Review Summary

Scooter Specification

Note: Fixed color coding rules are applied consistently across all products to ensure objective assessment of specifications.

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Product Overview

The Xiaomi m365 is not just another scooter. It is THE yard stick against which all other electric scooters are compared. It has been the dominant electric scooter since its first release back in 2017. Of course, there are faster, longer range and even smoother riding scooters. But at this price point it is extremely hard to beat. You may have come across nearly identical scooters from other manufacturers, often for a lower price than the m365. But be warned, to undercut the price of the m365 there will be compromises somewhere; usually the battery but also other materials or components. Some replicas are a genuinely high standard, but you know where you stand with the original M365.

Design

The design is modern, stylish, understated and sleeker than many alternatives that have come before and since. It’s a winner of a red dot award which is like the Oscar of the design world.

Durability

Overall the M365 has proven itself as highly durable, but it is not without its problems. Its adoption by many ride sharing companies such as Bird, is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, images of these scooters broken and littering the streets paints a picture of a flimsy throw away item. On the other hand, its design and selection for ride sharing services means a lot of thought has gone into making something reliable. However, one key issue is susceptibility to punctures. This is only a problem because puncture repair is difficult due to the force required to remove and replace the outer tyre on wheels that are very small compared to a bike. There is an option to change to solid tyres but our view is that this should be a last resort, because all solid tyres deliver a much harder ride as well as impacting speed, range and grip. Puncture prevention strategies include reinforced tyres, extra thick inner tubes or inner tube fillers.  There are an array of alternative solid tyres, but despite some claims, none deliver the ride of old fashioned air filled tyres.

Speed: The scooter easily reaches its advertised top speed of 15.5 mph, and when the battery is fully charges it even exceeds it. The throttle is surprisingly responsive despite being less powerful than some competitors and it is common for first time users to be surprised by its acceleration. However, be warned that speed and responsiveness will reduce as the battery drains. This is a common characteristic in most electric scooters although it is more pronounced in some than others.

Range: 18 mile range is excellent for a scooter at this price point. But be warned, as with practically every scooter on the market, the real world range will be about 25-35% lower. This is certainly the case for the m365 where you can expect closer to 12miles, depending upon your weight and riding style. 

Power:  The motor is rated at 250W but can deliver up to 500W. If you are heavy or regularly ride up hills this power may not be enough.  

Need to add

Folding compaction: The folding mechanism is a simple design enabling quick compaction, allowing the front stem to be used as a handle to carry the scooter when folded.  For most users this level of compaction will be fine for placing in the back of cars and taking on some forms of public transport, but there are certainly more compact scooters on the market.

Weight: Weighing 12.5kg means carrying over short distances or up stairs on occasions is possible without too much trouble, but you would not want to carry any significant distances.

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Capacity: The M365 battery has a reasonable battery capacity at 280Wh, which is very good for the scooter price point.

Charge Time: This relatively disappointing at about 5.5 hrs, equating to 3.3 miles range added for every hour of charge.  This is a slow charging rate compared most other electric scooter products on the market

Display: There is no in built display on the M365 but there is a battery power level indicator in the form of four small LEDs on centre of the handlebars. This shows available battery power at an accuracy of 8 increments which is perfectly adequate (each LED is first lit, then flashes as battery power reduces before that LED switches off).

Lights: The front light is integrated into the top centre of the handlebars (unlike some scooters whose light is mounted lower down) and it is surprisingly bright. It has a rear light on the rear fender and it is a nice touch that the rear light flashes when the scooter is breaking.

Brakes: The brakes are high quality for an entry level scooter with a rear disc brake which deliver plenty of braking power. The scooter also can also be slowed down by the motor when releasing the throttle – which also acts as an energy return system to the battery. The degree of which the motor slows the scooter can be adjusted in the scooter app.

Bluetooth: The Bluetooth enables the scooter to connect to an app on the users phone. This is a great addition,  allowing you to turn your mobile phone into a display for speed, to change settings, enable cruise control and check battery levels more accurately. There is a scooter lock option which disables the scooter, but it is no substitute for a real lock.

Feedback from Owners

The majority of independent reviews  acknowledging this scooter’s place as an icon of the electric scooter world. However, we were surprised to see at the time of writing this that the amazon.com reviewers only gave the product 3.3 out of 5. Closer inspection revealed there was a large chunk of 1 star reviews disproportionately penalising the scooter for well known and generally resolvable issues. The most common issue was puncture and subsequent tyre change challenges. Another occasional issue is battery loss of power – which is most often caused by breakage of a connection on the battery. We can see that for people without time or tools for DIY, or access to a service centre, this could present a real pain, putting their scooter out of action. However, the rapid growth in outlets willing and able to service these scooters means this is becoming much less of an issue. But that does depend on where you live. So this is a cautionary tale for any electric scooter owner.