Welcome back to Just Fun Tech where we step outside the world of PC gaming and look at neat products that improve your life in sheer fun (plus a lot more). Today, we’re looking at the Ninebot F2 Pro, an electric scooter designed for commuting that’s capable of zipping around at speeds of up to 20 miles an hour and can carry you safely for more than thirty miles. This is genuinely one of the most fun products we’ve ever tested. The Ninebot Kickscooter F2 Pro is an absolute blast when you want to get out of the house and explore the world – or just need a fast commute to work.
Specifications
- Current Price: $799 (Amazon, Ninebot)
- Name: Ninebot KickScooter F2 Pro
- Model: 051203U
- Dimensions: Approx. 45.6 × 22.4 × 49.3 in (1158.5 × 570 × 1252 mm)
- Folded Dimensions: Approx. 45.6 × 22.4 × 20.8 in (1158.5 × 570 × 529 mm)
- Net Weight: Approx. 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg)
- Max. Payload: 265 lbs (120 kg)
- Recommended Age: 16+ years
- Required Height: 3’11”–6’6” (120–200 cm)
- Max. Speed: Approx. 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Theoretical Range: Approx. 34 miles (55 km)
- Range at Max. Speed: Approx. 22 miles (35 km)
- Max. Slope: Approx. 22%
- Traversable Terrain: Most of the flat road conditions and Cobblestone road.
- Operating Temperature: 14–104°F (-10–40°C)
- Storage Temperature: 14–122°F (-10–50°C); recommended: 50–86°F (10~30°C)
- IP Rating: IPX5
- Duration of Charging: Approx. 8h
- Battery Nominal Voltage: 36V
- Max. Charging Voltage: 42V
- Charging Ambient Temperature: 32–113°F (0–45°C)
- Nominal Capacity: 12.8 Ah
- Nominal Energy: 460 Wh
- Battery Management System: Over-heating, short circuit, over-current, over-discharge and over-charge protection
- Nominal Power: 450 W
- Max. Power: 900 W
- Output Power: 70 W
- Input Voltage: 100-240V~50-60Hz
- Max. Output Voltage: 42 V
- Rated Output: 41 V 1.7 A
- Tire Pressure: 42–48 psi
- Tires: 10-inch Self-sealing tubeless tires
What is Just Fun Tech?
Here at MMORPG, we often get requests to review products that fall outside of our scope. Beauty products, clothes driers, couches, thermal cameras… the works. Most of the time, these are just not a good fit, but every now and again, we get a request for something that looks genuinely fun and interesting. We believe that though it is PC gaming that draws us together, our audience is interested in fun and exciting technology. Rather than let those opportunities pass, we decided to share them with you as part of this special series.
With many of these products, we don’t claim to be the expert authority. Instead, we approach them from the newcomer’s perspective with two core questions: Are they fun and do they bring joy that enhances your life? Just Cool Tech is about highlighting and exploring these products, and the Ninebot F2 Pro is just such an example.
This feature is the first of two e-vehicle JFT’s we have coming. These were originally planned as part of a summer fun series, but with global shipping being what it is, we missed that season somewhat. Even still, the F2 Pro and an upcoming feature on the Velotric Thunder 1 ST highlight just how much fun one of these EVs can actually be.
The Ninebot F2 Pro – Kickstarting Fun: A Vehicle Not a Toy
The Ninebot F2 Pro is easily one of the most fun devices I have ever tested or even owned, and I didn’t expect that going in. The prospect of an electric scooter is compelling, especially if you live in a city and need a cost-effective way to get to work without hailing a cab daily. For a suburb dweller like me, that’s less of a demand, but I have still been enthralled by the kickscooter experience. You’ll get the most value using these as a commuter experience but the simple act of riding around is a blast.
The Ninebot F2 Pro isn’t the same caliber as the scooters you see kids riding around your neighborhood. It is a true electric vehicle while the scooters you find in department stores like Walmart and Target are toys.
Unboxing it for the first time, I was surprised at how heavy and robust it was. It uses a thick metal frame with a heavy, durable double-locking hinge used for folding down the handlebar. The tires are big, 10-inch, and the front is flanked by an impressively quiet disc brake. The handlebars are tall and heavy-duty with a built-in display showing your speed and performance mode. There are turn signals and a surprisingly bright headlight and tail light. It even includes a built-in shock, which research says isn’t common at this price point.
It’s subjective and nebulous, but I’ve ridden many push scooters and examined available-in-store e-scooters. The F2 Pro immediately feels like like an electronic vehicle that’s made for daily commuting, while still being a heck of a lot of fun to ride in general. And that makes sense, because Segway, the company behind Ninebot, gained its foothold with self-balancing scooters for in-city commuters and tourists. It’s been in the EV game before EVs were a “thing.”
That perception is bolstered by the powerful motor built into the back wheel. It’s able to output 900 watts of peak power (450W nominal) and hit a top speed of 20 MPH. On a scooter, that is fast and thrilling every time — and it’s put dozens of miles on it and near-daily rides for the last month. That speed is broken across three performance modes: Eco, Drive, and Sport, each increasing the acceleration and max speed. Sport Mode is the fastest and zips. You need to unlock the top speed within the app because of it, but when you do, you quickly reach that top speed and have a maximum rated range of 22 miles. Eco Mode is the opposite and goes about half as fast but is rated for 34 miles. Drive Mode is the standard and lands in between, balancing speed with battery life.
