Kugoo S1 Pro Electric Scooter Review

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter is one of the best and perhaps one of the most underrated scooters with a top speed of 30km/h and a decent range of up to 30 Km.

Electric scooters have witnessed enormous growth in recent years thanks to their easily noticeable benefits. As such, they have become more and more common in urban environments across the globe, providing fast, agile and efficient means of transport. Following their incredible growth, e-scooter manufacturers have been keen to keep up with the increased demand by stepping up their design processes and creating varied e-scooter models with different features.

Kugoo has established itself as a top-grossing scooter manufacturer making outstanding, low-budget electric scooters that resonate with the needs of most e-scooter users. While the company may not be as popular as other manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Dualtron, Kugoo electric scooters have earned quite the following in the electric scooter market. The Kugoo SI Pro is one of their best selling electric scooters, and while it’s often underrated, its sleek design, outstanding acceleration, decent performance (top speed and range), good portability and very competitive pricing makes it a worthy contender for the best entry-level scooter.

Kugoo S1 Pro: The Lowdown…

Kugoo has quickly become a household name across Europe as a reliable e-scooter manufacturer, delivering state-of-the-art personal mobility solutions. Kugoo is a company that grew from the need to create electric scooters that would help lessen the level of emissions usually experienced with traditional gas-powered transport solutions. The company prides itself as one of the most versatile e-scooter manufacturers, with offerings for young riders, novice riders, casual riders and experienced riders alike.

The S1 series is a budget category of scooters by Kugoo. They have three variations; the S1, the S1 Pro and the S1 Plus. This article focuses on the Pro, the second iteration of this popular series. This scooter stands out in the budget category with many features only seen in scooters about three times its price. Riders will certainly appreciate the IP54 water resistance rating, the dual suspension system and the LED display, which are highly uncommon in a scooter priced at $350/ £250.

While the jury is still out on whether this is indeed the best budget scooter there is, it is impossible not to note how this scooter takes on industry giants like Xiaomi M365. The scooter achieves an impressive top speed, good mileage on a single charge, decent ride quality, carries heavier riders and retains decent performance on lower battery levels.

Additionally, the maintenance-free tyres ensure that riders can take the scooter out on the road without worrying about punctures. Kugoo also throws in a carrying bag for extra convenience in transporting the scooter.

Is the Kugoo S1 Pro all that? Read on to find out where the scooter excels and where Kugoo needs to return to the drawing board.

Kugoo S1 Pro Specifications

Kugoo S1 Pro Cons

It has a poor folding mechanism

It’s rattly while on the move.

No App connectivity

8-inch non-pneumatic tyres compromise the overall ride quality

Plastic construction in some parts of the body lowers the overall build quality

Kugoo S1 Pro Summary

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter is one of Kugoo’s most popular and best-selling budget scooters with plenty of benefits that make for great appeal in the hugely competitive budget electric scooter category. While it is one of the most often overlooked budget electric scooters in the market, the S1 comes with plenty of good surprises, including an attractive, sleek design, excellent performance, good acceleration, and enhanced ride comfort. It’s a solid advancement of its predecessor, the Kugoo S1, with better traction, improved ride quality, and more modern features.

The S1 Pro sports an elegant design consisting of four main parts: the frame, the dashboard is consisting of the display screen, battery compartments and a motor. The modular design allows users to assemble, disassemble or replace parts easily. The glossy and superior black finishing gives the scooter a premium, attractive vibe, with the steel and aluminium body guaranteeing maximum durability. Riders can also customise the finish to blue or white.

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter is fitted with a 350 W motor and a 36V, 7.5 Ah battery( charges in under 4 hours), propelling it to an eye-blinding top speed of 18 mph (30 km/h) and a range of 18.6 miles( 30 Km). The scooter integrates three different ride modes (15 km/h, 25 km/h and 30 km/h), allowing riders to adjust the speed based on the prevailing situations. The motor is strong enough to power the scooter up intense climbs up to 15 degrees without a strained performance.

