This Electric Kick Scooter Is Lightweight and Folds Fast

The throttle sits on the fitting handlebar, and also you gently push it down as you kick off to get the 350-watt motor going. When it hits the six-second mark, you’ll hear a beep (it’s noisy, bear in mind?), which implies that the cruise management has turned on. That means you’ll be able to depart the throttle alone and easily fear about braking. It’s a pleasant contact. (If you don’t launch the throttle after the primary beep, the X8 simply retains … beeping.)

It’s good to not have to consider pushing a throttle, particularly since braking isn’t so simple as urgent the brake lever on the left handlebar. This disc brake works in tandem with an digital brake and the foot brake. You activate the latter together with your foot by pushing down on the rear mudguard. It’s not the strongest brake system, however I by no means discovered it exhausting to return rapidly to a full cease. 

So how’s the trip? It’s fantastic on well-paved roads, however the slightest crack, the smallest pothole, the tiniest rock, feels such as you’re getting bucked off a bull. Seriously, you’ll be able to really feel each bump within the street with the 10-inch rubber tires. This was a nightmare after I by accident drove onto a milled street. I felt like each pedestrian was interestedly watching me wrestle to remain on the X8 because it bucked and snorted away.  

There are three completely different trip modes (or “gears”) you’ll be able to select from that regulate the scooter’s velocity: Eco, Beginner, and Sport. You toggle by means of them by way of a button, however seeing as Beginner capped me at round 9 mph, I simply left it at Sport. In this mode, I often hit round 19 mph, which is ideal for dense city environments with numerous pedestrians and visitors lights. Anything extra could be overkill except you’ve bought long stretches of roads (and extra beneficiant velocity limits).

The X8’s velocity could also be cheap, however acceleration will depart you wanting. Too many occasions did I watch others on scooters, bikes, and automobiles shoot previous me as quickly because the visitors gentle hit inexperienced. It additionally struggles up small hills—it’ll climb up them fantastic, however solely at 11 or 12 mph. 

Lightweight Ride

Riding the X8 will not be as comfortable as pricier escooters I’ve tried, however I’m completely happy I can fold this factor up in seconds and carry it right into a retailer with out a lot effort. That alone makes up for a lot of its flaws.  

The one grey space? Slidgo is a brand new model below Adorama, and the retailer is new to the e-scooter area. You solely get a one-year guarantee on the X8 and a six-month guarantee on the battery. Adorama has a customer support staff you’ll be able to attain out to if you happen to encounter a problem, and the corporate says it presents substitute components, however it doesn’t have its personal service heart. 

If you do not thoughts taking an opportunity on the model, you’re in an space with good roads, and the locations you journey to often aren’t far, the X8 is a stable strategy to get round. My 8-mile spherical journey to an ice cream store was completely satisfying, apart from after I yelled “Jesus” whereas going over a pothole.