Kaabo Mantis Pro SE Review
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE Specifications
- Top speed: 64 kmh 40 mph
- Range: 64 km 40 mph
- Motors: dual drive hub BLDC
- Power: 2000 W
- Climb angle: 16.7 °
- Battery: 1092 Wh, 60 V
- Battery type: LG
- Charging time: 5 h
- Avg. charging cost: US: $0.18, Canada: $0.1, UK: £0.34, EU: €0.32
- Weight: 29.5 kg 65 lbs
- Weight limit: 150 kg 330 lbs
- Tire size: 10 in
- Tire type: pneumatic
- Foldable: yes
- Foldable handlebars: no
- Trunk or basket: available
- Brakes: dual hydraulic Zoom
- ABS: yes
- Shock absorbers: front spring + rear air
- Lights: front + rear + deck
- Control: EY3 LCD
- Speed modes: 3
- Keys: no
- Alarm: no
- App: no
- Warranty: 12 months
- Folded dimensions (L * W * H): 122 * 61 * 48 cm 48.03 * 24.02 * 18.90 in
- Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H): 122 * 61 * 122 cm 48.03 * 24.02 * 48.03 in
- Deck dimensions (L * W): 59 * 22 cm 23.23 * 8.66 in
- Deck to handlebar height: 100 cm 39.37 in
- Adjustable handlebar: yes
Tests and measurements
- Speed tests (EScooterNerds): 64 kmh 40 mph
- Speed tests (third party): 64 kmh 40 mph
- Range tests (EScooterNerds): 64 km 40 mi
- Range tests (third party): 64 km 40 mi
- Braking distance tests (EScooterNerds): 6 m
- Braking distance tests (third party): 6 m
- Climb tests (EScooterNerds): 20
- Climb tests (third party): 17
- Waterproofing tests (third party): no problems in wet weather
Ratings and scores
Pros
- excellent performance
- great quality
- great brakes
- very good suspenstion
Cons
- pricey
- heavy
- no IP rating
When to buy
Consider purchasing the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE when you’re looking for a high-quality, powerful scooter that strikes a balance between performance and affordability. It’s an ideal choice if you’re an experienced rider seeking an upgrade or looking for your second scooter.
When not to buy
Avoid purchasing the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE if you are a beginner to electric scooters, as its advanced features and higher price points may not be suitable for those new to this mode of transportation.
In this detailed Kaabo Mantis Pro SE review, we will take a closer look at one of the best mid-to-high priced scooters in the world today, and see why this scooter enjoys such a good reputation and is beloved by its owners.
Basics
Let’s start with the basics of the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE.
Unboxing, assembly
The box is relatively big, although not too huge and bulky. The scooter has enough protective covers and styrofoam, and damage on delivery is very rare.
The box will include:
- scooter
- charger
- handlebar top and four screws for securing it
- hex key
- user manual
The scooter comes almost fully assembled, and the handlebars are already connected to the stem. You will only have to:
- tighten the locking mechanism
- place the handlebar on the stem and screw on the handlebar top
- install the display
Make sure that the folding mechanism is nice and tight, and that the tires are sufficiently inflated, the battery is full, and all the other screws are tight. Also, it’s a very good idea to charge your battery fully before you ride the first time.
How to use, folding
Powering the scooter on or off is as simple as holding the power button for a few seconds.
The scooter has 5 setting modes, and you can toggle them with the mode button. The setting modes include:
- voltage
- time
- trip
- odometer
- charges
Holding the mode button for a few seconds gives you access to the scooter’s P-settings.
The scooter has 3-speed modes, and you can switch between them by pressing the smallest button with the dot on it.
In addition to the speed modes, the scooter has two additional performance settings – the eco or turbo mode, and the single or dual motor mode.
The stem and the folding mechanism are very secure, and you need to unlock not one but two levers to loosen the folding mechanism before you can fold the stem. The hinge from the handlebar top is used to lock against the small frame on the back of the deck when the scooter is folded.
