Xiaomi - 1S

I envy you! In Sweden it’s 20. But rental scooters like Lime and Ryde go 25… I got my Xiaomi 1S stolen a few years ago and the insurance payout was denied because the insurance company know that the scooter does 25kph in sport mode. So I should have had a Moped insurance instead. It’s such a terrible system! So, if you can’t comply, it’s best to just rock out…

https://preview.redd.it/31fbxyxf34zf1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3786a9a6947cccb4faa5764aa266ff6caad46b7a So I got a Xiaomi S1. This lil guy is still 20Kg, and I modded a new battery on it after 5 years of use. It can handle anything except sand. Gravel doesn't feel good, and I have to go slower tho. Originally had a ramge of 30km and had a speed of 20km/h. Also I did carry it whit a strap on my back sometimes, but that's not that fun, cus a single trap is not ideal for such heavy objects. The newer ones might be better in some ways. But I found this rly trustworthy

The Urbanglide 100 Max is solid for that age range but might be pushing your budget a bit. Have you looked at the Xiaomi Mi scooters? The Mi Essential or Mi 1S could be perfect - they're not kiddie scooters but won't break the bank either, and they handle mixed terrain pretty well

For that distance and weight the Xiaomi Mi 1S or Ninebot ES2 are solid budget picks that won't fall apart on you - both handle short commutes like a champ and you can usually snag them used for pretty cheap

Kugoo S1 Pro from 2019 and a used Xiaomi from 2020. No care taken to battery. Stored outside. Brakes and tires replaced.

If you’re mainly commuting, I think you’re already looking in the right category. Segway (Ninebot) and Xiaomi are consistently the safest options when it comes to dependability and value. They have good build quality, readily available parts, and fewer long-term issues. The Hiboy is good but a little more inconsistent in terms of durability, while the Unagi is attractive but expensive for what you get.

You’re definitely not overthinking this at all. I’ve had my xiaomi ninebot for a few months now, and the battery issue still annoys me. The whole up to 44 miles thing is just misleading because who’s riding in eco mode that long? I love the way it rides, responsive and light but yeah, the practical side doesn’t match the price. I’d keep it if upgrades were a real thing, but without them, it feels like we’re stuck with a half finished concept.

I think the Ninebot lineup has this weird curse, honestly everything about the hardware screams potential, but the software holds it back. I’ve got a xiaomi ninebot that sometimes refuses to connect to the app for no reason, crazy right? and it kills the whole experience. You’d think a brand under Segway would have this part figured out. Still, it’s hard to give it up because of that feeling when it’s cruising smoothly man, that’s hard to beat.

Not gonna lie man, I started looking up third party parts after hitting the same wall with my xiaomi ninebot. I even saw some knockoff battery extensions and seats floating around on alibaba sometime ago, though I’m not brave enough to try them yet because of warranty. I just wish Segway would officially sell the accessories they keep teasing. It’s a solid scooter performance wise, but the lack of customization options really limits how far it can go as a full commuter ride.

Bro, I laughed at the love-hate relationship line because I feel the same. My xiaomi ninebot gives me this split feeling of part awesome tech toy and part frustration simulator. The app connection is so inconsistent it drives me nuts, and that permanent headlight thing makes zero sense. It’s like they didn’t test this in real city conditions. I keep thinking if they had released an extended battery or a seat mod, it would’ve been near perfect for daily commuting.

For festival use you'll probably want something with decent sized wheels (at least 8-10 inch) to handle grass without getting stuck every 5 feet. The Xiaomi Mi 365 clones are pretty solid in that price range and won't break the bank for occasional use Just make sure whatever you get has some actual suspension or chunky tires because grass + small wheels = you're gonna have a bad time