A powerful, smooth and quiet electric kick scooter with large 10 inch pneumatic tires that span cracks and absorb bumps well, solid 120 mm mechanical disc brake with traditional lever
Solid construction with a simple folding latch design, long stable handlebar and extendable stem to accommodate taller riders
Integrated plastic fenders with a built in LED tail light (on/off operation and bright when brake lever is pulled), headlight is stand alone but works well and LCD display panel is backlit
Air filled tubes can get flats if the pressure is not checked or you catch a thorn and replacements can be tricky to find offline, the scooter isn't very stable when folded (tends to tip sideways)
Twins DA3 Mechanical Disc with 120 mm Rotor, Zoom Lever with Motor Inhibitor (Activates Rear Light)
Grips:
Ergonomic Rubber
Rims:
Cast Alloy
Tire Brand:
Hota Tyre, 10" x 2.125"
Wheel Sizes:
10 in (25.4cm)
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Folding Kickstand (Near Back Left), Integrated 8 LED Back Light with Wuxing Button and Brake Level Activation, Blaze-Lite Stand Alone LED Headlight (2 AA Batteries), Integrated Plastic Fenders, Optional Fabric Zipper Case $50, Optional Additional Charger $35
The Momas E-Scooter is an electric kick scooter that began its life on Kickstarter in October 2015. The company that designed it also designs and sells electric bicycles under the E-Joe brand and I’ve been reviewing them for several years now. The company strives to balance cost and performance and that’s what I saw with the Momas… at ~$900 MSRP the scooter is much more than a toy. It’s designed to aid commuters and professionals who want to speed up their commute to and from bus stops, train stations, ferry boats and other “last mile” situations. What struck me about it most was just how quiet it operates and how smooth it feels despite there being no suspension.
As someone with sensitive knees, I cringe at the thought of riding cracks and broken pavement when most scooters. The tiny wheels just don’t absorb much of the impact so over time brands have begun introducing suspension and eventually air filled tires (just like bicycles) but this is one of the first models I’ve tried with both tires being air filled and sized at 10″ by 2.125″ much closer to the diameter of an actual bike. In practice, it works great and by foregoing suspension I think the complexity of the unit is reduced and it just seems simpler and strong. Everything is black including the deck, stem, handle bar and grips and I love that the touch points have been scrutinized for quality and performance. I love the ergonomic grips but one complaint here is the lack of lockers to keep them straight. I noticed the left grip twisting a bit as I rode and really hung on tight. The brake lever is long, easy to actuate and quick to stop but because there’s only a back brake and weight shifts forward during deceleration I noticed some skidding action (and you can see and hear that in the video review). Anyway, I like the 120 mm disc brake rotor and how enclosed the rear end is, the axles are covered and no wires are protruding (which could get bent or snagged). Up front however, the wire bundle coming down from the brakes, trigger throttle and display are exposed and sort of bump up against the fender. It didn’t result in any issues and did stay out of the way nicely during folding but it gave me pause.
Riding the Momas is smooth and quiet thanks to its gearless hub motor design. There is some cogging action (where the rare Earth magnets inside repel the electromagnetic staters when shut off) but this is common on e-scooters. I was able to reach ~20 mph relatively quickly when using power level three (there are 1, 2, and 3 levels) and acceleration was smooth and steady vs. zippy from start. This is a good thing given the relatively unstable nature of small-wheeled kick scooters. The included charger is light weight and compact so I could see myself tossing it into a backpack and charging at work, expect 15+ miles per charge varying by your weight and terrain. The scooter climbed fairly well but definitely fares better with some momentum going in. To activate the bike you press and hold the power button on the display then click it again to cycle through odometer, trip meter, timer and an error code readout. This LCD is clear and backlit with a faint white glow for easy viewing at night. I found that power level one topped out around 7-8 mph and worked well around other pedestrians. If you feel like adjusting speed settings or changing from miles per hour to kilometers per hour you can hold all three buttons and enter special codes which are listed in the manual linked in the resources section below. I didn’t experiment too much with this (and most electric vehicles have some sort of settings) but it was neat to confirm and to meet the founder of Momas, Willy.
