Transcript: Comparing Every NIU KQi Electric Scooter! (100, 200, 300, Air) [u14VtZdkoYw].en.vtt
Niu’s second generation of electric scooters is finally here, and if you’ve watched any reviews on any of these scooters, you’ll know that all the changes and upgrades that they’ve made have made these scooters substantially better than the first generation. Now, in this video, I’m going to take a look at all the scooters together, compare and contrast them, and see which one is the best for you personally as a rider based on your wants and needs. Let’s go. A big thanks to Niu for sponsoring this video. I’ve been a huge fan of their scooter since I first reviewed the KQi3 Pro nearly 4 years ago, and I appreciate them supporting the channel while letting me give you a rundown of their new generation models, which I’m already a huge fan of. Links to all the scooters and their current prices are down below in the description. Now, these four scooters are the newest ones from Niu and officially part of their second generation lineup. This right here is the KQi Air, and although it’s a couple years old at this point, it’s not being phased out like the other first generation electric scooters. Now, if you’re familiar with the scooter, you’ll know why this scooter is sticking around, but if you’re not familiar with this scooter, I’ll talk about it a little bit more later in the video. So, what’s new with these new models? One of the biggest changes is every new model getting front spring suspension. The travel of each fork and whether or not it’s hydraulic changes from scooter to scooter, but generally this results in a significant increase in ride comfort and safety. All the new models also get a twist throttles, a change from the thumb throttles of the previous generation. This twist style throttle has some benefits and drawbacks just like any throttle style. The downside is that I preferred the feel of the previous thumb throttle, and I think it was easier and more intuitive to use for most riders. The upside is an increase in reliability. The twist throttle is less likely to have electrical issues and mechanical issues are less likely with it being more low profile and impact resistant. All scooters also get a safety improvement with bar end turn signals. Let’s dive deeper into each model now starting at the cheapest and working our way up. First up we have the KQi 100 which is currently Niu’s cheapest adult electric scooter in their lineup. Now this has seen a ton of changes from the previous generation KQi 1. So let’s dive into what is new. The old KQi 1 models were in my opinion the weakest point of the first gen lineup. They didn’t offer much for an adult rider being smaller and seemingly more focused on teen riders. That changes with the KQi 100 with it becoming a legitimate contender for the best ultra budget scooter on the market. An increase in size and top speed makes it much more suitable for adult riders while remaining reasonable for smaller or younger riders. There are two versions of the KQi 100 available, the 100P and the 100F with the F offering folding handlebars for about 40 bucks extra. That’s the only difference between these two versions with performance exactly the same for both. You get a new increased top speed of 17.4 mph and a claimed range of 18 miles that translates to 9 to 12 miles of real world max speed riding for an adult rider around 200 lbs. What you’re essentially getting is the size and performance of the previous gen KQi 2 Pro for less money. I also think that this is a better looking scooter than the previous generation KQi 1 and 2. Unlike the KQi 1 the 100 gets a real display that shows your speed, battery level, and riding mode. And overall riding this scooter is a great experience. It’s quick, nimble, and plenty spacious with a small rear tail. Yet another thing not available on the previous gen budget scooters. The handlebars are also wider than the previous generation no matter which version you get though the 100F offers the widest handlebars since they can be folded down with the rest of the scooter so that they don’t compromise portability and size. The wider handlebars lead to more control and a more stable, confidence-inspiring riding experience. The KQi 100 naturally has the least amount of power of the whole lineup with a rear hub motor outputting a max of 600 watts. It’s actually pretty great for the price, but you’ll still find that it struggles on steeper hills. If hill climbing ability is a priority, then you’ll probably want to check out and use more powerful scooters. The biggest upside of this model versus most of the rest of Niu’s lineup, besides the price, is the weight and portability. This thing can pack down to be tiny, especially with the folding handlebars, and at 38 lb you can carry it around easily. This model would be best for someone with a relatively short commute where that 10-ish miles of real-world range is more than enough, or someone that’s on a tight budget, or someone that likes the extreme portability of this scooter. The KQi 100 should check a lot of boxes for a lot of riders, and I think that it’s very difficult to beat at the price. Now we’re to the KQi 200, which is the follow-up to Niu’s best-selling scooter ever, the KQi 2. The KQi 200 is the middle child of the second