Ebike vs Escooter

[georgefromvt]

Ebike vs Escooter. I'm an ebiker with 10 years on the road, logging about 2000 miles a season. Escooters have been making news lately, generating considerable buzz. I decided to give Escooters a try. I purchased the Speedway IV from EWheels, company boasts good customer service and stocks parts. I'm 200 lbs and live in hilly Vermont, so needed a powerful escooter with plenty of torque and range. It's 52 volts, 600 watts (peak 1200) and 26 amps. The Speedway cost about 1500, same price as my Radcity. I own the Radcity by RADPOWER and Newport by ELUX. Ride: The Escooter is surprisingly fast and agile, hitting easily 25 mph. My ebikes are limited to 20 mph. Safety: Almost have a 100 miles on my Escooter, no accidents yet. Ebikes, better visibility than a Escooter. I only ride my escooter on designated bike lanes, won't ride it in traffic or the open road. Repairs: My local bike shop has no issues with my ebike but haven't asked them about my escooter. Portability: No bike rake needed for an escooter, it easily fits in my back seat. The Escooter is a blast and I'm looking forward to an interesting summer.
https://www.governing.com/columns/transportation-and-infrastructure/gov-scooters-bird.html
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radcity-electric-commuter-bike
https://www.ewheels.com/product/new-speedway-iv-pro/

 

[donn]

I'd be interested to hear how your practice emergency stops go. I mean, you get it up to full steam and see how fast you can stop, so you have some idea what's coming when you have to do it in an emergency. It seems to me the physics would be somewhat different from a bicycle. The mayor here just announced that we're supposed to start allowing rental outfits to run these things on the streets here, so we're all interested to know how that's going to pan out.

 

[Electric Earth]

How does it handle? Have you ridden any of the Lime type rentals? I tried a Lime once. I can only describe it as sketchy and exciting, but not in a good way. It's certainly nothing like the scooters I rode as a kid. The steering was really twitchy and the thing was really jarring when hitting bumps. I can't imagine going 25mph on one. Yours looks similar, but I'm assuming handles much better. If you've ridden a Lime or similar, I'd be curious to hear your comparison. I've thought about getting one too(before riding the Lime). Maybe they just have sketchy scooters? What kind of mileage are you getting on a full battery charge?

 

[dogman dan]

Pick the best tool for each job I always say. Along with you can never have too many tools.

But yeah, why not unless cost is the deterrent? For some things, ideal to pop in in the trunk of any car however small, and have some wheels wherever you go. Sure, the bike would work too, but it may just be more convenient, or even better, like up a very steep hill. That tiny wheel will shine on a steep hill. But not if a road with bad potholes.

Ride whatever works best, for the job at hand. That includes pedal only bikes, or big ass motorcycles. A scoot like that could be perfect in an urban environment. Park your car at the casino in vegas, then cruise the strip on the scoot. Much better than parking at each place you want to see.


A really small scoot that has a battery that could fly would be one nice tool to have sometimes. Something that runs on two laptop batteries or one drill battery.

 

[georgefromvt]

I'd be interested to hear how your practice emergency stops go. I mean, you get it up to full steam and see how fast you can stop, so you have some idea what's coming when you have to do it in an emergency. It seems to me the physics would be somewhat different from a bicycle. The mayor here just announced that we're supposed to start allowing rental outfits to run these things on the streets here, so we're all interested to know how that's going to pan out.

You're right, physics plays a big role with stopping. My ebikes are about 72 inches long, the escooter is 48 inches long, so stopping is very different. But compared to most escooters especially the rental share ones, the Speedway is larger and wider. The first couple of runs I kept the speed low and turned off the regen braking. With more experience, I'm now comfortable with speed and activated the regen braking.

 

[georgefromvt]

How does it handle? Have you ridden any of the Lime type rentals? I tried a Lime once. I can only describe it as sketchy and exciting, but not in a good way. It's certainly nothing like the scooters I rode as a kid. The steering was really twitchy and the thing was really jarring when hitting bumps. I can't imagine going 25mph on one. Yours looks similar, but I'm assuming handles much better. If you've ridden a Lime or similar, I'd be curious to hear your comparison. I've thought about getting one too(before riding the Lime). Maybe they just have sketchy scooters? What kind of mileage are you getting on a full battery charge?

The Speedway is very smooth, responsive and agile. Start Speed, Start mode, Electric braking and cruise control are easily programmed. The Speedway has large 10" pneumatic wheels and adjustable front and rear hydraulic suspension. It's very smooth running. I picked the Speedway because of it's size, I'm 200 lbs and 5'10" so need longer & wider riding deck. Mileage is excellent, recently took a 18 mile trip, power meter dropped from 98% to 80%. Battery is 52 volt and 1331 wh. The downside of a large powerful escooter is weight. It easily slide into my back seat but weighs a hefty 55 lbs.