Performance
Next let’s check out the performance of the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE.
Motor, controller, power
The scooter has two motors, each with a peak power level of 1000 Watts, for a combined peak power output of 2000 Watts. The motors are connected to the 60 V dual 27A Minimotors Controller, which is one of the best in the game.
The motors are brushless DC motors, and as usual with dual-drive scooters, they will provide excellent performance not just in terms of speed, but also when climbing or carrying heavier loads.
Speed and speed test
The Kaabo Mantis Pro SE is capable of developing top speeds up to 40 mph / 64 kmh.
Those are its official specs.
Unofficially, the scooter has proven numerous times through my tests that it can easily reach those speeds without problems, even with heavier riders and when not riding with a 100% full battery.
The scooter needs just 2 seconds to go from 0 to 15 mph / 25 kmh.
If that’s not enough speed for you, take e look at my article the fastest electric scooters.
Climbing
The official climb angle of the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE is 30% / 16.70°.
Unofficially, I believe that the scooter is capable of much more, and several of my tests have confirmed that. The scooter does come with two motors after all, and the tires provide a lot of traction, so you can expect some solid climbing overall.
Check out my article on the best electric scooters for climbing hills if you want an even stronger climb angle.
Battery, charging
The 60 Volt battery comes from LG, and that is one of the strongest sides of this scooter, as LG is one of the top 3 battery manufacturers for scooters. With a capacity of 18.2 Ah and 1092 Wh, the scooter provides plenty of range and a solid performance overall.
The charging port is located on the left back side of the deck, and it is protected by a plastic cap. As usual, the charger has an indicator light that lights up green when the scooter is fully charged and red when the scooter is still charging.
Charging the scooter should take between 4 and 5.5 hours. One owner has reported a much longer charge time of around 10 hours, but he must have probably used a slower charger.
Range and range test
The Kaabo Mantis Pro SE will give you a range of up to 40 mi / 64 km if you ride in the eco mode, and somewhere around 25 mi / 40 km if you ride in the turbo mode. These are the official ranges for the scooter, but they have been confirmed in my own tests also.
You can probably get even more range than that if you ride in the eco mode but at a slower speed as well.
Take a look at my article on the best long-range electric scooters if you want to explore scooters with even better ranges.
Ride experience
With a strong build, great balance, large tires, and dual suspension, it’s no wonder that the Mantis provides one of the smoothest, most enjoyable rides out of all the scooters priced around the $1500 mark.
The scooter is famous for several things, but many scooterists buy it precisely for its comfortable, silky-smooth rides, and that’s one of its strongest features in general.
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE vs similar scooters
Several Kaabo Mantis models are often compared against the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE. Also, some other scooter brands are often pitted together against this scooter as well. Let’s see how the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE handles the competition.
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE vs Kaabo Mantis & Kaabo Mantis Pro
The first difference between the Kaabo Mantis and the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE is the merchants that sell them.
The scooter sold by Voromotors is called Kaabo Mantis Pro SE, while the version sold by FluidFreeRide is called just the Kaabo Mantis (or the Kaabo Mantis fluid version).
Now, the version sold at FluidFreeRide comes with two battery choices – a Base 17.5 Ah battery that has a maximum range of 30 mi / 48 km, and a Pro 24.5 Ah battery with a maximum range of 45 mi / 72 km.
The Kaabo Mantis Base version costs $1649, which is about the same as the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE (probably exactly the same, since you can get $50 off at Voromotors with the escooternerds coupon code). While the prices are very similar, you will get considerably more range with the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE.
The Kaabo Mantis Pro version at FluidFreeRide costs $2299, while the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE sold at Voromotors costs $1695, and you still get the same range, with about 6 mi / 10 km extra range.
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE vs Zero 10X
This is a somewhat interesting comparison, but ultimately I believe that the Mantis is a better choice than the Zero 10X for most scooterists.
