Hiboy S2 Review – Best Budget Scooter under $500

Pros	Cons
Dual braking system for efficient stop power	Small-sized rubber tires not reduce bumps
Attachable seat is available for comfortable riding	Weak welding causes broken body

Hiboy S2 Electric Scooter Overview

If you’re going to ride a scooter for short-distance commutes, the Hiboy S2 is a good option. It’s a great beginner scooter as an alternative for Glion Dolly, even it’s not as portable as the latter one. But for people who just want to own a scooter but don’t want to spend a lot on it the budget price of Hiboy S2 wins their hearts.

Compared to renting a scooter from Bird or Lime for back and forth from office and home, owning a low-priced scooter is much cheaper, especially if you plan to have it for long-term use. If you’re just getting into the scooter thing and don’t know much about scooters, this is a great option, to begin with. 

Power Performance – Great for Its Budget Price

Most budget electric vehicles do not pack with a powerful motor, so does the Hiboy S2. There are more powerful scooters out there, but not at this price point. As long as a scooter featuring a bigger motor, the price goes up sharply towards over $1000. Actually, the 350W brushless motor is not that weak. After all, the Hiboy S2 electric scooter is able to go at a faster top speed than the most commonly seen 15 mph.

Speed

Thanks to the 350W motor, the Hiboy S2 reaches a top speed of 18.6 miles per hour in sports mode. This speed is neither fast nor slow, ranking the medium among our scooters list. But you can feel a bit thrilled on the Hiboy S2 electric scooter at this speed, especially if you’re new to ride on a scooter. 

But it’s better for you to start at a slower speed, while the Hiboy S2 allows you to switch to a more comfortable mode and goes at a speed of 13 mph. A double-tap on the button will change the riding mode. Two different colors indicate these two different modes: red for sports mode and green for comfort mode. 

If you want to ride the Hiboy S2 electric scooter for cruising, it’s easy. You can turn on the Cruise Control, just hold the throttle for at least 5 seconds, after hearing a sharp beep, the scooter turns into cruise mode and will keep the current speed.

Acceleration

The Hiboy S2 electric scooter does not support accelerating from zero starts to the maximum riding speed. In its manual, the manufacturer suggests that you need to wait for the speed keeping above 3.1 mph (5km/h) to start the throttle for accelerating. It’s also required to put both feet on the deck before pressing the accelerator. At this point, the acceleration from zero to top speed may take a bit longer time. But it’s enough for beginners to get used to a fast top-speed scooter. 

Climbing Hills

The Hiboy S2 works great on flat surfaces, but not good for climbing steep streets, even they are moderately hilly. The Hiboy company boasted of its uphill ability about 15-degree. However, it noticeably labors going uphill. 

Actually, you’ll find all the Hiboy scooters are not good at handling steep slopes. We thought the company didn’t aim to provide powerful premium models but just designed entry-level electric vehicles with average performance at a budget price.

Battery and Range

Packing with a 270Wh battery, the Hiboy S2 electric scooter boasts of going 17 miles long distance. The actual riding range can’t reach this digit, because you can’t always ride a scooter as the manufacturer’s testing conditions. The 17-mileage does not rank it on the long-range electric scooters, but this does not affect the Hiboy S2 to be a good commuting tool, especially if you want to use it for last-mile transportation. 

It takes a bit long time to charge the scooter fully, about 6 hours. But this is acceptable, no matter you need to charge it at home overnight for the next day’s commuting, or at the office for the way back home. 

Ride Quality

As with most budget electric scooters, the Hiboy S2 has two rubber solid tires, which won’t absorb much toss as those air-filled fat tires. They are small, only 8.5-inch in size. Luckily, the dual rear shock absorbers will help reduce the bumpy feeling on uneven surfaces to offer a smooth and comfortable ride.

It’s better to keep a medium or low speed ( 5 mph as the manufacturer suggested) when you ride through bumpy roads or uneven surfaces. A pro tip from skilled riders – Slightly bend your knee to better adjust big speed bumps. 

To deliver safe riding on this scooter, the Hiboy S2 features a double braking system – an e-braking on the front tire and a disc braking on the rear tire. This combination is efficient to provide you much stopping power when needed or if there is an emergency happened. 

Build

The Hiboy S2 features a premium-look and sturdy construction. All the parts are polished precisely to build up this scooter. The welding seems solid at the first glance, but some users complain about this point after weeks of usage. Luckily, the customer service is good. So if you have any questions about the Hiboy S2, don’t hesitate to contact their after-sale service team for replacing a broken part or support.

