Xr Commuter Scooter Who Makes Best Designed

Today, we will review the GoTrax XR Ultra, probably the best electric scooter under $400 in the world right now. We will take a look at every possible detail, but also a view of the scooter as a whole, and see for whom is the GoTrax XR Ultra absolutely perfect.

The GoTrax XR Ultra is one of the most popular, highest-rated, best-selling budget electric scooters ever, and likely the best scooter under $400 right now. With great quality, a full set of features, and decent performance, it has everything an electric scooter should have, so it's the perfect choice for many riders.

Let's see what makes the GoTrax XR Ultra one of the best budget scooters ever made.

• GoTrax XR Ultra Review
• GoTrax XR Ultra – Bottom Line Up Front
• Who should get the GoTrax XR Ultra?
• The GoTrax brand
• Ordering, shipping, discounts
• Warranty, returns, customer support
• Unboxing, assembly, manual
• Folding and unfolding
• Basics, how to ride
• Everyday use, ride experience, control
• Quality and lifespan
• Frame, deck, handlebars
• Waterproofing and IP rating
• Brakes, safety
• Speed and acceleration
• Climbing and going uphill
• Range and commuting
• Motor, power, torque
• Battery
• Charging
• Tires
• Weight, dimensions, portability
• Weight limit, use by heavy adults
• Lights, night rides
• Screen, dashboard, controls
• Security
• Design, materials, colors
• Accessories, customizations
• Maintenance, spare parts
• User reviews, popularity
• Known issues
• FAQ
  • How soon will the GoTrax XR Ultra pay itself off?
  • Can I ride the GoTrax XR Ultra in the rain?
  • How fast is the GoTrax XR Ultra?
  • How far can the GoTrax XR Ultra go?
  • Is the GoTrax XR Ultra reliable?
  • Can I put solid tires on the GoTrax XR Ultra?
  • Can I add an extra battery to the GoTrax XR Ultra?
• Specifications
• GoTrax XR Ultra vs other electric scooters
  • GoTrax XR Ultra vs GoTrax XR
  • GoTrax XR Ultra vs GoTrax XR Elite
  • GoTrax XR Ultra vs GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter
  • GoTrax XR Ultra vs Xiaomi M365
  • GoTrax XR Ultra vs Swagtron Swagger v1
• Price, value for money
• Should you buy the GoTrax XR Ultra?

GoTrax XR Ultra – Bottom Line Up Front

There are many electric scooters priced between $350 and $400. Most of them are not really good, mostly because it's hard to make a good scooter for under $400.

The GoTrax XR Ultra is one of the very few exceptions there. It is, truly, a very good budget electric scooter, or rather, a very good scooter that happens to be affordable as well.

GoTrax really outdid themselves with the GoTrax XR Ultra – the levels of quality and value this scooter provides for $359 is just out of this world. I've mentioned this scooter in several other articles, and I usually say the same thing – this is the best electric scooter under $400.

Who should get the GoTrax XR Ultra?

If you're looking for a short answer, this is as short as it can get – if you want the best scooter that $359 can buy, then get the GoTrax XR Ultra.

It's hard to make a mistake with this scooter.

If you're not exactly sure what you're looking for from a scooter, and your budget is $400, or maybe even $500, then go with the GoTrax XR Ultra.

Beginners, people looking to ditch the shared scooters, or anyone looking for an entry-level model, will love this scooter.

Commuters, regular riders, hobby scooterists, teenagers, literally all of these categories will find the XR Ultra to be simply great.

Further, if you want a proven scooter, coming from a reputable brand, and with tons of satisfied owners giving it starling reviews, again, this is your choice.

Finally, if you need a safe, street-legal, comfortable, and fun scooter, with decent performance, that can handle some wet environments, full of features, versatility, and of great quality, then this scooter is for you as well.

Where to buy the GoTrax XR Ultra from?

US, Canada

If you live in the United States, the best place to get the GoTrax XR Ultra from is the official GoTrax store. Shipping is free and takes 3-5 days. You can also check their Amazon listing, although I've noticed the scooter can be temporarily out of stock quite often there (Amazon may also ship to Canada too).

