Kukirin G4 Electric Scooter Review: a chunky long‑range beast for daily rides and rough paths

I’ve been riding the Kukirin G4 for a bit now, using it mainly for commuting and some weekend rides on gravel paths. I’m not a pro rider, just someone who’s fed up with traffic and buses. So I’ll keep it simple: this thing is a big, heavy scooter that focuses on power and range more than on being cute or super portable. If you expect a light city toy, that’s not it.

The first impression when you unbox it is: “ok, this is serious hardware”. It’s way bulkier than the usual 350–500W rental scooters. The deck is wide, the stem is thick, the 11-inch tyres look more like something from a small moped than a classic scooter. Right away you get the feeling it’s built for speed and bumpy roads, not for carrying it up three floors every day.

In daily use, I’ve mostly used it for a 10–15 km round trip on mixed roads: normal tarmac, some rough cycle paths with cracks, a short steep hill and the occasional patch of wet ground. I also pushed it a bit one weekend on a slightly muddy park path just to see how those “all-terrain” tyres behave. I didn’t do crazy jumps or hardcore off-road, just normal abuse from someone who doesn’t baby their gear.

Overall, it does what the listing says: strong motor, long range, decent comfort with the dual suspension. But it’s not perfect. It’s heavy, charging is long, and you need to respect it because the acceleration is not forgiving for beginners. If you’re looking for a scooter to throw in the trunk or carry on the train every day, I’d think twice. If you want something strong for medium to long distances and you don’t mind the weight, it starts to make sense.

In terms of value, I’d say the Kukirin G4 makes sense for a specific type of user. You’re paying for a big battery, strong motor, and solid suspension. If you just need a scooter for short flat trips at low speed, this is overkill and you’re basically wasting money and dealing with extra weight for nothing. A smaller, cheaper 350W scooter would do the job and be easier to carry and store.

Where it starts to look like good value is if you actually use what it offers: longer rides, bad roads, and some hills. Compared to other scooters with similar specs (high voltage, big battery, all-terrain tyres), the G4 sits in a fairly competitive range. You get dual disc brakes, tubeless tyres, dual suspension, and a claimed 75 km max range. Those are features you usually see on more serious models, not entry-level ones. So on a pure features-for-price basis, it’s pretty solid.

That said, it’s not perfect. The long 10–11 hour charge time is a real compromise. There’s no fast charging system included, and that’s something I’d expect some users to want at this level. Also, the weight and bulk limit where and how you can store it. If you live in a small flat without a lift, hauling this up and down stairs will get old fast. So the "value" really depends on your living situation and how you plan to use it.

Personally, if I compare it to smaller scooters I’ve owned, I feel like I’m getting more real-world usefulness: I can ride further, I’m less worried about potholes, and hills are no longer a problem. For me, that makes the price feel justified. But if someone told me they mostly ride 2–3 km on smooth bike lanes and need to carry the scooter into an office every day, I’d tell them to look at something lighter and cheaper. The Kukirin G4 is more like a compact electric vehicle than a casual last-mile gadget, and you should buy it with that mindset.

Design-wise, the Kukirin G4 goes for a very straightforward look: mostly black, chunky frame, big tyres. It’s not trying to be sleek or pretty. I’d describe it as “industrial scooter”. If you’re into minimal Apple-like style, this won’t impress you. But if you like gear that looks tough and purposeful, you’ll probably like it. The hybrid steel + aluminum frame feels stiff, and there’s almost no flex in the deck or stem when you ride, even if you’re close to the 120 kg limit.

The deck is wide enough to stand comfortably with one foot sideways and the other slightly behind. That matters on longer rides; you can shift your stance a bit without hanging your toes off the edge. The handlebar height at about 129.5 cm is fine for most adults. I’m around average height and I felt comfortable. People much shorter might find it a bit tall, but it’s better than the opposite. The handlebar is fixed, which keeps things stable but means no height adjustment.

The folding mechanism is fairly standard: you unlock, fold the stem down, and it clips for carrying or storage. It works, but because of the weight and size, I’d say it’s “foldable for the car trunk or hallway”, not “foldable to carry up to your flat every day”. Folding and unfolding take less than a minute once you’ve done it a couple of times. It feels secure when locked; I didn’t notice any wobble at the hinge while riding, which is key for confidence at higher speeds.

