Glion Dolly Model 225 Electric Scooter Review

This scooter is definitely for you if you want something that’s easy to use, affordable and lightweight. 

Glion Dolly 225 – The Lowdown

The Glion Dolly 225 is a no-frills electric scooter that does exactly what it says on the box and it really is one of the most portable scooters on the market. This scooter only weights 115 kg (225 lbs), has a top speed of 15 mph and a range on 15 miles so it’s an ideal scooter for short commuting trips to and from the office.

Glion Dolly 225 Specifications

Glion Dolly 225 Cons

 Top speed of 15mph can be slow
 Lacks suspension
 Lacks sufficient power for hills
 Not ideal for bumpy terrain
 Battery indicator may be inaccurate

Summary

Well-constructed with a decent speed and range, the Glion Dolly electric scooter is a mid-range scooter model with some outstanding features. The scooter’s transport-friendly design incorporates an elegant, lightweight frame with vintage-looking wheel fenders for exceptional transport. The scooter easily folds down using a 1-second, foot-activated folding mechanism. When folded, it takes up minimal storage, enabling you to walk with it like a roller bag, supported by the two extra roller wheels that come on the sides of the rear one. Unfolding the scooter is also relatively seamless. The Glion Model 225 e-scooter maxes out at 15 mph with a range of 15 miles per charge, therefore suitable for running errands, sightseeing, and movement around your neighborhood. Most importantly, the scooter is energy-efficient and economical thanks to the 36 V, 7.8 Ah rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Its 250-watt (600-watt peak) brushless DC hub motor located in the rear wheel confers the scooter power just sufficient for light commuting. Braking is smooth and secure, achieved by the electronic anti-lock brakes, safely situated in the rear hub. The back fender foot-activated braking further enhances precise braking for enhanced safety. Talking of safety, the Dolly incorporates bright headlights and a built-in tail reflector for enhanced visibility and safety when riding at night. The scooter achieves depending comfort via the military-developed 8-inch tires with a honeycomb interior to maximize shock absorption. However, it lacks suspension, meaning that it can be less comfortable in rough terrains. Riding the Dolly is easy for everyone, including beginners, owing to the intuitive controls placed in the right positions. In essence, the Glion Dolly electric scooter is suitable for last-mile commuters and running errands in the city. However, unlike its successor, the Glion Balto x1 that launched in 2020, it has limited functionalities and offers a less comfortable riding experience.

Performance Overview

Glion Dolly is powered by a 250-watt (600-watt peak) brushless DC hub motor, which offers it just the needed power for light performances. The scooter is not a performance monster but performs optimally in both flat suburban and city streets. However, it seems to struggle with tackling inclines at full speed. Besides, riding it on rough terrain is not a good idea considering its moderate performance, not so good tires, and the lack of a suspension.

Top Speed & Acceleration

With a top speed of 15 mph (24km/h), the Dolly offers just the optimal speed for daily commutes or light strolling. At 15 mph, the scooter is far much slower than other e-scooter brands in the market today. However, with such speeds, you shouldn’t be running late for your lectures or work, especially if your daily commute involves taking a bus or train. Such speeds make the Dolly an ideal e-scooter for teenagers and beginners as they don’t require much speed.

Controls & Display

The Glion Dolly incorporates intuitive controls placed on the handlebar. There is a red button on the right handlebar which switches on the scooter, activating its lights. There’s also a spring-loaded twist throttle on the handlebar’s right side for acceleration and a lever on the left for braking. The handlebar also features an LED screen that informs you of the battery level. The controls are visibly placed plus are easy to use.

Battery Life & Range 

At full charge, the Glion Dolly can cover 15 miles. This is probably sort of average for an e-scooter. However, this figure assumes a set of conditions, i.e. the rider is 160 pounds, is riding on a paved road that’s hard and flat at a steady 9 mph with no wind. The range, therefore, can fluctuate based on the stated conditions. All in all, it’s always essential to charge your Glion Dolly when not using, even if your commuting distance is less than 15 miles in total. You don’t want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with an empty battery. Besides, there have been numerous customer complaints of the battery indicator being faulty, which can really throw your mileage estimations off balance. In some models, such as the Balto, you can carry a spare battery just in case the one in the scooter unexpectedly runs out of juice.

Motor Configuration

Regarding motor configuration, the Dolly features a 250-watt (600-watt peak) brushless DC hub motor placed in the back wheel. The motor is powered by a premium 36v, 7.8 ah lithium-ion battery with 3.24 hrs charge time. With such motor configuration, the Dolly isn’t powerful enough to climb hills at top speed. Consider an e-scooter with a motor configuration of at least 500-watt if you’re going to travel up hills or intense inclinations.  

Construction & Build Quality

At 28 pounds, the Glion Dolly is among the lightest scooters in the market today. The scooter is constructed from aircraft-grade, powder-coated aluminum (6061-T6), which resists corrosion. While the elegant frame appears delicate, it’s pretty solid and durable. It can withstand lots of abuses. The frame incorporates the deck and vintage-looking wheel fenders nicely to form the scooter’s structure. The fenders are wide enough to shield you from the water on the road. Also, it’s attached with a small and compact kickstand to avoid injuring your legs or causing you to trip and fall over. The handlebars are small, compact, and can be adjusted to one of the three heights. The deck is quite spacious, covered with some sort of rough surface to offer sufficient grip when riding. A unique aspect of the construction is how the scooter folds up into a compact, highly portable scooter. Once folded, the patented Dolly and vertical self-standing feature let you roll it like a suitcase and stand it vertically out of the way. In essence, Dolly’s construction is lightweight, efficient, and highly durable.

