I've tested many electric scooters, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. To help you choose the right one, I've curated a list of the best options, tailored for different needs and uses, based on criteria like cost, performance, comfort, quality, safety, and practicality. My top recommendations are:
Flow Camden Air: Bang For Buck
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ £289.99
Overall the Flow Camden Air is really good value for money. If you’re on a budget and need something compact to get from A to B and store away, then this might be a good option for you.
Despite the Flow Camden Air being a pretty basic scooter, it does have one or two tricks up its sleeve. To begin with, it has cruise control. My car doesn’t even have that… It kicks in after 3 seconds of holding the throttle fully open. To cancel just apply the brake. Flow also have an app that you can connect to your scooter and control all of its functionality, from a live readout of your speed, which is actually pretty cool and well designed, to switching the cruise control function on and off.
The tyres are slightly squared off giving it nice stability in a straight line. The drawback of that is that it doesn’t lean into corners too well, not that it needs to with a top speed of 15.5mph. Overall the scooter feels quite stiff as it has no suspension. The pneumatic tyres do absorb the bumps nicely though, despite them being low profile tyres. There is only one brake lever which applies both the rear mechanical brake and engages the front regenerative brake. More than enough for your simple daily commute.
Folding the Flow Camden Air is nice and easy. It’s as simple as unlocking the clamp on the stem, folding it in half and it clicks into the rear mudguard. I love this mechanism, it's very easy and secure. To release just lift the spring loaded hook. The Flow Camden Air is very light at only 12kg, I found it super light to carry around compared to a lot of other e-scooters on the market.
The display is well lit and is visible in daylight. Controlling the different modes is done with just one button. Double click to select your modes. Click once to turn the built-in headlight on and off. That’s all there is to it. Nice and simple.
I found the handles to be grippy much like the deck, however I would presume potential wear over time on the rubberised areas. The deck is wide enough to stand on comfortably, however your feet placement does need to be side-on, a bit like on a skateboard.
The frame is made of an aluminium alloy. Basically for those who don’t speak Mendeleev, this makes the frame fairly light but strong and also corrosion resistant. Overall this e-scooter has very rounded edges all round with no sharp edges to kiss your shins. Personally I love the acid green look on this scooter. It makes it look more expensive than it actually is. The wires are well wrapped and neatly held together especially for an e-scooter in this price bracket.
Windgoo B3
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ £399.99
The windgoo B3 might not look like an electric scooter, instead a cross between an e-bike and kids bicycle. But I’m going to call it a ‘thing’. Since this ‘thing’ doesn’t have any pedals it classifies as an electric scooter with a seat. Its main purpose is likely to suit someone who needs to get around town with a backpack. It has a short wheelbase, folding main stem (more on that later), a 250W geared hub motor that gets it up to a realistic 8-10 miles per charge although claimed range is about 13+ miles. It weighs 17.2kg from my own weighing. Light enough to carry up a flight of stairs, which is made easy thanks to the built-in handle in the middle of the main frame. A neat way of integrating a handle to carry, something that is often overlooked in the e-mobility space.
Specs and features
The Windgoo B3 has both front and rear integrated lights, which I really appreciate. A lot of the cheaper stuff on the market either don’t have any at all or have some clip-on light that falls apart and discharges after two rides. It also comes with front and rear mudguards, albeit quite thin and flimsy ones, they do their job of protecting you from spray. I was also very pleased that the thing has both front and rear brakes, which I found to be quite sharp. What really helps with carrying the Windgoo B3 is a built-in handle as part of the main frame.
Design
The Windgoo B3 is a delight to ride, I found people asking me what it was at every traffic light. Its mini-bike design puts a smile on peoples faces. I’d argue it looks really sleek and cool.
The downfall of its design is the weight distribution. I found that most of the weight is on the rear wheel once you sit on it, meaning not much weight on the front wheel for steering. I tend to lean forward slightly to compensate and not lift the front wheel on acceleration. So unless you’re really into wheelies, I’d recommend keeping a bit of the weight on the front wheel when riding in a spirited manner.
The B3 does have a folding function for storage, but it doesn’t really make a huge difference. Its main purpose is to make it as narrow as possible so that the handlebars don’t stick out indoors. This really makes it easy to tuck away against a wall somewhere.
