In 2019, it's all about feelings. Trends and influencers can make or break the popularity of a product, and can drive a certain (age) group towards a particular technical item, clothing or even a cosmetic product. Whether domestic or international, distributors try to sell their products through targeted marketing, mostly using a social platform.
But it's not enough to see a Ninebot, you have to feel the sensation you get when you use it (usually with your mouth open).
Known for years as the Segwayas a means of transport, which are mostly offered to tourists on a rental basis. They are usually equipped with tyres and handholds, are not easy to carry and are even heavy. We cannot fit them in a normal car, and even carrying them for short distances is a real pain. Nowadays, the police use modified versions - even in Budapest - they usually only share the same operating principle, but their usability and quality are far from the original Segway models.
The Ninebot was founded in China as part of the Xiaomi ecosystem. It produced smaller, more practical self-balancing (scooter) devices, which it sold with great success. Segway, as an American company, did not look kindly on this (as it had little international marketing of its own, and its products were peppered with expensive, outdated, and large). After a long legal wrangling, Xiaomi "did a favour" to Segway's owners and bought the otherwise loss-making company, and thus the Segway-Ninebot joint venture was born, which has been steadily developing both the Ninebot line and its unicycles, scooters and even the Drift (similar to a roller skate), an independent device for our two feet. The Ninebot line has recently (in 2018) released a fun add-on, the GoKart Kit, which allows you to use some Ninebot models for propulsion. The frame adds a seat, a handlebar, and two additional wheels to the Ninebot, giving it a GoKart-like use.
But back to the subject of our test.
The Ninebot S (called Ninebot mini in China) is the cheapest self-balancing scooter for adults today, with a knee steering system. hoverboard "phenomenon" I would leave out for the moment because it is not a category either in terms of safety or technical sophistication. A fun but practically useless "game")
A few years ago I never thought I would try a Segway, my relatively high centre of gravity was the main reason, combined with no skiing or skateboarding background. So I feared it, without reason. I was probably the only person so far who had to be convinced for hours that nothing could go wrong, that the Ninebot's advanced system would balance for me. Now it's funny (and embarrassing) to think back on it, I'm now teaching others, and the 3-5 minutes the manufacturer claims is actually sustainable. Whether the subject is middle-aged or a preschooler, it really is only a matter of minutes and they can start on their own.
The xiaomishop.hu I had the chance to try it out over a long weekend, and I did it in Eger. Neither the old and cracked asphalt of the Archbishop's Garden, which is swollen by tree roots, nor the pride of our country, the paving stones, were an obstacle. Even the cobblestone-like pavement in the courtyard of the newly rebuilt Archbishop's Palace of Eger, which in some places has taken on a life of its own, was no obstacle (i.e. there were protruding, moving stones). Thank you for the opportunity and your excellent tolerance Eger! :)
Yes, it was surprising that no one called out to me for being a traffic nuisance, for taking up the sidewalk (instead I was followed, some even photographed, like a celebrity) or the bike lane, and for rolling into a place where I shouldn't be. Even though the Ninebot has a width, it can be used in a civilised way between pedestrians, or even in historic squares and courtyards. It's really all a matter of good manners.
If you are aware of your situation and can adapt to your environment, you will not be subject to any atrocities.
On the one hand, you don't pollute the environment, you're going completely ECO. You can't speed. If you reach the 17km/h limit, the constant beep will warn not only you, but also your surroundings. This speed is 4 times faster than the average walking speed. Anyone coming up behind you, for example on a bicycle, can see from the LED lights at the back that you are about to change direction, if you are about to stop, and even if there is a wider "vehicle" in front of you.
Where can/is it allowed to travel?
Where not specifically prohibited by a sign. The majority prohibit larger Segways anyway, the Ninebot is a much smaller vehicle. In Budapest, there are 2 districts that I know of. On the one hand because of the heavy traffic, it would be dangerous to ride it, and on the other hand because of tourists who have not obeyed the rules, have not used the rented device sober and have not received proper training. Let's hope that conscious green thinking will ease these prohibitions in the future. The Ninebot is not a motorbike, but it is not a bicycle either, and because of this and its easy manoeuvrability you can use it on pavements, just make sure you keep the following distance and the right speed. I, for example, was able to ride steadily at 2-3 km/h in crowds of people. You can stop quickly and not even get stepped on. Just make sure that you don't roll on someone else's feet! There are situations where it's justified to stop and dismount, rather than risk it. Definitely an advantage over the M365 scooter is that you can change direction at low speeds while maintaining your balance. Stopping is also significantly easier.
