Glion Dolly e-scooter review
Glion Dolly is one of the best electric scooters on the market. It’s perfect for commuting and getting around town. But can you take it on a train? We review the Glion Dolly and tell you everything you need to know about taking it on a train. Read more here.
You’ll notice the delicate and elegant frame of the Glion Dolly e-scooter as soon as you glance at it. The scooter looks almost balletic. However, you shouldn’t be fooled by the Dolly’s frail appearance; it’s made from aircraft-grade aluminum (6061-T6) covered with a corrosion-resistant powder coating. A pedestrian bell is also included on this scooter, in addition to vintage-looking wheel fenders. However, what is perhaps its most attractive feature is its ability to be folded and transported. In this article will discuss Glion Dolly e-scooter review in detail.
In addition to the lightweight construction (it weighs only 28 pounds or about 12 kilograms) and the quick-fold mechanism (it takes only one second to fold or unfold), the scooter has a design that hints at its original purpose as a commuter scooter.
Additionally, its anti-lock e-brake system is built into the rear hub motor, and the controls are easy to use: the right twist-grip controls the accelerator, and the left one controls the brake. On the handlebar is an indicator that tells you how much battery charge is left on the scooter. It can carry riders weighing up to 255 pounds (115 kg). In addition to the handle, there is a headlamp, but this is more for others to see who’s coming rather than for illuminating the path ahead.
The weight
This first item we shall look at in this Glion Dolly e-scooter review is its weight. Quite hefty at 28 pounds, the Glion Dolly is certainly no light-weight. While this scooter isn’t one of the heaviest on the market, it isn’t exactly light either.
You will notice that the scooter will be more stable when you have more weight on it. However, the non-suspension somewhat curtails this situation.
Simply because it is so well-balanced, you barely feel as if you are dragging 28 pounds around with you.
Although I would not describe the scooter as being “light as a feather”, it does feel pretty comfortable to carry and I don’t anticipate that many people will have any trouble with it.
It is only when you are wheeling the electric scooter behind you that you feel it’s heavy.
Assuming you pull it behind you, you will be pulling it one-handed, and it certainly feels like you are pulling something heavy and hard to control.
I would recommend that you carry your bag if you are in a heavily crowded area. Weaving something so bulky around people, in our opinion, is a bit difficult.
Glion Dolly Charging Time
A lithium-ion battery supplied by LG delivers a range of 15 miles per charge and has a voltage of 36 V, 7.8 Ah. It charges pretty quickly. After 2 hours of charging, the rechargeable lithium battery can reach 75% of its capacity, and after 3.5 hours of charging, it is fully charged. Lithium batteries have a life expectancy of over 1,000 cycles. It makes a perfect scooter for students in college.
Glion Dolly battery life and range
Depending on the rider’s weight and weather conditions, the Dolly can travel for 15 miles, but at a steady 9 mph on a flat and hard paved road in 75-degree weather, with no wind.
In addition to a few hills, there was a quarter-mile grade of 6% in a 6-mile ride. The ride lasted for about 30 minutes (at an average speed of 12 mph). Afterward, the Dolly still had two bars of battery left, which could last another mile or more. Meanwhile, the battery on the Swagger 5 died shortly after the same trip. Check out our DUALTRON MINI electric scooter review if you need a scooter with a longer range.
Its lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 36V and can power it up to 15 miles. I am happy to report that the race lived up to its billing, traversing several hills and dips on the college campus and lasting 15 miles as advertised. After the battery gets low, however, charging takes about four hours instead of the advertised 3.5 hours.
In our testing and on the manual’s instructions, it takes 2 hours for the battery to reach 75 percent, but 4 hours is needed for the battery to recharge fully.
Cockpit
Through the use of a large folding lever, this scooter folds and unfolds quickly. An extremely basic cockpit/handlebar area is found on the Glion Dolly. It consists of:
- Accelerator/brakes operated by a twist
- On/off switch
- Displays with LCD panels
- Bell, mechanical
In general, the cockpit is a bit old-fashioned compared to modern electric scooters. Dolly, for example, uses an inconvenient twist-style throttle and brake control system. Only the battery level is displayed on the LED display.
You control the acceleration with a twist throttle, similar to that found on motorcycles, though e-scooters are safer than motorcycles. Although this sounds like an ideal situation, it can be difficult to finely control the throttle. In any case, since the scooter is so small and has so little power, we chose a position that is quite ergonomic – full throttle.
On the right side of the handlebar is a small LED display that shows the battery life, but not any other information.
