The Best Electric Motorcycles of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

I tested a ton of motorcycles. Not all of them deserve the place above, but some are still worth considering.

Niu KQi3 Pro for $599: In addition to many rides, I really liked the KQi3 Pro, and it was our top pick in this guide for a long time. It offers a wide range of currency. Despite riding over high bridges around New York City, I used to walk 15 miles from it, but you can probably expect 18 to 20 miles (unless you’re a tall person like me). Traveling at 20 miles per hour, the 9.5-inch tubeless tires provide a comfortable ride, and the disc brakes bring it to a quick stop. You get benefits like metal, lights, and space in the handle for mounting the phone. It’s very easy to fold, but it weighs 45 pounds, so it’s not what I’d call lightweight. I also wish the handles could be folded as they can be used for stair climbing. It’s obsolete now and has been replaced by the Niu KQi 300X and 300P, so be sure to grab it when it’s on sale.

MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Special for $1,699: The instructions for assembling this scooter are not clear, and several steps are not even mentioned in the instruction manual. (I found the handle grips difficult to install—rubbing alcohol is your friend.) This is also the first time I’ve tried the MiniMotors Dualtron app, and honestly, it’s not beginner-friendly. There are no well-defined goals and tasks. It’s not a motorcycle I would recommend to newcomers, but once you get everything right, the riding experience is excellent. It has a top speed of 35 mph, and while the company claims a range of 40 miles, you can expect closer to 25 to 30 miles. It will handle the slopes well, but I find it strange that despite being heavy (59 pounds), it has a maximum load capacity of 200 pounds.

Segway P100S for $1,297: This Segway (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is 73 pounds but has a top speed of 24 mph, so it’s a little heavier than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Special. At that speed, I managed to get 16 kilometers with 35 percent of the tank. If you limit the speed to 20 per app, you should be able to easily get close to 20 or 25 mph. I just hate the turn signal so much.

Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito for $899: If the lightweight Unagi Model One Voyager doesn’t interest you but you’re still looking for a lightweight scooter, check out the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, WIRED Recommends). At just 29 pounds, it’s one of the lightest bikes in this guide and has a comfortable, built-in grab handle for easy towing. It’s quick to roll and powerful, with a top speed of 24 mph. But shaving off the weight on this nimble scooter is problematic. The suspension is fine – you’ll feel most of those bumps – and the tires are small. The braking system works well, but you may experience some skidding when you stop suddenly, and range is lacking (about 9 miles in my test, over the Brooklyn Bridge). There is also no easy way to change speed modes on the fly; you put it on before riding.

Niu KQi Air for $1,249: I was very excited to test this motorcycle, but my experience with it over the past few months has been mixed. I still like it, but a few quirks keep it from being a top pick. The KQi Air has a carbon fiber frame, allowing it to be just 26 pounds at a speed of 20 mph. That makes it the lightest motorcycle I’ve ever tested. It’s easy to maneuver and has turn signals, smooth operation, and reliable regenerative braking. Range is a little lacking—I usually get less than 10 miles on a single charge, but it’s so light that when it died on the way home once, I hit it. you strapped it to the front basket of the Citi Bike and cycle home (don’t do this!). The ride quality is good, but I had issues with it refusing to connect to my phone until I disconnected the internal power cord from the trunk. There’s an anti-theft device that sounds an alarm and slows the scooter down if someone tries to roll it over, but strangely, while you can disable the alarm permanently, the only way to stop it from braking as you roll it over is to unlock the scooter. to. My first model also stopped working completely and wouldn’t turn on, so Niu had to send me a second model. Oh, and sometimes, during the ride, the scooter slows down and doesn’t hit its top speed until a few minutes later. I suspect there is a heat problem causing this. Overall, a lot of promise, but it’s just annoying.

TurboAnt M10 Lite for $300: This is a great budget scooter that is best for people under 200 pounds. (I couldn’t beat its top speed of 16 mph.) The assembly requires a few extra steps (more stuff to go in, like the rear mudguard). I only managed 8 miles riding it, but I like that the folding system is quick, the display is bright, and it’s light at 31 pounds. Do not climb any hills.

