FluidFreeRide Horizon Electric Scooter Review

FluidFreeRide Horizon Summary

This is 100% commuter-central and aimed at workers who clock up some serious weekly mileage.

The 10Ah battery gives the scooter a 20-mile range, with the larger 13Ah pack extending that to 25mph. Battery life is good, and charging is reasonable at under 5 hours.

The rest of the package is reassuringly well-specced, with a smooth ride for the 8” rear and slightly lager 8.5” front wheels paired with hydraulic suspension.

The LED lights are welcome for those early mornings and late nights, but we’d recommend an upgrade if it’s a regular thing. Beware that it’s not the most portable scooter either, with the folded-down weight feeling heavy on the arms.

We found it hard to get too excited about the Horizon. It isn’t a giant leap in scooter aesthetics, but what it does, it does very well – and all at a competitive price. For a few hundred pounds more than an electric scooter from a high street retailer, you’re getting a massive leap in performance.

Performance Overview

Inside the Freeride Horizon, you’ll find a pretty standard 48V 500W brushless hub motor. The manufacturer claims this will deliver a max output of 800W.

The motor performed well enough for us on tests, although the acceleration lagged a little from a standing start. Power is supplied by either a 10Ah or 13Ah battery. The larger battery will give you an extra 5 miles of distance, but there’s an increase in cost and weight that can hit the wallet and the top speed.

We’ll go into the details more below, but we’d describe it as being powerful enough. It’s never going to provide the all-out acceleration of something like E-Twow GT2020, but that’s not what it’s designed for. 

For commuters who want a powerful electric scooter that delivers excellent power and performance without standing out too much, it’s a wise choice.

Top Speed & Acceleration

From a standstill, the Horizon can feel a bit sluggish. Power delivery can feel slow until you hit the sweet spot. We found that the scooter comes into its own at 10mph and then pulls impressively up to the top speed of 23mph.

Such progressive acceleration won’t matter to most, but if you’re interested in competing with traffic at the lights, then it’s something to consider.

The scooter will hit its top speed under 8 seconds, which isn’t sluggish but isn’t super-speedy either. It’s a good all-rounder.

We were never able to hit 25mph (blame far too many leisurely lockdown lunches), but we did get 23mph on the flat. That’s not revolutionary, but it’s certainly enough to stay up with traffic, cyclists and other scooter users.

In context, it’s around 10mph faster than your average rental scooter or popular commuters such as the Unagi Model One E500. The top speed is limited by motor power, rather than regulated by a computer – so you’re in charge.

Basically, it’s not slow.

Battery Life & Range 

If we keep the comparisons coming, the standard Horizon will give you 5 more miles of enjoyment than the E500. Go for the larger battery, and you’ll get 10 more, with a maximum range of 25 miles.

In our tests, we found the range to be around 20 miles. For our money, we’d go for the larger battery. It’s a little more expensive and almost a kilo heavier, but it’s worth it.

Motor Configuration

Unlike most commuter electric scooters, the motor here is in the rear hub. Because a riders’ weight is distributed toward the back of the deck, a rear hub motor, this translates into more comfortable acceleration and deceleration. 

The motor itself is 500W, with Fluid FreeRide saying it can kick out up to 800W of peak power if required. Paired with a 624 watt-hour battery, it’s never going to give the push of power that you get from the WideWheel (its bigger brother in the FreeRide stable), but it stacks up well against the commuter competition. 

We had no complaints.

Construction & Build Quality

You can tell the FluidFreeRide Horizon is a well-built scooter by its weight.

The larger 13Ah version is almost 5kg heavier than a Xiamoi M365, for example. On the one hand, it means it’s less portable. On the other, it’s sturdier, more stable and probably a bit safer.

The frame is aluminium alloy and feels heavyweight. The fork welds, in particular, look like they’ll last. Bolts are solid, and there’s no noise when opening and closing it.

The paint finish doesn’t look like it’ll chip easily, which is good news for a day-to-day scooter.

Overall, the Horizon is very solid and well-built. In terms of performance and price, it’s highly competitive. The motor and battery pack are quality units. The rest of the components feel heavyweight, too (quite literally, as we’ve already said).

The Horizon scooter is more than the sum of its parts and is an ideal commuter companion – as long as you don’t have to lug it up too many flights of stairs when you get there. 

