The best electric scooter under $900 category is stacked with GREAT scooters — yet the EMOVE Touring stands out among the crowd. However, there are two notable runners-up, which are uniquely suited for a particular purpose. These are the Segway Ninebot Max and TurboWheel Swift.
Summary
The EMOVE Touring rises above the rest in an extraordinarily competitive category full of excellent scooters.
The EMOVE Touring is the fastest, lightest, most comfortable, and most powerful scooter in this category. It is not a new scooter, but an upgraded version of the venerable Speedway Mini 4 Pro — one that has stood the test of time.
Finally, the Touring comes from a retailer with good customer ratings that has a rapidly growing network of local service centers.
Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
Tested Top Speed:
21.5 mph*
Tested Range:
18.7 mi*
Weight:
40 lb*
Max Rider Weight:
308 lb*
Water Resistance:
IP54
Acceleration:
3.9 s*
**Based on our independent performance tests which may differ from manufacturer’s claims.
The EMOVE Touring is available in United States from VORO Motors.
To crown the best electric scooters under $900, we began with a field of 40 e-scooters. We applied simplecriteria to eliminate scooters that can’t hang and were left with ten scooters, which we subjected to hands-on testing and review. Based on our results, we selected the top three scooters: EMOVE Touring, Segway Ninegbot Max, TurboWheel Swift, to compete as finalists in the Best Under $900 category.
Ninebot Max - Tech Specs
Tested Top Speed:
18.4 mph*
Tested Range:
21.6 mi*
Weight:
42 lb*
Max Rider Weight:
220 lb*
Water Resistance:
IPX5
Acceleration:
6.0 s*
**Based on our independent performance tests which may differ from manufacturer’s claims.
Turbowheel Swift - Tech Specs
Tested Top Speed:
24.0 mph*
Tested Range:
19.6 mi*
Weight:
40 lb*
Max Rider Weight:
220 lb*
Water Resistance:
None
Acceleration:
4.7 s*
**Based on our independent performance tests which may differ from manufacturer’s claims.
EMOVE Touring - Tech Specs
Tested Top Speed:
21.5 mph*
Tested Range:
18.7 mi*
Weight:
40 lb*
Max Rider Weight:
308 lb*
Water Resistance:
IP54
Acceleration:
3.9 s*
**Based on our independent performance tests which may differ from manufacturer’s claims.
Performance and Rankings
Which is best at what?
Performance: EMOVE then Turbowheel then Segway
Portability: EMOVE then Turbowheel then Segway
Ride: EMOVE then the others
Quality: Segway then the others
Motor: EMOVE and Turbowheel then Segway
Warranty: (2023 UPDATE) EMOVE is now the most supported of this list by a good margin, especially with Turbowheel’s decline since 2020.
The EMOVE Touring had the best overall performance — winning or placing second in every category.
The Touring had the fastest acceleration (to both 15 mph and 20 mph) and best hill climb time. It tied with the Swift for having the highest top speed of 24 mph.
The Ninebot Max was the slowest scooter of the bunch but made up for it with its 28.1 miles of real-world range.
Finally, the Swift (above) had the shortest braking distance from 15 mph — thanks to its dual drum brakes. The other scooters have redundant braking systems, but braking is only coming from a single wheel.
The Swift also did well in most other performance categories but did not win.
Ride Quality
The EMOVE Touring has the best overall ride due to its spacious deck and a quality front and rear suspension.
The Touring’s large deck gives 21.8-inches by 7.2-inches of standing space. This makes it comfortable for even riders with larger feet and permits a wide variety of riding positions. Additionally, there are no obstructions at the rear of the deck, allowing you to hang a foot off for even more room.
Despite having only a single pneumatic tire in front (with an airless tire in rear), the Touring has the best ride on all terrains. This is due to its excellent front and rear suspensions. The suspension is able
The Max (above) and the Swift tie for second, in terms of ride. Though the Max lacks a suspension, it has larger 10-inch tubeless pneumatic tires that cushion its ride. Larger tires are also better for rolling over obstacles and require less force to do so. Pneumatic tires also provide better traction in all road conditions, including rain, compared to airless tires. However, because the Max lacks a suspension, ride quality will suffer on poor roads.
