MAXSHOT V1 Electric Scooter Review: a light commuter scooter that keeps things simple

I’ve been using this MAXSHOT V1 electric scooter (350W, 21-mile version, orange accents) as my daily runaround for short trips: going to the train, grabbing groceries, and random errands in the neighborhood. I’m not sponsored, I paid for it myself, and I went in expecting something in between a kid’s scooter and the big $800+ commuter scooters. That’s pretty much what I got: a compact adult scooter that’s decent for short to medium rides, with a few compromises you should know about.

The first thing that stood out was the weight and size. At around 31 lbs, it’s light enough that I can carry it up a flight of stairs without wanting to throw it out the window. It folds quickly and doesn’t eat up much space in the hallway or under a desk. If you live in an apartment or take public transport, that matters more than fancy specs. On that front, it does the job well.

In terms of riding, it’s not a rocket and it’s not a toy either. With the 350W motor, it gets up to around 18–19 mph on flat ground for me (I’m about 175 lbs), but you do feel it slow down on inclines. It’s clearly built for city streets and bike paths, not for steep hills or rough off-road stuff. If you’re expecting motorcycle-level punch, this isn’t it.

Overall, my first impression after a couple of weeks was: pretty solid commuter tool with some trade-offs. The portability, solid tires, and dual brakes are the strong points. On the downside, the ride can feel a bit harsh on bad pavement, the real-life range is under the advertised 21 miles if you’re heavier or ride fast, and the app is more of a bonus than something you actually need. It’s not perfect, but for the price bracket it sits in, it’s fairly honest about what it can and can’t do.

In terms of value, this scooter sits in a sweet spot for people who want something better than a toy but cheaper than premium brands. It’s not the least expensive scooter on the market, but considering the motor power, dual brakes, solid tires, suspension, and app connectivity, you do get a fair amount for what you pay. You’re basically paying for a reliable daily commuter rather than bells and whistles.

Compared to some cheaper no-name models I’ve seen around the same price, the MAXSHOT feels a bit more thought-out. The folding mechanism is sturdier, the brake setup is better, and the solid honeycomb tires mean fewer headaches down the line. On the other hand, if you bump up your budget by a couple hundred, you start getting into scooters with more powerful motors, bigger batteries, and sometimes better ride comfort. So this one is kind of in the middle: good value if you stay in its use case, average value if you want something more versatile.

Where it shines for value is for students and commuters who mainly ride on flat or mildly hilly routes and want low maintenance. You don’t need to worry about flats, the battery is enough for daily trips, and it’s light enough to carry around. If you’re heavier, live in a very hilly city, or want to do long rides every weekend, then you might outgrow this scooter pretty fast and wish you’d gone for a more powerful model.

So overall, I’d say it offers good value for money if you: keep your rides under 10–12 miles most days, mostly deal with decent pavement, and care about portability as much as speed. If that’s your situation, it gets the job done without draining your bank account. If you’re expecting premium performance or comfort at this price, you’ll probably be a bit underwhelmed.

The design is pretty straightforward: matte black frame with orange accents on this specific V1NEW-21Miles-350W-Orange style. It doesn’t scream for attention, which I liked. It looks like a regular commuter scooter, not a toy, and not some flashy racing thing. The deck is long enough for me to stand with one foot in front of the other comfortably (I’m 5'10"), but it’s not huge. If you have big feet, you’ll be a bit more conscious about foot placement but it’s still workable.

The folding mechanism is simple: pull the latch, drop the stem, and it hooks onto the rear fender. It really does fold in a few seconds once you get the hang of it. The latch feels decently secure; I didn’t have any wobbling issues while riding, which is something that bothered me with a cheaper no-name scooter I had before. That one always felt like the stem was about to collapse. Here, the stem feels more solid, even though the scooter is pretty light.

Handlebars are fixed-width and not adjustable in height. That’s one thing to keep in mind: if you’re very tall (say 6'3" and above), it might feel a bit low and not super ergonomic. For me, the height is fine. The grips are basic rubber, nothing fancy but they don’t slip and they’re not too hard. The brake lever and throttle feel basic but functional. No premium feel here, but also nothing that feels like it’s going to fall apart on day three.

