Horwin EK3 electric scooter.

[Throttled]

West Coast Harley Davidson in Glasgow sell Horwin electric scooters, and since they have a EK3 as a demonstrator, and I have never ridden a scooter, I though, why not?

 

https://www.horwin.eu/ek3/

 

It is rated as a 125cc (the EK1 is rated as a 50cc), so it can be ridden after completing a CBT on L plates. The specifications are that it will top out at 60mph and in the lowest power mode, it will allegedly do 60 miles on a charge. There are three power modes, the lowest tops out at 29mph, the middle one is ideal for around town and should do for about 50 miles, so you can go 25 miles from home without having to charge to get back. Charging is with an adapter that just plugs into a wall socket and it takes maybe 4 hours to charge. The batteries can be taken out of the bike to charge in the house, or plug into a socket in the footwell.

 

The key is a proximity fob, so you have that in your pocket, walk up to the bike and switch it on. There is an alarm, a side stand, a centre stand, cruise control and even a reverse, which you do not need, as it feels as light as a bicycle. That surprised me, as I associate batteries with weight. It is quite compact, I have size 9 feet and cannot fit them in the footwell without having to splay them out like a duck. The seat is huge and I found it comfortable. The mirrors are hopeless, far too narrow. The brakes were excellent and engine braking, which is not regenerative, is also very good. It will not even coast downhill, it slows down. There is a bag hook and a small amount of storage under the seat. The centre stand is good, as it is chain driven, so you will need to keep that chain clean and lubed.

 

Initial performance is better than me on my YBR125 as you just take off. 0 to 30mph is quite rapid, but then it needed a run to get to the maximum 59mph I achieved. It is fine around town in power modes 2 and 3, but power mode 1 leaves you feeling a bit lost. The smaller EK1, 50cc equivalent is like power mode 1 and even on 30mph roads, it is not enough.

 

It is very nimble and flickable, great fun to ride. The ride itself is fine over the bumps, which I think is as much to do with the very large padded seat. It makes a nice electric whine noise, so no worries that people will not hear you.

 

I got lots of looks riding it around Renfrew, obviously everyone was very jealous. Electric is the future and I think the future is about fun personal transport. West Coast will sell you one for £4198. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[onesea]

Great review one question, compared with your 125cc how did it pull up hills?

[MikeHorton]

Great little Commuter mate

[Throttled]

23 hours ago, onesea said:

Great review one question, compared with your 125cc how did it pull up hills?

 

About the same, but is feels easier and quicker, because all the power is on tap all the time with an electric motor.