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As cities grow, the demand for electric scooters rises as people look for new ways to beat dense traffic and longer commute times. Many companies offer a wide selection of scooters and it may be hard to determine which one is right for you. In this article, we will review the FluidFreeRide Horizon electric scooter.
The FluidFreeRide HORIZON electric scooter is a solid scooter at a reasonable price. It offers good performance and is all-around well-built and determined to be of good value. Perfect for commuters and leisure riders alike, the HORIZON has a decent range and speed for a cheaper price than comparative scooters, like the ZERO 8.
If you are considering purchasing a HORIZON electric scooter, then continue reading to see if this scooter has the specs and build quality you desire within your price range.
The FluidFreeRide HORIZON electric scooter has a 48V 500W brushless hub motor that claims to reach a maximum output of 800W. This is a strong motor for its price range and promises to be able to tackle inclines of up to 15%. This is comparable to the Segway Ninebot ES4, but the HORIZON has a slightly higher top speed for around the same price.
The HORIZON can deliver a top speed of 25 MPH. This can make commutes easier for people in suburbs as well as in cities, as 25 MPH is a quick pace that is safe enough to drive on roads without seeming too fast.
The acceleration is medium range and struggles to accelerate quickly on an incline. On a flat surface in perfect conditions, the acceleration is just fine albeit a little bit loud when it first starts to accelerate. The HORIZON is rear-powered, which typically offers better acceleration but the rear tire is also solid, which may affect overall stability if accelerating while it’s wet outside.
The battery on the FluidFreeRide HORIZON can be either one of two options. The first option is a lithium-ion 48V 10.4Ah battery. This is the smaller of the two options and promises to deliver a range of 20 miles with each charge.
The larger of the two batteries is a lithium-ion 48V 13Ah battery and it is slightly more expensive. Although it may cost more, it may be worth it to find out that you can expect a range of 25 miles with each charge. If you have a longer commute, this is a good choice for you because it can reach those lengthy distances.
A comparable electric scooter is the Apollo Light which is essentially sourced from the same factory but with minor differences. The Horizon is cheaper but has a shorter warranty. Which is right for you, depends on how you value a better warranty.
One of the best features of the FluidFreeRide HORIZON electric scooter is its suspension. The HORIZON has both front and rear suspension, which provides a smooth ride to most riders. A heavier rider may find themselves bottoming-out on larger surface deviations, but proper riding technique will most likely prevent this from happening.
As noted earlier, the rear tire is solid so some stability is lost in this area. The front tire is air-filled, which only adds to the great suspension this scooter already has and adds a little bit of traction. The suspension on this scooter is another feature that makes the FluidFreeRide HORIZON a good option for suburbanites and city-dwellers alike.
Some riders may notice that the deck is somewhat narrow. On shorter rides, this probably won’t be an issue, but on longer rides, the rider may find themself desiring a little more space to get comfortable. It isn’t that big an issue, and the deck size should be large enough to provide comfort for most riders regardless.
While this scooter can be folded, it weighs in at 41 pounds which does not make it ideal for lugging around town. There are dolly and handle attachments you can buy so that you can wheel the scooter around when not in use. This scooter is heavier so that it can pack a more powerful motor and stronger battery, so you have to weigh the pros and cons of weight versus performance to see if it’s a sacrifice that you’re willing to make.
While heavy, the scooter does become pretty compact while folded up. When folded, the scooter is only 36 inches long and 14 inches tall. So, while it may be heavier to walk around with, it is compact enough for you to take it onto a bus or car. The handlebar also folds inwards which makes it easier to bring this scooter into tight places.
If you’re going to be doing a considerable amount of walking with the HORIZON, then you will definitely think the weight is a drawback unless you purchase a dolly attachment to wheel it around. If you use a bus or ride-sharing service then the weight won’t be an issue and the FluidFreeRide HORIZON is compact enough to fit in smaller places.
For a more portable option, you may want to check out FluidFreeRide’s CITYRIDER model. The range and top speed are lower, but for $150 less and weighing in at 28 pounds it may be a better choice for you depending on your circumstances.
The build quality of the FluidFreeRide HORIZON is one of its strong suits. Even after riding for a long period of time, it does not seem to drop in performance from the wear and tear it has taken. Additionally, the HORIZON has a sleek and classic design with no frills or fancy embellishments to distract you from the quality of the scooter itself. The HORIZON’s personality is all in its performance.
The FluidFreeRide HORIZON has an electric display to show its rider their current speed, total miles traveled, and what mode they are in. The HORIZON has three modes built into it. Mode one is for speeds of up to 15 MPH, mode two is for the 15-20 MPH range, and mode three is for 20+ MPH. This is a handy feature that works similar to the gear shift in a car by allowing higher speeds at the sacrifice of less torque.
The FluidFreeRide HORIZON does come with three LED lights in the front and two in the rear. While the LEDs in the rear are bright enough to be seen by other motorists, the ones in the front are not that bright and only allow you to see about three feet in front of you while in the complete dark. This is not uncommon for electric scooters, and there are plenty of headlight attachments available at an affordable cost.
FluidFreeRide offers a 15-day warranty for any unopened product. If you did open it, and there is an issue with your scooter, you can also send it back for a full refund. There is a 180-day warranty for all FluidFreeRide scooters if an issue arises due to manufacturer error, such as a faulty brake.
Their support team promises to help you find a solution for any issue with your electric scooter, even if it’s not covered by warranty, so you can be sure that any issue your scooter has can be resolved.
The HORIZON scooter has a solid build, decent range and speed for the price, and has a smooth ride. Overall, this scooter gets 7.9 out of 10 possible points. The HORIZON is perfect for commuters in the city, as well as those living in the suburbs (as long as your commute is 25 miles or less). The suspension in the HORIZON promises a smooth ride to all users and it is overall a great scooter at a reasonable price though it doesn’t quite make the cut as one of the top electric scooters.
Top speed | 23-25 mph |
Motor power | 500W base / 800W peak |
Range | 20miles(10.4Ah) / 25miles(13AH) |
Weight limit | 265 lbs / 120 kg |
Product weight | 40 lbs (10Ah) / 42 lbs (13Ah) |
Battery | Lithium-ion 48V 10.4Ah / 13Ah |
Tire size | 8" rear solid, 8.5" front air |
Folded Dimensions | 38.6 x 7.1 x 14.6 inch |
Lights | 3 front and 2 rear LEDs |
Drive | Rear wheel drive |
Rasmus is the creative lead at ERideHero. As a jack of all trades, Rasmus handles videography, photography and review write-ups as well as website development. He has tested more than 100 personal electric vehicles of all sorts across more than 6,000 miles.