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UK, EU alternative

For the UK and EU, one good equivalent to the GoTrax XR Ultra is the Kugoo S1, which you can find on Geekbuying. Shipping should be free.

The GoTrax brand

With several hugely popular models including this one, GoTrax is either the best budget electric scooter brand in North America, and if not, certainly in the top three. Pretty much all of their scooters can be considered very budget-friendly, usually great value for money both in terms of quality and real-world performance. Besides scooters, GoTrax has expanded into other electric rideables with great success as well.

Their focus on improving their scooters all the time, iterating on features, and fixing issues, while driving the price down at the same time, earns them that title, and personally, I don't think there is any real competition in the adult budget demographic.

Ordering, shipping, discounts

The best place to order the GoTrax XR Ultra in the US is from the official GoTrax store. The scooter is currently at its lowest price ever, with several consecutive discounts on it. It will cost around $359, which is insane value for a scooter like this, but you may want to hurry up if you want to get it at that price since the price was about $500 not too long ago, and the discounts may disappear pretty soon. Check it out at the GoTrax store, or on Amazon as an alternative.

Shipping is, of course, free, and it will take between 3 and 5 days for your scooter to arrive at your doorstep.

Warranty, returns, customer support

GoTrax offers a 30 day return period, and a 90-day warranty on all of their scooters, including this one. As usual with electric scooters, and electric gadgets in general, the warranty doesn't cover water damage, nor malfunctions due to modifications.

The customer support team of GoTrax is based in Dallas, Texas. They are available Monday-Friday via phone, email, or live chat. From my experience and interactions with other employees of GoTrax, their customer support will be excellent as well.

Unboxing, assembly, manual

The box will include:

• electric scooter
• handlebars
• charger
• screws
• Allen key
• safety pin
• tire gauge pipe
• user manual
• warranty card

After removing the protective cover, make sure all the parts have arrived intact.

There will be some minimal assembly needed. You need to first remove the cap from the top of the stem, then connect the brake cable from the stem to the brake lever from the handlebar, make sure it's in place, then put the handlebar in the stem and screw the screws. Finally, treat yourself to the most satisfying part of unwrapping a new product – removing the sticky plastic covers from the screen.

The process will take you 5-10 minutes.

If you don't read the manual carefully (as I know you won't), at least quickly scan it – electric scooter versions and details change even within the same model, and you should be aware of possibly important changes and safety instructions. Plus, the manual for the XR Ultra is really short and not too boring, it only covers the most important things you need to know.

Before riding, quickly make sure the tires are inflated and the brakes work properly.

Folding and unfolding

The folding mechanism of the GoTrax XR Ultra hits a good balance between safety and ease of use.

To fold the scooter, you first need to pull out and twist the red pin on the front left lower stem, and then pull the red lever between the stem and the deck down. The scooter locks in place by using the reliable hook and frame method, you'll hear a click when it's done. The hook on the stem can also serve as a neat way to hook bags or other items on it while riding.

To unfold, just unhook the little hook and lift up the stem, and the scooter basically unfolds itself.

Basics, how to ride

This is a real electric kick scooter, meaning you need to use the initial kick off the ground and then press the throttle for the scooter to start moving. In general, electric kick scooters are a bit safer, since there is no risk of the scooter accelerating if you accidentally press the throttle while not riding.

The GoTrax XR Ultra accelerates with a thumb throttle on the right handlebar. There are different tastes and opinions on this matter but personally, I believe that the thumb throttle is the best throttle mechanism.

The cruise control is activated after 10 seconds of holding the throttle, and it is stopped after engaging the brake.

The XR Ultra has two speed modes. The lower speed mode limits the top speed to 9 mph / 15 kmh, and results in more efficient battery use, so choose it if you want to conserve battery and get the most range.

