NIU - KQi3 Max

I own the Max too; for my needs I would be fine with a smaller battery. The power is very good and my only complaint is the lack of suspension. Niu has added front suspension in new models but no rear suspension (likely because it requires more engineering rework and a new metal frame).

Ninebot Gmax1 or niu kqi3pro is your answer. If you can get the G2 or the kqi3max even better. That's all you really ever going to need

I agree. I have the kqi3 max/ pro and I prefer them over my g2max. Better handling and superior breaks beats s suspensions

I understand what you are saying. Suspension is nice to have for sure. And it does make the ride safer. But I really dislike heavy scooters. Kqi3 max is pretty much perfect for me. And based on what I read I still would take it over their new model with the suspension

I have the NIU KQi max. It's very good quality and build. I weigh about 245 and usually haul 20-30lb of food , work gear, etc and easily go 21-23 mph on a flat road. The ride is pretty smooth. I got mine for $550 on Facebook pretty much new out of the box. It's pretty decent at that price. To be honest if I had paid full price or even the usual $799 sale price I would be a little disappointed. If I could start over I would probably have spent a bit more money for something with suspension dual motors.

I was debating between same two. Was leaning towards Climber because of hills near me, and reported issues with throttle on the Kqi3 Max. Ended up getting a combination sale+Amazon offer deal to get the NIU 300x for around $750. And it's amazing, use it close to 8 miles total in my commute and haven't used more than 35% battery yet doing that. If you find a good deal it might be worth the reach. If not then I think Climber if you have hills at all in your daily rides.

The Climber is ideal for shorter hilly trips and does well in different weather conditions. The KQI3 Max is better for longer flat terrain trips in dry weather. Also, the 9.5” tubeless tires are superior to the 10” tubed ones. Both brands have equally bad customer service.

I can vouch for NIU. I have a Kqi3 Max with almost 2000 miles and no issues

NIU is one of the best scooter brands on the market. I’ve had my Kqi300 max and put 1300 miles on it zero issues.

Hands down, the NIU KQi3 Max, or the 300x. They're basically the same scooter one just has front suspension and a very ever so slightly more powerful motor, by a HAIR. Both are under $1000, the Max often goes on sale for $600 and the 300x for $850. They both go almost 24mph (23.6), and have a really good range at 40 miles. These scooters will beat most everything in its class in almost all categories. Between me, some family and friends we have 4 NIU scooters and they're all amazing, specially for the price we paid for them (like not even $2,000 between all 4 scooters.) It's worth checking out, it's a solid competitor to the famous Ninebot MAX G2, but in my opinion better because higher to speed, and more range.

Yeah, I’d get the KQi3 just because you can get it new for dirt cheap, I wouldn’t pay $700 for the 300P. If you’re gonna spend $700 get the KQi3 Max. It’s also $700 and it’s faster and has more range.

Yeah go for the NIU KQi3 Max. It’s on sale for $600? And it’s likely the best performance you will get for that money

I’m not sure it would be able to get up those hills. I don’t know what your budget is, but assuming by the 2 scooter you are looking at, you want something under $500. In this price range, you will not find anything that would be able to climb a hill like that at any reasonable pace (I’d consider reasonable above 10mph). I have a KQi3 Max which is significantly more powerful than tbe kqi2 and even I wouldn’t be going all that fast up a hill of that steepness. You might want to look at the VMAX VX2 Pro, this scooter is very powerful, and is probably the best you can get in that budget.

Oh damn. Yeah I mean if it’s just one hill that is that steep you could get away with a KQi3 max or 300x. They go on sale all the time and do fine on hills. I’m just thinking at 20° that KQi2 will leave you having to kick up the hills. Other than that you won’t do much better until you get into the $1000+ range with dual motors and all that.

That’s still pretty steep, I would still go with a KQi3 pro/max with that. The KQi3 pro I’ve seen go on sale for $470 USD. So that should fit within your price range. I would get the max if you can dish out the extra cash, or if you’re patient enough it goes on sale for about $600 USD often.

I have the KQi3 pro right now, and have a Max shipping to me at this moment because that $599 for the max. I’m excited for the extra speed. Try inflating your tires to 45psi, it makes the ride on sidewalks sooooo much better.

I’d go for he NIU KQi3 Max. The two main reasons I would suggest that is because one, the KQi3 Max gives you more speed and more range for much less (when on sale, which is always is.) Two, the KQi3 Max is a 48v scooter, this means that you will get more of the performance for much more of the battery life than any ninebot/segway. This also means that you will get closer to the maximum wattage output of your motor lower in that battery range which in my opinion is an underrated feature. This means when below 50% bettery your scooter will still feel quick and powerful. There is nothing wrong with the ninebot as those are bulletproof, I just think NIU doesn’t have that reputation yet being a bit newer to the market. You won’t regret the KQi3 Max, or any NIU scooter for that matter. My one suggestion is to purchase off of Amazon so long as the sale prices are the same because I have heard of people getting defective units and taking months to get a replacement directly from NIU. If you buy from Amazon you can easily return and buy a new one. This is very unlikely to happen, but it’s always better to err on the safe side, Amazon will be much easier to deal with. Also, you will still get the NIU manufacture warranty from them so if something does happen down the line you can still get it sorted out. Hope this helps!