For starters, the Zero 10X will cost around $350 more, while having the exact same range and top speed as the Mantis.
The biggest advantage of the Zero 10X will be the better climb angle, as Zero scooters are well-known for their climbing power, but at the same time, the Zero 10X will also be heavier, have larger dimensions, and still have a smaller weight limit.
I believe the Mantis is simply the better choice.
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE vs Inokim OXO
The Inokim OXO is more expensive than the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE, typically priced around $2490, which is almost $1000 more than the price of the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE after the discount.
The top speeds of both scooters are the same. Weirdly enough, even though the Inokim OXO has more powerful motors on paper, that advantage doesn’t translate into stronger performance. The Inokim OXO even has a slightly lower climb angle.
The advantage of the Inokim OXO is in the range. With 68 mi / 100 km of range, it has almost double the range of the Kaabo Mantis Pro, while only weighing around 9 lbs / 4 kg extra.
If range is important to you, and you’re comfortable with spending that kind of money on a scooter, you will want to check out the Inokim OXO, as it’s one of the highest-quality electric scooters available on the market today. You can see my complete Inokim OXO review or check out the Inokim OXO at FluidFreeRide.
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE vs Apollo Ghost
The Kaabo Mantis Pro SE and the Apollo Ghost belong in the same category of mid-priced performing scooters of great quality, and the differences are kind of subtle.
The Apollo Ghost is about $100 cheaper, but it will also have around 6 mi / 10 km less range and it will be slightly slower as well.
Both scooters weigh about the same, but the Apollo Ghost can carry around 30 lbs / 14 kg less on its deck, so the Mantis is better for heavier adults.
If you want to save a bit of money and don’t mind getting less performance, you can take a look at the Apollo Ghost, it’s also a very good scooter that will perform similarly to the Mantis.
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE vs Apollo Phantom
The Mantis is often compared to another popular Apollo scooter, the Apollo Phantom.
Apollo scooters are almost like gradual upgrades of one another, and the Apollo Phantom is more performant than the Apollo Ghost, but I don’t think it does enough to justify the price difference. While I would consider the Apollo Ghost as a viable alternative to the Mantis, I think the Apollo Phantom is not a better choice when compared to the Mantis.
The Phantom will be about $200-$250 more expensive than the Mantis, while having the same range, being slightly slower, and having less weight capacity. Its only advantage might be the IP54 water resistance rating, something which the Mantis lacks, but I don’t think that’s enough.
Take a look at the Apollo Phantom if you’re interested, or see my complete Apollo Phantom review, but I would pick the Mantis out of these two.
Kaabo Mantis Pro vs Dualtron Ultra 2
I’ve seen this comparison made online several times, but I don’t think it makes a lot of sense.
The Dualtron Ultra 2 costs more than double! And the Kaabo Mantis Pro is not a cheap scooter, to begin with, so comparing these two is kind of futile.
The price difference is somewhat justified, however, as the Dualtron Ultra 2 outperforms the Kaabo Mantis Pro by about 22 mph / 36 kmh in speed, which does make it a true power scooter.
The range of the Dualtron Ultra is probably its biggest advantage. With 87 mi / 140 km of range, it has more than twice the range of the Mantis, and that’s where it justifies the price difference.
If you’re after a much more performant scooter, you can take a look at my Dualtron Ultra 2 review, or check it out at Voromotors.
Kaabo Mantis Pro SE vs Varla Eagle One
These two are practically the same scooter. They cost the same, have the same speed, the same range, weight limit, tires, brakes, suspension… pretty much all of the important things are the same.
The Varla Eagle One has an IP54 ingress protection standard, while the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE has an unofficial IPX4 standard.
The Kaabo Mantis Pro SE will weigh about 11 lbs / 5 kg less, which is probably its biggest advantage here.
