Electric Scooter Break Tips

Lawrence Bonk Avatar

Written by:

Updated Jun 27, 2022 11:11 PM

If you have recently purchased a brand new electric scooter, you may be wondering if there are any good electric scooter break-in tips to consider as you get to know your new vehicle.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Electric scooters may need to be broken in upon receipt, though the necessity may vary depending on the make and model of your scooter.
  • To start the process, begin by riding your scooter at slow speeds, gently ramping up to a higher speed metric about every 100 miles or so.
  • You should also think about changing out the pre-existing oil or lubricant to a higher-grade substance.
  • Keep an eye on the battery as well, as scooter batteries tend to need their own breaking in period.
  • In general, try to avoid the battery from fully depleting and keep the battery at around 90 percent of the maximum charge.

What Does Breaking In Even Mean?

Before you can perform any of these break-in procedures, one has to understand exactly what breaking-in does for a scooter or any other personal transportation vehicle. Essentially, to break in a scooter or any other type of electronics is to slowly ramp it up until it reaches maximum performance and efficiency. This can be done in a number of ways. But if you just need a new one, here are some helpful tips for disposing of your old electric scooter.

Insider Tip

Essentially, to break in a scooter or any other type of electronics is to slowly ramp it up until it reaches maximum performance and efficiency.

How to Break In an Electric Scooter

Each scooter model will differ as to the specific break-in process, but we have tried our best to assemble universal tips and guidelines that can help just about every scooter owner.

Read the Instruction Manual

Some scooter manufacturers will recommend against any specific break-in procedures. In other words, you would do well to thoroughly read your instruction manual before you do anything with your scooter. Some scooters have already been broken in at the factory, while others do not respond well to the breaking-in process. You can also contact the scooter’s manufacturer via their web portal, their Twitter account, or by making an old-fashioned phone call. If your scooter’s manufacturer is based in China, they should still have an English-speaking customer service representative either online or available via phone.

Insider Tip

You would do well to thoroughly read your instruction manual before you do anything with your scooter.

Be Gentle

The breaking-in process should be slow and steady. Be gentle as you methodically raise the bar on what you are expecting from your scooter. There are no hard and fast rules, but you should use common sense. Many schools of thought suggest that you should keep the speed on the lower side for 100 to 200 miles of use, slowly increasing that metric until you have reached the top speed. Pay close attention to the scooter itself, listening for noises of struggle and the like.

Change the Oil or Lubricant

Even though electric scooters do not use petrol fuel to operate, they still feature a number of moving parts that need to be lubricated. When you receive your scooter it will already be filled with oil or a similar lubricant. The pre-existing lubricant, however, may be of a low quality. As part of the breaking in process, change out this oil or lubricant with a higher-grade substance. Read the scooter’s instruction manual before doing so to ensure you choose a substance that can integrate with the vehicle.

Pay Attention to the Battery

A scooter’s battery will need a separate breaking-in process to the rest of the scooter’s components. Start by riding the scooter until the battery has depleted to around 40 to 50 percent. Take care to charge it to around 90 percent before removing it from power. Repeat this process several times. Next, extend the lower metric to around 30 percent, while keeping the maximum charge at around 90 percent. Repeat this several times. Finally, go to 20 percent of a full discharge, keeping the maximum charge at 90 percent. Your battery should now be fully broken in.

Take great care to never allow the battery to fully discharge and to keep the maximum charge at 90 percent. This will increase the longevity of the battery, as it will very rarely complete a full charging cycle. And remember, a battery check is most important if you’re wondering why your electric scooter won’t move.

Warning

Some scooter manufacturers will recommend against any specific break-in procedures.

F.A.Q.

If I install performance parts on my scooter, does that void the warranty?

This depends on what type of parts you are installing and the specifics of your warranty. If you are installing parts to the motor in order to increase the maximum speed, it will likely void the warranty.


Do I need a special license to ride a scooter?

You will likely never need a special license to ride an electric scooter. Some states, though, do require scooter riders to have a valid driver’s license or learning permit. Check with a local governmental agency for details.


My scooter won’t start. What gives?

There could be a number of reasons why a scooter won’t start. The battery could be depleted, the charging port could be damaged, or the motor could be malfunctioning. Try some general troubleshooting.



STAT: Keeping your battery from being fully depleted can help increase the overall lifespan of the said battery by up to 40 percent. (source)

Lawrence Bonk Avatar

Learn More About Electric Scooter