Kugoo Kirin S1 Electric Scooter Review

One of the most affordable adult electric scooters around that has a top speed of around 15.5 MPH and a range of up to 15.5 miles

The Kugoo Kirin S1 e-scooter is a trendy commuter scooter with a funky and sporty look, ideal for short city trips.  This starter scooter has all you could need in a kick-to-start scooter, plus some.

The Kugoo Kirin S1 fares well in all the ways that count – it is nimble, yet precise, slender, yet strong – it’s just a great electric scooter that is practical and functional, with an unbeatable price tag.  

Kugoo Kirin S1 – The Lowdown

The Kugoo Kirin S1 is a popular adult commuter scooter built for urban terrain. 350 Watts of motor power and an energy-efficient battery make for fun (and not dull escapades) as you zoom around the city.

This e-scooter embodies adventure and is one of the best starter scooters to get your feet wet. Companion app compatibility makes this e-scooter even more enjoyable to use, and it’s got good range and speed as far as entry-level scooters go. If you are looking for a new electric scooter that is fun AND affordable, check out this review to see if the Kugoo scooter hits the mark with you.

Kugoo Kirin S1 Specifications

Kugoo Kirin S1 Cons

The LED headlight could be a touch brighter

The suspension system could use some improvement

The stem moves around when locked in place, making it trickier to handle

Kugoo Kirin S1 Summary

The Kugoo Kirin S1 is a sporty and cool-looking entry-level commuter e-scooter for quick trips to uni, work or for recreational riding around town. This electric scooter is a great beginner scooter, capable of going fast enough, but not so fast that you’ll fear falling off from intense torque and speed.

If speed is not your thing, and you prefer more of a laid-back ride, this electric scooter still has lots to offer – and is super affordable. 350W motor power and a 36volt 6Ah lithium rechargeable battery give this scooter superior energy efficiency to reach a median range of up to 15.5 miles.

The Kugoo Kirin S1 comes with a front shock absorber that aids in minimising the impact of rough and uneven ground. And solid 8-inch honeycomb tyres, while not as cushioned as pneumatic tyres, are still a one-up on traditional solid tyres as they provide a bit more resistance to bumpier ground.

The Kugoo Kirin S1 is a lightweight, agile electric scooter with all the electric scooter essentials you would expect on an urban scooter. It also has LED front and rear lights, neat display features, app compatibility, efficient brakes, excellent deck space, and is impressively sturdy despite its slim appearance.

Performance Overview

The Kugoo Kirin S1 is one of the best value-for-money commuter scooters available on the market today. With a sporty and chic appearance, this electric scooter is not only trendy but functional too. Despite its slender build, the S1 is a solid and sturdy electric scooter with an excellent max speed, a fair max range and impeccable brakes. The Kugoo Kirin S1 is meant for the urban road and shorter commutes.

Solid honeycomb tyres and a front suspension add to the ride quality of this ultra-popular urban e-scooter, and a 36V 6Ah lithium battery adds to the energy efficiency of the Kirin S1. Furthermore, this kick-to-start e-scooter comes with a companion app with a whole range of neat features, three-speed modes and a powerful accelerator that picks up speed remarkably quickly.

Overall, the Kugoo Kirin S1 has excellent performance properties and is ideal for beginner scooter enthusiasts.

Top Speed & Acceleration

The Kugoo Kirin S1 electric scooter can reach a maximum speed of up to 15.5MPH.

The  Kugoo Kirin S1 can reach inclines of up to 15 degrees. Therefore, for urban roads, the S1 meets the brief in terms of hill-riding capabilities. Although you can expect a slight reduction in torque,  the Kugoo Kirin S1 still rises to the occasion and can scale slight inclines with ease.

Controls & Display

The Kugoo Kirin S1 comes with an LCD dashboard where you can view vital information such as battery life, speed, motor modes, and distance travelled. The S1 also comes with the accelerator thumb throttle on the right and a brake throttle on the left. You can also download the Kugoo app onto your smartphone – and this is where it gets really techy and fun! The app has security features to lock or unlock your electric scooter, and you can switch between various scooter settings such as activate cruise control, switch on the scooter lights, use the navigation map, change between kick-start and zero start, and more.

Battery Life & Range 

A 36V, 6Ah lithium-ion battery is top of the range for energy efficiency and gives this electric scooter the endurance it needs to reach up to 15.5 miles.  Not too shabby for a smaller battery, that has an added advantage of a shorter charge time of between 4 and 6 hours. If frequent trips are part of your daily norm, this electric scooter will serve you well.