Suspension

The suspension on this model is definitely something it lacks and it is quite poor compared to some of their other models.

Ride Quality

The Dolly offers an average to low ride quality. It lacks a suspension, meaning that you can feel every bump you go over. While Glion claims that the military-developed 8-inch wheels with honeycomb interior replace the suspension smoothening the ride, it doesn’t help much. You’ll still feel most of the bumps and uneven surfaces on the road. Nonetheless, since most people would be riding the Dolly in cities or towns with flat roads or walkways, this isn’t much of an issue.

Braking

The Glion Dolly features two braking systems: The first is a twist-grip on the left handle, which alters the voltage flowing to the motor and creates a magnet to slow the scooter down. It’s very efficient, especially at higher speeds. The second braking system is a flexible rear bumper, which you step on to apply pressure to the rear wheel. The anti-lock electronic brake system is quite efficient, and you can expect the scooter to slow down no matter the weather. However, it’s important to note that the brakes at the back of the scooter may fail to provide the needed response, especially in emergencies. Nonetheless, considering that the Glion Dolly isn’t a fast-paced scooter, you can be sure to slow down quickly as needed.

Portability

The Glion Dolly is designed with commuters in mind; hence it’s highly portable. In as little as 10 seconds, you’ll be able to fold the scooter and carry it on a bus or train. Once folded, the retractable handle coupled with the roller wheels means you won’t have to lift the scooter off the ground unless you want to put it in your car’s trunk or board a bus or train. Simply pull it like a roller bag suitcase and avoid the hassle of carrying it all along. The Glion Dolly is one of the fastest folding e-scooters in the market currently. To fold it, simply pull the handlebars, flick the quick-release lever, and hit the metal pedal. All this can be done in under 10 seconds. Unfolding is also straightforward and takes about that time. Apart from being highly portable, storing the Dolly is equally as efficient. It’s compact enough that you can easily slip it into your office shelve or cupboard in case you’re not using it. Besides, it stands upright, always occupying limited space, and can fit into a corner.

Water Resistance

Unlike other scooter brands such as the Glion Balto x1 and the Carrera Impel IS-1, the Dolly is not water-resistant. Nonetheless, the design makes it usable in rainy conditions. The brakes are steady enough in wet conditions, plus the fenders protect your ankles from getting wet. However, you’ll need to wrap up the handle to prevent water from damaging the controls.  

Lights

To enable you to stay safe and visible while riding at night, the Dolly features a basic light system. A headlight is placed right above the front wheel while the rear fender has a red taillight, both of which are essential for riding at night or in the mornings. The headlight is extremely bright and focused, plus can be adjusted vertically. If you’re riding at night, you can be sure to be spotted by cars and pedestrians.

Tyres

The Glion Dolly comes with airless 8-inch tyres. The Dolly wheels feature a honeycomb interior developed by the military. They are airless; therefore, you don’t have to stress yourself with inflating the tyres. Riding on the tyres feels pretty rough unless you’re on a flat smooth surface. The front-wheel has spokes, allowing users to lock the scooter to a bike stand when running errands.

Deck

The Glion Dolly deck is covered in the same sort of grippy surface you’ll find on a skateboard. They are spacious enough and can hold your feet firmly as you ride. The deck is also lengthy to accommodate a wide range of shoe sizes.

Reliability, Warranty & Customer Support

With a top speed of 15 mph and a range of 15 miles per charge, Glion Dolly Electric Scooter is a durable and reliable e-scooter to cut your commuting time and effort. It’s easy and fun to ride, pack, carry and store. Most importantly, it’s durable and safe.

Maintenance

With no chains, no gears, and no grease, Glion Dolly requires no maintenance. The tires are airless thus can never go flat. However, you’ll need to still maintain it by regularly charging, checking bolts, checking tires, and cleaning often.

Known Issues

The Glion Dolly has some known malfunctions which hinder its usability. Some well-known issues include:

Cheap, Plastic Controls

Users have complained of cheap, uncomfortable controls on the handlebars. The controls don’t have a cushion; hence they are uncomfortable. Additionally, the scooter lacks cruise control, and the stiff-spring-loaded twisting throttle mechanism may not be best for some riders.

Inaccurate Battery Life Indicator

The Glion Dolly’s battery indicator is wildly inaccurate, throwing users off balance.

Rear Electric Brake is a Little Weak

Another major issue with the Dolly is its weak rear brake. It doesn’t brake immediately, making it unsafe during emergencies.  

Accessories

Some accessories for your Glion Dolly e-scooter include:

1. Glion Dolly Cover
2. Pedestrian Bell( attached)
3. Dolly Decal-Hawaiian Hibiscus
4. Dolly Decal-Spitfire
5. Dolly 36v Charger
6. Dolly T-bar Cover
7. Dolly Sticky Pad

Is this Electric Scooter value for money and is it worth buying?

The Glion Dolly 225 electric scooter is definitely built with commuters in mind who don’t want anything too fancy, fast or complicated. With its range and speed, it’s built with these users in mind. If it’s speed you’re after then this probably isn’t the electric scooter for you as there are others on the market that are faster and have a longer range too. The Glion Dolly is one of the easiest scooters to carry around when you’re not using it and it’s really lightweight. It truly depends on what you want to use your scooter for as to whether you purchase this exact model or not.    

Glion Resource

Glion website