generation lineup and is currently a pretty substantial jump up in price from the KQi 100. The KQi 2 Pro was probably the best overall value in Niu’s last-gen lineup, and its price was pretty absurd. It seems like the KQi 100 has kind of filled that spot, and the KQi 200 is now a little more performance-focused, adding the aforementioned spring suspension, a larger battery, and a higher top speed. This 200F version also has folding handlebars, meaning the folded size is almost as small as the 100F. The suspension gets a small increase in travel over the 100, though it does feel a bit stiffer, likely to accommodate a larger range of sizes and weights of riders. Visually and size-wise, it’s almost identical to the KQi 2 Pro, though the handlebars get a nice bump up in width, and the suspension adds a touch of extra ground clearance. But since the styling hasn’t really changed, that means that it still has the smallest riding platform of all the models and no rear tail. Even the 100 got a small rear tail, so it would have It’d have to see a similar design here. The performance on the other hand is a notch above the 100 with a top speed of 20 mph from the rear hub motor putting out 700 watts of peak power. The battery gets a 25% increase in size as well, resulting in about 16 miles of minimum range in the highest riding mode. The hill climbing’s also better, though the steepest hills will still be a bit of a challenge. The color center display is a nice upgrade over the 100 and the wheels are ever so slightly larger. These upgrades result in a slightly heavier scooter at 44 lb, but it’s still plenty easy to carry around. So, for a boost in performance while still maintaining the impressive folding size and portability, the 200F could be a great option, but as I’ll dive into a bit more later, the next scooters we’re going to look at might be better bang for the buck. And now we’re to the big boys. These are the fastest electric scooters in New’s lineup currently. This is the KQi 300X and the KQi 300P. Let’s talk a little bit about the difference between these two and I’ll tell you why I think this is possibly the best value in all of New’s lineup. The last gen KQi 3 models were some of my favorite scooters under $1,000 and I think they nailed the upgrades and overall feel of these new KQi 300 models. The 300P is the successor to the KQi 3 Pro and the 300X is the successor to the KQi 3 Max. And just like those scooters, the main difference between these two is the performance. The 300P has a top speed of 200 mph, a claimed range of 30 miles, and a peak output of 900 watts from the single rear hub motor. The 300X offers a bump up to a top speed of 24 mph, claimed range of 37 miles, and a peak output of 1,000 watts. The 300X also gets these sporty red accents to show off that it’s got a little extra punch in the performance department. In practice, both of these reach their advertised top speeds and the 300P got around 18 miles of range and the 300X got about 22 miles of range riding in the fastest riding mode. All of the best parts of the last gen KQi 3 scooters remain on these scooters with the beefy solid construction, sizable riding platform with a big rear tail, wide, easy to maneuver handlebars, fantastic disc brakes that stop on a dime, and the effortlessly intuitive folding system. However, compared to the KQi3 models, both of these get a significant extra bit of pep in their step with quicker acceleration that genuinely surprised me. The new front suspension fork is here, just like the other models, but you get more travel, and this suspension is hydraulic, so it does the best job of the group of keeping its big 10.5-in wheels planted firmly on the ground. Both small and large bumps are handled fantastically, and this corrects one of the few things I didn’t like about the previous generation scooters. Now, the ride comfort matches the quality, all while offering it at the same price as the original launch price of the previous generation models. These scooters still come in under 50 lb, so they stay nimble despite the new features and increased performance. They will still give you that sharp, slicing handling that can be used to recreationally to carve and dart around, or can be used to cut up the roads and sidewalks and get you to work quickly. The weight stays reasonable to carry around even one-handed. These, probably unsurprisingly, are the most fun and confidence-inspiring scooters to ride in the whole lineup. They perfectly balance the needs of a commuter with the wants of a recreational rider without breaking the bank, and while still maintaining that quality we’ve come to expect from you. And finally, the most expensive electric scooter currently in NIU’s lineup, the KQi Air. Now, this scooter is a very unique scooter. I honestly think there’s nothing like it currently on the market, and that’s why it’s still in their lineup even with the second generation scooters coming out. So, let’s dive into what makes it so unique. This is potentially the lightest adult electric scooter on the market, period. With a carbon fiber frame, it weighs in at an insane 26 lb. That means it can literally be picked up with two fingers. On the regular Air, this more complex section of the frame is made of magnesium, but they do have a full carbon fiber version called the Air X. The price jump is quite significant and it only shaves off less than half a pound. So, the Air is the best value unless you really appreciate the engineering of the Air X and are willing to pay for it. You’d expect a scooter this light to be slow and get a tiny amount of range, but that’s not the case. It has a top speed of 20 mph and a claimed range of 31 mi that translates to 16 mi of real-world max speed riding. 