My 450w kqi3 max climbs every hill in the very hilly city im in, and fast. If you have 1500w, you WILL use 1500, especially how sensitive those throttles are. It's okay to want speed and power, but big and powerful scooters will just have less finesse and be less convenient. You have to admit you just want that speed and power.

I weigh 90kg brother. I'd want suspension but more horsepower is optional. Also do mind, the kqi3 max is more of a premium commuter, and can do 900w peak. 450 is its rated sustained power. If you want a larger thing bc you are super tall or want better suspension or dont care 4 weight or just enjoy speed you do you! But no, my rear drive 450w gets me to and from work even, in snow, a good 5 km each day, with enough battery to do the trip 3-4 times.

im not suggesting someone buy MY scooter. I am saying 450w(an entry level amount you can get for 300EUR, despite my scooter being expensive) gets me up any hill I like, and that you dont need the 1500+ watt dual motor beasts to do that.

It is a super annoying thing. Went to a scooter store just yesterday to ask myself the question: "does suspension really make that big a difference" and after trying a couple, the answer was a resounding "yes". i tried out the hiboy max pro in person. thing felt like i was riding a cloud. specs are fairly similar to the niu kqi3 max i have been riding for the last 8 months, but if you asked reddit here almost everyone has something negative to say about hiboy. took my research to youtube and you get maybe 8 or 9 videos that spend at least half or more of it reading the same bullet points as everyone else, and literally every reviewer remarks about how hiboy just sent it to them to keep for free. it's really tough trying to get an unbiased real world take on nearly everything out there. i ended up pulling the trigger on it, but only because I was so fed up with almost zero real info on the thing that I figured I'd take one for the team and spread the good or bad word whichever the case may be.

had the kqi3 max for almost 700 miles, thing is still strong and no popped or punctured tires that whole time. i had to sidegrade to something with suspension because the ride to work is just so bumpy. love the max, but no suspension was killing me. got a hiboy max pro and while it's a little slower, way better smoother ride. for 600 dollars that thing is a steal.

I have a Niu KQi3 Max which could be unlocked to go 35-38km/hr. I choose to go at 20-25km/hr which I find is a comfortable speed without risking my life on a wipeout.

> The flammable and explosive nature of batteries poses potential risks during disassembly, especially for individuals lacking professional knowledge and skills. In certain countries you are required by law to sell all spare parts as owners have a right to repair their own scooters. The scooters are perfectly safe to repair by anyone with basic repair skills, since the battery is fully sealed and all the parts are plug and play. The only part that people should not mess with is the battery itself; and Nobody is asking you to sell individual battery cells or the BMS as such repairs should only be done by an experienced battery technician. But removing some screws and replacing a broken controller, a broken throttle or decorative plastic covers can be done by almost anyone with some basic DIY skills. My strong recommendation would be for NIU to sell all spare parts and make spare parts for all KQi scooters easily accessible either directly or through local and online scooter shops.

As others mentioned, the NIU KQi3 Max currently on sale for $600, is by far the best you can get at that price.

I have the KQI3 Max, the extra for the bigger battery was worth EVERY penny

53, 260lb and just got a KQI3-Max before Christmas. I got mine for fun mainly, but it makes running errands or to and from places so much more fun as well. I’ve only gone on a few “joyrides”, as I use it a few times a week to do things. I live in a small suburban area, 35k people and most places I would ride are within 3 miles tops- perfect for a scooter. So, within a few weeks of riding I was showing off for my kid and came down a steep driveway faster than I could handle. To avoid hitting a parked car, I bailed and couldn’t run it out, so I tumbled. Even though I swore I would always wear a helmet, guess what I didn’t take the 1 min to put on? I rolled onto my back and smacked my head pretty good, bruised a rib, minor abrasions (through my jeans and coat). So…I always wear my old motorcycle helmet, some cheap motorcycle gloves, and if going outside my own neighborhood, jeans and long sleeves. If I run to my friend’s house I will forgo the long pants. If you have the income and desire, do it. It’s simple, it’s fun. I have over 150 miles on mine in 4.5 months, so definitely a light user.

If you want a scooter for new riders consider a KQi3 Max. In my experience it‘s fairly stable due to a low center of mass and having lower ground clearance, and has enough speed to prevent you from getting bored for a while.

