
Electric scooter use has grown exponentially in the last few years so I was very excited to find out what the hype was about. I have a lot of experience riding bicycles recreationally, and wanted to compare an electric scooter to bicycling. After a few days of using the Hover-1 Boss, I am totally hooked. It is well constructed, rides comfortably, and is easy to handle. It is perfect for recreationally or short commuting. I already want to get another so I can ride with other family members or friends! The scooter arrived double boxed. Once the interior box was opened, I noticed that the scooter was well protected by plastic and styrofoam. The assembly process was simple and I think most people should find it to be quite easy. The scooter is shipped almost completely assembled, and all that is required is to use four screws to attach the handlebar section to the scooter mainframe. The next step is to charge the battery using the proprietary charger. Charging takes between 5 and 6 hours. The battery is integrated into the scooter and does not appear to be user replaceable. Next download the App and pair the scooter. The App is not required to use the scooter, but is required to access certain functions. The App requires the creation of an account. There are four selectable speed modes: Pedestrian (P) 0-3 MPH Eco (E) 0-9 MPH Drive (D) 0-15 MPH Sport (S) 0-20 MPH. As soon as I got moving I was completely blown away by how easy and fun this scooter is to ride! The ride is comfortable and stable. The brakes are responsive and provide strong braking power. The throttle takes some getting used to due to the powerful motor, but it didn’t take me long to get the hang of it. I really like how the modes limit the speed. If you are new to electric scooters, I recommend practicing with Eco mode first to get accustomed to the throttle. In Drive and Sport mode the throttle has quite a bit of kick. This is also helpful because some cities have a scooter speed limit of 10 mph in congested pedestrian areas. The scooter has the kick to start safety measure enabled by default, and I am going to keep that function on. This prevents the throttle from engaging the acceleration unless the scooter is moving. This will prevent accidental acceleration before the rider is completely on the scooter. The scooter is easily controlled by the App or the multi-function power button. While I am riding I use the button to quickly cycle through the speed modes. A quick double press of the button will turn the headlight and taillight on and off. In Pedestrian mode the lights are on by default. The lights are both sufficiently bright. The App is the only way to lock and unlock the scooter. When locked the scooter motor can not be engaged, but the wheels will still spin so a chain lock is advisable to prevent theft. The LED display on the scooter provides information on all of the scooter's vital functions. It is easy to read except in direct sunlight. After about 15 miles my battery charge was an excellent 80 percent full. I initially kept my speed at about 10 mph. I will easily be able to get the rated 24 miles per charge. The maximum range can be extended by riding at slower speeds and by riding downhill to maximize natural momentum. Likewise avoiding inclines and uneven terrain will maximize battery power. Finally, how does this compare to riding a bicycle? I enjoy both equally depending on the situation. If I am riding off road or on uneven terrain, I will ride my bicycle. If I want some leg exercise then I will use my bicycle. Even though I was pleasantly surprised that I got more of a workout riding this scooter than I expected, due to the standing riding position that engages the core muscles. But when I want to run around and have fun, I will definitely choose this scooter. Even though I would not describe it as easily portable due to the weight and size, it is much easier to transport than a bicycle. Since the handlebars can be folded down I can easily fit it in my back seat or trunk. I am very much looking forward to bringing it with me the next time I go somewhere I can ride.
This review is from Hover-1 - H-1 Pro Series Boss R500 Foldable Electric Scooter w/24 mi Max Operating Range & 20 mph Max Speed - Black
Posted by Kotor
The Hover 1 Boss R500 is a blast to ride. Scootin’ around my neighborhood gives me the same joy that I had as a child with my cheap, beat up kick scooter. Only now I’ve got real speed and some legitimate range. Prior to the R500, I had one other electric scooter and it wasn’t anything special. Its battery was in the handlebar stem and it maxed out at 15 mph with a range of MAYBE 10 miles. I used it over multiple summers to get between breweries and parks with friends. The R500 is a massive upgrade in a few key ways: 1) Setup and build quality. Right out of the box, you can tell this thing is a beast, weighing it at ~47 pounds. Setup took all of 5 minutes as you only need to screw on the handlebars. Extra screws are included, just in case. The frame is made of metal, as is the folding mechanism. I feel no play while riding, even on rougher terrain. 2) Features. The R500 has a very informative display, multiple drive modes, cruise control, headlights, tail lights/brake lights, built-in bell, front and rear brakes, front and rear suspension, solid (literally) tires, a folding mechanism for easier carrying and storage, and is app enabled/ compatible. 3) Usability. 20 mph doesn’t sound all that fast, but when you’re moving that quickly while standing just a few inches off the ground, it’s plenty. It’s a great pace for running errands or skipping traffic in a more densely packed downtown area. The battery pack is located within the deck, which keeps the center of gravity low and ride stable. 24 miles of range is perfectly adequate for most use cases. The hook that latches when folded makes a great bag hanger for quick trips to the store. The Hover 1 E Mobility app rounds out the whole experience. 4) Comfort and safety. The solid tires ensure that nothing gets punctured, which could cause you to lose control. The front and rear suspension does a nice job of absorbing bumps and other small imperfections in the pavement for a smooth ride. My previous scooter had no suspension whatsoever. Cruise control beeps twice to let you know it’s activated so you aren’t suddenly confused as to why the scooter isn’t slowing down after you take your thumb off the throttle. The integrated headlights and tail lights are a nice touch for riding at night and ensure you’re always visible. I appreciate that the tail lights blink while braking. They’re sure to grab the attention of anyone driving behind you. So why isn’t the Hover 1 Boss R500 perfect? I don’t feel like the display is bright enough. In direct sunlight, I’ve struggled to see important information like speed. Out of the box, my scooter’s brakes were not working well enough. Squeezing the brake levers brought them all the way to the grips. Stopping wasn’t happening quickly. I had to adjust this for better stopping power. Not the end of the world, but not something I really cared to do with a brand new product either. Finally, the Hover 1 brand isn’t the most well known. I previously had a Hover 1 hoverboard and it didn’t last long before breaking. TBD on this scooter. There is a 1 year warranty so let’s hope any issues pop up before that expires. As with any tech, your use case will dictate if this is the right electric scooter for you. I personally have a blast riding the Hover 1 Boss R500 and it fits my use case well. I would recommend keeping it on your shortlist as you shop around.
