Kugoo G2 Pro Review

Design

Handlebars

As always, let’s start our deep dive into the G2 Pro’s features and specs by examining its handlebars – which, for me, are a mixed bag.

Firstly, they’re a little too short – particularly if you're over 6 ft tall. I also prefer scooters with wider handlebars, as they give you more control over the handling and turning of the steering column. In addition, the handgrips don’t have an ergonomic design allowing you to rest your palms on them for extra comfort. In comparison to cheaper scooters, like the Horizon which has textured rubber grips, the G2 Pro’s grips feel a little cheap.

During my tests, I also found that the handlebars (and stem, for that matter) felt a little too light to handle. Having some more weight here would instill more confidence while riding – particularly when hitting the upper thresholds of its top speed.

There are silver linings, though. On either side of the handlebars are its brake levers, which are coated with a rubber coating. I’ve only seen this on the more expensive INOKIM Ox, and I like it – it looks (and feels) great. Ironically, the brake levers have more grip than the handgrips.

The handlebars are also home to several key features – most notably, the integrated display. Here’s where you’ll view stats of your total and trip ride time, as well as your scooter’s speed, current riding mode, and remaining battery power.

To the left-hand side of the handlebars, you’ll find a panel of black buttons allowing you to navigate the display and its settings, as well as buttons to toot the horn, turn on its lights, and turn the scooter on or off.

To the right, you’ll find the scooter’s thumb throttle, which – thanks to its ergonomic shape and intuitive design – is extremely easy and comfortable to use.

Frame

Decked out in matte black and with a skeletal frame, the Kugoo G2 Pro channels a moody, mean-looking vibe – and I mean that in the best way possible. Of course, that only lasts until you turn the deck lights on; after which its aggressive aesthetic melts away, to be swiftly replaced by the crazy, kaleidoscopic colors of an 80’s disco.

Overall, the frame benefits from a neat design. For instance, the exposed cables protruding from the handlebars are bunched together, keeping them tucked away to ensure that they don’t accidentally get caught on anything while riding.

As with most electric scooters, there’s also a callout to its branding on the stem – the Kugoo logo and model name – but, thankfully, it’s quite subtle.

Deck

No review of the G2 Pro’s deck could start anywhere other than the carnivalesque strip lights that run the length of its platform.

Characterized by constantly shifting, technicolor patterns, the G2 Pro’s deck LEDs aren’t content to sit still – these strips exude fun, and (as you’ll see in my unboxing video above) they took me pleasantly by surprise when I took this scooter out of the styrofoam.

Fortunately, the deck still serves up stacks of substance to go with all that style. For one, it’s covered in a hard rubber material, which feels nice to the touch, and is plenty grippy. Secondly, it has a kick plate – something that, if you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll know I love to shout about at every opportunity.

Located at the rear of a scooter’s deck, the kickplate allows you to place your back foot on it, taking advantage of the added traction it offers to lean forward into the ride. This offers extra stability and control over the handling by enabling you to strike a wider, more comfortable stance.

As for the design of the kickplate, it’s adorned with two chrome cone-shaped horns. They don’t add any technical benefits, but they do imbue the G2 Pro with extra character. They remind me of a bull ready to charge.

Wheels

It comes ready to roll with a super-sized pair of 10 x 3inch pneumatic tires.

I love this tire profile. It gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to performance. Not only does it make the scooter sufficiently nimble and easy to maneuver, but they also keep constant traction with the road underfoot.

Given they are filled with air, rather than solid rubber they serve as a vanguard against the bumps, irregularities, and shocks of less even terrain. Moreover, the three-dimensional tread – which wraps around the tire almost in its entirety – helps keep them glued to the road, so you can be confident while riding.

The tread also almost makes them completely terrain-agnostic, however, the stiff suspension hinders their use, meaning they perform best on smooth terrain.

Build Quality & Durability

The frame is made from an aluminum alloy, while its more superficial components – such as its rear tire hugger and throttle – are composed of a reinforced PC (polycarbonate) plastic. These materials aren’t the best money can buy, but for the Pro’s price point, they’re about what I’d expect and do the job.

Moving on to the overall blueprint of the G2 Pro, I do have some issues with how it’s been designed.

Mainly, I’m referring to its awkward stem folding mechanism, as well as the fact that the scooter’s stem doesn’t lock into the deck once folded. This has major implications for portability and makes lifting the G2 Pro (not to mention carrying it around) a difficult, clumsy endeavor. More on this below.