Everyday use, ride experience, control

The GoTrax XR Ultra has a fun, smooth ride. It handles small potholes, cracks, bumps, and even some low curbs, pretty well, especially for a scooter with no suspension. However, don't go over larger curbs, the scooter will not handle those easily.

The balance is pretty good, as the deck is quite low and has a low center of gravity. Turning and control are decent, but they do suffer a bit because of the front-drive motor.

The scooter is meant for urban use, and city roads and streets are its natural habitat. It can take on some grass, dirt, gravel etc, but it is not recommended to use it offroad.

While riding, the only sound you hear is the gentle hum of the motor, there is no squeaking or scratching or any other weird noises.

Quality and lifespan

This scooter is the last iteration in the GoTrax scooter line, and their best model so far, which means the GoTrax XR Ultra will have a very respectable build quality learned from the older models, and improved through both the general design but also the details as well.

I wouldn't exactly want to say that the scooter has great quality for its price, as I believe it has pretty good quality regardless of its low price. Sure, it's a budget scooter and it will have the occasional quality issue here and there, but overall this will be one of the most high-quality affordable scooters made to this day.

As this model is a relatively new addition to the scooter world, it may be a bit early to talk about lifespan, but initial impressions and reviews from early adopters are very promising. The scooter has very low dead-on-arrival rates, and a very low rate of serious defects in the first month of usage, which is the best indicator of a long lifespan.

Even more importantly, the scooter sells like crazy and has almost record-high ratings and user satisfaction, which are also great indicators of a long lifespan. So, while it's too soon to tell, I believe many XR Ultra owners will get at least 4 years without a major problem from their scooters, and a lot more if they take good care of them.

Frame, deck, handlebars

The stem of the scooter is quite wide, and that adds to the scooter's overall look of sturdiness and robustness.

The deck sports an anti-slip rubber surface, often in the main detail color of the scooter (black, purple). It is wide enough and comfortable for adults of all feet sizes, about 18.5 in / 47 cm long, and 6 in / 15 cm wide, with a deck clearance of around 3.5 in / 9 cm.

The kickstand is long enough to prevent the scooter from suddenly tipping over (not sure how, but somehow, some scooters decide completely on their own whim, to suddenly tip over).

Waterproofing and IP rating

The GoTrax XR Ultra has an official ingress protection rating of IP54, which means it will be protected against water splashes from all angles, although not from stronger jets of water. So, it will be very water resistant, but not fully waterproof.

Lots of owners have reported riding it through rain and puddles without defects, although I did find one that said riding in the rain fried the controller, so the usual recommendation stands – avoid riding in the rain, only do so if you must, but also know that if you do, most likely the scooter will be fine.

Brakes, safety

The GoTrax XR Ultra is a very safe scooter, mostly because of its braking system. The brakes perform great and have plenty of stopping power for a scooter like this. The brake distance will be somewhere around 13 feet / 4 meters.

It features an electric regenerative brake in the front wheel, and a mechanical disc brake in the rear wheel. Both brakes are activated with the brake lever on the left handlebar. The electronic brake in the front is activated first and sometimes it's the only brake activated if you use a lighter squeeze of the lever. The electronic brake has the battery regeneration feature and replenishes the battery every time you use the brake, let go of the throttle, and even when you push the scooter manually.

Overall, the great brakes, the solid build quality and design, the standard not-too-high top speed, the pneumatic tires, and the good balance of the scooter, all make it a very safe choice suitable for pretty much everyone. The minimum age requirement for this scooter specified by GoTrax is 13+, and the scooter is suitable for both kids and adults.

Speed and acceleration

The official top speed of the GoTrax XR Ultra is 15.5 mph / 25 kmh. That has been confirmed by countless speed tests in real-world scenarios and in different circumstances. Riding downhill, the scooter can even reach 20 mph / 32 kmh.

The 300 Watt motor + 252 Wh LG battery combo helps the scooter accelerate pretty fast, and you will be hitting the top speed in just a few seconds.

Climbing and going uphill

The GoTrax XR Ultra has an advertised climb angle of 15°. The power upgrade that the motor has, compared to the regular GoTrax XR version, and the fact that the scooter gets extra torque because the motor is in the front wheel, make this climb angle very realistic, if not under-reported.

