Incredible Power
You can go a long way with almost any eScooter on the market. You can get decent speed with almost any eScooter on the market. But a wise person once told me: "If it's worth doing, it's probably worth over-doing." I can't disagree. So we arrive at MiniMotors NYC. For those of you who don't know about MiniMotors, they make the coolest, baddest, fastest eScooters on the market: Dualtron and Speedway.
I headed out to Hoboken, NJ from my place in Manhattan. They're located across the water from us- easily accessible by the ferry or a PATH train. Although it was a bit of a cold winter day, it was a perfect day for a ride.
I met with Javier Gonzales who works for MiniMotors NYC and has been an avid Dualtron Thunder rider for quite some time. Javier was happy to show me his decked-out Dualtron Thunder and told me that he did a lot of the modifications through MiniMotors NYC- but we'll get to that a bit later.
MiniMotors NYC opened up in December of 2019 but they were quick to have customers and a great following. On the occasion where I was in the shop, I got to meet a couple of loyal customers who were getting their eScooters worked on or modified. There seemed to be a real sense of community that was pushed by MM NYC. Javier told me, "We really love to meet our customers' needs. Whether they want a new eScooter, service, modification- whatever- we'll take care of them."
Dualtron Models
Dualtron Thunder
Although Dualtron constantly seems to be updating their product range with new or updated models, they're primarily known for the Dualtron Thunder which is powered by 5,400 watts including a 60 volt, 35 aH battery. This particular eScooter is capable of up to 50 miles per hour and has a potential 80 mile range. Side note: In our video above, Javier makes some mention of a 75 mile trip that he did with his Thunder. In fact, he's constantly doing super long rides with his NYC-area eScooter group called Team ECS. Info is down below.
Did You Know....
That the Dualtron Thunder, the Dualtron X, and the Speedway V appeared in our list of The Fastest Electric Scooters of 2020?
Aside from the Thunder, Dualtron offers a number of different models, each appealing to a very different class of rider including:
Dualtron Spider
All of the Dualtron eScooters obviously have fantastic states for range, speed, power, and what have you. However, the real winner in these eScooters is when you look at them up close and realize how rock-solid the frames are on every single model. You would think that with so much weight, so many moving parts, and so many extra features that you'd wonder how this thing held itself together at high speed. The rigidity in the ride is fantastic. No wobble or anything. You can easily see how finely each part is machined as well. These are a real winner in the Build Quality category.
Speedway Models
The Speedway line of eScooters has been manufactured by MiniMotors since 2014. Although not as big in name in comparison to Dualtron, Speedway eScooters have a vast following all of the world for those that are looking for build quality, speed, and range but aren't quite ready (or don't have the need) to move into the much higher-end Dualtron eScooters. Typically, the Speedway models are lighter in weight, but also lack the heavier suspension and a lot of the power that the Dualtron Models have. Make no mistake, these are no beginner scooter. In fact, these are just as well-built and able to handle most styles of riders and a wide range of commuters.
Included in the Speedway line are:
- Speedway V (40 mph, 70 mile range)
- Speedway IV (35 mph, 70 mile range)
- Speedway Leger (30 mph, 30 mile range)
- Speedway Mini IV Pro (20 mph, 20 mile range)
MiniMotors Speedway V
Did You Know....
That the Dualtron Thunder, Dualtron III, Speedway V, and Dualtron Spider all appeared in our list of ​
So I took the Eagle Pro out for a spin.
For my first time out on a Dualtron, I was really thankful that Javier took me out on an Eagle Pro. He told me before we went out that the Eagle Pro kind of came out as a bit of an update from the Spider. There was a few small issues that riders found with the Spider that weren't necessarily deal breakers, but they could have been improved upon. Some of these concepts had to do with center of gravity and stability, as well as the feel of the actual ride. In the end, we actually saw a bit of a spec differnce between the two machines.
Spider
Eagle Pro
Conclusion:
The first thing we notice is that there's definitely a different power rating for the motors in each scooters. In fact, there's a 600 watt differnce between the two eScooters. In the case, this equates to more speed and more range, but there's also a bit of a weight difference in the two models. The Eagle Pro is an extra 10 pounds heavier, and I'm sure part of this had to do with carbon fiber handlebars coming stock on the Spider, but not on the Eagle Pro.
