Kugoo ES2 Review – Good-Quality Budget Scooter Perfect for Beginners

In this detailed Kugoo ES2 review, we will see why this super-budget model provides value that’s hard to match even by the established brands, why it’s one of the best scooters for beginners and first-time owners, and whether it might be a good fit for you.

Kugoo ES2

The Kugoo ES2 provides a healthy mix of quality, safety, comfort, and ease of use, all of that for a very fair budget price. With a top speed of 15.5 mph / 25 kmh and a range of 15.5 mi / 25 km is an excellent choice for beginners or ride-sharing riders for daily commuting.

Specifications

Basics

Here are some of the basics of the Kugo ES2 that you should know about.

Unboxing and assembly

The scooter will arrive in a plain brown box, but it will have enough protective layers that prevent damage on delivery.

The package contains:

• the scooter
• handlebar grips
• charger
• toolkit
• screws
• user manual
• warranty card

The only assembly required is installing the brake lever on the handlebar, and then screwing the handlebar grips onto the handlebar.

Manual

The Kugoo ES2 comes with a simple user manual with a lot of helpful details and illustrations.

I know it’s not the most fun thing to do, but as usual, I recommend at least quickly checking it out, as you may find some important details that differ between versions.

Folding and unfolding

The improved folding mechanism sets this scooter apart from older models, offering simplicity and enhanced security. Unlocking is achieved with a small lever on the front deck, allowing quick and stable folding of the stem.

For added portability the handlebar grips can be easily removed by unscrewing, reducing the folded volume significantly.

Performance

Here are some of the performance aspects of the Kugoo ES2.

Motor and power

The scooter features a 350-watt hub BLDC motor in the front wheel.

While Kugoo doesn’t clarify if it’s real or peak power, judging by the scooter’s performance, it’s challenging to determine, given the limited top speed but impressive acceleration.

Speed and speed test

The Kugoo ES2 has a top speed of 15.5 mph / 25 kmh, confirmed by both official data and independent speed tests.

I managed to surpass the official max speed by a little at 17 mph / 27 kmh. Since I managed this speed in my opinion, lighter rides could get even more speed than this.

Even heavier riders attest to the scooter achieving this speed effortlessly. While typical for a budget scooter, the acceleration surpasses expectations, gradually reaching the top speed.

If you prefer even faster scooters, check out my post on the fastest electric scooters.

Climbing and climb test

The Kugoo ES2 boasts a 15° climb angle, making it one of the top-performing budget electric scooters for climbing.

I managed to achieve a climb angle of 17° which is more the the official one.

Owners consistently report its excellent climbing capabilities, attributed to the effective 350 Watt front-wheel motor that enhances torque, potentially contributing to the scooter’s limited top speed.

If you need a scooter that is better for climbing, check out my post on the best electric scooter for climbing hills.

Range and range test

The advertised range of the Kugoo ES2 is 15.5 mi / 25 km.

I tested the scooter and I can only confirm the range, but a few lighter riders report getting even more.

A lot of heavier scooterists, or people riding uphill, or stopping a lot, or constantly riding at the fastest speed, report smaller ranges, but all of the reports are very close to the specified range.

If you need a scooter that has a longer range than the Kugoo ES2, check out my post on the longest-range electric scooters.

Ride experience

Since the scooter is available with both solid and pneumatic tires, the ride quality and the user experience will be affected by this choice.

The scooter that I tested had pneumatic tires and the ride was very comfortable.

The scooter was likely designed primarily as a solid-tire scooter, and that way it will probably provide a better experience overall.

In my opinion, the ride quality may suffer, but the general day-to-day ownership will be simpler.

On the other hand, I think that the max speed of 15.5 mph / 25 kmh is enough for this scooter and for commuting.

Kugoo ES2 vs other scooters

The Kugoo ES2 is commonly compared against other budget (and sometimes not-so-budget) scooters, and it generally makes a good case for choosing it over other models.

Kugoo ES2 vs Ninebot ES2

I guess the Ninebot ES2 is the biggest rival of the Kugoo ES2. I don’t want to assume anything, but I’m pretty sure Kugoo has “borrowed” the ES2 version name, which clearly throws a glove in the face of the Ninebot ES2 and challenges it with impunity.

The Kugoo ES2 offers the same top speed, range, climb angle, load capacity, and water protection as the Ninebot ES2, but at a more affordable price – about $200 less.

Additionally, the Kugoo ES2 features larger tire diameter and superior climbing ability. While the Ninebot ES2 is lighter and more portable, with better brand recognition.

I’d probably recommend the Kugoo ES2 to most people, especially if you are budget-oriented. Go with the Ninebot ES2 if you’re looking for a scooter that’s easier to carry, and comes from a better-known brand.

