Apollo Air 2022 review: Reliable but distinctive
I’ll be honest: I don’t like using scooter apps. Just give me all the controls on the thing itself. Sure, it’s nice to be able to control the level of regenerative braking and top speed through an app, but more often than not, it’s a nuisance. Fortunately, the Air quickly paired with my phone, I engaged top speed, maxed out the regen brake, and I was happily on my way, topping out at around 19 miles per hour thanks to the 500-watt motor.
That’s you assumed to hit 21 miles per hour and you probably will. As a 6’4″ man, I’m slightly over the Apollo Air’s stated weight capacity of 220 pounds. Range-wise, I got about 13 to 15 miles on it, riding all over New York City. But on one trip when I left Bed-Stuy , Brooklyn, across the Manhattan Bridge and back, I found myself kicking off the ground to make it the last few blocks home.I’m sure most people can get closer to 20 miles out of it, if not more, though Apollo’s 31-mile claim feels like a stretch for everyone.
The double front fork suspension and the 10-inch air-filled tires provide a smooth driving experience. I barely feel the bumps and potholes in the road. And I rarely had to use the front drum brake – the regenerative brake was often more than enough to stop me. In the moments I needed to stop, the brakes did the job.
The acceleration is not great on this scooter. When the light hits green and I hit thumb throttle, the air moves on the tarmac like tumbleweed in the desert. It takes some time to build up to top speed. On inclines (like all bridges in Brooklyn), expect these speeds to drop to somewhere between 11 and 14 mph. It just doesn’t have the power to cruise up hills effortlessly.
When I got home with my friend, who was using the Niu scooter, both of our rides had about two bars of juice left. Despite this he was driving at the advertised speed of 20mph and I was stuck at around 14mph. For some reason, I’ve found that the Apollo sometimes slows down drastically when it drops to two bars. It is a fickle thing.
It is a perfect nice scooter, but my biggest problem with it is that it costs $1200 (normally “on sale” for $999). I had a much better experience with the Niu, which weighs only 5 pounds more, goes up to 20 mph, and accelerates quickly. They handle both climbs quite equally. However, the Niu KQi3 Pro costs $799. There is a big price difference.
Niu has a wider service and dealer network, so it’s probably easier to fix any problems that may arise. Apollo has five service centers in the US. I would say that Apollo’s customer service is better, but I have found complaints about the experience of both brands. If you have that much to spend on a scooter, I suggest you step up to the Speedway Mini 4 Pro ($1,049). It has a slightly more reliable range and higher speeds, and it’s light and easy to fold.