Overall, the design is clearly focused on stability and performance, not on being compact and cute. The 11-inch tyres fill out the look and give it a bit of a mini-motorbike vibe. Personally, I liked the serious, no-nonsense style, but it’s not discreet. People will stare a bit, especially when you accelerate. If you want something that disappears under a desk and looks like every rental scooter, this isn’t that. If you want a solid platform you feel safe on at speed, the design choices make sense.

The 60V 20Ah battery is one of the main selling points here, and you can feel it in real use. The brand claims up to 75 km of range. As always, that’s in ideal conditions: light rider, eco mode, flat roads, no wind. In my more realistic mix (around 80 kg rider, normal roads with some hills, mostly middle and high speed modes), I was getting roughly 40–50 km before I started getting nervous about the remaining battery. That’s still solid for this kind of scooter.

If you stick to the slower mode and ride more calmly, I can believe you could push closer to 60 km. Hitting 75 km would mean really taking it easy and probably being lighter than me. But even at 40–50 km, for most people that’s several days of commuting without charging, or a long weekend ride without worrying. For me, doing about 10–15 km per day, I was charging it every three or four days, which is pretty comfortable.

The trade-off is charging time. They say around 10–11 hours, and that matches what I’ve seen. This is an overnight charge situation, no doubt. You’re not going to top it up in two hours before going out again. If you forget to plug it in, you’re stuck. The charger itself is nothing special: a standard brick with a fan that makes a bit of noise. It gets slightly warm but nothing alarming. The BMS protection is invisible in daily use, but it’s good to know it’s there for safety and battery health.

The battery indicator on the display is ok but, like most scooters, it’s not super precise: it drops faster under heavy acceleration and then goes back up when you slow down. You get used to reading it as a rough guide rather than an exact fuel gauge. My habit was to plug it in when it got down to 20–30%, just to avoid pushing it too low regularly. Overall, if you value range more than convenience of quick charging, this battery setup is solid. If you’re impatient or forgetful with charging, the long charge time might annoy you.

On the comfort side, the Kukirin G4 is clearly above the cheap little scooters I’ve tried before. The 11-inch tubeless tyres plus dual spring suspension front and rear make a big difference on broken tarmac and rough cycle paths. Small potholes, cracks, and cobblestones are still noticeable, but they’re not bone-shaking. You still feel the surface, but it’s more of a dull thud than a sharp impact. For city use with bad roads, this is a big plus.

The riding position is pretty natural. The deck is wide, so you can stand with your feet apart and change stance when your legs get tired. The grips are ergonomic and don’t cut into your hands on longer rides. The only thing I noticed is that after around 30–40 minutes of continuous riding, my knees and lower back start to feel the weight and the constant micro-impacts, but that’s normal for a standing position. It’s still more comfortable than lighter scooters with no suspension and smaller tyres.

The suspension is on the firmer side. That means you don’t get a bouncy, unstable feel, which is good at speed, but it also means it doesn’t fully erase bumps. For my weight (around 80 kg), it felt well balanced. Someone much lighter might find it a bit stiff, someone heavier will probably appreciate that it doesn’t bottom out easily. You can ride over speed bumps without having to almost stop, as long as you bend your knees a little.

The downside of all that comfort hardware is the overall bulk. Maneuvering it in tight spaces or lifting the front wheel to get over high curbs is more physical than with a lighter scooter. Also, standing for long periods is still standing; it’s not a magic carpet. But compared to typical 8.5 or 10-inch city scooters, I’d say comfort is clearly above average. If you do daily rides over 5 km on bad roads, it’s a strong point. If you only ride on smooth paths and need something light, you might not fully benefit from this setup.

On the durability side, my impression is that the Kukirin G4 is built to take some abuse. The steel + aluminum frame feels very rigid. There’s no creaking or weird noises when you go over bumps, and the folding joint doesn’t feel like a weak point so far. I rode it in light rain and on wet roads; with its IP54 water resistance, it handled that fine. I wouldn’t ride it through deep puddles or in a storm, but for occasional wet commutes, it seems ok.

The 11-inch tubeless tyres are also a plus for durability. Tubeless means fewer instant flats from small punctures, and the thicker rubber gives you a bit more peace of mind on gravel or dirty city roads with glass. Of course, you can still get a flat, but compared to thinner, smaller tyres on cheaper scooters, you’re a bit more relaxed. The tread seems designed for mixed use: enough grip for loose surfaces without being too noisy or draggy on tarmac.