Motor Configuration

The Kugoo Kirin S1 has a 350 Watt brushless motor. It has solid torque and gets up to fast speeds surprisingly quickly using the accelerator.  This scooter is incredibly agile and has three motor modes for maximum speed effect – blue for eco, yellow for cruise and daring red for reaching top speeds of up to 15.5 MPH. This speed control feature is excellent for less than ideal road surfaces that may not always be as smooth as expected. 

Construction & Build Quality

The build quality of the Kugoo Kirin S1 is solid, compact, light and agile all in one super-fun, super affordable e-scooter. Made of high-grade aluminium alloy, you can bet that this electric scooter is durable and sturdy – so sturdy in fact that it can accommodate max rider weights of up to 220 lbs. (100 kg). 

Suspension

The suspension of the Kugoo Kirin S1 is not at all bad for an urban scooter, where the likelihood of encountering really bumpy ground for prolonged distances is minimal. This e-scooter comes with a front spring suspension, which does attempt to minimise impact to some extent. The honeycomb tyres of the Kugoo Kirin S1 also assist in improving the suspension system, enhancing the ride quality overall.

Ride Quality

The Kugoo Kirin S1 has a comfortable ride quality for zooming around urban areas.   Given its sleek exterior, it has a sturdy stem that stands solidly upright at all times. Furthermore, the Kugoo Kirin S1 provides relief from uneven terrain with a front spring shock absorber and rubber honeycomb tyres from a suspension standpoint. All in all, the ride quality of this economical urban commuter scooter is fantastic. 

Braking

Given the absence of disc brakes on this electric scooter, it still has remarkable motor braking abilities and can come to a complete stop within a span of just 5 metres. It also has a rear foot brake that makes stopping with this electric scooter that much sharper and quicker. Furthermore, the braking system of the Kugoo Kirin S1 comes with a fantastic KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which reduces energy wastage and instead reuses some of the brake energy to repower this electric scooter.

Portability

The Kugoo Kirin S1 is lightweight, which adds to the appeal of this urban electric scooter, as it is light enough to pick up and carry from destination to destination. It also folds up in just a few minutes with the release of a latch to fold and lock it securely into place.

Water Resistance

The Kirin S1 comes with an IP54 water resistance rating, which means that it handles rain and water splashes – in small quantities. However, to keep your electric scooter in prime working condition, riding in wet conditions should be the exception rather than the norm.

Lights

The Kugoo Kirin S1 features a bright LED headlight and brake light that make this electric scooter functional for use at night or for conditions with reduced visibility. The brake light and reflector lights also add to the safety factor of this e-scooter, ensuring that others around you see you clearly when out and about after dark. 

Tyres

The 8-inch honeycomb tyres of the Kugoo Kirin S1 are solid, which means they are less prone to damage and punctures. Honeycomb tyres offer more shock absorption than their strictly solid rubber counterparts because of their specialised composition – air-filled pockets within the tyre structure are designed to resist some of the impact of uneven surfaces.

Deck

As far as electric scooter decks go, the S1 has many positives, including a sizeable rubber deck with plenty of foot space.

Reliability, Warranty & Customer Support

The Kugoo Kirin S1 has a 12-month warranty on everything but the battery; this comes with a 6-month warranty. And if you have any other questions or concerns, you can contact Kugoo on the web for additional information or assistance. You could also purchase the scooter from Geekmall who offers free shipping and a delivery time of 3 to 5 days.

Maintenance

The S1 electric scooter has few maintenance issues, and this is partly due to its solid rubber tyres that won’t puncture or damage easily. The beauty of this city scooter is that it is so simple to set up, with minimal parts that won’t get lost or dislodged easily. As far as maintenance goes, this e-scooter is a breeze. Just be sure to store it away carefully, minimise water exposure, and ensure the primary bolts are fastened correctly, and you’re on your way. If you are unsure about anything, consult the user manual for additional guidance.

Known Issues

Some riders have reported that they are unable to achieve the advertised range. However, this is not an uncommon complaint for e-scooters, when you factor in the weight limit and inclines, that riders have to be mindful of.

A minority of owners have reported connectivity issues with the App.

The LED display is unfortunately virtually impossible to see during the day. And we are not even talking under full sunshine. The display is just not bright enough even in normal daylight. Kugoo recommends covering it with your hand, but while cruising, that’s definitely not recommended for safety reasons.

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

For a budget-friendly quality commuter scooter, the Kugoo Kirin S1 is definitely worth it. It has a neat range, decent speed and most of the features you would find on more high-end e-scooters but at a fraction of the price. 

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