The scooter has a weight limit of 265 lbs. /120 Kg, making it compatible for both teenagers and adults alike. What’s more, the handlebar can be adjusted in height (93 cm, 107 cm or 116 cm) to fit specific users’ size comfortably. The scooter offers pretty comfortable rides thanks to the combination of front and rear spring damper active suspension system, spacious deck and 8″ honeycomb tyres, which provide sufficient dampening on typical urban terrains. By integrating modern honeycomb technology with air pockets, the tyres are unsusceptible to flats providing plenty of benefits in terms of maintenance, convenience and value for money. However, non-pneumatic (honeycomb tyres) perform poorly off roads; thus, the scooter may not handle rough, uneven terrains.

Speaking of safety, the Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter guarantees unmatched ride safety with the combination of its features, notably a dual braking system encompassing an electronic regenerative braking system and rear-fender brake, which is activated by pressing the rear fender with your foot. The combination of a front LED headlight, taillight (brake lights), reflectors mounted on the sides of the scooter, and safety red LEDs found on the scooter handles( can be set to stay on or either flash simply) ensures maximum visibility at night or low lighting conditions. The scooter also features an electronic bell to alert other road users of your presence.

Weighing only 24.25lbs./11Kgs, the Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter is amazingly portable. In addition to its lightweight design, the scooter’s handlebars and stem are both foldable, enabling it to fold down into a compact package for easy portability and hassle-free storage. As such, it can be used as a last-mile commuting scooter to get you from the train or bus station to the office, run errands in the city, commute to class on campus or simply meet friends for a coffee.

Other exceptional add-ons on the scooter include a smart LED display providing several ride metrics and information such as speed, mileage, power, time, voltage, riding mode and others. The display comfortably stands in for the lack of an accompanying app, allowing riders to monitor and be in control of their scooter fully.

The scooter is also water and dust resistant-rated- IP54 and comes with CE / FCC / RoHS approved safety standard certifications.

Performance Overview

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter has a noticeably fantastic performance thanks to the 350W motor that offers reliable power, propelling the scooter to a top speed of 18.6 mph/ 30 km/h. The motor can climb inclines of up 15 degrees, which is pretty decent for an entry-level electric scooter. The scooter feels torquey due to the highly responsive motor that sees it accelerate to the top speed in seconds. 

The Kugoo S1 is sturdy enough to support riders weighing up to 265 lbs. (120Kg). For the range, the 36V, 7.5 Ah battery provides up to 18 miles/ 30Km on a single charge, making the scooter well-suited for long commutes.

Overall, the Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter performs quite decently in typical urban environments and even dethrones the hugely popular Xiaomi M365 in various performance aspects, notably weight capacity and acceleration.

Speed & Acceleration

In regards to acceleration, the S1 Pro achieves pretty fast acceleration downhill, on flat terrains and smooth inclines, thanks to the torquey motor. The scooter accelerates from 0 to 20 km/h in under 7 seconds at the highest speed setting. The acceleration is pretty stable and non-jerky and does not have a kick start feature.

In uphill terrains, the acceleration reduces significantly- under 80% battery level, the scooter’s acceleration and general performance uphill drops significantly like most other e-scooters. Therefore, if you’re going to ride uphill, ensure you’ve got enough battery juice for optimal performance.

Top Speed

Kugoo claims that the S1 Pro has a top speed of 30km/h/ 18.6 mph. However, you should expect higher speeds in the real world, with some lighter riders reporting speeds of up to 35 km/h/ 21mph. Additionally, the S1 Pro integrates three-speed modes, enabling riders to adapt to different riding situations. The first speed mode limits the top speed to 12mph/ 15 km/h and is ideal for novice riders. The second speed mode raises the speed mode to 15.5 mph/ 25 km/h while the third mode unlocks the maximum speed at 18.6 mph/ 30 km/h and above. It is important to note that Kugoo offers a variation of this scooter that cuts out at 25 km/h, in line with different scooter regulations worldwide. 