This review is from Hover-1 - H-1 Pro Series Boss R500 Foldable Electric Scooter w/24 mi Max Operating Range & 20 mph Max Speed - Black
Posted by Dakingindanorf
The Boss R500 Foldable Electric Scooter from Hover 1 is a solid electric scooter with a premium feel, but with some extra weight. With a top speed of 20mph and a range of 24 miles, this will get you around easily and quickly. Living in a big city, I’ve been able to try many different electric scooters each summer with the numerous E-scooters available. But this is my first time owning an electric scooter, which is exciting leading into summer! Pros: - Solid Construction. - Modes make it easier to control and friendly for new users. - Dual brake types that respond well. Cons: - On the heavier side at ~47lbs. - Handles are designed for the taller crowd. Setup out of the box was easy, maybe 5-10mins to attach the handlebars, tools and spare screws are included. The power plugs into a covered port on the left side which is great for keeping the charge port clean. This unit uses an external converter, so you will want to bring along the charger if you are going to be riding near or beyond the 24-mile limit as you will have to use the provided charger to recharge. Full charge took the estimated ~5.5 hours, though between uses charging up kept the Boss R500 going strong. Unlike older e-scooters I’ve tried, I didn’t notice any drop in performance when under 10% power. This is one heavy e-scooter at ~47 lbs., this foldable scooter is not easily called portable. This is not one you will want to take on the train or carry around with you while you’re travelling, or up and down 3 flights of stairs daily. But it makes up for the weight with the solid construction and design choices. The 10in solid tires and dual suspension on both front and rear wheels handle bumps with ease, providing a smooth ride with little discomfort for the rider. The dual brake system is very responsive, drum brake on the front and disk brake on the rear. This was rather helpful as it easily allowed for a quick stop if needed or a gradual slowdown to a stop. The interface is simple to use and understand, there is only 1 button on the dashboard display that functions as the Power On button and the mode cycler. The LED display on the dashboard is clearly visible even in direct sunlight, I had no issues reading the display in varying conditions. The 4 drive modes limit the maximum speed: Pedestrian (0-3 mph), Eco (0-9 mph), Drive (0-15 mph), and Sport (0-20 mph). This was a huge help as the throttle is very sensitive, I found it took a time to get used to keeping a constant speed. Which made triggering the cruise control feature rather hard at first, as it was hard to apply the same pressure for 6 seconds. It took me about 30 minutes to get the hang of the cruise control, which made the ride much more comfortable. The paired app is very easy to setup and navigate. A quick sign-up process links your account to the scooter, which allows you to access more features on the scooter such as Lock, Light controls, and sharing functionality. I played around with the sharing functionality with my Partner, who had no issues pairing with the device once I setup her account and shared the device home with her. It’s like other shared home devices features. We did find that the height of the handlebars is clearly designed for the taller crowd. I’m 5ft 7in and my partner is 5ft 2in, and we both found the height of the handlebars to be a little awkward for us. It’s not enough to be unsafe but took a while to get comfortable with the height. Let’s not forget about the absolute best feature of this scooter, an old school bike bell! But seriously, the bell is loud enough to clearly hear it over traffic. Paired with the headlight and taillight, the scooter is better equipped than most with safety features to enable you to enjoy your ride while staying safe from traffic. Overall, I really enjoyed the Boss R100 Electric Scooter. It will be a great way to get around the city this summer, but I will be looking for a place on the ground floor to lock it up in between rides due to the size and weight. I would recommend considering this electric scooter if you are looking for one to use day to day and want an easy ride with plenty of features. Just have an easy place to store it between uses or be ready to lift daily.
This review is from Hover-1 - H-1 Pro Series Boss R500 Foldable Electric Scooter w/24 mi Max Operating Range & 20 mph Max Speed - Black
Posted by BradfordBT
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