The Varla Eagle One will be a better climber, on the other hand, and that will be its major advantage. So, in essence, if you liked the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE, but you’d like a bit more climbing power, check out the Varla Eagle One at the official Varla store.
Build quality
Every part of the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE is of great quality individually, as Kaabo never really skimp on parts. But even more importantly, the scooter is more than just a sum of its parts – it is so well-engineered and well put-together, that early defects are practically unheard of, and owners often use (or even abuse) their Mantises for years before they notice a single scratch on the scooter.
Every unit goes through an extensive quality assurance process before it gets shipped to you, and the packaging includes a lot of protective materials, so defects on arrival are very rare as well.
Of course, nobody can guarantee you how much any scooter will last, but I’d be truly surprised if your Mantis suffers a serious defect in the first two to three years of usage without serious misuse.
Features
Let’s explore the features of Kaabo Mantis Pro SE.
Screen, handlebars, cockpit
The display is EY3 LED, which is the same brand of display used in the celebrated Dualtron scooter line. It will display the current speed, battery level, speed mode, voltage, or some other details like the trip distance or time depending on what you select through the mode button.
The right handlebar hosts the display along with the three buttons (power, speed mode, and settings mode), as well as the other two buttons for eco/turbo mode and single/dual drive.
The left handlebar has a light button.
Both of the handlebars host one brake lever each (as usual, the left lever is for the rear brake, and the right lever is for the front brake).
Deck, frame, stem
The scooter has a very solid and sturdy feel to it, and that’s because it’s truly reliable, and made from the highest-quality materials.
The deck of the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE is comfortable and spacious, with a length of 23 in / 59 cm and a width of 8.5 in / 22 cm. The rear of the deck is slightly elevated and it can serve as a footrest for longer rides. The top of the deck has a silicon mat on it to prevent slipping.
One of the biggest advantages of the upgraded version of this scooter is the reinforced stem. Stem defects were somewhat of an issue with the previous version of the Kaabo Mantis, but with the newer version, the chances for that are much lower.
Brakes, safety
The scooter has dual fully hydraulic brakes on both tires. The brakes come from Zoom, which is one of the best manufacturers of brakes for scooters, and with a dual braking system, the Mantis can be classified as a very safe scooter. The brakes are very responsive and will give you a braking distance of just a few meters.
It’s recommended to always try to brake with the front brake first, to prevent the scooter from tipping over when braking from higher speeds.
The scooter comes with the E-ABS (electronic anti-locking braking system) option, which you can turn on or off depending on your preference. I usually like leaving it on because braking is just safer with it.
Since this is quite a powerful scooter, riding without the proper scooter helmet is not an option.
Tires, wheels, suspension
The 10-inch pneumatic tires of the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE are made from high-quality rubber and provide excellent traction. Flats can happen with this scooter but are very rare and usually easy to fix by yourself.
The tires are meant for standard road usage and only have small treads, but given their diameter and the other features, the scooter will be able to handle some rides on rough terrains (I still advise avoiding that as much as possible though, you will likely want a specialized off-road electric scooter for that).
Both of the wheels have a very solid suspension system, with two springs on the front wheel, and an air shock absorber on the rear, and that’s the main reason why the scooter is capable of providing very smooth rides. Also, both of the wheels have mudguards, and even though they are quite small, they do a good job of keeping you clean.
Water resistance, riding in the rain
The Kaabo Mantis Pro SE seems to have no official IP rating at Voromotors, but another place unofficially specifies an IPX4 rating. While several owners have reported riding through some light rain without any problems, it’s still best to avoid riding in any wet conditions as much as possible.
Also, be careful when cleaning the scooter, you shouldn’t hose it.
Lights, night rides
The scooter has LED light strips on the sides of the deck, two lights on the front of the deck, and two on the rear.
The lights are not strong, especially the front and the rear ones. That is one of the biggest drawbacks of this scooter, and it makes the scooter somewhat unsuitable for riding after dark. You might want to buy some after-market lights if you plan on riding at night.
