I wish I could ride in Japan too ...
The ride quality of an electric scooter is great. It's fun enough to change your mood with just a little ride, you can move quickly, and it's easy. However, there is a risk that you cannot close your eyes with just that positive factor. It is an undeniable fact that accidents occur frequently. Therefore, the $ 1,600 (about 172,000 yen) electric scooter "Boosted Rev" emphasizes safety more than ever. Although it is an electric scooter that is not yet popular in Japan, let's check the review of US Gizmodo for later study.
Electric scooters are dangerous. I feel like I'm seeing accident news related to electric scooters almost every day these days. There are even fatal accidents. Therefore, it is natural that electric scooters with improved safety will be announced. The Boosted Rev is a $ 1,600 electric scooter that combines three brakes, a large steering wheel, thick tires, and a frame that's resistant to bumps and dips. On the other hand, it also has a maximum speed of 24 mph (about 38.6 km) (which is quite scary at a thrilling speed).
Boosted Rev
What is this? : Electric scooter Price: $ 1,600 What I like: It's solid, stable, and fun: It's really heavy
No worries about riding!
The first thing I want to say is that I didn't feel anxious about riding. Stability is excellent, it feels like you are riding an electric bicycle rather than a solid electric scooter. The steering wheel is exactly that of a bicycle. There is a slot on the right side of the steering wheel where you can adjust the speed. The review was done in the city of New York, but thanks to the stable frame, steering wheel and thick tires, the ride is much better than expected. I was able to run well in the bumpy city of New York. However, I feel the impact of road unevenness, so I need to use my feet well. But I never felt like I was about to fall or hit.
To be honest, this is not the case with the company's major model, Boosted Board. I reviewed 2 models of Boosted in the past, but at that time I banged my ass. This time, it is different from Boosted's past model, which was a pain. I wonder, it's easy to balance.
Convenient everyday, less fear of theft
It can travel up to 22 miles (about 35 km) on a single charge. Of course, this is the maximum, so if you have to speed up where there is no slope. Rev has three ride modes, each with different speed and acceleration. After trying this and that for a few days, I personally liked Mode 3, which has a maximum speed of 24 mph. I spent all day driving around the streets of New York, crossing bridges, climbing hills, and getting stuck in traffic. The battery ran out after a mileage of 11 miles, but it was enough because I was able to return home safely.
I'm sure many people expect it to be used for commuting to school, but I found it very helpful to wander around the neighborhood. Even at a sandwich shop that is very delicious but a little far from walking, you can jump with Rev. At the sandwich shop, I locked it with the pole on the sidewalk and parked it, but I didn't think there was much concern about it being stolen. Since the structure is complicated, it is difficult to unlock the U-shaped lock even for a considerable professional thief.
However, the balance is good because it is designed so that users can maintain it. I didn't see any repairs during the review, but I don't think there was any problem if there was one. I'm originally a bicycle rider and I'm used to repairing bicycles.
…heavy
The inconvenience of Rev was noticeable when I wasn't riding. It weighs 46 pounds and is quite heavy to lift and carry where you can't ride. Since it is foldable, it can be carried with just a heavy weight. You can hold it like a suitcase by simply folding the handle with one hand by pressing the switch on the front of the scooter. It's heavy. It's heavy enough to climb up and down the stairs when getting on the subway.
Brake smoothness!
Rev has three brakes. The first is the regenerative braking of the wheel on the right steering wheel. Turn it forward to accelerate, and turn it backward to decelerate (you can charge a little when decelerating). The second is a disc brake like the one on a mountain bike on the left-hand drive. The third is a brake that slows down by pressing the stopper on the rear wheel with your foot. The main one is the first regenerative brake. However, it is safe to have many options in case of emergency.
I feel the charm of Rev not only when I'm running but also when I stop. This is a feeling that the previous model Boosted Baords does not have. Accelerating is smooth and fast, but slowing down is slow, and the electric scooter ends up rubbing your feet. This is smooth for Rev. It will slow down naturally. Maybe this is because it's made like a bicycle. It is made with careful consideration for safety.
Rev is the latest model in the electric scooter world. Bird, known for its rental electric scooters, also plans to start selling electric scooters for private ownership by the end of the year. Unagi from Kickstarter has also started selling electric scooters. This is also not bad to ride in the review, but after all the steering wheel is small and the tire is like a toy, and the plastic Unagi was somewhat uneasy when riding. So I think a solid model like Rev is a new & welcome type in the electric scooter industry. If this becomes popular, the industry as a whole may work on a scooter model that is safer and has a stable ride quality. The more I look at other companies' models, the more I feel grateful for the existence of Rev.
$ 1,600 is one of the most expensive electric scooters. With Unagi, you can buy two. You can also buy an electric bicycle. It's been a year on the New York Subway. However, when it comes to daily main transportation costs, I don't think it's that expensive. It's fun and much safer than other models. Not only electric scooters, but also skateboards and bicycles, even if it is a highly safe model, wear a helmet properly.
summary
・ It's really fun
・ Improved safety with stable construction and several types of brakes
・ Maximum mileage on a single charge is 22 miles (about 35km)
・ A reasonable price of $ 1,600
