Unagi Model One E500 E-Scooter Review: Classy Commuter

“Meticulously engineered, the Unagi is a scooter that makes a press release.”

• Trendy, stylish seems to be
• Loaded with considerate options
• Rugged development
• Adaptable energy for various ability ranges

• Costly for its high velocity and vary

There are many competent e-scooters from firms corresponding to Bird, Xiaomi, and Razor at half the value or lower than Unagi’s Mannequin One E500. No different fashions, nonetheless, mix the Unagi‘s refined design, construct high quality, and rider options. Whenever you promote a private transportation system for just below $1,000 in opposition to a robust line-up of rivals that exit the door for $350 to $500, you’d higher ship on all counts and over-deliver the place it issues. And that’s precisely what Unagi does with the Mannequin One.

Unagi sells the Mannequin One E500 with twin 250-watt 16-Newton-meter electrical motors, one on every wheel, for $990. The Mannequin One E250 has a single motor on the entrance wheel and prices $840. For my part, in case you’re already paying a premium worth for the Mannequin One’s design and construct high quality, the additional $150 is well worth the worth for the additional torque. Unagi charges the E250 to deal with 6-degree grades, however the E500 can deal with 15-degree hills.

I examined a grey Unagi Mannequin One E500. The E250 and E500 are additionally out there in Matte Black, Scarlet Hearth, Cosmic Blue, or Sea Salt, a really gentle grey. In order for you even higher customization, Unagi sells the Mannequin One E500 dual-motor model for $1,290 with many premium {custom} end choices. The corporate will even work with you if you wish to use your personal design in your scooter end.

The Mannequin One’s deal with folds with a intelligent one-finger launch and locks in place for straightforward carrying. The E500 weighs simply 26.5 kilos, which provides to its attractiveness for city commuting, particularly if you need to take care of stairways.

Construct and development

Spec sheets for a lot of e-scooters learn just about the identical, however the Mannequin One stands out. Rigorously chosen element supplies, intuitive working controls, and cleverly designed distinctive options make the Unagi particular. From its magnesium alloy handlebar to custom-designed stable rubber tires with integral air-suspension, each a part of the Mannequin One is a bragging level. Even the distinctive peek-a-boo kickstand, often an ungainly add-on if current in any respect, is a intelligent practical element. Disguised as a superbly practical mid-range electrical scooter, the Unagi Mannequin One is micromobility artwork.

However the Mannequin One doesn’t emphasize kind over operate. Each design and element resolution improves this e-scooter’s energy, boosts efficiency, or improves the consumer expertise.

Let’s begin on the backside. The Mannequin One’s deck is a single piece of machined aluminum for gentle weight with no compromise in rigidity, and coated with embedded silicon for traction.

The Unagi’s custom-designed 7.5-inch stable rubber wheels can’t go flat, since you don’t fill these tires with air. As a substitute, skinny cutouts within the wheel deform while you roll over obstacles, smoothing out the trip similar to a traditional tire.

Bowing to each know-how and custom, the Mannequin One has two braking methods. Each wheels have digital anti-lock brakes with variable power controls. Traditionalists can activate a friction brake on the rear wheel by stepping a heel on the rear fender.

The E500’s 250-watt entrance and rear wheel motors mix for 500 watts operation with a 1,000-watt peak. In addition they ship loads of torque for typical flat city streets. The motors’ neodymium magnets are protected against overheating with a steady monitoring system. There are three operational modes: Eco, advisable for novices, limits the highest velocity to 9-to-11 miles per hour; Customary ups the max to 11-to-13 mph; and Professional enables you to take the Mannequin One to its rated 15-to 17 mph high finish. Single and twin motor Mannequin One variations have the identical high velocity, however the doubled torque with the E500 will get you there sooner and handles inclines higher. These speeds work nicely for city commuting, although you may want a sooner high finish in case you’re using in suburbs or rural areas. Chances are you’ll discover the 20 mph most velocity score on the Unagi web site — there’s a rumored handlebar button code that removes the velocity governor. I left it inventory, and hit as much as 16 mph most throughout my take a look at rides.

As with all e-scooters and e-bikes, the Unagi’s high velocity will differ on account of many components, together with incline, temperature, and rider weight. Whereas typical e-scooters state 225-pound weight limits for rider and cargo, the Mannequin One can carry as much as 275 kilos, a tribute to the e-scooter’s deck energy and motor torque.

A 9,000mAh lithium-ion battery delivers on the said vary of 15.5 miles per cost, which varies principally by velocity, incline, and rider weight.  Once more, it’s ample for typical city use, and at 26.5 kilos, the Unagi is gentle sufficient to lug right into a constructing and recharge in the course of the workday — it solely takes 4 to 5 hours.

