Gotrax XR Ultra

Gotrax XR Ultra review

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Gotrax XR Ultra scooter is hardly an upper tier scooter. However, it offers you value for your money. It has good range and performance

You will like  Gotrax XR Ultra if you enjoyed the older Gotrax GXL V2, so if you enjoyed the new Gotrax, you will love them. Despite similarities, there are some differences to consider between the two e-scooters. We shall pay more attention to the Gotrax XR Ultra review on build quality, performance, and important features such as the motor and battery.

The speeds and range of both the XR Ultra and V2 are good, and both have great brake systems and tires. These scooters would be a great complement to your commute.

A summary of all the Gotrax XR Ultra specs

Gotrax XR Ultra  specs Summary

A scooter like the Gotrax XR Ultra might suit your needs if you want a cheap electric scooter that can still reliably get you to your destination. Due to its single 300-watt motor with easy acceleration and decent hill-climbing ability, this e-scooter excels.

Dual brake systems and an enhanced LG battery make it an upgrade from previous models.   This e-scooter isn’t perfect, as it only has a range of around 15 miles, and the look may not appeal to everyone, but for a budget item, it’s a great buy.

All of these factors have to be considered before you decide which scooter will work best for you. Here, we will focus on the technical details of the Gotrax XR Ultra. Scroll down to learn more.

 Performance Outline

With an official top speed of 15.5mph, the Gotrax XR Ultra electric scooter is more than fast enough for everyday use. Performance tests have verified this claim, but, of course, there are several variables involved. Our test ride ended up at a very realistic speed of 20mph when we were riding downhill.

Hilly terrain isn’t much of an issue for the XR Ultra, and even steep slopes of 15 degrees can be tackled without much difficulty. Due to the extra torque generated by the front-wheel motor, you won’t encounter any problems when it comes to sloping terrain compared to e-scooters with rear-wheel motors.

Towards the steeper end, speed drops off considerably. It may be necessary to kick a few times to reach your destination. However, this is pretty normal for budget e-scooters with a single motor.

Also read : best electric scooters with seats for adults 

Battery Life

We weren’t quite able to achieve the 16-mile range advertised on the Gotrax XR Ultra. We found that the range was closer to 12 miles, depending on factors such as rider weight, terrain, speed, and travel conditions. In terms of achieving top speed and power output, the XR Ultra isn’t the perfect choice for commuters who commute 20 miles per day.

In summary, if you are a flat road rider who wants to speed up short rides, then the Gotrax XR Ultra is the best performer in the budget e-scooter category. A premium brand battery like an LG provides a very long battery life, which you would expect. With its fast charging time of only 3 to 4 hours, you’re unlikely to be disappointed

Charge Time

With the LG battery, you will be able to travel up to 16 miles, which is not bad at all for a scooter on a budget. I am more impressed by the fact that this premium battery will fully charge in 3-4 hours.

Battery Management System

It is undoubtedly the LG battery of the GoTrax XR Ultra that is the most important feature. Yet it’s what’s underneath that makes it stand out.

To help prolong its shelf life, the Li-ion unit has a robust battery management system that prevents it from overheating, short-circuiting, overcurrents, and overcharging. Your battery will be able to undergo hundreds of recharge cycles without reducing its maximum capacity.

Most importantly, it charges in just 3-4 hours.

 Acceleration

As a test, we rode a 74 kg rider on a flat road to determine the acceleration of Gotrax Xr. It took the Xr 8.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 23.5 kph.  This electric scooter may be slow in comparison to other electric scooters, but new riders will still enjoy riding it.

The typical electric scooter accelerates from zero to 24 km/h in about six seconds. Dualtron Thunder can achieve higher than this though it is very expensive.

Our performance page lets you compare the Xr’s performance with others we’ve reviewed.

Range

With a range of 16 miles, the XR Ultra is 4 miles longer than its predecessor, the GXL V2, and isn’t far behind its older brother, the XR Elite.

One feature that it doesn’t share with its siblings is LG’s battery. Why is this an advantage for you?

In the first place, LG is one of the biggest tech companies in the world. GoTrax uses high-quality battery cells, unlike some scooter manufacturers who choose to use cheap Chinese ones. Consequently, the Ultra’s wheels will continue to spin for many more rides thanks to its high-capacity battery.

The second advantage of LG batteries is that they are equipped with battery management systems, which guarantee their longevity. Simply put, your battery will not only keep on giving you rides after rides, but it will also perform at its maximum for a long time. You may have noticed that the health of your battery decreases over time as you charge and recharge it.

Each battery experiences this problem at some point. Your battery performance may have gradually declined over time with your phone if you have experienced something similar. Compared to more expensive, premium batteries, cheap batteries with inadequate systems decline in performance much faster.

The fact that this battery is so affordable for a scooter of this caliber is great. The Ultra should be on everyone’s list of recommendations if you’re looking for value for money.

The conditions for speed test

Though LG’s battery is pretty good, it may not always give you 16 miles. The mileage of any electric scooter is determined by a best-case scenario based on two factors:

1. Lowering the scooter’s settings.
2. How much the rider weighs. There are differences in weight among scooters, but in general, it’s around 165 pounds (75 kg).

