Most people remember the “Segway” brand, which was first introduced in the early 2000s by Dean Kamen, the designer of the Segway self-balancing devices. Promoted as a revolution in personal transportation, the Segway Personal Transporter (also known as the Segway PT or S2) fell a bit short of the “world-changing” promise, but the technology was definitely impressive, and Segway has sold over 140,000 Transporters, just not a world-changing amount (however, sales of the PT continue).
Eventually, Kamen parted ways with Segway, and the company was ultimately acquired by the Chinese firm Ninebot in 2015. Ninebot expanded the Segway product line far beyond the now-iconic transporter, now sold as the Segway Ninebot S2 Self-Balancing Scooter. Under Ninebot, Segway expanded into powered push scooters, e-bikes, electrified UTVs, electric go-karts, autonomous robotic lawn mowers, and battery-based power systems. They have also moved away from the “Ninebots’ brand in favor of the more familiar Segway brand.
Recently, I’ve been riding Segway’s new top-tier e-bike, the Xyber (say “Zyber”), one of three e-bike models the company produces, along with the GT3 push scooter.
Segway Xyber and GT3 Tech Overview
As you can see from the photo above, the Segway Xyber is pretty much an “e-bike” in name only. Yes, it has pedals, so technically it is an e-bike, but you’ll be forgiven for thinking “that looks like a motorcycle.” Because, for the most part, that’s what it is.
While many e-bike motors top out at 750 Watts nominal or briefly exceed 1,000 Watts, the Xyber drops the pretense with a 3,000-Watt rear hub motor in the base single-battery version. However, my review Xyber included the optional $899 second battery, which snugs into the frame with some installation help from a U.S. Segway dealer. The swappable batteries are substantial: each is a 48-Volt pack with 1,440Wh of capacity—roughly double that of many e-bikes.
With both batteries aboard (above), riders can choose to run the Xyber on just one battery and hold the other in reserve, but if both are used, the rear motor can jump up to 6,000 Watts for quicker acceleration. One battery provides about 56 miles of range (in ECO mode), while two can offer over 100 miles. Switching to Sport or Race modes results in less range but higher speeds (35 mph maximum). Riders can unlock or restrict performance settings through the Segway app. Eco mode tops out at 16 mph.
With both batteries installed and a small kit bag that slots neatly into the frame (above), the Xyber has a proper motorcycle stance. The look is helped by burly 20-by-5-inch moped-style tires on spoked rims, USD-type motorcycle-style front forks, and a double downtube moto-style frame.
There’s also full suspension with a preload-adjustable rear monoshock (above), dual-piston calipers gripping large disc brakes front and rear, and some cool body panels, plus a bash plate that protects the batteries.
Up top, a small color TFT display shows vital bits like speed, battery level(s), ride modes, output power, the time, and more. A novel thumbwheel and clicker on the left bar pod navigate through menu options. Two LED headlights in a small module produce a lot of light, and a lit “X” above them serves as a DRL. A small but bright red LED “X” brake light sits out back. There’s no “thumb throttle” here; you twist the right grip just as on a motorbike or scooter. There are no turn signals or rear-view mirrors as stock; I added some mirrors of my own for an extra measure of safety. A long, flat gel seat provides a comfy perch.
Cousin to the Xyber is the GT3 electric kick or “push” scooter (above). Like the Xyber, it has a sleek and futuristic look, with a lot of advanced tech tucked inside. While young riders these days often scoot around on these increasingly popular electric machines, the Segway GT3 is clearly an adult-sized scooter with a 2,400-watt rear-wheel in-hub drive motor, hydraulic full suspension, large 11-inch pneumatic self-sealing street tires, and over 40 miles of range.
It also includes traction control (a rare feature), regenerative braking, a color TFT display similar to the Xyber, a top speed of 31 mph, disc brakes, and bright turn signals front and rear. They also offer a “Pro” version that can reach 50 mph in “off-road” mode, but my review unit was the standard GT3, one of more than two dozen scooter models Segway offers.
Both the Xyber and GT3 feature Segway Mobility app connectivity, Find My compatibility for tracking location, multiple layers of battery safety management and robust construction.
Ride Time
With the twin Xyber batteries showing a full charge, I added some mirrors and headed for the bike lane. Again, because it has pedals, the Xyber is technically an e-bike, and should be ridden in bike lanes rather than in regular vehicle traffic. With both batteries synced at the same charge level (if they aren’t, the Xyber’s Battery Management System will manage discharge until they are equalized), the Xyber can do full-power acceleration that easily leaves most other e-scooters, e-bikes, and even most cars behind off the line. While other e-bike makers often focus on higher top speeds, the 35 mph cap on the Xyber is just fine by this reviewer. I’d rather have the more robust acceleration and range than a big top-speed number on a bike that isn’t street-legal. If I want more speed, I can switch to my motorcycles or my gas-powered Yamaha Morphous 250cc scooter.