There is a large red button attached to the LED display below the display that is used both to turn on and turn off the scooter. You can turn the front light on/off by rapidly toggling the button while the scooter is powered.
In addition to the electronic brake, the only other braking mechanism is another twist-style controller that provides minimal braking modulation. Once twisted, you’ll experience sudden, forceful braking that isn’t what you’re expecting.
Braking lightly is not possible on the Glion – all or nothing. It takes some time to get used to, but once you master it, it is manageable.
Foldability
Glion is among the best folding electric scooters in the market. It measures 37.4 by 7.9 by 11.8 inches folded (LWH). Despite its quality materials, however, it’s also one of the heaviest scooters on the market due to its 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and 36V battery. Although this scooter is heavy, it has dolly wheels and a handle that extends to make it easier to maneuver indoors.
Because of this feature, the scooter can easily be stored in an office closet or under your desk at work, making it a great choice for serious office workers. You can also store it inside a nylon bag, which is sold separately and costs around $40.
We would have preferred it if the footrest were longer, but the adjustable handlebars make it a truly customizable–and comfortable–experience when commuting. In addition to the front light, this bike has a bright front light for use at night.
Instead of buttons, the handlebars have two twist grips: the right handles are for controlling speed, while the left handles are for controlling braking. In this situation, you have to maintain a loose grip on the handlebars while driving, resulting in a compromised grip. In our opinion, buttons would have worked better.
Quality brakes
Electric scooters like the Glion Dolly use rear brakes. They tend to be of very high quality, as well. You should expect this scooter to slow you down no matter what the weather is like.
Although I’ve heard of brake failures on other scooters, I’ve never heard of this particular scooter failing because of its brakes.
There is no denying, however, that having a brake at the rear of the scooter has its problems. One of the biggest issues is that it slows you down as quickly as you can.
Even though the Glion Dolly is not a particularly fast scooter (more on that shortly), you want to be able to slow it down quickly in an emergency.
Those who are going to ride scooters in crowded areas may have problems, as they are going to have to weave through people. Scooters like this are perfect for long stretches of highway where you won’t have to stop much.
Maybe the scooter will have an emergency brake in the future. This would have made it more useful. It is one of the quality cheap e-scooters for adults.
Glion Dolly performance
Both city and suburban streets were no problem for the Glion Dolly. With both wheels made of rubber, it makes for a relatively smooth ride, but the bumps in the road are still felt. Small shock absorbers for the front tires don’t do much. I discovered that the Swagton Swagger 5 handled potholes and sidewalks better thanks to the inflatable front tire.
I had no problem getting back and forth to work on the Dolly, which boasts a 250-watt motor that can reach speeds up to 15 mph. Up a hill of six percent, the Dolly crawled at about five to six mph, but in the end reached the top. I had to get my feet off the Swagger 5 and walk up the hill.
Dolly’s braking system includes two methods. The first is a twist-grip on the left handle, which changes the voltage flowing to the motor, creating a magnet that makes it slow down. The Dolly’s handlebars feel as if they will be over my head at higher speeds; it came on so strong I thought I might fly over them. However, I quickly caught on to how to treat it gently. Although it isn’t as sleek, the more traditional handbrake of the Swagtron’s Swagger 5 makes it easier to apply pressure more gradually.
As a second brake system, a flexible rear bumper is employed, which is touched to apply pressure to the rear wheel. Simple, but effective.
Comfort and practicality
The Dolly makes folding and hauling effortless, but it does have some disadvantages as well. Indeed, the 8-inch airless tires won’t be easily punctured, but their performance will be less than ideal on bumpy surfaces.
This e-scooter does not look like the most comfortable one on the market because it doesn’t have a suspension setup.
Because uneven ground doesn’t matter much on train platforms and train stations, which are places where commuters spend most of their time. However, the Dolly is easy to move around as well – in fact, its roller wheels and retractable handle, which we mentioned above, allow you to move it without having to lift it off the ground unless you need to move it up or down a flight of stairs or into the trunk of your car.
Glion Dolly controls and display
The Glion Dolly has pretty straightforward controls: the scooter is turned on and its lights are activated by a red button on the right handlebar. An automatic twist throttle can be found on the right handlebar, and an electric brake lever can be found on the left handlebar.
The right-side handlebar features a small green display showing battery life and expected range, shown by four green bars. The number of bars changes depending on how hard the Dolly is working. If the Dolly is going uphill, a single bar will appear.
I find this screen to be a bit basic for a scooter that costs $500 – how far does one bar get you? It’s also difficult to view in direct sunlight. Compared to the $349 Swagtron Swagger 5, which connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, you can track your speed and your movements.