700 W of peak power means that it has a very similar acceleration feel to the KQi 3 Pro or the KQi 200F while being almost half the weight of those scooters. Such a light scooter really makes it feel like you’re riding on air and combined with this ultra-wide platform, this is the best handling scooter of the whole lineup. I also think that it’s the best looking scooter of the whole lineup with the real carbon fiber visible through the frame and the low profile design of the deck. The little things like the metallic accents and ambient lights that change color as you accelerate really complete the sleek, modern feel of this scooter. This is a scooter that’s going to be one of the best looking scooters on the market for a long time. And while obviously it doesn’t have suspension in order to save as much weight as possible, the big tires and featherlight feel makes handling bumps of all sizes a breeze. They don’t compromise with the brakes giving you a front disc brake that combines with the rear regen braking to bring this extremely light scooter to a stop extremely quickly. And even with it so light, the max rider weight is still 265 lb. Now, it should be pretty obvious that this is for a rider who wants an extremely portable scooter and values that highly, but still wants to get great performance. Also, if you just like the way this one looks, then that’s valid reason to buy it as well. So, which one of these is the best value? Which offers the best bang for the buck? In my opinion, the KQi 100 and KQi 300 models offer the best value of the whole lineup. If you can afford it, the 300X with the highest speed and best suspension is very much worth the money. I also think that they made the KQi 100 models almost too good. They’re so good that they actually make the KQi 200F at its current price feel like a minuscule upgrade for a lot more money. If you’re shopping with a budget in between the price of the KQi 100 and KQi 300, then I actually think it’s worth checking out the last generation lineup, which is currently heavily discounted as they presumably clear out the last of the inventory. The KQi 3 Max, one of my favorite scooters ever, with similar performance to the KQi 300X, just without the suspension and a couple other new features, is on sale for less than $700 at time of recording. I imagine it won’t be around for much longer, so check out the links below to see if it’s still in stock. The Air is in its own category that I think will appeal to a certain type of rider, but it’s genuinely such a compelling scooter to ride and carry around and just to look at that I think more people should be seriously considering one. The long and short of it is, and I’m not just saying this, all of Niu’s models are fantastic and I’ve been such a fan of them for so long because they deliver such great value and quality for your money. If you want an even deeper dive into any of these models, I’ll link my full reviews for all of these scooters down below in the description. Thanks for watching and I’ll see you in the next one.
Transcript: Honest Review： NIU KQi 300X — Is the Ultimate NIU Scooter Worth It？ [V0bBQ1oHI58].en.vtt
[Music] over the summer I have covered hundreds of miles on the new kqi 300X I put it through a wide range of performance tests and simulated where and tear to see how it holds up over time I’ve benchmarked everything from speed hill climbing and acceleration to real world range and breaking performance in this review I’ll dive into that data no BS just my honest experience with the 300X I’ll also compare it to popular competitors so you can see which one fits you the best so the 300X is basically a beefed up version of the kq3 max which is one of my favorite scooters to date but we finally have something with suspension from new this is something I’ve been waiting for for years basically and they’ve also increased the motor power and added turn signals and a half twist throttle so does this thing beat the 9bot max G2 and is it really that much of an upgrade from the kqi 3 Max let’s dive [Music] in let me just start by saying that the 300X is fast we’ve got an upgraded 500 W rear motor which Peaks at 8,000 ws and you definitely feel the difference over pretty much any comparable scooter I clocked a top speed of 23.6 mph which is definitely up there with the best but I especially felt the power in the acceleration I averaged 15 mph in 3.84 seconds which is 20% faster than the 9bot G2 and around 15% faster than the kqr 3 Max it’s just a night and day difference if you’re not aware of this when you try it out first you’ll definitely be caught off guard I’ve read some people find it almost too powerful but you can always put it in chill via the app I would have liked even more control over the acceleration strength because right now you only have two options in the app and I think having something