My first thought when I saw the Segway KickScooter Ninebot ES2 was: “Man, it looks so cool! Can I give it a test drive?” (also i took some photos)

The Ninebot ES2 by Segway is the second scooter in the Ninebot family and it is a proud successor of the well-known Ninebot ES1.

Lightweight and stylish, the Ninebot ES2 offers a plethora of useful features that make the ride comfortable and fun. Shock absorbers, theft protection, full app control, colored LED lights, this scooter has it all. In this review, I will be talking about everything I wish I knew before buying this scooter. Hopefully, it will help you to make a more informed decision on whether this specific model is for you.

Besides my own experience with the Ninebot ES2, I will also be taking into account what others reviewers say. This way, I can avoid having a one-sided and biased view on the scooter. If there are any problems that others have encountered but I haven’t, I will still be mentioning those here to give you a better picture of what you can expect from this vehicle. So, let’s get started!

Ninebot ES2 Review

Riding Experience and Handling

My first ride on the ES2 went pretty smooth. While I am a sucker for heavier racing scooters, I could totally appreciate the maneuverability and control this one provides. I believe beginners will have no issue learning to drive the ES2. Fast and agile, the ES2 takes a minute to get used to.

Compared to other scooters of similar price range and weight, the Ninebot ES2 is a bit better in some aspects. It is very easy to handle, especially when going low speed. Cruise control and two different brake systems make it easy for the driver to adapt to the road conditions and traffic.

The throttles are easy to push and are pretty responsive. Use the right throttle to accelerate and the left one to activate the regenerative brake. If you feel like it, you can also use the rear manual brake. Sometimes, it’s good to be able to control the speed with your foot by stepping on the brake – the harder you press, the more it slows down.

Overall, I’d say the ES2 is a solid pick when driving in the city in a dry day. While the scooter is IP 54 protected, its tires do not have much grip. I would recommend you to avoid driving on wet surfaces, especially if you are not too experienced with it. Moreover, if you live somewhere where it rains often, the ES2 might be not the best choice for you.

Comfort

The ES2 is a very well-designed scooter. For its price, it’s very comfortable to drive, which is one of the reasons I have been using it for my daily commute since I’ve got it. It’s lightweight, foldable and easy to carry around.

I will be honest with you, though. At first, I was pretty hesitant when I saw its relatively small solid rubber tires. I could almost picture how I would feel every tiniest bump when driving this thing.

The tires are indeed hard and the only reason why the scooter offers a relatively smooth ride on pavement and asphalt is because of the shock absorbers.

The ES2 comes with a shock absorber on each wheel. The springs do a great job at absorbing major bumps and holes in the road. Overall, the ES2 is pretty comfortable for a scooter, as long as you don’t try to use it for off-road racing. I would also say that if you are planning on driving on dirt and gravel most of the time, the ES2 might not be the right model for you.

Some complain that the ES2 has poor suspension. Personally, I disagree with those statements. The scooter drives very smoothly for a vehicle with so small non-inflatable wheels. In exchange, you will never get flat wheels with this scooter, which is amazing. Have you ever had a flat tire 10 miles away from home?

My only advice would be to not jump this scooter off curbs. The suspension is rugged but it might be a good idea to avoid putting it under so much pressure.

Power

The official specs state that the scooter can reach a max speed of 25 Km/h (15.5 MPH). Those numbers are right and sometimes you can even get faster than that, especially those of you who weight 60 kg (130 lbs) or less.

The scooter features three power modes:

  • Sports Mode: Maximum acceleration and speed, increased battery consumption. A driver weighting 61kg (135 lbs) can accelerate from 0 to 25km/h in 6.5 seconds on flat surface.
  • Standard Mode: Moderate acceleration, max speed of 20 km/h (12.5 MPH).
  • Speed Limit Mode:Relatively slow acceleration, speed limit of 15 km/h (9 MPH).

The speed limit mode, despite being the slowest one, ended up being the one I use the most for my daily commute. The streets are pretty crowded where I live so I rarely go too fast. Usually, I drive my scooter on cruise control capped at 15 km/h.

With a brushless 300W motor, the ES2 goes uphill pretty well. Anything that is under 15 degrees should not be a problem. It does however slow down when going up inclines steeper than 10 degrees. The heavier the driver, the more it slows down.

A friend whose body weight is 195lbs can reach up to (25km/h) 16 MPH when on flat surface and up to 15 km/h (9 MPH) when the incline is ~15 degrees. Adding a secondary battery considerably increases gradeability.

Note: Please consider wearing a helmet. This scooter can go faster than a bicycle so make sure you wear the proper protection.

Range

With a battery of 187 W/h, the scooter maximum range is 25 km (15.5 miles). The lithium batteries are manufactured by Samsung – a well-known and reputable brand. If you drive on flat surface and weight up to 70% of the maximum scooter capacity, you will more likely be able to squeeze those 25 km from the scooter. That being said, there are also some other factors that determine your battery life.

First of all, range is very dependent on how many times you start from a complete standstill. This means that you can increase the range by giving it 3 or 4 kicks from a stop before hitting the accelerator.

