An electric scooter can be a fast and fun mode of transportation—as long as your route isn’t too hilly, you’re comfortable riding in traffic, and you’re riding safely and considerately. (After all, in many cities fleets of electric rental scooters have at times been sidewalk-blocking nuisances.) In fall 2019, every electric scooter we tested had a dealbreaking downside. Thankfully the options have gotten better, and three models from Segway Ninebot have earned our recommendation, with the Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max G30LP being the best option for most people. It provides a reliable way to get around, especially during a pandemic, when many people may want to avoid public transit.
Our pick
Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max G30LP
The KickScooter Max G30LP offers sturdy construction and a real-life range of 20-plus miles at a fair price. It’s the only scooter we’ve found that excels in so many areas without being too expensive. But it is heavy.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $800.
We had rather stringent criteria when researching scooters, because safety and reliability are paramount when it comes to transportation. The Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max G30LP met all of our requirements, both on paper and in practice. The most distinguishing factor is its range: This scooter can go for about 20 miles per charge, a range surpassed in testing only by our upgrade pick, the company’s pricier KickScooter Max. The G30LP is UL-certified, so it has been independently tested to meet safety requirements, and we trust Segway Ninebot’s long track record in personal-transportation devices. (Many rental-scooter outfits used to deploy the company’s KickScooter ES2.) Although it’s not cheap, the G30LP performs better than other scooters at the same price, and it costs far less than many models from lesser-known brands. The only real downside is that this scooter weighs 39 pounds, which can be a hassle when you need to carry it.
Budget pick
Segway Ninebot KickScooter F30
If you’re not as concerned about range, the F30 still got a respectable 10 miles per charge in our tests without slowing down. It also weighs a little less and has room to attach a bike lock.
Segway Ninebot’s KickScooter F30 is the model to choose if you’re on the tightest budget. It’s comparable to the other KickScooter models we recommend but has a shorter range: We were able to ride for 10.6 miles before the battery ran dry. We think the G30LP is worth its higher price for double the range, but if you know you’ll be traveling less than 5 miles each way, the F30 is a great option. At a little over 33 pounds, it’s also a few pounds lighter than our other picks, and its design allows you to connect a bike lock.
Upgrade pick
Segway Ninebot’s KickScooter Max was our top pick before the G30LP was introduced, and it remains a great option. It’s almost exactly the same as our current pick, except it gets more range thanks to a larger battery. In our tests, we were able to ride for 24 miles—about 4 more miles than on the G30LP, a 20% increase. The company promises up to 40 miles in ideal situations. If you want a great scooter that will give you the most miles between charges, spend a bit more for this one.