Design

Just like other adults kick electric scooters, the design of the Hiboy S2 is very simple and clean. The stem and deck consist of the majority supporting strut for its stability. The stem seems like an integrated part and can’t be adjustable. This is a point that most users complain about. It’s not friendly for both tall and small riders, not as practical as the Glion Dolly’s adjustable stem. 

On the top of the stem is the handlebar with the control panel and other functional parts – brakes control, bell, throttle, and the front headlights. The electric brake is controlled by the left handle with a non-slip grip. The bell and throttle are near each other on the right handle for easy maneuver. 

You’ll find the power button at the bottom of the control panel, the battery indicator is located at this part as well, with five bars for full battery power when the scooter is 100% fully charged. The mode button with an S character is used for switching the riding mode – Sports (18.6 mph) or Comfort (13 mph). Tapping the light button will turn the headlights and sidelights on. There is a Temperature button to remind you to stop and cool down the motor’s heat. 

Portability 

Hiboy S2 features a folding design. Along with an aluminum alloy comparatively lightweight body – about 30 lbs, the scooter is very portable for easy carrying around. You can effortlessly fold it in three steps – unlock the folding mechanism at the bottom of the stem, bend the stem and hook the buckle on the rear fender. Make use that the scooter is powered off before you fold it. 

Deck

For the rider’s safety and stability, the Hiboy S2 features a spacious and slip-resistance deck, which seems a premium curved and seamless connection to the rear tire and fender. There is one small part near the rear wheel with a movable surface, where you can install the seat to make the Hiboy S2 a seated electric scooter.

Lights

The Hiboy S2 has a bright and shining light system, including a big white front light, red sidelights, and brake light. Remember the light button on the control panel on the handlebar? It’s used to turn the lights on. With just a simple tap, both the headlight and side LED lights that built-in on two sides of the deck but beneath the deck surface will be turned on, letting you see the roads clear while be noticed by other people. This ensures your safety if you need to ride it at night. 

The rear brake light is also red, but it just is flashed on for playing the role to remind the people following that you are going to stop. Some brake lights will be also lighted on when you want to turn right or left, but not the Hiboy S2’s braking light.

Waterproof

Based on the manufacturer’s manual for Hiboy S2, the scooter is IP54 waterproofing. This is the basic level that most electric scooters feature. However, it’s not real waterproof, but the outer and cover is just water-resistance from splashes. The motor is installed in the front wheel while the battery components located in the deck, just make sure these two major parts are not damaged by the water, you’ll win in most cases, even it’s recommended to ride the Hiboy S2 electric scooter in rain.

Weight Limit

The common average weight limit of 220-pound is good for most adults, but not great enough for a bit heavier riders. Luckily, the Hiboy S2 is able to support a big guy up to 260 lbs, thanks to the sturdy and strong body. 

Hiboy S2 App

As a part of the smart devices, the electric scooter now can be controlled by an app, which is provided by most manufacturers to lock and unlock their scooters. Besides this feature, the Hiboy S2 app allows you to customize speed and cruise control, switch riding mode, and adjust the acceleration brake response. 

Bonus

There is an attachable seat available for Hiboy S2. But it requires you to spend more money if you want to turn the Hiboy S2 into a scooter with a seat.

The seat is not necessary if you plan to use the scooter for last-mile transportation or short-distance commuting. Both cases might need you to carry the scooter around, while the seat absolutely adds to its total weight.

But if you need to ride on the scooter for a few miles or time, for example, the maximum distance it can go, then a seat will give you less pressure and more comfort. 

Hiboy S2 Siblings – H2 Pro and H2 Lite

	Hiboy S2	Hiboy S2 Lite	Hiboy S2 Pro
Dimension	45.7*17.7*47.2 inches	43.3*17.7*42.5inches	45.7*17.7*47.6inches
Unit Weight	31 lbs	21 lbs	36.3 lbs
Motor Power	350w	250w	350w
Tires	8.5 inches	6.5 inches	10.0 inches
Suspension	Rear dual suspensions		Rear dual suspensions
App	✓		✓
Front Cool Light		✓
Braking System	E-braking & Disc braking	E-braking & Foot braking	E-braking & Disc braking
Maximum Speed	18.6mph* Depends on riding style and terrain	13mph* Depends on riding style and terrain	18.6mph* Depends on riding style and terrain
Maximum Range	17miles * Depends on riding style and terrain	10.6miles * Depends on riding style and terrain	25.6miles * Depends on riding style and terrain

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