One design point I appreciated is the built-in headlight and rear reflector. The headlight is mounted high enough to actually be useful, not on the fender where it just lights up the front wheel. It’s not car-level bright, but for city streets at night, it helps you see and be seen. Overall, the design is practical and a bit no-frills. It looks fine, doesn’t feel cheap, but it’s clearly built to hit a price point, not to impress design nerds.

The brand claims up to 21 miles of range for this 350W V1 version. As usual, that’s in perfect conditions: light rider, flat ground, eco mode, and probably gentle acceleration. In my case, riding mostly in normal or sport mode, with some small hills and stop-and-go traffic, I’m seeing more like 12–15 miles per charge. That’s still decent, but you should not plan a 20-mile round trip at full speed and expect it to get you home comfortably.

To give you an idea, on a typical day I do a 4–6 mile round trip (train station, grocery, random detours). After that, the battery is usually around 60–70%. When I push it harder, doing closer to 10 miles with more hills and higher speed, I end up near 25–30% battery. So if you ride like I do (not babying it, but not full throttle nonstop either), 15 miles is a realistic safe range. Heavier riders or very hilly routes will get less.

Charging time is another point to consider. From almost empty to full, it takes around 5–6 hours with the included charger. So this is more of an overnight or workday charging situation. You’re not going to top it up from near-zero during a quick lunch break and be back to full. The charger itself is compact and doesn’t heat up like crazy, which is reassuring.

Battery indicator accuracy is okay but not perfect. It shows bars, and like many scooters, the first bars drop slower, and the last ones vanish faster, especially if you’re in sport mode. You definitely feel the scooter lose a bit of top speed once the battery goes under 30–40%. Overall, the battery is fine for daily commuting and errands, as long as you’re honest with yourself and assume a realistic range closer to 12–15 miles instead of the marketing 21 miles unless you ride very gently.

Comfort-wise, this scooter is a bit of a mixed bag. It has dual suspension and 8.5" honeycomb solid tires, which sounds good on the product page. In reality, the suspension helps a bit, but don’t expect a plush ride. On decent asphalt or bike paths, the ride is smooth enough and you don’t think about it too much. Once you hit cracked roads, rough patches, or brick sidewalks, you start feeling a lot more of the bumps than you might expect from the marketing description.

The solid tires are really the main reason for that. They’re great because you don’t worry about flats, but they don’t absorb shocks like air-filled tires. Compared to a friend’s scooter with pneumatic tires, mine definitely feels harder, especially at higher speeds. On my daily route there’s a stretch with old, patched-up asphalt and I automatically slow down there now, just to avoid my knees and wrists taking a beating. The suspension softens it a bit, but it doesn’t erase the problem.

Standing position is okay for medium-length rides. I’ve done 30–40 minute trips without feeling destroyed, but after about an hour of riding in one go, my legs start to feel it, mainly from keeping balance over bumps. The deck grip is good, so at least your feet don’t slide around. The slight downside is the narrow-ish deck; you can stand comfortably, but there’s not a lot of room to shift your stance dramatically if you get tired.

Noise-wise, the scooter is relatively quiet. You hear a bit of motor whine at higher speeds, and some rattling when the road is bad, but nothing crazy. Overall, I’d say comfort is acceptable for city commuting and short to medium trips. If your streets are smooth and you mostly use bike lanes, you’ll be fine. If your city is full of potholes and rough surfaces, you’ll feel them, and you might want to consider a model with air tires or beefier suspension instead.

After a few weeks of regular use, the scooter still feels structurally solid. The aluminum frame doesn’t flex in a scary way, and the folding joint hasn’t loosened up, which is something I was watching closely. I’ve folded and unfolded it at least a couple of times per day, carrying it up stairs and into trains, and there’s no noticeable play in the stem yet. That’s a good sign for long-term durability of the core structure.