Lights
The Glion is equipped with only a passive, red rear reflector and a single, low-mounted front light. This makes this scooter to be among the few e-scooters that have light.
Even though the front light can come in handy if you are out after dark, you should not rely on it. According to us, it is too low-powered to be used safely at night.
If you ride at night often, we recommend adding additional lighting.
Tires
In both the front and rear, the Glion has solid tires with a diameter of 20.3. This is they are also classified as e-scooters with large wheels. This means there are no flats to worry about, as the tires are airless. The drawback is that performance on the road is poorer. Solid tires will not provide the same grip as pneumatic ones (air-filled), and they won’t cushion when riding on rough surfaces. This is part of the reason why the Dolly is so difficult to ride.
Deck
A deck measuring 45.7 x 14.3 cm offers a small amount of standing space, but it’s not too small. This deck has a ground clearance of 8.2 cm. Depending on your preferences, the deck-to-handlebar distance can vary between 75.6 and 96.6 centimeters.
Pros
- My fastest fold so far. The handlebars have to be pulled together twice, the quick release lever flipped once, and the pedal stomped once, and this wheel is ready for transportation. If you need to unfold the handlebars, simply snap the magnetic handles back into place.
- Stands on its own, vertically. Can you see it? Nice! It’s not a common scooter. Perfect for transport or storage. It is heavy enough to withstand a breeze without tipping.
- Wheels for luggage and a trolley handle that pulls out. This is the only scooter with these features. It can be rolled like luggage. Unfortunately, the wheels are quite small. There are times when it doesn’t stay upright after pulling it off a curb, no matter how small.
- There is an electric brake at the rear. No need to worry about getting skidded out when it rains or shines. It won’t stop you very quickly, however.
- Integrated tail reflector with bright headlight. Would you like to ride at night? A Glion is one of the few scooters I have tried that has a real headlight. There’s a red button on the device. I’m not sure I’d use it in pitch darkness, but it’s plenty powerful to allow cars to see you.
- Those big integrated fenders look nice. Riding in the rain will not cause the wheels to kick up much water.
Easy-to-use kickstand. You can’t hurt your leg when it passes by, because it’s tiny and doesn’t cause you any abrasions.
Cons
- Weight: 28 pounds. Although it doesn’t weigh as much as other folding electric scooters its weight is fairly balanced, so lifting it shouldn’t be a problem. However, its size makes it bulkier than you’d expect. As a result of the weight, pulling those tiny wheels requires some effort.
- Speed is slow at top speed. It might be true that Glion’s scooter is faster than a runner at full sprint, but its top speed of 15 mph ranks among the slowest folding electric scooters I’ve used. It wasn’t uncommon for cyclists to pass me unless they used single-speed cruisers.
- The range is short. My average mileage was only 7.2 miles, keeping in mind that I’m a heavy guy, and only ride up gentle hills about a quarter of the time. The last mile is hit-or-miss, too: the Glion slowly loses speed and then abruptly stops giving you power.
- There is no suspension. The military-style honeycomb tires, say Glion, soften the ride to the extent that it is acceptable. On roads that haven’t been freshly paved, expect some teeth chattering due to the sidewalks.
- There is only one electric brake on the rear, and it’s weak. Due to slowing down too slowly, I nearly hit someone. Having an electric front brake (fewer skids) and a disc or friction rear brake for emergencies is what I prefer.
- The controls are cheap and uncomfortable. There are no cushions on the handlebars, and the twisting throttle mechanism is spring-loaded and stiff. If you want to go anywhere, you have to twist and hold on tightly. On contrary, Gotrax v2 offers excellent cruise control.
- Not great at climbing hills. Due to its 250-watt motor, the Glion tends to slow down quite a bit on inclines.
Tradeoffs
- Short handlebars are good for weaving around cars and pedestrians, but they can’t mount accessories. There was a bell included with my Glion review, but I had to take it off because it got in the way of folding.
- It accelerates smoothly. Unlike many electric scooters, the Glion maintains control mostly by starting and stopping slowly. However, it takes some time to reach top speeds.
- The deck is not very big. Ideally, there should be room for two feet to stand side by side without one foot in front of the other. However, it makes the scooter smaller.
- Designed for utility. The structure isn’t pretty, but it seems easy to disassemble. Perhaps you prefer that.
Easy to store
It may look bulky and big, but it is very convenient to store. The majority of portable scooters have no stability to them. I don’t know how many of you have used one before.
Standing them up on public transportation will cause them to fall like a poorly built card tower.
No, it’s not Glion Dolly. No matter how hard you push or how bumpy the road may be, the Glion Dolly will remain upright.
