If you're an electric scooter rider looking to amp up your experience, you're in the right place. In this article, we'll explore some tips and tricks to improve your riding experience overall and, more specifically, to boost the speed of your electric scooter.
From understanding the basics of customization to unlocking the full potential of your scooter, we've got you covered with our handy guide below.
Getting Started with Electric Scooters
One of the first things you should do as a new rider is familiarize yourself with the scooter's controls. These controls typically include a throttle, brakes, and a display panel.
The display panel provides important information such as speed, battery life, and distance traveled. Practicing and getting comfortable with the controls will help you navigate smoothly and confidently.
In addition to understanding the controls, it's crucial to learn about the scooter's battery life, charging process, and maintenance requirements. Knowing how long the battery lasts on a full charge will help you plan your rides accordingly.
Familiarize yourself with the charging process, including how long it takes to fully charge the battery and any specific instructions provided by the manufacturer. Regular maintenance, such as checking tire pressure and keeping the scooter clean, will ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Understanding Local Laws and Regulations for Electric Scooters
Researching and understanding the local laws and regulations will not only ensure your safety but also help you avoid potential fines or penalties.
Some areas may have speed limits for electric scooters to ensure the safety of riders and pedestrians. Wearing a helmet may be mandatory in certain jurisdictions, but you should always invest in a quality helmet that provides adequate protection, no matter the laws.
You might also need to invest in additional lighting in order to meet regulations governing street legal electric scooters. And you might find that some improvements, such as tampering with your electric scooter’s factory-set top speed, could potentially make your vehicle illegal on the road.
Staying updated on any changes to the local laws is important. As electric scooters continue to grow in popularity, governments introduce new rules and make amendments to existing ones. By staying informed, you ensure that you're riding responsibly and legally.
Customizing Your Electric Scooter to Suit Your Style
Once you familiarize yourself with your electric scooter’s controls and operations and spend some time riding, you’ll get a sense of your own needs and preferences as a rider.
You might find yourself riding in lower light conditions than you anticipated, or in more heavily trafficked areas, in which case, aftermarket lighting is essential.
You might want to enhance your grip and ergonomics by changing out the hand grips or other components; you might want to invest in higher quality tires with more roadworthiness; and you might need add-ons to hold your phone, tools, lunch, etc.
There are few limits to what you can do to make your scooter better suited to your riding style (if, that is, you’re riding the right scooter for you).
Add brighter headlights + tail lights + brake lights + turn signals
If you ride frequently at night, especially in less urban areas where there is little street lighting, you’ll probably want to invest in an additional headlight, like Apollo’s 2500 Lumen, waterproof light, for maximum safety.
If your scooter lacks brake lights or turn signals and you ride frequently in car traffic, you should absolutely look into aftermarket options. You should also add a rear light to a backpack or helmet. Even if your scooter has a bright tail light, it will always be too low for certain drivers to see.
Smart helmets are a great, affordable way to add signals and additional lighting.
The comfortable stock hand grips on the Apollo Phantom V3
Change the hand grips + grip tape
Changing the grips can make a huge difference when it comes to your riding experience. Cramped or poorly positioned hands can make riding difficult, uncomfortable, and even unsafe.
The kinds of grips you choose can be entirely up to you. While many scooter distributors sell replacement grips, most standard sets of grips made for flat bicycle handlebars will work on an electric scooter.
Adding to or changing your scooter’s grip tape can also have a major effect on rideability.
Change the throttle, display, braking, etc.
All electric scooters broadly use one of three types of throttle mechanisms: twist, finger, and thumb. You can learn more about the intricacies of throttle types here. Suffice to say that each has its pros and cons, and they are suited to different kinds of riding.
Once you’ve learned which throttle works best for you as a rider, you should, in many cases, be able to order another throttle from your scooter manufacturer and swap out the device yourself.
The advantage of Apollo scooters is that they are plug and play, making component-swapping easy. In many cases, this includes swapping components like displays and braking levers.
Apollo’s upgrade kits, for example, allow riders to upgrade all the components on their model to the latest model’s versions without buying a brand-new scooter.
