The biggest danger is that it is too good - Kukirin G4 roller test
It was designed to conquer cities, and it is perfect for this task!
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Introductory
The assessment of scooters is extreme. Some people think it's a crazy good invention, others see it as a tool you can only die from. Those who already use it belong to the first group, and mostly to those who don't.
However, these extreme opinions are not well-founded. Electric scooters can be very useful means of transportation, but not everywhere and not for everyone, they can also be life-threatening devices if used incorrectly and in the wrong place.
Most of the time, the problem is that the opinion makers judge based on their own poor experience. People who drive in Pest's traffic can't imagine what a quiet country town is like, and those who live in a quiet country town have no idea what street fighting is like on the capital's roads. And I am here between the two groups, because I lived both here and there.
Let's not even talk about the fact that electric scooters can not only be used in the city, there are many that take you through forests and fields and you can experience great tours on them.
There is one thing that I dare say with great confidence. The Kukirin G4 was designed for urban use, on the public road, on a bicycle path, for daily use, up to 30-40 kilometers per day, and it was perfect for that. Almost too perfect!
What kind of scooter is the Kukirin G4?
The manufacturer previously marketed its products under the name Kugoo, then KugooKirin, and for some time now Kukirin. In the beginning, we received from them almost only (especially in today's eyes) unacceptable machines, but over the years they have grown considerably, and today we have reached the point where their G2-G3-G4 series are almost flawless.
With the many different series, the manufacturer has covered the entire market nicely, there is some overlap between them, as for example the latest member of the G2 series is better than the G3 in my opinion, and the G3 Pro is also stronger than the G4. But still, the scaling of the products has been done very well, in terms of size, mass, and performance, they provide such an assortment that we can click on with satisfaction!
The Kukirin G4 was released last year, and with it the manufacturer clearly entered the world of high-performance scooters. The chassis still has the same structure as the smaller ones, but the trepni is bigger, the battery is bigger (both in terms of capacity and size), and the motor built into the rear wheel is already 2000 watts. However, there is something that hasn't changed, such as the brake, which remains a mechanical disc.
At the same time, the G4 has clearly entered a higher league due to its size, weight, performance, and last but not least, its appearance, it became the manufacturer's first truly serious machine.
Although they basically want to sell such scooters as off-road scooters (including the G4), the G4 is nowhere near off-road, which is also shown by the fact that the tires we can buy it with have a clear urban pattern. The tight chassis is also more suitable for hard surfaces than in the forest.
However, the G4 was not flawless. After last year's presentation, customers objected to two things, one is that the key to lock the electrical system is not in the right place, it is dangerous if you fall with the scooter. But that wasn't the bigger problem, it was that the Kukirin G4's steering had a tendency to creep.
What does government drizzle mean
It is a very unpleasant experience to be dragged in by the government. The steering wheel comes to life on its own, starts to swing left and right more and more strongly, turning more and more, and the end result is that the motorcyclist or scooter falls due to the swinging of the front wheel.
In the case of motorbikes, for example, hanging chassis, improper tire condition and sudden acceleration can cause this problem. In the case of roller skates, the reason is usually to be found in physics, for example, the neglected chassis has much less of a role to play in the matter.
In the case of scooters, the first reason is the extremely steep fork angle. For motorcycles, the fork tilts backwards, more steeply for sports bikes, and flatter for cruisers. In the case of a scooter, the handlebar is almost vertical above the wheel. The steeper the fork, the easier it is for the steering wheel to slip, and there is no steeper fork than a scooter. Drizzle can be caused by a stronger acceleration, but at high speed, even a road defect or a gravel. The cases have one thing in common, in each case the grip of the front wheel weakens before snowing.
Even if the government begins to drizzle, it is not obligatory for you to fall. I've been lucky enough to experience this phenomenon several times on a motorcycle, and it's a damn scary, to say the least, truly tear-jerking experience. If it starts to drizzle, you can do two things. One is that you take off the gas carefully (at least it happened to me twice), in which case the engine or scooter tilts towards the front wheel when you decelerate, which means that traction increases. The other is that you carefully lean forward yourself and gently start to put the load on the front wheel.
There are two things you must not do, they will lead to a jacket. One is sudden braking, the other is if you try to stop the hail by force, that is, you hold on to the steering wheel. These are fatally wrong solutions.
