GoTrax XR Elite Review

Design

Handlebars

The handlebars on the XR Elite are simple to use and look good too. There is a central LED dashboard that provides you with your current mileage, battery level, cruise control option, and headlight control.

In terms of safety and comfort, the handlebars also have decent handgrips and the throttle and brake lever feel smooth and easy to use. There’s also an easy-to-use bell attached if you need to alert pedestrians to your presence. You might assume that all scooters have a bell, but they don’t, and so I was pleased to see GoTrax put the safety of its rider first.

One important factor to be aware of is that, in comparison to other GoTrax scooters, the XR Elite doesn’t have ‘gears”. This means that to unlock the maximum speed of your scooter you don’t have to change riding mode. This is a plus if you intend to push the Elite to its limits as changing the gear is one less thing to worry about when setting out on your daily commute.

Frame

Once you’ve ridden as many scooters as me you notice the subtle aesthetic changes between models that make them feel more expensive. GoTrax took the clever decision to hide the brake cable inside the stem of the XR Elite, which makes the scooter slicker and aesthetically pleasing. Granted, it doesn’t change anything performance-wise, but it highlights GoTrax’s attention to detail.

Matte black is still king of the electric scooter and the sentiment remains true for the XR Elite. The stem is adorned with a white GoTrax logo, which looks pretty neat and there are splashes of red on the scooter, giving it a cool, urban vibe.

Deck

The standard 6.6 inch wide deck provides enough space to allow for a comfortable ride. This, coupled with the anti-slip rubber material, lets you relax into the ride and feel assured that your feet will stay glued to the sturdy deck.

The XR Elite has 19 x 6.6 inches of standing space and so it also accommodates the rider with a larger shoe size.

It’s worth noting that the Elite has just over 3 inches of ground clearance, which means you don’t want to be hopping up or down curbs on the sidewalk.

Wheels

When it comes to budget scooters, you don’t expect to be blown away by the quality of the tires but the XR Elite is an exception. Aside from its selling points of affordability and reliability, it comes equipped with 8.5 inch air-filled tires that help promote a more comfortable ride.

Cheaper models tend to be fitted with solid rubber tires which provide almost no shock absorption. Having air-filled tires is another aspect that makes the XR Elite such great value for money. Although some people have reservations about air-filled tires due to the anxiety about getting a dreaded puncture, GoTrax have you covered – the Elite comes with pre-slimed tires, which self-heal any inflictions up to 6mm.

Whilst the tires are good quality, the cushioning effect works to combat lumps and bumps but you certainly feel the impact of bigger potholes. It’s also worth mentioning that the XR Elite doesn’t come with suspension so you really rely on the tires to absorb any shock. As a result, I wouldn’t recommend riding it on rough terrain and certainly not off-road. If you stick to flat and smooth asphalt surfaces you’ll be just fine.

Build Quality & Durability

Despite being an inexpensive scooter, the fit-and-finish of the XR Elite is great. It is the best quality scooter for under $400.

From the wide anti-slip deck to the super simple folding mechanism, the team at GoTrax has worked hard to bring you a quality, durable scooter that is lightweight without the rickety construction that cheap models from unknown brands are riddled with.

It’s vital to remember, though, that whilst the XR Elite is the top dog in its price range, more expensive scooters do boost higher build quality – some even use aerospace-grade aluminum.

Weight & Load

The XR Elite weighs 31.88 lbs (14.46 kg). This is on the lighter end of the electric scooter scale where weight ranges from 23 to 100+ lbs. For the average rider, it is easy enough to carry with one hand.

The max rider weight is 220 lbs (100 kg), which is worth bearing in mind. The heavier you are, the more the scooter needs to work and the less performance you get. If you weigh towards the upper limits (i.e. 200+ lbs), you may want to consider opting for a scooter that allows for heavier max rider weight.

Folding & Portability

When folded, the XR Elite collapses down to a compact 43.3 x 17.1 x 14.6 inches (length x height x width). The folded dimensions make it small enough to easily fit underneath your desk, in the trunk of your car, or a closet.

The XR Elite has a modification on its predecessor, the GoTrax Ultra, with an upgraded folding mechanism and an additional locking pin for safety. The locking mechanism is one of the best I have seen (especially in this price range), and folding the scooter is simple and effective. You can collapse and store the scooter in a matter of seconds.

The only area of improvement that would make the Elite more portable would be foldable handlebars. However, given the price, we can let this one slip.

Assembly

The XR Elite comes nearly fully assembled with the handlebars detached. In addition to the scooter, you’ll find the charger, instruction manual, and all the tools you need to assemble your brand new scooter.

The great news is that the assembly is super easy. All it takes is a simple unfold of the scooter, placing the handlebars into the top of the handlebar stem and tightening them into place with the screws and Allen wrench provided.

It’s best to fully charge the Elite before riding it for the first time. Patience is required, but with a charging time of 3-4 hours, you certainly won’t be waiting long to hop on and enjoy the ride.

Ride Quality

Is the GoTrax XR Elite Comfortable to Ride?

