I just rode a $2,000 electric scooter designed by Formula One engineers — and I'm actually tempted to buy it
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What do you get when a Formula One engineer takes his talents and designs an electric scooter? I found out for myself when I took the Bo Model-M for a test ride in Brooklyn last week.
This new electric scooter has an aluminum monocoque chassis and a unique steering system that makes it unlike any other electric scooter on the market today. But how does this $2,000 machine compare to the best electric scooter ? I went for a ride with CEO Oscar Morgan, who previously worked for Williams Racing, to see how well it handled.
Bo Model-M: Price and availability
Bo Model-M specs
Motor: 400W (1200W peak)
Speed: 22 MPH
Max range: 40 miles
Battery capacity:672Wh
Brakes: Sealed drum (front), Regenerative e-brake with e-ABS (rear)
Weight: 50.7 pounds
Max rider weight: 265 pounds
Dimensions: 47.2 (length) x 44.5 (height) x 23.2 (width)
The company is slowly introducing the Model-M to the U.S. You can order the base model — which has a top speed of 16 MPH and a range of up to 25 miles — for $1,990 at Bo's website . A version with a top speed of 22 MPH and a range of 40 miles sells for $2,490.
The Model-M is also offered in four colors — silver, gold, black, and chrome — with the latter three being a bit more costly. For example, a gold version of the top-end Model M costs $3,399.
That's a lot more expensive than the best electric scooters, but the company doesn't plan to release it in large numbers; each scooter is hand-built.
Lest you think it can't go faster, Bo is developing a modified version of the scooter that can reach speeds of up to 100 MPH . At $30,000, it'll cost you as much as a car, though.
Design
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Unlike most every other electric scooter, the Bo Model-M has a monocoque chassis, which means that the outer shell of the scooter itself provides support, rather than an internal frame.
So, there's no vertical downtube like you'll see with most scooters; rather, you get an L-shape that swooshes down and blends seamlessly with the deck; it's the sleekest scooter design I've seen since the Unagi Model One .
A running light sits about a third of the way up the scooter, with a headlight in the middle of the handlebars.
Partly because of this design, the top of the scooter doesn't fold down, which makes it more suited for those who have a garage to store it.
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There are two small design touches I particularly liked. The first is the Model-M's kickstand, which is designed that that you'd find on a motorcycle: It folds down on both sides of the scooter, so it's propped up level, and more securely, than a kickstand that's just on one side.
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The other feature I loved are the folding loops for a bike lock. These are located about halfway down, and pop out so that you can slide a bike lock through the frame of the scooter, and then fold them back in for a sleeker look. These loops also have a small tab at the top, so you can use them to hang a bag from the scooter while you're riding.
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The Model-M lacks a built-in display. Instead, there's a mounting bracket in the middle of the handlebars, to which you attach your smartphone, and use the Bo app as your dashboard.
Handling
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Also, the steering is a lot tighter than a traditional scooter — you feel a lot of resistance as you turn the handlebars to either side, as they automatically return to center. In some ways, it feels like the steering wheel of your car.
While I didn't try it, you could almost ride the scooter one-handed, as you don't have to focus on keeping the wheel pointed forward.
The Model-M is powered by a 400W (1200W peak) rear motor, which felt pretty zippy around the admittedly flat streets of the area around the Brooklyn Navy Yard; I'd be interested to see how it would fare in hillier environs.
Still, it felt very zippy during my time riding it; the Model-M has two speed settings, so you can keep it at a lower top speed until you get used to riding it.
Another conscious design decision was to forego any sort of suspension system on the Model-M, and instead rely on its 10 x 2.5-inch pneumatic tires to absorb any bumps in the road. It was definitely more jarring than full suspension scooters like the Segway Max G3 , especially when riding over the cobblestone streets of Brooklyn.
Initial impressions
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There's a lot to like about the Bo Model-M; not only does its design stand out from the crowd, but it's thoughtfully made; I especially like touches such as the folding bike lock.
While I'd like to test it out further, the Model-M's steering is also unlike any other electric scooter I've ridden, and definitely feels more stable when making turns; it felt more like skiing than scooting. I do wish there were some sort of suspension, though.
At $2,000, this is definitely a boutique ride, and, as it doesn't fold and weighs around 50 pounds, I would not recommend it for those who live in a walk-up apartment. But, if you're looking for a scooter that will make a statement, this is it.
