I’ve been testing a lot of electric kick scooters this year, and Yadea’s KS5 Pro is one of the first to offer a nice compromise between virtues. It’s not incredibly powerful and extremely heavy like the 64-pound Apollo Ghost, but it’s also not so lightweight that it violently shakes over the smallest pothole like the Slidgo X8.
It’s somewhere in the middle, offering a comfortable ride with just enough power for anyone in a city without too many steep hills. Its $759 price reflects that. But it’s not without flaws. Its range could stand to be better for the price, a few features are tied to the app, and I really don’t like the way you control functions on the display. Oh, it’s also still fairly heavy.
Get Up and Go
Simple unboxing experiences can be a double-edged sword. The KS5 Pro arrived in one big box at my doorstep, but unlike some e-scooters I’ve tried, it didn’t come chock-full of styrofoam to keep the whole thing protected during shipping. The unboxing process was quicker and a lot less messy (no styrofoam sticking to every object in your home!), but I also noticed that the tiny tip of the rear fender had broken off. Keep an eye out for that.
As you may have noticed, this is the Pro version, which means there is a standard KS5 too. That version has a 350-watt motor with a top speed of around 18 miles per hour, whereas the Pro has a 500-watt motor and a top speed of 22 mph. The standard version also has a smaller battery; for that reason alone, I recommend that you spend the extra $120 on the Pro (more on this later).
All you need to do is attach the top handlebar, which has an integrated display, with the included hex key and four screws. But you may need to adjust the rear brake’s strength. Weirdly enough, the included hex key doesn’t fit the nuts on the brake, so I had to use my own.
Folding it up is straightforward. Push a lever at the front of the stem and undo the clamp, then bring the stem all the way down. You can hook the handlebar to the rear fender, which makes it much easier to carry. However, when it’s just sitting in its folded state, the stem doesn’t stay hooked, which can look sloppy.
I like being able to pick up my e-scooter and take it into a shop (instead of taking the risk of parking it outside on New York’s streets), and that often means lifting it up a few stairs. The KS5 Pro isn’t as hefty as some e-scooters I’ve ridden, but 46 pounds isn’t exactly lightweight. It’s manageable but a good reminder that I should probably hit the gym sometime soon.
Annoying App
Yadea, a Chinese company known for its traditional Vespa-like electric scooters, did a fine job with the hardware here. The KS5 Pro looks slick with its orange-and-black theme, and there’s a white-and-orange version if that’s more your speed. The handlebar’s height isn’t adjustable, but it fit me—I’m 6′ 4″, and I didn’t need to stretch out my arms like a zombie to reach them. It may be a tad high for you, though.
The roomy deck can fit both my feet one in front of the other, the kickstand is reliably sturdy, there’s a great built-in bell, a surprisingly bright front light, and an always-on taillight. There’s enough room on the handlebar to attach a phone mount too.
