If you want a scooter that’s as good as the Xiaomi Mi M365 but with half the price, then the Swagtron Swagger 5 Elite electric scooter is the just the best option for you. If you want to know more about this awesome scooter then this comprehensive review is just what you’re looking for. This review also features the best features the scooter can offer as well as its performance results.
Contents
Swagtron Swagger 5 Scooter Overview
Among the best scooters which Swagtron has to offer is the Swagger 5 Elite, priced below $300 which is a few dollars less than the Mi M365 scooter. Having beaten its competition in price and other features, Swagger 5 becomes among the best priced, best designed as well as most well-rounded electric scooters available in the market today.
Features:
- Range: 12 miles
- Top speed: 18 mph
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Max rider weight: 320 lbs
- Motor: 250 W brushless DC electric motor
- Battery: 216-watt hours
- Tires: 8.5″ front pneumatic and rear honeycomb
- Brakes: Front electronic and rear disc
Swagger 5 Components Review
Motor
The Swagtron Swagger 5 comes with an upgraded 300W motor that’s integrated into the front wheel. This much power allows the motor to activate immediately right after hitting the throttle without producing much noise.
It also features a power-start mode from its default setting that enables the Swagtron scooter to launch quickly and whenever performing front-wheel burnouts. This feature can be accessed via Bluetooth through the app.
Among the things users love about the Swagger 5 motor is that it accelerates quickly up to 10 mph and takes a few seconds before reaching its top speed of 18 mph. Its top speed of 18 mph is fairly enough when you’re trying to commute to long distances, and more than enough if you’re using the Swagtron Swagger scooter to travel from work to home and vice-versa.
Range
Under ideal conditions, the quoted range from the manufacturer is at least 12 miles.
However, in our range-testing, we achieved an 8.6-mile result under such conditions:
- Regular stops
- Powered start
- Fast acceleration
- Up and down hills
- Running at top speed when possible
Considering that the Swagger 5 electric scooter is much less expensive than its top competitors, it shows impressive performance and capability.
Of course, when it comes to long commutes, it is much better to upgrade to the Xiaomi Mi M365 because of its bigger battery of 280 watts that can last for about 25% more battery time and can give a range of 14.6 miles.
Brakes
The rear wheel features a disc brake that performs solid stops and backed-up by the front wheel which makes use of an electronic braking system. As soon as you pull the brake lever, the electronic brake immediate activates.
As soon as you pull down the brake lever, you’ll feel a bit of resistance or friction due to the brake cable housing that drags along the corners. Also, there is a small bend between the brake caliper and brake cable which contributes to the friction. Despite the heavy and dragging feeling on the hand when using the brake lever, it immediately responds when activated and causes no problems.
Right from unboxing, the brakes need to be rechecked since some of the screws may be loosened and may require tension. Unfortunately, the brake cable routing again causes a bit of a problem with the tension of the screws thus, a bit of re-adjustment of the screws and other components of the brake may be required.
What we think: The Swagger 5 brakes are fully functional but need a bit of fine-tuning around the edges.
Tires
Both the front and rear tires of Swagtron Swagger 5 feature an 8.5-inch diameter with the front as a pneumatic tire and the rear as an airless honeycomb structure tire.
Unfortunately, this Swagtron electric scooter doesn’t have such good suspension like bikes and other vehicles however its pneumatic tires are incorporated with an effective suspension system. Manufacturers usually favor pneumatic tires on scooters despite risking flats due to their ton of performance benefits.
Surprisingly, the odd combination of a pneumatic tire on the front and a honeycomb tire at the rear provides a smooth ride on the Swagger 5 scooter. The honeycomb tires are known to be effective at resisting punctures and the pneumatic tires provide great cushioning for the whole system. Although it has good resistance to punctures and it has good cushioning, the Swagger electric scooter is not recommended for rough terrains and terrible roads.
We also tested this Swagtron scooter under the rain and found that the tires perform well as as the tires from its more expensive competitions. The rear tire stayed on the pavement and does not get off the surface so easily just like other scooters we’ve tested. It has a flexible and at the same time durable rubber which provides great traction.
Handlebars / Cockpit
On the Swagtron Swagger 5 cockpit, you’ll get access to the central display which shows the status of the battery, the speed, along with the Bluetooth pairing details. Compared to its top competitor (Xiaomi) which only shows the battery status and the Bluetooth app required for everything else, the Swagger 5 cockpit is superior.
