Gotrax G4 Review

• The scooter now has a digital passcode that must be typed before riding. This adds security, but starting the scooter takes 15 seconds. This is in addition to the built-in cable lock, so you now have two levels of security. That said, your burly bike lock is still recommended for maximum security, since the built-in cable lock can be easily cut so that the scooter can be carried away without knowing the passcode.

Tested and Rated

As co-founder of GearLab, I get to use a lot of gear. This review was particularly fun because I had the opportunity to ride the G4 scooter extensively myself and was able to share it with many members of the GearLab team to get their opinions. And, of course, we also all switched between the G4 and all the top competing products to help us rate them in side-by-side comparison. Since we keep the scooters we review and let team members borrow them whenever they want, I was able to collect a number of opinions in addition to my own. That included first-time scooter riders, which I am always particularly interested in hearing from, and people who have been riding scooters for years.

Range

I was somewhat underwhelmed by its lengthy charge time; however, the G4's range blew many of its competitors out of the water.

The Gotrax G4 comes equipped with a 36V 10.4Ah (374.4 Wh) lithium-ion battery, which has a higher power density and allows for more battery life in a lighter package. According to the manual, the G4 is meant to travel 21 to 25 miles before running out of juice. The real-world experience depends on the weight of the person riding it and the steepness of the terrain they are riding on. Our hands-on testing revealed that this model can go an average of one hour and 54 minutes before recharging. In that time, I rode 22 miles. Very impressive.

Speaking of charging, the G4 is advertised to take between four and five hours to charge a depleted battery completely. It was closer to six hours, with an average of five and fifty minutes. The charge times in our test suite present a very wide range from two to twelve hours. This puts the G4 right in the middle. Remember that, as with most lithium battery devices, it is recommended to only charge to 80 or 90% to maintain the best battery health.

Speed and Hills

The Gotrax G4 did not disappoint.

The G4 charged up the first hill at a whopping 17.5 miles per hour. The 3.49% steepness grade only caused the machine to slow down by roughly 2.5 miles per hour. I was impressed. I upped the ante a bit with a steeper hill, 10.5% grade, and the scooter began to struggle. It still made it up the hill, but it dropped down to a crawling five to six miles per hour. When I tested it on our 15% grade hill, it didn't budge. That being said, the majority of the tested scooters struggled with this steep of a grade.

With its 500-watt motor and a fresh (or mostly fresh) battery, the G4 easily gets up close to its top speed of 20 miles per hour on flat terrain with an average top speed of 19.82 miles per hour. Overall the G4 performs very well in this department, but it falls short on especially steep hills. While this is not an issue for everyone, it is something you should consider if you live somewhere with steeper terrain like San Fransisco.

Ride

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the G4's performance in this category.

The 10-inch pneumatic tires offer a nice smooth ride on uneven terrain. I experienced hardly any bouncing around on these larger tires and felt safe riding on less-than-ideal roads and sidewalks. Shocks would make the ride even smoother but did not feel necessary.

As for coming across unexpected obstacles, like cracks, the larger wheels proved adequate over and over again. I barely felt the smaller cracks and handled larger ones with ease. At first, I felt nervous zooming over deep and wide breaks in the pavement, but by the end of our test period, the G4's performance had us feeling confident.

Portability

The G4 has a one-touch folding system. It took our testers two or three attempts to figure out, but the system is very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

The automatic latch makes the G4 ready to ride as soon as you open it and the red carry latch is very big. So big that you can potentially hang items from it to free up your hands while you're riding, like a bag of groceries or a gym tote. The small loop on the back of the scooter, which the carry latch attaches to, is not only easy to use, but it's reliable, too.

The G4 feels well balanced, meaning it is not front or back heavy, which makes it easy to transport. The grip range is wide, so you don't have to pick it from any particular spot to get a good handle on it. The steering column may be too big for users with small hands, but average to larger hands work just fine. Its folded dimensions are roughly 45 inches long 18.5 inches wide 19.75 inches high. This 37.8-pound scooter is a little on the heavier side of the spectrum, so you may not want to carry it long distances, but it's okay to hop in and out of a bus or subway with it. The G4 offers a walk feature that makes the scooter move three miles per hour, which makes pushing the scooter through areas that are too busy to ride very easy. When called for, this feature is very handy. You can also hold the steering column at the front wheel and push it while it's folded, although I don't think that feature was intended, more of just a happy accident.

Braking

Overall, the G4 performed very well in this category. Going roughly 12 miles per hour, I was able to stop the G4 in a prompt 19 feet. The Dual Braking System activates both the Electric anti-locking braking system (E-ABS) and the disc brake through a simple pull of a lever.

The G4 not only passed the brake test on flat terrain, but it performed well on hills, too. I tested these disc brakes while descending on hills of varying steepness — five to 15 percent — and they never failed.

Value

The Gotrax G4 offers a high-quality product for a fair price. The only other scooter I have tested that scores this well costs hundreds more. While it is still an investment, this electric scooter is worth every penny.

Conclusion

The G4 is an all-around top-tier electric scooter. It offers a reliable range and a smooth ride. Power-wise, it holds its own on most uphill terrain, and the dual brake system helps us feel comfortable and in control on even steep descents. I loved riding this compact transportation device. If you're willing to shovel out a little extra cash for a scooter you will use frequently, I don't think you'll be disappointed.