I’ve been riding electric scooters on the streets of New York City since 2017, when food delivery guys were still using regular bikes and grilling during those summer months. Since then, I’ve relied on commuter electric scooters because they offer the right balance of portability and range.
That’s what makes the Apollo Go appealing to me: It’s an electric scooter that could reliably get me to and from work in no time. I’ve been driving it for a few weeks now, and I have a good idea of what it offers on a daily basis. There are definitely a few must-haves on my list when it comes to commuter scooters, so I’ll be sharing them throughout this Apollo Go review.
Apollo Go review: Price and availability
The Apollo Go costs $1,299 and sits somewhat in the middle of the company’s electric scooter lineup, between the $999 Apollo Air and the $1,799 Apollo City; the Apollo Phantom tops them all at $2,399. For a limited time, you can get the Apollo Go for $1,199, which puts it roughly in line with commuter scooters I’ve used like the InMotion S1 and Fluidfreeride Mosquito.
The Apollo Go went on sale in February directly through Apollo, so if you’re interested in getting one, that’s the only place you can buy it. But expect to pay for the Go, I think it’s a reasonable price considering the features and solid build of the Apollo Go.
Apollo Go Review: Design
I’ll digress: the Apollo Go is not my kind of commuter scooter. That’s because I prefer something much lighter — under 30 pounds, preferably, because it’s a chore trying to drag something heavier up the stairs. The Apollo Go tips the scales at 46 pounds heavier.
On top of that, it doesn’t fold up compactly enough to fit under the seats of most of the wagons I drive on a daily basis. While the Apollo Go doesn’t have the qualities I look for in a commuter scooter, I see a lot of other people carrying similar sized scooters when traveling.
I consider the Apollo Go more of an all-around scooter, the kind perfect for beginners and those who want a smooth ride. And I think Apollo does a good job here.
For starters, the build quality of the Go is impeccable, significantly better than most electric scooters I’ve used. The choice of materials is high quality, right down to the little details like the Apollo Go’s 360-degree lighting, IP66 waterproof rating, and PunctureGuard gel-lined self-healing tires.
I’m sure the Apollo Go will hold up well over the years thanks to its high-quality materials and solid construction. My only criticism of the design concerns the cumbersome folding mechanism. Sometimes the latch that secures the handlebars to the board requires movement to dislodge. I prefer something more intuitive and faster output.
Apollo Go review: performance
On my first ride, I was struck by the slower acceleration of the Apollo Go, but later discovered that this, as well as the braking, could be changed in the program to better suit my preferences.
I will say that the Apollo Go rides very smoothly, thanks in part to its Airflow system, which softens the impact of bumps on the road. Additionally, I want to mention how its solid construction gives it a maximum load of 265 pounds.
I took the Apollo Go for a much longer ride through the Henry Hudson Trail that runs along the Jersey Shore – a stretch of about 8 miles – and the ride was smooth. Although the Apollo Go has a lever brake on the left handlebar, I relied mainly on the regenerative braking control because it applies the brakes sparingly, whereas it is much tighter with the Mosquito.
The corners could be a little wider, but I guess that’s because I’ve gotten used to the handling of the Mosquito. However, I think the Apollo Go offers a perfect balance of maneuverability and comfort for new riders.
Apollo Go review: Battery life and battery life
Of course, several factors affect a scooter’s battery, so being gentle with braking and acceleration will help extend times between charges. Apollo rated it for a range of 20 to 30 miles with a top speed of 28 mph, which I think is about what I expect for this type of scooter.
The Go is significantly better than the Apollo Air if distance is your priority, while the Apollo City and Phantom go further, at 43 and 50 miles, respectively.
During my ride on the Henry Hudson Trail, I kept the Go’s throttle in the middle and drove about 20 mph most of the time. When I got home, I noticed that the scooter’s battery level was down 28%, so it was almost at Apollo’s rating.
I still think the Apollo Go has pretty good battery life, but my ride didn’t involve many hills, which isn’t as taxing on the battery after all.
Apollo Go Review: Apollo app
Call it the most underrated part of Apollo Go, but the companion app unlocks even more features. The most important thing has to be the ability to lock the scooter when not in use. I accidentally put it in lock mode and didn’t realize what the default code was, so the wheels basically locked up. This is a handy security feature if you intend to lock it somewhere, as a potential thief will notice that the scooter cannot be used unless it is unlocked.
Second, the app also stores the scooter’s many statistics, such as its average speed during a ride, and keeps a history of them. And as I mentioned earlier, the app allows me to customize many of the Apollo Go’s settings, such as the speed and acceleration of its cruise control. These are great touches that I don’t find on other scooters, so I like how its ride can be tailored to specific preferences.
Apollo Go review: Verdict
If there’s one scooter I want to introduce to someone who’s never ridden before, it’s the Apollo Go. While it might suffice as a commuter scooter for some, I consider it a more versatile, everyday scooter for any experience level to allow them. move with confidence on their first ride.
The Apollo Go is definitely one of the best electric scooters I’ve used for its comfort and maneuverability. Add to that its high-quality construction, custom settings, great battery life and safety features, it’s the kind of scooter that makes you feel like you have an iPhone – something you know is reliable and delivers great performance.