 

[georgefromvt]

Pick the best tool for each job I always say. Along with you can never have too many tools.

But yeah, why not unless cost is the deterrent? For some things, ideal to pop in in the trunk of any car however small, and have some wheels wherever you go. Sure, the bike would work too, but it may just be more convenient, or even better, like up a very steep hill. That tiny wheel will shine on a steep hill. But not if a road with bad potholes.

Ride whatever works best, for the job at hand. That includes pedal only bikes, or big ass motorcycles. A scoot like that could be perfect in an urban environment. Park your car at the casino in vegas, then cruise the strip on the scoot. Much better than parking at each place you want to see.


A really small scoot that has a battery that could fly would be one nice tool to have sometimes. Something that runs on two laptop batteries or one drill battery.

I'm really enjoying my escooter. And it fits nicely in my back seat, I'll take it on vacation. I love my ebikes but the scooter is portable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AcxFSuu8E0

 

[georgefromvt]

150 miles and still going strong. I'm thoroughly enjoying my escooter. It's no replacement for my ebike but really getting a kick out of it. Today, round trip ride from Northampton to Amherst then buzzed around town; roughly a 20 mile trip, average speed about 20 mph and used about 20% of the battery. My escooter will never replace my ebike but really enjoying the ride. Plus side of the escooter, it's easier on my back and appreciate it's portability. Escooter easily fits in my back seat and secured with looping the seat belt around the kickstand.
https://www.ewheels.com/product/new-speedway-iv-pro/

 

[spinningmagnets]

I'm not a safety nanny (I have many scars), but...I prefer the ebike. However, I have to admit if I needed to transport on a city bus, or I had an RV/boat/airplane, I would likely use a folding-handle scooter.

 

[TDB]

I'd like a scooter, but except for a trial in the CBD they are illegal on paths and roads in the nanny state.

 

[MikeSSS]

Really nice scoot and the two ebikes too. Well done!

I'd sure like to ride that scooter, it looks and sounds like a good design. The battery for the Speedway IV Pro is 14s, 8p of 18650 cells, same as my ebike, it should work really well and have excellent range.

A long time ago I rode a small escooter, it rode very well, until I braked too hard. Predictable results followed, should have leaned back when braking. Live and learn ... or not.

Another time I rode a small escooter with a seat and no suspension. Lots of vibration caused blurred vision due to eye ball jiggling.

Suspension and standing for the win. Keep is posted on continuing results.

 

[markz]

I wonder how much power I'd need for 330lb's and size of scooter for 6'6' person.
On the other hand, if Chalo were into Escooters, he is what I used to weigh 380lbs but he's taller, probably a size 14 shoe I'm guessing. I am size 13 shoe btw, either way need a wide platform to stand on. I'd just use my ebike battery and put it in a backpack when riding, would make the scooter itself lighter when you have to carry it.
1.5-2kw of power, perhaps even 2wd.

Escooter would be nice for places you have to go where you dont really want to lock the bike up, sketchy neighborhoods, high traffic area's (Mall's), downtown. Just hop on the train or bus during rush hour with the escooter no problem, bicycles can't during rush hour and half the buses here dont have bike racks even though the city wants to go green, hypocrites city.

For ebikes - I've always wanted an easily detachable battery and a hub motor you can literally lock up (holes through cover plates), so you pull that move as well as hiding the motor behind old, dingy, dirty rear rack pannier bags on your old, crusty bicycle that operates smoothly with decent components but labels scratched off and made to look rusty via paint.

 

[fechter]

I have both bikes and scooters. The scooter is definitely more dangerous and you really need to be alert when riding. What I really like the scooter for is when I travel by car and don't have room to carry the bike. Around here, scooters are allowed anywhere you can ride an ebike.

I was pretty seriously injured many years ago when the controller shorted on my old Zappy scooter and it suddenly went full power. I was able to jump off, but I failed to let go of the handlebars. It yanked my arms so hard it tore a big muscle in my back and took about a year to get back to normal. This is when I decided that brushed motors suck and at the very least need a contactor relay to make sure you can turn it off in the event of a controller short.

The scooter I have now is an old single motor Luna Apocalypse which is pretty nice to ride. Goes faster than I want to go on a scooter.

Considering an olympic sprinter can run about 20mph, I figure that's the fastest I can go and have some chance of not eating it if I jump off.

 

[donn]

Considering an olympic sprinter can run about 20mph, I figure that's the fastest I can go and have some chance of not eating it if I jump off.

That might make a good sport event right there. Need some hardy sporting types to pioneer it. Set up a short course with some straw bales and stuff at the end, and some kind of speed radar or something; contestants run their scooters up as fast as they dare, and step off. You get a prize only if you stay on your feet and come to a stop on your own, and of course you're the fastest to do so. I bet no one will ever make 20 mph.