I keep looking over at the scooter that is parked next to my desk as I type this, and it gives me conflicting feelings. Despite neither my wife nor I having any prior experience with electric scooters, we have been enjoying the Razor Icon that I received for evaluation. However, room is at a premium in our relatively tiny New York apartment because of this.
There has been a lot of discussion and effort put into lowering the carbon footprint of cars, but there are times when ceasing to use cars is the wisest course of action. These days, of course, that isn’t really an option, but there are occasions when having more than two wheels can feel overkill. An electric scooter might be a more cost-effective option for last-mile deliveries or quick solo journeys, and that’s what the Razor Icon aims to offer.
As evidenced by the review score, it’s clear that my concerns about Razor’s new $600 personal conveyance device’s lack of small-space friendliness aren’t serious enough to make me disliking what I’ve encountered, but I think it’s important to make this point: There are a few caveats to keep in mind before buying one for yourself. especially if your living space is limited.
| Frame: | Folding, aluminum |
| Fork: | Steel |
| Deck: | Length 19.3” (490 mm), width 5.5” (140 mm) with oval grip tape |
| Tires: | 8.5”(216 mm), abrasion-resistant, airless, flat-free |
| Taillight: | Brake-activated, LED |
| Max Rider Weight: | 220 lb(100 kg) |
| Dimensions: | 43.43” x 18.62” x 43.74” (110.3cm x 47.3cm x 111.1cm) |
| Product Weight: | 26.5lb(12 kg) |
| Distance: | Up to 18 miles(29 km) on a single charge |
| Speeds: | Easy Mode – Up to 6 mph (9.6 km/h), Normal Mode – Up to 12 mph (19.3 km/h), Sport Mode – Up to 18 mph (29 km/h) |
| Run Time: | Up to 60 minutes of continuous use |
| Motor: | 300-watt |
Video Review of Razor Icon
Razor Icon: Design and Build Quality
Many of the electric scooters on the market now are from lesser-known manufacturers and others are foldable, which may surprise you. However, it may not be surprising that many of these resemble one another overly, given that it is a viable business to rebrand “white box” scooters as one’s own. In order to separate out from the competition against this background, Razor has introduced the Icon.
The mechanism for collapsing the handlebars to slightly increase the Icon’s compactness is likewise incredibly strong, with a lot of heavy metal parts to keep everything in place. The locking screw, which resembles a small black knob slightly behind the front wheel, should be tightened as much as possible, merely as a word of caution.
The placement of the battery affects usability, ergonomics, and physics in addition to convenience. Because of its increased center of gravity, the Icon might be more difficult to unfold and pick up by the stem with one hand. However, when it is folded, it really provides a more secure grasp.
Even though I did enjoy riding the Icon, I’m not as pleased with how immobile it is. The fact that it’s “simple to hand carry on public transit and readily folds for storage at home” is mostly my fault because I didn’t correctly interpret the description, but nonetheless, this thing is a bit of a beast.
And since this object weighs a respectable 33 lbs, or 15 kg, you’ll want to have a secure grip. Especially with the larger polyurethane tires, it is undoubtedly neither one of the smallest nor lightest vehicles on this market. However, some of that can be attributed to its sturdy design, which does enable it to carry a load of up to 275 lbs (125 kgb) without issue.
The Icon itself is weighty. Although not difficult, those 26.5 pounds can be difficult to handle if you have to carry it for a while before you can open it up and begin scooting. Additionally, when it is folded up, the front wheel does not lock into place, making it difficult to move the vehicle forward on only one wheel.
Thankfully, nothing went wrong while we were riding it about, but I did note that it had loosened up at one point. It still would have needed to be taken out for the scooter to collapse due to the mechanism, but a good bump could have been problematic. Though I was initially concerned about over-tightening the screw and didn’t anticipate it to loosen so much with use, I’m attributing this specific problem to user error. There were no indications of anything coming undone during a subsequent ride where I had tightened it as much as I could.
Despite a few minor construction nitpicks, the Icon feels and looks like a tank. or at least a scooter-like electric vehicle. The handlebars have a lovely hard squishiness to them, and there is a cute little rubbery cover to protect the charging port when not in use. The metal is solid and robust. Even if the final one is probably standard for most electric scooters, I still think it’s a smart concept.
Razor Icon: Motor and Driving
If it can’t transport you from point A to point B in the most effective way possible, then the strongest and most balanced electric scooter would be nothing more than a showpiece.
When I say that using the Icon was really simple and intuitive, keep in mind that I have less expertise with riding electric scooters than I do with blowing glass. I’m not sure whether that is the standard for electric scooters, but other than a little discomfort when kicking off to get things going, it didn’t take long for me to get the hang of it. Having three speed levels also helped me ease into the workout, which I greatly liked.
The “flat-free” tires provide good traction, so I didn’t have to focus on maintaining my balance quite as much as I had anticipated. The front wheel can’t turn completely, which I’m sure is to prevent it from going 90 degrees and causing the rider to faceplant in the street, but I think that’s a mix of my lack of experience on a scooter and the turning radius being a little huge.
The 350 W motor that Razor promises can propel riders up to 20 to 30 miles on a full charge with top speeds of 20 mph is undoubtedly the highlight in this regard. Naturally, those are under ideal circumstances and when not using the high-speed sports mode. In our test, we were able to travel about 25 miles before the battery needed to be recharged.
Other factors, such as braking ability, may be more crucial to getting you to your destination safely than speed. Fortunately, the braking system on the Icon is reliable and smooth.
Razor Icon: Battery and Range
Electric scooters’ batteries enable their portability and convenience, thus just like with smartphones, how long they can survive in transportation determines how long they can operate. The battery pack that the Razor Icon boasts of can be charged in just 6 hours, according to its advertising. Our experience did, with or without a few more minutes, match that promise.
The placement of that battery is one feature that distinguishes the Icon from its rivals. It is readily accessible from the outside rather than being concealed inside the deck or even the stem. While Razor claims to make it simple to remove the battery from the scooter and charge it inside the home without the scooter, it also makes it simple to really switch out a spare battery you may have for longer travels or use the second battery while the first is charged at home.
Beyond its main capabilities, the Icon also includes a few minor touches that, ironically, can make the difference between life and death. Sadly, the scooter’s front lights are not as brilliant as we had hoped they would be; fortunately, the red tail light makes it extremely noticeable. Additionally, a ring bell that is loud enough to warn passing cars and people is also provided.
Razor Icon: Conclusions
The electric scooter industry is cluttered with identically styled knockoffs and products that don’t always try to set themselves apart from one another, much like the early days of smartphones. The Razor Icon nearly has it too easy to stand out with its sizable, readily accessible replaceable battery, extended range, and quick maximum speed. It fulfills all of the features it promised, providing a well-balanced riding experience.
To be honest, I have been thoroughly enjoying the Razor Icon despite my own lack of experience with electric scooters and feeling a little surprised by its size and weight. And I can admit that because of my unique situation, my size and weight are a little bit more of a problem for me than they would be for other people. It’s still a hassle for me to store or transport, though. For those who don’t have a good bit of room to give it, it’s not something I’d consider ideal.
It was enjoyable to coast along at up to 12 mph, and after I started to have a better sense of turning, it became rather simple to drive through some relatively tight spaces. The speedometer, handbrake, headlamp, and brake lights were all integrated digital components, which added an additional degree of safety and made the Icon feel more upscale.
Though $600 is a lot to ask for something you’ve never even done before, I don’t think I’d necessarily recommend the Razor Icon for a complete beginner like myself. However, I do value how simple it is to use. even when you have no idea what you’re doing at all.
