Nevertheless, I used it to get to the post office, get around Brooklyn for several photo outings when I needed to test phone cameras, and … well, that’s about it. That takes me to my biggest problem with it.
Annoying Quirks
Razor says you can get 12 miles, or up to 60 minutes of continuous use, with the EcoSmart. Naturally, this depends on factors like terrain and rider weight. At 215 pounds, I’m very close to the max weight recommendation for this e-scooter, which sharply cuts into its range.
Whereas I had no trouble visiting my parents on the aforementioned EcoReco (they’re about 4 miles from me), I didn’t dare try with the EcoSmart. I usually was able to get around 7 or 8 miles on it before it became too slow to ride, so my trips were often very short. I couldn’t just go off and explore; it forced me to stay in the immediate vicinity of my home, which was not the best feeling when I’ve been feeling cooped up all year.
It doesn’t help that there’s no display showing precisely how much battery is left. All you get are two LEDs, Full and Low, that flicker from green to red when the motor is under high load (like when going up a hill). It’ll slowly shift to red as the battery depletes, but that isn’t a lot to go on. Will I make it home, or am I walking back? (Yes, I can still kick and roll my way back, but that requires a good deal of effort—this thing weighs 63 pounds, remember.)
More annoying is how long it takes to charge the battery. Razor recommends 12 hours (yes, hours). Considering its range is so short for me, that meant I always had it plugged in, even after the shortest of trips. Unlike a smartphone you forgot to plug in overnight, a quick hour of charging in the morning really won’t add much juice.
One more gripe: The retractable kickstand is sturdy and keeps the EcoSmart propped up well, but you need to be very gentle when you kick it back up. It smacks the metal frame hard, a surefire way to wake up your neighbors or housemates when you take it out on a midnight ride.
For the Right Rider
Frankly, the EcoSmart Sup hasn’t been all that fun. When I’m out riding it, I’m happy for the first 2 or 3 miles, but the farther I stray from home, the more anxious I get. And when I’m home, I’m thankful I live in a building with an elevator so I don’t have to lug all 63 pounds of the nonfolding scooter up the stairs, but I’m resentful that I’m forced to store it in an inconvenient spot near an available outlet for 12 hours to juice it back up, since the battery isn’t removable.
When it’s charged, I can’t store it under a couch or prop it up vertically against a wall. It’s just there, taking up room like an uninvited guest. It’s clear this e-scooter isn’t built for me. It’s for someone in the burbs who is shorter, weighs significantly less, and has a garage. If that’s you, then you’ll be happy with this relatively affordable way to get around.