Zero 9 Electric Scooter Review

One of the industry’s most complete electric scooters that oozes quality, elegance, and performance while boasting an impressive range of 25 miles and a top speed of 24 mph!

For scooter enthusiasts and aspiring riders, finding the right tool for the job is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The market is teeming with scooters designed to meet various needs. The Zero 9, which is essentially an amped-up version of the popular Zero 8, is one of the few uniquely versatile scooters available on the market. It comes with an excellent build quality, great power, and an impressive range that puts most of its competitors to shame. This makes it suitable for short and long commutes, especially with it riding well on all terrains.

Zero 9: The Lowdown…

Very few electric scooters can match the practicality of the Zero 9. It is suited for various terrains, from tarmac to grass and dirt roads. The Zero 9 is powered by a 600W motor that pushes it to a top speed of 24 mph. Its engine draws power from a 48V 13Ah battery, giving the scooter an impressive range of 25 miles on a single charge. The motor further produces enough torque to conquer terrains with up to 10% inclines.

The Zero 9 features an adjustable stem and a folding handlebar for easy storage. The flexible stem also makes it ideal for people of all heights. It has an easy fold mechanism for a quick transition from ride to carry. It weighs 40 pounds and is neither the heaviest nor the lightest scooter on the market; however, it can be carried over short distances without much strain.

The Zero 9 runs on 8.5-inch dual-pneumatic tyres; this results in a smoother ride over different terrains. It comes fitted with front and rear suspension for an even smoother ride. The deck is large enough to accommodate both feet in a back-to-back and side-to-side configuration, giving the rider much-needed comfort and stability.

The Zero 9 has three brakes for safety: a disc brake at the front, regenerative brakes, and a drum brake at the rear. It comes with front headlights, rear brake lights, and ambient lights fitted on the stem and sides of the deck for visibility.

It also comes with one of the most robust and convenient dashboards we’ve seen on an electric scooter. The brake levers sit on each side of the handlebars, while the LED display and throttle are tucked comfortably on the right handlebar.

Whether you commute to work daily or want something compact to take you for longer rides around the city, Zero 9 guarantees a smooth and comfortable ride throughout your journey.

Zero 9 Specifications

Zero 9 Cons

The folding handlebar tends to loosen while riding

No bell

Heavy

Zero 9 Summary

The Zero 9 is what many would consider to be a well-rounded electric scooter. Thanks to its speed, range, and comfort level, it is suited for all kinds of commutes. The powerful 600W motor generates speeds of up to 25 mph and is robust enough to tackle up to 10% inclines. It packs a beefy 48V 13Ah battery that lasts over 24 miles on a single charge. The only downside to this great combination is the long charging time; it takes about eight hours to charge fully.

At night, the beauty of the Zero 9 comes to life with a dazzling display of ambient lighting. The LED lighting strips on the stem and under the deck create stunning visuals and enhance visibility. The dashboard display is functional and straightforward, providing information on speed, distance covered, battery level, and current gear.

The Zero 9 provides top-notch comfort, thanks to its dual-suspension system, pneumatic tyres, and spacious deck. It handles itself elegantly on dirt roads and uneven terrain. The dual-spring rear suspension is ideally suited for off-roading and easily supports the maximum load capacity. The 8.5-inch pneumatic tyres can be inflated to the desired level for an even smoother ride over uneven surfaces.

On safety features, the Zero 9 comes fitted with three braking systems: a front disc brake, a rear drum brake, and a regenerative brake, all working in unison to bring the scooter to a complete stop in under 10 feet from a speed of 15 mph. Its LED headlight, rear brake lights, and ambience lights fitted to the stem and under the deck keep the rider safe and visible in the dark.

The Zero 9 electric scooter boasts a simple folding mechanism that allows it to collapse into a compact item that is easy to carry in short distances. Besides folding in half, its handlebars are also collapsible, meaning they can fit even into small car boots.

Performance Overview

The Zero 9 does not disappoint in all spheres of performance. It’s optimised for comfort, speed, reliability, and longevity. Its powerful motor and battery allow it to attain a desirable top speed and a range to match.

This electric scooter easily climbs up to 10% inclines with a load capacity of 165 pounds and a sustained speed of 10 mph. However, there is a noticeable drop in power after riding for around 13 miles; a feature meant to conserve the scooter’s battery life.