Hill Climbing

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter can comfortably tackle hills of up to 15 degrees inclination. At 15 degrees gradability, the scooter is among the top hill climbers in the entry-level category. However, note that the hill-climbing capacity is mainly dependent on various factors such as the battery charge, rider’s weight and the roughness or smoothness of the uphill terrain.

Battery & Range

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter is fitted with a 18650 Li-ion battery pack, rated 7.5 Ah and 36V with an energy storage capacity of 270 Watt-hours. This battery is an upgrade from the original S1’s that had a 6 Ah rating. On paper, the battery offers a decent range of 18 miles/ 30 Km. However, you should expect 75%-90% of the advertised range in real life, as with nearly all electric scooters. 

Most users have claimed a real-world range of 14-17 miles/ 22-27 Km- still a pleasant surprise considering it’s a budget scooter. Take note that the range is dependent on various aspects, such as the rider’s weight and speed mode. For prolonged range, consider riding at the lowest speed mode, i.e. 15Km/h.

It takes a maximum of 4 hours for the scooter’s battery to fully charge, similar to the S1. For efficient charging and to avoid damaging the battery, ensure you use only the right charger. 

Motor Configuration

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter is powered by an advanced 350W DC brushless motor that offers a top speed of 18.6 mph, revolving at 700R/min (rotations per minute). The brushless motor is mounted on the front wheel; it offers a strong driving force with a maximum torque of 13.3 Newton-meters (NM) running at 36 Volts.

The motor is powerful enough to provide gradeability of up to 15 degrees, not seen in most budget scooters. In essence, the S1 Pro’s motor is powerful and well-configured to offer smoother and more stable rides. 

Construction & Quality

The Kugoo S1 Pro electric scooter boasts a premium, sleek construction with a glossy and superior black or white finish. The construction is a mix of steel, aluminium and plastic. The frame is predominantly made of aluminium, making it stable, robust yet lightweight for easy portability. The standing deck and stem are made of steel, providing maximum stability with no wobbling even at high speeds. The steel construction comes in handy to add to the scooter’s weight and lower the centre of gravity (CoG), ensuring it is firmly rooted to the ground for maximum riding safety and comfort.

Tough plastic is used on the covers and fenders, lining the wheels. The use of plastic is a bit of a letdown, considering that they are prone to breaking when subjected to intense pressure. As such, you should be careful not to damage the plastic fenders and coverings. The handlebars are embedded in thick rubber, providing sufficient grip when riding. Some variations of this scooter feature plastic lights on either end of the handlebar. However, these particular plastics are of low quality and prone to breaking the very instance the scooter drops.

The deck’s surface is lined with extra tactile grip tape for a firm stand. The scooter, however, lacks a kickstand, which makes parking the scooter a hassle.

Furthermore, you can choose from a wide range of finishes, including black, light blue, and white.

Suspension & Comfort

The Kugoo S1 Pro is fitted with a front and rear spring damper active suspension system, rarely seen on a budget scooter. The suspension system comes in handy to absorb shocks from bumps and uneven road surfaces, facilitating smooth rides with better stability.

What’s more, the suspension system can be adjusted to your preferred level, depending on the terrain and how much dampening you may need.

Ride Quality

The Kugoo S1 Pro is fun, safe and comfortable to ride. It is pretty easy to ride the scooter, even for novice riders owing to the intuitive controls. Simply step on the deck with one foot, push away the scooter with the other foot on the ground and start the motor using an electronic lever on the handlebar. Start at the lowest speed level and steadily accelerate with the appropriate speed.

Thanks to the robust construction, the S1 Pro offers a stable and comfortable ride, even at high speeds. While the scooter sits on solid tyres, which are known to offer less dampening, the ride is surprisingly smooth and less bumpy owing to the presence of both the front and rear spring-damper suspension system, which is pretty functional. Also, the tyres leverage the modern honeycomb technology with air pockets inside the tyres to enhance shock absorption for comfortable rides and, at the same time, eliminate the risk of punctures.