Gotrax Apex for $350: The Apex is 32 pounds and is easy to fold. It has an integrated clock and digital display that shows your speed and battery life, and can go up to 15 mph. The Apex is reliable—I’ve gone to coffee shops, remote video shoots with a backpack full of camera gear, and the grocery store—though it’s not a smooth ride. The 250-watt motor struggles with any slow downswings, and slopes drain the battery quickly. The battery usually gets me 9 miles. I’m also tall, and I had to constantly stretch my arms to reach the handles. You’ll want to tighten up the rear disc brake; it works fine, but I wouldn’t have a problem stopping the power.

Gotrax GX2 for $1,399: The GX2 is similar to the Apollo Phantom and Segway P100S in that it is 76 pounds and offers more power and range. This metal scooter looks a bit like a Transformer and can hit a top speed of 35 mph with two 800-watt motors, but I usually ride it at 20 mph. It took me downtown and back to Brooklyn (18.4 miles total) with some juice left. I hate carrying it up the stairs, because the stem is so thick, it makes it hard to hold. When you’re waiting for a light, the GX2 also switches to Parking mode after a few seconds, so you have to always remember to press the mode button to shift it into drive gear. It’s very annoying, and Gotrax says there’s no way to disable it. I’m a little concerned about the build quality—the engine makes a noise as if something is grinding against it, and this noise disappears if I lightly press the left brake lever while riding. The latch to keep the trunk upright goes down easily, despite the sliding locking mechanism to keep it in place; Gotrax says it may be installed too tightly. If you notice any of these issues, I recommend you reach out to Gotrax and go to your local scooter shop to have it checked out.

Navee S65 for $960: Navee is a new brand expanding its presence in the US, and I had a great time using the S65 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). I was able to consistently complete the 16 mile round trip at 20 mph, but that drained the battery quite a bit. It has good acceleration, thanks to its optimized hub motor, and climbs easily on slopes, but this also makes it a lot. Engine noise disappears in a noisy city like New York, but you can regret it on quiet streets. It’s 53 pounds, so it’s heavier than our top pick despite the same width, and its customer service is top-notch since it’s so new. Still, I enjoyed riding it.

Evolv Terra for $1,212: I enjoyed my time with the Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It is 53 kilos and because of the small body, it is not too annoying to carry. It’s powerful, capable of going as fast as 31 miles per hour when using both 600-watt motors (check your speed laws first!). Otherwise, you can cruise at 20 mph like I did in the second gear speed setting (three in total) with one engine. The range is a good average, with about two bars left on the meter after 15 miles, so it can last more than 20 miles, especially if you maintain your speed. Suspension is OK but hard tires on rough roads can feel bumpy. The bars also seemed useless to me as, after a wet ride after the rain, my back was covered in specks of dirt kicked up from the rear tire. The angle of the stem was also too close to my body, and the lack of a thumb means that my wrist hurts after long rides. You can change the angle of the throttle and brakes to improve this.

Radio Flyer S533 for $599: Honestly, I’m surprised how well this motorcycle performed in my tests. The folding mechanism is simply a latch and a sleeve that you pull down to keep the latch from coming undone while riding. It’s super easy to fold and unfold, and it’s 30 pounds lighter. It’s not a motorcycle by any means—my range was less than 8 miles on a single charge—and despite its 220-pound payload capacity, I averaged about 14 mph of its 16 mph top speed. A great scooter for going to the post office, grocery store, or Cinnabon when my wife asks for a cinnamon roll. However, its price does not match its power and performance; it should be cheap. The good thing is that the first model the company sent me did not open and the second model had a deflated front wheel. Airing it was a snap and I haven’t had any problems since.

Apollo Air Pro (2022) for $949: I haven’t tested the new 2024 model, but the Apollo Air Pro (2022) was an excellent motorcycle (6/10, WIRED Review); I just don’t think it’s worth the high prices. It goes up to 21 mph, and I was able to ride it for about 13 to 15 miles before it died. You get all the accouter, such as the front light and the instrument, and there is an interface of the application to adjust the settings as you like. Well, it’s a working plan what is needed to unlock the Air Pro’s true speed—otherwise, you’re limited to 12 mph. I am very confused by the folding machine, which is more work than it should be. It is not very fast and, despite its weight of 39 kilograms, it is not comfortable to carry because of its thick body.