The Apollo City Pro comes with self-healing tubeless pneumatic tires
Upgrade your tires
From super-slick racing tires to steel-studded snow tires, electric scooters tires come in almost as many varieties as tires for cars and trucks.
Replacing electric scooter tires can be challenging because of their small size, and this goes for both pneumatic and solid tires, which each have their own challenges.
However, replacing your tires can make one of the biggest differences to your ride, and if you’re not handy, you can find a scooter repair shop to do it for you.
Consider investing in high-quality tires with lower rolling resistance and better grip, further enhancing your scooter's speed and performance.
Upgrading tires is also a good opportunity to add sealant to tubeless pneumatic tires, making them flat-proof.
The Apollo Pro 2023 includes a built-in Quad Lock for using your phone as display
Add a phone holder, tool bag + more
Accessories for electric scooters can range from the absolutely necessary – a lock if you’re leaving your scooter outside at all – to the redundant – a phone holder if you have an Apollo Pro 2023 with the phone-as-display option.
You’ll find everything from a toolkit to a cup holder at the Apollo accessories page.
Tuning Your Electric Scooter for Maximum Performance
Now that you have a solid foundation, it's time to unlock the full speed potential of your electric scooter. These next set of tricks will help you push the boundaries and maximize your ride.
Boosting Performance with Proper Tire Pressure
Believe it or not, maintaining the correct tire pressure can significantly impact your scooter's speed and overall performance. Check the manufacturer's recommendations for tire pressure and make sure your scooter's tires are properly inflated.
Under inflated tires can cause increased rolling resistance, making it harder for the scooter to reach higher speeds.
Conversely, overinflated tires can negatively affect traction and control. Finding the right balance will optimize your scooter's speed and handling.
Unleashing More Power in Sports Mode
Many electric scooters come equipped with different riding modes, including a sports mode specifically designed for increased speed and performance. Check your scooter's user manual to see if it has a sports mode and how to activate it.
When in sports mode, the scooter's motor will deliver more power to the wheels, allowing for quicker acceleration and higher top speeds. However, keep in mind that using sports mode may drain your battery faster, so plan your rides accordingly.
Some advanced electric scooters even offer customizable riding modes, allowing you to fine-tune the power delivery and speed settings to suit your preferences. Experiment with different modes to find the perfect balance between speed and battery life.
The Apollo Phantom V3 (and the V3 upgrade kit) includes the super-fast “Ludo Mode” standard
Breaking Speed Limits: Removing the Speed Limiter
If you're feeling adventurous and are confident in your riding abilities, you may consider removing the speed limiter on your electric scooter. The speed limiter is a feature installed by the manufacturer to restrict the scooter's top speed.
Keep in mind that removing the speed limiter may also have legal implications, as electric scooters are subject to speed restrictions in many areas. Always familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations before making any modifications.
Disclaimer: Removing the speed limiter may void your scooter's warranty and can be risky, as it can compromise your safety. It's crucial to assess your skills and the potential risks before attempting this modification. If you decide to proceed, consult with a professional or follow reputable online guides to ensure proper installation and safety precautions.
Apollo’s scooters include IoT sensors that send and receive data about your riding habits and preferences, helping to improve firmware updates and troubleshoot repairs.
Maximizing Speed with Controller Firmware Updates
Another way to enhance your scooter's speed is by updating the controller firmware. Newer firmware versions may offer improved performance, including increased top speeds and smoother acceleration.
Check with your scooter's manufacturer or official online forums for any available firmware updates. Follow the update instructions carefully to avoid any issues or potential damage to your scooter. Always prioritize your safety and ensure you're using the latest firmware version tested by reliable sources.
In addition to firmware updates, some scooters also allow you to adjust various settings through dedicated smartphone apps. These settings can include speed limits, acceleration profiles, and even regenerative braking strength. Explore these options to fine-tune your scooter's performance to your liking.
Wrapping Up
Now that you're equipped with these easy tricks, it's time to put them into practice and boost your electric scooter's speed. Remember to always prioritize safety, adhere to local regulations, and assess your skills before attempting any modifications. Happy riding!