Riley RS1
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ £389.99
The Riley RS1 is going to get a lot of praise from me so strap in. Firstly the steering rack feels fairly stiff, which I like, as it gives me a sense that it is a solid build. The handlebars are quite narrow for fitting through tight spaces, perfect for filtering through traffic (when the British government finally get their fingers out their bum holes). Personally, I prefer slightly wider ones for more control. The big thing for me was the cushioned ride. It feels less abrasive on the wrists. Despite it not having any suspension, the big squishy pneumatic high profile tyres absorb everything. The only downfall of this electric scooter is that it has a front motor. Personally I prefer rear drive on an e-scooter, but with this being an entry level commuter scooter, it’s not powerful enough for it to be a problem.
The throttle mapping is great for beginners. Mode 1 is super calm, gradual and doesn’t go particularly fast. Mode 2 has a bit more punch off the line then fades to be linear up to speed, and the 3rd mode is full power & full punch. Personally I tend to only use the 3rd mode as it's most predictable giving you an immediate response from the throttle. I found the control buttons to be positioned very conveniently on the throttle. This just means it made it a lot easier for me to switch between modes without taking my hand off the handlebar. Unlike the Flow Camden Air, which has the button in the middle of the handlebars.
I like its cruise control function. Hold the throttle down for 3 seconds and it beeps at you to inform you that cruise control has been activated. The overall weight balance on the Riley RS1 is really nice. It feels agile and comfortable, which is a great combination for a cheap scooter. The positioning of the removable battery is also neat, I was never in the way and is also easy to access when you remove it. No crouching down or awkward leaning.
Folding it is super easy. Similarly to the Flow Camden Air, unlock the clamp, fold it in half and it clips into the rear mudguard. Except on the Riley RS1 the release mechanism is the mudguard itself, making it super easy to push down. I would say this is by far the easiest folding scooter I’ve had so far.
E-Dash LE1
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ £399.99
The next scooter in this list is another one that's perfect for commuters or casual riders alike, and it's pretty much perfect in its form and function. The E-Dash LE1 has a top speed of 19 miles an hour and, with a max range of 28 miles, you can certainly get to a lot of places quickly on this electric scooter. This electric scooter has a front hub 350-watt motor, which personally I don’t mind. I like it when the front wheel pulls you forward instead of being pushed from the back. It’s all down to preference.
I really like the removable external battery. It's super convenient to take off and charge in a convenient place. Personally I charge all lithium ion batteries in a fire proof case, away from any flammable items. If you get a spare battery it makes life even more convenient.
Performance wise it has a rear disc brake and a front regenerative brake from the motor. This is enough, although I do prefer having two separate mechanical brakes for maximum stopping power. While riding the E-Dash it felt very smooth and stable. I really like the 10-inch inflatable tyres, they soak up a lot of the bumps and corners really smoothly. Much like the other contenders, it also has cruise control for a comfortable and straightforward commute without stressing your thumb.
I like the way it looks with the flashes of red on the throttle and cable do just give it a bit of spice. At £449, you're going to be really hard-pressed to find a better product below the £500 mark.
Pure Air 3
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ £449.99
Its design comes with durability and value at the forefront. This scooter feels like it’s designed for your daily commute and withstand daily use in various weather and terrain conditions. It has a few bells and whistles that I thought really stood out. More on that later.
Firstly the build and features. It has a front drum brake and a rear regenerative brake, both controlled by one brake lever. Pure say they chose a drum brake to reduce maintenance costs and keep the wheel clean. It’s not quite as sharp as disk brakes but it's more than enough for a scooter with a top speed of 15.5mph.
The frame is built of steel, allowing for a heavier payload of up to 120kg. This also increases its torsional rigidity making it a more durable frame. The downfall of this is that it weighs 17 kg, which felt a little on the heavier side. The 10” puncture resistant tyres absorbed quite a lot on the road and felt agile in the corners.
The feature that really stood out with this e-scooter was the steering stabilisation, a design Pure have a patent for which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is effectively a spring loaded mechanism that brings the front wheel / handlebar back to a straight position. This massively increased its stability, especially when hitting potholes and cornering. The danger of small wheeled rides like these is when you hit a hole and the steering turns suddenly, you continue travelling forward a bit like superman.
Pure also added indicators to the handlebars, which I thought were a great safety feature that lacks on the majority of electric scooters. I’ve seen riders take sudden turns without indicating and cause issues on the road too many times, so this little built in feature is a well thought through bonus. What really sets this electric scooter apart from the competition is its IP65 waterproof rating. This is great to know for us who live in parts of the world where the weather is the daily small talk for a reason. All in all at a price tag of £449 I think this is amazing value for money with the bells and whistles that it comes with.
Author Bio:
Kol Heydel is a presenter and reviewer at Electroheads - specialising in electric bikes and electric motorbikes. When he isn't riding bikes, he can be found cleaning his drift car.
