Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024
Electric scooters aren’t one size fits all. They’re like t-shirts: you have a small, you have an extra large, and rider weight can make a huge difference when it comes to things like speed, acceleration, hill climbing, range, and ride quality. I’m here to tell you about the XLs: the best electric scooters for heavy riders.
I’m a big guy, or a big dawg, as we say around here at ESG – 6’3″ and 235 pounds – and not every electric scooter works for me. I want to help my fellow big dawgs out there find the perfect scooter for them, and I’m hoping to make this an ongoing series as new scooters come out.
I have a few suggestions below that I knew were going to make the list. A few caught me by surprise, and one scooter…. Well, let’s just say it came at me at a weird time, I rode it for a while, and it is definitely a viable option. Let’s go!
Heavyweight Champs: Best Scooters for Heavy Adults
Perfect First Scooter for Big Dawgs
NIU KQi3 Max
NIU KQi3 Max | $699
This is definitely one of my favorite single motor scooters for big dawgs, and frankly, to me, it’s one of the best-looking scooters out there.
I love the look, love the halo light: it’s always on and always cool. And you get great performance for under $1,000.
I get a top speed of 21 mph on the KQi3 Max, and it comes with some of the best mechanical disc brakes, front and rear, and a 265 max rider weight. This is the perfect first scooter for anyone, big dawgs included.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Best Single Motor Long Range Ride
VMAX VX4 GT
VMAX VX4 GT | $1,449
Normally, I gravitate toward the Segway Max G2 for single motor scooters, but this one has taken that spot because it’s that much more powerful.
You can feel the acceleration – top speed is about 24 mph for me on a commute, but it gets you to that 24 mph so quickly and it eats up hills.
The VX4 has a max rider weight of 330 pounds and if you get the largest battery size, the GT, you get the best value and longest range. This is a great ride on an awesome scooter.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Lightest Dual Motor Full Suspension Scooter
Apollo Go
Apollo Go | $1,099
I get a ton of questions about this scooter, like “Hey, Ramier, is this scooter good for big dawgs?” I’m here to tell you, yes it is.
When I first saw the prototype, I wasn’t initially impressed, but when we got the full production version, I liked everything about it: the dot matrix display, the Quad Lock, the regenerative braking, the regular braking, the headlight….
Of course the big, heavy, fast scooters are great for big dogs, but if you need something smaller and more nimble, this is it at only 49 pounds. It got me up to about 22 mph, it climbs hills, it’s a real beast.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Best Performance Value for Heavy Riders
RoadRunner RS5 Max
RoadRunner RS5 Max | $2,299
This scooter popped up on our radar about this year, and I really like it. The max rider weight is 330 pounds, and during our testing, I got up to about 44 mph, which is plenty of speed for an electric scooter.
When you break it down – the dual 1400W motors, dual Nutt hydraulic brakes, thumb throttle and big LCD screen – everything about this scooter just pops.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Best Portable Performance for Heavy Riders
NAMI Klima
NAMI Klima | $1,999
All of the NAMI scooters are amazing: you’ve got the BURN-E 2 MAX, the BURN-E 2, the bigger brother to the Klima, but honestly, I think the Klima is the best value. It’s cheaper, it goes about the same speed, and it’s much easier to live with.
I wouldn’t want to carry this scooter up three flights of stairs, but it’s not too hard to carry up one flight. The Klima is much easier to fold and move than its bigger siblings and other big sports scooters.
If you’re thinking NAMI, you gotta check out the Klima.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Best Performance Scooter for Beating Traffic
Inmotion RS Midnight
Inmotion RS Midnight | $3,995
The Inmotion RS is one of the best and fastest electric scooters in the world, so of course it can handle big dawgs and big weight.
This is one of those scooters that just works. It’s got a twist throttle like a motorcycle and it gets crazy speeds – 60 miles per hour for both me and Paul.
You might not feel 100% confident riding in street traffic with some electric scooters, but the Inmotion RS will keep up with most cars.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Best Car Replacement
Apollo Pro
Apollo Pro | $3,499
The Apollo Pro is so futuristic, I call it the Blade Runner scooter.
It’s not a racing scooter – it goes about 45 miles per hour – but it gives you all the speed you need for commuting, about 30 miles of range, and one of the smoothest throttles on the market.
It doesn’t matter if you’re 160 pounds or 280 pounds; the Pro delivers outstanding performance at any size.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Best All-Around Performance Scooter for Heavier Riders
Kaabo Wolf King GTR
Kaabo Wolf King GTR | $3,895
I have to say, my favorite big dawg scooter to recommend is the Wolf King GTR. I’m a huge fan of all the Kaabo Wolf scooters: I like the Wolf Warrior 11, the Wolf King GT and GT Pro… but this is a true beast.
Two 4,000W motors gave me a 65 miles per hour top speed, which is the same max speed as Paul, who weighs 165 pounds.
The range is crazy, the top speed is phenomenal, great stopping power, an IPX5 water resistance rating, and it’s UL certified.
If I had garage I could roll this into, this is the one I’d buy. You could also put it in a shed, pop the battery out, and charge it inside.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Honorable Mention | Best Last Mile Electric Scooter for Heavy Riders
Unagi Model One Voyager
Unagi Model One Voyager | $79
So, my car was in the shop for about a month and instead of taking an Uber to the office, I decided to try an Unagi.
I know they say it can handle heavier riders with its dual motors, so I thought, okay, let me give it 30 days. And you know what? The Unagi Voyager served me really well. It’s super lightweight, you can fold it down fast to get on public transportation, it’s so easy to move.
If you have a long commute or lots bumps in the road, I wouldn’t recommend the Voyager, but for short trips on smooth roads, Unagi really delivers for big dawgs, and it’s still the only scooter you can subscribe to by the month with no contract.
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024Final Thoughts
Like I said, not all scooters fit all riders, but there’s a scooter out there for everyone. All the scooters on this list will work for big dawgs, guaranteed. I’ve ridden them all. It just comes down to figuring out your budget and specific needs.
We’re always here to help with the best testing, recommendations, and reviews. I’m out, see you next time – Woof, Woof!
Top: Heavyweight Champs: the Best Scooters for Heavy Riders in 2024