It is also small enough that it can be easily slid into a cabinet or wherever it is not needed.
Because it is designed to serve as a wheeled transport scooter, it has a bit more bulk than other foldable scooters.
Even then, it doesn’t take up much space. There is only one situation in which the Glion Dolly scooter loses some stability, which is when it’s being moved on its own over bumps. The most important time is when you are pulling it through the street, not when you are riding it.
It will rock a little bit when you pull over a bump. Sometimes you might lose control. That’s because the wheels on the Glion Dolly are quite small.
Yes, I know this is to help with storage, but it would have been more stable if the company had added one or two inches to the diameter of each wheel, although it is assumed that this would have impeded its ability to be stored.
Assembling process: Fairly easy
We have the good fortune to have the Glion already assembled, which makes it extremely easy to set up. This 28-pound package comes folded and complete with all the gear. To start, you’ll need to remove all packaging, including the bubble wrap and boxed charger strapped to the footrest of the scooter. The mechanism for folding and unfolding the footbed is triggered by a lever at the base of the footbed. The first thing that you should stress is if you do not hear a click when the neck is upright, it has not been set correctly. When you put it into the upright position, you should hear a clicking sound. If you do not hear it, you can get injured or even die.
It is extremely easy to unfold the handlebars, just pull them up and snap them into place. Another great feature is the adjustable handlebar height. A scooter like this is perfect for taller people. Taking advantage of the handlebar quick-release levers, we unlocked the handlebars and adjusted the handlebar heights to our five-foot height using the middle of three buttons, but there was still plenty of room for us to go higher.
As a final note, the Glion charged within an hour of being unboxed, because it came half charged. Two seconds are sufficient to turn it on by pressing and holding the bright red power button on the T-bar.
For whom is it intended?
Commuters are mainly the target audience for the Glion Dolly. It is far faster than many other electric scooters currently on the market.
This scooter can be described as best scooter for a 10 year old.
You will struggle to find anything that even comes close to what the Glion Dolly can offer when it comes to easy transportation when you are not riding it.
As far as getting to and from work goes, it’s difficult to find something better than the Glion Dolly electric scooter, despite its shortfalls in some areas.
Buy yourself a Glion Dolly from Amazon by clicking here.
You can also buy it from Walmart by clicking here.
Glion Dolly vs. GOTRAX GXL V2
GOTRAX GXL V2 vs. Glion Dolly: Which is the best scooter? In this scooter showdown, we pit the Glion Dolly against the GOTRAX GXL V2. The Glion boasts a maximum speed of 18 mph, while the GOTRAX can reach only 16.2 mph. Unlike the Glion, the GOTRAX comes with two gear shifts that regulate the speed between 8 mph and 16.2 mph, which makes it easier to drive in different situations.
In addition to this, GOTRAX does not have a waterproof feature, which makes the Glion superior to it. You should not drive the Glion in wet weather. In contrast, the Glion drives well even on wet surfaces. So, not all e-scooters are waterproof. In comparison to the Glion, the GOTRAX isn’t as compact, although it does fold up as well. The Glion is the best choice if you are looking for speed or portability. In contrast, the GOTRAX is the better choice for those who prefer slower speeds and maneuverability.
Glion Dolly e-scooter Review Wrap Up and Bottom Line
That is, it about Glion Dolly e-scooter review. It’s hard to find a foldable electric scooter that’s as good as the Glion Dolly. The device charges fast is fairly fast, has a solid construction, and has a nice look.
Furthermore, the vertically standing feature and the folding feature provide some extra versatility that isn’t seen very often. That is why I consider the Glion one of my favorites. The fact that it can be used as a rolling suitcase is fantastic.
Despite not being the fastest top electric scooter, this device could be the most versatile. Airless tires and anti-lock brakes are also wonderful safety features. Despite the mediocre suspension, riders will enjoy riding this Glion Dolly, which is a great commuter bicycle. An excellent option for those who want an alternative to electric bikes or electric skateboards for last-mile commutes.
There’s also the Mi electric scooter if you are looking for alternatives to this adult electric commuter scooter.
Before making your purchase, check Amazon’s price and consult our buyer’s guide to ensure that you get the best deal.
References
Nebraska, D. (2021, January 12). New Glion Dolly Model 225. Retrieved from https://getglion.com/product/glion-dolly-225-new/
Electric Scooters. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pureelectric.com/collections/all-electric-scooters
Prospero, M. (2019, November 02). Glion Dolly Electric Scooter Review: A Commuter’s Dream. Retrieved from https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/glion-dolly-electric-scooter