Last Updated on October 17, 2022 by Matt
There are many things to be said about the Glion Dolly, and almost all of them are good. It’s amazing how this tough little scooter has managed to build such a sizeable audience of satisfied owners, and how it continues to challenge the mega-popular brands so successfully. The secret sauce is the combination of overall value for money primarily, along with one of the best build qualities and portability features in the game.
This is the full Glion Dolly review. Read on to see if this neat, cool solid-tire road warrior is the right choice for you.
Glion Dolly Review
The Glion Dolly is one of the most popular electric scooters under $500, and its popularity is completely justified. The honeycomb wheels will never go flat, the solid build quality will give you a long lifespan full of fun and utility, and the unique proprietary Dolly features, including the Dolly handle, the auxiliary trolley wheels, and the vertical stand, make it one of the most portable scooters ever.
Glion Dolly summary
The TLDR of the Glion Dolly is as follows: this is a very budget-friendly commuter scooter with solid wheels, that manages not to compromise quality and reliability even one bit, even driving the prices down as time goes by. It is, without a doubt, one of the most portable scooters ever, with portability features that are not found in any other scooter out there. The scooter is tough, fun, versatile, and the vast majority of its owners are extremely satisfied with it.
Most of the time, the Glion Dolly costs around $429 on Amazon.
It is possible that the scooter is only available in the US and Canada at times. If that’s the case and you live in the UK or EU, check the review of the Kugoo S1 Pro, which is the European equivalent of the Glion Dolly.
The Glion Dolly brand
The story of the Glion Dolly is essentially an underdog story.
The scooter was started as a Kickstarter campaign back in 2014, and it raised the money necessary to build and launch the prototype. Back in those days, the electric scooter gold rush was in full throttle, and tons of other now-defunct scooter models were being introduced, each one promising the stars and disappearing a few months later.
Few believed that this tough little prototype from Nebraska, with some weird features and a funny-sounding name, would get the traction necessary to get things off the ground and launch a successful brand. And pretty much nobody believed that it would have what it takes to grab such a huge chunk of the market, a market that the Xiaomi and Ninebot models almost thought of as their own.
Well, fast forward to 2020, and the Glion Dolly is one of the best solid-tire budget scooters ever, probably selling dozens of thousands of units, while having an impossibly-high rating and user satisfaction.
And in retrospect, it’s no wonder – the team behind this scooter worked tirelessly mostly on this one model, carefully monitoring user feedback and incorporating it in every iteration, with each new version improving upon the last.
Today, the name Glion Dolly carries as much respect as Xiaomi and Ninebot, and for some more seasoned scooterists, even more so.
Ordering and shipping
The best place to order the Glion Dolly is Amazon. As usual, the prices may vary, but for the current price of $429, the Glion Dolly is a real bargain.
Processing the order and shipping it to your doorstep will usually take between 3 and 10 days, depending on your location.
Warranty, return policy, customer support
The Glion Dolly comes with a warranty of either a full year or 1000 miles, whichever of these comes first. Interestingly, the usual caveat of “but just 6 months on the battery” is absent. That’s not something you see a lot with electric scooters, and it shows that the brand stands behind their scooter fully and without asterisks.
During that period, you can return the scooter for repairs at no additional cost for any defect covered by the warranty. As usual, improper use or modifying the product will void the warranty.
There is also a 30-day return policy if you are not satisfied with the product.
The Glion Dolly team is very professional, and their support staff will be there to answer any questions you may have and help along the entire buying journey.
Who should get the Glion Dolly?
The Glion Dolly is a very versatile scooter, and it will be the perfect match for many scooterists.
Being one of the most portable scooters ever, in terms of weight and volume, but also with the special Dolly features, this scooter is the clear choice for anyone looking for a scooter you can take and store literally everywhere.
Related to the above, the Glion Dolly will be perfect for anyone looking for a last-mile and commuting solution. Not only can the scooter be carried and placed anywhere, but it has a decent range, and most commutes will be a breeze.
Since this is a very trusted, established scooter, coming from a reputable brand, that is very affordable, yet simple to use and of great quality, it will be an excellent choice for an entry-level or beginner scooter.
