REVIEW – We’ve all seen kids of all ages (including myself) scooting around on a variety of kick scooters for a number of reasons: they’re fun, it’s easier and faster than walking, and … did I already say they’re fun? While our own child is still too small to scoot, I have a roster of niblings (my favorite term for nieces and nephews) that I thought of as soon as the review offer for the Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter came in so I volunteered, and luckily it came in time for the big family holidays this year. The niblings had a blast scooting around on it, and their parents were relieved that it was fast enough to be fun, but slow enough that they were not likely to be hurt in crashes (no niblings were injured in the making of this review).
What is it?
The Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter is an electric scooter. It features officially-licensed Transformers art and branding and is available in a few sizes and speeds. I selected the C8 model which is best for 6-12 year olds, the larger ones have a slightly higher top speed for older kids.
What’s in the box?
- Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter
- AC charger
- Manual
Hardware specs
- Dimensions (Length x Width x Height): Approx. 31.5 × 13.7 × 33.4 in (800 × 350 × 850 mm)
- Weight: 17.4 lbs (7.9 kg)
- Max rider weight: 110 lbs
- Recommended age: 6-12 years
- Recommended height: 3’9”–4’9” (115–145 cm)
- Max speed: 10 mph (16 km/h)
- Range: Approx. 6.2 miles (10 km)
- Operating temp: 14–104°F (-10–40°C)
- Storage temp: -4–122°F (-20–50°C); 41–86°F (5–30°C) recommended
- Weather resistance: IPX4
- Charge time: Approx. 3 hours
- Battery capacity: 2500 mAh / 54 Wh
- Battery chemistry: Lithium-Ion
- Nominal Voltage: 21.6 V
- Battery management systems (BMS): Overheating, short circuit, over-current, and over-charge discharge protection
- Motor power: 120 W, 180W peak
- Brake: Mechanical
- Tires: Solid synthetic rubber
- Frame: Steel
Design and features
The Transformers branding, art, and logos are all over the Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter. An Autobots logo is above the front wheel, while the entire deck (made of sandpaper-like material for safety and grip) has artwork of Bumblebee:
The Autobot logo is repeated up by the handlebars, and in the picture below you can see the thumb throttle and the multifunction power/mode button.
The left handlebar has the brake lever. Both feature rubbery grips that are comfortable and easy to hold.
The handlebars attach to the deck with both a clamp and a locking pin. They’re not designed to be frequently and quickly collapsed, but you can do so for storage or transport.
Looking at the side profile you can see the Segway logo and the fenders to prevent splatter on the rider.
The kickstand seems sturdy and is easy to flip out and in with your foot. Reflectors on the sides of the front wheels add to visibility, especially at night.
The charging port is protected from the elements by a flip-out seal.
Above that is the indicator light – this shows if power is on or off, and which mode is selected (slow, fast, or cruise).
The next picture is a view from above as if you were the rider on the Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter:
And this last shot in this section shows the front tire a bit better. This tire has the electric motor in it, so it’s front wheel drive.
The Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter’s build quality all around was very solid, as I’d expect from an established brand like Segway. Some of the welds are a bit sloppy, but in an overdone way rather than not enough. My only complaint about the design would be how far the cables stick out of the scooter – I could see these getting snagged on something with the rough way that some kids play (or get damaged from being thrown down, etc.).
Setup
Setup of the Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter is as simple as sliding the handlebars onto the post as shown above, and then clamping down for extra security.
Next, plug in the wall charger (the bottom right one in the picture above), which has an LED indicator that is red when charging and green when complete.
Finally, plug the Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter in and wait for up to 3 hours if fully empty.
Performance
Segway nailed the speed settings for this age range and size of scooter. My niblings that fall in the recommended age and size range all loved riding the Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter. Some other electric kid scooters I’ve seen go way too fast and are asking for road rash and broken bones, or are so slow that kids lose interest. The Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter was used pretty much nonstop for a week while multiple families were in town for holidays, and it did great all around the neighborhood streets which include some decent hills. Feedback from the kiddos was universally positive, no complaints all around. Likewise, their parents didn’t have any worries about safety and loved that the kids were entertained.
What I like
- Good speed for 6-12 y.o. kids
- Solid and safe build quality
- Decent range – the kids always moved on to different activities before killing the battery
What I’d change
- Some kind of LCD display would be nice
- A physical key lock for parental control (though you can just cable lock it if desired)
Final thoughts
Given the Transformers tie-in, I thought it was only appropriate to use Adobe Photoshop generative AI to give my last picture a Michael Bay style explosion. In the words of my nephew: “this is awesome!”. There are a lot of powered kid mobility options on the market, but if you have a kid who likes scooters and Transformers, the Segway Transformer C8 Kids eScooter is a no-brainer! Even if they’re not a fan, the high visibility yellow and great artwork might sway them and they’ll have a blast riding around.
Price: $249.99
Where to buy: Segway or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Segway