This kick scooter comes with a one year comprehensive warranty and they sell a carry case that I’m told is made from canvas (good for keeping yourself and your environment clean). You can get additional chargers but the battery pack is basically semi-permanently built into the deck, held in with a deck cover and screws. The pack offers a solid 36 volts of power and 8.8 amp hours of capacity with higher quality Samsung cells. I asked how much a replacement would cost but didn’t get an answer. The other area I asked about was the rear fender because I like to rest my foot there for more standing space and balance. I was told that it could crack the fender but it felt solid to me and I was careful. All in all, even though there is some rattling noise in the video test ride, it felt quieter than an average kick scooter and the bars felt wide and stable. I like this scooter a lot and trust the E-Joe guys. One last gripe was that it didn’t feel stable when folded (wanted to tip to the side) but the kickstand did help and I was able to carry it around by dragging using the gap in the rim of the front wheel like a handle… not perfectly but it was easier than carrying (thought my hand did get dirty). It’s a solid product and awesome to see in person now that it’s out in the wild and off of crowd funding :)
Big thanks to Sam and Kannika at the Electric Bicycle Center for letting me test ride and review all of their scooters including the Momas ;)
Pros:
The display is very nice, I love that it’s backlit and so beautifully integrated with the trigger throttle, the buttons are easy to reach with your thumb while holding the right grip and easy to memorize (up, power, down)
This kick scooter has a wider deck than many of the other models I have been testing recently and even though they officially do not recommend putting your foot on the rear fender it felt pretty solid to me so I used it as a brace when riding
With both a front and rear light (that activates bright when you pull the brake levers!) this is one of safer electric scooters I have seen
It accelerates smoothly and doesn’t make a lot of noise… even at top speed ~20 mph, I like the three levels of assist and the ability to adjust each one to limit your speed (Level 1 is ~7 mph, Level 2 is ~15 mph and Level 3 is ~20 mph)
The tires really do improve comfort, they’re wide enough to span most cracks and kept the scooter from rattling at higher speed, I also like the ergonomic grips even though they aren’t locking and can twist a bit if you really bear down
Each scooter has a different folding mechanism but the ones used for the Momas worked very well and were easy to understand, the main latch felt solid and less likely to break
The deck is a bit wider than some of the other electric kick scooters I’ve tested and that was nice for finding room for my feet, the stem also telescopes up so I didn’t feel hunched over (I’m ~5′.9″ tall)
Cons:
It would be great if the headlight was integrated and ran off the main battery like the tail light and could be turned on/off with the Wuxing red button just like the back light
The rear brake offers excellent, smooth stopping power but isn’t as fast as if there were also a front brake, I found myself skidding when I really slammed on the brake
Some people might prefer a twist throttle vs. trigger for longer rides, your thumb will be active basically the whole time unless you kick manually
Due to the high strength of the motor there is some cogging when coasting unpowered (basically the magnets in the hub repelling keeping it from coasting for as long) so this could make unpowered scooting less efficient if you run out of batteries
While the inflatable tubes and larger tires provide an upgrade in terms of comfort you do risk getting flat tires and the tubes can be difficult to find locally, probably have to order online from e-Joe/Momas, consider using some Slime to help slow flats
The Momas scooter isn’t especially stable when folded, the rear tire lets it tip side to side and it relies on the front portion of the deck for stability, I was able to drag it around a bit but lifting by the handle is the best approach
No bell or other horn mechanism that I could see, consider adding one like this yourself near the left grip
The bundle of wires coming down from the throttle and brake lever pass by the front wheel and fender which collide a bit, nothing snags but I could see the wires getting wet and maybe wearing on the plastic
One of the lightest weight electric kick scooters I've ever tested, it's so light you can scoot around without any power and still have fun, the carbon deck and stem are also semi-flexible for comfort. Solid rubber tires are durable and flat-proof, the deck isn't especially wide or long but…...