Like the Touring, the Swift has a front and rear suspension, but the Touring’s is better.
Portability
The EMOVE Touring is the most portable scooter of the bunch.
Despite having the most spacious (and comfortable) deck, it folds down to the most compact size (or at least very close to that of the Swift). The Touring, coming in at 39 lbs, is also the lightest scooter.
The Ninebot Max (above) is the least portable scooter and heaviest scooter of the group (weight is 42 lbs). It also has the largest folded dimensions, due to lack of folding handlebars and a stem that is not telescoping.
Build Quality
The Ninebot Max is the clear winner in terms of quality, though it just edges out the competition.
Each scooter has notable quality features that distinguish it from the others.
The Max is the only scooter with an official IP (water-resistance) rating of IP54. It can be ridden in wet conditions without worry. The Max also has the most seamless design and best fit-and-finish. It manufactured on a massive scale and has better overall quality control, compared to others which are more hand-built on a smaller scale. Finally, the Max, along with the Swift, have a one-year warranty — the longest of the bunch.
The quality of the Swift (above) and Touring is close, with each having unique advantages. Both have similar fit-and-finish and quality that is more reflective of their smaller scale manufacture. Out of the box, expect to make minor adjustments to both.
The Touring stands out with its highest rider weight capacity of 330 lbs — significantly greater than the 220 lbs of the Max and Swift. The Touring has a respectable 6-month warranty but lags behind that of the Swift.
Summary
The EMOVE Touring is available in United States from VORO Motors.
Our content is indepedent, but buying through our links may earn us a comission.
The EMOVE Touring reigns supreme as the best electric scooter under $900. Of the top contenders we tested, it is the quickest, most portable yet has the largest deck and most comfortable ride.
Its the lightest scooter of the bunch, but has the largest battery pack (756 watt-hours), which delivered more than 22 miles of real-world range. We tested the scooter on a cold day; in warmer weather, we expect it will deliver even better performance and a few more miles of range.
Runners-Up
The Segway Ninebot Max (above) is the longest-ranged best scooter under $900. Though the least powerful of the group, it has a great design, large flat-resistant tires, the best fit-and-finish. It’s also typically priced $100 below the limit, making it one of the least expensive scooters. The case for choosing this over other scooters in this category is that you are looking for the most reliable scooter with the longest range but don’t need speed.
The Turbowheel Swift (above) is the Goldilocks scooter of best under $900 category. It is one of the most feature-stacked Titan T8 variants available, has dual drum brakes, good range, and good acceleration. The case for choosing this scooter is its lower price point compared to Touring, but still being competitive in every category.
Full Methodology For Selecting Best Electric Scooter Under $900
We considered approximately forty electric scooters — all costing between $600 and $900. Next, we excluded any scooter that wasn’t available for purchase as of 2020. We applied simple criteria to narrow the choices down to just ten scooters handful of scooters that we subjected to full, in-depth, hands-on testing, and comparison.
Max weight of at least 220 lbs. We chose these criteria because we are looking for powered scooters for adults.
Only well-known, established brands. We excluded brands that have recently appeared, on Amazon for example, that may not be around in the next few months.
Battery capacity of more than 200 watt-hours. This ensures a range of at least 7 miles, which is reasonable at this price.
Challengers
We’ve reviewed and tested every scooter from this list (or at least some version of it). From here, we’ll purge a few more scooters to keep the list simple.
Note: values below are from our independent testing and may differ from the specifications provided by the manufacturer.
* indicates that the value was estimated from our real-world tests of a similar model, but accounted for differencdes in motor power or battery size.
After applying these criteria, we are left with nine unique challengers from eight notable brands, including Fluid EMOVE, FreeRide, Mercane, Segway, TurboWheel, Unagi, Xiaomi, and Zero.
