Varla Falcon Review

Cockpit

Measuring 25 inches wide, the handlebars and tactile rubber grips facilitate excellent control over the steering column. This improves your handling and mitigates some of the flaws that I’ll cover throughout the review – spoiler alert: wheel spin.

Along the handlebars, you’ll find the ergonomically designed thumb throttle on the right, while the mechanical brake lever and irritating bell are on the left. The bell constantly rattles, but the good news is that you can remove it.

Finishing the cockpit is the centrally-located display. However, it’s not bright enough, and the ergonomics of having to switch between riding modes via the button below the screen is problematic. You have to press the button twice to change mode, meaning you’re forced to take one hand off the handlebars while riding.

Frame

You can count on Varla for a durable frame, and that’s what the Falcon delivers.

The aluminum alloy can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use, while the flourishes of red juxtapose with the minimalist black finish for an eye-catching aesthetic. The distinct silhouette and smooth flowing lines give the Falcon a futuristic look, too.

Elsewhere, the angular fender that shoots out over the rear wheel is reminiscent of a racing car spoiler.

Deck

Grippy, long, and sporting the same upswept shape as a penny skateboard, the deck offers ample room for your feet to assume your preferred riding stance.

Measuring 22.5 inches in length, 6.75 inches at its widest, and 5.25 inches at its narrowest, the tapered design is relatively narrow, but long enough to accommodate feet of all sizes.

Tires

Tubeless, 9 inches, and with thick sidewalls, the tires delivered a satisfying level of cushioning on city streets, whilst also performing well on rough roads, dirt tracks, and potholed streets.

The tires further benefit the scooter's ability to transition between different urban terrain since they allow you to maintain traction.

Combined with the sporty frame, the tires promise a nimble riding experience.

Portability

The folding mechanism is similar to the one flaunted by the Fluid Vista. Previously, I’ve raved about how efficient the Vista’s mechanism is, so you can imagine my take on the Falcon’s setup.

By pulling down on the latch at the base of the stem, you can have the scooter collapsed in just a few seconds – and once collapsed, the hook on the back of the handlebars locks into the latch at the rear of the deck.

However, with a weight of 50 lbs, you certainly feel it when carrying the scooter.

Load

While testing the scooter, I weighed 190 lbs and for the motor and battery power on offer, it performed admirably. It does, however, support up to 265 lbs of rider weight, making it well-suited to heavier riders.

Lights

Lights are something that the Falcon isn’t short of. The headlight and taillight are bright enough to safely illuminate your way down suburban streets, while the LEDs on the chassis add both an extra layer of safety and a dash of swag to the melting pot.

It’s worth noting, though, that the colorful chassis LEDs turn on automatically when the scooter is powered up, even if the main lights aren’t turned on.

Build Quality

As previously stated, Varla’s reputation as a reliable everyday scooter brand is underpinned by its commitment to robust build quality. The Falcon is no different. There’s no wobble in the stem, the cable management is extremely tidy with no wires visible, and the frame is protected by an IP54 water-resistance rating.

There are, however, a couple of shortfalls.

Firstly, you have to set up the mechanical brake yourself. Here, you need to thread the brake wire through the stem, chassis, and out alongside the rear disc. This is a simple task, but you then need to fasten it to the caliper of the rear disc. Despite calibrating the brake to the best of my ability (remember I’ve reviewed over 100 electric scooters, so I know my way around them), the scooter’s stopping power was poor.

Now, while the task of setting up your brakes may sound trivial, I think it's an oversight where build quality is concerned. If you’re going to spend over $1,000 on an electric scooter, you want every component to have been expertly calibrated before receiving it. It's like going to a fancy restaurant, asking for a steak, and then having to cook it yourself on a hot stone.

The second hiccup is the front-mounted motor. With 700W of peak power, you get un-godly amounts of wheel spin. Moving the motor to the rear would have made the Falcon an altogether more enjoyable ride.