The F2 Pro is packed with features and design considerations you won’t find on lesser scooters. The front shock isn’t just for show, it’s a working suspension system to absorb the impact from bumps in the road. It has cruise control and a traction management system for when you need to ride on wet pavement (and is IPX5-rated to do just that). The tires are filled with a jelly layer, so they’ll self-seal if you ride over a nail. (They’re not made for off-road use, though.) It features a regenerative rear brake that boosts battery life further, the level of which can be customized in the app. The handlebars are wider for a more stable grip. You can lock the kickscooter when it’s not in use and register it with Apple Find My to locate it if it goes missing. There’s even a chimy little bell and a shrill high-decibel “horn” (more of an extended beep) to alert passersby.
Of all of these, I like the double-locking handlebar latch the best because it makes the F2 Pro significantly safer to ride. The handlebar clicks into place once it’s erect and is locked with a standard clamp. Built into that clamp is a spring-loaded metal latch that prevents it from loosening while you’re riding. Even if you have to bump it, when the latch hits the halfway point, beyond which the handlebar will fold, it locks again. At both of these steps, you need to manually pull the latch upward — it can’t do it on its own — so the only way the handlebar will fold is if you want it to.
Some users have complained about the deck being narrowed than some of Ninebot’s other models. Having never used those, I can’t say, yet have no reason to doubt these claims. What I can say is that I wear a size nine shoe and could easily fit both feet in a standard riding position with room to spare. If you have very large feet, this is potentially a concern.
All of this culminates in an extremely robust kickscooter that offers the kind of performance and build quality that could make it a viable commuting option. Or, as has been the case for me in this review window, a way to get outside and explore my community and find adventure in the outdoors.
Ninebot Kickscooter F2 Pro - Ready, Set, Ride
You don’t need to live in a city for the F2 Pro to be a worthwhile purchase — and ironically, if you live in a city that has its own e-scooters, you probably already know why: they’re a blast to ride no matter what you’re doing.
I’m going to level with you: since I live in the suburbs, you don’t see very many adults riding scooters around (though our city has its own fleet you can rent and ride as an alternative to the bus). I was a little bashful. But after getting used to it, that completely faded. And even better, several of the other dads commented genuinely about how fast it was, which allowed us to strike up conversations I wouldn’t have otherwise had. It doesn’t look like a toy. It looks fun.
Riding it for the first time was simple. Finding and keeping your balance can be mastered in seconds. The basic Drive and Eco modes have a smooth enough acceleration that it’s not at all jumpy, which lowers the learning curve and works to quickly build your confidence. Bumping to 20 MPH bordered on scary the first few times but after a single evening, I relished in the wind against my face and a feeling that felt akin to flying inches above the pavement.
The more you use it, the more it becomes like second nature. You learn little tricks like to keep your legs slightly bent. Like dipping your body into dips in the pavement, both increasing your stability. You start to watch the road or sidewalk for grooves or unevenness and naturally adjust your course without thinking about it. You stop death-gripping the handlebars and start trusting your balance and the machine beneath your feat.
The sheer joy of riding sent me out into the community. Shortly after getting it, I began looking for any reason to get out there and take a long ride, and leave my car at home. Need supplies to fix a window frame? I’m grabbing the backpack and zipping the eight miles to the store and back, flying all the way.
But more than that, the simple ease of the F2 Pro encourages getting outside and exploring. I went off into town and explored side roads. I discovered a stream on a dead end I had never seen before. I climbed hills I didn’t think it could manage. I shot down the other side with my hair blown back on my forehead.
Not once did the scooter ever make me worry. It never stuttered, never failed, never bugged. It was rock solid and has stayed that way for the last 70 miles of riding.
When I told my dad, who also finds this kind of tech neat, about the rated battery life, he said that he assumed 22 miles at max speed was with no load and that the real mileage would be less than that. I don’t know how Ninebot conducted their tests. Some competitors do exactly what my father suggested. I ride almost exclusively in Sport Mode, and for one battery cycle, I did my best to keep it locked at 20 MPH as often as possible. I stopped at the four stop signs around my neighborhood. It lasted for just over 20 miles and had about five percent of its battery left.
Actual mileage will vary a lot. Heavier riders won’t go as far as the motor has to work harder to deliver the same ride. Rough terrain and frequent starts and stops will also impact it. I’m 5’8” and weigh 150 pounds. I might be the exact demographic they designed for with how close my results were, but take that into consideration for how long it might last for you. Recharging takes about eight hours and is best set as an overnight routine.
The biggest issue I faced was that it was heavy. You’ll want to have a lock for trips to the store because you certainly won’t want to carry its 41-pound heft very far. That goes with the territory with its sturdy frame, giant battery, and powerful motor, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind. If you’re taking it to work, make sure you have a safe place to bring it indoors.
Simply put: even as someone using it outside of commuting, its intended purpose and something it seems would be just about perfect for within a city (so long bus stops and cab rides), the F2 Pro is an absolute joy and enhanced my summer tremendously.
Final Thoughts
The Ninebot Kickscooter F2 Pro is the quintessential “Just Fun Tech” product. It’s joyful, freeing, and fun. It encourages you to get outside and find adventure — or at least stop paying for public transit. It was great for the hot days when the wind felt great and better for the mild ones when the world is inviting. It’s a product that will entice you away from your computer but can also bring back that childlike joy of moving fast and carving across the pavement. This is fun tech.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Some articles may contain affiliate links and purchases made through this will result in a small commission for the site. Commissions are not directed to the author or related to compensation in any way.
