NIU KQi2 Pro Review

Cockpit

The cockpit is top dollar. Firstly, the display is one of the brightest that I’ve tested. It grants you access to all your key riding stats – and best of all, you can see them in direct sunlight.

The thumb throttle, meanwhile, is super smooth. Its angular design and ribbed rubber coating distinguish it as the most ergonomically designed among all budget scooters – quite the feather in NIU’s cap.

On the left, you have the brake lever and a nifty little bell.

Then there’s the width of the handlebars. Measuring 20.5 inches they’re 24% wider than its competitor, the Turboant X7 Max. Together with the tactile rubber handgrips and 40-inch deck-to-handlebar height, they afford excellent control and maneuverability, whilst also being a great fit for taller riders.

Frame

Talk about sleek. The frame is a sight for sore eyes: it’s the definition of minimalist elegance, with a sweeping tranche of grey stretching from the rear tire to the base of the sturdy stem. It juxtaposes artfully with the rest of the matte black finish.

Another thing that immediately caught my eye was the complete lack of visible wiring. The cable management is excellent. Only the brake cable that runs from the lever into the stem is on show.

With its premium flair, it’s fair to say that it over delivers in the design department for its price.

Deck

With 18.5 by 5.2 inches of space for your feet, the deck is on the short side, though you can stand on it with an L-shaped stance. And, if you need, you can prop your rear foot up against the fender as a makeshift kickplate, but I’d advise against putting your full weight on it.

One feature worth mentioning here is that it comes with a swappable griptape. It’s fitted with a standard grey one, while an alternative red, white, and blue variant is in the box if you’re feeling patriotic.

Tires

Though it lacks suspension, it isn’t an uncomfortable ride – and that’s because the 10-inch tires do a sterling job of absorbing shocks and vibrations from the road.

What’s more, they’re 15% thicker than the tires that you’d typically find on a budget model, and thanks to their tubeless design they offer the most plush riding sensation among all scooters in the sub-$600 price class.

Add in the fact that they maintain excellent traction while cornering, and you have a scooter that’s addictive to ride.

Portability

One of this scooter’s crowning glories is its folding mechanism. It’s so good that NIU has patented it.

To fold the scooter, you slide the safety latch up, pull on the lever to release the stem, and lower it. Once the hook on the back of the handlebars pushes against the protruding latch on the fender, it snaps into place securing the stem for easy lifting.

It takes just 3 seconds from start to finish, making it one of the most convenient that I’ve tested.

Weighing 41 lbs, the KQi2 Pro is also just about light enough to carry up a few flights of stairs with no trips to a physio required afterward.

Load

The 220 lbs load capacity is on par with the majority of budget scooters.

While it perhaps isn’t the most suitable scooter for heavier riders, the scooter’s sturdy design means it can handle the upper echelons of this weight easily. When I tested the scooter I weighed 190 lbs and it performed well.

Besides, if you’re a fan of the KQi2 Pro but need a higher load capacity, then its big bro – the KQi3 Pro – and its 265 lbs rating will be a better option.

Lights

The halo light is possibly the best-looking headlight that I’ve seen on a budget scooter. The outer ring stays on the entire time, while the bulb in the middle illuminates when you turn the headlight on.

Even better is the fact that it's bright enough to ride at night, meaning you don’t have to fork out extra for an additional clip-on light.

At the rear, you have a taillight that’s both huge and visible. It lights up brighter when you brake, though it would have been nice if it flashed.

Mobile App

While the integrated mobile app is fairly basic, it does give you access to a suite of cool features.

These include the ability to:

• Adjust the strength of the regen brakes to be either weak, medium, or strong
• Activate the lock, which immobilizes the scooter by applying the electronic brakes
• Enable a custom ride mode that allows you to set the max speed
• Change the units of speed from kmh to mph, and vice versa
• View your riding stats
• Record trips
• Receive over-the-air firmware updates

Upon unboxing the scooter, you’ll be asked to pair it with the app. From within the app, you’re then prompted to test the brakes and throttle before watching a short safety video.

Once you’ve watched the tutorial, the scooter limits you to 6 mph for the first 200 meters, before giving you access to sport mode. This integrated safety feature is great for first-time riders as it allows you to find your bearings when taking the scooter out for its inaugural ride.

Build Quality

Ladies and gentlemen, build quality is the KQi2 Pro’s main calling card. But, don’t just take my word for it. It recently won an iF Design Award 2023 in the Automobiles/Vehicles category.

From the moment you get it out of the box, you can tell that a high degree of attention to detail and expert craftsmanship has gone into the scooter.

From the reinforced fenders and the smooth flowing lines of its chassis to the wider-than-normal handlebars and wobble-free stem, everything about it screams quality.

But, its standard-setting build doesn’t just present itself on the scooter’s exterior, it also runs in its veins. Take, for example, the battery management system. It provides 14 different types of protection to ensure a higher number of miles per watt-hour than an average scooter. It also regulates the charge and discharge rates to within safe operating limits.

Considering that the most expensive part of any electric scooter is the battery, this system is a welcome addition that’ll keep it healthy for years to come.

You just have to look at NIU’s two-year warranty on the battery to see how much confidence they have in their scooter’s components. This is even more impressive when you consider that other budget brands like Turboant and Gotrax offer just 6 months cover.