Weight & Load

It weighs 52 lbs and supports up to 285 lbs of weight.

Not many scooters can support more than this – and there’s only one other model in the G2 Pro’s price class that can take on significantly more weight. This award goes to the EMOVE Touring (308 lbs).

However, if load is a major sticking point for you, the EMOVE Cruiser is the best option. It can handle up to 352 lbs of rider weight, meaning it’s an excellent option for heavier adult riders.

Folding & Portability

Put simply – the Kugoo G2 Pro isn’t a portable scooter.

The handgrips don’t fold, and, while the stem folds in half at the base, collapsing it is a clunky, time-intensive process. What’s more, there’s no mechanism to fix the stem to the deck when the scooter is folded, which makes it difficult to lift and move around.

While the folding mechanism isn’t particularly quick, it is fairly simple to use. The mechanism, which looks like an oversized thumbtack, screws into two grooves – one above and below the folding point. Once tightened into place, it does a surprisingly good job of keeping the stem firmly locked in place without any kind of wobble. However, when it comes to folding the scooter, the locking device is left free, separate from the scooter, so you’ll need to keep this piece safe.

One thing I did notice in my tests was that the stem can be a little stiff when it comes to folding and unfolding it. This is a good thing, though, and plays a pivotal role in keeping the stem rock solid while riding.

Assembly

The Kugoo G2 Pro arrives almost fully assembled.

You’ll just need to slide the handlebars into the top of the stem and secure them by tightening up all the nuts and bolts with an Allen wrench. Don’t fret – everything’s explained clearly in the manual, and you can get in touch with Kugoo’s support team with any queries you may have.

Ride Quality

Is the Kugoo G2 Pro Comfortable to Ride?

On paper, the Kugoo G2 Pro seems like it has all the right components to deliver a comfortable ride – big, plush air-filled tires, dual swingarm suspension, and good ground clearance. All the ingredients for a comfortable ride are present and accounted for, but the G2 Pro doesn’t offer the best ride quality.

It’ll get you where you need to go with relative ease but I found it to be a little too rickety for my liking. This is as a result of the stiff suspension, as well as the handlebars and stem feeling light to maneuver. On scooters that can go over 20 mph, you need to be able to ride with confidence and the difference between the G2 Pro’s handling vs models like the VSETT 9+ and the, more expensive but extremely popular, Mantis Pro SE, is significant.

If ride quality is a serious sticking point for you (as it should be) and you can afford to splash a bit extra cash, you’re better off opting for the VSETT 9+. It relies on dual springs, a responsive swingarm system, and wide ergonomic handlebars that enable you to maintain a smooth and comfortable ride at all times. The coil springs can also be adjusted, meaning you can customize the impact-damping to match the terrain you’re taking on.

Performance & Safety

Speed & Acceleration

The Kugoo G2 Pro can hit maximum speeds of up to 31 mph, though, realistically, it’s more like 28 mph.

As with all of our other in-depth scooter reviews, let’s put the Kugoo’s top speed through its paces, and compare it to similar scooters when it comes to price and weight.

Speed vs Price Comparison

Taking a $500 price range with the G2 Pro’s $1,029.99 in the middle gives us a total of 23 models to compare. And guess what? The Kugoo takes first prize. Here are the rankings in full:

The G2 Pro’s 31 mph top speed indicates that it’s statistically the fastest scooter in its pricing range. That’s no mean feat, either. To do this, the G2 Pro has to outstrip several models that cost far more than it, including the Speedway Leger (28 mph, $1,100), the VSETT 8 19.2Ah (26 mph, $1,199), and the EVOLV Tour 2.0 (28 mph, $1,239).

The G2 Pro’s dominance is largely down to its powerful 48V 800W, which is the largest motor of any of the others in the lineup.

The only thing that lets the G2 Pro down here is the quality of the ride. For a scooter that perfectly balances comfort with a speed that closely rivals this model from Kugoo, the aforementioned VSETT 8 (19.2Ah) is your best bet.

Speed vs Weight Comparison

The Kugoo G2 Pro crushes its similarly-priced competitors for speed. But how does it fare against the scooters in its weight class (47 to 57 lbs)?

