VIRO Rides 550E electric scooter review

REVIEW – The VIRO Rides 550E Electric Scooter is sure to appeal to any child looking to up their scooter game.  With a limit of 120 pounds, speeds up to 10 miles per hour and average use time of 40 minutes, it is a great go-to toy for outside play this summer.

What is it?

With its original artwork design and high visibility LED running lights, this electric scooter is sure to be the talk of the neighborhood.  It’s easy thumb control throttle and hand-activated rear brake allows the rider total control as they cruise the streets in style on this fully electric scooter.  When it’s not being used or charging, it’s durable spring-loaded foldaway kickstand helps keep your 550E standing in style too.

What’s in the box?

• User guide and warranty
• Battery Charger
• Assembly tools
• Scooter pieces separated at the handlebar pole

Hardware specs

• Dimensions (Overall): 14.4” (L) x 36.7” (W) x 36.2” (H)
• Material: Aluminum, Steel (Frame)
• Suggested Age: 8 years and up
• Weight: 29 pounds
• Motor Wattage: 100 watts
• Wheel Material: Polyurethane
• Battery Charge Life: Up to 40 minutes
• Estimated Charge Time: 12 hours
• Max Speed: 10 miles per hour
• Holds up to: 120 pounds
• Cruising Range: 6 miles
• Battery: 1 Non-universal Lead acid
• Warranty: 90 day limited warranty

Design and features

Setup

The battery does not come fully charged, so you will first want to get your battery charging.  To charge, you will want to ensure that the scooter is turned off and find the charging cable port under the deck of the scooter.  The light on the charging cable glows red when charging and green when complete.  Charge time takes up to 12 hours.

The only assembly needed to get the scooter up and moving is attaching the handlebar unit.  Referencing the user guide and using the tools provided, this process only took me around 10 minutes from start to finish.

The handlebar pole will need to be slid into place, making sure it is inserted all the way and at the correct height.  Using the provided tools, you will tighten the screws where you want the handlebar to be height wise. Lastly you will rotate the brake so that it faces the handlebar and tighten the screw on it until it is tight and in place.

Features and Controls

This electric scooter works just like any scooter.  It does seem to be a little bulker and heavier than your average scooter, however both my children had no issues and hopped right on and got moving (after putting on their helmets).  Helmets are always a good and safe choice.

Speaking of safety, as a mother, I appreciate the added safety touches the VIRO Rides 550E Electric Scooter offers.  One main safety feature is the scooters fully enclosed motor and chain to help prevent injuries.  We also can attest that the brakes work very well.

We also find the adjustable height handlebars a great feature allowing us to modify the scooter to make it a more comfortable and safer for the varying sizes of each child.

You will find the power on switch located on the bottom base of the scooter.  The switch both turns on the scooter along with the running LED lights.  There is no way to not have the lights on while the scooter is use, which is a nice feature creating not only a cool “ground effect”, but providing a visual reminder that you left the power on.

The red throttle button is conveniently located on the right handlebar.  This button is your “button to ride”.  You must hold the button down to accelerate and continue moving.  The VIRO Rides 550E Electric Scooter gets up to speed rather quickly and will stay at the optimal speed until losing its charge.  There is no way to adjust or change the speed as you are using this scooter.

The hand brakes are also conveniently located on the handlebar, only on the left side.  We found the brakes to be very strong and consistently did exactly as they are intended and stopped the scooter.  After braking and wishing to continuing moving again, you just push down the red throttle button and you are back moving.

While the manual says it can go up to 40 minutes per charge, we found that around 30 minutes the scooter starts to show signs of a slowing performance.  We did notice a slight difference in the lifetime based on the weight of each child, with the lighter of the two getting a little more life (and speed) out of the scooter consistently.

Last, but not least, the VIRO Rides 550E Electric Scooter also features a kickstand.  I love the fact that the kids can store it upright when not in use and not throw it whenever and wherever they wish. This will hopefully help with keeping from getting scratched up and help it not get damaged sooner rather than later.

Performance

The VIRO Rides 550E Electric Scooter is a great size for any rider.  The durable heavy frame and larger wheels help it move smoothly over bumps, cracks and pebbles on the road.

The motor powers up to 100 watts, which is not a whole lot to get up any large hills or inclines, especially if the rider is closer to the max weight limit.  The best performance is on the flat neighborhood streets and sidewalks.

With speeds averaging around 6-7 miles per hour, it is a nice speed for my children ages (12 and 9), while older kids may find it a bit slow for their thrill level.

What I like

• The LED running lights
• Adjustable height handlebars
• The “street art” artwork look
• Strong and powerful breaks

What needs to be improved

• The battery charge time is 12 hours.
• The battery life averages around 30 minutes of use, which is not long enough for more than one rider to have a turn before recharging.
• The weight of the scooter is not ideal for the younger children to move.

Final thoughts

If you are in the market for an electric scooter, the VIRO Rides 550E Electric Scooter is an easy choice.  Overall, it does a nice job of providing my children with a safe, durable and fun scooter experience. It appeals to both my children, 12 and 9, for its street vibe and easy usable design.  However, the long charge time compared to the short use time is to be desired.

Price: $139.00
Where to buy: Walmart, Target, Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was purchased with my own funds.