MadChargeThe Dualtron Storm, oh my… I honestly haven’t reviewed such an interesting model in a while. On one hand, this newest addition by Minimotors brings a lot of new cool features to the table. On the other hand, it’s pricey. If you thought the Dualtron Thunder is expensive, the Storm costs 800 dollars more.
In this not-so-short review, I will go over all the features the Dualtron Storm has to offer with the final goal of determining whether it’s worth your consideration. This model has a lot of nuances, so you’re in for a treat.
Sold for $4690 ($4490 if you preorder it from their website), the second batch of the scooter should be shipped December of 2020.
Dualtron Storm Review
As usual, let’s start with the unboxing:
Unboxing
The Storm comes in the usual Minimotors branded box, tightly packed with styrofoam. There are no loose parts, or anything that could get damaged easily during shipping.
Once released from its carton prison, the scooter is almost ready to use. All you have to do is adjust a few bolts with the tools that come in the box, charge the battery, verify tire air pressure, and give it a test drive!
Handling
Straight off the bat, the scooter feels good to ride. It’s massive, heavy, and runs smoothly. You certainly expect a well-polished experience for the money you pay, and the Storm delivers.
First thing you will notice is that the stem feels solid. Remember the wobbliness found in every other Dualtron, including the Thunder? It’s gone in the Storm! You can finally drive your scooter without it feeling as if it’s falling apart. It was about time, Minimotors.
Deck
The deck is 1cm wider than that on the Thunder, and provides enough space for you to stand. The edge of the deck is covered in rubber to improve grip.
Footrest
To add to the comfort, the Dualtron Storm now comes with an inbuilt footrest. The metallic piece protrudes above the wheel, and helps you keep a good posture while riding. If you have used a racing scooter before, you know how important this little piece of metal is. The Storm’s torque is no joke.
I’m glad Minimotors included this footrest in the default configuration of the scooter however, there is one reason they were almost forced to do so. You see, the front part of the deck is occupied by the battery handle and charging ports. As the rider, you’re almost forced to stand closer to the rear wheel.
Yes you’ve guessed it, the Dualtron Storm features a fully detachable battery, which is why the charging ports have to go on the top now. If you are used to ride with your right foot in front, you probably won’t get affected that much. If you are like me, though, you’ll have to get used to a new riding position. It’s not the end of the world but it will take me some time to get used to it.
Kickstand
The kickstand received a total overhaul. This new one is insanely sturdy, and I absolutely love it. It also features adjustable length. The Storm allows you to adjust suspension height, and being able to match the kickstand length to that is a very welcome feature.
Stem
If you’re somewhat tall, you might find the stem a bit too short for your taste. You see, the Storm has the exact same 1244 mm (49 inch) height as the Ultra when put side by side. What’s the catch, you might ask? the Storm has a thicker deck, which means that the distance between the top of the deck and the handlebars is only 965mm (38 inches), compared to the almost 1016 mm (40 inches) on the Ultra.
No wonder my 5.9” friend complains that the Storm feels a bit too short for him.
Suspension
The Dualtron Storm comes with 45-step adjustable rubber suspension on each wheel, offering 5 cartridges and 9 positions to chose from. Mind you, spare cartridges aren’t free, and the suspension the scooter comes with is rather stiff.
Stiff suspension is good for high speed racing but other than that, you might want to change it for something softer. I don’t have the exact numbers yet for the Storm but to give you a reference, suspension cartridges for earlier models hover around 150-180 dollars each.
Brakes
The brakes leave a rather bittersweet aftertaste. On one hand, the Storm features high-end 150mm disk brakes, there’s nothing wrong with that. Yes, the Thunder has 160mm disks but the difference is really not that critical.
The downside is that Minimotors decided to manufacture their own proprietary brake disks for the Storm with a non-standard inner radius. This means that if you want to put some Magura disks on your Storm, you can’t do it as easily, not without replacing and adapting additional parts.
Wheels
The Storm features 11 inch wheels with ultra-wide tubeless tires, similar to those found on the Thunder.
Durability
The Dualtron Storm has quite a lot to offer design-wise. The scooter is not cheap, and we will try to figure out whether the build quality is up to the standards. This section will also show us some of the key differences between the Storm and the previous models.
Frame
The frame is sturdy and rugged. Not only it feels solid, it also has the highest max supported weight in the entire Dualtron family, rated 150 Kg (330 lb). The frame without the battery weights 34 kg (75 lbs), most of which is aluminum.
