Last Updated on May 20, 2025 by nice2buy
Self-Balancing Scooter Pitch
Back in 2015, these things were everywhere. You couldn’t swing a selfie stick without hitting a teenager slowly orbiting a shopping mall on one. The self-balancing scooter – or “hoverboard” as marketers generously dubbed it – promised a Jetsons-style future where we all floated effortlessly to work while looking smug.
Reality, of course, had other plans.
Design & Build
It’s got all the hallmarks of a Kickstarter fever dream: dual 150W motors, LED headlights, and tires that are about as rugged as overcooked spaghetti. Built mostly out of plastic with the battery life of a tired hamster, the thing still weighs a solid 10 kilograms – just enough to be annoying, but not heavy enough to justify how fragile it is.
The design? Imagine if a Segway got drunk and lost its handlebars in a bar fight.
Features
- Top Speed: 10km/h (which is exactly how fast you run to the toilet after bad sushi).
- Range: 3 miles, assuming you live in a perfectly flat utopia with no curbs, gravel, or ambition.
- LED Lights: Great for attracting moths or confusing pets.
- Self-balancing: Unless it’s not. Then it’s just “falling.”
To its credit, it does have dual motors and a lithium battery from a reputable brand (Samsung). That should provide some peace of mind, assuming you don’t plan to take it anywhere near a hill, a puddle, or a breeze.
Use Case
Let’s be honest: nobody over the age of 14 has ever looked cool on one of these. They’re mostly spotted in suburban cul-de-sacs or ironic Instagram reels.
Also, despite the name, this is not something you’d use for commuting. Unless your job is three blocks away, the sidewalk is marble-smooth, and your dignity is already in tatters.
The 2025 Perspective
And yet… they still exist. You can still buy these in 2025. Why? Who’s buying them? I’ve lived in three countries and haven’t seen one “in the wild” in years. It’s like running into someone who still uses a Blackberry. You stare, not out of judgement, but in stunned admiration that the thing’s still functioning at all.
Some say they’re good for kids, but so are bicycles – and those won’t launch you into the shrubbery the second you sneeze.
Final Verdict
Is it necessary? No.
Is it innovative? Not anymore.
Is it hilarious watching someone fall off? Absolutely.
If you want to spend $80 teaching your child balance and humility in equal parts, then sure – this is your ticket. Just don’t act surprised when it spends more time charging than moving.