In comparison to other GoTrax scooters, the XR Elite has a larger-than-average deck, which makes it comfortable to place your feet in a natural stance. The scooter also feels more balanced than other GoTrax models because the battery is located in the deck, giving a lower center of gravity making you feel more secure. In other models, the battery is located in the stem, which can sometimes make the scooter feel a bit front heavy.

The cruise control option helps make your ride even more comfortable, allowing you to soak up the environment around you. The pneumatic tires go some way to counteracting rough terrain, but you will feel the effects of meatier potholes as there is no suspension.

All in all, it’s a comfortable ride considering the low price point.

Performance & Safety

Speed & Acceleration

GoTrax boasts that the 300W motor lets you easily reach the top speed of 15.5 mph. In practice, it's difficult to maintain speed at 15.5 mph, but you can certainly get up there. From kicking off, it takes just under 8 seconds to get to 14 mph. Whilst the acceleration is far from rapid, it is ideal for most riders, especially if you are new to scooting.

For most inner-city riders who plan to use the scooter as a commuting vehicle or for fun urban exploration, 15.5 mph as a peak speed is plenty. However, for more experienced riders I think you’d find the XR Elite a little sluggish, so it would be worth looking at higher performance scooters.

If you live more of a suburban lifestyle where there is plenty of opportunity for riding on quiet residential streets, the XR Elite’s top speed leaves you wanting more.

Range

The XR Elite’s high capacity battery gives you a maximum of 18.6 miles per charge. This is the longest range you’ll find on any scooter under $400.

If you put the pedal to the metal and ride as quickly as you can, the likelihood of reaching that 18.6 mile threshold is reduced. As with all electric scooters, riding aggressively decreases the battery life more than if you ride economically. To put this into context, aggressive riding will give you an approximate range of 13 miles. Even if you do run out of juice, you can always charge your scooter in as little as 3 hours.

Hill Climbing

GoTrax states that the XR Elite can traverse hills of up to 15%. This is entirely true, but you can’t ride up inclines towards the upper end of the scale particularly quickly – you’ll feel the Elite struggling, especially if you are a heavier rider.

It’s worth thinking about where you want to ride the XR Elite before you commit to buying it. The type of ride you’ll be doing could help make your decision about which scooter is most appropriate. Generally speaking though, (except for San Francisco), standard city climbs should pose no problem.

Shock Absorption / Suspension

The 8.5 inch shock absorbing tires are pneumatic (air-filled), which are always the better option in comparison to solid tires. This is because they provide you with more shock absorption as they soak up uneven terrain. Having said that, the XR Elite’s pneumatic tires are the only protection you have to combat against lumps and bumps in the road.

Unfortunately, the Elite doesn’t have suspension which can be jarring on rougher roads where you’ll feel the vibrations caused by the terrain underfoot.

Braking

The XR Elite comes with a rear disc brake and anti-lock electrical braking as standard.

The dual braking system gives you control at all times and it responds as and when you pull on the brake lever. Even at top speed, the XR Elite offers responsive braking – you can expect your stopping distance to be about 15 feet. This distance changes depending on riding conditions, but as a general rule, 15 feet is pretty good.

Charge Time

It takes a respectable 3-4 hours to fully charge the XR Elite.

This is on the faster side of charge times making it ideal to juice up whether you’re at home, in a cafe, or at work.

Features

LED Panel

The LED dashboard comes with a couple of nifty features including a speedometer, battery life indicator, and a headlight control.

Whilst the dashboard isn’t a feature that improves the performance of the scooter, it does give the Elite a modern flair. Aside from looking good, the major benefit is the battery meter. The battery bars are handy to glance at for a rough estimate of how much battery life is remaining but on occasion they can be misleading. Once or twice the dashboard showed two bars of battery when stationary but after riding for a minute they dropped to one. Making sure your battery is fully charged instead of running on what was seemingly an empty tank is an easy fix for this.

LED Lights

The XR Elite is all about being seen. And by seen, I mean illuminated in the dark. The upgraded headlight is ultra-bright with an LED taillight to match.

There are also six reflectors for increased safety and visibility from all angles in poorly lit areas.

Cruise Control

The addition of cruise control on a budget scooter is a major plus.

To activate cruise control and enjoy the spoils of taking your thumb off the throttle whilst you relax into the ride and enjoy cruising in style, you simply hold down the throttle maintaining a constant speed for ten seconds. Once you hear a beep you take your thumb off the throttle and cruise control is up and running.

If you plan on riding economically to make the most of the 18.6 mile range, you’ll find cruise control a welcome feature.

Water Resistance Rating

The XR Elite comes with a water resistance rating of IP54. It can deal with rain and miserable conditions but you’ll need to avoid deep puddles.

This level of water resistance is standard among electric scooters.

Kickstand

The XR Elite has an upgraded kickstand from previous models and it works well. It’s a fairly standard kickstand so it’s nothing to write home about, but it does the job.

Battery Management System

Whilst you want to rely on your battery to get you from A to B, ensuring the longevity of its use is an important factor to consider. Thankfully, the Elite is equipped with a battery management system (BMS) that protects it from short-circuiting and overheating. This is positive to see since cheap scooters from lesser-known brands try to cut corners to save costs and don’t include features like a BMS.