The second factor are hills. Kicking while going up hills will considerably increase battery life. Just make sure you keep the throttle only barely pressed.

The third factor is how often are you using the recovery brakes. The scooter features one mechanical and one electrical brake. By engaging the electrical brake while driving downhill you slightly recharge the battery.

The fourth factor is wind –  headwinds can easily whack ~10% off of your range.

The fifth and last factor is speed. As mentioned before, the speed limit mode is the way to go if you want to drive the furthest.

If you don’t want to concern yourself with any of the above, you might as well want to purchase a secondary battery. By having twice the battery capacity, you will be able to just gun it up a hill all the time. Besides, here are some other benefits of having a secondary battery:

Faster acceleration

Better gradeability

Higher max speed – while not mentioned in the official specs, a second battery allows your scooter to reach a speed of up to 30 km/h (19 MPH).

Build Quality and Looks

The ES2 has a sleek and simple design. By no means it looks cheap; in fact, its minimalist frame and color design make it look very stylish and modern. It looks even better with the colored LED lights turned on. The scooter comes in two colors – silver and black.

Compared to the Ninebot ES1, the ES2 is similar in many aspects with few important improvements. Both models feature the same aviation-grade aluminum body with plastic covers on the wheels. They also share the same kind of solid rubber wheels, plastic rear foot brake and plastic thumb throttle. Just like its predecessor, the Ninebot ES2 feels sturdy and rugged.

ModelNinebot ES2Ninebot ES1
Appropriate age14+14+
Max. speed15.5 mph / 25 km/h (+5 km/h upgradable with optional extra battery) 12.4 mph / 20 km/h (+5 km/h upgradable with optional extra battery)
Net weight12.5 kg11.3 kg
Max. mileage25 km (+20 km, total 45 km with optional extra battery)25 km (+20 km, total 45 km with optional extra battery)
DimensionUnfolded: 102 × 43 × 113 cm
Folded: 113 × 43 × 40 cm
Unfolded: 102 × 43 × 113 cm
Folded: 113 × 43 × 40 cm
Battery187Wh187Wh
Info displayFull info dashboard displayFull info dashboard display
BrakeElectric & Regenarative brake front & step fender brake rearElectric & Regenarative brake front & step fender brake rear
Shock absorbtionFront & BackFront
LightsFront (1.5W high power & Dual Rear light)Front (1,5W high power)
Brake lights rearYes (Flashing)No
Ambient lights under foot boardYes, on-/off-/colour adjustable via AppNo
Tire sizeSolid Tires (maintenance free)
Front: 20 cm / 8 inch
Back: 19.2 cm / 7.5 inch
Solid Tires (maintenance free)
Front: 20 cm / 8 inch
Back: 19.2 cm / 7.5 inch
Max. climb angle10°10°
 Max. driver weight100 kg100 kg
Available colorSilvery Grey
Dark Grey
Black
Remote control via AppNoNo
App monitorYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Water resistanceIP54IP54
Power output300W250W
Folding mechanismHands-free quick & compact foldHands-free quick & compact fold
BellNoNo
Riding modes3 (eco, standard,sport mode)3 (eco, standard,sport mode)
Max. charging time3.5 hours (excl. optional extra battery)3.5 hours (excl. optional extra battery)
Box contentsHandle, mainframe, user materials (user manual, quick start, limited warranty), M4 flathead screw x 5 (one extra), M4 hex wrench and battery chargerHandle, mainframe, user materials (user manual, quick start, limited warranty), M4 flathead screw x 5 (one extra), M4 hex wrench and battery charger
Box dimensions102.5 x 20.5 x 32.5 cm102.5 x 20.5 x 32.5 cm

Now, the main difference in my opinion is that the ES2 features fully rubberized handles while the ES1 comes with soft foam ones. Foam is comfortable but it lacks durability.

Compared to the Xiaomi M365, the ES2 looks simpler, but not worse. Its battery is situated inside the bar and not under the standing pad. This is why the base of the ES2 is so thin. This also makes weight distribution slightly different, since a big share of the weight is in the T bar.

Another thing that sets the ES2 apart from the M365 are the solid rubber tires. Some might argue that inflatable tires have better suspension and provide a more comfortable ride. Personally, while I do agree with that, I am very happy to know that no matter where I drive, I will never have a flat tire on my ES2. Those tires do however wear out over time and you will have to replace them every 120-200 miles or more, depending on where and how you drive.

Overall, the ES2 is a very solid scooter. Later in this article I will be discussing some of the issues some people face with this particular model and how to solve them. For now, I will say that it’s worth checking and tightening screws every 2 weeks or so if you’re using your scooter daily.

Additional Accessories

Here’s a list of some of the most useful additional accessories that you can to add to your Ninebot ES2 (not included in the package):

  • Secondary Battery
  • A phone mount
  • A bike bell, especially useful for crowded streets

Additional Features

One of the main selling points of this scooter is the amount of additional useful stuff it comes with. Even though it does not belong to the top-tier racing scooters, the ES2 does not feel like a budget model. Here is why.