Due to these two errors - i.e. the key and the drizzle - Kukirin released an upgraded version of the G4 this year, and I already received one such copy. The key was moved to the right side of the steering column, and two things were changed to prevent drizzle. The steering wheel became wider, plus we got a fixed point at the middle position, from which it is more difficult to move the steering wheel (I will write about this later!).
Widening the handlebars is a good idea, as a wider handlebar means greater leverage during the ride, if you have a firm grip, you can still use your muscles to catch the beginning of the drizzle (if you're flapping a lot, don't use your muscles, it won't work). On the other hand, the noticeable middle position is a strange solution, but it is undoubtedly effective, since every time the steering wheel turns over the center point, the steering wheel gets stuck a little, and this will slow it down, and after a while it will eliminate the drizzling.
So the bottom line, and this is important to know, in this article I am writing about the upgrade version, if you want to buy a G4, be careful not to
buy an older version, even if you might get a better price for it!
What capabilities does the Kukirin G4 have?
Before I dive into the more interesting part of the test, i.e. the description of my experiences, let's quickly run through the specifications!
As I mentioned, the G4 is already a relatively large scooter, but at the same time it does not yet reach the level of large 6 or 8 thousand watt machines. In the size of the tire, yes, because it rolls on 11-inch wheels, as I said, on urban pattern tires. The machine has mechanical disc brakes at the front and back, but there is no engine brake or recharging.
The electrical system is 60 volts, which is essential and sounds very good. In connection with the battery, the capacity is usually given, and people are biting on that, in the case of the G4 we can count on only 20 Ah. But this is where the voltage comes into play, because with the 60-volt system, 20 Ah means 1200 Wh, while, for example, in the case of the G2 Max, 20,8 Ah with the 48-volt system is only 998 Wh. So it's worth looking at the voltage value as well!
If the system is 60 volts, then the motor is also 60 volts, and it is also 2000 watts. there is no double motor here, as in the case of the G2 Master (there are 2 x 1000 watts), the 2000 watt motor affects the rear wheel. According to the factory data, the top speed is 70 km per hour, the travel distance is 75 kilometers, and the climbable incline is 20 degrees.
I would like to add here that the maximum torque of the 2000 watt motor is 38 Nm, which is again very important during use.
The external dimensions are 1336 x 1295 x 660 millimeters opened and 1336 x 550 x 660 millimeters with the handlebars folded down. The weight of the machine is 43 kilograms. The size of the footrest is also important, it is 510 x 220 millimeters, not big, but at least not small, including the heel support, my 44 feet fit very comfortably.
There is lighting, not bad. The G4 received a new type of head unit, which is integrated with the lamp and the on-board computer. The brightness of the front light is average. I also have the index in my head, which is good because it is high up, it is more likely that a motorist will notice it than the useless turn signals mounted at the height of the wheels. It is important that when braking, the two indicators flash in front at the same time, this is a useful warning sign in my opinion.
The rear light is under the corner support. from the car, if the car is not far from you, nothing can be seen from it, just as nothing can be seen from the index built into the light fixture. There are lights on both sides of the trepni, which are also only visible if the driver is far enough away from you. Unfortunately, these are scooter diseases, there is simply no higher point on the back of the scooters where the lights can be mounted, and this should always be in your mind when you are driving between cars!
Two more things about the computer. One is that the display is colored (of course not an LCD panel or something like that), the other is that it has touch-sensitive buttons, with which you can switch on the lighting, switch between speed levels and switch between Km/h and Mile/h displays.
Before I forget, the 3 speed levels allow a maximum speed of 20-40- and 70 Km/h.
The part dearest to my heart can come, the experiences!
What is it like to use Kukirin G4?
When I test a scooter, I make at least 2 trips with it. One short and one long. the short one is a small turn, a few streets after assembly. Checking brakes, stuff like that. Well, in the case of the Kukirin G4, I also went for this little round, and when I got home I told my partner that I'm scared to death on this scooter.
This can be strange, as you can guess that I have tried quite a few scooters, the 2000 watts and the dimensions are not flashy either. But what was the problem then?