Unagi Model One (Single Motor)
We reviewed the Model One E500 (above), which is fairly quick — and there is certainly a place for this scooter. However, the single motor version is too expensive and underpowered to be a noteworthy competitor and we drop it from this comparison. If you’re thinking about this scooter, we recommend only the dual motor version, which falls above the price range of this comparison.
2023 UPDATE: Unagi is a brand that has stuck around over the years, and they’re now know for the leading monthly scooters subscription in the world. Our content has been updated accordingly and you can check it out!
Fluid FreeRide Horizon (13 Ah) and Zero 8
The Zero 8 and Fluid FreeRide Horizon (13 Ah) (above) are great scooters, and we strongly recommend them. However, along with the TurboWheel Swift, they are all Titan T8 variants (with the Zero 8 being the original one). We drop the Zero 8 and Horizon — and let the TW Swift through — because the Swift is currently the most feature-packed T8 variant. However, there are reasons that one might choose the Zero 8, which has many more customization options, over the Swift.
Xiaomi M365 Pro
Xiaomi M365 Pro is a longer-ranged version of the original M365. However, it’s not widely available outside of Europe and was totally overpriced in North America — costing nearly as much as the even better Ninebot Max — as of the last time we checked.
Segway Ninebot ES4
The Segway Ninebot ES4 is identical to the ES2 (picture above), which we did a full in-depth review on. These scooters have a nice design and build, but are totally overpriced for their features. They have mediocre power, range, and terrible ride quality. We, therefore, drop them from the comparison.
Mercane WideWheel (single motor edition)
The Mercane WideWheelcertainly has its place. However, like the single motor Unagi, we think the dual-motor 2019 or Pro version of this scooter is the only one worth considering.
Following our purge, just three finalists remain — the EMOVE Touring, Segway Ninebot Max, and TurboWheel Swift. To determine the best scooter under $900, we graded these scooters based on results from hands-on testing, in terms of performance, ride, portability, and quality.
Evaluating the Finalists
We evaluated the finalists in four areas: performance, ride, portability, and quality.
Performance. Performance basically describes fast the scooter goes, how far it goes, and how quickly it accelerates and stops. Factors affecting this are brake type, motor power, controller power, and battery capacity. All scooters are tested under the same conditions with a 165 lb rider. We use high-precision Racelogic GPS unit — the same type used for performance car testing. We use this type of unit because cell phone-based performance logging is unreliable for many of these tests. For performance, we consider:
Acceleration time (0 to 15 mph)
Top speed
Range (100% to 0% charge)
Stopping distance from 15 mph
Ride. Ride or ride quality basically describes the feeling and stability of the scooter on a variety of terrain. Some scooters have a great ride on smooth roads but are punishing on poor ones. Features that affect ride quality are tire type and size, the geometry of the scooter, and the presence or lack of suspension. To test ride quality, we typically ride the scooter for several weeks and for around 100 miles. We test the scooter on the following types of terrain/conditions:
Roads in good/bad repair
Dirt trails
Riding over grass
Up and downhill
Wet and dry conditions
Portability. Portability describes how easy a scooter is to carry, store, and bring onto public transportation. Some things that affect portability are weight, folded dimensions, and folding mechanism. We specifically rate portability, based on:
Weight
Folded dimensions
Folding ease and speed
Carrying ease
Quality. Quality encompasses how well the scooter was designed and assembled. We also consider warranty duration and post-purchase support data, if known. Some scooters need a full tune-up as soon as you take them out of the box, while others are ready to ride. To rate quality, we consider the following factors:
Fit and finish
Quality of components
How solid the scooter feels
Noise or rattling parts
Drop test, repeated three times
Related Reviews
RS5+
Scooter with Swappable Battery!
Phantom V3
The Scooter That Changed Everything.
Roadrunner pro
Awesome Mad Mini-Seated Electric Scooter
P1 2.0
40mph Scooter for $1,400!
Our newsletter has the biggest discounts, newest scooter reviews, best how-to’s, & no spam. Unsubscribe anytime!
We built a tool that makes it effortless for you to find a scooter perfect for your lifestyle. Filter, compare, and sort through almost every electric scooter in the industry.