Folding Mechanism
The Storm features the 4th generation headset, which is a massive improvement over what other Dualtrons come with. From the outside, you can see that it has a removable dust cover. Under it, you can find two clamps that hold the stem in place when unfolded.
The real magic can be seen only when the mechanism is disassembled, though. The more robust and better designed turning mechanism allows for a tight fit of the stem inside. Two headset locks keep everything together. The larger threads are more durable, and allow the locks to be adjusted even tighter.
A rubber seal keeps all moisture away from the moving parts. The part between the wheel and the folding joint is one solid metal piece, which wasn’t the case in the previous models. Besides being more reliable, it also prevents the stem from becoming misaligned with the wheel. People who enjoy driving off-road will probably appreciate this feature the most.
Last but not least, folding the stem grands you access to a bolt that can be adjusted to remove any wobbliness caused by wear and tear.
Deck
The deck isn’t waterproof. In fact, it has several drainage holes in the bottom. Those holes did not exist in earlier models. The scooter is water resistant but it won’t fare that well if submerged in water, or held under heavy streams of water for long. The battery pack has its own water resistant packaging but I would still suggest avoid driving the scooter under rain.
The deck itself comes with detachable side panels. If your scooter falls, you can easily replace the plastic panels to get rid of the scratches. Those panels also have LED stripes inside that can easily be taken off.
Electrics
The Storm hub motor controllers now share the same board and are held under the footrest. The metallic shell offers both protection and heat dissipation.
The electric part has some minor improvements over that of the Thunder. Things like better cable management, as well as a thicker phase cable might not be that noticeable from the outside but they do add a bit to the overall quality of the scooter.
Maintenance
Another huge difference between the Dualtron Storm and the previous models is modularity. In the Storm, you no longer need to cut and solder cables if you want to replace a piece. Every electronic component comes with a connector, making it easier to swap any faulty parts.
This also applies to the motor. The Storm has a modular motor design. To fully take the motor apart, all you need is to remove a few screws and unplug the connector that goes to it, which by the way has golden pins for better contact. Don’t get me wrong – it might take you a bit to disassemble the motor for the first time but once you learn how to do it, it becomes quite straightforward and easy.
Motors
Probably the biggest downside of this scooter is that the rotor isn’t protected from corrosion. Or at least that’s was the case for the scooter we had the chance to toy with. If you are going to get a Dualtron Storm, I will highly suggest you to open it and apply a protective coat.
The takeaway is that durability-wise, this model is overall an improvement over the Thunder if you take the time to address the few weaknesses we have mentioned.
Modding
All this talk about modularity probably made you think that the Storm might be a good scooter to customized, and you’re absolutely right. Everything about this model begs to be modded. The extra mounting holes, the easily detachable side plates, the swappable LEDs, all of that can be easily tuned the way you want it to. If you’re paying almost five grands for this scooter, you might as well want to spend an extra buck to make it look unique.
Power
Power-wise, the Storm isn’t that different from the Thunder. Without any tinkering, it is slightly faster than the Dualtron Ultra, and slightly slower than the Dualtron X.
The motors are rated 6,640W total, and the battery is 72V, 2268Wh, which is slightly better compared to the 2060Wh of the Thunder.
According to Minimotors, the top speed of the Storm is 100 Km/h (62 MPH), though some people reported that with a light enough rider, they were able to make it reach the 108 Km/h (67 MPH) mark.
Range
I personally haven’t depleted the battery of the Storm in my tests but I don’t think that the officially listed range of 128 Km (80 Mi) is too much of a stretch, as long as you keep a constant and low speed.
The Storm now comes with a removable battery. If you really need to travel far, you now have the option to carry a spare with you. The battery pack is 12 kg (27.5 lbs). It’s not the easiest thing to carry but the possibility is there.
According to Minimotors, spare battery packs will be available for sale in January 2021, and the price is yet to be determined.
The battery can be unlocked with a key, which also means that the battery is yet another part you need to chain if you plan on leaving your scooter outside.
Some people pointed out that the keyhole is exposed and will get filled up with dirt quickly. They’ve got a point, and I would suggest putting a piece of tape on it.
The battery now comes with an external voltmeter and two charging ports. The plug is also anti-spark, which will prevent battery arcing.
Looks
The Dualtron Storm looks like a modernized version of the Dualtron Thunder. It looks more mature, and more imposing, too.
