Fiido, best known for its range of folding electric bikes – including one with a range of over 120 miles – has revealed its next-gen electric scooter. But rather than focusing on commuting, Fiido has its sights set on high-performance off-road experiences perfect for the adrenaline junkies out there.
Dubbed the Fiido Beast, it has been teased on Indiegogo for a while now, but tomorrow – 17 March at 12pm GMT (8am EST/5am PST) – the page will be converted from ‘coming soon’ to a full campaign with early bird pricing.
You’ll be able to back the project and – theoretically – get a Beast for $1599, a huge $800 off the $2399 RRP.
Do note that the usual crowdfunding risks apply here. You’re backing a project, not buying a product like you would on Amazon. However, while the risks of losing your money are real, Fiido has a great track record of bringing crowdfunded projects to the market. Usually we avoid writing about crowdfunded products, but we can make an exception for Fiido.
What makes this electric scooter so special? The Beast has a trick up its sleeve in the form of a patented multi-angle adjustment stem that allows the scooter to be ridden both standing up as well as sitting down. The company describes the latter mode as a secondary ‘go-kart mode’.
Fiido explains that the “scooter mode is better for off-road” while the go-kart mode is better suited to racetracks.
Regardless of how you choose to ride it, the Beast has a rugged off-road design with 11in inflatable tyres, dual suspension, a 720mm wide handlebar and a wide footboard to accommodate larger drivers.
The Beast also has full front and rear illumination, is water-resistant and has a removable battery. But it’s what’s powering the scooter that’s most impressive.
The headline is an impressive 1300W motor that provides a top speed of 30mph, almost double the 15.5mph speeds of most regular electric scooters, and it’s able to handle 40% inclines with ease, supposedly.
That’s combined with a 48V 1536Wh battery – the largest capacity available in mass-production scooters right now – that’ll provide up to 62 miles of range from a single charge. No wonder the electric scooter weighs in at 36.5kg, which Fiido claims is “quite light for an off-road heavyweight e-scooter”.
It is also worth noting that, like all electric scooters, the Fiido Beast is illegal to use on public roads in the UK.
If you’d rather avoid crowdfunding, take a look at our selection of the best electric scooters – all of which have been tested by us, and are readily available to buy at retailers worldwide.