weight and hills; I was thinking about when riding home from work today that even a strong wind has an impact. Also some extra power is good to get you out of trouble; as I mentioned on that Zero thread, I nearly got bowled by a car, and it was the lack of any additional grunt from my Mi 365 that left me in that predicament, and the key reason I upgraded to the Zero.

See if you can have a ride of the model you are interested in buying - ideally trial it on your commute route, as it's the real-world experience that will determine if it's suitable. But, yeah, I'd be careful about going with an entry model like the standard Mi 365 - fine for a bit of fun or a younger/lighter person, but something with more grunt would be better as a commuting vehicle.

MarkM536

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2538292 10-Aug-2020 21:24

jonathan18:

A few of us on here own Zero scooters - a decent thread on them here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=245371. I like my Zero 10 scooter, but don't love it - a few too many design flaws for me to recommend wholeheartedly.

But as for using a scooter for commuting -yep, totally recommend it. I had a flatty that didn't get around to fixing for many months (plus this included lock-down); after fixing it a couple of weeks ago it's been great being back on it - I've not driven my car to work once since fixing it.

I'd agree about getting a model that's grunty enough to deal with both weight and hills; I was thinking about when riding home from work today that even a strong wind has an impact. Also some extra power is good to get you out of trouble; as I mentioned on that Zero thread, I nearly got bowled by a car, and it was the lack of any additional grunt from my Mi 365 that left me in that predicament, and the key reason I upgraded to the Zero.

See if you can have a ride of the model you are interested in buying - ideally trial it on your commute route, as it's the real-world experience that will determine if it's suitable. But, yeah, I'd be careful about going with an entry model like the standard Mi 365 - fine for a bit of fun or a younger/lighter person, but something with more grunt would be better as a commuting vehicle.

I've got a Zero 9 and love it. I went past XiaoMi and Ninebot scooters when I read the reviews about them folding while riding.

My Z9 has had some troubles but over all its far better quality than those other scooters.

Have a test ride at the dealer of these scooters.

daunjan

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#2538323 10-Aug-2020 22:17

I got the Zero 10, I upgraded the rear brakes to hydraulic making it much safer for braking. Found the original like riding a bike in the rain, you have to really grip the brake handle to work. Also the adjustable handle bars are perfect for different riders. The Xiaomi and Ninebot struggle on hills and range was err? But all comes down to cost Zero 10 is $1800 more than two combined. If your in Auckland James at Freedpev at Victoria markets has zero's on display. The hydraulic brakes same as Zero 10x $120 install.

Both the Xiaomi and Ninebot weigh around 10kg can easily fold under a desk. Zero 10 are 25kg more bulky. Around town quick trips first two, Zero 10 we take it all over Auckland.

Hope that helps.

NPCtom

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2542251 16-Aug-2020 14:02

I'd maybe look into a used Boosted Rev, they're great scooters with a ton of cool features with a nice top-speed and acceleration curve.

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Jvipers2

215 posts

Master Geek

#2542262 16-Aug-2020 14:33

I have an ES2 and is above 100kgs...the only issue is not being able to ride up slopes. Other than that, should suffice for what you need. I can get 13KMs comfortably on the max speed setting out of the claimed 24KMs range. Just remember to go slow over uneven surfaces as the being over the ‘recommended’ weight, the suspension travel isn’t much...

lurker

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#2542263 16-Aug-2020 14:40

My 365 Pro has regularly taken 140-150Kg, I'm sure it reduces the battery runtime somewhat and hills are out of the question.

But reaching 25Km/h is not a problem and the scooter doesn't seem worse for wear

I should add that I replaced the rear tyre with a solid one as I think the weight contributed to punctures

jonathan18

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#2542288 16-Aug-2020 15:26

Just for a speed comparison - my Zero 10 on a cold morning maxes out at about 37kmh, whereas on a warmer day max speed will be about 42kmh. A tailwind on Friday had me hitting 46kmh. I imagine someone lighter than me will go faster still. (I've compared the speedo against GPS on my phone and it's surprisingly accurate - unlike my previous Mi 365, which overstated by a decent amount.) Also, a lower battery reduces max speed.

Of course, doing that sort of speed is only practical on the road, so you have to be comfortable with that. My experience is I felt incredibly unsafe on the footpath, even doing more moderate speeds, simply because of the risks of cars coming in and out of driveways without the driver looking, plus I find my council is happy to leave footpaths in worse condition than the roads.

Jaxson

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#2566002 16-Sep-2020 14:21

Damn you guys get some crazy speeds going on those things!

I've just entered the ebike game, based on a combo of wanting to get off public transport during covid/flu season (was genuinely pretty yuck with windows steamed up shut and several people coughing their lungs out), wanting to get some exercise (specifically home as wanted to get to work without the need for a shower) and also saving a lot of time (reckon waiting 5 - 10 mins each way for the bus, and then a slow loop that stops every 200m or so).

Got one initially with no suspension and the australian 25 km/hr speed restriction (NZ restricts on motor power not speed) and quickly upgraded to a more comfortable type.

7km door to door trip, takes under 20 mins, mostly well sealed road (though with more patchy areas that I ever realised in a car/bus) and a couple of hills - one quite significant but dealt to easily with the latest ebike.

Posting to follow these discussions as scooters may feature in future too.