But no matter the Xyber’s speed, it rewards the rider with excellent ride quality and motorcycle-like ride dynamics. With the two batteries aboard, the Xyber weighs over 150 pounds, similar to a lightweight 125cc dirt-bike. The five-inch-wide, 20-inch-diameter tires are much more street-oriented and perform well on pavement, especially when the adjustable suspension is dialed in. They have a slightly blocky tread pattern that might suggest off-pavement dirt capability to some, but don’t be fooled; you can certainly take it down gravel or dirt forest service roads, but I’d stay away from mountain biking trails or anything more extreme than a well-worn jeep track. A mountain bike or dirt bike it is not.
Pushed hard in fast corners, the Xyber’s fat tires complain a bit and can feel a bit vague due to their size; suffice to say, MotoGP isn’t in its future. But cruising around the neighborhood, commuting to work, running errands (bring a backpack), or tooting down a rails-to-trails stretch like Portland’s Springwater Corridor finds the Xyber in its element, and once riders get over the rush of acceleration in Race mode, switching to Sport allows for a whole day’s worth of fun before a recharge is needed.
And yes, you can pedal it, if only just, as the gearing of the single-speed chain drive will have most riders’ legs at redline at over 10 mph. Going on a really long ride? Maybe bring the charger, which is large and heavy but will juice both batteries to full from flat in a few hours. However, with close to 100 miles of range if ridden with a modicum of restraint, range really isn’t an issue with the Xyber.
Besides the fun ride it provides, the Xyber was a consistent attention getter from strangers who wanted to know more about it and even take photos of it. Kudos to Segway’s visual design team on the look of the Xyber.
Similarly, the Segway GT3 scooter (above) shares some design features with the Xyber, including the “X” front emblem, red brake calipers, and a somewhat sinister black/grey color scheme. As mentioned, the GT3 is adult-sized and fits my 6-foot 1 frame quite well; only the GoTrax GX2 scooter has fit me as comfortably.
Once underway with just a gentle push, the GT3 is a smooth, quiet runner and plenty fast. When pushed, the GT3 turns well, thanks to the larger 11-inch tires sporting a street-specific tread pattern and the novel hydraulic dual suspension system, which also raises the deck level for added ground and turning clearance. The GT3 does include turn signals front and rear and they are thankfully bright, and the scooter beeps while they are active so you remember to turn them off. It also includes a beep-beep horn for navigating in more crowded situations, and the small LED headlight packs a punch (below) and includes low and high beam modes. There is also a front marker light and the lights can be set to come on automatically as daylight fades.
Like most scooters of this type, the GT3 sports disc brakes at the front and rear, but they are cable-operated instead of hydraulic. While they perform adequately, they require more fine-tuning and maintenance over time than hydraulic brakes, which provide more stopping power and better feel than mechanical systems like those on the GT3. I’ve ridden several street scooters with hydraulic brakes, and they consistently outperform cable-type systems. That’s not to say the GT3’s brakes are subpar; they just need careful adjustment to work at their best, and occasional adjustments over time as the pads wear and the cables stretch. If anything, I’d like to see Segway update to hydraulics on the next iteration of the GT3.
Unusual for a scooter, the GT3 includes traction control, which is off by default. It’s good to see TC as a feature, but in real-world use, it seems unlikely to be needed: I wouldn’t ride this scooter on ice or snow because of the tires, and I can’t think of another situation where the rear wheel would suddenly lose traction under power. Mud? Certainly possible, and the GT3 can easily drift off pavement with its full suspension, but during my short rides on dirt and gravel roads, I never felt the rear wheel was going to slip enough to need TC. I’d love to see Segway (and other scooter manufacturers) add ABS braking, at least on the front wheel, which would be more practical in real-world conditions.
At 88 pounds, the GT3 isn’t going to appear in any X-Games competitions, but the weight gives it a smoother ride and more kinetic energy for coasting off-throttle. The big battery allows for decent distance ability, I actually rode it from my home to downtown Portland and back on a charge; no easy feat considering the many hills, stops and distance involved. However, I did bring the small lightweight charger just in case I came up a bit short. Being a push scooter, the handlebars fold down so it can be brought aboard a bus or train; however, that 88-pound weight is very apparent when carrying the GT3 while folded up.
Yes, I know there are much faster scooters out there, but in my opinion, 30 mph on such a vehicle is plenty fast. I encourage all riders to be smart and invest in a proper helmet such as those from Unit 1 and others that produce “smart” helmets with lighting for added conspicuity and safety features like auto-calling for help if the rider is in a crash.
Conclusions
I’m very impressed by these two Segway products. They are both fast, fun, well-made, and reliable as well as being stylish and innovative. Segway/Ninebot has clearly invested heavily in design and manufacturing tech to bring them to this level. There are faster and lighter e-bikes and e-scooters out there, but I feel the Xyber and the GT3 are both a good combination of technology, motor power, design and build quality. I never had a single problem with either of them. The mature Segway app is easy to use, free of translation problems, and allows for walk-up unlocking, location tracking, performance modifications and more.
Changes I’d like to see include hydraulic brakes on the GT3 scooter and perhaps turn signals on the Xyber ebike. Neither is meant to mix with street-legal traffic, but it would be foolish to think it won’t happen, as both machines have the speed to keep up with inner-city traffic. That said, neither is “street traffic” legal, and riders should stick to bike lanes and avoid traffic.
I found both machines easy to ride and, most importantly, a lot of fun. The long range, excellent build quality and stylish design certainly help seal the deal as well. Available now.
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