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Gotrax G4 Review

A smooth driving, high-end electric scooter with an impressive range and a pep in its step
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Gotrax G4 Review (Testing portability. The front latch on the Gotrax G4 is automatic.)
Testing portability. The front latch on the Gotrax G4 is automatic.
Credit: Laura Casner
Price:  $569 List
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Manufacturer:   Gotrax
By Hayley Thomas and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Aug 3, 2021
79
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 12
  • Range - 25% 7.5
  • Power - 25% 7.9
  • Ride Comfort - 20% 8.0
  • Portability - 15% 8.3
  • Braking - 15% 7.7

Our Verdict

The Gotrax G4 is equipped with a lithium-ion battery and a 500-watt motor, giving it stellar range and power. While it takes a good amount of time to fully charge, its reliable battery easily lasted over 20 miles per charge in our tests. It also proved to have one of the fastest max speeds, hitting 19.8 mph, a speed that almost feels too fast. Of course, you can choose different speed settings to scoot at the speed you feel most comfortable. The large, 10-inch pneumatic tires offer a smooth ride, gliding over bumps and cracks. The powerful brakes also help you ride with confidence and control, even while descending steep terrain. While the Gotrax G4 is an investment, we feel it is one of the best electric scooters for the city commuter and worth every penny for dedicated users.
REASONS TO BUY
Good range
High top speed
Smooth ride
Solid value
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier weight
Long charge time

Compare to Similar Products

 
gotrax g4
This Product
Gotrax G4
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best for Most People
Editors' Choice Award
Incredible Range and Braking
 Best Buy Award
Best Band for The Buck
 
Price $569 List
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Bottom Line A powerful scooter with excellent range and a smooth rideA smooth-riding scooter built for long commutes at top speeds that does better on most hills but falls short on the steepsA standard-performing scooter at a decent priceOur favorite budget scooter because of its top speed, range, and weightTackle longer distance rides or big commutes
Rating Categories Gotrax G4 Niu Kqi3 Max Segway E2 Pro Maxshot V1 Hiboy S2
Range (25%)
7.5
9.1
6.6
6.8
5.6
Power (25%)
7.9
8.1
6.3
6.9
6.7
Ride Comfort (20%)
8.0
8.7
8.0
4.0
4.0
Portability (15%)
8.3
7.0
7.1
8.0
7.4
Braking (15%)
7.7
9.5
7.7
8.5
9.0
Specs Gotrax G4 Niu Kqi3 Max Segway E2 Pro Maxshot V1 Hiboy S2
Measured Maximum Speed 19.8 mph 20.1 mph 15.7 mph 17.5 mph 17 mph
Measured Effective Range 22 miles 29.8 miles 17.2 miles 18.2 miles 14 miles
Measured Charge Time 5.8 hours 7.8 hours 4.5 hours 4.2 hours 5.7 hours
Measured Weight 37.8 lb 47.0 lb 42.1 lb 27.5 lb 32.0 lb
Average Measured Braking Distance 19.0' 8.7' 19.7' 17' 14.3'
Brake Type Rear disc brake and E-ABS braking system Front and rear disc brake and rear electric brake Front drum brake with a rear electronic brake Drum braking and eABS regenerative anti-lock braking Front regenerative and rear disc
Tire Type Pneumatic Pneumatic tubeless and self sealing Pneumatic tubeless air-leakage-proof Solid (honeycomb) Solid rubber
Tire Size 10" 9.5" 10" 8.5" 8.5"
Lights Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Screen Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
App No Yes Yes Yes No
Manufacturer Maximum Load 220 lb 265 lb 265 lb 264 lb 220 lb
Manufacturer Motor Size 500 Watt 900 Watt 750 Watt 350 Watt 350 Watt
Bell Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Battery Type Lithium-ion Lithium-ion Lithium-ion Lithium-ion Lithium-ion

Our Analysis and Test Results

The powerful Gotrax G4 offers high speeds, reliable range, quick braking, and a smooth ride. Its lithium-ion battery, 500-watt motor, and pneumatic tires, and just three examples of the quality that the G4 offers, making it well worth the money.

Performance Comparison


gotrax g4 - the g4 is an all around awesome scooter.
The G4 is an all around awesome scooter.
Credit: Laura Casner

Range


We dubbed range one of those most important metrics. The electric scooter wouldn't be a reliable mode of transportation if you could only ride it for a few minutes between charges. In this metric, we took into account the distance and time that each scooter lasts between charges as well as the charge time itself. We were somewhat underwhelmed by its lengthy charge time; however, the G4's range blew many of its competitors out of the water.


The Gotrax G4 comes equipped with a 36V 10.4Ah (374.4 Wh) lithium-ion battery, which has a higher power density and allows for more battery life in a lighter package. According to the manual, the G4 is meant to travel 21 to 25 miles before running out of juice. The real-world experience depends on the weight of the person riding it as well as the steepness of the terrain they are riding on. Our hands-on testing revealed that this model can go an average of one hour and 54 minutes before needing a recharge. In that time, we rode 22 miles. Very impressive.

gotrax g4 - cruising uphill on the g4.
Cruising uphill on the G4.
Credit: Laura Casner

Speaking of charging, the G4 is advertised to take between four and five hours to completely charge a depleted battery. We found that it was closer to six with an average of five hours and fifty minutes. The charge times in our test suite present a very wide range from two to twelve hours. This puts the G4 right in the middle.

Power


We tested each electric scooter's power on flat terrain and by tackling various hills. We took into account the top speed on various inclines. The Gotrax G4 did not disappoint.


