Best Electric Scooters for Teenagers (13-18 Years Old)

Whether it’s as a birthday gift, an early Christmas treat, or a first scooter to build your kid’s confidence on the road, the Hiboy NEX succeeds on all fronts. Put yourself in your 13-year-old’s shoes and just imagine ripping the wrapping paper off this thing.

The first thing you’re noticing is that color scheme. Whether your teen prefers to push the boat out with the eye-popping pastel pink/blue combo, or play it safe with the black, there’s something for all preferences and personalities.

Secondly, you’re feasting your eyes on that spec sheet. The NEX’s 150W motor is capable of powering it up to speeds of 9 mph, meaning it’ll suit younger teens looking for a safe, yet action-oriented ride. If that sounds a little too zippy for your nipper, though, don’t fret – the dual riding modes allow you to cap the scooter’s top speed with ease.

When it comes to portability, it folds in half with the handlebars locking into the rear fender to keep things compact. Now, while that makes the NEX easy to pack down, store, and transport, it’s hard to escape the fact that it weighs in at a relatively heavy 24.5 lbs. That’s a whole 3.6 lbs heavier than the GoTrax Vibe, and 3.5 lbs heavier than fellow Hiboy model, the S2 Lite – our premium option in the 13-14-year-old category. What’s equally disconcerting is that this increased weight doesn’t equate to any extra load-bearing capacity. The NEX supports just 140 lbs of rider weight – 36 lbs less than the Vibe, and 40 lbs short of the S2 Lite.

Not only will the NEX’s increased weight make it a little cumbersome for smaller riders, but it means the scooter struggles on slopes. The NEX is one of the slowest hill climbers and maxes out on gradients of just 7% (approx 4 degrees) – something that’s worth considering if your teen’s route to school is an undulating one.

But back to the NEX’s strengths. Its 36V 4Ah battery gives it a maximum range of around 12 miles – 1.4 more miles than the $379.99-priced Hiboy S2 Lite, and almost double the GoTrax Vibe’s limit. Equally alluring is the NEX’s quick 4-5-hour charge time – proof that more uptime doesn’t have to equal more downtime.

You may be asking yourself the question as to why the Hiboy NEX has a significantly longer range than the GoTrax Vibe given that both models share the same 36V 4.0Ah battery. The difference lies in the motors between both models. The Vibe has a 200W motor which is 33% more powerful than the NEX’s 150W motor, and therefore, the Vibe pulls more power from the battery to keep the motor running – this, in turn, reduced range.

Durability-wise, the NEX meets all the criteria we’ve come to expect from a Hiboy scooter. A sturdy aluminum alloy frame underscores the style of the scooter’s paint job with a healthy dose of substance, while an IPX4 water-resistance rating safeguards the NEX from surface splashes and light rain. The blueprint of the NEX’s frame also departs pleasantly from the conventions of electric scooter design, with a triangular fork connecting the top of its stem to the handlebars.

The LED arrangement is another example of it going above and beyond its price point. The NEX takes the GoTrax Vibe’s single front headlight and raises the stakes, adding a tail light to the rear fender. Better still, this tail light is responsive – it flashes as you brake, so it’s great for keeping other road users in the loop.

The NEX is a remarkably versatile scooter. Though we’ve put it in the 13-14-year-old bracket, kids as young as 8 can ride it. Part of the reason for that is how user-friendly it is – something evidenced by the large, easy-to-use, and read LED display located between its handlebars. Here, you can toggle between the High and Low-speed modes, have instant access to your speed and remaining battery life. You can even turn the lights on or off with a click.

Braking is just as intuitive. The NEX sports both an electronic brake – which you can activate via the left (red) thumb tab – as well as a rear foot brake. Using both of these at the same time brings the scooter to a safe stop.

Like the GoTrax Vibe (and, indeed, most electric scooters for teenagers), the most glaring omission is Hiboy’s lack of suspension. You won’t find any of the shock absorptive technology we see on more advanced scooters, such as swing arms, shocks, or coil springs. Similarly, the tires – rather than being air-filled, which would afford the scooter some insulation from cracks and inconsistencies in the pavement – are solid. Like the other scooters in the 13-14-year-old list, the tires do have the benefit of being free from punctures.

One advantage that the NEX’s tires have over their counterparts on the GoTrax Vibe, is that they cut a larger profile. The NEX comes with 6.5-inch tires – 0.5 inches larger than the Vibe’s – which gives it a slightly more balanced, stable feel.

Ultimately, the Hiboy NEX isn’t without its drawbacks. It’s heavy for its specs, lacks suspension, and is neither the quickest nor the best hill climber in its class. It does, however, come with an excellent 12-mile range, an innovative stem design, and a wonderfully adept lighting setup. It’s suitable for a range of ages, is easy to use, and charges quickly – all of which add up to a flexible, fun, and family-friendly riding experience.