Hiboy S2 Pro Review

Design

Handlebars

The handlebars on the S2 Pro are similar to most of the S2 range. Textured rubber grips afford good control, whilst also being resistant to wear and tear. This adds a layer of durability to the scooter, setting it apart from other cheap models (that use foam grips).

You’ll find brakes on both sides of the handlebars. The manual handbrake is on the right and this controls the rear disc brake. On the left, is the electronic thumb brake. Switching back to the right, you also have the thumb-operated accelerator. Both thumb paddles and the handbrake are smooth to operate.

It’s unusual to see dual brakes that can be operated independently on a budget scooter – they are more commonly reserved for performance scooters that boast blistering top speeds and have powerful brakes on each wheel to match. Whilst the addition of two brakes looks great, the electronic brake alone lacks the power needed to bring you to a quick stop, meaning both brakes need to be engaged.

In the centre of the handlebars, you’ll find the neatly designed LED display, which is reminiscent of the popular Xiaomi Mi 365 and keeps track of your speed, rider settings, battery level, and cruise control. At the back of the display, is a little hook that loops into the rear fender when folded for easy carrying.

Frame

Whilst the S2 Pro is in the top 23% of scooters for weight – where it is lighter than 77% of all other scooters (based on my independent research of 99 scooters) – it, unfortunately, holds the title as the heaviest scooter under the £500 mark.

This is because it is made from an aviation-grade aluminium alloy, which is pretty standard among electric scooters. However, there is a benefit to its chunkier weight and that’s enhanced durability, making the S2 Pro’s frame more than capable of dealing with the wear and tear of daily use.

In terms of design, it fashions the understated matte-black finish that has become synonymous with electric scooters.

Deck

The deck has enough room to give riders the space to find a comfortable stance without awkward feet or body positions.

Like the rest of the S2 range, the Pro has a grippy rubber matting that ensures a safe and secure cruise. Some budget scooters install flimsy grip tape material that can easily peel off, the S2 Pro is not one of those.

Here’s where things get weird…on the back of the deck, you’ll find the reinforced rear fender. The majority, if not all, entry-level scooters let you use the rear fender with a dual purpose. The first being a mudguard, and the second being a foot brake that you can stomp on in case of emergency stops. The S2 Pro’s designers clearly chose to break the established norms of entry-level scooters. Whether this is good or not, is entirely dependent on your perception. Here’s mine:

On one hand, the bracket prevents you from wearing the rear solid rubber tyre down. On the other, it requires a change of riding behaviour – especially if you’ve previously ridden a scooter and used the foot brake. Ultimately, the S2 Pro forces you to adopt a new riding style which makes it less easy to ride straight off the bat. I also have concerns about how much weight the metal bracket can hold – I haven’t tested this but I’d imagine that, under a considerable amount of pressure, the rear bracket could become squished and collapsed in on itself causing it to rub against the tyre.

Wheels

Despite the honeycomb design, there is little cushioning from the 10 inch solid tyres. The S2 Pro is, therefore, confined to smooth urban roads and pavements. This especially holds true when pushing the S2 Pro to its peak performance – anything other than pristine riding conditions will leave your wrists vibrating and knees shaking.

There is one upside to solid tyres, though. They are puncture-proof, so you can forget about frustrating flats and tyre changes. However, solid tyres do tend to wear after a while. Nevertheless, the reinforced rear fender takes care of eliminating this as much as possible.

Build Quality & Durability

Overall, the S2 Pro is durable and robust – the aviation-grade aluminium alloy holds up against the pressures of daily use. However, you do need to be careful not to take on any hard hits to the underside of the deck since the battery is stored here.

It’s also worth noting that the frame is sealed with an IP54 water-resistant rating, making it one of the scooters to fall into the 40% of those that are protected from the rain. This will give you a level of reassurance to know that if your scooter does take on a few splashes that it will be protected. But, as with all electric scooters, I don’t advise riding in the rain.

Weight & Load

As previously mentioned, the S2 Pro is in the top 23% of scooters for weight – where it is lighter than 77% of all other models (based on my independent research of 99 scooters) – but, it, unfortunately, holds the title as the heaviest scooter under the £500 mark.

At 16.5 kg the S2 Pro can still be picked up and carried with relative ease – though, carrying it around for long periods will be a drag.

In terms of load, the S2 Pro does very well. It carries over 7 times its weight (118 kg), which is truly quite impressive. It is ideal for heavier riders and those on the cusp of the standard 100 kg weight limit seen on most scooters.

