EMOVE RoadRunner Review

Design

Handlebars

The headline here is that the handlebars can be adjusted to suit your height and riding style. But, just as noteworthy is the fact that they can be repositioned towards or away from you. This, in our book, is a great feature of its design – you can tailor the scooter to your preferred riding stance.

The handlebars can also be folded down parallel to the frame to make the RoadRunner narrower and more portable, thus making it easier to store.

Located on the right of the handlebars is the easy-to-use thumb throttle, while buttons marked R and I allow you to toggle between single and dual motor modes. You can also easily access your lighting, turn signals, and horn via the multi-switch on the left, as well as view the LED display.

Finishing the handlebars are two ergonomically shaped handgrips that flare out at the ends to keep your hands in a comfortable, yet firm position.

Frame

There’s no disguising the fact that when it comes to its frame, the RoadRunner is more bike than scooter. In fact, it wouldn't go far a miss in a lineup of Super73 e-bikes. This alone guarantees sturdiness, with tough aluminum-alloy tubes welded together at sharp angles to deliver a sleek aesthetic with an edge.

Perhaps most distinguishable of all, however, is the RoadRunner’s grippy foot pegs. They are a key detail that makes this a scooter, not an e-bike. After all, e-bikes have pedals. The pegs deliver the control and handling you’d expect; the difference they make is quite profound.

As a result of its bike-inspired frame, it’s incredibly easy to carve from side to side. You can lean into turns using the pegs as a base.

Seat

Now, when the prototype came out, the RoadRunner’s seat was, shall we say, a little unwelcoming. Thankfully, EMOVE took this feedback onboard and introduced an improved memory foam seat.

Could it still be more comfortable? I’d say yes. A prolonged stint on the RoadRunner may leave you a little sore. But hey, we can’t quibble too much – this is just one of two seated scooters (the other is the EMOVE RoadRunner Tronic) that allows you to adjust its front suspension for a more plush riding sensation.

Wheels

One of the RoadRunner’s crowning glories is a set of wheels that wouldn’t look too out of place on a bike. Its chunky, 14-inch air-filled tires do a fantastic job at cushioning your ride, but even more impressive is the maneuverability that they provide. Combined with the stabilizing, weight-carrying foot pegs, they allow you to turn with unparalleled ease and agility.

Sure, purists may say they’re more bike than scooter, but there’s just no denying the fun these wheels bestow. You can look forward to some seriously satisfying carving with the tires working in cahoots with your body weight to absolutely shred the asphalt.

Build Quality & Durability

Just look at this little beast. Though small in stature, it’s built to handle pretty much anything you can throw at it. Being an EMOVE scooter, the build quality is unsurprisingly excellent, with the solid frame and robust aluminum fenders in place, there’s no rattle in the ride, while the cable management is neat and tidy to eliminate any potential for interference.

The only fallibilities in terms of the RoadRunner’s design are its lack of a water-resistance rating and the slightly too short front fender. Consequently, the bottom of the battery is littered with water splashes when it's wet out. With this in mind, we don’t recommend taking it for a spin in the rain – try and avoid puddles, too.

Weight & Load

Considering the RoadRunner’s power and stamina, it’s actually a pretty light scooter at 55 lbs. This makes it fairly easy to carry over short distances.

With a maximum load capacity of 330 lbs, it’s also a motorized mule. You can have confidence in the RoadRunner’s ability to perform regardless of your size – and with those adjustable handlebars, this is a scooter that can pretty much be custom-fitted to your exact needs.

My only grumble? Due to its small size, you may end up riding in a hunched position if you’re over 6 feet. Though, the adjustable handlebars negate this to an extent.

Folding & Portability

Now, as we’ve established, the RoadRunner isn’t your average scooter. This means there’s no foldable stem, which by extension means you won’t be able to fit it in most car boots.

What it does have, however, is foldable handlebars that make the RoadRunner pretty darn narrow. Thanks to its diminutive size, you can take it onto a busy train or bus without much fuss.

Assembly

The RoadRunner is pretty much ready to roll straight out of the box. The only tweaks we’d recommend are, first, taking a look at handlebars’ positioning before getting on the saddle. This can be sorted in a couple of minutes with an Allen key in tow. Second, you may want to tighten the front suspension if planning to go at faster speeds, as the ride can get a little jittery.

