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Recommend electric folding scooter for end of commute (Mod Note Post #1)

goz83

Mod Note: I've discussed with site admins, due to the current legal situation recommendations cannot be made for use of electric scooters on public roads in Ireland, but can be made for use on private property. However, we will allow discussion of e-scooters for purchase for use on private property, and other jurisdictions such as France/Germany where they are legal for use. This restriction will be lifted as soon as the legal situation changes, which will hopefully be soon.

I was thinking of getting one of those xiaomi m365 folding scooters to cover the last 5 kilometres of the journey as I come into the city and traffic gets mad. I am looking for peoples experiences with them.

I understand they are in a bit of a legal grey area, but you need to push this scooter to get going, so technically it doesn’t operate on mechanical power alone which is what the rsa site mentions as the definition of an mpv.

I’ll be travelling about 15km each way from urban to city. Due to a back injury, I can’t spend an hour stuck in traffic twice per day. I can’t tolerate public transport and it would be much more expensive (over €100 per month, compared to about €5 per month in my Leaf and m365).

So, my plan would be to drive about 10km and park the car before hitting the city centre. Parking would be free as I would be well outside the cc. I would then scoot the rest of the way to my destination and do the reverse on my return journey. I wouldn’t be stuck in traffic for too long and the range of the scooter should easily cover the return journey without destination charging. The scooter will cost around €400 to buy and claims 30km per charge...I am expecting 15.

What do you think?

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rubadub

MarkY91 wrote: »

That's amazing. I was concerned about charging costs but definitely not anymore!

Person in my house were concerned with costs of charging my ebike. I worked it out to be under a tenner a year.

Same person will preheat and oven for an hour, to cook 4 chicken nuggets, and fill a kettle to the brim to get 1 cup of tea, leave the immersion on for an hour to wash a saucepan.

unkel

rubadub wrote: »

Same person will preheat and oven for an hour

Oven on 180C from cold for an hour uses about 1.5kWh

Charging the scooter from empty to full uses about 0.3kWh

So your weekly commute costs the same in electricity as that oven used just once for an hour

MarkY91

Her commute is from stoney batter to glasnevin area. About 45 minute walk for her(or two buses)

I was cycling from town to kimmage today and spotted about 6 scooters..all within a 20/25 minute cycle. There is too many of them to confiscate them all.

Is the more expensive model the one with air filled wheels?

Markcheese

MarkY91 wrote: »

Her commute is from stoney batter to glasnevin area. About 45 minute walk for her(or two buses)

I was cycling from town to kimmage today and spotted about 6 scooters..all within a 20/25 minute cycle. There is too many of them to confiscate them all.

Is the more expensive model the one with air filled wheels?

Would an é-bike be a good buy? Bigger wheels, prob a longer range, and legal...

tuxy

Markcheese wrote: »

Would an é-bike be a good buy? Bigger wheels, prob a longer range, and legal...

I don't think she knows how to cycle a bike.

ted1

tuxy wrote: »

I don't think she knows how to cycle a bike.

My 4 year old learned last weekend. Would she be willing to try ?
Does she drive ( as in does she have any road sense)?

tuxy

ted1 wrote: »

My 4 year old learned last weekend. Would she be willing to try ?
Does she drive ( as in does she have any road sense)?

I've heard it's more difficult to learn as an adult. Of course it can be done once the interest is there but I don't think it is in this case.

MarkY91

She told me she drove a car back in her home country. So I'm sure she has a sense of being out and about in a bicycle lane coming up to lights and traffic etc.

She just can't balance. I dunno..i learned as a kid, I don't even have any memory of not knowing how to ride a bike. I'm sure it's more difficult for her than it sounds.

grogi

MarkY91 wrote: »

She told me she drove a car back in her home country. So I'm sure she has a sense of being out and about in a bicycle lane coming up to lights and traffic etc.

She just can't balance. I dunno..i learned as a kid, I don't even have any memory of not knowing how to ride a bike. I'm sure it's more difficult for her than it sounds.

If she can't balance, a scooter is not really much better than a bicycle...

...Ghost...

MarkY91 wrote: »

Her commute is from stoney batter to glasnevin area. About 45 minute walk for her(or two buses)

I was cycling from town to kimmage today and spotted about 6 scooters..all within a 20/25 minute cycle. There is too many of them to confiscate them all.

Is the more expensive model the one with air filled wheels?

So we are talking 5 kilometres each way and keeping Northside of the city. The M365 will do the job without the need to charge at her destination. The M365 comes with air filled wheels (pneumatic tyres).