In practice, owners have reported that the XR Ultra can climb reasonably well, but as with all budget scooters, it will struggle on steeper hills and with very long climbs, and the speed will be reduced as well.

Range and commuting

The official range claimed by GoTrax for the GoTrax XR Ultra is 16 mi / 26 km. As usual, that range may not be what owners get in the real world, but it's pretty close, and you can expect at least 14 mi / 23 km, which is a rough average of what users report overall. Some users have even reported ranges of 18 mi / 29 km! If you ride in the slower modes, you will typically get the full range the scooter can give you.

With that kind of range, and with pretty good portability, the scooter is perfect for commuting, including both long commutes where the scooter covers most of the distance, and last-mile type scenarios where you only use your scooter for short distances and need to carry it in and out of buses, trains, and station doors often.

Motor, power, torque

The hub motor of the GoTrax XR Ultra has 300 Watts of real power, but it's able to develop peak power of up to 430 Watts.

As in most modern scooters, the motor is integrated into the front wheel. That is the better wheel to host the motor, as the scooter will be more performant overall and provide more torque and efficiency. The tradeoff is that usually control suffers a little, but the XR Ultra compensates with pretty wide handlebars, so the front motor is a sound concept overall.

Battery

The GoTrax XR Ultra features an LG-manufactured battery, with a capacity of 7Ah / 252 Wh, and a voltage of 36 Volts. When it comes to scooters, LG batteries are at the top of the food chain, and are only rivaled by Samsung, so seeing one in a $359 scooter is pretty unusual and gives a big boost to the scooter's overall quality.

Unlike most scooters, the XR Ultra has the battery in the stem instead of inside the deck. That has some pros and cons. The pros will be a better balance and a lower center of gravity, as the deck doesn't need to be as high. The cons will be that the scooter is more front-heavy, almost negating the balance gains.

Charging

Even though GoTrax claims that the GoTrax XR Ultra takes 4 hours to fully charge, users have reported charging it in 3 hours. As usual, the red light on the charger means the scooter is still charging, and the green light means the battery is full.

The charger port is located near the handlebar, and it's protected by a rubber cover.

Charging the scooter fully during off-peak hours costs just 1 cent in the US and 2 pennies in Canada, while charging during peak hours costs 4 cents in the US and around 3 pennies in Canada.

Tires

The 8.5-inch, air-filled tires make sure the rides with the GoTrax XR Ultra are steady and comfortable.

Even though the tires are air-filled, they are not as susceptible to flats as many other popular scooters, and owners of this scooter get fewer flats in general compared to Xiaomi owners. However, similar to the Xiaomi models, replacing a tire if you get a flat can be complicated, especially the front one which has the motor in the wheel. You can use pretty much the same Youtube tutorials as for the Xiaomi models, although simply taking your scooter to a repair shop may be much simpler. Consider giving the tires some extra protection with a tire sealant (Green Slime on Amazon works best).

The XR Ultra has no suspension, but again, as a scooter with good pneumatic tires, it doesn't really need one that much.

Weight, dimensions, portability

When folded, the scooter has dimensions and volume similar to other budget scooters:

• 43.3 in / 110 cm length
• 17.1 in / 43.4 cm width
• 14.6 in / 115 cm height

There are almost no weird parts sticking out of the scooter, and the brake cable is the only part that may get caught into other objects.

When folded, the center of gravity is not in the middle of the stem, but the balance is easy to find and the scooter is still easy to carry.

Considering all of the above, and the weight of 26 lbs / 12 kg, the GoTrax XR Ultra can be considered very portable, and certainly one of the most portable scooters with this kind of performance and range. It will have absolutely no issues fitting in car trunks, on buses and trains, in elevators or through hallways, or under office desks.