Ride Quality

Is the EMOVE RoadRunner Comfortable to Ride?

The RoadRunner isn’t the silkiest ride we’ve ever tested – but it’s still pretty stellar. The star of the show here is its ergonomic thumb throttle, which delivers a smooth burst of power and serene acceleration.

This, allied with the cushioning air-filled tires, beefed-up memory-foam seat, and adjustable front suspension, makes for a comfortable, calming ride. Is it at the level of, say, the NAMI Burn-e 2? No. But whether you’re commuting or indulging in a weekend adventure, the RoadRunner is anything but unpleasant. Plus, because of its bike-inspired frame, the riding position that you have to adopt lends itself to a center of gravity that ensures stability.

As previously mentioned, the one thing to be aware of is that at faster speeds, the RoadRunner’s suspension can create a bit of instability if set to a spongey setting. We suggest stiffening the forks or locking them out completely if you plan to put the pedal to the metal.

Performance & Safety

Top Speed

Armed with a 350W motor at the front and a 500W motor at the rear, the RoadRunner is a powerful scooter.

Anyone looking for a slow-paced, cruising model be wary: this fizzer’s motors are 3.4x more powerful than other popular seated electric scooters – like the FIIDO Q1S – while its top speed of 34 mph blows all other seated models (aside from its big bro, the RoadRunner Tronic) out of the water.

Speed vs Price Comparison

At $1,795, the RoadRunner can be compared with 12 other models within a $500 range. When ranking top speed vs price it sits firmly in mid-table – with a triumvirate of Mantis models taking gold. This is no surprise, given their more powerful 60V 1000W dual motors.

It’s important to acknowledge here that, though the RoadRunner may not leave jaws on the floor when compared to other models in its price class, it is the only seated scooter on the list. This somewhat skews the comparison – though it is worth bearing this in mind if power-per-dollar is influential in your decision-making.

Speed vs Weight Comparison

The picture changes completely when switching the focus to weight. Out of 12 comparable models that weigh within 5 lbs on either side of the RoadRunner’s 55 lbs, not a single model tops it.

It should be pointed out, however, that the VSETT 9+ models (9+ 15.6Ah and 9+R) have faster acceleration rates (0-15 mph: 2.7 and 0-25 mph: 5.4).

Only one other scooter on this list can be fitted with a seat – the EMOVE Cruiser. This, therefore, marks the RoadRunner out as the single best seated scooter for power, considering its faster top speed compared to the Cruiser.

Acceleration

Our tests revealed that the RoadRunner can hit 15 mph from a standstill in 4.1 seconds. Surprisingly, this is slower than the Cruiser’s 3.4 seconds, while the Mantis Pro SE sits way out in front with 2.0 seconds.

However, the RoadRunner dismantles the FIIDO Q1S’s time of 6.7 seconds, solidifying its position as the zippiest seated scooter on the market. It also beats the EMOVE Cruiser to 25 mph thanks to the torque of its dual motors vs the Cruiser’s single motor.

Maximum Mileage

One of the RoadRunner’s most distinctive features is its removable 1253Wh Dynavolt battery.

See, Dynavolt cells are usually found on motorcycles, so this gives you a flavor of the show-stopping battery power that the RoadRunner can summon. For context, the RoadRunner wields 3.5 times more battery power than the FIIDO Q1S (1253Wh vs 360Wh).

We first came across Dynavolt batteries when reviewing Apollo’s models. These battery cells are reliable and perform alongside other name brands like LG and Samsung where recharge cycles are concerned.

And, because the battery pack is removable, its range is potentially huge. You can expect a maximum mileage of 53 miles off a single charge, and 106 miles if you buy a spare battery, which only weighs around 15 lbs so it’s easy to carry in a rucksack.

Under realistic conditions, where you ride in the fastest speed settings, you can expect a 35-mile range.

Mileage vs Price Comparison

Comparing the RoadRunner to the 12 other models within its price category, we can see that it is a top performer, losing out to the INOKIM Ox Super only, with its large 60V 21Ah LG battery.

It should be noted that both the RoadRunner and INOKIM batteries are very similar in the energy they can store (1253Wh vs 1260Wh, respectively). Under realistic riding conditions, they perform toe-to-toe.

