Mantis V2 Review

Performance Report Summary

Top Speed

Here’s where the Mantis V2 begins to flex its muscle. Equipped with dual 60V 1000W motors, this wolf in sheep’s clothing can muster a peak power output of 3000W and a top speed of 40 mph. This performance leaves all other electric scooters in the sub $1,750 class choking on dust.

What sets the Mantis apart, though, is that it remains extremely stable when riding fast. Thanks to the evenly distributed weight of the frame, everything from the stem to the chassis feels balanced. Paired with its well-damped suspension, vibrations are softened and the tires maintain traction at all times to make it feel secure underfoot.

Top Speed vs Price

Applying a $500 bracket around the Mantis V2’s price tag reveals 7 comparable scooters – including popular models from Varla, Apollo, and INOKIM – and just one (the Varla Eagle One) matches the Mantis for top speed.

However, if we dig deeper, the Vara only has dual 52V 1000W motors, while the Mantis sports more powerful 60V motors. The result is a 25% faster acceleration rate, meaning the Mantis is the true winner.

Acceleration

Now, ladies and gentlemen, prepare to pick your jaws up from the floor, because when it comes to acceleration, the Mantis V2 doesn’t just knock it out of the park – it knocks it into the next realm.

Armed with 25A Sine Wave controllers, the V2 explodes out of the blocks. It can hit 15 mph in a whiplashing 2.1 seconds and 25 mph in just 4.7 seconds. This wipes the floor with all the scooters in its price class.

Against the models that I recommend as alternatives – including the SPLACH Titan and Mantis King GT – it beats the former, but – as to be expected – is slightly slower off the mark than its big bro. This is because the Mantis King GT has bigger 60V 1100W motors and more powerful 30A Sine Wave controllers.

Mileage

Before we dive into the results from our range tests, it's important to know that the Mantis V2 comes in two variants – one with an 18.2Ah battery and the other with 24.5Ah.

The 18.2Ah battery has a maximum range of 33 miles when ridden slow, and 28 miles when ridden fast.

The 24.5Ah battery, on the other hand, is of a slightly higher quality being LG, and has a maximum range of 45 miles when ridden slow, or 38 miles when ridden fast.

Mileage vs Price

Comparing the Mantis V2 to the 7 other models within a price range of $500, it finishes with the wooden spoon.

However, not all is as it seems. If we consider real-world mileage, it’s a top performer where it shares third place with the Apollo Phantom.

The winner of the comparison is the INOKIM Ox Super, and while its ride quality is on par with the Mantis V2, it only has a single 800W motor, meaning it's considerably slower. With this in mind, what first seemed like a loss for the Mantis, is actually a win. Not only does it have viciously fast motors and excellent ride quality, but its efficient Sine Wave controllers ensure that its real-world range remains competitive.

Hill Climbing

Hill climbing is this scooter's ‘thing’. Just like throwing a ball into a hoop is Michael Jordan’s thing.

Awarded the title of the Best Electric Scooter for Climbing Hills in 2022 by thousands of our readers, the Mantis V2 can slay even the most challenging of inclines.

It all comes down to the alchemy that exists between those 1000W motors. With a peak power output of 3000W, the V2 has enough torque and thrust to climb steep slopes, leaving you with a package purpose-made for those San Francisco peaks.

Shock Absorption

The Mantis V2 is an absolute pleasure to ride and this is in part down to its front and rear dual-springs that work in partnership with the plush 10-inch tires to absorb all the shocks from the road and beyond.

There’s also the 6.25 inches of ground clearance which not only gives the scooter enough of a gap to roll over challenging obstacles (i.e. curbs, tree roots, rocky outcrops) but allows the swingarms to pivot for a deep amount of travel.

And thanks to the well-calibrated damping of the springs, they aren’t bouncy, meaning they strike the perfect shock-absorbing profile. Using a scale of 1 to 10 – where 1 is extremely stiff and 10 is extremely soft – I scored the Mantis V2’s suspension an 8.5.

Braking

Equipped with Zoom hydraulic disc brakes, you’ll come to a complete stop from 15 mph in an impressive 2.0 meters.

To put this into perspective, it promises a stopping distance that’s shorter than the rest of the scooters in its price class. It also outperforms the scooters that I recommend as alternatives, where the Mantis King GT took 2.1 meters to stop, and the SPLACH Titan took 2.4 meters.

Ride Quality

It’s a big yes from me. I’ve already doffed my cap to the juicy 10-inch tires that produce excellent traction and shock-absorbing proficiencies, while the wide handlebars, heavy stem, and large deck are a noteworthy supporting cast. But the stars of the show here are the swingarm suspension, well-balanced frame, and newly introduced Sine Wave controllers.

The controllers are a huge leap forward when compared to the Square Wave ones found on the previous model. Accelerating through the gears now feels silky smooth instead of jittery, and controlled instead of erratic. It’s like rolling a dimmer dial and gradually increasing the brightness of a light, whereas previously all you had was a simple on/off switch.

Combined with the even distribution of weight across the entire frame, the Mantis V2 is one of the only scooters in its class that has a perfect equilibrium. As a result, it achieves best-in-class ride quality.