You can see the Ninebot ES2 review to find out more.

Kugoo ES2 vs Xiaomi M365

The Kugoo ES2 beats the Xiaomi M365 for some use cases.

The Kugoo ES2, equipped with solid tires, eliminates the risk of flats, addressing a significant weakness in the Xiaomi M365. Priced at about $100 less than Xiaomi, it offers a better value proposition, given their similar performance.

While the Xiaomi M365 boasts ride comfort, lower weight, and stronger branding, the Kugoo ES2 stands out for affordability and comparable performance. Xiaomi’s popularity suggests potential higher quality.

However, I believe it will not be of better value in almost any case, and the Kugoo ES2 remains the better budget option. If you still wanna cover all the bases and learn more, check out my Xiaomi M365 review.

Kugoo ES2 vs Xiaomi M365 Pro

Comparing the Xiaomi M365 Pro and the Kugoo ES2 seems a bit unfair, given the substantial price difference. The Xiaomi offers more range and lighter weight, but it’s pricier.

The Kugoo ES2, however, avoids flat tires, charges faster, matches the top speed of the Xiaomi M365 Pro, and may even have better climbing ability.

While the Xiaomi M365 Pro is a reliable choice, if your budget is below $400, the Kugoo ES2 provides a comparable experience and quality.

If you want to know more about the Xiaomi M365 Pro check out my complete review of it.

Kugoo ES2 vs Kugoo M2 Pro

The Kugoo ES2 and Kugoo M2 Pro share similar features, including top speed, climb angle, and weight.

The M2 Pro stands out with pneumatic 8.5-inch tires, a slightly better range (18.6 mi / 30 km), a higher weight capacity (265 lbs / 120 kg), and a slightly better IP54 ingress protection rating, costing about $50 more.

You can check out my review of the Kugoo M2 Pro to find out more about it.

The ES2 boasts excellent build quality, incorporating user feedback, ensuring long usage, low defects, and a modern design with sturdy aluminum construction, a spacious deck, and a stable stem.

Build quality

Overall, the build quality of the Kugoo ES2 is very good, especially for its price.

The scooter has evolved through iterations, benefiting from user feedback and experiences with other Kugoo models. It now ensures extended usage, low defects, and addresses engineering issues effectively.

The modern design features curved lines, smooth finishes, and a robust aluminum frame, providing a durable and reliable feel. With a spacious deck and a stable, thick stem, the scooter offers comfort for most riders.

Features

Here are some of the features of the Kugoo ES2.

Battery

The scooter houses a 7.5 Ah, 270 Wh lithium battery in the deck, operating at 36 V. Recent versions address past concerns about battery degradation, providing improved longevity.

Kugoo says that the scooter takes between 4 and 6 hours to charge, but most user reports suggest that the actual charge time might be closer to 6 hours.

The scooter that I was testing was fully charged for 5 hours.

The charging port is on the deck, and it is protected by a rubber cap.

How much does it cost to charge the Kugoo ES2?

During off-peak hours, charging the Kugoo ES2 fully will cost 6-8 pence in the UK and Ireland, and 4-5 cents in the rest of Europe. During peak hours, the prices in the UK and Ireland are about 7-9 pence, while in Europe they rise up to 6-7 cents.

Brakes

The Kugoo ES2 features a dual braking system for enhanced safety, ensuring a short braking distance, especially when both brakes are utilized.

The right handlebar’s brake lever engages the rear disk brake, while the left handlebar’s brake thumb throttle activates the electronic brake in the motor.

For my taste, the brakes aren’t sharp enough.

Tires and suspension

The Kugoo ES2 comes standard with 8.5-inch solid rubber tires, with an option to choose pneumatic tires. Solid tires eliminate the risk of flats and require minimal maintenance, though they may compromise ride quality.

The honeycomb structure in these solid tires helps enhance smoothness during rides. Opting for pneumatic tires provides increased comfort and reduces vibrations, albeit with a potential risk of occasional flats.

I prefer pneumatic tires, as I’ve never had a flat and I like the better ride experience.

However, for this scooter, I believe solid tires are the better choice, as the entire scooter is designed around that feature, and it’s how this scooter was envisioned to work in the first place.

The scooter has a front spring suspension between the stem and the front wheel, which helps in absorbing the shocks and impacts from bumpy rides.

Screen and controls

The Kugoo ES2 cockpit is designed for user-friendliness, making it easy for beginners. The right handlebar features the acceleration thumb throttle, while the left one has the electronic brake thumb throttle.

The brake lever is typically on the right but can be installed on the left. The dashboard in the middle includes a small round LCD screen and a single button for controls.

The screen can display:

• current speed (you can set your metric system)
• battery level (4 bars)
• speed mode
• lights status
• bluetooth status

The screen is pretty bright, even unusually bright for a budget scooter, and should be visible on everything except the sunniest of days, when it may not be so visible.