One notable thing here is that concerning the useful load (the rider!), you've got an extra 30 lbs to work with, so your new maximum rider weight is 250 lbs.
These are just a few differences, but it makes more sense why they didn't simply update the Spider model and instead made a new Eagle Pro model. The differences that were made here are more drastic than we initially thought!
The Eagle Pro rides like an absolute beauty.
As a first time rider, I was in for a real treat. Javier asked me, "Would you like me to give it to you as it comes setup from the factory, or would you like me to dial in a few settings for you?" I asked for the factory settings, and the acceleration was a real wake up call. I was glad that I had a lot of experience riding many other models of eScooters primarily because I had a good stance and a healthy respect for what I was getting into. Had I not, I probably would have immediately fallen. On the lowest gear, you'll never hit 15 miles per hour any quicker on any other eScooter. There's a lot of power in these things!
Although the speed was limited on this eScooter, I understand that it's not very difficult to change this eScooter into something a little quicker. Regardless, the ride was fantastic. On this scooter, I definitely feel like I was standing taller on this footboard than I was when I last rode the Inokim OX. This seems to ride higher and with a bit of a different CG that I had to get used to, but I felt safe in the process. Because of the foot board being much wider than I'm used to, I had some more space to shift my weight around on and find a great riding stance.
The big 10" tires gripped the road very well and gave me a great feeling of safety. The suspension on the Dualtron eScooters are a bit customizable and very comfortable right from the start. I can't imagine how great the suspension feels after it has been broken in a bit, and I say that being perfectly content with the suspension on this brand new Eagle Pro with very few miles on it. You're certainly getting what you've paid for out of this particular machine. Honestly, it makes me want to check out a few of the other models too (even if this machine is way beyond my personal riding needs).
For a tall rider, this is a great option for an eScooter. These handlebars sit in a very comfortable place and help to steady your stance and help you feel out the really great CG. The controls are in a comfortable place. Braking - by the way - is very smooth and easy, and reacts quickly and evenly. I understand that MiniMotors NYC offers an upgrade for the brakes, but I can't comment on how those feel vs. the stock version that I rode.
Javier's customized Dualtron Thunder
When I first walked in the shop, I saw what turned out to be Javier's (very customized) Dualtron Thunder that he's been working on for some time. He did his upgrades and customizations through the shop and they include a wide range of new toys:
- Custom handlebars
- Custom front shaft/stem
- High-visibility front and rear lights
- Custom paint edging
- Upgraded Hydraulic Disc Brakes
All of these customizations and more can be done with your new friends at MiniMotors NYC. They carry a wide array of great add-ons that can help to make your new ride unique or dial in your scooter to your needs. They're also willing to look at other models of eScooters (even ones that they don't carry!) in order to help you get the best ride possible.
East Coast Scooters
Javier is a member of East Coast Scooters, which is a collective of local NYC riders that are constantly hosting riding events in the area, and is open to all who are interested. If you're looking for some information on how to join up with Team ECS, you can find them on Telegram.
Some Final Thoughts
I'm super impressed with the build quality and features of the Dualtron and Speedway eScooters. I think we all kind of saw this coming. It seems as if the entire eScooter community has nothing but great things to say about both of these lines (made under MiniMotors). Although they're a bit on the heavy side (and truly beyond my needs as a rider), these are the cream of the crop and I can definitely see why so many people invest in them. They're serious machines for all types of riders- and now it has me thinking about getting my own.
For those in the NYC area, MiniMotors NYC has a lot to offer ALL riders, regardless if you're riding a Dualtron, a Speedway, or practically anything else. These guys are a one-stop-shop for maintenance and custom modifications/upgrades. I highly recommend that you take a few moments and visit these guys if you're in the area and get to know more about what they're doing for the local eScooter community.
How can I visit MiniMotors NYC?
MiniMotors NYC is actually located in Hoboken, NJ which is very easy to get to from NYC. When I went to see them, I took the ferry from Battery City Park in Manhattan and it was very inexpensive. You can also take the PATH trains over to Hoboken as well- equally inexpensive. Both of these trips take very little time out of your day, and you might be able to bring your scooter too!