The paint and finish are decent. It’s not luxury level, but after some use, I only picked up the usual scuffs on the deck and a few small scratches from locking it to racks. Nothing unusual. The cables are reasonably well routed, not dangling everywhere, though I’d still be careful not to snag them when locking the scooter. The rear fender feels a bit like the weak spot; like on many scooters, if you constantly step on it or bash it, it’s probably what will suffer first.

One thing to keep in mind for durability is the weight and power: if you crash this, it’s not a tiny toy, it’s a heavy machine. So while the build feels robust, I’d still suggest checking bolts and brakes regularly, especially if you ride fast and off-road. The 1-year manufacturer warranty is standard but not generous. I haven’t had to use it, so I can’t comment on long-term support. Overall, it feels like a scooter that will last if you maintain it, but it’s not maintenance-free. You’ll want to check tyre pressure, brake pads, and folding mechanisms from time to time.

Performance is where this scooter clearly doesn’t mess around. The motor pulls hard, especially in the higher speed modes. They don’t list an exact wattage here, but from the 60V setup and how it behaves, it’s clearly more powerful than the typical 350–500W city scooters. In the highest mode, if you slam the throttle from a standstill, the acceleration can surprise you. I’d honestly recommend new riders start on the lowest mode and only move up once they’re used to it.

On flat roads, it reaches and holds “urban fast” speeds easily. I won’t throw exact numbers here because that depends on local limits and your weight, but let’s say: you’ll keep up with bikes and then some. Where it really shows the difference is on hills. The brand claims up to 30° slopes, which in real life is very steep. I didn’t find anything that extreme, but on the steepest hill in my area, where smaller scooters slow down badly, the G4 still climbed at a decent pace without feeling like it was dying. You feel the torque; it doesn’t choke as soon as the road tilts up.

Braking is also a clear strong point. You get front and rear disc brakes plus electronic braking, and the stopping power matches the speed of the scooter. From a decent cruising speed, you can stop in what feels like those 7–10 metres they claim, as long as the ground is dry and you’re not doing something stupid. The lever feel is predictable, and with both front and rear brakes, you can modulate it well. No weird spongy feeling like on some cheaper models.

At higher speeds, the chassis feels stable. The wide tyres and solid stem help a lot. There’s no scary wobble, unless you ride one-handed or on very rough surfaces, which you shouldn’t. You do need to respect the scooter though: with this level of power, if you lean back and yank the throttle, you can lose balance. It’s not a toy to lend to someone who’s never ridden an e-scooter. But if you have a bit of experience and you ride with some sense, the performance is genuinely satisfying and practical for daily use.

Out of the box, you get the scooter mostly assembled, plus the charger, rear fender, bolts, some Allen keys and a basic tool kit. Nothing fancy, but enough to get going without needing extra tools. The manual is… ok. Not super detailed, but you can figure out the basics: folding, modes, display, and charging. If you’ve already used an electric scooter, you won’t be lost. If it’s your first, you’ll probably watch a YouTube video anyway.

The scooter itself is quite big: about 133.6 cm long and almost 130 cm high at the handlebar, so it feels like a proper adult scooter, not a toy. The frame is a steel + aluminum mix, which explains the solid feel but also the weight. They don’t give the exact weight here, but in the hand and while moving it, you can tell it’s not light at all. It’s manageable for short lifts (like a few stairs), but I wouldn’t want to carry it for long distances.

The LED display is in the middle of the handlebar. It shows speed, battery level, mileage and the riding mode. Nothing revolutionary, but it’s clear enough. Under sunlight, you can still read it, you just might need to tilt your head a bit. There are three speed modes that you switch through with a button. I ended up using the middle and highest modes most of the time; the lowest feels more like a safety mode for beginners or crowded areas.

In practice, the whole package feels more like a compact electric moped than a simple scooter. It’s overkill if you just want to go 2 km to the shop. But if your daily trips are more like 5–15 km and you want good pace and stability, the format makes sense. Just be aware that with the 60V 20Ah battery and chunky construction, this is not a super discreet or ultra-portable device. It’s a serious commuter or leisure machine, not a toy you casually fold and carry everywhere.