Also, with a price tag of around $429 most of the time, the Glion Dolly is one of the best budget scooters, and one of the best bang-for-buck scooters ever. Value shoppers will love it.
The scooter is perfect for college students, as it is the ideal mode of transport for getting around campus.
If you live in a place with terrible roads, especially in a place where scooterists often complain about flats, then you can safely pick the Glion Dolly, as it’s one of the best solid-tire scooters ever made and you will never ever suffer flats with it.
Finally, anyone looking for a tough, durable, long-lasting scooter, of exceptional quality and with very low defect rates, will be amazed by what the Glion Dolly can do, and how little all of that will cost.
Where to buy the Glion Dolly from?
Unboxing, assembly, owner’s manual
The scooter arrives in a cardboard box with sufficient styrofoam protection and nylon covers. The scooter will almost never arrive damaged or dead-on-arrival.
There is no assembly required for the Glion Dolly. The scooter comes pretty much ready for riding, just set your preferred handlebar height, and do some due diligence: make sure the brakes function properly, and that there are no loose screws.
While I’m perfectly aware that probably nobody ever reads the manual, it may be helpful to know that the Glion Dolly has a very useful, detailed manual, with illustrated guides on every procedure, and troubleshooting instructions in case something goes wrong.
Folding and unfolding
The handlebars are also foldable, and very simple to fold.
You will retract the handlebar to its lowest height first, to make sure the scooter is as short as possible. Then, you should fold the handlebars, to further reduce volume. After that, push the silver pedal lever on the front of the deck, which enables you to fold the scooter. The mechanism locks the scooter into the folded position, and you will hear a click both when folding and unfolding the scooter.
And finally, the best part – you can take out the Dolly handle from the front of the deck and extend it, so that you can drag the scooter around like a suitcase (the rear wheel has the auxiliary Dolly wheels sticking out that help to pull the scooter). This is one of the coolest features of this scooter, and something that we can expect a lot of other models to start imitating very soon. Amazing idea and execution in my opinion, which further increases the already great portability.
Also, when the scooter is folded, it can stand vertically, which is more great news for all of us that need to store scooters in narrow places. This is another original feature that no other scooter except the Glion Dolly has.
Basics, how to ride
The Glion Dolly is a very simple and beginner-friendly scooter. Both controls and riding are very easy to master and take just a few minutes.
Holding the power button powers the scooter on (or off if it’s on). When turned on, tapping the button toggles the headlight.
There is no need for a kick when starting – just hitting the throttle accelerates the scooter immediately.
Ride quality and user experience
The Glion Dolly has been described as a fun scooter so often, that it’s almost synonymous with the term now. It will be a blast to ride for anyone, as it is a robust product of good quality, and that quality is what makes the rides both safe and fun.
There is a tradeoff. Even though the front spring suspension helps mitigate the shocks, the Glion Dolly is still a solid-tire scooter, and ride quality will not be as smooth as with an air-filled tire scooter. Sure, the upside is no flats, but the price for that is always bumpier rides. That also makes this scooter an urban model exclusively – you will not have a pleasant offroad ride with it.
That said, the overall build quality and stability the scooter provides almost make up for it, and stabilize the entire scooter, making the ride as good as it can be. Also, the wide handlebars help here as well, since controlling the scooter is easier because of them, which results in better balance, and ultimately better rides.
In all honesty, ride smoothness is not the Glion Dolly’s strongest suit. Rides will be tons of fun, and the solid tires will make them care-free as well, but the reduced smoothness will be a bit of a tradeoff.
Lifespan and build quality
Probably the strongest point of the Glion Dolly is its toughness and build quality. The scooter is very well designed and executed, and it can take a lot of punishment without even blinking. The materials, the attention to detail, and the finishing touches, are all much better than you might expect from a scooter with this price tag.
That kind of quality is what gives the Glion Dolly its extra-long lifespan and reliability. In fact, in the research about the scooters with the longest lifespan, the Glion Dolly was the winner, as it had the lowest defect rates, and the longest reported time of ownership without any problems.
Control, balance, turning
This is where the Glion Dolly wins a lot of points and earns the love of many scooterists, especially more experienced ones.