The parts that feel more budget are the smaller components: plastic fender, some of the cable routing, and the finish on the deck edges. Nothing has broken so far, but you can tell where they saved costs. The rear fender, for example, is fine, but if you’re rough with it or use it as a step, I can see it cracking over time. Same for the kickstand: it works, but it’s not the beefiest piece of metal I’ve seen. You just have to treat it like a commuter tool, not a stunt scooter.

The solid tires are a big plus for durability. No tubes, no flats, no checking tire pressure. I’ve rolled over glass bits and rough patches without worrying about punctures. The trade-off is comfort, like I said before, but in terms of not getting stranded with a flat, it’s worth it. For someone who doesn’t want to deal with tire maintenance, this is one of the main perks.

Weather-wise, I’ve ridden it through light rain and wet roads without any immediate issues. I wouldn’t leave it parked outside in a storm or ride through deep puddles since the water resistance rating isn’t clearly advertised. Also, the brand offers a 1-year warranty (180 days for parts), which is decent but not stellar. I haven’t had to use customer service yet, so I can’t comment on how responsive they are beyond what other reviewers say. Overall, I’d call the durability pretty solid for the price, as long as you don’t abuse it and you understand that some small parts are on the cheaper side.

Let’s talk performance in real life, not just on the box. With the 350W motor, the scooter reaches about 18–19 mph on flat ground in top mode with my 175 lb weight. If you’re lighter, you might actually see the full 19 mph more often. Acceleration is smooth but not aggressive. It builds speed at a reasonable pace, not a sudden jolt, which is good if you’re new to e-scooters or riding in crowded areas. If you’re looking for that strong kick when you hit the throttle, you’ll probably find it a bit tame.

On small inclines, it holds up fine, but on steeper hills you definitely feel it bog down. There’s a hill on my route where it drops from around 16–17 mph down to 9–10 mph. It doesn’t stop, but you’re crawling compared to flat ground. If you live in a very hilly city, I’d seriously think about the 500W version instead, or another scooter with more torque. For mostly flat suburbs or city centers, though, the 350W is acceptable.

The braking is one of the strong points. It has a drum brake plus electronic braking (EABS). Together, they stop you quickly without locking the wheel too violently. I tested a few emergency stops from top speed on dry pavement, and it felt controlled, no scary skids. On wet roads, you still need to be careful like on any scooter, but the setup inspires more confidence than single electronic brakes I’ve tried on cheaper models.

The app adds a few performance tweaks like setting speed limits and cruise control. Cruise control actually works well on longer straight stretches; after a few seconds at a stable speed, it holds it for you until you tap the brake or throttle again. It’s not essential, but it’s a small comfort on longer rides. Overall, performance is good enough for everyday commuting, but not mind-blowing. It’s clearly tuned for stability and ease of use rather than raw power.

On paper, this scooter looks packed: 350W motor, up to 19 mph, up to 21 miles of range, 8.5" honeycomb solid tires, dual suspension, dual braking, app support, and a 264 lb weight limit. In reality, you need to read those numbers with a bit of skepticism. I’d say it’s a light to mid-range commuter scooter, not some high-performance beast, and that’s how I judged it during my use.

Out of the box, assembly was straightforward. The handlebar goes on, a few screws, and you’re done in maybe 10–15 minutes if you’re not in a rush. The package includes the charger and basic tools. No extra gadgets or fancy accessories, just what you need to get rolling. The instructions are clear enough, though the app part is a bit rushed in the manual. I had to fiddle a bit to find the right app and get it to connect, but once paired, it stayed connected.

In daily use, the scooter offers three main ride modes (basically eco, normal, and sport). I found myself using the middle and top modes most of the time. Eco is fine if you’re just crawling in dense pedestrian areas, but for normal commuting it feels a bit too slow. The LED screen shows speed, battery bars, and mode clearly enough even in daylight, and the controls (throttle on the right, brake lever on the left) are standard and easy to get used to.

So in practice, what you’re getting is a compact city scooter that covers short to medium commutes, with some smart features (app, cruise control) that are nice but not essential. If you want huge range or serious hill climbing, you’ll have to look at bigger, more expensive models, maybe even the 500W/MAX versions from the same brand. But if you just need something to replace a bus ride or a 20–30 minute walk, this one sits in a reasonable middle ground.