Ninebot KickScooter by Segway ES2 Review

This scooter delivered an inconsistent performance throughout our testing routine. The ES 2 is fast, has a sharp look and it has some nifty features such as an atmosphere (ground) light and cruise control. However, it lacks in portability, in hill climbing power and, most notably, in travel radius.

Performance Comparison

Our passion is producing consumer reviews that cut to the chase with practical, head-to-head product evaluations so you can buy the right product the first time. To achieve this we bought the top electric scooters on the market and ran them through a grinding set of tests that simulate all the ways in which they would be used out in the wild.

Power

For the purposes of this review we delineate power in a scooter as the ability to climb hills and maximum flat ground speed. The hill tests are conducted on a 3.5% and a 10.5% grade. While the ES 2 impressed all with its 16+ mph max speed, it left us scratching our heads when it failed to climb the steeper of the two hills and slowed ~12 mph on the shallower grade.

Range

The range assessment has two components, travel radius and charging time. Travel radius is subdivided into maximum and effective miles. The prior is the number of miles that a scooter can travel on flat ground at any speed, the later is the number of miles that the machine can travel at or near max speed. The ES 2 left a lot to be desired in the range category traversing a mere 8.5 effective miles (9 miles max) on a full charge. However, it did recharge swiftly (3.5 hours), which is nice since it will need to be charged more frequently.

Braking

The Ninebot has one of the best braking systems we've seen, which is good because it's one of the fastest machines in the fleet. The scooter employs a front electronic and rear fender brake that made rapid flat ground stops fast and efficient. Additionally, it held testers to a comfortable speed when descending the steepest of hills

Ride

The Ninebot ES 2 is the only scooter in this review that scores high marks in the ride category and has solid rubber wheels. This is because the ride metric is an assessment of how smooth the product feels when it hits cracks and bumps in the road and solid tires issue a lot of feedback. To remedy this issue without scraping the maintenance-free solid tires, Segway utilizes a front and rear shock. We have to say, it helps. And, as a result, this scooter received marks comparable to the models with pneumatic tires.

Portability

Portability is a chief concern for the commuter crowd because the scooter has to be folded, picked up, and stored when it's not being ridden. Our portability tests assess those features that render a scooter easy to portage. These are folding ease, carrying latch functionality, weight, carrying ease and folded proportions.

The ES 2 does pretty well in this category with a couple of notable exceptions. This scooter is long, the longest in our review at 45". Also, the carrying handle is a large diameter tube that may pose problems for those with smaller hands.

Value

Considering that the Ninebot Segway ES 2 is the most expensive scooter in our reviewed and yet it won no awards, we have to say that it isn't that great of a value. That's not to say that it isn't a quality product, just that your dollars would go further elsewhere.

Conclusion

Segway produces a scooter with aesthetic lines that boogies when you pin the accelerator, and its brake system is competitive with the best in the class. However, this product misses the mark on some key features such as travel radius and hill climbing power. Add to these shortfalls some sticker shock and we think you'll agree that there are other products more worthy of your attention.