Portability, weight, dimensions
The Kaabo Mantis Pro SE weighs 65 lbs / 29 kg, which puts it in the category of heavier scooters.
The scooter is also not small in dimensions:
- length: 48 in / 122 cm
- width: 24 in / 61 cm
- height: 48 in / 122 cm (unfolded), 19 in / 48 cm (folded)
Most adults will not have any problems carrying this scooter for shorter distances, but anything longer than a few dozen yards will be a problem, and people who are not very strong will also struggle with carrying this scooter as well.
All in all, portability is not a strong side of the Mantis.
Weight limit
The Kaabo Mantis Pro SE is one of the best electric scooters for heavy adults in the world right now. It comes with a weight limit of 330 lbs / 150 kg, making it one of the top choices for this category of people.
Since many heavier owners have bought this scooter, we have quite a few reports of heavier riders on how the scooter performs for them, and they all confirm that the scooter carries them without any problems.
Security, lock
The scooter can be started just by pressing the power button, and it doesn’t have any security or locking mechanisms.
Since this is a very expensive scooter, you should never leave it outside without locking it with a strong scooter lock. I would recommend not trying to save on the lock here, as thieves will easily recognize this scooter as a premium model and do their best to try and steal it.
Problems, defect rates, known issues
The design and the execution are almost flawless, and the scooter is of such high quality, that defects are truly rare.
The biggest issue for me is the lack of IP rating. You never know when you might get stuck in the rain with your scooter, and while some owners have reported riding in the rain successfully, I wouldn’t take that risk, especially since the warranty never covers water damage. If it rains a lot where you live, I recommend taking a look at my guide on the best waterproof electric scooters.
Also, while the lights are kinda ok, I don’t think they’re strong enough for the longer night rides. They are positioned in the deck itself, which is not my favorite position for the lights to be in.
One smaller issue is that the display can’t inform you on whether you’re in eco or turbo mode, or if you’re in single or dual motor mode. You will quickly learn to tell the difference only after a few seconds of riding, but it’s still a feature that’s lacking for this scooter.
Those are pretty much all the important things that you should be aware of if you’re thinking of buying this scooter.
Accessories, customizations, gear
There are many options for customizing your Mantis, and the good news here is, they are all original and specific parts that will always fit this exact scooter. You can always take a look at some generic scooter accessories as well, but with those, there’s always the chance of some of them not fitting your scooter.
Take a look at the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE accessories at Voromotors, you will probably find everything you need there to make your scooter more personalized.
I recommend the mirror, the headlight, and the handlebar extender if you’re on the taller side.
Maintenance, repairs, spare parts
The Mantis is a very high-quality scooter, so repairs are likely to not be an issue for months or even years after buying it. In case something goes wrong, you can find all the spare parts for the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE at Voromotors.
You can easily get by with a simple maintenance routine once a week as follows:
- clean the scooter with a damp cloth and some soap water (don’t spray it though)
- make sure there are no loose screws
- make sure the brakes are operational
- check the tire pressure
App
There is no official app for Kaabo scooters. The scooter doesn’t support connecting to it via Bluetooth.
The next best thing is the EScooterNerds Universal Scooter Helper App. Of course, this app won’t connect with the scooter either, but it will provide you with some additional helpful features such as calculators, guides, resources, tools, checklists, etc. You can find it available for both iPhone and Android.
Is the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE right for you?
If you’re tired of your Xiaomi or Ninebot and want a much more exciting scooter, then the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE will be the perfect choice for you.
Also, if you’re not looking to spend several thousand dollars on a scooter, but you still want top-level quality, you will find the Mantis to be an excellent pick.
If you’re after that next-level performance, but you’re not ready for the racing scooters yet, or you simply like to continue riding comfortably but on a much more fun vehicle, then you should seriously consider the Kaabo Mantis Pro SE.
Worldwide: Voromotors (discount code: escooternerds for $50 off)
