GOTRAX’s latest product, the Xr e-scooter, is a promising sub-$400 entry
by Philippe Daix, onGOTRAX has a new under-$400 scooter coming to replace the very-reliable GXL V2. It’s called the Xr and you can also have it in Ultra guise, with a more potent e-motor and larger battery pack. Its main rivals are the likes of Swagtron Swagger 5 ($299), Xiaomi M365 ($349), and Segway Ninebot ES2 ($589) - as you can see, pretty rough competition. We had a go at the GOTRAX Xr and here’s what we can report.
GOTRAX Xr - Design
From the off, we must praise the Xr’s build quality.
Appearance is another high-point, mainly because the color scheme is a neat step forward from your usual matte white or matte black treatment. Plus, the throttle is easy to reach with your thumb, as is the brake lever. Everything feels solid while in motion and the whole experience is devoid of rattles or squeaks, which works both ways: it adds to the pleasure of riding the Xr, but it also conveys a sense of extra safety, which is always nice to have.
The folding mechanism is similar to the one on the GXL V2, but it has been redesigned and reinforced, and it now comes with an additional safety pin that helps keep it locked while in use. The Xr is also equipped with a kickstand, and since we mentioned safety, you also need to make yourself visible on a scooter when riding in low lighting conditions. With the Xr range, that’s solved by the front headlight that sheds more than decent amounts of light in front of the scooter (so you don’t end up hitting an unwanted obstacle) but also, to some extent, by the reflective red patch mounted on the rear wheel cover.
For better visibility from the rear, though, you can invest in a rear light clip-on so drivers coming from behind you will get a visual heads-up sooner rather than later, with enough time to adjust the car’s speed or trajectory.
| Specs | GOTRAX Xr | GOTRAX Xr Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | 250 W, 430 W peak | 300 W, 430 W peak |
| Battery | 36 V, 5.2 Ah | 36 V, 7 Ah (LG-sourced) |
| Range | 12 mi | 16 mi |
| Top speed | 15.5 mph | 15.5 mph |
| Weight | 26.45 lb | 26.45 lb |
| Max load | 220 lb | 220 lb |
| Tire size | 8.5 in | 8.5 in |
| Size | 43.3 in x 17.1 in x 14.5 in | 43.3 in x 17.1 in x 14.5 in |
GOTRAX Xr - Comfort and Practicality
The Xr and the Xr Ultra electric scooters don’t have a suspension setup to soften the bumps in the road.
Don’t raise your eyebrows, though; that’s expected for an e-scooter in this price bracket. That said, the two scooters are fitted with 8.5-inch pneumatic tires that handle the shock-absorbing task quite well, although they are susceptible to flats, just like your car’s tires.
However, you’re supposed to ride the scooter mostly on flat pavement or asphalt since its purpose is to serve last-mile trips. Therefore, unless you happen to work on a farm, getting from the subway station to the office and the other way around is done pretty swiftly. The wide board also helps, as it allows you to position your feet in a comfy position that will also keep you in full balance throughout the ride.
When folded, the Xr scooters measure 15 inches by 44 inches by 6 inches.
That’s small enough to allow storage in your compact car’s trunk and in case you don’t own a car, it still helps with carrying the scooter around in buses or trains. Plus, since the Xr tips the scales at just under 27 pounds (that’s roughly 12 kilos, give or take), it’s relatively easy to pick up the scooter and haul it over one or two flights of stairs even if you don’t look like The Rock. Also, be aware that the kickstand is quite long, so make sure you’ve positioned the scooter in a stable "parking" position because otherwise, it might fall over to the other side.
Other than that, you’ll want to know that the handlebars don’t fold in and make sure you get a good grip on the scooter’s stem once it’s folded and ready to carry. The stem is quite thick and the brake cable runs along its full length, which makes it a less ideal surface to grab with your hand. But overall, using two hands should do the trick.
GOTRAX Xr - Performance
Realistically speaking, you won’t be able to enjoy the manufacturer-estimated range out in the real world.
So, for the GOTRAX Xr, expect a max range of nine miles, and something in the region of 12 miles for the Xr Ultra. The same pattern stands for top speed, too: reaching 15.5 mph requires a lot of space and a straight-line sprint, which are hard to come by in crowded cities, but the Xr will take you to around 14.5-14.6 mph which is still pretty satisfactory, especially for an entry-level e-scooter.
While riding in the highest gear, expect to reach speeds around 13-14 mph on flat ground. The normal gear will lock the speed at around nine mph, which is useful for rookies or younger folks. Both the Xr and the Xr Ultra are kick-scooters, which adds another safety layer as you won’t be taken by surprise while suddenly accelerating from a standstill, as you’ll need to give the scooter a gentle push to get it going.
Disk and regen braking are part of the package regardless of what scooter version you pick. Most importantly, braking itself is impeccable and that counts a lot because you never know when you might need to safely slow down or draw to a halt to avoid pedestrians or other moving/standing obstacles. And we all know it’s always better to remain on your feet rather than jump off the scooter or throw it from underneath you and risk a nasty injury.
Now, let’s talk power. The GOTRAX Xr makes do with a 250-watt e-motor, while the Xr Ultra ups the ante a bit with a 300-watt e-motor fed by a larger LG-sourced, 7-Ah battery pack (the base Xr has a 5.2-Ah battery). The difference in motor power is best felt during acceleration or whenever you need to climb a slope - you’ll feel a tad more pull from the 300-watt motor so if your commute involves this sort of terrain shape, then go for the Xr Ultra; it also returns more range, as mentioned above.
All in all, the Xr offers the same ride quality as the GXL V2 and that’s a compliment, by the way, albeit wrapped in a more attractive design.
GOTRAX Xr - Price
At the time of writing, the GOTRAX Xr is available for $299.99, while the Xr Ultra comes in at $399.99. You can check them out on the GOTRAX online shop or on Amazon, via the links below:
Final Thoughts
We definitely like the Xr’s safety credentials. That’s important in the wider context because some of us will ride these scooters dressed for office work, so neat handling, the ability to stop in no time, and a carrying-friendly design are must-have attributes.
Sure, the Xr is not the quickest, nor the fastest e-scooter out there, but for its price point, it offers quite a lot.
The air-filled tires contribute to the comfortable ride, just like the soft yet grippy handlebars, while the sturdy build will make rides smooth and enjoyable.
Range might not be what some expect, but for a last-mile e-scooter that can be easily charged with a secondary cable at the office/coffee shop/friend’s house, even the base Xr’s nine-mile real-life rating shouldn’t trigger any sort of anxiety with some smart planning ahead.
That said, if you’re a rookie when it comes to e-scooter, or don’t need breathtaking performance, or simply on a budget, then you should definitely have a look at the GOTRAX Xr lineup.