The S1 Pro handles fantastically in corners and road curves attributed to the lower centre of gravity coupled with the small tyres providing maximum traction. As such, you can negotiate turns at high speed without losing grip on the road and falling off. However, the scooter’s ride quality in off-road environments is pretty poor owing to the solid tyres. On off-road terrains or poorly paved surfaces, the scooter rides slowly with increased vibrations felt by the rider despite front and rear shock absorbers.

For comfortable rides, you should stick to smooth road surfaces.

Lights

Riding at night requires maximum visibility both at the front and rear to stay safe. The Kugoo S1 Pro is fitted with an efficient LED lighting system and reflectors that ensure maximum visibility in the dark for unmatched safety. The scooter features an ultra-bright LED headlight that illuminates the roads over a long distance, facilitating safe night riding.

At the back, you’ll find a safety warning taillight, also referred to as a brake light. These lights are vital to ensure you’re visible from the rear and inform other road users that you’re braking when engaging the electronic brake system. In addition to the lights, the scooter is fitted with four reflective strips, which enhance visibility, ensuring safe night riding. 

Additionally, certain scooter versions will come with plastic lights at either end of the handlebar to increase low light visibility.  

Braking

The S1 Pro features a dual braking system that is pretty sensitive and safe, achieving a braking distance of only 4m at high speeds. You can brake using either the electronic braking system using the thumb electromagnetic brake mounted on the handlebar or the rear-fender brake, which is activated by placing your foot against the rear fender. 

For better braking performance, it’s advised that you use both brakes simultaneously, especially in emergencies, since the electronic braking system tends to fail or take quite some time to respond at high speeds. The effectiveness of the electronic brakes is also affected by the battery state of charge.

The rear brake (fender brake) is also not very effective in wet weather conditions, bringing to question the safety reliability of this Kugoo scooter. However, braking using the electronic braking system lights up the taillight, informing other road users of your intent to slow down or stop.

The electronic brakes, being regenerative, helps prolong the range by converting kinetic energy to electric energy, which is channelled to the battery pack. All in all, the scooter’s brakes are susceptible and efficient, especially when used together. 

Portability

At 24.25 lbs / 11Kgs, the Kugoo S1 Pro is one of the lightest budget scooters currently in the market. Its lightweight and foldable design make the S1 Pro highly portable. The scooter’s stem and handlebars are foldable, making them easy to carry and store.

Folding the scooter is straightforward and involves simply pressing down the folding lever and jerking forward the handlebars. Start by folding the handlebars then the stem. The scooter folds down to a compact package measuring 95 x 34 x 18.5 cm and can fit in the boot of any car. What’s more, the stem features a folding hook to lock to the rear fender allowing for ease of carrying.

The Kugoo S1 Pro’s excellent portability makes it suitable to be used as a last-mile commuting scooter to get from the train or bus to the office or simply cruise around the city. It occupies a small size when folded, meaning that you can comfortably place it next to you on a train or bus.

Tyres

The Kugoo S1 Pro is fitted with non-pneumatic, honeycomb 8-inch solid tyres, which are pretty immune to flats. However, while the solid tyres are pretty durable and maintenance-free, the honeycomb tyres are less comfortable than pneumatic tyres. As such, you’ll want to ride on smooth, even roads for maximum comfort.

On the positive side, though, the 8″ tyres offer sufficient traction on different terrains and weather conditions, facilitating safe rides. The honeycomb style tyres are another noticeable improvement to the original S1, which features solid rubber tyres.

Deck

The S1 Pro’s deck offers a whole lot of real estate, allowing you to ride comfortably, whether on short or long commutes. The standing deck measures about 43 x 15 cm with a ground clearance of 10 cm and a handlebar to deck distance of 110 cm. It’s covered in sandpaper-feel grip tape, ensuring maximum grip and stability for comfortable rides.

The deck matting can easily be cleaned without necessarily peeling off. This deck is an improvement to the S1, offering riders more space.