Hi, Nice review, Im just curious, I’m going to use it for going around in the campus and to bus stations and stuff in UC Davis. Since it has a huge campus, and everyone uses bike, but there are many thieves and not that many spaces or places to park. and the bikes are like cheap ones are already 400-500. and I just thought these would be very convenient to use it in the campus and i can carry it with me to class. So i’m just asking like, when its fully charged, would it be enough for one day? like go around the campus my classes, and like go to downown which is close and grab some food. and im like 100+kg. but no more than 110kg. Or any suggestions from both other rides or from the kick scooter?
Court Rye
7 years ago
Hi Jae! Unfortunately I can’t really answer this question because there are so many factors to consider like your weight, exactly how far you’ll go, whether you plan to top off in class or other places that have plugs, even what the weather is like (windy vs. calm?) but the company estimates 10+ miles and that’s pretty far in my experience. If you’re concerned about range or weigh a bit more (like if you have a heavy backpack) you could pay a bit more and get the I-MAX S1+ which has a larger battery pack :)
Geo
7 years ago
Was wondering what you would recommend. I’m looking at the momas versus the i-max, s1+ . On paper their tech specs are similar in terms of distance and top speed. How ever I’m interested in the lighter weight of the momas. I have ridden the S1+ and I know being rated at 20mph on paper is not the same in real life. I can get to about 18mph on the s1+ , do you think the momas would be able to do the same with a smaller motor? Do you think it could realistically do 15mph in the real world? I’m trying to decide if the weight savings is worth the speed trade off. If it could get me to at least 15mph I would be willing to take that over the heavier s1+. Thanks.
Court Rye
7 years ago
Hi Geo, I feel like the smaller battery and motor would have an impact on both speed and range but 15 mph seems achievable. It’s too bad you can’t visit a shop and test ride them… Have you considered calling Sam at the Electric Bicycle Center? He’s a bigger guy and could give you more detailed feedback about what it’s like to ride both. He also sells both so if you don’t have a dealer nearby he could get you either one. Sorry for the delayed reply here, hope this helps :)
Jon
7 years ago
How does it compare to the I-MAX S1+? It seems similar, but $400 less expensive. Is it as fast? Top speed and acceleration? The I-MAX S1+ has a higher wattage motor and higher voltage batteries, but it is not clear if that actually is a real wattage number and if it translates into better performance. Also, how would you compare the performance to the EcoReco M3? Thanks!
Court Rye
7 years ago
Hi Jon, to me the I-MAX S1+ and Momas felt very similar and the display differences were the main focus. I’m pretty light at ~135 lbs so they both felt powerful but Sam (who weighs 260 lbs) was more excited about the power differences with the I-MAX. It definitely adds to the cost having a larger battery and that also adds weight but if you’re larger and want that power I think it could be worth it. Another person “Geo” just commented that he can get ~18 mph on the I-MAX and I assume he’s a bit heavier as well. You could call Sam directly and ask about the power differences since he’s a bigger guy, his number is (714) 992-5591
Jon
7 years ago
Any thoughts on comparing the speed of the Momas and Ecoreco M3 scooters? Which one do you think is faster? For someone who weighs same as you, about 140 lbs.
Court Rye
7 years ago
Hi Jon! I believe they both top out at 20 mph but the Momas might get there a little faster. I haven’t done a side by side speed test before, good idea :)
7 years ago
Excellent
LDub
7 years ago
Hi Court. I’ve narrowed it down to the Moma and the IMAX T3. I live in New York City and would be using it for a 3 mile commute. Maneuverability, handling on rough roads and being able to quickly fold and unfold is important to me. I also would like to take it on the subway with me so if I can drag on its rear wheel easily that would be ideal. Which would you recommend given an urban setting such as NYC?
