The Segway Ninebot ES4 is the latest electric scooter from the renowned Segway brand, and it’s taking the world of personal transportation by storm. It’s fast, reliable, and efficient, and it’s quickly becoming the go-to choice for commuters, students, and anyone else looking for an easy and efficient way to get around.
In this review, we’ll take a look at the Segway Ninebot ES4, exploring its features, performance, build quality, and more, to help you decide if it’s the right electric scooter for you.
Speed and Acceleration
As with all Ninebot models, you have to kick-start the scooter to get it moving (above 3 mph) and then press the right acceleration throttle. The ES4, which can go as fast as 18.6 mph, has more than enough power for commuting. It may not be fast enough for some speed freaks, but if you’re going from riding on the road to weaving between people on the sidewalk, you don’t really need to keep your foot on the gas all the time.
The scooter’s motor is about 50W more powerful than that of the Xiaomi Mi M365, which makes it a strong contender as a commuter scooter for the city. In Sport mode, the 300W motor can put out up to 800W, which keeps it from moving slowly.
Range
The ES4 shines because of how far it can go. With the extra external battery, the impressive maximum range of 28 miles on a single charge checks all the boxes for a longer-than-average commute. However, if you’re going at top speed in Sport mode, you’re more likely to see 20 to 23 miles.
Suspension
There are shock-absorbing springs above the front and back tires that help a little with uneven ground, but Segway could have done more to help with this, especially since there are a lot of other scooters with full suspension systems that cost about the same as Segway. Before you decide to buy the ES4, think about what kind of terrain you will mostly ride on.
If the answer is smooth city streets, the ES4 is more than capable of giving you a decently comfortable ride. This is made even stronger if you plan to add the extra seat that has its own shock absorber to your ES4. If your answer is bumpy roads and off-road terrain, you should look somewhere else.
The Braking System
The ES4 is a great example of how safe Segway is when it comes to making scooters. It has both electric and mechanical brakes that work well in all conditions, so you don’t have to worry about bad weather. Tests have shown that you’ll be able to stop in 13 feet when going 12.4 miles per hour, so you can ride safely knowing that if you need to stop suddenly, you’re ready to go.
If you only use the front brake, you should be able to stop in 4 seconds. If you also use the foot brake, you may be able to stop in less time. For added safety, the back lights flash when you hit the brakes. KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) is a cool feature of the front electric brake.
This is the same technology that helped McLaren Mercedes win the F1 Grand Prix and become the first team to do so. When you use the front brake, the scooter sends some of its kinetic energy back into the battery to keep it going longer.
Charging Time
It’s very easy to charge the ES4. It takes about 7 hours to fully charge both 374Whr batteries, which is about average for electric scooters of this size. It takes 2 hours less to charge than the Xiaomi M365 Pro, which has the same range (28 miles). Unlike Apollo City, which is also 28 miles, it takes 2 hours longer (4 hours slower with the faster charger).
The ES4 has an LED panel with 5 bars that show the battery level. This is a simple but useful feature. Each bar is equal to about 20% of your power level.
Portability
With a weight of only 14 kg, the ES4 feels lighter than it really is when you move it. The handlebars don’t fold but are pretty narrow, and the stem folds but doesn’t telescope. It is 114 cm long, 43 cm wide, and 36 cm high when folded. The width of the handlebars keeps the box small and makes it easy to roll through doorways.
When folded, the step has a clasp that locks it to the fender. This makes it easier to carry, but the wide stem makes it hard to hold with one hand. In the ES series, the battery is inside the stem instead of the deck. Since the ES4 also has an external battery, the front of the scooter feels heavy.
The mechanism for folding is a tab that flips down and lets go of the stem. To fold, flip the tab down and step down on the tab while putting a little forward pressure on the handlebars. The deck will come off the stem with the help of a mechanism on the bottom of the scooter. When the scooter is standing up, make sure the tab is up so you don’t accidentally fold it while riding.
Cockpit
The ES4 has a very simple cockpit with thumb controls on either side of a round dashboard with a single button. The display is pretty easy to read, and the rider can use it to turn the bike on and off, switch between riding modes, and turn on the lights. You can also connect your scooter to the Ninebot app on your phone via Bluetooth.
When you’re connected, an icon will show up on the screen. The app lets you do things like set up functions, run firmware updates, control the scooter’s lights, and lock it. The large, textured hand grips that are attached to the handlebars of the Ninebot ES4 are probably what people like best about it.
This means that they will stay in place while you ride, which is a simple but useful feature. They feel good to hold on to, and their large diameter makes it easy to do so.
