$399 gets you a pretty decent ride!

The GoTrax XR Elite is the latest budget-minded electrical scooter from GoTrax. And on the silly low price of $399, the GoTrax XR Elite is as inexpensive as it’s whelming. Which is to say, fairly.

If you’d like high-end suspension, underdeck lighting, a protracted vary battery, and sufficient energy to climb the Rockies, that’s superior.

However look someplace else.

As a result of the GoTrax XR Elite is all about filling the wise area of interest of a no thrills, no frills, plain outdated e-scooter that simply works.

Take a look at the scooter in motion in all of its glory under with my video evaluate. Then hold studying to get into the nuts and bolts of why the GoTrax XR Elite would be the excellent electrical scooter to your finances.

GoTrax XR Elite electrical scooter video evaluate

GoTrax XR Elite tech specs

• Motor: 300W steady
• Prime velocity: 25 km/h (15.5 mph)
• Vary: 30 km (18.6 mi) as marketed
• Battery: 36V 7.8Ah (280 Wh)
• Max load: 100 kg (220 lb)
• Weight: 14.6 kg (31.9 lb)
• Body: Aluminum
• Suspension: None
• Brakes: Entrance motor braking, rear mechanical disc brake
• Wheels: 8.5-inch air-filled tires
• Extras: LCD show with speedometer, LED headlight, security lockout on folding mechanism, 6 reflectors surrounding the scooter, IP54 water resistance

A scooter that lands its punches the place it counts

In terms of low-cost scooters, you understand going into them that you simply’re not getting a premium product. However GoTrax has appeared to all the time nail the “adequate” area of interest.

That’s precisely what the GoTrax XR Elite is, a scooter that’s adequate for many riders that aren’t searching for excessive speeds or excessive efficiency.

It’s designed to get the job achieved and completely nothing extra.

With a high velocity of 15.5 mph (25 km/h), you’ll sustain with most riders within the bike lane however you received’t be passing automobiles.

For me, I discover that to be quick sufficient for true metropolis driving, akin to metropolis blocks, however it may well really feel a bit sluggish after I get into the suburbs. With open streets, 15 mph typically leaves me wanting extra.

At these occasions although, I remind myself what I’m driving: a $399 electric scooter. It’s not one among my 40 mph crazy e-scooters, it’s a finances scooter. And after I hold that in thoughts, out of the blue issues look peachier.

With 280Wh of battery (round 10% greater than the previous GoTrax XR Ultra), I can get round 15 miles (25 km) of vary out of the GoTrax XR Elite after I’m driving fairly exhausting. I’ve by no means seen the 18.6 miles (30 km) of vary that the corporate claims, however then once more I just about journey it at full throttle, in order that might be why.

A couple of different adjustments in comparison with the earlier XR Extremely model of this scooter embrace hiding the brake cable contained in the stem of the scooter and in addition surrounding the scooter with a pile of reflectors. There’s an LED headlight and taillight for good measure, however the sheer variety of reflectors on this factor is spectacular. They’re in all places – and nobody goes to overlook them at night time.

The one main draw back of this scooter might be the dearth of suspension. However once more, you’ll be able to’t actually ask for suspension on a sub-$400 electrical scooter.

I discover that easy roads are fantastic and sidewalk cracks are manageable, however you actually don’t need to hit an excellent pockmarked street on this scooter. In case your commute is totally on cobblestones, keep away from this one and grab something with full suspension.

For simply your run of the mill street particles and brick gaps, the air-filled tires are first rate at absorbing the shock.

Some individuals hate air-filled tires since they imply you may get a flat tire in the future. I’m within the pro-air-filled tires class although. Sure, there’s an opportunity for a flat. However the journey is simply a lot nicer than stable or honeycomb tires on a non-suspension scooter.

What’s the decision?

So right here it’s: the GoTrax XR Elite is first rate. It’s not superb. But it surely’s obtained an incredible worth.

And for its budget price of $399, it does every part I would like it to do. As a metropolis commuter for reasonable size commutes and solely gentle hills, it might be a superb alternative for a finances scooter.

You probably have massive hills or tremendous bumpy roads, I’d advocate going with one thing more powerful and with real suspension. Simply consider, you aren’t going to search out it for a worth like this.

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