When riding the Ultra recklessly (i.e. stepping hard on the throttle), you’ll get less range. If you are riding at top speed, your range will decrease by 35-40%, or 9.6 to 10.4 miles. It will be possible to ride more miles if you are in the low- to the medium-speed range.

Gotrax XR Ultra Motor and power

Gotrax XR Ultra electric scooter features a 300w front-wheel motor. Because the motor is placed at a lower point, the XR Ultra gets extra torque, but it also performs better and is more efficient.

The main downfall of this configuration is that the e-scooter is harder to control. However, Gotrax has incorporated extra-wide handlebars to address this concern to a certain extent.

 LED Lights

Nighttime riding is often an afterthought when it comes to electric scooters, which is evident from our review of 30+ scooters, which all have relatively weak lights. As a light setup for basic use, the XR Ultra is fitted with a headlight, front and side reflectors.

The headlight will cast an adequate beam of light in front of you, making you visible to oncoming pedestrians and traffic, however, it does not suffice in extremely low light conditions. It works fine in urban areas with lots of streetlights, but it doesn’t hold up on roads where there are very few streetlights.

Despite the Ultra’s reflective design, it lacks a taillight, which is disappointing. If you’re riding at night, I think a taillight is essential. If you don’t have one, you’re practically invisible. I strongly recommend purchasing an additional taillight if you plan on riding at night.

Controls & Display

Featuring ergonomically designed controls mounted on the handlebars, this scooter is designed to deliver high performance.

On the right, you’ll find the accelerator and the LCD. Among other things, the latter shows the battery level speed and battery level as well as the ride time. Furthermore, it is equipped with two switches for changing modes.

Deck

The standing room on the deck is 48.3 cm by 15.2 cm. A rubber mat emblazoned with the “GOTRAX” logo covers the surface. This may not be as wide as that offered by Weped SST but it will suffice for short distances.

Due to the deck’s size, you may have to hang your broad feet off the sides if you have wide feet. This scooter is smaller than those found in other scooters, so it might not be quite as comfortable as something with a huge deck.  It is also more compact and portable because of its smaller deck size.

There is a 10.2-centimeter clearance between the deck and the ground.  With careful dropoffs, you can clear some curbs with this.

There is a 95.3-centimeter height difference between the deck and handlebar.

Tires

There is 21.6-centimeter pneumatics (air-filled) on both the front and rear of the XR.  Such wheels make it a suitable scooter for food and product delivery.

Furthermore, they work well both in wet and dry conditions.  Tires without air (also called solid tires) can become rather slippery when wet. These pneumatic tires offer superior performance and traction over airless tires.

A benefit of the wheels is also that the size allows them to roll over small bumps and dips more easily.

You should know that pneumatic tires are more prone to flats. Many people find this to be a major problem.  As a means of preventing or repairing flat tires, tire slime is a good choice.  Read our guide on how to pump air in an electric scooter wheel.

Shock Absorption and Suspension

The pneumatic (air-filled) tires of the XR Ultra absorb most of the shocks of the road below even though it has no suspension. Lack of suspension is nothing for you to worry about. Furthermore, out of all the reviews for scooters, only a handful of e-scooters have suspensions.

When riding on bumpy terrain, air-filled tires are adequate for most riders, but you’ll feel vibrations.

The pneumatic tires on this scooter are a pleasant surprise for such a low-priced product. For cost-saving reasons, many cheap scooters are designed with solid rubber tires. This has the disadvantage of offering very little shock absorption. In general, the XR Ultra outperforms some of the Ninebot scooter models such as ES2 and E22 as well as a few other scooters within its price range.

The HiBoy S2, the cheapest model with the best suspension, is perfect for riders who wish to explore parks, trails, and other light off-roading terrain.

Braking

A double braking system on the Xr provides better safety, performance, and redundancy. With the front wheel being fitted with a regenerative brake, the motor slows down the ride, while the rear wheel is fitted with a disc brake. Not even the Phatty G3 e-Scooter has this feature

At its top speed of 23.5 kilometers per hour, the Xr achieved an impressive braking distance of 4.5 meters. Comparatively, our distances are typically 5 m to 8 m.

Overall, the braking system of the Xr is good. This is an outstanding performance considering its low price point. There are no harsh sounds from the brakes, and the actions are smooth. We didn’t have to adjust the disc brake after it was installed.  There was minimal noise from the brake caliper.

 Kickstand

It can be difficult to balance on some kickstands because they are too long or too flimsy.  This one, however, does just what it says on the tin: It stands your scooter up.

 Hill Climb

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Gotrax XR Ultra review will not be complete without writing about the ability to climb hills. A 74kg rider rode the Xr at an average speed of 6.4km/h during our standardized hill test (60.4 m, 10% grade).

Among all of our hill climb tests, this is the slowest result. While a 10% grade appears reasonable, you might have to crawl up steep hills in your city if there are many of them. You can also kick the scooter if it has trouble.