I have the niu kqi3 max and the only issue is no suspension, which neither have, so i guess im biased to the kqi3 max

I bought it from best buy for $599, it came within 3 days and i can get about 20 miles of range and i’m riding it pretty aggressively. I am 5’8 and weight 160 and this is a perfect fit for me, i do notice on the sidewalks i wish i had some suspension so if possible drive on the shoulder of the road rather than the sidewalk. and the fastest i’ve gotten it to was 25 mph down a hill and on flat ground at my weight i get 23 mph.

Just saying everyone i just got it to 26 mph down a steeper hill

I got the KQI 3 Max as my first scooter, which was indeed an excellent one. I only put in about 200 miles on it and then decided to get the KQI 300X to get that suspension, but I still have that excellent quality build from NIU. It's a beautiful first scooter with good speed, build, and range. The only thing it needed was the suspension, which is why I upgraded to the 300X

I mean you’re not gonna find good hill performance at that price point, especially depending on weight. You should also really mention your way because there’s a big difference if you’re 120 pounds or 250. It’s just not really possible to get a dual motor scooter at under $600. Nothing good anyway. I’m a little bit surprised because if you look at actual reviews of that scooter on videos, it looks like it should handle hills that are approximately that steep. If you really wanna go through the headache, you could return it and try and exchange and see if that one will work, but it would be annoying to have to return it twice. I know the Segway ninebot G2 max is pretty decent and would handle a hill like that, but the price will vary depending if you’re finding it refurbished or on sale.

If you place your scooter on a chair, how freely can you move the motor by hand? Maybe if something’s wrong with the bearings and it’s not running smoothly that could maybe hint towards why there would be more resistance and a reason for the overheating code. And if you have aired up the tires if they’re very low pressure that could also contribute to it.

I’m 6’4” 280lbs. I bought a NIU KQI3 Max (rated for up to 265lbs) when I was around 260lbs and while it was fun, it just didn’t have the power to go up any sort of incline, overheated (due to my weight) and had no suspension. After using it for 1 season, I found out that ride quality, range & power (not top speed) were most important. I upgraded to the Segway GT1 while it was on sale and I couldn’t imagine enjoying anything more than it.

I've put over 660 miles on mine since I got it in late November. It's a great first scooter imo. I ended up putting battery operated indicators in the handlebars for night rides. And I'm able to compensate for the lack of suspension by keeping bent and loose knees.

I did start on a NIU max but I upgraded quickly to a Mantis GT. I'm glad I did though.

I'm your weight and height and I just got a Niu KQI3 Max. Checks the boxes you mentioned but no shocks fyi.

No need to explain. I'm in my mid fifties and this was my first scooter. Been driving everything you can think of that has wheels for forty years or so and wanted to get back out into the fresh air and ditch my car for a year or two. The Max is a brilliant ride. Only thing is that I need the suspension. Being kind of an old man in age denial I grabbed the Max. I have some joint and muscle issues so I grabbed the 300X recently and will be selling my Max, which I love. I definitely have scooter fever now. Ride safely and don't wave to anybody while riding! LOL

For the price mark it seems really good and I’ve heard a lot of good things about Niu on here. That being said I will never ride without suspension again, knocked like 10 good years of use out of my spine with all the vibration I had with my gen 1 max.

Over 40, and ride mine just to cruise around. Hit up breweries and the trail system around me. Have been riding a vsett 8 for around 3 years now. Top speed around 23mph which is plenty fast for me. Never fell or had any issues. Strongly recommend.

Get a NIU KQi2 or used KQi3. Great options, 20mph+. Built like a tank for the price.

I own a KQi3 Max and owned a KQi3 Pro before and they both work(ed) flawlessly. The lack of suspension is manageable on normal terrain but can be quite a limitation on rough terrain. It really depends on where you're planning on riding. 20mph is actually very good for its weight.

I think it's potentially perfect for your needs, just learn to position yourself to absorb shocks with your legs and hands by not being too rigid and I think it can work well. Suspension is fun but it's one more thing to maintain with lubrication and that's something that often fails first on e-scooters.

Yesterday I had a good ride around the Old Port of Montreal with my new Apollo City avec at this specific spot it was really night and day compared to my KQi3 Max and the suspension actually made the ride much safer. There's lots of 'medieval' style pavement that makes the Niu very unstable with the constant bumps and vibrations. For commuting to work though (a short distance), I'm debating only using my Niu as it's much lighter, smaller, easier to carry and to pass through doors. I know it can be quite expensive but ideally I suggest owning two e-scooters, one "light" and "small" for certain type of commuting that requires lifting the e-scooter and/or passing through doors and going up and down stairs, and one made for longer rides with more comfort, power and torque. The thing with higher end scooters is that they also tend to require more maintenance and often have more problems.

Kqi3 is great

I bought the kqi3 for like $650 less than a month ago from best buy so this hurts me hard. Its past the return period but I'm going to try to get them to give me some sort of credit

I just got the KQI3 from NIU and honestly the size is pretty similar to the Lime scooter. I love it so far.