These days, e-scooters are widely used as a means of an easy and fun commute. It’s incredibly joyful to just roam around the city on an electric scooter.
If you’re on the lookout for one, you’ve probably come across the Apollo Explore scooter, and this is where we’ll help you. We’ll walk you through the pros, cons, and features of this e-scooter in our Apollo Explore review.
Apollo Explore Review: At a Glance
The Apollo Explore scooter has a powerful 1000-watt electric motor. It has a long range of 45.2 km and an outstanding acceleration that reaches 40 km/h in 9.6 seconds. Besides its impressive power, it’s designed in a way that ensures the rider’s safety.
Thanks to its pneumatic tires, trigger-style throttle handlebars, non-slippery deck, sufficient lights, and good build quality, the Explore has become one of the best-selling e-scooters out there. In addition, it has a long-lasting 2-year warranty.
Pros:
- Foldable
- 2-year warranty
- Sufficient lights for night-time rides
- Has a telescopic stem that goes up and down, depending on your height
- Can withstand heavy weight
Cons:
- Not easy to lift
- Handlebars get loose during long rides
- Trigger-style throttle causes hand stiffness
Performance
The Apollo Explore is a high-performance e-scooter. It has a superb acceleration that can reach 40 km/h in 9.6 seconds, with a top speed that reaches up to 48 km/h, which is considered quite fast. It’s also a long-range electric scooter; it has a 45.2 km of travel range.
When it comes to hill climbing, we found that the Explore performs well despite being a single-motor scooter. However, it’s not meant for climbing steep inclines.
Build Quality
The Apollo Explore is durable and long-lasting and can take on hectic rides without showing any signs of damage. Besides being relatively large, it moves with ease and has a quiet sound.
However, it’s not waterproof and can be damaged with prolonged exposure to water. Its IP rating is IP-54, which means it’s able to endure small amounts of water, such as light rain.
Handlebars
The handlebar on the Explore utilizes two brake levers and a trigger-style throttle, which is commonly used in performance scooters. The throttle is the part of the scooter that’s responsible for its speed during the ride, as it communicates to the speed controller how much power is needed to accelerate.
It’s good news because trigger-style throttles have the benefit of being super easy to replace. Also, the one on the Apollo Explore has a built-in LCD that displays battery level, speed, riding mode, and odometer. You can track the distance traveled and adjust the settings, such as the acceleration and braking system strength.
However, we found that the hand grip of the trigger-throttle was very uncomfy and can make your hands stiff during long rides.
Another handy feature is that the handlebars of the Explore are foldable, and they use a screw-type mechanism. This mechanism makes the scooter safe because the handlebars are firmly secured in place without the slightest hint of feeling jiggly. However, they may need to be retightened during long rides.
Tires
The Explore has 10-inch pneumatic tires. This large width makes the scooter self-stabilizing, which maintains traction during braking and turning. It also helps the scooter to withstand bumps, resulting in a more comfortable ride. Moreover, the air-filled tires perform better on wet roads compared to solid rubber ones, which tend to be more slippery.
However, these tires have inner tubes that make them more prone to getting punctured and can easily get flats. To prevent this from happening, try using sealant on your tires.
Deck
This scooter’s deck has a width of 9 inches and a length of 21 inches, which is considered a large space compared to other scooters in the same category. And since it’s taped with grip tape, it’s non-slippery and provides a good grip wherever you stand on it.
Also, the deck-to-handlebar height can be telescoped up and down, depending on your height.
Lights
The Apollo Explore has enough light capacity for riding at night. Since late-night riding is all about being seen by other car drivers, this scooter is considered safe for that purpose. It has several headlights and taillights, stem lighting, and underdeck lighting. So, it’s pretty unlikely that you’d be invisible to other drivers on the road.
Battery
The Explore’s battery is relatively larger than that of other typical e-scooters. It has a wonderful capacity for about 45 km of range. So, if you often forget to charge your e-scooter, this one has got your back; you won’t need to charge it more than once or twice a week. However, it depends on how often you use it and how long the distances you travel are.
Portability
The Apollo Explore can easily be folded and taken anywhere. The mechanism is quite simple and doesn’t take much time. And once folded, it takes much less space. However, since it weighs 24kg, it’s not that easy to lift.
Brakes
The Apollo Explore scooter has two disc brakes and one regenerative motor brake. And as we mentioned, you can control the strength of the brakes in the settings.
For a scooter with such power and capacity, the brakes should be reliable to immediately reduce the speed once activated. Thankfully, the Explore’s braking system ensures just that.
Warranty
Apollo offers a long-term 2-year warranty. It covers parts such as the fenders, brakes, inner tubes, and tires. While these parts are free of charge, it still charges the customers for the shipping cost. However, if broken braking pads or flat tires are reported during the first 30 days or the first 10 km of distance traveled, the shipping cost is removed.
Note that only the original purchasing customer is eligible for the 2-year warranty, and it can’t be transferred from one customer to another after being resold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Apollo Explore Scooter a Good Fit for Me?
If you’re going to rely heavily on using your e-scooter, the Apollo Explore scooter will serve that purpose right. However, the Explore is a relatively heavy scooter. So, if you want a scooter that you can regularly lift from place to place, it might not be a good fit.
Can Heavy People Ride the Apollo Explore Scooter?
Yes! In fact, the Explore is a very good option for heavy riders, up to 120 kgs. They can easily ride this scooter with confidence and comfort.
Can You Ride the Apollo Explore in Rain?
Yes, but keep in mind that it’s not waterproof, so make sure that you don’t expose it to heavy rain.
Final Words
The Apollo Explore scooter can be a good companion for daily, hassle-free urban rides.
It has a good build quality that allows you to have a smooth, comfortable, and safe ride. Its non-slippery deck guarantees a good grip, and its sufficient lighting allows you to enjoy night rides.
You’ll also appreciate this long-range scooter if you want to travel a lengthy distance.