Mileage vs Weight Comparison

As for mileage vs weight comparison, the RoadRunner takes second place when compared to 12 other models.

It’s a one-two for EMOVE, with the Cruiser edging out its cousin thanks to its 52V 30Ah LG battery. Compared to the RoadRunner, it stores 25% more energy (1560Wh vs 1253Wh). It can also be fitted with a seat – at an additional cost of $65. This scooter is a great alternative for riders that want the luxury of a stand-up and sit-down scooter.

Hill Climbing

Predictably, the RoadRunner is a hill-eater.

It swats aside gradual inclines without breaking a sweat and can even muster the power to take on moderate inclines (although it will slow).

Compared to its closest seated scooter rival, its torque is quite something – it can muster 33% more than the FIIDO Q1S, making it the standout hill climber of the seated scooter world.

Shock Absorption / Suspension

Confusingly, the component that allows you to adjust the forks has “ABS+” written on it. Under normal circumstances, ABS stands for anti-lock braking system, but in this case, it has nothing to do with braking. Instead, it is an acronym for the type of damper used, known as the Manitou Absolute+.

This mechanism allows you to either soften or stiffen the front forks, but the truth is that the suspension is reasonably limited.

This is mitigated somewhat by those hefty air-filled tires, which do an admirable job of absorbing most of the shocks and vibrations that come with tearing it down roads. We don’t, however, recommend the RoadRunner for off-road riding. Taking on dirt tracks results in a bumpy ride.

Braking

The RoadRunner sports semi-hydraulic brakes that represent a big improvement on earlier iterations of the model.

With these new bad boys installed, you can come to stop from 15 mph in just 3.0 meters – for perspective, this is better than some Dualtron models and classifies the RoadRunner as having very good stopping power.

It’s also worth noting that the discs are large and this helps to dissipate heat to keep them in prime working condition.

Charge Time

The RoadRunner’s battery takes 12 hours to recharge, but remember, it’s detachable, so you can easily replace it with an extra pack if it runs out on the go.

Extra Features

LCD Display

The LCD display is pretty basic, but easy to understand – though the glossy screen can make it difficult to read in direct sunlight.

The display gives you all your vital stats, such as speed, mileage, and battery life, while you can also switch between three speed modes.

Headlight, Taillight & Turn Signals

Though the RoadRunner’s well-positioned headlight is bright enough to illuminate paths in areas that are already partly lit, it’s worth investing in an additional headlight to fully tick the safety box.

At the rear is a taillight that also masquerades as turn signals and hazard lights. Although the lights are somewhat visible during the day, we advise using hand signals to turn. Thankfully, it's easier to do this on the RoadRunner than on standard scooters because of its massive tires that allow you to maintain balance while riding one-handed.

Removable Battery

The star of the show? It’s a real front-runner. The detachable Dynavolt battery adds another dimension to the RoadRunner, freeing you from the anxiety that can blight the riding experience when running low on charge.

It’s pretty big, but at 15 lbs can be carried, and even comes with a handle. You can charge it at home, in the office, or practically anywhere with a socket.

Additional batteries are available from Voro Motors for $490 – we’d recommend purchasing one if your budget allows.

Loud Horn

Now, this is a personal highlight: a horn that sounds like The Road Runner of Looney Tunes.

Sure, it may be a bit puny, but did I mention it sounds like The Road Runner? Touché, EMOVE.

Warranty & Post-Purchase Support

The RoadRunner comes with Voro Motors’ standard one-year limited warranty; this includes replacements and repairs in the case of manufacturer defects on the motor(s), battery, controller, voltmeter, LCD display, and throttle.

Replacements and repairs can only be claimed once for each part over the warranty period – any additional repairs or replacements come at a cost to you.

The warranty does not cover accidental damage, wear and tear, or issues caused by misuse. Additionally, the frame, lights, and button console, as well as screws, nuts, bolts, and other small components are not included.

Voro also has two premises – one in New York and the other in Los Angeles – which customers can visit if they need a repair or replacement parts.

Voro Motors is also one of the only retailers that lets you schedule a virtual tour of their offices and workshops so you can see how much effort they put into quality control and meeting customers’ needs. With live chat, phone, and email support, as well as a team of technical experts, they deliver some of the best customer service.