KUGOO KIRIN G3: DESIGN

KUGOO KIRIN G3: DESIGN

  • A large, imposing figure
  • Deck and handles covered with grippy rubber
  • The manual was not revised with the scooter
  • Not very portable

The Kugoo Kirin G3 establishes its presence right out of the box. Once it’s unfolded and the handlebars are secured, it sits 49 inches off the ground at its highest point. The height is partially attributed to the 10-inch wheels of the scooter, but the G3 also has girth thanks to the rubber-coated deck. It’s 7 inches wide and 27 inches long, offering up plenty of space for proper footing while riding the scooter. Included in the deck’s length is 6 inches of incline on the rear pedal. This pedal doesn’t function as a brake, but instead is made for extra balance. 

The box includes a manual containing numerous languages and some hardware for scooter assembly and maintenance. The only mandatory thing in the included pouch that holds the hardware is the largest Allen key and the five screws used to secure the handlebars to the scooter. The box also includes a rear fender to be fastened to the rear wheel. It isn’t mandatory, but it is a mudguard, so we’d highly recommend putting it on the scooter.

An issue we ran into here was with the manual: we suspect that while the scooter has seen a few small revisions since its initial release, the manual hasn’t been updated to reflect those revisions. For instance, the manual only ever mentions four handlebar screws, but there were five in the box. After taking the scooter for its first ride we found the fifth hole at the front of the handlebars and threaded the final screw into it. We didn’t feel that the handlebars weren’t secure without that fifth screw, but safety is crucial when you’re cruising at 31MPH alongside cars, and we’d like to see issues like that fixed in the manual for both clarity and rider safety.

There are other, much smaller issues with the manual, such as the mention of Bluetooth functionality one time but never elaborating on it, but none of them are big enough to get in the way of riding the scooter properly and safely.

Lastly, the screen between the handlebars is bright enough to see outdoors, and displays a lot of information. It displays the motor’s power draw and temperature, travel speed, speed mode, light mode, and cruise control and kickstart indicators. It also houses the light, speed mode, and speed unit buttons. The screen also shows battery capacity via a ten-segment indicator. Earlier revisions of the scooter displayed percentages, but our unit only had the segmented indicator, which is fine; ten segments provide a decently accurate estimate of remaining capacity and, as we’ll get to later, range anxiety was not a problem with the G3. 

To hold the handlebar stem in place, the scooter utilizes a heavy-duty bolt that you’ll screw in by hand. Simply unscrew the bolt enough to unfold the handlebar stem fully vertically, then screw the bolt back in until you can’t anymore. To fold it again, do that in reverse. The mechanism is a bit stiff, which is a good thing, but we found that holding both brakes while folding and unfolding made the process easier.

The scooter unfortunately doesn’t help you carry it around in any way while it’s folded, which will prove to be a challenge to anyone trying to fit it into a car. The scooter is extremely sturdy, which also makes it extremely heavy. The G3 weighs in at 55 pounds, making it difficult to move without any handles on it. We had to fold the scooter, loop the ribbon around the rear pedal, and carry the whole thing around by the handlebar stem. Some sort of mechanism or handle to carry the scooter around would be extremely helpful here.

The story isn't much better while unfolded. As most of the scooter’s weight is due to the massive battery on the bottom, trying to get the scooter up any stairs you may encounter on your ride is difficult. It is doable, but it might cost you an ankle a la Razor scooter.

The good news, however, is that the scooter will easily fit in the backseat of a sedan while folded. Riders using the G3 as a last-mile vehicle will be pleased with this, as it makes transporting the scooter much easier.

  • Design score: 4/5

https://www.techradar.com/

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