Punctures are a nightmare to repair on these scooters. I have done it twice and it truly is horrible to do. You can put "slime" into the tubes which is supposed to be quite effective at preventing punctures. I've ordered some, as well as a spare full rear wheel hub with tyre.

DO NOT INSTALL AIRLESS TYRES. They are very uncomfortable and simply will not provide the same grip, making them more dangerous.

grogi wrote: »

If she can't balance, a scooter is not really much better than a bicycle...

Start her off in an empty park. She will be grand.

AhHaor

Are there multiple tyre compounds of rubber for the airless tyres. Some say they're ok and work but reduce power and range. Others say they're lethal and don't touch them.

I'm highly tempted. Only couple hundred km in and one puncture already.

...Ghost...

AhHaor wrote: »

Are there multiple tyre compounds of rubber for the airless tyres. Some say they're ok and work but reduce power and range. Others say they're lethal and don't touch them.

I'm highly tempted. Only couple hundred km in and one puncture already.

Yeah, there are lots of different types. Some hard rubber (cheap...long lasting) and others are soft, sponge type rubber. Some with holes and others with slits in them. I feel your pain with the punctures, so I am trying the slime (ordered yesterday) and also have a full rear spare on the way....hub and disc brake and all.

In fairness, both of my punctures happened when there was about 120kg on the scooter....20% above the max load. I simply would not move to solid tyres. They are also much more difficult to install.

rubadub

...Ghost... wrote: »

You can put "slime" into the tubes which is supposed to be quite effective at preventing punctures.

I have it on my MTB and it works well. It does not work well at higher pressures, mine is about 60psi.

I finally got a puncture after about 4 years of careless cycling i.e. I was going over glass in the crappy, sorry! perfectly good cycletracks.

I finally went over something really big and had to repair it. I found I actually had 4 or 5 punctures in the same tube, but the slime had been doing its job on all the rest and they only became leaking when removed from the tyre.

My tubes were preslimed though, I was wondering if the regular slime would take to it. I think they put talc type stuff inside tyres to stop them sticking together and thought it might mean the slime would not adhere -that is just a thought I had, not read anywhere.

...Ghost...

rubadub wrote: »

My tubes were preslimed though, I was wondering if the regular slime would take to it. I think they put talc type stuff inside tyres to stop them sticking together and thought it might mean the slime would not adhere -that is just a thought I had, not read anywhere.

That's a good point. It could be worth removing the valve and putting some mild soapy water into the tube to wash out any residue before injecting the slime.

ooter

seen the xiaomi mi scooter in a shop in town earlier and was tempted to pull the trigger, how often should I expect to get a puncture and how easy/hard are they to repair?
are replacement tyres/tubes easy to get?

...Ghost...

ooter wrote: »

seen the xiaomi mi scooter in a shop in town earlier and was tempted to pull the trigger, how often should I expect to get a puncture

You could get one every day, or never at all. Too many variables.

and how easy/hard are they to repair?
are replacement tyres/tubes easy to get?

Replacing the tube/tyre is a complete pain in the ass.
Easy to take the wheel off. Moderately difficult to remove spent tube. A nightmare to put the tyre back on the wheel.

I will never do it again. If the slime doesn't work, or my tyre needs replacing, I'm opting for a complete wheel hub replacement.

ooter

...Ghost... wrote: »

You could get one every day, or never at all. Too many variables.

Replacing the tube/tyre is a complete pain in the ass.
Easy to take the wheel off. Moderately difficult to remove spent tube. A nightmare to put the tyre back on the wheel.

I will never do it again. If the slime doesn't work, or my tyre needs replacing, I'm opting for a complete wheel hub replacement.

jaysis that doesn't sound good, I think i'll avoid so.

Johnboy1951

...Ghost... wrote: »

You could get one every day, or never at all. Too many variables.

..

Replacing the tube/tyre is a complete pain in the ass.
Easy to take the wheel off. Moderately difficult to remove spent tube. A nightmare to put the tyre back on the wheel.

I will never do it again. If the slime doesn't work, or my tyre needs replacing, I'm opting for a complete wheel hub replacement.

Can you provide a little detail about what makes it a really difficult job?
Thanks.

...Ghost...

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Can you provide a little detail about what makes it a really difficult job?
Thanks.

The tyre is small (of course) and the rubber is thicker than what I would be familiar with on a regular bicycle tyre. These two factors alone make it extremely difficult to get the tyre back onto the rim.