Unique supplies assist preserve that weight down; Unagi claims the TORAY carbon fiber used within the Unagi’s light-weight tube is identical used to construct Elon Musk’s House-X rockets, and the handlebars are made from magnesium alloy. When it’s time to fold it up, the patented single-button folding mechanism works easily and holds securely.

The handlebar holds the scooter’s throttle and brakes, horn, gentle management, and the drive and mode management buttons.

Along with facet reflectors on each wheels, the Mannequin One has a 47-lumen LED entrance gentle and a rear crimson LED. Within the pictures above, you possibly can see the Unagi Mannequin One E500’s entrance and rear LEDs very early one morning on my avenue, for comparability, parked between a Juiced Bikes Scorpion and a Tremendous 73 S1.

Driving it

In contrast to a number of the fat-tire e-bikes I’ve examined, I wasn’t focused on taking the Unagi off-road or on the seashores the place we stay in North Carolina. As a substitute, I sought expertise using round city and in our neighborhood to see how the E500 measured up as handy metropolis transportation.

You’ll be able to select to drive the E500 with just one motor or with each motors engaged, which delivers an additional dose of torque, that twisty energy that scoots you on top of things and up hills. Battery vary and high velocity are the identical whatever the chosen drive configuration, so there’s not a lot incentive to cruise at half energy.

Eco mode is a pleasant possibility for freshmen to remain below 11 mph, however I rapidly grew to become hooked on the pull of Professional mode. With each motors in play, you must be prepared for this machine to take off. It’s additionally a mini wake-up-call the primary couple of occasions.

The E500 speeds proper as much as about 13 to 14 mph rapidly, then builds to its most velocity of 17 mph at a extra leisurely tempo. Fifteen miles per hour feels sooner on a scooter than on an e-bike, however it isn’t all that quick, and I discovered it straightforward to keep up in consolation. The tremendous clean throttle and brake encourage confidence and set the Unagi aside. Many e-bikes have uneven throttles and brakes that appear to slam between all on and all off, which may result in unexpectedly abrupt velocity adjustments. I additionally was happy to seek out that the solid-rubber-with-air-vents tires did certainly clean the trip.

As with all light-weight two-wheelers, route adjustments are straightforward — typically too straightforward. Driving in our neighborhood early in my testing, I noticed our mail service stopped in her automobile on the alternative facet of the street. I smiled and waved, and once I did, I rapidly discovered myself grateful for the Unagi’s antilock digital brakes as a result of I nearly bumped into her door. The Mannequin One is ideal as a look-to-steer automobile, however you need to be prepared for it to shift route with even small physique weight shifts. Once more, as soon as I used to be used to the e-scooter’s responsiveness, the Unagi’s stable element construction helped with carving turns and staying exactly on the specified line of journey.

Our take

The Unagi Mannequin One E500 is a gorgeous, fashionable e-scooter with an understated look — no less than with a medium grey end. Transporting the E500 is a breeze, and its granular controls and stable, responsive trip rapidly encourage confidence. This trip performs its design operate completely. It’s not a high-performance scooter, and would quickly be out of its component in nearly all off-road conditions. Nevertheless it’s not constructed to race or trip within the tough. The Unagi Mannequin One is an aesthetic, refined city commuter. The Mannequin One prices greater than you must spend on an e-scooter with related velocity and vary specs, however it’s undoubtedly price the additional price. Whereas I had the Unagi, I significantly thought-about displaying it as artwork in our house.

Is there a greater various?

There are many nice e-scooters good that may hit 17 mph and go 15 miles. The Razor EX-R Electrical Scooter lists for $600 and is usually on sale for $500 or a bit much less. The Segway Ninebot ES2 Electrical Kick Scooter additionally lists for about $600 with frequent reductions. The Razor and Segway are nice metropolis commuter bikes with vary and high velocity much like the Unagi Mannequin One, although they lack its torque and have a lowered load capability of 220 kilos, to the Unagi’s 275. Take into account them acceptable alternate options in case you’re on a strict finances, however the Unagi is best general and price the additional few hundred {dollars}.

How lengthy will it final?

Unagi sells the Mannequin one with a one-year guarantee. Through the first three months of possession, Unagi will substitute the scooter with a model new scooter. For the remaining 9 months of the guarantee interval, Unagi will substitute or restore at its discretion. Unagi’s 30-day trial means you possibly can return the scooter undamaged or blemished in its unique packing materials for a full refund, however you’ll pay delivery. With the Mannequin One’s thoughtfully curated parts, we count on it is best to benefit from the trip for a number of years.

Do you have to purchase one?

Sure. In order for you a high-quality e-scooter that’s straightforward to move and exudes construct high quality and design magnificence (even in case you’re the one one who notices), the Unagi Mannequin One E500 is a wonderful funding that may take you round city and look good doing it.

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