The answer is admirably – if not quite as impressive as in the comparison above. Out of a total of 17 comparable models, the G2 Pro sits joint third, along with fellow 31 mph models the Apollo Explore, Zero 10, and EVOLV Tour XL-R. However, these three all outpace the Kugoo when it comes to acceleration, thanks to their larger, more powerful 52V 1000W motors.

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with this impressive subset of scooters, but the VSETT 9+ lineup dominates the rankings Since they all share the same dual 650W motors, the only way to split them is by the size of their batteries – and the maximum ranges they correspond to. That’s why the 9+R, with its 40-mile range, is the best option here. However, it’s priced at around $850 more than the G2 Pro – so it’ll probably be out of reach if your budget is tight.

For a speedy scooter on (more of) a shoestring budget, the best option is the 9+ (15.6Ah). It costs just $500 more than the G2 Pro, but still delivers 33 mph of speed, and 28 miles of range.

Pulling the focus back to speed, the 9+’s dual motors deliver a significantly faster acceleration rate than the G2 Pro, meaning it’s, by far, the best option if you’re after a scooter in the same weight bracket as the Kugoo model. The 9+ is also superior when it comes to ride quality; making it a more diverse scooter that is better designed to handle more challenging forest trails and dirt paths, as well as urban environments.

Acceleration

The Kugoo G2 Pro can reach 15 mph from a stationary position in just 5.2 seconds, and go 0 to 25 mph in 15.5 seconds. While the G2 Pro performed well in the speed vs price comparison, I have to admit that its acceleration is a little lackluster – particularly when compared to the scooters I recommend as alternatives.

If you want a faster acceleration rate, any of the scooters in the table above will deliver.

For me, the VSETT 9+ takes the crown. It charges out of the blocks, and is capable of hitting 15 mph 48% faster – and 25 mph almost 3 times as quick – as the G2 Pro.

The VSETT 8 is another good alternative, particularly if money’s a little tight. While it has a smaller motor, it still manages to outperform its Kugoo rival as far as acceleration is concerned.

Range

The Kugoo G2 Pro is capable of keeping the wheels rolling for up to 31 miles off a single charge – though again, this will depend on how hard you work the throttle, how much you weigh, and the terrain you’re riding on.

Our range tests with a 75 kg rider showed a real range of 20 miles.

Mileage vs Price Comparison

Taking a $500 price range with the G2 Pro’s $1,029.99 price tag in the middle gives us a total of 23 comparable models.

Of these, the G2 Pro places joint fourth, accompanied by the UScooter/E-TWOW Booster GT. Topping the charts is the GoTrax GMAX Ultra’s 45-mile range, with the Ninebot Max’s 40 miles, and the 38 miles of the VSETT 8 (19.2Ah) following closely on its heels.

For me, though, it’s the VSETT 8’s superior ride quality that gives it the edge over the other podium position scooters. That’s largely down to the fact that neither the GMAX Ultra or the Ninebot Max have suspension, meaning they rely on 10-inch air-filled tires alone for shock absorption. The VSETT 8, however, has both front and rear spring swingarm suspension, making it a much smoother ride.

Mileage vs Weight Comparison

Comparing the Kugoo G2 Pro against similarly-weighted models sees the scooter slip down into the depths of mid-table obscurity.

Unsurprisingly, it’s the EMOVE Cruiser that dominates proceedings, with its colossal 62-mile range providing double the distance than what the G2 Pro offers. Considering that the two scooters weigh the same (52 lbs), the Cruiser presents itself as an excellent alternative to the Pro – particularly if range is your top priority.

Hill Climbing

Scooters with single, rather than dual motors always tend to struggle when it comes to hill climbing – and the Kugoo G2 Pro is no different.

While Kugoo claims that the G2 Pro is capable of taking slopes of up to 25 degrees in its stride, this – in reality – is only achievable by dual-motor scooters, such as the Apollo Ghost and Phantom. Ultimately, while the G2 Pro has enough power to get you up and over the majority of urban inclines, anything challenging slows it down considerably.

To put the difference in motor size between the G2 Pro and the two Apollo models mentioned above into context, the Ghost doubles on the G2 Pro’s single 800W motor while the Phantom vastly outstrips it with dual 1200W motors,

So, if you’re the type of rider that needs to have confidence in your scooter’s gradient-gobbling credentials, you’re better off looking elsewhere. Better options are available in the form of the EMOVE Cruiser (which, despite also boasting just a single 52V 1000W motor, can take on slopes of up to 20 degrees), and for more challenging climbs, the dual motor-equipped VSETT 9+ (25 degrees).