In short, it is a contrived middle ground in governance against government slander. In order to turn the steering wheel from a straight position, a little extra force has to be brought into the equation. This is also quite confusing, but if you have already turned the steering wheel, you just have to make sure that when it stands straight again, it will "click" into place again. The problem is when you're in a tight corner, in which case you barely have to turn the steering wheel, and the damn thing constantly wants to click back into the middle position. In other words, you can't keep an even curve, you have to constantly correct it.
Needless to say, at higher speeds this is very unpleasant, it is no coincidence that large scooters prefer to use handlebar shock absorbers to prevent skidding.
So, I started the longer trip a little scared, and it ended up that I didn't want to get off the G4. Two things became clear during the long test. One is that this clicking into the center is used, the other is that the clicking becomes less definite over time, i.e. by the end of the test it almost became only a signal, the steering wheel did not want to be in the middle position all the time by itself.
With such a powerful scooter, especially if I'm testing the top speed, it's basic to dress up, I'm wearing a motorcycle protective leather jacket, a closed crash helmet, protective pants and boots. A lot of people look at me strangely on the street, but since I know how many meters I can fly even with a 40 and how hard I hit the asphalt, I don't take any chances anymore. I also recommend that you do not take security lightly. I took the asphalt on half my shoulder back then, and now, eight years after the accident, it can still hurt badly when the front comes, even though I didn't break anything. So this is no joke.
So, I set off, I went through the small forest that is right here next to us. Dirt road, quite hard, some roots, emerging. That was enough for me to decide that this scooter would not be good for that. Tight and accurate chassis, it bounces on bumps as if it were mandatory. No, this is not designed for off-road use.
When I reached the asphalt, I pressed the accelerator first cautiously, then with more and more courage. God, but really, the machine is amazingly good on solid surfaces. It doesn't fall off the bends, it's crazy good even at high speed, when you're overturning big ones. Not by chance, as not only the chassis is gorgeous, the wheels are also 90 millimeters wide, so the rubber grips the asphalt on quite a large surface!
After taking pictures of the machine and making a few cutouts, I also had to test the top speed. Below me, this scooter can't go seventy on a flat road. According to the odometer, it ends at 63-64, but according to my phone's GPS, this is also deceiving, it doesn't go more than 54-55 kilometers per hour. Of course, it can certainly be better with a smaller passenger, but I don't think the 70 will be there either.
Using a slight slope, according to the GPS, I reached 64 km/h, according to the odometer, I was already over 70 here. This is plenty and enough speed for everything!
It's great that the engine is extremely torquey. In the video you can see a part where I start from a red light, the acceleration is pleasant, but at the same time it doesn't seem dangerous at all. Due to the rear-wheel drive, the start and acceleration feel so delicate, but when you glance at the odometer, you notice that the speed starts with six, while you feel almost nothing when you slide on the scooter.
But really, the danger of the Kukirin G4 is not that it is fast, not that it is powerful, but that it puts you to sleep. It's just too good, too fine a machine, and you feel like it doesn't need any special skills. You stand on it and it takes you out of the world at a speed of 50-55 kilometers per hour.
And this is dangerous! No matter how good the scooter is, the chassis is good, the tires are good, physics remains physics. the law of conservation of energy will still apply to you, and in case of an emergency brake, from 50, if you are not experienced, you will continue to fly off the scooter at fifty. If you think that I bark too much and am too careful, I have to disappoint you, I am not, in fact, I am often too relaxed, more relaxed than I should be.
Okay, so what's it like to drive the Kukirin G4?
From what I've seen so far, I think it's VERY good! A vehicle suitable for city traffic, if you don't want to go out of the 50 zone, it can even be used between cars. The gears are very good. Not only the top speed but also the torque changes. In the lowest setting, it's like a 500-watt scooter - in the middle, like a 1000-watt scooter. Controllability and acceleration as well. and Race mode is extremely enjoyable.
If you've ever sat in a really good, powerful sports car, then you know what it's like to go-go-go, look at the odometer, and wow, it's twice the speed limit on the highway. You don't even notice you're gliding, the feeling of speed is just like in an ordinary car at a normal highway speed.
The Kukirin G4 is also like this. I go with 30, but the maximum I feel is XNUMX. It doesn't start like a madman, I don't feel the speed, I don't hear the wheels screeching louder and louder, it's incredibly good.
