26 Reasons to Buy or NOT to Buy the Dualtron Thunder 2
So, you have the Dualtron Thunder 2 on your shortlist but you're unsure if you should take the leap of faith and buy it. I've got you.
The Dualtron Thunder 2 joins the small, select band of ultra-performance scooters, and takes the definition of ultra-performance to the next level with new benchmarks for power and battery size, but no scooter is perfect and I found a few flaws that might matter more to some than others.
After 3 months of testing and reviewing the Dualtron Thunder 2, I’ve summarized my findings into 26 reasons why you should or shouldn't buy it. So, without further ado, let's jump in.
16 in total
10 in total
Where to Buy
If you're ready to take the plunge, you can find links to where to buy the Dualtron Thunder 2 below.
Alternatively, if you would like to know what other scooters I recommend as alternatives, or want to see our full performance tests, you can check out our full review.
If you're ready to take the plunge, you can find links to where to buy the Dualtron Thunder 2 below.
Alternatively, if you would like to know what other scooters I recommend as alternatives, or want to see our full performance tests, you can check out our full review.
Where to Buy:
16 Reasons to Buy
- Dualtron has made significant upgrades to the original Thunder, including higher performance (both speed and range), a stronger stem clamp, 4th generation frame, new multi-switch, turn signals, motorcycle-grade horn, a footrest that doubles as a handle, and an enormous rubber deck.
- As standard, it has a peak power of 8,400 watts, but when you pull on the finger throttle twice in quick succession it’s like turning on jet thrusters. Here, an extra 10A of power is funneled to each motor to deliver a 1680W boost of power, increasing the peak output to 10,080W. Now, it’s worth emphasizing the formidable power delivery capabilities of the Thunder 2. It has 1780W more peak power than the mighty Dualtron X2 (8300W), and it’s much cheaper ($4,299 vs $6,490).
- Because of the huge amount of power on tap, the Thunder 2 has a top speed of 62 mph, putting it on a par with the top-performers in the ultra-performance category. See which fast electric scooters we recommend.
- It accelerates to 15 mph in 2.0 seconds and 25 mph in 3.5 seconds – this is rapid.
- It boasts the largest battery that we’ve ever tested. The humongous 72V 40Ah 2880Wh battery will give more range than most will ever need (106 miles maximum and 60 miles realistic). Plus, The battery uses high-quality LG 21700 cells which are efficient thanks to the energy density that they hold, resulting in good energy usage per ride. See which long-range electric scooters we recommend.
- Comparing the Thunder 2’s range capabilities to its closest competitors in terms of price, it takes the crown. No other scooter can compare to its huge, energy-efficient battery.
- One thing that may surprise you is that the port with four prongs is called an auxiliary connection. This gives you the option to plug in an external battery pack for additional power as an alternative to the stock battery. The port can be used to connect to Dualtron’s Range Extender to add an extra 33 miles, but this is an expensive piece of kit. It’s also rather clumsy and inconvenient because once plugged in, it sits at the front of the deck.
- As a result of its insane power, the Thunder 2 eats hills for breakfast. Discover the best electric scooters for climbing hills.
- The tried and tested NUTT hydraulic brakes with 160 mm rotors perform in line with all of its competitors returning an impressive stopping distance of 3.0 meters from 15 mph.
- The controllers – which pull power from the battery and funnel it to the motors – have been coupled to the underside of the deck so that their placement acts as a heat sink. As a result, all of the heat that they generate is dissipated, protecting your valuable circuitry.
- The Thunder 2 is equipped with self-healing tires. Should your tire get penetrated by something sharp, it can self-seal using tire slime and keep the air in once the object is removed. This makes regular tire maintenance a thing of the past.
- The new footrest looks amazing and the integrated taillight and brake lights are super bright and easy to see.
- The entire scooter feels solid and once the stem clamp and folding handlebars are locked into place, there are no moving parts.
- The cable management is excellent with all of the electronic and brake cables tightly packed together without any overhanging.
- Similar to the Dualtron Storm, it comes with a remote control to change the colors and patterns of the swag lights to your preferences.
- It’s important to have quick and easy control over your lights, especially those in regular use like turn signals. Luckily, the rocker switch makes it simple for you to know whether the signals are on or off.
10 Reasons NOT to Buy
- There are ultra-performance scooters that undercut the Thunder 2 substantially on price, perhaps most notably the Wolf King GT, but as with all Dualtron scooters, you pay a premium for the brand.
- The sensitive trigger throttle can make the scooter hard to control causing it to leap out in front of you while you jerk back and forth trying to maintain balance. Saying that, if you want immense instant power as soon as you feather the throttle, then the Thunder 2 will be a good fit for you.
- The degree of rotation of the handlebars and steering column is unlimited meaning that the front wheel can turn almost entirely 180-degrees. Having the rotation locked – like on the Wolf King GT or NAMI Burn-e – would give more confidence that you’re not going to jackknife.
- If you’re taller than 6 ft, you may find that the steering column is a little too short and narrow which can make the scooter feel unstable – especially at high speeds.
- As for the foldable handlebars, these don’t help much in the way of portability considering that the scooter is already exceptionally wide. I was also slightly perplexed to find that when folded, the latch on the back of the handlebars can not clip into the hook at the rear of the deck. This is because the handlebar accessories get in the way, hitting the footrest and preventing them from lowering. If you keep the handlebars unfolded, though, then they can latch to the deck.
- While you can rest your back foot on the footrest for a more aggressive riding stance, the steep angle can feel unnatural. If it bugs you, it is removable.
- For me, a rider that weighs around 175 lbs, the suspension felt stiff. On the one hand, this is great for burning rubber, but on the other, it limits the Thunder 2 to the confines of the inner city where other scooters with more responsive systems can manage both street and rugged terrain.
- The tire profile isn’t all that great for aggressively carving from side to side. As previously mentioned, though, they are primed for burning rubber on the straights.
- While the lighting setup is sure to catch eyes as it wax and wanes, the low-mounted front button lights aren’t bright enough for night rides. Instead, you need to fork out a few more bucks to pick up a headlight that can be attached to the handlebars.
- There’s no water-resistance rating, and this is disappointing as many of its competitors have them.
Further Information:
