NIU - KQi Air X

Yeah, an additional waterproof connector for the motor would’ve been nice. I had to replace the rear tire two weeks ago because of multiple holes in the original one, which didn’t had any anti-puncture gel they initially listed it would have. Installed a bit wider 10x2.50 with gel.

I got my Air X a few months ago and mostly use it for work commuting and groceries. The weight and the full carbon structure is why I got it, as there is no elevator in our residential building and I live on 5th floor. Only I did replace the rear tire two weeks ago and saw they didn’t even used gel filled tires as they initially promoted… Slime tire sealant probably would’ve been sufficient with the coated hub (it corrodes bare aluminium), but I installed a new gel filled 10x2.5 instead. I see your carbon is shiny, on my Air X it’s matte except for the handlebar tube, I wonder if they switched to shiny resin altogether.

I use a Niu for commuting and trips out to BK/Astoria like the back third of your trip. The Segway would also fit the bill here. 300lb weight capacity is a tough sell - most scooters top out at 265ish. Similarly, the RFK bridge ramp is a pain, since the bike assist infrastructure is minimal and very bike-focused so a scooter's smaller tires and lower-set profile can cause issues going up/down the stairs. [KQI 300x 23mph](https://shop.niu.com/collections/electric-scooter/products/niu-kqi-300x-electric-scooter) [KQI Air X - lighter, stiffer, lower top speed (20mph), but easier to manage the stairs with](https://shop.niu.com/collections/electric-scooter/products/niu-kqi-air-x-lightest-electric-scooter) [You see this recco everywhere, the ninebot max - 19mph max but will have difficulty managing 300lbs + slopes](https://store.segway.com/ninebot-kickscooter-max)

I've had my KQi Air for over a year, and have been pretty happy with it. There was one time when the battery gradually gave out on me while on a ride, and I had to walk it back to the house. I believe it was related to the fact that I cap the charge at 85%, and the on-board battery meter isn't entirely reliable. Also, you can never shut these things completely down, so make sure you charge them occasionally even when stored away.

You can basically only put the scooter to sleep, and when in sleep mode, it still draws enough power from the battery such that it will drain completely in a month or so. So if you're constantly using it, this shouldn't be much of a concern. But if you plan to stop riding it, during the winter for instance, then you need to remember to occasionally top it off.

This was actually my first electric scooter, so I don't know if this power management behavior is typical. Somebody from NIU did comment in this thread, so maybe they have some insight into whether these scooters could ever be updated to go into full shut-down mode. Though given that I've seen this issue come up in these discussions before, I think any changes would be reflected in a newer model instead of one that has already been out for some time. $599 is a great deal on this particular scooter. I paid above $1k for mine initially, but then got reimbursed a bit when it went on sale shortly after. Its light weight is its main selling point - I'll literally hang it off my shoulder while grocery shopping. Of course, the light weight means its built-in security features (alarm and locked wheel) are somewhat useless since someone could just pick it up and toss it in the back of their car. I tend to not carry a lock, but the businesses in my area don't seem to mind when I park it inside - it's not as massive or intimidating as some of the other scooters out there.

I've got a [NIU KQi Air](https://youtu.be/vdpU3ElzLLM?si=9Bbwjrz3Ijf-EFpv) on order. I've tried some other e-scooters in the past but they were either way too heavy or way too flimsy and unstable with not enough range. This one is the first of its kind and comes in at 11.9 kg/26 lbs while allegedly retaining a solid build with a solid ride feel. Has a real/practical range equivalent to that of an AT wheel eskate with a battery twice the size, or ~800 Wh. And manages to do that at a weight at least 3 kg/6.6 lbs under that of its range equivalent AT wheel e-skate. Tons of nifty stuff like an alarm and a headlight strong enough to light up a small city. Guessing this will become standard pretty soon. If it pans out, I wont be using e-skates as commuters anymore. The compromises just aren't worth it. AT wheels, even though they absolutely suck and dilute road feel, are more less a necessary safety and comfort feature on European roads, which almost comes standard with cobblestone and stuff. And I'm guessing also US roads which are less than pedestrian friendly with poorly maintained bike paths and sidewalks. Plus speed is really limited if you're not in motocross gear, so you're not getting any of the benefits of a higher top speed, if anything you will be riding the e-scooter safely at higher speeds than the e-skate. So as commuters I think e-skates are pretty much doomed in large parts of the world with these new gen ultralight scooters. Ironically though, it makes your boards far more viable to me personally. It doesn't make sense to ride a heavy board with a stiff set-up and AT wheels if I'm using it purely for recreation. At 8 kgs I can throw an Aero X on my back and use the scooter to ride over the cobblestone and other stuff I have to navigate in order to get down to the smooth bike path at the beach. And then I can just enjoy a comfortable cruise without having to worry about saving range to get back home, or how the 80 mm PU wheels will cope with the not so smooth road. So you kind of built the perfect non-commuter board for that purpose. ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯

I’ve had my air for 6mo and love it. Got it because of the portability, and it would be a drag carrying anything much heavier around tight corners or up steps regularly. Speed and distance are as much as I would ever need. It’s got no suspension, so you feel all of the bumps on rough surfaces, but smooth roads are fantastic. I was in a hotel for a month and could Cary it in the door and up the elevator with no problem.

RS6 ultra 2900. What I bought. Upgrading from a Nui Kqi

As a fan of AliExpress since before Amazon sold more than just books, I still wouldn’t buy a rideable from there. You want some level of reliability and good reputation. For your budget, you’ré looking at Niu kqi or Inmotion products. Way less maintenance and better value than any ebike or diy kit. I use all the PEV’s and generally recommend an escooter for most people thinking they want an ebike. If they can get away with the range, escooter is way better value. For $1,000, you get a junky ebike but a pretty good scooter. Feel free to use my coupon code, Funcentric if you decide to go with an Inmotion product.