REASONS TO BUY
Good starting scooter
Shock absorber on the front tire
Lighter weight - easier for transport
REASONS TO AVOID
Solid tires - harsher ride
No safety latch
Only one lever to close it
Lacks the power to climb grades higher than 7%
Segway Ninebot KickScooter ES1L Review
Works well for short rides and areas without steep hills
Credit: Segway
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Our Verdict
The Segway Ninebot ES1L works well as a starter scooter, with suspension up front and solid tires. While it is on the slower side, it is fairly portable and performed well in the braking tests. The Ninebot ES1L is relatively light, weighing in at just 25 lbs, so it can easily be carried. However, range and power fell short in comparison to the competition. We feel it should work fine for those who are looking to cover shorter distances and avoid hills, though riders looking to commute longer distances or tackle hills may want to check out other options.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Segway has been in the electric transportation game for a while, and they make everything from electric scooters and Gokarts to e-dirt bikes and e-mopeds. They make a full line of electric scooters for adults and kids, and the KickScooter ES1L is considered the “featherweight” in the lineup. It is indeed lightweight, though it fell short of the competition for its shorter range and slower speeds.
The ES1L had a relatively unimpressive measured effective range of 7 miles in our testing.
Credit: Laura Casner
Range
If a factor for your rides is long trips, then range anxiety could come into play with the Ninebot ES1L, offering a mere 7 total miles of measured effective range and 46 minutes of runtime. This is far shorter than Segway's claimed range of 12.4 miles. Range limitations are heavily influenced by user size, riding conditions, and speed, but this model fell short of the competition and has one of the shortest ranges of all the scooters we tested. This isn't super shocking given its smaller 184 Wh battery capacity.
With a top measured speed of just 12 mph, the ES1L isn't very powerful, though it may work well for those who just want to play around.
Credit: Laura Casner
Power
The Segway scores somewhat low on power overall, with a low max speed on the range test that dwindles out towards the end of its battery life. Our tester only rode halfway up our 10.5% hill climb on this Segway model. However, its performance in this category is on par with other similarly-priced scooters. Max speed isn't important to everyone, but 12 mph is genuinely slow in comparison to other options.
With solid tires and minimal front suspension, this scooter works best on smooth surfaces.
Credit: Laura Casner
Ride Comfort
Cruising on the Ninebot ES1L can be a little jarring on all but the smoothest, well-maintained surfaces. The solid 9" tires don't provide much comfort or support on rough roads. We also found the front shock spring to have a very short travel, providing little suspension and reacting poorly to cracks. Thuds were also felt from the rear, regardless of the front spring.
However, smaller riders may not feel this impact. The advantage with the Ninebot is that less suspension and solid tires are both easier to maintain or service.
While the latch doesn't give us the most confidence, the 25-pound weight makes it quite easy to move around.
Credit: Laura Casner
Portability
The Ninebot ES1L is easy to carry, weighing in at just 25 lbs which is on the lighter side compared to all other tested scooters. However, one of the most important features for commutes or walk-up living is how well the latch performs, and we found the latch on the Ninebot to be a bit wobbly and untrustworthy.
Overall, lifting the scooter into a vehicle or quickly onto a bus is an easy task, and those not concerned about folding up their rig may not be concerned about the latch's long-term functionality.
A front electric brake and a rear fender brake provide adequate stopping power for the ES1L's slower speeds.
Credit: Laura Casner
Braking
Stopping power for the Ninebot ES1L is provided via an electric front brake and rear stomp-style fender brake. This is a good combo and with the Segway's low top speed, you're more than covered with this system on flat terrain and moderately pitched downhills.
Smaller riders may find the rear stomp brake a bit challenging to get traction, but in combination with a front brake, we feel it provides adequate braking power.
Value
The Ninebot ES1L falls close to the median price of scooters we tested but falls towards the bottom of the pack in terms of its performance. We feel it is a below-average value, though it is still a serviceable option that may suit some riders' needs.
Conclusion
The Ninebot ES1L from Segway tested on par with other entry-level scooters. Hard tires and minimal shock absorption made for a less than smooth ride. However, you may find this a non-issue in areas with well-maintained surfaces. Range and power tested on the average to low side, while we found its lighter weight and solid braking to be above average. This could be a good choice for kids or those less concerned with speed and range.
The simple controls and display on the ES1L. We feel this is a viable lightweight option for kids or those who aren't concerned with speed or range.
Credit: Laura Casner
—Evan Johnson and Austin Palmer
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