Review: Bluetran Lightning

In the month I've been testing the Bluetran Lightning, I've had to charge it only once. Once. That was after about 40 miles' worth of trips (at various sub–30-mph speeds). This electric kick scooter never failed going up steep hills, its hydraulic brakes are fantastic, and its suspension feels like a magic carpet ride. It's a whole new world. 

Well, sort of. The only other escooter I've tried that can match this performance is the MiniMotors Dualtron Victor. Fun fact: Bluetran is a new subbrand from MiniMotors, so they're effectively made by the same company. They feel very much the same, and both start at the ungodly price of $2,699. I tried the priciest version ($3,099), which has an LG battery that packs a larger capacity for extended range. 

Anytime I rave about an electric scooter's awesome power and range, I immediately have to qualify my enthusiasm because of two major factors: weight and … the law. 

First off, this escooter is an insane 88 pounds, 15 more than the Dualtron Victor. It required barely any setup, but I darn-nearly threw out my back getting it out of the box. (I recommend putting the box on its side, taking out the Styrofoam, and rolling it out. Also, give your delivery driver some cookies.) 

This weight impacts everything. I'm moving to a new apartment with a flight of stairs, and there's no way I'm going to regularly take this vehicle up and down narrow steps. Forget hopping on public transportation in case you ever find yourself in rain or have a dead battery—unless lifting 88 pounds sounds like nothing to you. (You can fold down the stem and lock it to the deck for “easier” carrying.)

Then there are local speed laws. The Bluetran Lightning can hit up to 47 miles per hour. I don't recommend it. It's illegal in most cities and states, and just too darn fast. You're basically a wizard on a broomstick, except at least they have weird potions and spells to mend or regrow bones. Like any car, make sure you follow local speed laws and you'll get even more range than I did. (I mostly rode deep in Brooklyn on empty streets to test speed, handling, and braking.) 

On its default settings, the Lightning was generally too fast for me. The 5,040-watt dual-hub motor kicks off so hard your body will lurch backward (it has even more power than the Victor). But there's a solution: Go into the scooter's settings via the display on the handlebar and you can tweak its performance. I cut the output down by 50 percent and it was still fast but much more manageable. (These settings are listed in the manual.) There are three gears on the scooter, and after I tweaked the settings, gear 1 now effectively goes around 15 miles per hour, which is the legal limit here in New York City. 

The benefit of having such a beefy battery (outside of the awesome range) is that since you're not regularly charging it, the battery isn't depreciating faster than the scooters you need to recharge every day. That means you likely won't have to replace the battery for several years. With so much power, you can take on any hill and never lose a beat. Many cheaper scooters slow to a crawl on small inclines. 

My only two gripes? If you deplete the battery completely, get ready to spend a day recharging it with the included charger. You'll have to pay up for the fast charger, which cuts this time to seven hours, but it's out of stock. If you're tall like me (I'm 6'4"), I suggest reaching out to Bluetran about getting a stem extension, because the handlebars are a bit too low for me. 

It comes with anything and everything you'd want to make yourself seen and heard on the streets, from a thunderously loud horn that's sure to alert even the most distracted driver to a full suite of onboard flashy RGB lights that put most gaming PCs to shame. (The colors are customizable via the included remote!) 

There's a box attached to the left handlebar with satisfying buttons, including one for hazards, turn signals, and turning on the headlights. I did have to turn off the headlights once when I noticed an oncoming biker had his hand up blocking the light. It's a shame you can't control the brightness. 

The Lightning is excessive in every way, but it's impossible to deny its utility. I've carried heavy bags of clothes destined for Goodwill on this thing. I've gone to a dentist appointment from Brooklyn to Manhattan on a 12-mile roundtrip and it lost only 10 percent of it’s battery life. It's the most well-built scooter I've tested, and MiniMotors has a decent dealer network in case any issues arise (plus you can buy several spare parts on Bluetran's website).

I just can't wait until this power and range get smaller and lighter. It's hard to recommend the Lightning for any city slickers—it's just not a city scooter. I'll point you to the Apollo City instead, which is still fairly heavy and powerful, but a lot less intense (and cheaper). But if you expressly need an electric scooter for long-haul trips, the Lightning is as great as they come.