The scooter has one of the widest handlebars found in budget-friendly scooters. The foldable handlebars make it possible for the scooter to have fairly wide handlebars when unfolded, and that gives it a lot of control and makes turning and navigating really easy.
Speed, motor, and power
The official top speed of the Glion Dolly is 15 mph / 25 kmh. Owner reports and speed tests confirm that top speed, with some owners reporting even slightly higher top speeds of around 17 mph / 27 kmh.
The acceleration of the scooter is quick, but not jerky. It takes around 7 seconds to develop its full speed, often even less when the scooter is fully charged.
The Glion Dolly is powered by a BLDC hub motor of 250 Watts (peak power 600 Watts). The motor is integrated into the rear wheel, which will provide the scooter with some extra torque and climb power. As with most modern scooters, there are no gears and chains here, so there is no need for complicated maintenance procedures.
Climbing
Even though the motor of the Glion Dolly is not much more powerful than the motors of other budget scooters, it can still climb better than most similarly priced scooters.
There is no official climb angle for the Glion Dolly. User reports generally suggest that the scooter will handle most mild or moderate hills with ease, and angles of around 15 degrees will not be a problem. Climbing will be harder as the battery level drops.
Range and commuting
The official range of the Glion Dolly is 15.5 miles / 25 kilometers on a single battery charge. User reports about the range confirm that, and maybe even surpass it, with owners claiming ranges of up to 18 mi / 29 km on a single charge. This means, unlike most scooters that report the ideal range obtained in perfect lab conditions, the Glion Dolly advertises its actual real-world range.
The unique features of the Glion Dolly make it perfect for commuters, especially any commute involving a combination of public transport and last-mile type scenarios.
Since the scooter is very light, very small in dimensions, and it can be pulled like a trolley, it is easily one of the best scooters for carrying around buses and trains, the public transport stations and doors, and in car trunks for visiting other places for example. Coupled with the decent range, the Glion Dolly is an excellent choice for commuters.
Battery and charging
The LG lithium-ion battery has 36 Volts and 7.8 Amps, with a total capacity of 280 Wh. As usual, the deck contains the battery. The battery is of excellent quality and will have an unusually long lifespan of at least 3 years, and likely close to 5 years (1000+ charge cycles). That is rarely found in budget scooters, as you usually have to replace the battery after just 1 or 2 years.
It takes around 3.5 – 4 hours to fully charge the Glion Dolly.
The charging port is on the diagonal part of the stem, near the deck, and it has a protective cover to prevent water and dust from entering the charging port.
Tires and suspension
One of the strongest points of the Glion Dolly is its 8-inch solid honeycomb airless tires. These tires will never, ever go flat, and they are the primary reason why many experienced scooterists have switched from the Xiaomi scooters to the Glion Dolly.
The rear tire hosts the two little “helper” wheels, which are actually used to help pull the scooter when it’s folded.
There is spring suspension between the front wheel and the stem that absorbs the shocks of bumps and cracks in the road.
The tires feature plastic mudguards, that prevent water and mud from splashing. Unlike in most scooters, the mudguards are pretty strong and will rarely cause problems.
Brakes and ABS
The Glion Dolly features two braking systems, and that’s always good news since brake redundancy is always a great safety feature. Both brakes are at the rear wheel.
The main brake is electronic, and it features an anti-lock braking system (ABS) that will prevent the wheel from locking when braking, which is great for slippery surfaces.
Pressing your foot on the rear mudguard activates the rear foot brake, and surprisingly, the brake is actually pretty strong (most rear foot scooter brakes are not much more than decoration honestly).
When braking with both brakes at the same time, the scooter will have a braking distance between 6-7 meters.
Lights and riding at night
The big LED headlight is fixated near the bottom of the stem, and it casts the light up to 4 meters. It is pretty strong, certainly strong enough for a bit of night riding, although it would be better if it was closer to the top and cast the light even further and not be affected by bumps so much. You can adjust the angle of the headlight a bit if you need to.
The rear mudguard has the rear brake light to notify other traffic participants of your presence and actions on the road.