The overall build quality of Zero 9 is premium. Its parts are screwed together firmly, and its collapsible parts, such as the handlebar and adjustable stem, feel sturdy. Even though the scooter weighs just 40 pounds, its frame is robust enough to support a maximum load capacity of 220 pounds.

The ride quality on both even and uneven grounds is excellent. The dual-suspension system and 8.5-inch pneumatic tyres play a significant role in absorbing shocks over uneven ground.

The large deck provides stability and comfort to the rider while also giving greater control when braking at high speeds. Speaking of braking, the Zero 9 is equipped with three independent braking systems to bring it to a stop at max speed safely.

Speed & Acceleration

The Zero 9 has some of the most impressive numbers when it comes to acceleration and top speed. It cruises at a top speed of 24 mph, qualifying it as one of the fastest electric scooters on the UK market today.

What is even more impressive is its acceleration. The Zero 9 can accelerate to 15 mph in under 4.5 seconds — two seconds faster than the speed of a typical scooter over the same distance!

Despite churning out 1200W of power, the motor is relatively silent — except for a low hum while riding below 10 mph.

Hill Climbing

Zero 9’s 600W motor generates enough juice to get it over steep inclines with such ease. It easily scales a 10% incline at an average speed of 10 mph while towing a 165-pound rider onboard. But that’s not all! It can also tackle steeper slopes or carry more weight — albeit at reduced speed and power. The lack of dual motors makes it fall short in the hill-climbing department, but it still remains at par with most e-scooters of its ilk.

Battery & Range

The 48V 13 Ah battery tucked under the Zero 9’s deck is powerful enough to attain a distance of 24 miles on a single charge. However, you need to ride on the lowest speed setting and weigh less than 165 pounds to attain the maximum range. If you ride on full power, you won’t probably go past the 18 miles mark.

The battery is guaranteed to last for a long time, given that it is manufactured by LG, a leading electronics manufacturer famous for durable appliances. The only downside is that it takes eight hours to charge fully.

Motor Configuration

The Zero 9 is powered by a 600W motor, which peaks at 1200W. The motor is quiet but produces a low hum while riding below 10 mph.

Construction & Quality

Powered by a brand that enjoys a solid reputation for creating some of the highest-quality e-scooters in the world, the Zero 9 is as sturdy as they come.

Despite a couple of collapsible parts, the scooter is robust and largely remains intact when dropped. Its frame is finished to an above par standard, while the bunched cabling cascading from the T-bar down helps keep the aesthetic clean.

Its dual-suspension comfortably handles the maximum weight load without squeaking or banking to one side. Furthermore, the highly responsive brakes combine well with the pneumatic tyres and suspension to deliver incredible stopping power. 

 Apart from the occasional retightening of the folding handlebars after long rides, the whole structure remains firm while riding. Generally, the Zero 9 feels and looks like a premium product.

Suspension & Comfort

The Zero 9 features two suspension configurations: a front spring suspension and a rear dual-spring suspension. Both suspension systems are strong enough to accommodate the maximum load capacity without slanting to one side. Consequently, the ride quality along uneven terrain is greatly improved.

The e-scooter backs up its solid suspension with a pair of robust pneumatic tyres. This powerful combo guarantees riders a great defence against the jarring effects of jolts, bumps and uneven terrains.

Ride Quality

Arguably, the Zero 9 is one of the most comfortable and stylish vehicles on the market. For starters, its large pneumatic tyres and the dual-suspension system make it an on-road and off-road beast. Additionally, the large deck provides a stable and comfortable ride.

Also, as said earlier, the Zero 9 brake system integrates three types of brakes; disc brake, drum brake and regenerative brake. Cumulatively, these brakes enable you to bring the scooter to a halt with minimal effort, even when cruising at top speeds.

The ergonomic handlebars anchor essential scooter controls and the LED display for improved riding and management of your electric scooter. Comprehensively, the Zero 9 electric scooter packs all the integral features and functions to guarantee safe, comfortable and reliable urban rides.

Lights

The Zero 9 is dolled up with multiple lights to create one of the most visible and visually attractive electric scooters in the market. Apart from the traditional front and rear lights, it goes one step further with a dazzling display of ambient lights.