Weight limit, use by heavy adults

The weight limit of the GoTrax XR Ultra is 220 lbs / 100 kg. This weight limit may even be a little under-reported, as some users above it have said they can ride the scooter without too many issues (some have weighed even 280 lbs / 127 kg!). However, almost all of them get slightly reduced performance, and that can be expected by all users close to or above the weight limit.

Lights, night rides

The front LED headlight is really bright, not simply just "bright for a budget scooter". It is placed on the top of the stem and has a wide angle, so it will cast a light of several meters into the darkness of the night.

The scooter has a reflector on the rear, but doesn't include the typical rear brake light. If you plan on riding at night, this cheap piece of equipment is strongly recommended, and probably required by law as well, since scooters without it may not be considered street-legal in many places. The official GoTrax tail light will be a perfect choice, but a generic red rear light for bikes will do just fine (link to Amazon).

Screen, dashboard, controls

The LED display screen shows the current speed, the speed mode, the light status, and the battery level (4 bars). The display is bright enough for both night use and use on sunny days.

Everything on the scooter's screen is done with the single red button on the stem right under the display:

• holding the button for 1 second when the scooter is off, turns it on
• holding the button for 2 seconds changes the speed mode
• pressing the button while the scooter is on toggles the light

The left handlebar has a bell to notify other traffic participants about your presence. Pedestrians will hear it without a problem, but people in cars with their radios turned on will probably not.

Security

The scooter has no way of locking it. It is recommended you don't leave it outside for too long. Even though it's not that expensive of a scooter, potential thieves may mistake it for such and try their luck. If you do plan on leaving it outside for longer, consider getting a lock (full scooter lock guide here).

Design, materials, colors

The GoTrax XR Ultra follows the design principles established and tested by its predecessor, the GoTrax Ultra. It is a cool-looking scooter, no doubt, with its own unique proprietary design from the ground up.

The scooter is made from aluminum alloy for the frame, and rubber and plastic for the secondary parts.

The standard version of the XR Ultra sports a matte-grey base, with black details and some touches of red, for a modern, a bit futuristic look and feel.

One distinctive feature is the brake lever, made out of metal. For those of us that owned BMXs or other bikes back in the day, this will evoke some nostalgia. There is one potential flaw in the brake design however – the brake cable is not within the stem but runs alongside it, which is not the most elegant solution in my opinion, and makes carrying the scooter a bit harder.

Usually, the scooter is available in grey, black, or purple.

Accessories, customizations

I can't remember the last scooter that had this many accessories and customizations available. There are at least 10 cool accessories on the official GoTrax accessories page, although make sure that they can fit the GoTrax XR Ultra, as some of them can't. The generic accessories should also mostly fit the scooter, so make sure to check the detailed guide on electric scooter accessories as well.

While this scooter is not really capable of some truly dangerous speeds, that still doesn't justify riding it without the proper scooter helmet. I would generally recommend a half-face helmet even for budget scooters just to stay on the safe side, but a bike helmet might also do a solid job if that's all you have available and don't want to buy a new helmet right now.

Maintenance, spare parts

The maintenance for the GoTrax XR Ultra is minimal, and even less than with most other scooters. Since there have been very few reports of flats or screws getting loose or things like that, you can really get away with very infrequent maintenance checks. I do still recommend checking the screws, the tires, and the brakes, at least once a month.

One of the best things about buying a scooter from a brand like GoTrax is that you will always have an abundant supply of cheap spare parts. You can always find pretty much all spare parts you may need for the XR Ultra on the official GoTrax store page for parts.

User reviews, popularity

The GoTrax XR Ultra is one of the most beloved electric scooters ever, and certainly one of the most popular budget models. The overwhelming majority of its owners have nothing but good things to say for it.

It's impossible to know how many units has the UX Ultra sold. At the time of writing this, it has at least around 700 public reviews across all the online stores. General rules of thumb about e-commerce suggest that only about 5% of users leave reviews, but I believe for items costing a few hundred dollars, that percentage may be closer to 10%. So, a very rough estimate is that the GoTrax XR Ultra has sold 7.000 – 14.000 units. And this scooter has only been around for a few months!