If I have to get involved in something, it's the brake and the central display.
I am very unhappy with the display. It's colorful in the dark or semi-dark, but you can't really see anything in the sun. This wouldn't be a crazy big problem if it weren't for the touch-sensitive buttons, because not only can you not see e.g. which stage you switched to, or where to turn on the lighting, but the button itself, which you should touch, is not visible either. It's pretty bad.
Oh, and don't forget, I mentioned that there is no voltage display either, and the blinking charging indicator is not very accurate. That is, e.g. it simply dropped from three lines to a flashing red line, but even before that the number of lines did not decrease evenly. So it's good as information, and anyway, after a while you'll know how many kilometers you can go on one charge, so there's a good chance you won't have to rely on the lines.
The brake is not life-threatening, but emergency braking from a speed above 50 is not enough in my opinion. A hydraulic brake would not have done any harm for a machine of such weight and at such a top speed. If I were to buy a G4, I think the first thing I would do would be to join a G4 group on Facebook and find out what brakes to buy for it.
Speaking of Facebook, I'll tell you a short story.
After the first short test, I went to Facebook and looked around on the subject. It turns out that the Kukirin G4 has a very serious fan base, despite not being an old machine. Of course, it is somewhat understandable, because the industrial look looks brutally good, the machine is very cool with the steering column made of two six-piece iron plates and the big and visible screws!
It's also not expensive for what it's capable of, so if you're looking for a cool, powerful, and very usable machine, the Kukirin G4 is an obvious choice. If only because not everyone has 500+ thousand money for a really powerful machine. Meanwhile, the G4 makes the audience believe that there is much more to it than it actually knows.
Well, going back to the story, and going back to my first extremely unpleasant experience, I wondered why so many people loved this almost life-threatening machine. Since then, of course, it has become clear to me (and I think now to you as well) that the G4 deserves the fanfare it receives!
Let's get back to the test!
Of course, I tested not only the top speed, but also the range. Unfortunately, we cannot see the voltage value of the central display, so we can only conclude from the number of lines that the battery is charged.
Well, I left fully charged and arrived home with the last little battery flashing red, that is, I essentially drained the scooter. Meanwhile, I covered around 35 kilometers. This is half of the factory data, which I think is not a bad value. It's not bad because I weigh 100 kilos, and it's not bad because I did most of the trip in city traffic, that is, I didn't bump along at 15, but my speed was 35+ kilometers per hour even on a low note. In other words, at least 35, because in most places it was more like 50 or above, that is, I drove on coke gas.
This also means that with a lower body weight, a range of 45 or even 50 kilometers can be achieved with more economical driving. In the latter case, of course, with a lot of saving progress.
What really surprised me was that I climbed all the major hills used for testing in our area with the machine. In other words, I didn't climb it, I was able to climb it, and not by pushing it up. My own 1000 watt Kukirin is not capable of this, even though it is a powerful enough machine. But this 2000 watts in the rear wheel was enough, which, believe me, is quite a big word.
Summary
In these roller tests, I try to convey the experience that each machine can provide, but the power of words is often not enough to convey the real experience. This is also the case now, because the Kukirin G4 (especially after the first kilometer test) was an extremely pleasant disappointment.
With its 2000 watts, it is a point, i.e. a strength that remains manageable, but at the same time it can also take you up steeper climbs without breaking a sweat. The top speed, even if it doesn't reach seventy, is quite good in my opinion, because it accelerates normally with a torque of 38 Nm, and 55 kilometers per hour is enough for everything in most cases.
As I wrote, and I can't be bothered to describe it again and again, the danger of the Kukirin G4 is not that it is bad, but that it is almost too good. It can even tempt beginners, making them push the throttle all the way, because they simply can't feel the speed. Even if you don't feel it, 50 kilometers per hour is still that much, and you have to be able to stop from there without crashing into the ass of a car, or flying over the steering wheel and plowing the highway with your chin.
If someone asks if it is worth the price, then I have to say that I don't know if there is another scooter that is worth the price! Buy it and you too will find out how right I am!
At the end, the price and the link to purchase. THE KKG4ESG you must use a coupon code by clicking the link below. This price with free delivery from the Czech warehouse is HUF 325. So click on the link below to buy.
KUKIRIN G4 electric scooter