The display comes with a simple and neat design however can be hard to read under bright light.
Under the display, you’ll find one single button to power the Swagger electric scooter, control the gear, and to activate the lights. When we speak of the gear, we talk about the electronic mode which restricts the top speed – and it is always maxed out in gear 3. With gear 3 as max speed, you can achieve a range of 18 miles per hour.
Unfortunately, the Swagger 5 handlebar grips are screwed to the side of the stem which gives the tendency to loosen. Thus constant checking for these parts may be required.
Despite this, however, we’ve found that being able to unscrew the handlebars were useful when loading the scooter into tight spaces or corners.
Swagger Bluetooth app
The Swagger 5 features a Bluetooth app that allows you to manage your scooter using your phone or device. The app enables you to check the speed, battery, and other information about your vehicle. As you purchase the scooter, you also get a free phone holder.
Very much like its more expensive competition, the app doesn’t add huge value to the scooter. The only things that you can find the app reliable are in the light management and when trying to change between gear modes without having to constantly press the button a few times.
With the app, you can also lock the Swagtron scooter by simply choosing the gear “0” which also sets the vehicle to powered start mode or kick start mode. With this mode, you can extend the range as you establish torque – the more torque, the more power, and better range.
Lights
The Swagger 5 is equipped with a forward-facing LED light that is attached to the stem and rear fender.
Just like any other electric scooter, the rear light is positioned at a low elevation on the fender and could be hard to see from a distance.
For daily commuting, this kind of light can suffice however if you want to enhance safety, it would be best to incorporate additional lights also to improve visibility during the night.
Portability
The Swagtron Swagger 5 electric scooter weighs only 26 lbs with dimensions of 41.5 x 17 x 19 inches when folded which makes it as portable as any of the top foldable electric scooters today. It folds the same way as the M365 has the same latching as well as a folding mechanism.
Like with any good foldable electric scooter, to fold the Swager 5 you just need to turn around the plastic collar (a secondary safety feature) then pull the lever down.
The Swagtron scooter also comes with a mechanism on its handlebars that engage with a hitch over the rear fender. This provides additional strength and rigidity to the stem for carrying.
Build Quality
In a nutshell, the Swagger 5 build quality is excellent considering it is the least expensive and is almost the same as its top competitors.
Unfortunately, the brake lever and other components require some fine-tuning. The cable routing, as well as some brake parts, also need a better design for more efficient maneuverability and control. The brakes also produce a bit of noise which can be slightly distracting. Apart from these minor concerns, Swagger 5 is a strong, safe and effective electric scooter for daily commuting.
When it comes to things that cause an impact on the overall experience in using the Swagger 5 scooter, these are the things that should be considered: the scooter frame, motor, solid stem, and folding mechanism. Also, the powder-coated frame along with welds is very much the same as that of the Xiaomi Mi M365 electric scooter.
Swagger 5 Review: our final thoughts
There is no doubt that the Swagger 5 is an excellent electric scooter for its price range. Comparing it to its expensive competitor – the Xiaomi M365, it incorporates all the advanced features as well as design and quality. Although it offers a bit lesser range, it cuts the cost of about 40% – which makes it an inexpensive electric scooter with impressive quality and functions.
So we’ve made the scooter’s riding tests and come up with the thinking that this is a great not overpriced scooter and one of the best electric scooters in the market today.
You can buy it on Amazon here.
- Product Note: Max speed and range per charge vary based on several factors, including: rider weight, riding surface, incline, ambient temperature, battery level, riding style (stop/start vs cruising), etc.
Swagtron Swagger 5 Technical Specifications
- Manufacturer: Swagtron
- Weight: 26 lb (12 kg)
- Folded dimensions: 41.5 x 17 x 19 in (105 x 43 x 48 cm)
- Motor power: 300 watts
- Top speed: 18 mph (29 kph)
- Range: 12 mi (19 km)
- Battery capacity: 216-watt hours
- Battery recharge time: 3.5 hours
- Max rider weight: 320 lb (145 kg)
- Brake type (front / rear): Electronic/Disc
- Tire type (front/rear): Pneumatic/Honeycomb airless
- Built-in lights (front/rear): Yes/Yes
- Water-resistant: n/a