We took the Segway-Ninebot KickScooter MAX on a test ride

UPDATE [6 Aug 2019]: The PMD safety certification deadline has been moved forward to July 2020. All non-UL2272 certified devices will be auto-deregistered and cannot be used in public after July 2020. Users can continue to ride only UL2272 certified PMDs beyond the July 2020 deadline.

There’s a plethora of e-scooters out there for every kind of user. The latest to join this rapidly growing market is the Segway-Ninebot KickScooter MAX, currently selling like hotcakes on Indiegogo at a special pre-order price for riders all over the world. For riders in Singapore, a version of the KickScooter MAX has been made specially for us, with features adjusted to meet the strict criteria of the LTA regulations. Our version of the MAX is LTA approved and UL2272 certified with the TUV Rheinland logo on its label, and can legally be taken out for a spin on the streets of Singapore.

And that’s exactly what we did when we got our hands on the sample piece of the KickScooter MAX! After riding it for a few days, here are our honest thoughts about the new MAX and whether it’s worth your money.

TIRES

Not the most exciting topic but a super important aspect of any ride experience, the MAX features 10-inch tubeless pneumatic tires. On our test ride, we found the tires to be quite good, and that combined with the long wheel base gives the scooter a very stable feel, especially when going at high speeds. It would have been perfect if Segway could have added suspension, but you can’t have it all for a thousand dollars!

At 10-inch, the MAX’s tires are considerably larger compared to many other e-scooters in the same price range. The fact that the tires are tubeless means that they are also less prone to flats! So while the MAX enjoys the comfort, performance, and safety of a pneumatic tire, it will also be able to journey the distance with you without any sudden disruptions.

POWER & SPEED 

Most e-scooters in this price category sport a 250-500W motor. The MAX comes in at 350W with a maximum power rating of 700W. 

When we tested it out on the road, it was able to get up to the top speed (capped at 25km/h for the Singapore model) at about 4.5 seconds

BATTERY 

The MAX is the first scooter to feature a built-in power adaptor! This was a welcome feature on our test ride as it meant we only had to carry along a small little power cord with us on the ride.

That said, it’s not super important as the MAX is supposed to have a maximum range of 65km with a single charge of the 551Wh battery. It’s supposed to last 3 days without having to be recharged.

It took us forever to kill the battery, riding all along the park connectors. However, for the MAX to reach its maximum range of 65km, you have to ride it at about 15km/h. With the LTA regulations stating that personal mobility devices on footpaths can only travel up to 10km/h, you’ll probably be able to stretch the max range for even longer!

WEIGHT AND CONSTRUCTION 

The commercial model of the Ninebot KickScooter MAX is designed for scooter sharing platforms in the US like Lime and Skip. Because it features very sturdy construction, the MAX is inevitably slightly heavier than the bulk of the e-scooters in the market. That said, its robust design was made to withstand any consumer mishandling in the sharing market, which means even greater longevity if purchased for personal use!

PORTABILITY The version available for purchase has a one-step folding system, which makes it super convenient to take with you even on the bus and MRT. It might be too tricky to haul it up the stairs, but that’s what the escalators and elevators are for!

Putting it in the car boot was a little tricky because we did have to do some rearranging to get the MAX to fit. But we think it’s a minor inconvenience, seeing that you are meant to ride the MAX for longer distances anyway. You’ll probably only need to fit it in the trunk if you’re caught in a heavy downpour, or if your battery dies out midway (unlikely!).

CONCLUSION

All in all, the KickScooter MAX does everything you need it to, especially if you require a heavy duty e-scooter to get you to your destination. It’s a great reliable scooter for going the distance on the daily, although its weight and portability might be an issue for some. In which case, if you do not need the crazy range that the MAX offers, you can always consider the Segway ES2 as an option for your first and last-mile commute. Think about the features you will actually need and that will help you decide if the MAX is the one for you.

Most importantly, the Ninebot KickScooter MAX by Segway is LTA compliant and UL2272 certified, which means you can register it with LTA and ride it legally in public in Singapore! Just make sure you purchase from an authorised dealer like Mighty Velo, because the versions available online might not be the approved local model!