Water resistance
The Glion Dolly does not have an official IP rating. However, the manufacturers say it has some water protection, and there are some obvious finishing touches that will make water damage less likely. The user manual advises not riding in the rain or wet environments (as with all scooters), and the warnings to not spray the scooter with strong jets of water almost remind me of the warnings you see on IP54 scooters. Still, we have to keep in mind, there is no IP rating here, and riding in the rain should be avoided.
Still, as usual, many owners have chosen to ignore the warnings and have tested the limits of the Glion Dolly in the rain. Surprisingly, I wasn’t able to find a single defect because of water damage! Don’t take this as an invitation to sprint outside with the scooter at the first rain, but know that if you do get stranded in rainy weather and decide to ride anyway, the Glion Dolly may just as well make it out intact.
Weight, dimensions, and portability
Everything about the Glion Dolly screams portability.
For starters, the scooter weighs 28 lbs / 12.7 kg, which makes it very light, and one of the lightest popular scooters for adults.
When folded, the scooter takes very little space, with dimensions of 37 x 12 x 8 in / 95 x 30 x 20 cm.
The handlebars are foldable as well, which is one of my favorite portability features in scooters. The handlebars are stable when riding, so their folding mechanisms are very secure as well.
A special, unique superpower the Glion Dolly has is the trolley mechanism, that allows that scooter to be pulled like a suitcase when folded. When folded, you simply pull out the Dolly handle from the deck, and then you can pull the scooter with zero effort. This is incredibly useful, and pretty much eliminates the need to ever carry the scooter except when climbing stairs.
And, incredibly, the Glion Dolly has one more unique feature! When folded, you have the additional option to leave the scooter standing vertically. This is priceless for storing the scooter in narrow spaces! I try not to get easily excited about features, but in my opinion, this is the purest form of brilliance through simplicity, and makes the Glion Dolly very owner-friendly.
With all of that in mind, the Glion Dolly is one of the most portable, most convenient electric scooters ever made.
Weight limit
Officially, the Glion Dolly can carry weights of up to 254 lbs / 115 kg. Unofficially, much heavier riders have used the scooter without any problems, and the brand likely under-reports the weight capacity.
Still, if you or the person you’re buying this scooter for is above the weight limit, it’s better to take a look at some scooters with large weight limits.
Controls and handlebars
The power button and the dashboard are located on the right handlebar.
The twist-throttle for acceleration is on the right handlebar, and the twist-throttle for the brake on the left.
The height of the handlebars is adjustable and it has 2 levels, so both shorter and taller people can find their perfect handlebar height easily.
The handlebars are very wide, which is one of my favorite things about the Glion Dolly. Most scooters can’t really afford to make the handlebars wider, as they don’t have foldable handlebars and wider handlebars would make the scooter not portable. Because of that, turning and scooter control suffer greatly. Luckily, that’s not a problem for the Glion Dolly.
The left handlebar hosts the bell, which is loud enough for people nearby to hear it.
Screen
The digital screen is very easy to understand, as it only displays the battery level with 4 bars. It is not the brightest display in the world, but it will be enough for sunny days. This may be an area where this scooter could improve – at least a speedometer would be great and probably not difficult to add.
Deck
The deck is 5.5 inches wide, and 17 inches long. With that kind of deck length, every rider will have enough foot space and comfort, no matter their shoe size.
It has a ground clearance of around 3.5 inches, which means many curbs and sidewalks will not be an issue. The kickstand is long enough so that the scooter never tips over.
The deck features the anti-slip sandpaper on the top as an extra safety feature.
The front of the deck is home to the Dolly handle, which is extracted when the scooter is folded and enables you to pull the scooter.
Materials, colors, and design
The main components of the scooter, like the frame, the deck, and the handlebar, are made out of powder-coated 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy.
Traditionally, the Glion Dolly comes in black, with silver details, and a touch of green, which is the brand’s color. It is a scooter with style, although I’d describe it more as a character-first charmer instead of a looker with no personality.
Security
As with most budget scooters, the Glion Dolly offers no way to secure it when leaving it unattended. You may want to check out the electric scooter locks guide to find the best lock for your Glion Dolly. The Via Velo Heavy Duty U-lock on Amazon might be a good choice for the Glion Dolly, as it strikes a great balance between strength and price (same as the Glion Dolly itself).
