The Hiboy ECOM 14 is a utility scooter, offering both seated and standing riding modes although seated is definitely the primary focus. Unlike most scooters it actually has a rear rack and basket for carrying cargo! The 450 watt hub motor has decent torque for hill climbing and can get you up to a top speed of 22 mph (35 km/h), but it's also very loud which isn't pleasant to listen to on long rides. It's highly adjustable and should fit a wide range of riders, plus it folds down for storage. It's not very portable; even in the folded position it's still difficult to carry, mostly because it weighs 57 pounds (26 kg). This scoot is definitely designed for city streets and would struggle on rough terrain due to the lack of suspension and very low deck clearance.
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Video Review
General
Frame and Contact Points
Electronics
Scooter Components
Written Review
Why do so many companies make standing-only scooters? Either that, or they include a seat as an afterthought, one that requires significant effort + tools to install, and the scooter ends up feeling a bit awkward to ride in the seated position. Thankfully that's not the case with the ECOM 14 from Hiboy; it's in seated mode by default! Sure, you can switch it to standing mode if you want... but why would you? It's comfortable and handles very well in the seated position.
Utility for commuters is the name of the game
Out of all the scooters I've reviewed to date, the ECOM 14 is easily the most useful, and mostly because you can carry some serious cargo. It includes a sturdy rear rack and wire basket combo, which isn't capacity rated but it should be able to carry at least as much as a standard bike rack (so about 50 pounds). Most scooters have no cargo options, aside from small stem bags that can only hold a few small objects like wallets and phones. Thanks to the ECOM 14's basket you can carry groceries or other cargo, or toss your bag in to take the strain off your back.
It looks like a utility machine, too; there's basically no visible branding, no flashy colors, no fancy anything. Just a thick gray frame with black components and basic integrated lighting.
The ECOM 14 is surprisingly comfortable as long as you stick to the pavement
I was expecting a rough ride from the ECOM 14 since there is no suspension, but I was pleasantly surprised; this is an impressively comfortable scooter. The seat definitely helps with several inches of shock-absorbing foam, but the biggest contributor is the 14" wheels. That's a much larger diameter than the typical 10" scooter wheels, which means they roll over obstacles much easier!
Riding in seated mode has a lot to do with comfort too. Standing on scooters for a long time just kinda sucks; my feet start falling asleep, my calves get tired, and on many scooters there's just not enough room on the footboard for my big feet to fit side-by-side. I end up turning them to the side which twists my body, another position that just gets uncomfortable after awhile. On the ECOM 14 I can sit, my feet fit side to side, and it's a very relaxed experience.
Basic components for getting around, thrill seekers will be disappointed
The ECOM 14's motor is a respectable 450-watt workhorse, no speed demon but it still feels much zippier than the average rental scooter. It has a top speed of 22mph which I was able to maintain even on slight inclines, but you'll definitely lose some steam on steep hills. Really my only gripe with this motor is the sound; it's loud, in a disconcertingly warble-ey fashion. It's pretty annoying to listen to on long rides and you should expect to get strange looks from passers-by.
The battery is an equally respectable 480 watt-hours in capacity, and Hiboy says it's good for up to 31 miles of range. From my testing I'd say that's accurate if you stick to Mode 2 which caps your speed at 16mph; that will maximize your range while still being faster than rental scooters which are typically capped at 12-14mph. If you want to go faster in Mode 3 I would expect closer to 25 miles of max range... which is still pretty good and probably about as far as you'd want to go in a single ride anyways.
The combined braking system also has pretty basic components, but again they get the job done. There's a mechanical drum brake up front, and a mechanical disc brake in the rear. This is an odd setup to me - I would put the disc brake up front since most of your stopping power comes from there - but it feels good even on aggressive stops. As a plus the brakes do trigger a flashing brake light, although it's not very bright so I wouldn't count on it too much. The headlight is a similar story, by the way; it has a surprisingly focused cone that doesn't illuminate very well, and it's mounted low on the frame. That means it's less noticeable, and it doesn't turn with the steering column... but hey, it's sure better than no headlight!
The biggest drawback is portability
The ECOM 14 does fold down but that's mostly to minimize space for storage. It doesn't lock in the folded position, and since it has a seat and basket it's just kinda bulky. The basket actually folds down too, which is pretty cool even if it doesn't help that much. Carrying it while folded is still rather difficult without a locking mechanism, and it's a bit hefty at 57 pounds.
This wouldn't matter as much if the battery was easily removable, but sadly it's integrated into the frame and can't be removed without the use of tools and quite a bit of effort. This means you have to bring the scooter inside to charge it. Not a problem if you have a garage, but if you live in an upper level apartment... it's a real hassle. I should note that the vast majority of scooters don't have easily removable batteries, which is a real shame and hopefully will change soon.
Final verdict: great utility for the price
The Hiboy ECOM 14 won't win any awards for premium components or performance, but I can honestly say it's one of the most useful scooters I've tested. It's a sturdy little workhorse that fits a range of commuting and utility needs, and I really like the focus on seated operation. It feels a little rough around the edges and definitely won't do well in off-road situations, but for city riders it's definitely worth checking out!
What Other Experts Are Saying
"While many scooters don’t offer much in the way of adjustability, the Hiboy has a decent amount. The seat is adjustable, though you can only set it to a handful of pre-drilled holes in the seat post, so you have to pick the one that feels closest to what you like. On the other hand, the handlebar height is adjustable via a quick-release clamp on the front of the scooter, making it easy to make minor changes. All t..."
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