

Electric scooters have, with time, been smiled upon thanks to their ability to transform a long walk into a bearable short distance. Although some complain that electric scooters are eyesores and a nuisance on the walkways.
Most of us agree that it is a heaven-sent transport reinvention that helps us in beating traffic. But if you’re trying to cut costs and avoid using ride-sharing services, maybe you should get one for yourself.
Although you may have your go-to rideshare company, Lime and Bird are popular names in this market. And their scooters are awesome to ride but which best fits you?
Brief History of Lime & Bird Electric Scooters
Lime & Bird are two of the biggest players in the hire schemes for electric scooters. Which can also be referred to as scooter sharing. Bird, which is based in Santa Monica, California, was founded by Travis Vanderzanden in 2017, September. Travis is also the founder of a very successful car-washing service that was later purchased by Lyft.
There are over 80 cities in the USA where Bird has spread. They are also in collaboration with several colleges and universities. All in different cities providing a great means of transport for students on and off campuses. Bird has recently made it to the list of Times Magazine’s 50 genius companies.
Lime is also an equally successful micro-mobility company. Which was founded in January 2017 as an offshoot of the Limebike. In 2018, the company re-branded to Lime the name they go with to date.
Lime specializes in different types of electric bikes and smaller e-scooters. The company, which was founded by Toby Sun and Brad Bao, is widely spread across the USA with over 75 cities hosting Lime scooters.
The two companies, Lime and Bird, started in the USA before spreading to Europe and the Olympic Park in the UK. Although they were originally a hire scooter company. Many users have realized they can cut costs eventually by owning their own scooter. These companies have a fleet of scooters to offer.
Bird and Lime work through apps where users register, login, and search for electric scooters near them. They can then scan the code on the electric scooter they want to ride. At the end of the day, the app calculates distances covered and the money owed and charges to their credit cards.
They save on time by helping you beat traffic in busy cities. Since they charge the scooter bill directly to your registered credit card.
The Electric Scooter Lime Use
Upon rebranding, Lime partnered with Segway to create a wholly new line of scooters. Ninebot is the official name for most models created by Segway. Lime is so popular with using Segway that the Ninebot models are advertised and known to some consumers as the Lime-s series of scooters. Lime purchases Segway Ninebot models in large capacity.
Recolors them with their theme colors green and white. Lime has also ventured into supplying a few Xiaomi Mi electric scooters. The latest model that has become very popular for Lime frequenters is the Segway Ninebot ES4.
Segway Ninebot ES4 Pros & Cons
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Pros
Range and speed – The Ninebot ES4 is designed for longer distances and power. The scooter comes with a dual battery, an external and internal battery. It boasts a motor power of 800w at peak though it can be used at 300w in regular output.
This scooter gives a max range of 28 miles at a maximum speed of 19mph before requiring recharging. You can also save your power through the speed limit mode or cruise mode, which limits the speed to 12mph.
Comfortable grips – Segway is a master in constructing their electric scooters. The Ninebot ES4 is designed with a mesh pattern on its deck to offer a great grip on the handles. The handles bars are also ergonomic and comfortable to hold.
Foldability – With big cities, there is barely room for anything in most apartments. What we love about this scooter is that it’s foldable for storage. You can also fold it up quickly as you get on the bus.
High-quality material – The Ninebot ES4 is made with aircraft-grade aluminum material. Which makes it strong enough to carry a 200lbs adult.
Airless wheels – The wheels of the Ninebot ES4 are designed to be 8 inches in the front and 7.5 inches at the back. The back wheels are mechanically braked while the front is braked electrically. Both wheels have excellent breaking because of the anti-lock system. The wheels are also large and equipped with shock absorbers.
User-friendliness – This e-scooter has an easy to use control panel. Which gives access to important info such as your speed, riding mode, and battery life. It also has an anti-theft alarm and cruise option, which limits speed to 12mph.
Bluetooth compatibility – Ninebot ES4 comes with a Bluetooth phone which allows you to connect to your phone to control your scooter. You can change the color of your rear light and switch the headlights on and off.