Lights
The Ninebot ES4 has fun lights for riding at night, including a high-mounted headlight, a brake-sensing taillight on the fender, and under-deck swag lights, also called “road effects,” that can be set to different colors (through the app). There are also reflectors on the sides of the front deck, on either side of the back wheel, and on top of the fender.
Even though the headlight isn’t very bright, the lighting package as a whole is a pleasant surprise on an otherwise average commuter scooter.
The Tires
The ES4’s solid tires, which are some of the worst on the market, are one of the things that are the least forgiving. They are very stiff when riding over bumps, and the shallow tread means they don’t have a lot of grips and will wear out quickly.
On the plus side, the super hard rubber means that your tires won’t get flat spots when you brake hard, which can happen with solid tires made of softer materials.
Deck
The deck has a diamond-shaped pattern made of thin rubber. It seems a bit narrow and isn’t very long. It’s 15.2 cm wide, 43.2 cm long, and 9.1 cm off the ground. The deck isn’t too small, but there isn’t much room to stand in different ways.
The back wheel guard serves three purposes: as a guard, as a foot brake, and as a place to hold the scooter when it’s folded up. Some scooters are attached to the deck, so this is a great design that keeps the deck clear.
The Handlebars
In the middle of the handlebars is a sleek, modern LED screen. The screen shows you everything you need to know, such as the current speed, the riding mode (Speed Limit, Standard, or Sport), and the battery level. It’s clear that Segway has made the Ninebot better over the years and through many different models.
One of these changes is the grips on the handlebars. Unlike the first-generation Ninebots, the new ones don’t have foam grips that get dirty and wear out very quickly. The ES4 has rubber grips instead, which are more durable and easier to clean. The ES4 is very easy to drive because the accelerator is on the right and the brake is on the left.
Both controls are easy to use with your thumbs and feel good. One thing to keep in mind is that the ES4 doesn’t come with a bell or horn, so it would be a good idea to find out how much this extra add-on would cost. Let’s face it: it’s important to stay safe on any scooter, but especially one with a good top speed like the ES4 (18.6 mph).
The Frame
The dark gray finish on the frame makes it look very stylish. Made of a hard aluminum alloy, it is strong and long-lasting without being too heavy or hard to carry. The built-in LED display and the fact that the rear and side lights can be changed give the frame a high-end look that works well in cities.
The Quality of the Ride
Even though the ES4 has dual suspension, it can’t make up for how rough the solid tires are. When going over sharp bumps, the front suspension clicks so loudly that it can scare other cyclists nearby. The ES4 is a good scooter for riding. With simple thumb controls for the brake and the throttle, the rider can keep both hands on the handlebars and still easily control the scooter.
One surprising thing about the ES4 is how stable it feels at its tested top speed of 29.5 km/h. You won’t feel any speed wobble at all, and sudden movements of the handlebars at speed will be resolved right away. The ES4 is hard to push up curbs because it has two batteries in the stem, and it doesn’t like rolling over bumps without falling forward, but this isn’t a problem when riding.
Lastly, when the kickstand is folded, it makes a loud, resounding clack. This is great for letting the rider know it’s in place, but it can be a bit of a shock in quiet places. It does a good job of keeping the scooter upright and fits nicely into a pocket on the deck.
Can You Set the Speed Limit on Segway Ninebot ES4?
Through the Segway-Ninebot app, you can set how fast you can go. Use Bluetooth to link the scooter to the app. Once you’re connected, go to settings in the top right corner of the screen and then choose speed. Move the slider to change how fast it can go.
Can You Ride Segway Ninebot ES4 in Snow?
Do not ride in extreme conditions. In bad weather like snow, ice, sleet, hail, or heavy rain, it’s not a good idea to ride. Check the IPX rating of your scooter again to see how it handles water. A good rule of thumb is that you should leave the scooter at home if you can’t see the sidewalk.
Can You Overcharge the Segway Ninebot ES4?
No, you cannot overcharge the Segway Ninebot ES4. This electric scooter has an intelligent battery management system that will automatically stop charging when the battery is full. This ensures that the battery is never overcharged and that it maintains a healthy life.
Additionally, the ES4 has an LED display that will show the battery level, so you can easily keep track of how much charge is left. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about overcharging the ES4.
Conclusion
The Segway Ninebot ES4 is a great electric scooter for commuters and students alike. It’s fast, reliable, and efficient, and its features are designed to make your ride safer and more enjoyable. It’s a good value for the price, and it comes with a great warranty, so you can be sure you’re getting a quality product.
If you’re looking for the perfect electric scooter for your daily commute, the Segway Ninebot ES4 is a great choice.