A scooter that has more power will be better suited to those who want it to climb hills or who are heavier. At an average speed of 9.3 kph, the improved Xr Ultra climbed the same hill 23.4% of the time. It took the Mi M365 20.8 seconds to climb the hill at an average speed of 10.6 kph.

Portability

Gotrax Xr is 12 kilograms in weight. Its folded dimensions are 104cm by 38cm by 41cm.

Since it’s so light it can be carried up a flight of stairs or lifted momentarily, the Xr is relatively easy for most people to use.

An Xr’s stem can be folded to reduce its size. There is a simple mechanism for folding the stem. This scooter folds more easily than the previous version (the GXL V2). As an added measure of safety, Gotrax has added a pin to the scooter so it won’t fold accidentally while riding.

Having passed our trunk-test, the scooter can be folded up and put in the trunk of most cars.

It is important to remember that the handlebars on these bikes do not fold and that this would pose a problem if you were boarding a crowded commuter train. Although not enormous, they can cause trouble because they stick out.

One more issue we noticed was the handlebar, where you hold the scooter when folded, was somewhat bigger. A smaller hand may find it more difficult to grip.

Ride Quality

Aside from not having a suspension, the Xr has two large pneumatic tires.  These air-filled tires are important for helping to smooth the ride on rough terrain.

Smooth roads make the Xr a pleasurable ride.  Because it is small, it is nimble. Despite the tires’ ability to absorb some vibrations, poor roads result in a rough ride. Despite the disappointing suspension and pneumatic tires, we still recommend this scooter over the more expensive ES2.

Almost all riders will be satisfied with air-filled tires on even the worst roads.  You may want to choose a scooter with quality suspension if your commute involves a lot of bad roads. Check our list of electric scooters equipped with suspension.

Scooters with quality suspension aren’t available under $700, and these are significantly more expensive than the XR. A scooter with quality suspension at a reasonable price is the Glion scooter.

Where to buy

With its new GoTrax Xr Ultra, GoTrax appears poised to further dominate the budget category of electric scooters. There is a spec-reduced GoTrax Xr (non-ultra) priced at $$$, while the ultra-spec GoTrax XR is priced at $$$$.

Amazon

You can check how much Amazon is offering this scooter. It is affordable and it will be delivered to your doorstep.

Construction

Commuters will appreciate the design of the Gotrax Xr e-scooters. You can easily transport them on trains and buses since they’re foldable. Approximately 44 inches by 15 inches by 6 inches is the folded dimension of the e-scooters. A new folding mechanism has also been added by Gotrax. Having a safety pin will prevent you from accidentally folding up the scooter.

Ensure the scooter is unplugged before folding. A rider up to 220 pounds can be accommodated by both Gotrax XR and XR Ultra. They are also very light, weighing just over 26 pounds each.

How do the tires look? With an 8.5 inch diameter, they’re a nice size. This is one of the few e-scooters with fat tires. The bigger tires may not be designed for off-road riding, but they are designed for city streets that may not be as smooth as they could be. Air is also pumped into the tires, which helps the tires absorb shock. This ensures an enjoyable ride.

The tires are air-filled, which is unusual for a vehicle of this price. The XR does not have the suspension system that is standard in e-scooters in this price range. To compensate for this omission, tires are used. However, tires require more maintenance than solid ones.

Customer Service

The customer service at Gotrax is second to none. Both the XR and XR Ul.  Customer support is based in the US and they offer free shipping on their products. There is a 30-day return window if you decide to return the scooter.

There is a 90-day limited warranty on this product.  You can browse Gotrax’s website for owner’s manuals, FAQ pages, and contact information if you have questions about your scooter.

Based on our experience, the Gotrax XR Ultra is a very reliable product. Prepare your charging station before you depart, plan your route so you remain on decent roads, and be mindful to save your full charge for when it’s needed.

The XR Ultra is expected to last for several years. In keeping with best practices, you will find your scooter to be consistent, safe, and very capable.

What we did not like about gotrax XR ultra

There isn’t much to complain about when it comes to the affordability of the Gotrax scooters. The XR Ultra is a very impressive scooter when compared to others within the same price range. There’s always something that can be done better, though.

Many commuters may find the range of Gotrax’s scooters to be somewhat limiting, especially since the range purportedly achieved is based on ideal conditions like smooth roads and riders of specific weights. The range can also be reduced by factors such as speed.

Another downside to pneumatic tires is that they require more maintenance. Solid tires, on the other hand, are less prone to punctures. Having air-filled tires for a smooth ride is a necessity without a suspension system. You should realize pneumatic tires require more monitoring and care, however, if you’re used to solid tires.

Maintenance

The last thing on the Gotrax XR Ultra review  is about the maintenance and repairs. You don’t require a specialist to check the functionalities of the XR Ultra, which is a very low-maintenance scooter. Gotrax customers frequently praise their responsive and helpful service.

Final thoughts on the Gotrax XR Ultra  review

The Gotrax XR Ultra is easy to maintain. Manufacturers’ websites offer spare parts for low prices, but shipping costs may apply since they are based in the US.