Court Rye
7 years ago
I really like the larger tires on the Momas and the display is great too… Both scooters could be dragged with the rear wheel but might not feel as stable or be as clean as the Glion Dolly which has a specific handle for this. I have just pulled by putting my hand around the front rim on the Momas and it worked alright. Surprisingly, even with the larger more comfortable tires the Momas is about the same weight as the IMAX T3. I think it would be my choice for comfort but you do risk getting flats. Maybe put in some Slime and carry a mini pump?
Matt
7 years ago
Hi Court, I too have the same dilemma. I like the Momas and the IMAX S1+ They both have good points that I like. The momas display is sleeker and nicer, although I am drawn to the power of the IMAX although they are pressed to have the same top speed? I have seen someone get the iMax up to 22mph? Don’t know if this is true? I like your reviews and from a cost point of view the Momas looks more attractive. I know I am asking a lot but if you had to put your neck on the block as a buyer which would you purchase?
Court Rye
7 years ago
Hi Matt! If I had to choose one I’d probably get the I-MAX because I like the trigger throttle they use and the little bell on the brake lever. The motor feels stronger and the deck and rear fender are larger and more solid. Both are great but that’s probably what I’d go for all things considered :)
Ivan
7 years ago
Hey, Awesome review! Like many others, I guess, I am choosing between Momas and I-Max S1. So, after riding both Momas and S1 would you say that Momas is going slower or taking more time to get to the maximum speed? Is it harder to get up to hill on Momas compared to S1? I am most concerned about speed (I weight about 170lb). I know you’ve mentioned that you are a bit lighter but you got both scooters up to 20mph without any problems, right? Just trying to understand if I would get a better performance for that extra $400. And, I know it is hard to answer, but which of the two scooters do you personally like more? Thanks!
Court Rye
7 years ago
Hi Ivan! Given my weight and the price difference I’d be fine with the Momas but if they were both offered for free I’d take the I-MAX because the deck feels larger, the rear fender is sturdy so I could put a foot on it and I like the bell and trigger throttle style :)
Neil
7 years ago
I ride a different scooter (Pleasedin Calista 2) which uses the same folding handlebar setup.
Have you noticed on this scooter that the handlebar ends wobble after a while? Unfortunately there’s nothing to “lock” the bars, only the springs that hold the collars in place. The new Inokim models (Light and Quick 3) solved this with threaded collars (can’t retro-fit those in this case).
I’ve been thinking of ways to lock things down, so far the idea is to drill a hole in each of the collars to hold a grubscrew…has anyone else looked at other options?
In itself the wobbly bars aren’t that noticeable in most cases, but at speed (mine is a simple 36v 350w 8″ hub motor design, but makes an honest 35kph on the flat with a 90kg rider) it can be unnerving at times :)
Court Rye
7 years ago
Great tips Neil! Thanks for chiming in about what you’ve done to improve stability. I haven’t seen the Pleasedin Calista 2 yet but I’ll keep an eye out for it :D
Neil
7 years ago
No modifications to mine yet, but i’ll need to soon as the wobble’s getting a bit annoying. Either the grubscrews or potentially replacing the whole bars with a single non-folding option (I rarely fold mine up anyway). You can find the Calista (and other models) on their site: at http://www.pleasedin.com/
I’m trying to get some information (pricing, mainly) on the Calista Plus – 48v 500w on 10″ wheels. The Calista 2/Plus frame is solid as a rock, with only minimal flex from the handlebar stem.
Philippe
7 years ago
Hi, It seems to be exactly the same model as this one I was looking into here. Seems to be a newcomer, but I don’t know if they just ripped the design or really is the Momas under a different name… only thing that puts me off is the weight : at 15kgs it’s no so easy to move around.
Court Rye
7 years ago
Interesting… Sometimes the manufacturer in China will sell direct or license the design to different companies in different geographical locales. Even if E-Joe and Momas created the design and are told that they own it I have heard that it is difficult to enforce design patents and copyrights sometimes in Asia.
