Levy Plus Review
Levy Plus Specifications
- Top speed: 29 kmh 18 mph
- Range: 32 km 20 mph
- Motors: front wheel hub
- Power: 350 W real, 700 W peak
- Climb angle: 15 °
- Battery: 460 Wh, 36 V
- Charging time: 3.5 h
- Avg. charging cost: US: $0.07, Canada: $0.04, UK: £0.14, EU: €0.14
- Ingress protection (IP): IP54
- Weight: 13.6 kg 30 lbs
- Weight limit: 100 kg 220 lbs
- Tire size: 10 in
- Tire type: customizable (tubed, tubeless, solid)
- Tire pressure: 50-60 psi
- Foldable: yes
- Foldable handlebars: no
- Seat: no
- Trunk or basket: no (customization possible)
- Build material: aviation aluminum alloy
- Terrains: urban
- Brakes: regenerative front + mechanical rear brakes
- Shock absorbers: no
- Lights: headlight + brake light
- Speed modes: beginner, eco, sport
- Cruise control: yes
- Keys: no
- Warranty: 6 months
- Folded dimensions (L * W * H): 108 * 42 * 43 cm 42.52 * 16.54 * 16.93 in
- Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H): 108 * 42 * 119 cm 42.52 * 16.54 * 46.85 in
- Deck to handlebar height: 104 cm (est) 40.94 in (est)
- Adjustable handlebar: no
- Notes: 8.5 inch tires available; removable battery; LG or Panasonic battery; can switch tire type
Tests and measurements
- Speed tests (EScooterNerds): 30 kmh 18.6 mph
- Speed tests (third party): 29/31/28 kmh 18/19/17 mph
- Range tests (EScooterNerds): 30 km 18.6 mi
- Range tests (third party): 31 km 19 mi
- Braking distance tests (EScooterNerds): 5 m
- Braking distance tests (third party): 5 m
- Climb tests (EScooterNerds): 12
- Climb tests (third party): 15
- Charge time tests (EScooterNerds): 4
- Charge time tests (third party): 4
- Weight limit tests (EScooterNerds): 90 kg 198 lbs
- Weight limit tests (third party): 92 kg 203 lbs
- Waterproofing tests (EScooterNerds): no issues in light rain
- Waterproofing tests (third party): one issue with slippery tires reported
Ratings and scores
Pros
- good design and quality
- great for commuters and students
- removable battery
- you can choose tire type
- pretty good ride comfort (especially with pneumatic tires)
- great brakes
- good water resistance
- great portability
Cons
- mediocre range (could be improved with a spare battery though)
- good climber but not great
- average top speed
- handlebars might be wobbly
When to buy
The Levy Plus is an ideal choice for those seeking an elegant, simple-design scooter for city commuting. With its typical appearance, all-black surface, and minimal details, it’s perfect for daily rides, especially for work or campus use. Covering around 15 miles a day is effortless, and the spare battery option doubles that range. It’s also convenient for office workers with its removable battery for easy charging. Students will appreciate its portability and the assurance of always having a charging spot.
When not to buy
The Levy Plus may not suit off-road riders or those seeking adventures beyond the city. Riding on dirt roads and rough terrains can quickly damage the scooter. It’s also not ideal for those living uphill, as it struggles with inclines beyond 15 degrees. With a low battery, you may find yourself pushing it instead of riding uphill. Consider other options in this price range for a more suitable choice.
Welcome to my hands-on, detailed review of the Levy Plus, the upgraded version of the classic scooter from the Levy brand. Let’s see what this model has to offer, and when should you consider it.
Basics
The Levy Plus is a lightweight city commuter, with a sturdy and seamless build. These are all of the basics you know to know about it.
Unboxing and assembly
The scooter arrived in a big cardboard box, neatly packed with lots of styrofoam and packaging protection, and no room for wiggling.
Inside, there were the following items:
- folded scooter
- user’s manual
- handlebars
- charger
- extender for a tire air compressor
- wrench tool
There was some assembling required before the scooter was ready to ride. The handles came unattached, so I had to mount them on the frame. I also had to screw in the brake levers, bell horn, and throttle on them.
The assembly process took only a few minutes and was facilitated by the wrench tool provided by Levy. When assembling, ensure functional brakes, properly inflated tires, and a fully charged battery before the first ride.
Folding and unfolding
The Levy Plus has an easy folding mechanism that folds the stem onto the deck, enabling you to carry the scooter wherever you need to.
Unfortunately, the handlebars don’t fold and they will stick out a bit when you carry the scooter. However, this shouldn’t be a problem as they aren’t too big and won’t cause too much inconvenience.
Before riding, make sure to also check whether the handles and brake levers are safely attached and whether the right cruise mode is set.
Performance
The performance of the Levy Plus is quite balanced, and somewhat on par with most other models in this price range.
Motor
The Levy Plus is a typical urban commuter prioritizing portability and efficiency over power.
It has a single-hub 350W motor mounted in the front wheel, with a peak power of 700W. This kind of power is enough to provide a smooth ride and take you to your destination in time.