The G4 charged up the first hill at a whopping 17.5 miles per hour. The 3.49% steepness grade only caused the machine to slow down by roughly 2.5 miles per hour. This colored us impressed. We upped the ante a bit with a steeper hill, 10.5% grade, and the scooter began to struggle. It still made it up the hill, but it dropped down to a crawling five to six miles per hour. When we tested it on our 15% grade hill, it didn't budge. That being said, the majority of the scooters we tested struggled with this steep of a grade.

gotrax g4 - this scooter performed admirably on hills.
This scooter performed admirably on hills.
Credit: Laura Casner

With its 500-watt motor and a fresh, or mostly fresh, battery the G4 easily gets up close to its top speed of 20 miles per hour on flat terrain with an average top speed of 19.82 miles per hour. Overall the G4 performs very well in this department, but it falls short on especially steep hills. While this is not an issue for everyone, it is something you should consider if you live somewhere with steeper terrain like San Fransisco.

gotrax g4 - if you're looking for a commuter scooter, the g4 is a good option.
If you're looking for a commuter scooter, the G4 is a good option.
Credit: Laura Casner

Ride


The third metric we tested was the ride. During our testing, we took the scooters on some pretty rough terrain, paying special attention to how they handled bumpy roads and unexpected cracks. We have all seen those scooter-fail videos, and it's safe to say that we'd like to avoid going head over handlebars. Overall, we are extremely impressed with the G4's performance in this category.


The 10-inch pneumatic tires offer a nice smooth ride on uneven terrain. We experienced hardly any bouncing around on these larger tires and felt safe riding on less than ideal roads and sidewalks.

gotrax g4 - we felt so "in control" on the g4 that we even tried hopping the curb.
We felt so “in control” on the G4 that we even tried hopping the curb.
Credit: Laura Casner

As for coming across unexpected obstacles, like cracks, the larger pneumatic wheels proved adequate over and over again. We barely felt the smaller cracks and handled larger ones with ease. At first, we felt nervous zooming over deep and wide breaks in the pavement, but by the end of our test period, the G4's performance had us feeling confident.

gotrax g4 - the pneumatic tires handle dips, cracks and pebbles with ease.
The pneumatic tires handle dips, cracks and pebbles with ease.
Credit: Laura Casner

Portability


Because these devices are meant for convenient transportation, we included portability in our testing. We focused on whether or not each scooter folds, its general dimensions, carry latching, and general ease of transportation.


The G4 has a one-touch folding system. It took our testers two or three attempts to figure out, but the system is very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

gotrax g4 - testing portability. the front latch on the gotrax g4 is automatic.
Testing portability. The front latch on the Gotrax G4 is automatic.
Credit: Laura Casner

The automatic latch makes the G4 ready to ride as soon as you open it and the red carry latch is very big. So big that you can potentially hang items from it to free up your hands while you're riding, like a bag of groceries or a gym tote. The small loop on the back of the scooter, which the carry latch attaches to, is not only easy to use, but it's reliable too.

The G4 feels well balanced, meaning it is not front or back heavy, which makes it easy to transport. The grip range is wide, so you don't have to pick it from any particular spot to get a good handle on it. The steering column may be too big for users with small hands but average to larger hands work just fine. Its folded dimensions are roughly 45 inches long 18.5 inches wide 19.75 inches high. This 37.8-pound scooter is a little on the heavier side of the spectrum, so you may not want to carry it long distances, but it's okay to hop in and out of a bus or subway with it. The G4 offers a walk feature that makes the scooter move three miles per hour, which makes pushing the scooter through areas that are too busy to ride very easy. When called for, this feature is very handy. You can also hold the steering column at the front wheel and push it while it's folded, although we don't think that feature was intended, more of just a happy accident.

Braking


While we may be more concerned with how a transportation device moves, braking is equally important. We tried braking while traveling downhill as well as on flat terrain to ensure a well-rounded testing experience. We measured the distance from where we started braking to where the scooter came to a complete stop and then compared the numbers side by side. Overall the G4 performed very well in this category.


Going roughly 12 miles per hour, we were able to stop the G4 in a prompt 19 feet. The Dual Braking System activates both the Electric anti-locking braking system (E-ABS) and the disc brake through a simple pull of a lever.

gotrax g4 - braking is quick and easy with the g4.
Braking is quick and easy with the G4.
Credit: Laura Casner

The G4 not only passed the brake test on flat terrain, but it performed well on hills too. We tested these disc brakes while descending on hills of varying steepness — five to 15 percent — and they never failed.

Value


While price is not a characteristic we use to calculate our total scores, it is something to consider. The Gotrax G4 offers a high-quality product for a fair price. The only other scooter we have tested that scores this well costs hundreds more. While it is still an investment, this electric scooter is worth every penny.

Conclusion


The G4 is an all-around top-tier electric scooter. It offers a reliable range and a smooth ride. Power-wise, it holds its own on most uphill terrain, and the dual brake system helps us feel comfortable and in control on even steep descents. We loved riding this compact transportation device. If you're willing to shovel out a little extra cash for a scooter you will use frequently, we don't think you'll be disappointed.

gotrax g4 - to help you hold onto your electric scooter, the gotrax has a small...
To help you hold onto your electric scooter, the Gotrax has a small metal cable with a combo lock incorporated into its steering column. We don't think this adds much security, since simple tools can cut it, but it can be useful in low-risk scenarios.
Credit: Laura Casner

Hayley Thomas and Austin Palmer