Jae Hyun Park
7 years agoHi, Nice review, Im just curious, I’m going to use it for going around in the campus and to bus stations and stuff in UC Davis. Since it has a huge campus, and everyone uses bike, but there are many thieves and not that many spaces or places to park. and the bikes are like cheap ones are already 400-500. and I just thought these would be very convenient to use it in the campus and i can carry it with me to class. So i’m just asking like, when its fully charged, would it be enough for one day? like go around the campus my classes, and like go to downown which is close and grab some food. and im like 100+kg. but no more than 110kg. Or any suggestions from both other rides or from the kick scooter?
Court Rye
7 years agoHi Jae! Unfortunately I can’t really answer this question because there are so many factors to consider like your weight, exactly how far you’ll go, whether you plan to top off in class or other places that have plugs, even what the weather is like (windy vs. calm?) but the company estimates 10+ miles and that’s pretty far in my experience. If you’re concerned about range or weigh a bit more (like if you have a heavy backpack) you could pay a bit more and get the I-MAX S1+ which has a larger battery pack :)
Geo
7 years agoWas wondering what you would recommend. I’m looking at the momas versus the i-max, s1+ . On paper their tech specs are similar in terms of distance and top speed. How ever I’m interested in the lighter weight of the momas. I have ridden the S1+ and I know being rated at 20mph on paper is not the same in real life. I can get to about 18mph on the s1+ , do you think the momas would be able to do the same with a smaller motor? Do you think it could realistically do 15mph in the real world? I’m trying to decide if the weight savings is worth the speed trade off. If it could get me to at least 15mph I would be willing to take that over the heavier s1+. Thanks.
Court Rye
7 years agoHi Geo, I feel like the smaller battery and motor would have an impact on both speed and range but 15 mph seems achievable. It’s too bad you can’t visit a shop and test ride them… Have you considered calling Sam at the Electric Bicycle Center? He’s a bigger guy and could give you more detailed feedback about what it’s like to ride both. He also sells both so if you don’t have a dealer nearby he could get you either one. Sorry for the delayed reply here, hope this helps :)
Jon
7 years agoHow does it compare to the I-MAX S1+? It seems similar, but $400 less expensive. Is it as fast? Top speed and acceleration? The I-MAX S1+ has a higher wattage motor and higher voltage batteries, but it is not clear if that actually is a real wattage number and if it translates into better performance. Also, how would you compare the performance to the EcoReco M3? Thanks!
Court Rye
7 years agoHi Jon, to me the I-MAX S1+ and Momas felt very similar and the display differences were the main focus. I’m pretty light at ~135 lbs so they both felt powerful but Sam (who weighs 260 lbs) was more excited about the power differences with the I-MAX. It definitely adds to the cost having a larger battery and that also adds weight but if you’re larger and want that power I think it could be worth it. Another person “Geo” just commented that he can get ~18 mph on the I-MAX and I assume he’s a bit heavier as well. You could call Sam directly and ask about the power differences since he’s a bigger guy, his number is (714) 992-5591
Jon
7 years agoAny thoughts on comparing the speed of the Momas and Ecoreco M3 scooters? Which one do you think is faster? For someone who weighs same as you, about 140 lbs.
Court Rye
7 years agoHi Jon! I believe they both top out at 20 mph but the Momas might get there a little faster. I haven’t done a side by side speed test before, good idea :)
7 years ago
Excellent
LDub
7 years agoHi Court. I’ve narrowed it down to the Moma and the IMAX T3. I live in New York City and would be using it for a 3 mile commute. Maneuverability, handling on rough roads and being able to quickly fold and unfold is important to me. I also would like to take it on the subway with me so if I can drag on its rear wheel easily that would be ideal. Which would you recommend given an urban setting such as NYC?