like a dial from 1 to 10 would be better the 300X pulls really strongly on Hills too in my Hill tests it maintained 15 mph on an 8% grade and absolutely crushed a 177% incline averaging around 10 mph pretty much the only comparable scooter I’ve tested that can keep up is the Vmax vx2 Pro and that scooter doesn’t have any suspension the Motor Performance overall is just incredibly good it’s perfect for both steep hills and heavier Riders who may need a bit more power and the performance retention is also really strong before we continue I want to tell you that I’ve made what I think is the ultimate scooter finder tool it’s been months in the making and I’m really proud of the result you can compare over 300 models based on basically every spec imaginable and here’s what makes it truly special it incorporates live pricing this means you can easily find the models that offer the most range or speed per dollar or whatever you’re interested in you can also make a free account to set up price alerts for your favorite models you’ll get notified when prices drop to your target plus you can see the best deals right now based on real historical price data no fake sales or inflated before prices check the link in the description or jump over to eero.com to make your account and start using the tool it’s completely free you can support my work by purchasing your next scooter through my affiliate links in the description or on my website now back to the review so the 300X has a 48 volts battery with a capacity of 608 W hours new advertises up to 37 M of range but as you may know these manufacturer claims are almost impossible to get in the real world I always run three range tests to give you a realistic picture of what you can expect in my speed priority test I got 22.3 mi in my regular test I hit 26.8 MI and lastly in my range priority test I got 30.4 mil now how does it stack up against the competition well it’s a bit of a mixed bag the 300X actually scores 15% lower than the kqr 3 Max in my tests despite having the same battery capacity the difference likely just comes down to the heavier build and the more powerful motor it also falls a bit short from the 9bot max G2 and the V-Max vx2 Pro next up I looked at the range efficiency so basically how far it goes relative to its weight and the 300X scores .55 m per pound that’s on par with the 9B Max T2 but understandably it can’t quite match the efficiency of some of the zero suspension scooters I’ve tested so this scooter is going to be breaking any range records but it’s still enough for most commutes and longer rides especially if you’re willing to dial back the speed of it just keep in mind that if your main focus in a scooter is range there are alternatives that may be better for you for me the kqi 300X is a 9 out of 10 ride quality-wise it’s easily the most comfortable new scooter and a huge step up from the kqi 3s first off we’ve got really large 10.5 in CST tires which is the same as we know from the eove cruiser just really heavy duty tires they do a notably better job at absorbing Road vibrations and the front suspension is a game changer especially on rougher roads they’ve got about 30 to 40 mm of travel now as a 175 lb Rider I found the suspension well balanced but I imagine lighter Riders will find it a touch on the stiff side for heavier Riders it will feel super cushioned it doesn’t quite match the dual suspension on the 9bot max G2 but for me this is the second most comfortable scooter in its class braking performance is great too we’ve got dual disc brakes and regen here which are incredibly effective I measured a stopping distance in 10.7 Ft which is some of the best at this price you could even have gotten away with just using dual drum brakes instead for less maintenance but you can’t really fault the stopping power the regen brake is super smooth as well new are one of the few Brands to get it right in my opinion you can adjust the strength in the app and personally I found the medium setting to be just right for me now the deck and overall dimensions really make this thing super comfortable for longer rides the deck is super spacious and I love the arch towards the back which act as a footrest that’s really nice for shifting your weight when you’re accelerating or breaking another thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is the ground clearance as with all new scooters it’s quite low here at 2.9 in but this is actually part of the reason why new scooters feel so good to ride it gives a low center of gravity which makes the scooter feel grounded and make it handle much better this is the kind of scooter you could ride with just one hand although you shouldn’t but it just goes to say that it’s Top Class stability the cockpit is welld designed and user friendly too the display is crisp and fairly readable in all light conditions and I love that new has added turn signals it’s just something that every commuter scooter should have they work great but I think they cut off a bit too soon hopefully they can address that with firmware overall the new kqi 300X is just a really good ride it’s super comfortable on rough roads you just always feel in control and there’s enough space to change your stands and accommodate larger Riders when it comes to to portability the 300X does