It features LED panels on the fork, sides of the deck, and stem. The LED’s can be programmed to change colors and even animated. The deck LEDs also project a Dualtron logo on the ground, which can be animated, too.
The sides of the deck are decorated with red reflective stickers that make you more visible at night.
The rubber coating on the deck, even though comfortable, accumulates dust and dirt really quickly, and is hard to clean. If that’s something that bothers you, you might want to replace the deck with a modded one that has a different surface.
Lights
The scooter comes fully equipped with headlights, signal lights, and rear lights. The signal lights are only visible to people behind you. Frontal signal lights have to get modded into the scooter somehow.
Horn
The Storm comes with a horn built into the battery compartment. It makes a loud and very familiar horn sound, which hopefully is enough for most pedestrians to pay attention and look your way.
Dashboard
As you would expect from a Dualtron, the Storm comes with the signature Minimotors Ey3 dashboard. Unlike its predecessors though, this model also features a new additional control panel that controls the headlights (an on/off switch), the horn, the motor mode, as well as the signal lights (left and right). The buttons, as well as side of the panel are lit with LEDs.
The panel not only looks fancy, it’s also a great quality of life addition I would love to see on older models, too. Its case is made of aluminum, which makes it feel sturdy. The thicker wires that run into the panel will also last a long while.
Dualtron Storm vs. Dualtron Thunder vs. Zero 11
| Dualtron Storm | Dualtron Thunder | Zero 11X | |
| Max. Speed | 100 Km/h (62 MPH) | 80 Km/h (49 MPH) | 100 Km/h (62 MPH) |
| Range | 128 Km (68-80 Mi) | 120 Km (74 Mi) | 150 Km (93 Mi) |
| Weight | 46 Kg (101 lb) | 43 Kg (95 lb) | 53 kgs (117 lb) |
| Carrying Capacity | 150 Kg (330 lb) | 120 Kg (264 lb) | 120 Kg (265 lb) |
| Motor power | 6,640 W | 5,400 W | 5,600W |
| Battery | 72V, 2268Wh | 59.2V 34.8Ah LG 3500 | 72V 32Ah |
| Tires | 11″ Ultra Wide Tubeless Tire | 11 in Ultra-wide (90mm or 3.5″) | 11 Inch, Off-road Inflatable |
| Suspension | 45-Step Adjustable: 5 cartridges, 9 positions | 15-step adjustable, rubber | Double Spring Suspension |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Brake + 150mm disk | Hydraulic brake + 160mm disk | Dual Hydraulic Brakes |
| Price | USD 4,700 | USD 3,900 | USD 3,855 |
Dualtron Storm Specs
- Max Speed: 100 Km/h (62 MPH)
- Max Distance: 128 Km (68-80 Mi)
- Battery: 72V, 2268Wh, 31.5Ah
- Motor Wattage: Dual hub motor rated 6,640 W
- Max Load: 150 Kg (330 lb)
- Gradeability: 70% (~35°)
- Tires: 11″ Ultra Wide Tubeless Tire
- Suspension: 45-Step Adjustable: 5 cartridges, 9 positions
- Brakes: Hydraulic Brake + 150mm disk
- Lights: Arms & Handlebar Sides, Brake Dual Headlight & taillight, Turning Light
- Dashboard: Smart Eye Throttle
- Charge time: 10H+ (3A), 21H+ (1.5A), 4.8H+ (6.5A Fast Charger)
- Weight: 46 Kg (101 lb)
- Unfolded Size: 1210x600x1300 mm (48x24x51 inches)
- Folded Size: 1210x318x605 mm (48x13x24 inches)
Where to Buy Dualtron Storm
Recommended Accessories and Upgrades
- Protective gear: https://www.madcharge.com/electric-scooter-riding-safety-and-protective-gear/
- Helmet: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-helmet/
- Extra front lights: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-lights/
- Turn Signal Widget: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-turn-signal/
- LED Backpack: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-backpack/
- Phone Holder: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-phone-holder/
- Mirror: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-mirror/
- Bag: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-bag/
- Horn: https://www.madcharge.com/product-tag/electric-scooter-horn/
In Conclusion
I love the technology behind this scooter. The amount of new features they implemented is insane, and it makes the Dualtron Storm truly a new model. It’s not simply a Thunder 2.0.
On that note, there are still a few things about this scooter some people might dislike. It’s very important to understand what exactly you are getting to avoid frustrations.
I hope this review helped you to make a more informed decision. As always, thanks for sticking around!