Accessories and customizations
The Glion Dolly can support many accessories and customizations.
Its original bag is probably the first product that many owners get.
Users often go with installing a motorcycle thumb throttle over the twist throttle, and that is likely my personal favorite customization as well.
The scooter can support a trunk or a basket installed on the stem, or a hook for hanging shopping bags from it.
I haven’t seen a seat for the Glion Dolly, and while the design of the scooter may seem to allow it, it would require a lot of changes and technical know-how.
In addition to the accessories specific to the Glion Dolly, I also recommend seeing my guide on the best electric scooter accessories in general, as you will find many items there that will fit this scooter perfectly.
Also, as with any other scooter, you shouldn’t ride the Glion Dolly without a helmet. I recommend a half-helmet like the ILM Half Helmet for most situations, and maybe a bike helmet like the Giro Register MIPS if you want a more comfortable option. See my guide on the best scooter helmets for all the best options for every budget and use case.
Maintenance and spare parts
The Glion Dolly is probably one of the least demanding scooters out there.
It comes with solid tires, which means you have zero responsibility to check air pressure, tire condition, or worry about flats.
The modern hub motor is maintenance-free, and the LG battery can be charged to whatever level you want or have time to (except for the first time or after a long period of inactivity, where you should charge it fully).
The scooter has one of the lowest defect rates in the scooter world, but in case if something goes wrong, you can easily find spare parts at affordable prices.
Frequently asked questions
These are some interesting questions I’ve seen asked about the Glion Dolly.
How long will the Glion Dolly last?
The Glion Dolly is one of the most reliable, long-lasting budget electric scooters ever made, and it’s very common for owners to see their scooters go for several thousand miles without a glitch. A lifespan of 5 years can be reasonably expected.
Does the Glion Dolly have cruise control?
The Glion Dolly does not come with the cruise control feature.
Is the Glion Dolly waterproof?
The Glion Dolly does have some waterproofing and some extra water protection features, but it’s not waterproof and should not be used in the rain or in wet environments.
How much does it cost to charge the Glion Dolly?
One full charge of the Glion Dolly’s battery during off-peak hours costs 1 cent in the US, and 2 pennies in Canada, while charging during peak hours will cost around 4 cents in the US and 3 pennies in Canada.
Can tall people ride the Glion Dolly?
The Glion Dolly has an adjustable handlebar height, with 2 different height levels. That makes it great for people of many different heights.
Glion Dolly specifications
Glion Dolly Specifications
| Top speed | 25 kmh |
| Top speed | 15.5 mph |
| Range | 24 km |
| Range | 15 mi |
| Motors | single hub BLDC |
| Power | 250 W real, 600 W peak |
| Battery | 237.6 Wh, 36 V |
| Battery type | LG lithium-ion |
| Charging time | 3.5 h |
| Weight | 12.7 kg |
| Weight | 28 lbs |
| Weight limit | 115 kg |
| Weight limit | 254 lbs |
| Tire size | 8 in |
| Tire type | solid honeycomb |
| Foldable | yes |
| Foldable handlebars | yes |
| Build material | 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum alloy (powder-coated) |
| Terrains | urban |
| Brakes | rear anti-lock electronic brake |
| ABS | yes |
| Shock absorbers | front spring |
| Lights | front LED + rear brake |
| Control | LCD display |
| Warranty | 12 months |
| Folded dimensions (L * W * H) | 94 cm * 20 cm * 30 cm |
| Folded dimensions (L * W * H) | 37 in * 8 in * 12 in |
| Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H) | 97 cm * 41 cm * 115 cm |
| Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H) | 38 in * 16 in * 45 in |
| Deck dimensions (L * W) | 43.5 cm * 14 cm |
| Deck dimensions (L * W) | 17 in * 6 in |
| Ground clearance | 13.3 cm |
| Ground clearance | 5 in |
| Deck to handlebar height | 99 cm |
| Deck to handlebar height | 39 in |
| Adjustable handlebar | yes |
| Notes | vertical self-standing, trolley wheels |
Glion Dolly vs other electric scooters
Let’s see how the Glion Dolly compares against other popular scooters.
