Nine things worth checking before you buy any electric scooter
- buying guide
- comparison
- warranty
- service
Showrooms are good at answering the questions you ask. These are the ones worth asking — of us as much as of anyone else.
1–3. The numbers behind the numbers
What does the range figure assume — one rider or two, what speed, what kind of road? What is the full charging time from empty, on a normal socket? And what is the rated power, not just the peak, since peak is a burst and rated is what it holds.
4–5. The battery, in writing
How long is it covered, in years and in kilometres — both matter, and whichever comes first is what applies. Ours is 3 years or 36,000 km on the lithium pack. And what does that cover: the whole pack, or only certain faults?
6–7. What happens when something breaks
Where is the nearest authorised service point, and how long does a spare part take to arrive? On our network it is usually within a week for anything not held locally. A cheap scooter you cannot get serviced is not cheap.
8–9. Brakes, and then ride it
Check what is on each wheel — disc or drum, front and rear. Then take the test ride, with a pillion if you will usually carry one. Ten minutes on the road tells you more about the seat, the suspension and the throttle than any specification sheet.
If a showroom is uncomfortable answering any of these, that is an answer too.
Key takeaways
- Ask what the range figure assumes — load, speed, terrain.
- Find out where the nearest service point is before you buy.
- Read the battery warranty: years AND kilometres.
- Sit on it. Ride it. A test ride settles most arguments.