Speed and speed test
Officially, the Levy Plus can reach a top speed of 18 mph / 28.9 kmh. I was always able to reach this speed on a full battery charge, but it wasn’t so easy to reach it on half a battery or less.
The Levy Plus is not a racing-type of a scooter. It does have great acceleration though.
The scooter has 3 speed modes with different speed limits that you can set for your ride:
- beginner mode – top speed of 6 mph / 9.6 kmh
- eco mode – top speed of 12 mph / 19.3 kmh
- sport mode – top speed of 18 mph / 28.9 kmh
If you want bigger speeds, check out my guide on the fastest electric scooters.
Range and range test
The Levy Plus has an official range of up to 20 mi / 32 km on a single charge, which I was able to confirm in several range tests.
Additionally, the scooter supports mounting a second battery, and if you go with the Levy Plus Extended battery, you will get double the original range.
For most people looking to use their scooter on their way to work and back, or when commuting around the city to run some errands, even the original range will be more than enough, but the extra range will be a great upgrade as well.
If this range isn’t enough for you, check out my guide on the best long-range electric scooters.
Climbing and climb test
The climbing angle ranges from 5 to 15 degrees, depending on the rider’s weight. It’s not the best scooter when it comes to steep inclines, and it will have some difficulties handling them.
I had to give it an occasional push when climbing even on the 15-degree hill.
Check out my guide on the best climbing electric scooters if this climb angle isn’t good enough for the hills in your location.
Ride experience
The first thing I noticed once I hopped onto the Levy Plus is how smoothly it accelerated and how well it handled the road.
The ride was seamless, and the experience was pretty great for a scooter without any suspension. The lack of shock absorption was compensated by the large and wide tires the scooter comes with.
Sharp turns and sudden stops didn’t cause any issues as well, since the deck is fully covered by a rubber surface that provides a lot of grip. I practically stayed glued to it and without fear of losing balance.
Additionally, the scooter has a cruise control feature, which was quite convenient for long and carefree rides on straight and smooth roads.
Levy Plus vs Levy
The major difference between the standard version of the Levy and the Levy Plus version is that the Plus version comes with a battery that has double the capacity, and, of course, double the range.
Naturally, the Levy Plus will be a bit heavier as a result, but that is to be expected.
Pretty much everything else about these two versions is the same.
Build quality
This is the second scooter from the Levy brand, and an improvement to the previous model released a few years ago.
To me, it seemed like the company has taken care of most of the downsides in the last model and has made quite a longstanding scooter.
The aluminum build is pretty strong and surprisingly durable for a vehicle without any suspension. In general, build quality is definitely a strong side of this scooter in my opinion.
Features
Technically, the Levy Plus can be considered a budget-friendly scooter, but that doesn’t mean that the scooter lacks features. In fact, this is one of the most feature-complete, and even innovative electric scooters in its price range.
Batteries and charging
The Levy Plus scooter boasts an innovative and useful battery setup. It features a removable Panasonic battery and supports a second battery.
The primary battery is a 36 V, 12.8 Ah Li-ion with a 460 Wh capacity and has a 3.5-hour charging time which is very fast in my opinion.
This allows you to charge the battery separately, providing flexibility for extended range without bringing the scooter indoors. The additional battery can be obtained aftermarket at the Levy store.
Brakes
The brakes were one of my favorite features of the Levy Plus.
The scooter has a disc brake on the rear wheel, an e-brake at the front, and a fender brake at the back of the deck. It is one of the best-equipped products when it comes to braking.
All these provide pretty smooth braking in less than 23 ft / 7 m when you are going with a top speed.
Overall, it’s a great braking system and a big improvement on the previous Levy model which only used double brakes.
Tires, wheels, terrains, and environments
Levy have decided not to limit the user to a single tire choice, and have given you the option to select which type of tire you want on your scooter.
For the Levy Plus, you have three tire options to choose from:
- tubed 10” tire
- tubeless 10” tire
- solid rubber 10” tire
Each of the three offers different perks and comes with its own downsides, so there is no clear choice here. It’s up to you, your personal preference, and the style you want to ride this scooter in.
Here are the major perks and downsides of each tire type.
| Tire type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Tubed | Cheaper maintenance, as you only have to buy a new inner tube after puncture | Harder to repair, as you have to remove the whole wheel to change the tire |
| Tubeless | Easier to repair, as you don’t have to remove the whole wheel | You need to carry a high-pressure air compressor in order to repair the tire after a puncture |
| Solid rubber | Puncture-proof | Worst ride quality, as solid rubbers provide the least shock absorption |
Suspension
In my opinion, one of the biggest downsides overall to the Levy Plus is its lack of suspension.
The scooter doesn’t use any kind of suspension at all, which might become a problem if you expect to ride it on bumpy roads or uneven surfaces.
If you live in such areas where road maintenance is not at the highest level, then you’ll want to choose your tires more carefully, as they will be the only thing easing out the ride.
