Glion Dolly 225-22 Review

The Glion Dolly 225-22 stands out in a competitive class of scooters as it is a portable scooter that you can easily tuck in the backseat. The Glion folds up compactly and doesn't have to be carried on account of its "dolly" handle and wheels. The scooter also has a very good range and braking system.

Performance Comparison

Range

The range metric is a critical assessment for those looking to buy a scooter for transportation purposes as opposed to entertainment. While the two are not mutually exclusive, no one wants to have their heavy scooter die on them far from a charging location. With that in mind, we tested each scooter in the review for range (max miles on a charge in optimal conditions) and charge time. The Glion Dolly is one of the class leaders in this metric with a range of 24.9 miles — more than most will want to ride a scooter in a single go. On the other hand, the Glion took 5 hours to fully recharge a drained battery, which is average for the class. Given that the unit has a prolonged run time of 2 hours and 55 minutes (way above average for the class), we were quite impressed with the run/charge time ratio.

To test the scooters for range, we used a flat test track and looped around it at 13 mph for as long as the battery held out. We also time this process, which provides us with the run time of the scooter. In previous iterations of this review, the range test didn't take very long, but times have changed. Case in point, the previous iteration of the Glion Dolly had a range of just 13.2 miles—that's a big step up, to be sure.

In some cases, saying that a scooter has a range of X can be misleading. Many scooters' power starts to wane long before their battery drains. As such, we also track such slowdowns. We call the time before the tapering of power the effective range. Fortunately, the Glion has an effective range of 24.5 miles — just 0.4 miles short of its maximum range.

Power

The power metric is an assessment of a scooter's hill climbing capabilities and its top speed. These aspects of scooter performance are critically important for commuters living in hilly cities such as Seattle or San Francisco. Still, they will also be appreciated by those who want to zip around without worrying if the machine they purchased will crest the next hill on their weekend pleasure cruise. With a 13.9 mph max speed, the Glion Dolly isn't the fastest machine in the line-up. However, it does well on all but the steepest hills.

We tested the scooters on three hill climbs in elimination fashion. If the scooter climbs the first hill, it proceeds to the next, and so on, until it fails to complete a climb. Few scooters make it up all three climbs. On the first climb, a 3.4% grade, the Glion did quite well, showing little signs of a struggle. The result was similar on the next climb up a 10.5% grade. However, the Glion stopped in its tracks on the 15% grade hill climb. To put this into perspective, only two scooters in the dozens that we have tested can make it up this third climb, and they struggled to do so.

Moving on to the speed trials, the Glion was in the middle of the pack. The max speed is an average of three trials wherein the scooter gets up to speed before being timed as it traverses a 100-foot flat track. While 13.9 mph doesn't sound that fast compared to the leading models' 20+ mph runs, it feels swift when cruising through town.

Ride Comfort

Unfortunately, the ride comfort assessment revealed some shortcomings in the design of this scooter that may give those with long commutes in mind pause. While the Glion is not what we would call uncomfortable, it does have a little rougher ride than much of the competition. To be more specific, testers described it as a bit rattly and, at times, jerky.

Much like in the range and hill climbing evaluations, we have a set route on a particularly rough street near our testing facility that we use for this assessment. We ask ourselves how stable and predictable the scooter's handling is on rough roads and how it feels after a prolonged period. Additionally, we note how the scooter reacts when we hit unexpected bumps in the road during the various other tests in our review assessment. While the overall ride of the scooter is pretty good, the honeycomb "never flat" tires offer a far less cushy ride compared to their pneumatic counterparts. Additionally, the plastic handlebars were less dampening and thus less comfortable than others in the class though not by a wide margin.

Portability

If the Glion Dolly suffered in the ride comfort assessment, it excelled in the portability metric. This machine sets the bar for scooters that will appeal to those using their scooter in conjunction with public transportation and easy storage. Moreover, the Glion's excellent folding design and relatively light 30.9 pounds make it fairly easy to carry if needed. However, the namesake dolly feature renders this point far less important than with other models in the class.

As the above describes, our portability assessment looks at the weight as well as the folding and unfolding of a scooter. It also looks at the carrying latch that keeps the steering column folded down as a carrying handle, the unit's dimensions, and how it is transported. The Glion spots a retractable handle and a pair of wheels that make non-riding transport of the device a breeze. The scooter is just 38" x 7" x 12.5" when folded and stands upright in that configuration. This design is great for storing the scooter in tight spots or riding in trains and elevators. All told, there isn't a better scooter for the urban commuter crowd.

Braking

While the power metric will capture the attention of many since few imagine themselves slowing down when thinking about riding a scooter. However, the breaking metric is just as important, albeit for safety reasons. Fortunately, the Glion Dolly has a great braking system with an antilock electronic brake in the rear front hub and a power fender brake on the rear wheel. Surprisingly, this scooter's braking mechanism is competitive with models with front, rear, and fender brakes.

Our testing of the brake systems on scooters consists of analyzing the system, hill braking tests of various steepness and flat ground emergency-type stop tests. The Glion can stop on the steepest of hills (~15% grade). As for flat ground stops, the Glion does slightly better than average, achieving a full stop from 12 mph in 16 feet.

Should You Buy the Glion Dolly 225-22?

If you are a commuter who needs to transport your scooter on trains or elevators, or you will have to walk the unit regularly, the answer is a resounding yes. This scooter has every feature dialed to make it as convenient to carry and store as it is to ride. It also has great range and decent power, making it a good choice for riding long distances or infrequent charging.

What Other Electric Scooters You Consider?

The Glion Dolly 225-22 is the go-to scooter for commuters. However, if you want something with a little more power and comfort, check out the Apollo City. This machine will blow your hair back with its 22.5 mph max speed, while its beefy 10" pneumatic tire will smooth out all but the biggest cracks in the road. If the Apollo City is a little out of your budget, take a look at the Gotrax G4. This scooter has many of the features of the Apollo but at a more manageable price.