Unlike most scooters of this price range, the ES2 comes with a LED screen on the T bar. The screen allows you to monitor your speed and remaining battery without the need to have your phone turned on at all times. That’s something the M365 is sorely lacking of. The button under the screen allows you to turn the scooter on and off, as well as to switch between the three power modes.

As soon as you get the scooter, you will have to link it to your smartphone. This is done through the Ninebot official app. Once linked, you will be able to use your phone to access the following stats and tools:

  • Stats such as current speed, mileage, battery life and frame temperature.
  • Theft protection – lock your scooter anytime. Once locked, you will receive an alert on your phone as soon as someone tries to move your scooter. It will also engage the brakes, making it harder to move
  • Change the speed display from Kilometers per hour to Miles per hour.
  • Vehicle diagnostics
  • Firmware upgrades
  • Learning center. The app provides some basic tutorials on how to configure and drive your scooter. Pretty neat for new users, especially if you haven’t used a scooter before
  • Control the behavior of the colored LED lights.

LED Coloring

The Ninebot ES2 comes with twelve LED lightbulbs under the standing pad. Those, besides looking cool, make it easier for car drivers to notice you at night.

Now, what about aesthetics? From the app, you can fully customize your LED coloring, as well as turn it on and off. The rear lights can also be turned on from your phone, though their color cannot be customized.

From your app, you can use the color wheel to choose the one you want – any color of the rainbow is at your fingertips. You can also change the way those colors display:

  • Full color breathing – the LEDs will slowly cycle through all the available colors.
  • Two color breathing – the LEDs will split into two different groups, each of which will cycle through the whole spectrum of colors separately. This way, you always have two different colors under your scooter.
  • Full color apart – a combination of the two above, the LEDs will change colors, as well as the second and some of the lights will be periodically turn on and off, creating a weird but pretty cool effect. Great setting to make others jealous

Ninebot ES2 Specs

Max Speed: 25km/h (15.5 mph) with one battery, 30 km/h (19 mph) with two
Max Distance: 25km (15.5 Mi) reach with one battery, 45km (28Mi) with two

Charge Time: ~3.5 hours
Motor Wattage: 300W

Weight: 12kgs (27 lb)
Max. Rider Capacity: 100 Kg (220 lb)

Gradeability: 10° with one battery, 15° with two
Tire Size: Front: 20 cm (8 In), Back: 19.2 cm (7.5 In)

Brakes: Manual brakes on the rear wheel, electric brakes on the front

Folded dimensions: 1130x430x400 mm (51x17x16 inches)

Extended dimensions: 1020x430x1130 mm (40x17x51 inches)

Material: Frame and Handle made of aircraft-grade aluminum
Water and dust resistance IP54

Ninebot ES1 vs. Ninebot ES2 vs. Xiaomi M365

Here is a table where I list the most relevant differences between the three models:

(*) When using two batteries

(**) Amazon prices

Ninebot ES2 Known Issues and Fixes

Here is a list of issues some people face with this scooter:

Issue #1: Manufacturing defects

This category includes a wide array of possible manufacturing defects that some people notice their freshly arrived scooters have. The most common one is when the front wheel is not aligned with the handlebars. Another one is when the he rear wheel vibrates enormously, making the scooter feel flimsy. The only solution to any of these issues is to contact the seller and ask for a new unit. Not all sellers have post-sale service, so I’d recommend making sure you purchase from a reputable seller who will back their product (i.e. Ninebot USA).

Issue #2: Jerky power delivery and insufficient speed

This one, while technically belonging to the first category, deserves its own spot here. Some people report that their scooter works perfectly fine until the headlights are turned on. As soon as they turn them on, the scooter loses half of its engine and brake power. While some speculate that this is a feature that prevents people from driving fast at night, others have reported that getting a new unit from the seller fixed it.

Issue #3: Nothing happens when you plug the charger in

This one usually happens after driving outside in a sunny summer day. The lithium battery refuses to charge when the internal pack temperature is >104ºF (~40 Celsius). The only solution to that is to wait a little bit until the frame cools down.  It’s good to avoid charging lithium cells when they’re hot anyways.

Where to Buy Segway Ninebot ES2

Parts and Accessories for Ninebot ES2

Recommended Accessories and Upgrades

In Conclusion

The ES2 is a small and versatile scooter that can save you a lot of money in the long run. While it is not the kind of scooter you would be using to travel long distances, it is one of the best choices for the daily commute. Lightweight and stylish, the Ninebot ES2 is one of the most versatile scooters you can get for the money. Those of you who live in hilly areas can use it too if you get the secondary battery for it.

I am happy enough with this purchase and I will keep this article updated with any new things I discover about this scooter. Thank you for reading and as always, make sure to share your opinion in the comments section below:

Ninebot ES2 Editor's Rating
Easy to drive, very beginner-friendlyLightweightRugged and durableShock absorbers, hard rubber tiresFront LCD panel that shows you speed, battery life and other statsHighly customizable LED lighting
The secondary battery is pretty expensiveThere is no way you can contact the manufacturer directly, so you depend on the seller when it comes to warranty and replacement partsBattery drains on uphill transits
4.8overall
Features
Moneywise
Distance
Speed
Quality
Reader Rating 28 Votes
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