a pretty good job at 48.7 lb this scooter isn’t exactly lightweight but considering the performance in specs I think it makes sense new has carried over the folding setup from the kqr 3 Series through the years I’ve tested more than 70 electric scooters and to this day it’s hands down the best I’ve tried it takes all the boxes it’s easy to operate and has no flex or wiggle whatsoever there’s also a safety switch like any good folding mechanism should have and then the Locking point at the rear f with a release button is what makes it special you don’t have to prepare or line anything up for folding it just works the weight distribution for carrying is nicely balanced but it’s definitely not something I want to log up to the third floor every day if you plan to fit it into a small car trunk or take it on public transport do note that the folded dimensions are also somewhat big all in all I’ll give the 300X a 7 out of 10 on portability it’s clear that new has focused on performance and comfort but they’ve done everything else right to make it as manageable as possible it’s still notably lighter than the 9bot max G2 and for a suspension scooter it strikes a good balance when it comes to build quality and safety the 300X is an absolute tank from the moment you step on it you can just feel the equality standard it’s the kind of scooter that inspires confidence and that feeling only grew the more I wrote it so when you have basically taken the rock solid foundation of the kqi 3 Max and elevated it they’ve added new features to boost both safety and comfort while keeping the price point steady on what the kqi 3 Max previously sold for new are eventually going to pH out the Max and make this their main Flagship scooter now I’ve really pushed this scooter and also simulated some wear and tear for instance by operating the folding mechanism and kickstand 500 times there’s no signs of weakness or squeaking whatsoever the brake calipers are high quality as well they clamp the rotors from both sides which gives more consistent braking better heat dissipation and the fenders are thick and disperse water well speaking of water the 300X has an ip55 rating as someone living in rainy Denmark I can confirm that it performs and holds up well in wet conditions we have over 170 rainy days per year so I’ve been caught in the rain several times and every time it’s made at home with no hardware issues there are no obvious weak points or gaps in the build everything seems protected to a high standard visibility is another area where the 300X hits it home you’ve got the high mounted Halo light and a white tail light both are really bright and you also got some reflectors on the sides I also really love the always on mode this just keeps them running at a lesser strength here in Denmark I am required by law to always have the lights turned on so this is perfect for daytime the turn signals are super bright as well they’re visible from pretty much any angle but as mentioned before they automatically cut off after around 5 Seconds which is bit annoying when waiting at a stoplight and then then just a quick mention about the app new has definitely gotten some slack over their app earlier and it’s been well deserved but I think it works pretty well on the 300X the setup is pretty quick once you have an account and unlike some of the earlier models you can actually swap speed modes right on the dashboard all in all I just can’t find anything to fault on the new 300X it’s incredibly wellb built and based on a proven design so the 300X scores a perfect 10 out of 10 for me [Music] so let’s wrap up with the big question who should buy the 300X for me this scooter is just a master class in design it rides like a dream and it’s built like a tank and it absolutely crushes it on hills in terms of comfort it’s only second to the 9bot max G2 but it has notably stronger Motor Performance it’s pretty much the holy grail for hilly Adventures or heavier riders with a demanding and rough commute so who should buy it well for me this basically feels like a scooter for everyone who has the budget for it it’s perfect for those of you who need strong Motor Performance and maybe have heels to tackle it’s also perfect for poor road conditions or riding on wet roads where you need big tires for traction and a good visibility setup and the safety and stability are just top-notch as well now for Alternatives here are a few recommendations if maximum range and Motor Performance is your priority check out the V-Max vx2 Pro GT it has a larger battery but you do sacrifice the suspension if if you want the absolute best in ride quality and don’t mind added weight and less Motor Performance check out the 9bot max G2 lastly if you’re after something a little more budget friendly and don’t need the suspension now may be a good time to save money on the kqi 3 Pro and Max but do note that they will be faced out in the future the 300p is also an obvious choice if you do decide to go for the 300X or any other scooter for that matter buying through my affiliate Link in the description supports the Channel with a small Commission at no extra cost to you this allows me to keep doing what I do and directly allows me to buy new scooters to test in the future I really appreciate all the support thanks for watching