Folding & Portability

The S2 Pro manages to fold in 3 simple steps. First, flip down the folding locking lever, then collapse the stem, and click the hook on the back of the handlebars to the latch on the rear fender. The result is a compact and secure scooter that's perfect for stowing away at home, in the office or the boot of a car.

It’s also worth pointing out that the stem has a thin diameter making it easy to hold.

Assembly

Just like the rest of the S2 range, the Pro is straightforward to assemble.

You just need to attach the handlebars to the stem and put 4 screws in with the Allen wrench. All the tools you need for assembly are included in the box.

Ride Quality

Is the Hiboy S2 Pro Comfortable to Ride?

Whilst the S2 Pro has been equipped with dual rear shock absorbers, there’s no substitute for the solid 10 inch tyres. You can confidently glide over smooth urban roads and pavements with ease but as soon as you up the ante, and put the pedal to the metal, the solid tyres’ weaknesses are laid bare as your wrists vibrate, knees shake, and brain rattles.

As with all my reviews, I like to show you the good and bad, so with that in mind, let’s take a look at the former.

The addition of the cruise control function – which has now become a standard feature for electric scooters – means you can give your thumb a rest and enjoy the scenery around you. Plus, if you want a more relaxed ride, there is the option to add a detachable seat.

For those of you looking to explore beyond the confounds of pristine riding environments, you might want to consider the Turboant X7 Pro, or if you can afford to splash the cash, the Horizon 10.4 or Apollo Light for a superior riding experience.

Performance & Safety

Speed & Acceleration

With a top speed of 19 mph – when in ‘Sport’ mode – the S2 Pro is up there with the fastest of the budget scooters. It also has a surprisingly nippy acceleration rate. For example, 0-15 mph takes just 6.2 seconds, compared to the Turboant X7 Pro’s 9.1 seconds.

If you are looking to zip around your local neighbourhood, then the speeds of the S2 Pro might just be what you need.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a relaxing ride or have a long commute where you need to make use of the 25 mile range, the ‘Comfort’ mode, which caps your speed at 13 mph, will come in very handy. You simply need to double-tap the button on the LED dashboard to change between the rider settings – red light for ‘Sport’, and green for ‘Comfort’.

With three clicks on the button, you can activate cruise control which gives an extra level of comfort and ease to your ride.

Range

A full battery and economic riding give you a maximum range of 25 miles.

However, it is unlikely that you will hit the max range every time you ride. The 25 mile stat is based on a best-case scenario – all electric scooters use the maximum range spec to advertise their scooters. The best-case scenario often includes a 75 kg rider and the scooter being ridden in the lowest speed setting on flat terrain. Realistically, if you ride the scooter at full speeds, you can expect between 12 and 14 miles.

Hill Climbing

The 350W motor has enough torque to push the S2 Pro up the majority of gradual inclines.

If you weigh towards the upper end of the 118 kg weight limit, the scooter will crawl sluggishly up the more challenging inclines.

For a single motor scooter that costs less than £500, the S2 Pro does surprisingly well.

Shock Absorption / Suspension

Hiboy has fitted the S2 Pro with two rear spring shock absorbers, but they leave you wanting more. The solid tyres are at fault here. They have no ‘give’, meaning they can’t effectively soak up cracks, bumps, and lumps in the terrain underfoot. This is highlighted further when compared to the likes of the Turbaont X7 Pro which has big, plush 10 inch air-filled tyres, and the Horizon 10.4 which sports a superior spring and hydraulic suspension system.

The S2 Pro will be better equipped if Hiboy moved one of the springs to the front of the scooter. The front wheel is always the first to feel the impact from the ground below.

Braking

The S2 Pro flaunts an electric thumb brake on the left and a manual handbrake (that operates the rear disc brake) on the right. When combined, the S2 Pro has effective stopping power. The same can’t be said for the use of just the electronic brake, though – it is weak and slow to reduce momentum.

Despite the weak electronic brake, Hiboy has done a good job to include two braking systems. Some scooters, even premium ones like the Unagi Model One, rely on electronic braking. Yet, a glaring oversight is that if the scooter’s battery cuts out and power is lost, then the brake no longer works. Because the S2 Pro has a mechanical disc brake, you’re always in control.

Charge Time

In 6 hours you can go from empty to full. This is reasonably standard for the size of the battery and range on offer.

