The NIU KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max are great commuter scooters that have a simple design packed with technology and are great for beginners.
NIU is the biggest competitor to the Segway Ninebot scooters. They offer similar specs but add unique features like a halo headlight and self-healing tires. And from our experience, NIU also offers a much better after sales servicing than Segway Ninebot.
If you are looking for a simple commuter scooter that has neat features, you’ll want to add the KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max to your list.
In this review, I will tell you what I love and hate about the NIU KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max.
The KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max are currently 25% off for Black Friday.
Click here to buy the KQi3 Pro
Click here to buy the KQi3 Max
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Pro from Amazon in the US.
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Max from Amazon in the US.
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Pro/Max from Amazon in Canada.
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Pro from Walmart.
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Max from Walmart
Click here to buy the NIU scooters from France
Differences between the NIU KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max
- KQi3 Max has self healing tires vs KQi3 Pro does not
- KQi3 Pro has a 486 Wh battery where the Max has a 608.4 Wh battery
- KQi3 Pro has a stated range of 31 miles vs 40 miles on the Max
- KQi3 Pro has a top speed of 20 mph where the Max has a top speed of 23.6 mph
- KQi3 Pro has a 350 watt motor where the Max has a 450 watt motor
- KQi3 Max has two disc brakes where the Pro has one disc brake.
- KQi3 Max has red powder coated disc brakes
What I love about the NIU KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max
- Great for beginners
- Bluetooth app
- Halo light
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Metal tubular frame
- Budget-friendly
- Pneumatic tires
- Self healing tires on KQi3 Max
- UL certified
- Safe
- Mechanical disc brakes
- Portable
Should I get a Ninebot Segway Max G30LP or Niu KQi3 Pro?
The NIU KQi3 Pro is an all around better scooter than the Ninebot Max G30LP and they are listed at the same price.
The Max G30LP and KQi2 Pro are both rated for 20% hill grades. The KQi3 Pro has a 486 Wh battery where the Ninebot Segway Max Max G30LP has a 367 Wh battery. The KQi3 Pro also has a slight top speed advantage of 20 mph where the Max G30LP has a top speed of 18.4 mph.
NIU’s after sales service is great whereas Ninebot Segway’s after-sales servicing is almost nonexistent from our experience.
The folding mechanism on the NIU scooters is far superior to the Ninebot Max G30LP. The folding mechanism is easy to use on the NIU scooters and and has safety redundancy to prevent user error. I hate the plastic collar piece on the Ninebot Max folding mechanism because it can easily brake if you don’t move it out of the way when unfolding the scooter.
Stand out with the halo light!
All NIU scooters and e-bikes come with an iconic halo light making it easy to spot them in the wild. I love the look and it helps make the scooters stand out from the Ninebot and Xiaomi scooters in the same class.
The light is mounted high and provides ample lighting for night riding. I would still get an additional handlebar light if you are going to do a lot of night riding but it is one of the best we have seen in a light commuter scooter.
NIU robust Bluetooth App
The NIU app is pretty sweet and you can control a lot of things like max speed, kick-to-start, and GPS locking. You can lock the scooter and it will alert you if someone is moving the scooter.
I like the app much better than the one we saw on the Anyhill UM-2.
Metal tubing frame around scooter and metal undercarriage
Most light commuter scooters have plastic exterior pieces. I like that the Niu KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max have a tubular frame that wraps around the base of the scooter and a metal undercarriage to protect the internals like the battery and controller.
The battery and scooter are UL certified so you don’t have to worry about lithium fires if you store the scooter in your home.
The overall design on the KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max are superior to most lite commuter scooters.
What type of brakes are on the NIU KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max?
The KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max both have electric regen braking that can be controlled with the app. The KQi3 Pro has a single mechanical disc brake in the front tire, where the KQi3 Max has mechanical disc brakes on the front and rear tire.
I like that they have put mechanical disc brakes on the KQi3 scooters. Most lite commuter scooters use drum brakes which require less maintenance, but the stopping power of disc brakes is far superior.
What I hate about the NIU KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max
- No suspension
- Have to unlock the scooter to achieve higher speed
- Low clearance
- Throttle sometimes won’t engage
- App sometimes won’t connect
Does the NIU KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max have suspension?
None of the NIU kick scooters have suspension. The 9.5-inch pneumatic tires help to reduce chatter from bumps and cracks, but suspension helps a lot more.
I understand they don’t have suspension on the KQi3 Pro to make it a budget-friendly low cost entry level scooter, but I would have liked NIU to put suspension on their more expensive KQi3 Max.
Low clearance on the NIU scooters
We’ve had a chance to review the KQi2 Pro, KQi3 Pro, and KQi3 Max scooters and they all have the same issue. The deck clearance from the ground is low. The low positioning makes it easy to learn and makes the escooters ultra-stable.
However, I find that I bottom out on the 45-degree angle curbs if I ride straight up them. The NIU scooters have the lowest clearance I have seen on any electric scooter.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a dependable commuter scooter, the NIU KQi3 Max and KQi3 Pro should be on your radar. They have a lot of nice features that help set them apart from a crowded arena full of look-alike lite commuter scooters.
The low platform and simple-to-use controls make it perfect for those learning how to ride an electric scooter.
The scooter design is aesthetically pleasing and the app is one of the best in the industry. NIU after-sales servicing is great which you won’t find in a lot of the lite commuter scooter competitors like Ninebot Segway.
If you are looking for portability, the NIU scooters can be folded in a few seconds and easily carried into trunks, onto public transportation, or up stairs.
Overall, the NIU scooters are simple, safe, and elegant.
NIU KQi2 Pro Pricing, Coupon and Discount Codes
The KQi3 Pro and KQi3 Max are currently 25% off for Black Friday.
Click here to buy the KQi3 Pro
Click here to buy the KQi3 Max
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Pro from Amazon in the US.
Click hereto buy the NIU KQi3 Max from Amazon in the US.
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Pro/Max from Amazon in Canada.
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Pro from Walmart.
Click here to buy the NIU KQi3 Max from Walmart
Click here to buy the NIU scooters from France
Click here to view all our coupons and discounts on scooters and other PEVs.
Click here to view all the safety gear that Jimmy and I use.
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If you enjoyed this review, check out some other comparable escooters that we have reviewed:
Anyhill UM-2 – A lite commuter scooter with a swappable battery
OKAI Neon – Another budget-friendly commuter scooter
EMOVE Touring – A budget-friendly commuter scooter that comes in 5 colors
EVOLV Terra – A dual-motor commuter scooter with solid tires
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