Deck and standing surface
The deck of the Levy Plus has a surface area of 6 x 18 in / 15 x 46 cm, big enough to hold both of your feet in place. It has a ground clearance of 4.5 in / 11.5 cm.
Additionally, the deck features a fully rubberized grip surface, offering a stable ride in various road conditions. You won’t experience any gliding or sliding off from it, even when making sharp turns or sudden stops.
Lights and night use
With a bright front LED light and two taillights at the back of the deck, you can ride the Levy Plus during the night with zero concerns.
The visibility of the front light, which is mounted on top of the stem, is really great. It will brighten the road ahead even when there are no street lights around.
Screen, handlebars, and controls
It is fairly rare to find a scooter with a bright and multifunctional display that is conveniently placed. However, that’s not the case with the Levy Plus.
The scooter has its LCD screen embedded into the center of the handlebars, right in the middle of the cockpit. It’s a bright and visible display that shows all the useful information, such as:
- speed
- current mode
- fault meter
- gear position
- battery level
The screen allows you to switch between units to display information. The left handlebar features the brake lever for electronic and disc brakes, along with the horn button.
On the right handlebar, the throttle lever and mode switch buttons are conveniently placed and easily reachable at all times.
Weight limit and usage by heavy adults
The Levy Plus electric scooter has a weight limit of 220 lbs / 100 kg.
It’s not the best scooter for heavy adults, as some of its competitors with similar prices can carry up to 300 lbs / 136 kg. The scooter’s performance will also be sufficiently limited if the rider is closer to the weight limit.
However, for most people under the weight limit, riding the scooter and getting the expected performance from it will be no problem.
Weight, dimensions, and portability
Designed with a focus on portability for urban commuters, the Levy Plus scooter prioritizes lightness over power. Weighing just around 30 lbs / 13.6 kg, it’s among the lightest scooters, easily carried by the average adult in one hand.
Unfolded dimensions are 42.5 x 16.5 x 46.6 in / 108.3 x 42 x 118.6 cm, and when folded, they reduce to 42.5 x 16.5 x 18.1 in / 108.3 x 42 x 46 cm.
Overall, it has the size of your average scooter that most people will be able to carry around for a few minutes. Taking it upstairs might be the biggest challenge, and even that will still be easy for almost anyone.
If you aren’t satisfied with the portability of the Levy Plus, check out my guide on the most portable electric scooters.
Waterproofing and riding in the rain or snow
The Levy Plus has an IP54 waterproof rating, meaning it’s protected from splashes and dust intake from any direction.
It’s not exactly waterproof but will be able to take some light water sprays without the electronic parts suffering any damage. Both of the batteries and the motor are sealed, and the aluminum alloy covering them should take care of splashes from a wet road surface.
Accessories and customizations
The brand currently offers only the Levy and Levy Plus models, with a range of accessories tailored for these scooters. An essential addition is the spare battery, priced at around $250, doubling your scooter’s range with a second 12.8 Ah battery.
Safety is paramount, especially for lower torque scooters like the Levy Plus. Always wear a helmet and consider additional protective gear like knee pads, shins, and gloves.
Levy’s store offers a $35 functional basecamp helmet in matte black, featuring a rear LED light and an extra battery for extended durability.
In case you don’t like it, you can check out my guide on the best electric scooter helmets.
Aside from your well-being, you should also look to secure your scooter as well. Nobody wants to leave their scooter out on the street unlocked.
That’s why Levy has come up with their own folding scooter lock, an all-metal foldable lock that can be mounted on the stem and tied up to a bike stand or a bar secured to the ground.
If the lock from Levy doesn’t seem like a good fit for you, see my guide on the best electric scooter locks for more options.
And finally, another useful accessory to add to your scooter’s cockpit is the Levy phone holder.
Levy offers such a holder for a fairly cheap price of around $15. It’s elastic and fully flexible, supporting all kinds of devices with screens sized from 4” to 6”.
Finally, the Levy Plus comes with a fairly standard design and build, so it will fit a lot of the generic electric scooter accessories without issues.
Problems and what to know
Despite concerns about potential issues due to its affordability, only two notable problems have emerged.
The battery life falls short of the advertised 20-mile range, with users reporting difficulty reaching it unless in beginner mode.
Additionally, the scooter struggles to maintain top speed on low battery levels, especially uphill, becoming notably slower below 40%.
Also, the stability issues in the scooter’s build, particularly in handlebars and stem-screwed parts, arise after a few weeks of use.
Though fixable with periodic tightening using a wrench tool, such concerns are unexpected for a higher-end product.
Verdict
The Levy Plus is the upgraded model from the Levy electric scooter brand. The company advertises it as an improved and more complete version of its predecessor, the Levy electric scooter.
Its biggest advantages include the small weight, great portability, removable batteries, and the large array of tires you can choose to order it with.
The Levy Plus has one of the most elegant layouts found on scooters in this price range, which is especially refreshing in an industry that has gotten overwhelmed with inept-looking designs.
Very few scooter brands can proud themselves in building a budget-priced product that comes with all of these features.
I would recommend the Levy Plus as an all-round excellent budget pick.