As we’ve seen with other Hiboy models, like the S2 Lite, the charging port is, unusually, located at the top of the handlebar post as opposed to in the deck, where the battery is stored. The upside of this is greater protection from the elements (i.e. rain).

Extra Features

LED Panel

The Hiboy’s frame is almost a replica of the popular Xiaomi Mi 365, and this extends to the LED dashboard. Located neatly in the centre of the handlebars, the dashboard sports a sleek aesthetic that is hard to come by on budget scooters.

Aside from looking cool, the dashboard shows your speed and battery level as well as indicator lights for your chosen speed setting (red for ‘Sport’ and green for ‘Comfort’). It also shows you the status of the LED lights and cruise control function (i.e. on/off).

Compared to other budget scooters, like the GoTrax Apex – which is plagued by a dark screen that is hard to see in direct sunlight – S2 Pro’s dashboard is bright and easy to read.

LED Lights

Coming home late from work or going for a nighttime ride shouldn’t pose a problem with the bright LED headlight. It has a maximum range of up to 15 meters, but as with most scooters, I’d recommend investing in a more powerful lighting setup if you plan on regular excursions at night.

The integrated tail light is another nice feature that keeps those behind you alert to your whereabouts.

Cruise Control

Simply tap the button below the LED dashboard three times in a row to turn cruise control on, relax your thumbs, and enjoy coasting. Whilst this function makes for a fun riding experience, it also promotes a more economical use of battery power and therefore, prolongs battery life.

Pressing the button three times can be slightly awkward, especially if you find yourself riding over bumpy terrain. So a slight improvement would be if the cruise control automatically kicked into action after a sustained period of constant speed – like on all GoTrax scooters.

Mobile App

The mobile app is a modern feature that you don’t see too often. It allows you to see real-time riding statistics and keep track of battery power. I’ll let you in on a little secret – you can even adjust acceleration strength and the responsiveness of the electronic brake.

It is available on both iOS and Android. You simply download the app then pair it via Bluetooth which is quick and easy.

The app is a nice-to-have feature but certainly not a need-to-have. It’s the cherry on top of the cake.

Digital Lock

The S2 Pro packs a digital lock to bolster security. It certainly ups the ante when compared to its main rival, the Turboant X7 Pro, but misses a trick when compared to the GoTrax G4, which not only matches the S2 Pro with a digital lock but also sports an in-built cable lock for enhanced security.

Once enabled, the throttle will be disengaged and the front tyre will lock into place – preventing someone from pushing it away. However, let’s not forget that the scooter only weighs 16.5 kg so if a thief wanted your scooter, they could still pick it up and run.

With this in mind, I’d recommend investing in a physical lock or opting for the GoTrax G4.

Bell

The bell, found on the right side of the handlebars, between the accelerator and handbrake, is a simple addition but does what it pledges – gives pedestrians a heads up as you glide by.

Water-Resistance Rating

If you find yourself caught in the rain, you needn’t panic thanks to the IP54 water-resistance rating.

While this may appear like a feature you would come to expect to find on an electric scooter, my independent research of 99 scooters shows that 60% of models don’t have official water-resistant certifications.

Despite its protection against water splashes, I don’t advise riding in the rain. The slick, solid rubber tyres have almost no traction when used in subpar conditions.

Optional Seat Attachment

What differentiates the S2 Pro from other scooters in its price bracket is the option to attach a seat.

The next best seated scooter is the WideWheel Pro which costs £755 more.

Warranty & Post-Purchase Support

Warranty

The S2 Pro comes with a 12-month warranty that covers scooter defects from the date of purchase. Hiboy only covers purchases of the S2 Pro when ordered from Hiboy directly or any other authorized distributors and retailers, so I would suggest doing your research before ordering.

After replacing a defective item, the warranty remains for the same timeframe as the original defective item.

The S2 Pro also comes with a 30 day returns policy if you are not satisfied with your scooter (providing it is unused).

Post-Purchase Support

Hiboy states that they “respond to emails within 24 hours”. However, as mentioned in my other reviews of Hiboy scooters, I found that this 24-hour reply window was not met. I’ve previously waited for over a month for a reply despite having reviewed their scooters.

To get in touch with them, email us.support@hiboy.com or use the contact form on the Hiboy website.

Make sure you include your scooter's serial number when contacting Hiboy with any issues, this can be found under the deck.

See What the Hiboy S2 Pro Has to Offer

From close-ups of the frame to feature highlights, discover whether the S2 Pro is right for you.