Shock Absorption / Suspension

The Kugoo G2 Pro’s shock absorptive qualities come from its dual swingarms and a pair of springs – one at the front, and one at the rear. This helps to provide a basic level of suspension for insulating your joints and limbs from the bumps and jolts of uneven surfaces.

That said – and as I mentioned in the ride quality section of the review – the G2 Pro felt a little rickety in my tests. This renders it confined to roads and other smooth urban environments. Plus, the G2 Pro’s suspension isn’t adjustable, meaning you can’t customize it to fit the terrain you’re taking on.

It’s also worth noting that the unconventional horizontal placement of the springs hinders the scooter’s ability to soak up impacts, which, in turn, makes it stiff. By comparison, if the springs were vertically aligned – like on most scooters – they would provide better damping as they would be able to compress and rebound. This would allow the swingarms to travel up and down more and ultimately, deliver a softer ride.

Braking

The Kugoo G2 Pro pulls its stopping power from a pair of dual mechanical disc brakes. Together, these make for a responsive setup, bringing you to a stop in 3.7 meters from 15 mph.

To put that in perspective against other scooters in the G2 Pro’s class, it is pretty good. Just 22% of scooters in the G2 Pro’s price range boast dual mechanical brakes.

What is the benefit of this to you? Well, the G2 Pro, on average, comes to a stop 1.3 meters quicker than similarly-priced scooters that have just a single mechanical brake. This is the equivalent of having 26% more stopping power.

If we also draw our focus to the design of the discs, it's easy to admire the tapestry of holes and shapes that have been carved out. While these look cool, they’re far more than an aesthetic feature – they serve the important role of dissipating heat.

When the brakes are engaged, the calipers squeeze the brake pads against the rotors to slow the spin of the wheel. The friction of the discs rubbing against the pads is converted into heat. If the rotors overheat they can succumb to damage. The result of this can range from the discs becoming bent to cracking, or, in more extreme cases, snapping due to the stress from the calipers and brake pads on the vulnerable metal.

This is why the cutouts play such a pivotal role. Ultimately, they make sure that the brakes don’t fail.

As far as braking distance is concerned in regards to the scooters I recommend as alternatives, the only outlier here is the EMOVE Cruiser, which – as well as having a colossal mileage, zippy acceleration, and a range of color schemes – also flaunts a powerful semi-hydraulic braking system.

Hydraulics are my preferred type of brakes since they offer superb braking performance. Exhibit A? The 3.3 meters the Cruiser takes to come to a stop from 15 mph.

Moving our focus to the VSETT 8 and 9+, they also offer good stopping power. The VSETT 8, for instance, with its dual drum brakes and lighter frame stops in just 3.2 m, while the 9+ also trumps the Kugoo model with a total stopping distance of 3.4 m from 15 mph (thanks to its dual discs).

Charge Time

The Kugoo G2 Pro takes around 6-8 hours to reach full charge.

This is fairly standard for the 13Ah battery that the G2 Pro possesses.

Extra Features

Intuitive LCD Display

Taking pride of place at the center of the handlebars is an intuitive, integrated LCD display. From here, you’ll get insights into your scooter’s speed, battery life, riding mode, and an indication of the distance you’ve traveled both on your current trip and all trips.

The generously sized screen – which is also brightly backlit – is a diversion from the widely-used QS-S4 display. And, frankly, it’s a breath of fresh air. The LCD screen is much larger and easy to read. And, unlike the QS-S4 which doubles as a display screen and finger throttle, the G2 Pro’s LCD is separate from its ergonomic thumb throttle.

Located to the left of the screen is a small panel of black buttons. The ‘+’ and ‘–’ signs here will allow you to cycle through and select from the range of riding modes, while that ‘M’ button enables you to toggle and change the scooter’s array of P-settings. The red button below turns the G2 Pro on and off.

Rear Tire Hugger

Fitted over the rear tire is a curve of thick, reinforced black plastic. Normally, I’d simply label this thing a fender – but, on the G2 Pro, I’ve upgraded that definition to the more comprehensive ‘tire hugger’.

That’s because it offers great coverage. Curving halfway around the tire, it does a great job of keeping you (and your clothes) fully protected against any dirt or water splashback. While this may seem like a relatively minor feature, a fender that is too short can be a real pain.

Headlight, Brake Light, and Kaleidoscopic Color Changing Deck Lights

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the Kugoo G2 Pro’s lighting display – so let’s start at the front of the scooter and work our way down.

Refreshingly, the headlight is surprisingly bright and well-positioned. Often, many scooters tend to skimp on the headlight, with the most common problem being poor placement and a lack of brightness.

Other scooters (like the VSETT 8) forgo the headlight altogether and replace it with button lights – which, in my opinion, are a poor substitute. The G2 Pro takes the opposite approach, with a total absence of button lights counterbalancing a fabulous headlight. You can turn the headlight on or off via the small button located on the left-hand side of the handlebars.

Next up we have the deck lights. Panning across to the scooter’s deck, we see its kaleidoscopic, color-changing deck lights in all their glory. The dual strips (one lining either side of the deck) are much jazzier than the basic one-color lights that can be found on other scooters like the Zero 9. This is thanks to their constantly metamorphosing patterns and psychedelic hues.

The G2 Pro’s color-changing deck lighting even gives the likes of the Dualtron Thunder and Eagle Pro – two expensive, upper-tier performance scooters known for their vibrant LED setups – a run for their money. The only thing the G2 Pro could do better here is to include a remote. Currently, there’s no way to control or customize the colorful lights to fit your preferences – so if you don’t like them, you’re kind of stuck.

Finally, we have the rear light. Mounted on the rear tire hugger, this red light comes on whenever you engage the brakes. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t stay on all the time to serve as a tail light. I’d prefer to have this light remain on in perpetuity, and then to flash when the scooter’s brakes are engaged.

Horn

You can beep the horn via a switch to the left side of the handlebars. While it’s not loud enough for cars (it’s more of a shrill beeeeep, rather than a robust HOOOONK), it’s enough to get you heard by pedestrians, as well as other scooter riders and cyclists.

It’s worth noting that the horns on most scooters – except for premium models such as the VSETT 11+, the Wolf King, and the Wolf Warrior, which all boast motorcycle-grade horns – aren’t usually loud enough to make you known to cars. In addition, many scooters – even ones that are more expensive than the G2 Pro, such as the entire Mantis line – don’t even have a horn… so it’s nothing to be sniffed at.

IP54 Water-Resistance Rating

The Kugoo G2 Pro comes ready to ride with an IP54 water resistance rating. This means it’s been tested and is certifiably able to cope with splashes of water from all angles.

If that isn’t sounding all that impressive (surely it should be the kind of thing all scooters come equipped with as standard, right?) Let me tell you that these water resistance ratings are far rarer than they should be.

Many of the industry’s most capable (and expensive) ranges, such as Dualtron, lack them altogether. Even scooters closer to the G2 Pro’s price point and specs – such as the Zero 9, Speedway Leger, and Horizon 13 – also don’t flaunt any form of water resistance rating.

Warranty & Post-Purchase Support

Warranty

When you purchase your G2 Pro directly through Kugoo, not only will you be covered by a warranty against any defects in materials and workmanship for a full 12 months (6 months for the battery), but also have the reassurance knowing that they stock all parts and accessories.

And – while I'm relatively certain there will be a few limitations on what kind of damage this warranty will cover – the stipulations on Kugoo’s website are quite light. The company only specifies that the order can’t be canceled if the scooter’s already been shipped out to you.

One thing about this warranty that I like, however, is that Kugoo specifies that customers will only be charged once at most for shipping costs. This includes returns, which means you won’t get slapped with an extra check should you have to send your defective G2 Pro back for repair. There are also zero handling fees involved with returning, replacing, or maintaining the scooter.

This is a great bonus, particularly as some scooter suppliers don’t cover these costs.

Post-Purchase Support

The team at Kugoo offers post-purchase support through the following channels:

• Phone: +86 19129541097
• WhatsApp: +86 19129541097
• Email: market@kugoo-scooter.com

Both pre and after-sales support is available, and working hours are 9 am to 11:30 pm CST.

However, due to the company being based in China (as you’ll see from those country codes above), the above working hours are 8 hours ahead of GMT time. That means that, while Kugoo’s team is manning the phones, most Americans are asleep – which doesn’t make it all that easy to access quick, reliable support when you need it.

On the other hand, there is a blog on Kugoo’s site that has some useful FAQs and top-of-the-funnel guides on how to maintain their scooters. However, I’d like to see more technical guides directly addressing how to use and maintain the G2 Pro.