We’d be confident at using the Horizon as our daily ride and reckon you should be too. It’s unfair to compare a scooter at this price point to more expensive ones, so we won’t. If we compare it to the best-selling M365, the performance is head and shoulders above, and just £100 more expensive. On the downside, the finish may not be as slick, and neither is the marketing.

Suspension

The Fluid FreeRide Horizon has upgraded the front spring stem and dual rear hydraulic suspension, which the manufacturer hopes have ironed out some of the flaws that affected previous models. 

Thankfully, we can confirm that the ride is smooth and pleasant. Compression and return is quick, and the suspension looks built to last. We didn’t get any nasty noises or knocks, which is a good sign.

Ride Quality

The FreeRide is a well-built scooter that provides a comfortable ride for miles. 

We’ve probably said it enough, but this is a city-scooter through and through, so slide off-road, and you’ll feel every lump and bump through the handlebars. Keep it on the smooth stuff, and you’ll experience few problems.

The rear hub motor provides drive from the back, which encourages you to stand a little further back on the deck. We found this comfortable and enjoyable.

Any negatives? There was some play in the handlebars, and we needed to tighten some of the screws periodically, but this isn’t out of the ordinary. 

Braking

The Fluid Freeride Horizon has a rear drum brake and regenerative at the rear. Operated with a single lever, the brakes are powerful, bringing the scooter to a standstill in less than 8 metres. It’s standard, but not spectacular.

The lever works with a bit of pressure, and they’re quiet. Holed up inside the rear hub, they’re virtually maintenance-free too, which is excellent for a daily ride.

Where the brakes can be a cause for concern is during wet or damp weather. The rear can lock up if you’re braking aggressively. In the dry, you’ll be OK, but if there’s little grip, it could be dangerous. 

Portability

We’ve already touched on the heavy weight before, but when folded up, it can really tell. At 19kg, it’s about 5kg heavier than an entry-level scooter, which doesn’t feel much on the road, but it can tire you out when heaving it up a set of stairs.

The folding mechanism works well, with the stem and handlebar mechanism working well straight out of the box.

It’s not ultra-portable, but the pay-off is higher build quality and durability. It’s your money and your choice.

Water Resistance

The Horizon electric scooter has no water protection, which means it’s not suitable for use in wet weather. While splashing through a puddle or two is unlikely to do you any harm, it could invalidate your warranty. As we’ve said before, the solid rear tyre has some suspect grip in the wet, so we recommend finding an alternative method to get to work.

Lights

You get LED lights at the front and rear, and while they’re passable, they don’t provide much protection. In fact, they’re probably the weakest part of the package and would be the first area we would upgrade if you’re planning on stepping out during darkness.

As well as front and rear lights, there are button lights on the side of the deck. They’re stylish enough but do little for your safety.

Tyres

You get a 20.3-centimetre pneumatic tyre at the front and at the back, a solid, airless 20cm tyre. Let’s start with the front. Good grip, excellent traction and all-round performance. 

Sadly, the solid rear-tyre isn’t as good. There’s a noticeable lack of grip that gets worse if it’s wet. It’s not a massive issue, but you’ll need to be careful with your braking.

Deck

The deck is reasonable, with a 46cm x 15cm of space for you to find the perfect position. It’s not huge, but it’s not small either. Because of the rear-motor position, you’ll find yourself standing slightly nearer the rear of the deck. 

Ground clearance is over 10cm, which is decent for a commuter scooter. While we would never recommend riding through puddles or in the wet, the height provides ample splash protection.

Reliability, Warranty & Customer Support

We experienced no issues during our tests. There are no real standout issues to be aware of from other user-reviews. Like all scooters, you’ll need to take care of its crucial components, including regularly cleaning it and charging the battery. Other than that, the Horizon should provide years of enjoyment.

Maintenance

The scooter is pretty self-sufficient. You’ll need to keep a check on the air pressure in the front tyre and regularly check both for wear and tear. If you’re riding for long periods, you may need to tighten the stem screws, but that’s not out of the ordinary. 

Known Issues

There are no significant issues noted with the Horizon that we can find. However, a few other reviewers have pointed out the charging port, located in the front wheel, is a potential issue. To plug it in, you need to angle the front wheel. If you accidentally turn the wheel with the plug still in, you could break it – a costly accident.

If we discover any new problems, we’ll update the review and share them so you can read about them here first.

Accessories

You’ll get everything you need in the box, but optional extras include a carry handle and trolley wheels for pulling. We’d also suggest splashing out on some decent aftermarket lights too.