You can also cycle on the cycle path, if pedestrian traffic does not allow it on the parallel pavement, but you should set a speed limit (14-17 km/h) to avoid obstructing cyclists. It's worth rolling carefully, looking carefully before changing direction or slowing down. I strongly condemn aggressive cyclists who shout down a Ninebot. Obviously you have to ride in a civilised manner, but tolerance is as important here as it is when driving a car (as I write this, a motorcyclist on the street thought he was allowed to push the accelerator a little harder in a residential area...).
Why do I (also) think the Ninebot is better than the M365 scooter?
As Zsuzsa told her colleague Kristóf in the report, she has both hands free, it's a completely different (liberated) feeling to travel. You can't stand still with the scooter. When you start, you have to push yourself. You need a cruising speed to make the manoeuvring stable, and you need a stopping distance and a foot landing for a sudden stop. The Ninebot is not designed for speeds of 24-25km/h, let alone the hectic 30km/h.
It's less progressive, but more tolerant of bumps in the road.
I also tried the M365 electric scooter. It's different to roll on it, it doesn't give me that extra feeling of security, even though the handlebars are there.
Less hassle for the Ninebot owner. You wipe off the dust (if you use white, maybe the rubber sole of the shoe), check the rubber, and make sure it's full. Periodically check the knee bar attachment to make sure the screws are not loose.
In the case of a scooter, the disc brake should be checked and adjusted the first time you use it. If the wheel is even slightly softer, a puncture is almost certain. The steering column mounting is another weak point of the construction, as the wheel bearing can carry a passenger over 100kg, but in the event of a paddle or emergency braking, the steering rod can be subjected to such a load that it can deform and break at the connection point. This can be prevented by frequent checks (tightening the bolts), but if you look at the roads in Pest, it's hard to be so careful.
Protective equipment (helmet, knee and elbow pads, gloves) is recommended for both tools!
A crash (if it's not caused by engine or electronic failure) on a scooter will cause much more damage to you - and, because you can go faster, to yourself. The handlebars, lights, overhead display, wheel suspension, mudguards can all be damaged. Conversely, if you make a mistake and fall off the Ninebot, the Ninebot has a good chance of staying upright, not tipping over and stopping on its own. The sponge rubber handle on top of the knee bar provides great protection whether you're leaning backwards or forwards. You're much less likely to get the Ninebot wet (there's also more ground clearance and IP protection), and with the maintenance-free engine brake you'll never have a problem stopping (no disc brakes or pads to replace).
Although not regular, you can make calls on the Ninebot while standing still or at low speed. Strictly in an area away from traffic, at speeds of 2-5 km/h, without using headphones!
Even gravel, softer ground and grass tracks are not insurmountable obstacles, thanks to the larger wheels (with a larger and wider tyre surface) and the torque of the electric motor.
Transport is also somewhat easier, as the Ninebot doesn't need to be folded up, just stowed in the trunk of the car, tilted (or tied down). A 500-litre boot can hold about 3 Ninebots without interfering with each other. The larger wheels and wider design make it less comfortable to carry in the hand, but the women's practicality (hook) finds a solution for everything. You don't even have to lock it to the bike locker in the shop.
Both have their own user base, but people are more sceptical about Ninebot.
A lot of people are bragging about the price of buying an engine for that kind of money. Yes, second-hand, which needs refuelling, requires a lot more maintenance because of the construction, is noisy, smells bad, even gets hot in summer... And you can only ride a motorcycle on public roads, in cc, from the age of 14 at the earliest.
My relative's 4-year-old daughter got on the Ninebot without any problems and she could use it, although steering was not easy because of her short legs.
It is suitable for use from nursery school upwards, and schoolchildren can use it safely even for school. You can also set a speed limit in the app, which you can protect with a password, so your child can't "speed". The app also uses Bluetooth to show the current speed, distance covered, battery charge, calibrate the gyroscope, BT remote control and its max speed. It is also possible to lock the device, so it will alert you with an audible alarm during unauthorised foot traffic, as well as disable the steering (change of direction) and set the speed to minimum.
And young people and ladies prefer to customise the colour of the RGB tail LED light, where multiple profiles can be created with single or multi-coloured flashes. The front light is light-sensitive, providing sufficient illumination for safe use in total darkness.
The price is the same as the M 365 scooter, i.e. 129.990 Ft, which comes with a 2-year Hungarian warranty from xiaomishop. If you order by prepayment, they give you 3% discount, free shipping and an extra 6 months warranty.
Considering that Zsuzsa hasn't even had to change a tyre in 3 years, it's a pretty good investment, don't you think? :)
If you like it, you can order it here 2-3 working days delivery.
