NIU - KQi Air X

I really like my Air X, but I try to prevent driving over cobblestone with it, unpleasant and risky for the carbon frame.

I dunno, I have the Air X and it's pretty good. Actually it climbs like the Etwow GTS. And I always turn and take a last look at it after parking, so that's gotta be something ....

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.

and BTW I think the KQI# air is still the most brilliant e scooter on the market

Just flagging that weight can be an issue if you are going over 25mph as the batteries will be larger and most have pretty robust suspensions to accommodate those speeds. Bigger battery + suspension = weight. The niu scooters are great IMHO. Nothing fancy but they get you from point A-B. The KQI# air is an awesome scooter as it only weighs 26lbs, can go 20mph and has pretty good range. KQI 300p has some suspension 24mph and great range at 45lbs. Segway are seen as very reliable. The g2 (last years model) is great 22mph, good range and 53lbs. The G3 (updated model is a bit faster and about the same weight. As you add more speed and range the weight will go up considerably. Some of the recs you are getting already are for scooters that are creeping into the 75lb+ range. So flagging - if you want to transport the scooter in a car or truck consider the weight and size.

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

Niu Kqi they have multiple ones to choose from for every budget and there known to be a very good scooter I like mine a lot I have the 100 f

I do not door dash, but i do travel to pick up fast food with my scooters. I bought a food delivery bag/backpack...carries 4 drinks, 4 pizzas. You need 2 motors, 5000W+ for taking hills at 30+. You need dual suspension and model that takes a steering dampener, mirrors because anybody movement with backload is super dangerous. Get an offroad scooter for taking shortcuts. I have 3 foldable scooters: an apollo go, a niu kick, and a Reddydy RD2. I use the rd2 in single motor mode most of the time and get around 50 miles per charge. Another thing to note, is that I wish this one had a regen break, very good for hilly areas.

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.