Controls & Display

One thing that makes the S1 Pro user-friendly are the intuitive controls well-laid out on the cockpit. On the right side of the handlebar, you’ll find a thumb accelerator, and on the left, a thumb brake to engage the electronic brake. The majority of the controls are placed beneath the premium, multifunctional, multicolour LCD display that is well-visible under direct sunlight and at night. The display is modern with a very techy appearance displaying gorgeous green and blue colour accents.

The screen displays several ride metrics and information you might need, including battery status, current speed, riding mode, time, trip distance, voltage and amperage, brake status and light status. To start measuring the trip distance from scratch, hold down the settings button for longer than 3 seconds to clear previous riding stats.

The LED display consists of five buttons, each with different functions. The first button to the left is the bell that functions to alert people in crowded streets. Next up is the SET button, which shifts the total driven and current trip statistics on the display. In the middle is the power button which is used to turn the scooter on and off. To switch off the scooter, hold down the power button for 5 seconds and 3 seconds to turn it on. The fourth button is used to turn on/off the front and the rear lights on the scooter, while the fifth button, termed SPEED, switches between the three-speed modes.  

Overall, the display and control are well marked and laid out, facilitating a rich user experience.

Water Resistance

Rated IP54, the Kugoo S1 Pro is resistant to both water and dust. As such, it offers lots of conveniences, especially when unexpectedly caught up in light showers.

Most electric scooters in the budget category are not water-resistant- something that the S1 Pro offers without breaking the bank. However, note that prolonged exposure to rain or immersion in water is not advisable.

Reliability, Warranty & Customer Support

Good acceleration, decent performance in top speed and range, solid construction, good braking, exceptional portability and above-average ride quality make the Kugoo S1 Pro a reliable scooter for the urban environment. The S1 Pro is easily a top contender for the best budget scooter, outdoing other models, notably the hugely popular Xiaomi M365. It’s a reliable scooter that you can use to streamline your last mile commute or have fun riding in your neighbourhood on a sunny weekend.

The S1 Pro comes with a 12-month warranty on most parts and six months for the battery and charger. The handlebar grip and saddle and covered with a 14-day warranty. There’s also a 14-day return policy. Kudos has fantastic customer support easily reachable via phone call or email at your convenience.

Known Issues

The S1 Pro is one of those budget e-scooters with the lowest defect rates, meaning that Kugoo did an excellent job. The only issue would be folding and unfolding, where some riders claim that the folding mechanism is a bit complicated and rigid.

Maintenance

The MAX V2 calls for the same regular maintenance practices expected of other electric scooters. The scooter requires minimal maintenance thanks to its premium construction and solid never-flat tyres. However, for optimum functionality and durability, you need to undertake some maintenance practices on the scooter.

Some of the routine maintenance practices you ought to undertake include:

• Cleaning the scooter regularly
• Avoiding the use of corrosive detergents or abrasive chemicals on the scooter
• Charging the scooter before storing it for extended periods
• Sticking to the manufacturer- recommended charger to charge your scooter.

Kugoo S1 Pro: Is it worth the money and is it worth buying?

The Kugoo S1 Pro achieves a balance between value and quality. Priced at around $350/ £250, the S1 Pro is worth every penny. The scooter is pretty solid with a fantastic performance in regards to acceleration, top speed and range. A big plus is that the scooter is amazingly portable and has everything found in more prominent brands, including a premium LCD display, dual suspension and an IP54 water resistance rating. 

The scooter is available in several colours and not just the black option, which has become monotonous among e-scooters.

The scooter’s height is also adjustable, meaning that the whole family can use it. However, for $350/ £250, there will be some cost-cutting. For instance, you will not be getting the most premium parts on your scooter; you will have cheap plastics and lack a few essentials like a kickstand. In addition, the braking on the scooter is not efficient in all riding situations.

All in all, the S1 Pro offers you premium features found in higher-priced models such as the Xiaomi scooter at half the price, enabling you to save big, especially when you’re on a tight budget.