I bought this scooter primarily to allow me to more quickly cover a walk of between two and three miles each day at work with much less fatigue, and it has done that well.
This walk involves many stops and starts, varying grades up and down, lots of turns, and variations of speed, so I'm probably using my E500 a bit harder than many average users riding theirs for commuter purposes would do.
First, I have to say that even the packaging for the scooter is top notch, with ample padding for the main body of the scooter contained in one part of the box, and the handlebar assembly contained in another heavily padded box on top of the main body.
Even the screws are individually retained in recesses in the foam packing inside the box for the handlebars, and there's even a very high quality t-handle Allen wrench included in the box in its own recess to install the screws, and there are even two spare screws.
It's also worth mentioning that each of the screws already has a little dab of the blue Loctite on the threads to ensure that they won't accidentally back out, so another thumbs up there for the extra attention to detail.
I can say that this scooter has enough battery power to get through between five and six miles total before I take it back to recharge, and I'm a big guy (6'4"/265 lbs), so I'm entirely satisfied with its performance.
As its designers intended as probably its main virtue, it's very light and as easy to fold and unfold as anyone could ever ask, and it is nicely balanced once folded, making it very easy for even a person of average or below average strength to carry it up and down a few flights of stairs.
I also really like the LED headlight, which makes visibility at night very easy and safe.
One thing that I have particular praise for is the electronic braking system, which has a type of anti-lock feature built into it, making quick stops easy and without fear of losing control.
One other thing that should be commented on about the electronic brake is that it works noticeably better when riding the scooter in dual motor mode over single motor mode because both wheels engage their brakes simultaneously in that mode.
Regarding the unique airless tires, I have to go against the tide of people who gripe about it riding a bit rough because of that, because I like the idea of not having to worry about leaks and because this is a scooter intended for relatively smooth surfaces, not for off-roading.
I have another scooter, the Swagtron Swagger 5, and it has a different type of airless tire, and the Unagi has almost identical ridign characteristics, but with a bit more stability in favor of the Unagi.
Also, I disagree with some of the gripes by people about this being a kickstart scooter because I prefer having the scooter only take off with a gentle push off the ground over using the accelerator only, all the better to avoid having the scooter drive itself unexpectedly out from under me.
I really like the riding deck, with its grippy silicone surface and because it's large enough for my size 12 feet to easily find a comfortable place to position while riding.
I also really like the accelerator control, and the scooter accelerates very strongly, but with a smooth curve to make starts quick without being jerky.
I go up several ramped surfaces, and this scooter climbs right up those without hesitation, another virtue of the dual motors.
It also runs rather quietly, with just a low hum from the motors even in full power mode.
The only real shortcoming I can think of with this scooter is the lack of cruise control, which seems like a strange omission on the part of Unagi, and I even contacted them with that as a suggestion for them to add to the firmware of newly built scooters; and I also suggested that many existing customers would probably agree to a modest fee to have their firmware upgraded by sending in the handlebar assembly (the part of the scooter that contains the controller and firmware) for Unagi.
The lack of cruise control is by no means a deal breaker, but it would be a nice little feature to improve rider comfort on longer trips.
I really like the E500, and I will be using it for years to come.
| Brand | UNAGI |
|---|---|
| Color | Matte Black |
| Weight Limit | 275 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 41 x 18.5 x 7.5 inches |
| Number of Wheels | 2 |
| Wheel Material | Rubber |
| Frame Material | Aluminum, Alloy Steel |
| Item Weight | 11.8 Kilograms |
| Handlebar Type | Fixed |
| Wheel Size | 7.5 Inches |
| Wheel Type | Solid |
| Suspension Type | Dual Suspension |
| Grip Type | Ergonomic |
| Brake Style | Rear Braking |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 40.5 x 18.5 x 8 inches |
| Package Weight | 17.4 Kilograms |
| Brand Name | UNAGI |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Suggested Users | Unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | UNAGI |
| Part Number | 1003140500 |