Weight, dimensions, and portability

The Kugoo ES2 weighs 35.3 lbs / 16 kg, slightly above average. When folded, it’s relatively compact and well-balanced, making it easy to carry.

A notable feature is the ability to unscrew the handlebar grips, reducing its folded size, a practical alternative to the common foldable handlebars.

When I unscrewed the handlebar grips me and my friend managed to put it in the back of a Fiat Uno.

In general, the Kugoo ES2 is somewhat portable, but not the easiest scooter to carry around, so check out my guide on the most portable electric scooters.

Weight limit

The Kugoo ES2 officially supports riders up to 220 lbs / 100 kg.

In practice, it handles my friend who has 240 lbs/ 110 kg with no problem really.

That said, I don’t recommend taking that chance, and if you need a scooter with a bigger weight limit, check out some of the best scooters for heavy adults.

The handlebars of the scooter are not adjustable. Their height will be good enough for anyone except extremely tall people (who may want to check out the guide on the best scooters for tall people).

IP rating and water resistance

The Kugoo ES2 has an official IPX4 water resistance rating, making it water-resistant but not fully waterproof. I tested it through some light rain and didn’t notice any issues.

While light rain shouldn’t pose a problem, I would advise avoiding wet conditions, following the standard practice for electric scooters.

If you prefer a scooter that is more water-resistant or waterproof, check out my guide on the best waterproof electric scooters.

Lights and riding at night

The Kugoo ES2 is well-lit for night riding, equipped with a powerful front LED headlight, a rear brake light, and side deck LED light strips.

While the front headlight is strong, for frequent night rides, consider opting for a more powerful headlight for added safety. The blue LED strips on the deck enhance visibility and ensure you’re easily noticed in the dark.

App, bluetooth, USB

The scooter has a USB port on the top of the stem, which you can use as a charger for your phone while riding.

You can connect the scooter to the Kugoo app via bluetooth. The app is available for both iOS and Android.

You can set various settings through the app:

• current speed
• battery level
• trip distance
• maps and navigation
• metric system
• cruise control
• zero-start or kick-start
• run a diagnostics check on the scooter
• update firmware
• other scooter information

The app offers numerous features and is generally good.

However, like many scooter apps, some users have reported issues with Bluetooth connectivity and locating the scooter.

In addition to the official Kugoo app, I recommend checking out the Universal Scooter Helper App by EscooterNerds.

Use it with the main app for additional features like cleaning checklists, maintenance guides, tips, hacks, and more. The app is also available for both iOS and Android.

Accessories and customizations

The scooter has limited proprietary accessories.

You might find better deals on generic scooter accessories, given its standard frame. It doesn’t include a phone mount, but with a convenient USB port, adding an aftermarket phone mount is a worthwhile investment.

Security and lock

The scooter is very affordable, and a simple lock of medium security will deter pretty much any thief. You probably don’t need to spend more than $30 – $40 on a lock (see the guide on the best electric scooter locks for some great budget picks).

Issues and tradeoffs

The Kugoo ES2 isn’t flawless, but given its price, it impressively minimizes problems and defects. Multiple upgrades have addressed past issues, leaving few tradeoffs.

You can opt for solid or pneumatic tires based on personal preference.

While I usually favor pneumatic tires, the scooter is well-suited for solid tires unless you strongly dislike flats or expect frequent punctures.

The persistent problem of the rotating stem when folded makes carrying the scooter awkward, reducing its portability. While Kugoo addresses owner feedback, the stem rotation issue remains unresolved.

Apart from the portability drawback, the inability to turn off the deck lights while keeping the other lights on may be annoying to some owners.

Personally, I have no issue with that, and I believe they’re a great safety win, but some may disagree.

Summary

The Kugoo ES2 is a scooter with “experience”, as it has included a lot of owner feedback about previous Kugoo scooters, and integrated it in the form of fixed issues and improved quality.

This scooter provides a healthy mix of quality, safety, comfort, and ease of use, all of that for a very fair budget price.

In my opinion, there is no way you can go wrong with this scooter, especially if you’re on a limited budget or you’re looking to get your first beginner scooter.

Matt Trajkovski

My name is Matt Trajkovski. I love electric scooters, and electric vehicles in general. I like doing a lot of testing, reviewing, and research on various electric scooter models and brands, following our proprietary rigorous editorial and testing process developed here at EScooterNerds, looking for great value and performance, both through data and experience. All of the content published on this blog goes through a rigorous review and editorial process, and our product reviews not only include the hands-on experience of our own team members, but the experience of our audience members as well. My goal is to provide you with the best information about electric scooters possible. You can see all of my posts in my articles archive.