At the front are two low-placed bright LED lights for illumination and visibility. Brake lights are fitted to the back of the deck. An ambient LED strip runs along the stem at the front and under the sides of the deck, making the scooter extra visible in the dark.

Note that riders may require additional rear warning lights for enhanced visibility.

Braking

A scooter this fast needs brakes to match. Luckily, Zero 9 does not disappoint in this department. It has three brakes, all of whose cumulative function is to safely bring the scooter to a stop.

It has disc brakes at the front, a drum brake at the rear, and a regenerative brake. The result is an impressive 10.2 feet of braking distance from a speed of 15 mph. More importantly, the cable-actuated brakes are easy to adjust if they become too tight or loose.

Portability

Weighing 40 pounds, the Zero 9 scooter is not light, but it is portable over short distances without causing a lot of strain. It boasts a three-tier folding mechanism for improved portability.

First, its handles feature a reliable folding screw-type mechanism that allows them to collapse onto the stem. Then there’s the foot lever lock that enables the scooter to collapse and fold via the anodised metallic tab and strong hinges fixed at the front part of the deck.

Lastly, since this electric scooter boasts a telescopic stem, it can be easily adjusted to provide better ergonomics for taller or shorter and still maintain its compactness when folded. 

Tyres

The Zero 9 e-scooter runs on two 8.5-inch pneumatic tyres. They provide unmatched comfort and can be inflated to the desired level for extra comfort on various terrains.

The tyres are large enough to offer a profound contact patch with the surface, which is crucial for traction and handling. While punctures may be costly, the benefits of having air-filled tyres far outweigh the potential maintenance costs.

Deck

The Zero 9 has a spacious deck that provides comfort and stability for riders of all sizes. Measuring 19.5 inches long by 7.7 inches wide, the Zero 9 deck offers ample standing room regardless of your foot size. The top of the deck is layered to provide extra grip. Additionally, it sits high off the ground, preventing the scooter from scraping the underside against surfaces.

Since there’s nothing attached to the rear of the deck, riders can enjoy hanging over at the end for enhanced comfort and stability. The only downside is that the Zero 9 deck lacks a kickplate at the rear. Usually, the kickplate offers extra space for riders to assume the most natural posture as they enjoy exhilarating speeds.

Controls & Display

The Zero 9 features a robust steering column with ergonomically shaped grips coated with grippy rubber to reduce friction when riding. These handlebars play host to a simple QS-S4 LCD and trigger throttle.

The LCD is simple and shows the information on speed, distance travelled, battery level, and gear. There are two buttons on the display that perform a variety of functions, both individually and collectively. The brakes are operated by hand levers attached to either side of the handlebars.

Water Resistance

The Zero 9 boasts an IP54 water-resistance rating, meaning it can work in light rain and ride over small puddles without damaging any electrical components. However, an IP54 rating does not offer protection against heavy rains or deep puddles.

Reliability

The Zero 9 electric scooter is made to last for generations. With a premium build and a battery that is sourced from a reputable manufacturer, it guarantees durability. What’s more, it’s usable both off-road and on flat terrain.

Warranty 

The Zero 9 warranty varies from six months to two years, depending on the distributor and country where it is purchased.

Zero has one of the best-ranked post-sale customer-support programs. Apart from responding to customer queries, they also perform quality checks on scooters before shipping them to clients.

Known Issues

A common complaint from customers has been that one side of the handlebars loosens during lengthy rides. Also, most riders aren’t happy that the scooter can only achieve maximum range when riding on the lowest speed setting.

Maintenance

The basic rules for taking care of electric scooters apply for Zero 9. Best practices include regularly charging the battery to prevent dead cells, ensuring proper storage, and periodically servicing moving parts.

Also, clean and dust the e-scooter after use, inspect the brake cables for any sign of wear and tear and check the tyre pressure before going for a ride. Remember to tighten loose screws and nuts before you hit the road. We also recommend that you avoid riding in the rain or cascading through pools of water or puddles since Zero 9 is not entirely waterproof. 

Zero 9: Is it worth the money and is it worth buying?

Without a doubt, the Zero 9 is a bargain, and it is worth every penny. Not only does it offer unmatched reliability and service, but it’s also durable and wallet-friendly in the long run. It is practical and can be used on all terrains.

For around £750, you get a lot in terms of features and performance. Similar scooters are going for twice as much the price of the Zero 9, yet it delivers the same performance.