Glion Dolly vs Xiaomi M365
I’m gonna go against the current here and suggest that the Glion Dolly wins this one for many use cases.
It basically comes down to the pneumatic vs solid tire debate, but if you want a pneumatic tire scooter, there are some better choices than the Xiaomi M365. The problem with the flats is just too big, and the next scooter we compare against is a much better air-filled tire choice.
Glion Dolly vs GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter
The GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter may be the most serious challenger to the Glion Dolly in my opinion.
It comes with slightly weaker performances, and not as good build quality. The Glion Dolly wins all of that.
The GoTrax will offer more comfortable rides, which is the weakest point of the Glion Dolly.
Overall, I would say go with the Glion Dolly, unless you want an air-filled tire scooter. In that case, check out the review of the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter.
Glion Dolly vs Ninebot ES2
While the Ninebot ES2 is more international and more popular, I believe the Glion Dolly makes a strong case for itself and may be a better choice for many. That’s primarily because of its build quality, low defect rates, and better rating overall.
The Ninebot ES2 (full review here) is also a solid-tire scooter, and it’s also very popular, which is always hard to dismiss, as the market is almost always right. Still, if I’d have to make a decision, I would go with the Glion Dolly for most situations, mostly because of the much better user reviews.
Known issues and tradeoffs
Probably the best thing about the Glion Dolly is its reliability. With one of the longest lifespans among budget scooters, and one of the lowest defect rates as well, the scooter doesn’t really have that many big flaws.
It does have a few tradeoffs, however. Some of the design choices that produce its strengths, result in some weak points.
Of course, the biggest issue will be the ride smoothness. The newer 225 version does come with a front suspension system, which does help improve the ride, but still, the Glion Dolly’s solid tires will not provide the most comfortable ride ever.
Another issue I’d love to see addressed is the screen. It displays just the battery level, which is kind of minimal.
The next issue is the twist throttle. This is partly subjective, because this kind of throttle is actually fine for most people, but personally, I prefer the thumb throttle. Luckily, twist throttles only require one small part to transform them into thumb throttles, and that customization is both cheap and easy.
Some owners have complained about the scooter not having speed modes. Personally, I see that as a feature rather than a bug – who uses anything but the fastest speed mode on budget scooters anyway?
The Glion Dolly doesn’t come with an app. You can take a look at the Universal Scooter App by EScooterNerds, it will not have any features specific to this scooter, and since the scooter doesn’t have bluetooth it won’t be able to connect with it, but still, there will be a ton of other useful features like hacks, tips, guides, calculators, resources, etc. You can use the app with both an iPhone and an Android phone.
All in all, like every scooter, the Glion Dolly has a few downsides. Most of them can’t be considered real dealbreakers.
Reviews, popularity, what owners are saying
We can talk about the Glion Dolly for a week, but nothing speaks louder than practical experience from existing owners.
And for the Glion Dolly, the owners have nothing but the best things to say.
It is hard to estimate exactly how many units has this scooter sold, but it’s very likely at least several dozens of thousands. With thousands of reviews on the main Amazon listing, with many excellent ratings (which is extremely rare for any electronic device, let alone a scooter), the Glion Dolly is one of the most well-received, most beloved electric scooters ever.
Naturally, owner reviews often include words like “incredible”, “amazing”, “great”, “value”, and “fun”.
Price and value
Electric scooter prices often vary depending on many factors, and the Glion Dolly is not an exception.
It’s usually priced at $429 on Amazon. The truth is, the scooter would be an incredible deal even at $500, or even $550. Still, this is a value-first scooter, and its price rarely goes above $499.
Verdict
Many groups of scooterists will find the Glion Dolly to be a perfect choice for them. The most important ones are:
- first-time owners and beginners
- commuters, especially last-mile commuters
- people that need a super-portable scooter
- value shoppers
- anyone looking for the most quality on a budget
- anyone with a budget under $500
- anyone living in a place with bad roads where flats are common
If you fall into one or more of those categories, be sure to check out the Glion Dolly – you will be joining a club of countless very happy scooterists.
Where to buy the Glion Dolly from?