From all of those reviews, it averages a 4.5-star rating out of 5. Only a handful of electric scooters have managed to achieve this.

That kind of popularity is rarely seen, and always well-deserved.

Known issues

About a dozen customers have received malfunctioning scooters, that didn't work properly out-of-the-box, and have had to return them. Many of those were due to damage during delivery. Given how many units this scooter has sold, that is a minuscule number, but I always consider it important to let you know, as there is a tiny chance that it can happen. Still, in case it does, the customer gets a refund or a replacement, so no real harm there really.

One issue that may be worth going over is the potential difference between the claimed range and the actual range. Some users have reported getting around half the advertised range, even in regular riding conditions and for users within the weight limit. This can also happen sometimes, as batteries are still largely unpredictable even today. Anyway, this has also been the case for just a handful of users. The batteries in the XR Ultra are LG after all, so they're the best they can be.

GoTrax scooters don't have bluetooth features, and thus there's no official app for them. I recommend the Universal Scooter App by EScooterNerds as an alternative. Naturally, it will not be able to connect with the scooter, but it will have some other useful features for improving the owner experience in general. The app is available for both Android and iOS.

Personally, I believe the only real flaw this scooter has, that is not because of bad luck or delivery damage, is its lack of a rear light. Sure, that part is very cheap to get after-market, but why not ship it on the original scooter?

Every other potential issue would be nitpicking in my opinion. This is a relatively wholesome scooter, it's not the first of its name so it has "wisdom" in it, the design is solid and the parts are well-integrated, so it works well most of the time.

FAQ

As with any massively popular scooter, there will be some questions that need answering.

How soon will the GoTrax XR Ultra pay itself off?

Assuming you buy the scooter at its current price of $359, it will pay itself off in about 4 to 9 months in savings on transportation costs, depending on how expensive public transport and gas is in your location.

Can I ride the GoTrax XR Ultra in the rain?

While not recommended, the GoTrax XR Ultra should be able to withstand some riding in light rain. It comes with an IP54 rating, which does not mean it's fully waterproof, but it does mean it's water-resistant, and should not suffer damage because of water splashes.

How fast is the GoTrax XR Ultra?

The official top speed of the GoTrax XR Ultra is 15.5 mph / 25 kmh, and owners confirm it as true in day-to-day use, with the possibility of getting a bit more if riding downhill.

How far can the GoTrax XR Ultra go?

The official range of the GoTrax XR Ultra is 16 mi / 26 km, and user reports mostly confirm this range in the real world, with possibly slightly lower ranges in some situations and for heavier riders.

Is the GoTrax XR Ultra reliable?

The GoTrax XR Ultra has a very robust and solid build quality, and one of the lowest defect rates among popular electric scooters. The vast majority of owners are very satisfied with it after months of use, and it is reasonable to expect this scooter to last for years.

Can I put solid tires on the GoTrax XR Ultra?

GoTrax sells honeycomb tires on their online store. Even though they are 8.5 inches in diameter and may fit the XR Ultra, they are meant for the Gotrax GXL Commuter scooters primarily, so compatibility issues may arise.

There are no easy known ways to add an extra battery to the GoTrax XR Ultra. For many typical use cases, there should be no need as well, since the big LG battery should provide sufficient range for most commutes.

