I walk almost every day for health and relaxation. But sometimes a dude just wants to get places faster (down the street for a beer; going to grab the mail) without sweating or firing up a car. I recently upgraded to the Razor E-XR electric scooter and, man, it is my favorite way to get around. It has turned me into an unabashed scooter man.
Razor bills the E-XR as it’s most powerful electric scooter to date, with a laundry list of impressive specs. The beefy rear-drive street machine boasts a 350-watt, kick-to-start, high-torque, brushless hub motor. A 36V lithium-ion pack, rechargeable battery provides a range of 20 miles and 80 minutes of continuous use. And, most importantly, the E-XR can hit 17 miles-per-hour on the flats — enough to get shirt-tails flapping, turn heads and cause wives to get that concerned look and ask about increasing life insurance.
People familiar with urban rental scooters may recognize the E-XR’s lines, but this Razor is for personal use, which means that it can have more power than rental versions. And make no mistake, the scooter has some torque. After kicking off, pressing the thumb-operated accelerator results in a swift burst of momentum, launching scooter and rider into a silent and exhilarating glide.
The E-XR is more than capable of carrying riders to a local corner store to pick up some milk and butter. But it also has enough range and power for a fun afternoon spin for no reason whatsoever. In other words, it’s pretty dang versatile.
There are a couple of caveats. While the front wheel is pneumatic and cushy, the rear wheel is solid. So while you may not feel the terrain in your hands as you grip the handlebars, you can definitely feel rough roads and shallow potholes in your feet. On smooth roads, the E-XR is a dream, but things might get a little squirrlly if your local streets are in disrepair. Either way, you definitely want to ride with a helmet. It is, after all, a pretty fast scooter. Those without experience might feel a tad wobbly before they get the hang of it.
Importantly, the E-XR is rated for riders 18-years-old and over. This is definitely a scooter for adults. But that doesn’t mean riding it needs to be a solitary endeavor. I was able to ride the E-XR to our local beach with my kids beside me — one on a starter scooter and another on a bike. The brake allowed me to stay slow enough to not leave them behind, but the motor gave me enough power to catch up if they were out-pacing me on the hills.
Also, for bigger dudes, it’s important to note that riders over 220 pounds may have slightly decreased performance. My weight is none of your damn business but I will say that the larger hills required that I kick occasionally to keep the scooter from falling below 3 mph and stalling. But, that’s okay. I need the exercise anyway.
Those mild inconveniences are none-the-less balanced by some small but supremely helpful features. A convenient kickstand allows the less-than-ideally-portable scooter to stay upright while it charges in a garage (good luck if you live in a walk-up apartment). Also, a disk brake provides fine slowing and stopping power which triggers a brake light to help motorists see you. Finally, a headlight offers increased visibility at night and at dusk.
All-in-all, the Razor E-XR electric scooter is a speedy machine that is fun for both recreation and neighborhood transportation. And it’s sturdy and powerful enough for most dads to enjoy when they decide they’re done walking for the day.
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This article was originally published on June 13, 2019
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