Variability – The Ninebot ES4 gives access to several modes such as standard mode, power-saving mode, sports mode, and even a cruise mode. For those evenings you don’t want to rush home. You can also access the slope climbing grade of 15 degrees.
Cons
Weight – This scooter is a bit heavy with a weight of 31 pounds. It may not be suitable for frequent carrying.
Limited colors – Ninebot ES4 is only available in dark grey and silver, which may be limiting for those who wish to express themselves through colors. Lime recolors their collection to green and white, which are their theme colors.
Price – This electric scooter is very expensive, but we can attribute the price tag to its excellent features. We would say it is worth the price since the specs are some of the best you can find in any electric scooter.
The Electric Scooter Bird Use
Bird has, for a long time, been associated with Xiaomi MI, a Chinese company. It is one of the youngest yet seriously dominant companies in the market today that are known to produce very high-quality scooters. Bird also incorporates other scooters such as Segway in their company.
Xiaomi M365 Pros & Cons
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Pros
Simple design – Simplicity is the utmost sophistication, and Xiaomi has remained true to this. Their scooters have a minimalist designed and only come in two colors: black or white.
High-quality material – The reason this scooter makes the list of best electric scooters for adults is because of the aircraft-grade aluminum material used in making the body.
User-friendly – The handlebars are made to be anti-slip for a comfortable handle feeling. You can also speed up with a simple push of a button thanks to the press-type accelerator, which is easy to operate. The power display has 4 LED lights that display battery power to help you know when to reach the nearest recharge station.
Lightweight and foldable – This is among the lightest e-scooters you will come across. It is also foldable making it more portable since you can carry it comfortably. Take it anywhere, on the bus, fit it in small spaces and trunks.
Speed and range – The electric scooter comes with a massive 18650 mAH li-ion battery. The battery has a 250 watts capacity, which guarantees a mileage of 18 miles on a full charge. The maximum speed this scooter can attain is 15.5 mph.
Safe to use – This electric scooter comes with the E-ABS technology on the front wheel and a mechanical disk brake on the rear brake for easy and safe braking.
Additional features – The scooter comes with a cruise control system that not only saves power and the smart BMS system.
Cons
Mileage – This scooter has a lower mileage coverage compared to Its competing models. The mileage is unsuitable for covering longer distances.
Tires – Xiaomi electric scooter tires are pneumatic and fixing flats can be challenging. These tires could be very problematic for many people since the manual doesn’t even tell you what tools you need to use. There are also no indications on how to remove them or how difficult it actually is to put the new tire on the rim.
Although foldable, the Xiaomi Mi 365 folds into a triangle instead of flat, which can be inconvenient.
So, Who Wins The Battle, And What Should You Ride?

Power: The Segway Ninebot ES4 has a more powerful motor (50w more) compared to the Xiaomi M365.
Speed: When we look at the maximum speed the two can cover, the Segway creation still takes the title home.
Mileage: Ninebot ES4 can also cover a longer mileage (close to 10 miles) before needing a recharge compared to its competitor, the mi M365.
Weight: Xiaomi, however, takes points for its lightweight. So, if you carry your scooter around a lot, the Xiaomi M365 is the right choice unless you don’t mind bearing a few pounds.
Price: Ninebot ES4 is twice the price of the Xiaomi M365. The features can, however, be attested to that price.
If you are shopping on a budget, the Xiaomi M365 is the go-to electric scooter for you. The scooter has excellent features though it falls a little behind compared to Segway Ninebot ES4. The lightweight is also a powerful selling point that appeals to those who carry their scooter a lot.
For those who are not price-shy, Ninebot ES4 has excellent features for you. With a bigger battery, you will cover close to 20 miles without needing a recharge.
You can also get to your destination faster and beat rush-hour traffic thanks to its powerful motor and higher maximum speed. Choosing the two is a matter of compromise between price and features.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi M365 and Segway Ninebot ES4 are both excellent electric scooters. The two are very popular models in the market today. While Ninebot ES4 is all about price, the Xiaomi mi 365 is all about price and weight. Whichever you choose, you are guaranteed a faster and cheaper way to get to your destination.
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