Specifications

GoTrax XR Ultra Specifications

Imperial Metric

Top speed	25 kmh
Top speed	15.5 mph
Range	25.7 km
Range	16 mi
Motors	single hub front-drive
Power	300 W real, 430 W peak
Climb angle	15 °
Battery	252 Wh, 36 V
Battery type	LG Smart battery management system
Charging time	4 h
Ingress protection (IP)	IP54
Weight	12 kg
Weight	26.5 lbs
Weight limit	100 kg
Weight limit	220 lbs
Tire size	8.5 in
Tire type	pneumatic
Tire pressure	50 psi
Foldable	yes
Foldable handlebars	no
Seat	no
Trunk or basket	no (customization possible)
Build material	aluminum alloy
Terrains	urban
Brakes	dual, rear disc + electric regenerative front
ABS	EABS
Shock absorbers	no
Lights	LED headlight
Control	screen display
Speed modes	2
Cruise control	yes
Keys	no
App	no
Warranty	90 days warranty, 30 days return
Rider age	13+
Folded dimensions (L * W * H)	110 cm * 43.4 cm * 37 cm
Folded dimensions (L * W * H)	43 in * 17 in * 15 in
Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H)	110 cm * 43.4 cm * 115 cm
Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H)	43 in * 17 in * 45 in
Deck dimensions (L * W)	47 cm * 15 cm
Deck dimensions (L * W)	19 in * 6 in
Ground clearance	9 cm
Ground clearance	4 in
Deck to handlebar height	105 cm (est)
Deck to handlebar height	41 in (est)
Adjustable handlebar	no

GoTrax XR Ultra vs other electric scooters

The scooters against the GoTrax XR Ultra is most often compared to serve as further proof of GoTrax's domination in the budget category, as this model is most often compared to other GoTrax scooters. However, it's worth comparing it to other budget and popular brands as well.

GoTrax XR Ultra vs GoTrax XR

Seems like the GoTrax XR is not available anymore, and it has likely been discontinued. Thank you for your service, old version of GoTrax XR, you did your job well.

The GoTrax XR is the predecessor of the XR Ultra, so naturally, the latter will be superior.

The GoTrax XR Ultra and the GoTrax XR seem almost identical, but the Ultra has a more powerful motor and a bigger and better battery.

Many people believe that these are the only differences, but they are forgetting something – the XR Ultra is also an iteration ahead, and it addresses many small issues, bugs, and problems the GoTrax XR had. The old version, while also popular, did have more issues, and defects were a bit more common.

So, there is little dilemma – the XR Ultra is a no-brainer.

GoTrax XR Ultra vs GoTrax XR Elite

The biggest challenge to the GoTrax XR Ultra is actually the next version, the GoTrax XR Elite.

In many ways, they are very similar, although there are some notable differences.

Currently, the Elite is a bit more expensive at $399, so the Ultra is a slightly better budget choice.

Basically, it comes down to the old range vs portability tradeoff. The Elite has a bit more range (18 mi / 29 km), but it's also noticeable heavier (almost 6 lbs / 3 kg).

The Elite does address one issue the Ultra had, which was the missing rear lights.

The advantages the Ultra has, however, are not trivial. First of all, it seems to be more mature and better adopted by the market, as it has more favorable ratings and reviews than the Elite has had so far, and that is pretty important (if not the most important parameter for choosing a scooter).

Also, the Elite has no speed modes, you basically have just the fastest mode, which is kind of intriguing to me. I think it's less friendly to beginners, and the slower speed modes have no downsides, you can just simply ride in the fastest mode the whole time. Anyway, this one might go either way, but I think it's slightly better to be able to switch gears if you want to, and simply not do it if you don't.

In summary, the determining factor will be the range vs the weight, as most of the other features and qualities are similar. If you don't want your scooter to be heavier than it must be, and you find the range of 16 mi / 26 km sufficient, you can save a few bucks and stick with the XR Ultra. If, however, you need more range, you can go ahead and check out the GoTrax XR Elite at the GoTrax store, or read the comprehensive GoTrax XR Elite review.

GoTrax XR Ultra vs GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter

This is another case of bickering siblings, and even more proof of GoTrax's dedication to the budget demographic.

Objectively, the XR Ultra is a better choice than the GXL V2.

It has a more powerful motor, more range, and a better, LG battery, the folding mechanism is simpler…

But! The GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter has several things going for it as well.

Market adoption is one of the strongest sides of the XR Ultra, but in this case, the GXL V2 matches it, and maybe even beats it – it has been around for longer, and it has sold even better than the XR Ultra! So, we can call this one a tie.

The GXL V2 Commuter is, remarkably, even cheaper. Like, significantly cheaper – it now costs around $248, and that is just unbelievable value.