Court Rye
7 years agoI really like the larger tires on the Momas and the display is great too… Both scooters could be dragged with the rear wheel but might not feel as stable or be as clean as the Glion Dolly which has a specific handle for this. I have just pulled by putting my hand around the front rim on the Momas and it worked alright. Surprisingly, even with the larger more comfortable tires the Momas is about the same weight as the IMAX T3. I think it would be my choice for comfort but you do risk getting flats. Maybe put in some Slime and carry a mini pump?
Matt
7 years agoHi Court, I too have the same dilemma. I like the Momas and the IMAX S1+ They both have good points that I like. The momas display is sleeker and nicer, although I am drawn to the power of the IMAX although they are pressed to have the same top speed? I have seen someone get the iMax up to 22mph? Don’t know if this is true? I like your reviews and from a cost point of view the Momas looks more attractive. I know I am asking a lot but if you had to put your neck on the block as a buyer which would you purchase?
Court Rye
7 years agoHi Matt! If I had to choose one I’d probably get the I-MAX because I like the trigger throttle they use and the little bell on the brake lever. The motor feels stronger and the deck and rear fender are larger and more solid. Both are great but that’s probably what I’d go for all things considered :)
Ivan
7 years agoHey, Awesome review! Like many others, I guess, I am choosing between Momas and I-Max S1. So, after riding both Momas and S1 would you say that Momas is going slower or taking more time to get to the maximum speed? Is it harder to get up to hill on Momas compared to S1? I am most concerned about speed (I weight about 170lb). I know you’ve mentioned that you are a bit lighter but you got both scooters up to 20mph without any problems, right? Just trying to understand if I would get a better performance for that extra $400. And, I know it is hard to answer, but which of the two scooters do you personally like more? Thanks!
Court Rye
7 years agoHi Ivan! Given my weight and the price difference I’d be fine with the Momas but if they were both offered for free I’d take the I-MAX because the deck feels larger, the rear fender is sturdy so I could put a foot on it and I like the bell and trigger throttle style :)
Neil
7 years agoI ride a different scooter (Pleasedin Calista 2) which uses the same folding handlebar setup.
Have you noticed on this scooter that the handlebar ends wobble after a while? Unfortunately there’s nothing to “lock” the bars, only the springs that hold the collars in place. The new Inokim models (Light and Quick 3) solved this with threaded collars (can’t retro-fit those in this case).
I’ve been thinking of ways to lock things down, so far the idea is to drill a hole in each of the collars to hold a grubscrew…has anyone else looked at other options?
In itself the wobbly bars aren’t that noticeable in most cases, but at speed (mine is a simple 36v 350w 8″ hub motor design, but makes an honest 35kph on the flat with a 90kg rider) it can be unnerving at times :)
Court Rye
7 years agoGreat tips Neil! Thanks for chiming in about what you’ve done to improve stability. I haven’t seen the Pleasedin Calista 2 yet but I’ll keep an eye out for it :D
Neil
7 years agoNo modifications to mine yet, but i’ll need to soon as the wobble’s getting a bit annoying. Either the grubscrews or potentially replacing the whole bars with a single non-folding option (I rarely fold mine up anyway). You can find the Calista (and other models) on their site: at http://www.pleasedin.com/
I’m trying to get some information (pricing, mainly) on the Calista Plus – 48v 500w on 10″ wheels. The Calista 2/Plus frame is solid as a rock, with only minimal flex from the handlebar stem.
Philippe
7 years agoHi, It seems to be exactly the same model as this one I was looking into here. Seems to be a newcomer, but I don’t know if they just ripped the design or really is the Momas under a different name… only thing that puts me off is the weight : at 15kgs it’s no so easy to move around.
Court Rye
7 years agoInteresting… Sometimes the manufacturer in China will sell direct or license the design to different companies in different geographical locales. Even if E-Joe and Momas created the design and are told that they own it I have heard that it is difficult to enforce design patents and copyrights sometimes in Asia.