Once you get it halfway on, the force needed to stretch and squeeze the tyre into position is considerable. It wants to slip out at every occasion.

I'm sure with practice it gets easier, but i've done it twice and both times I needed an extra pair of hands. The second time I warped the brake disc and had to replace. Adding lubricant is necessary but creates its own problems.

rubadub

...Ghost... wrote: »

Once you get it halfway on, the force needed to stretch and squeeze the tyre into position is considerable. It wants to slip out at every occasion..

sounds like you were not using tyre levers?

I would recommend these park tool ones, and also these patches, I have broken loads of cheapo ones over the years but these have held up.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/park-tool-tyre-and-tube-repair-kit-tr-1/rp-prod5790

They come with patches which are already glued. You simply peel off the back and press it onto the tube and it is ready to go. These are not suitable for high pressure tyres like on road bikes but fine for lower pressure like mountain bikes or scooters.

I could not believe how good the patches were, but Park are a highly respected brand and I thought they would not be selling crap.

...Ghost...

rubadub wrote: »

sounds like you were not using tyre levers?

I would recommend these park tool ones, and also these patches, I have broken loads of cheapo ones over the years but these have held up.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/park-tool-tyre-and-tube-repair-kit-tr-1/rp-prod5790h

They come with patches which are already glued. You simply peel off the back and press it onto the tube and it is ready to go. These are not suitable for high pressure tyres like on road bikes but fine for lower pressure like mountain bikes or scooters.

I could not believe how good the patches were, but Park are a highly respected brand and I thought they would not be selling crap.

Your link was a dead page.

No, I have never used tyre levers. I use spanners, or the wrong end of some strong spoons. Never had problems before. Tyre levers might make it a little easier, but i'm certain it would still be a painful job.

I will consider getting a pair of levers in any case.

rubadub

I have had some very difficult tyres before but got them on far easier with those ones, I seem to have had an extra h in that link.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/park-tool-tyre-and-tube-repair-kit-tr-1/rp-prod5790

There are youtube videos of people doing them, maybe there is some knack to it.

Lumen

I hired an electric dockless scooter from Pony Bikes in Bordeaux today and almost immediately crashed it whilst investigating the pothole traversing capabilities. :pac:

Great fun! And incredibly less capable than an ebike.

dilallio

I've replaced 2 tyres on the m365. The secret to putting the tyre on is to put the tyre in the microwave for 30 secs and use gloves. Fairly straightforward if you have someone helping you.

quarryman

E-scooters should be legal on Irish roads, report recommends making:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/e-scooters-should-be-legal-on-irish-roads-report-recommends-making-1.3994508?mode=amp

unkel

Not sure if making them legal is good news though if you need:

- a scooter driving license
- pay motor tax (and display it presumably)
- have insurance (and display it presumably)

Zurbaran

I’ve been using one of these for a good while now. It’s paid it’s self off now a few times compared to public transport cost/time walking. The gards don’t seem to be an issue. I know there was a few days where they were taking them off people but I’ve never had an issue with them and see them all the time.

My one is solid tyres and seems to be slightly faster than the m365 as I over take them if they are close by but I would recommend the m365 over mine as the braking and tyres seem a lot better. The punctures are I’m sure a pain but added grip in the wet for safety reasons And added braking is why they are better.

ted1

Zurbaran wrote: »

I’ve been using one of these for a good while now. It’s paid it’s self off now a few time but very in public transport/time walking. The gards don’t seem to be an issue. I know there was a few days where they were taking them off people but I’ve never had an issue with them and see them all the time.

My one is solid tyres and seems to be slightly faster than the m365 as I over take them if they are close by but I would recommend the m365 over mine as the braking and tyres seem a lot better. The punctures are I’m sure a pain but added grip in the wet for safety reasons are the reason they are better.

Do you not find the ride very tough on solid tyres?

Zurbaran

ted1 wrote: »

Do you not find the ride very tough on solid tyres?

I don’t have much to compare to as it’s the only one I’ve had but I found it very jarring at the start but the suspension has loosened up so it’s a lot better now. One of the tips when getting a kugoo s1 was to loosen it straight away but I’m lazy so didn’t. Over time it’s gotten a lot better.

The rear for some reason has no grooves all the way through the tyre so is deadly in the wet. It’s got grooves on the side of the tyre but they are unusable in any condition.

Lumen

Zurbaran wrote: »

The rear for some reason has no grooves all the way through the tyre so is deadly in the wet. It’s got grooves on the side of the tyre but they are unusable in any condition.

Round profile tyres don't aqua plane so grooves are unnecessary.