I still recommend the XR Ultra here, as it's obviously more powerful, probably better quality as it learned from some of the GXL V2's mistakes as well, and is clearly the future.

But if you want to make an even better deal from a financial standpoint, and want to have even more money left, you can rest assured that the GXL V2 Commuter is still a viable choice.

You can check out the full review of the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter to find out if it may be a better choice for you, or you can find it out at the links below if you are interested in buying.

Where to buy the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter from?

US

The GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter is currently only available in the US. The best place to get it from is the official GoTrax store. If you buy through this link, there is a 10% discount on this scooter. Shipping is free and should take 3-5 days. The scooter can also be found on Amazon, and you should check that listing as well in case there's a better deal available there.

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Canada

GoTrax currently don't ship to Canada. Fortunately for Canadians, the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter can sometimes be available on Amazon Canada.

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UK, EU alternative

As GoTrax scooters are not available outside the US, the best equivalent to the GXL V2 in Europe would be the Kugoo S1 Pro on Geekbuying. As usual, shipping is free and takes about a week.

GoTrax XR Ultra vs Xiaomi M365

In my opinion, I believe that for many people and use cases, the GoTrax XR Ultra has what it takes to take on the current budget champ.

First of all, the XR Ultra will save you a hundred dollars or more, and that's an excellent start.

Most of the specs are quite similar, and I believe the XR Ultra can actually neutralize one of the biggest advantages of the Xiaomi M365 – its popularity and brand recognition. The XR Ultra simply matches that, as it's also a very popular and well-accepted model.

The advantage of the XR Ultra comes from its tires. While they have the same dimensions, and both are air-filled, the XR Ultra seems to get fewer flats, which is one of the most vulnerable spots of the Xiaomi M365.

GoTrax XR Ultra vs Swagtron Swagger v1

Swagtron may be one of the biggest competitors to GoTrax for the North American budget scooter market. They also produce scooters typically priced below $400.

While they are also well-known and trusted, Swagtron scooters seem to suffer a bit more from quality issues. Their models are also great value for money, but the defect rates and dead-on-arrivals seem to be higher.

The Swagtron Swagger v1 is one of their most popular scooters, and in some ways it is quite similar to the XR Ultra, especially in terms of specs. However, the XR Ultra is a clear winner in my opinion, as it is more feature-full, and it's simply of higher quality.

Price, value for money

Currently, the GoTrax XR Ultra is heavily discounted and costs around $359. The regular price is much higher, it was $500 at one time.

The scooter is amazing value for money on both of those price points. Of course, for $359, it's just an incredible deal, and probably one of the best bang-for-buck scooters ever. For quite some time, the scooter was priced at $399, and even at that price, it was a bargain, let alone at $359.

Should you buy the GoTrax XR Ultra?

This scooter has a lot going for it.

It comes from a well-known brand.

It has already proven itself in the eyes of countless owners.

It is safe, street-legal, has great build quality and design, smooth ride, and is a joy to ride overall.

The strong brakes, the great waterproofing, the nice performance stats, the many features, really make the GoTrax XR Ultra the whole package. It's really hard to ask for more.

If you're looking for the best electric scooter under $400, then you should most definitely buy the GoTrax XR Ultra. There will not be a better scooter for that price, and honestly, many more expensive models will not be nearly as good.

Where to buy the GoTrax XR Ultra from?

US, Canada

If you live in the United States, the best place to get the GoTrax XR Ultra from is the official GoTrax store. Shipping is free and takes 3-5 days. You can also check their Amazon listing, although I've noticed the scooter can be temporarily out of stock quite often there (Amazon may also ship to Canada too).

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UK, EU alternative

For the UK and EU, one good equivalent to the GoTrax XR Ultra is the Kugoo S1, which you can find on Geekbuying. Shipping should be free.

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I love electric scooters, so I decided to make a blog about them. I like doing a lot of research on various models and brands, looking for great value and performance, both through data and experience.

Xr Commuter Scooter Who Makes Best Designed

Source: https://escooternerds.com/gotrax-xr-ultra-review/

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