Segway - MAX G30E II

My first scooter was max g30 for 400. I test drove it and inspected it prior to purchase, and it still works perfectly after moderate usage and zero maintenance. Buying new is great, but if we're trying to extract max value per dollar, the used market will win in this price range. That is, of course, assuming you possess the bare minimum skill set to prevent yourself from being ripped off.

Something to note about escooters is that tire changes are a nightmare especially if you're looking at commuter escooters. My experience with a Xiaomi pro 2 was that I loved it, till I had to change the tires. Even an escooters shop that was supposed to specialise in xiaomis didn't fit the tire properly. That said, I would choose the Xiaomi again if you don't mind a dealing with tire changes. alternatively the ninebot G30 is kind of like a more expensive but slightly better in every way - slightly larger battery, 10in tires, more waterproof. I would go for an ebike if I had more space in the house to store it.

Kind of a waste of a rating, ups and down votes on reddit isn't a reliable indicator of quality/availability, esp when only using amazon. Further, it really depends on the person riding, why it's being used, and the conditions people are riding in. Person riding - are they young/old, heavy/light, speed demons/cautious. Why? - commuter/recreation Conditions - rain/wet/snow/off-road/trail/roads/dirt/etc.. Different scooters are going to be used for different purposes. The kind of hills someone is riding on can also make a massive difference. So scooters are going to struggle with the easiest of inclines. For example - Ninebot g30 struggles with even the tiniest hills, mine drops quickly to 9mph and below on a minor incline. Whereas the g2 will cruise up it with no too much issue. If you're a commuter riding in the winter, how well does it handle rain? G30 has seemingly zero issues in the rain, even near downpour, others will likely short out. Some, battery compartment is solid against rain, but stem....not so much. Knowing these things are really what help people buy scooters, not some arbitrary reddit like/dislike

Honestly, if you've ever ridden a bike, you can ride a scooter. If you've ever skateboarded, you can ride a scooter, and every easily. If you're unsure, hit your downtown corridor and find a rental. It takes like 2 minutes or less to get comfortable. That said, if you find you like the ride and you know you're gonna use it, don't buy a starter, it's just a waste of money. Speed modes can regulate how fast you go, so you can always leave it on a lower setting until you're fully comfortable. All this means is buy a well built, quality scooter that will last. And by that I don't mean something like a dualtron ultra that's $3k+. Segway ninebot max is under $1k and that's more than enough for most people.

Honestly, if you've ever ridden a bike, you can ride a scooter. If you've ever skateboarded, you can ride a scooter, and every easily. If you're unsure, hit your downtown corridor and find a rental. It takes like 2 minutes or less to get comfortable. That said, if you find you like the ride and you know you're gonna use it, don't buy a starter, it's just a waste of money. Speed modes can regulate how fast you go, so you can always leave it on a lower setting until you're fully comfortable. All this means is buy a well built, quality scooter that will last. And by that I don't mean something like a dualtron ultra that's $3k+. Segway ninebot max is under $1k and that's more than enough for most people.

I went from a Ninebot Max G30 -> Ninebot Max G2 -> Kaabo Mantis X Plus. Both upgrades so far, I was able to recoup ~70% of my purchase price from selling the old scooter on fb marketplace/craigslist

Segway Ninebot g30 is a good reliable scooter should be able to get for around that price. Any scooter you find that does 30+ mph at that price range will be a death trap. Start off getting really good and confident with a normal scooter at normal speeds before you start chasing high speed specs. At 20 on a scooter you can do some serious damage still and feels fast.

I think it's overlooked since there isn't much room for modding in the F2 Pro. The Max G2 and G30 have more space for aftermarket upgrades. The F2 Pro is a good scooter for the price. I have one. The only thing I don't like is that spring cause after a week it clicks now. And the charging time is pretty slow.

Here in Europe it's in every big-brand electronics store and I'm starting to see them on the road pretty consistently. In countries that have bureaucratised the shit out of scooters, or intend to do so (like mine), it's one of the cheapest actually decent scooters to get approval, so they're pushing it pretty hard. I predict it'll soon become the next M365. The venerable G30 unfortunately falls short of several requirements so I no longer see it in stores a lot. On the other hand the G2 does get certification so it's being marketed as the next level up from the F2. As for known negatives, it pretty much seems to not have any if your expectations are set correctly (mostly concerning speed). For us tinkerers it has little interest as its potential for modding is mediocre, and I personally consider its suspension a gimmick I'd rather do without, but I have no reservations recommending it to anyone.

Get the hiboy, faster, has suspension, probably better range, Easier to control. Also consider a refurbished g30. Hiboy build quality is great, and is more powerful so if you want to hack it it will also be more stable at speed.

The hiboy has bluetooth and an app. As a g30 owner the suspension the hiboy offers is a massive dealbreaker

Anything from Segway/Ninebot. The have superior waterproofing and stability in wet conditions. Ideally G30/G2/G3 line, those are the most robust ones.

What's your budget and country?  That makes a huge difference.   Overall,  Segway-Ninebot is the biggest company and they have a range of scooters at all budgets. You won't get the best value for a dollar but you'll have an acceptable warranty and a large community of users.

Yeah Segway is the least risky option.  You can also look at Niu, although none of their kick scooters have rear suspension so long rides on rough pavement can be tiring.  If your roads aren't very smooth I would strongly recommend a scooter with front and rear suspension.   keep in mind that advertised range is much shorter than real life range unless you have perfect conditions and ride at slower speeds.