Kukirin G4 Electric Scooter Review: Best Speed, Range, and Value Under $900
If you’re in the market for an electric scooter that combines high performance with affordability, look no further than the Kukirin G4. With an impressive top speed of 43 mph and a range of up to 43 miles, this scooter delivers premium features at a fraction of the price. Currently priced at just $849 (down from $1,549), the Kukirin G4 has become a favorite among riders seeking speed, reliability, and value.
In this review, we’ll dive deep into the Kukirin G4’s performance, features, and build quality to help you determine if it’s the right scooter for you.
Key Features of the Kukirin G4
- Top Speed: 43 mph (tested up to 45 mph with favorable conditions)
- Range: Up to 43 miles of range per charge
- Motor: 2000W powerful rear motor
- Battery: 60V 20Ah lithium-ion battery
- Weight: 81 lbs (sturdy yet portable)
- Tires: 11-inch tubeless street tires
- Brakes: Front and rear mechanical disc brakes
- Price: $849 (limited-time offer)
Whether you’re commuting to work or cruising for fun, the Kukirin G4 offers the perfect balance of performance and practicality.
Design and Build Quality
The Kiran G4 boasts a robust, modern design that feels premium despite its budget-friendly price tag.
- Weight and Dimensions: At 81 lbs, the G4 is heavier than many scooters in its class, contributing to stability at high speeds. The deck, measuring 20 inches long and 8.6 inches wide, offers plenty of space for a comfortable stance.
- Hollow Stem: The hollow stem not only looks futuristic but also provides improved aerodynamics. Despite initial doubts, the stem showed no signs of flex or instability during high-speed and off-road tests.
- Folding Mechanism: Folding the G4 is quick and simple, making it compact enough to fit into most car trunks. When folded, the scooter stands 22 inches tall, ensuring portability without sacrificing sturdiness.
- Tires and Brakes: Equipped with 11-inch tubeless tires, the G4 offers better shock absorption and stability. Its front and rear disc brakes with 140 mm rotors ensure strong, reliable stopping power in varied conditions.
Build Verdict: The G4 strikes an excellent balance between aesthetics, durability, and practicality, making it suitable for everyday use.
Performance Testing: Top Speed, Acceleration, and Braking
Top Speed
The Kukirin G4 claims a top speed of 43 mph, and during testing, it delivered. In favorable wind conditions, the scooter briefly reached 45 mph, while against the wind, it maxed out at 33 mph. Unfortunately, the single motor while powerful doesn’t have the torque to battle a tough headwind. I do wish it could still reach close to the top speed even when riding into the wind but that’s just not the case with the G4. But this performance is impressive for a single 2000W motor, especially at this price point.
Acceleration
One of my favorite features of the Kukirin G4 is the acceleration. The acceleration was smooth, with the scooter reaching 40 mph in just seconds. Unlike other electric scooters with this much power where the throttle response can be quite jerky, the G4’s throttle allows for gradual and controlled speed increases even allowing you to hold 20mph without feeling like it wants to run away. Kukirin did a really good job with the throttle response as its one of the best that I have tested to date.
Braking
The G4 features front and rear mechanical disc brakes with 140mm rotors. I am really happy that the brakes have made no noise or squeaking at all! Electric scooter disc brakes are hit or miss when it comes to making noise or squeaking and the G4 performs very well in this department. During high-speed braking tests at 25 mph, the scooter stopped in approximately 30 feet without sliding out of control. It did lock up the rear tire but I still had control and didn’t feel like I was going to crash. Off-road, the brakes remained reliable, maintaining control even on sandy and loose gravel surfaces.
Range and Battery Life
The Kukirin G4 is equipped with a 60V, 20Ah lithium ion battery, offering impressive power and range capabilities.
- Claimed Range: Up to 43 miles on a single charge. Most of the time you want to take the claimed range and cut it in half for real world conditions, but the G4 is special breaking the norm of most electric scooters on the market.
- Test Results: The G4 covered 20.2 miles while retaining around 50% battery, validating the manufacturer’s claims. Based on my testing, I believe the Kukirin G4 would be able to reach the stated range of 43 miles on a charge. Also don’t keep the battery charged if you are not riding it for a few days. It can degrade the battery keeping it charged to 100% when not riding.
- Charging Time: While I don’t recommend draining your batterty all the way to empty, if you did, A full recharge takes 10–12 hours, making overnight charging necessary for daily use. Its good practice for the health and longevity of the battery to only drain the battery down to 30% or more before recharging.
- Battery Monitoring: Monitoring the battery percentage you have left on the Kukirin G4 is very simple. The large center touchscreen provides accurate battery readings at the top, giving you the confidence about the remaining range of the G4.
Range Verdict: The G4 offers excellent range for its price, but the long charging time might inconvenience daily riders.
Comfort and Maneuverability
The Kiran G4 shines in rider comfort, thanks to its well-thought-out design.
Dual Suspension:
The Kukirin G4 with its soft and cushy dual suspension. It absorbs shocks from bumps, potholes, and uneven terrain, ensuring a smooth ride. On the road, the suspension allows for a nice ride, when taking the G4 off-road, while a little bumpy, its dual suspension handles the off-road terrain pretty well allowing you to ride on sand, loose gravel and grass without losing control.
Wide Tires:
Most electric scooter of this size are equipped with 10″ x 2.5″ tires with inner tubes. Lately some electric scooter manufacturers have increased the size to 11″ and removed the inner tubes giving us tubeless tires similar to your car tires. The slightly larger and wider 11-inch tires add to overall stability and comfort, particularly on urban roads, even giving you more stability when going off-road. One disadvantage of tubeless tires is that if you do have a puncture in the tire, you must replace the whole tire instead of just the tube inside.
Maneuverability:
At first the larger and wider 11″ tubeless tires made the scooter feel strange compared to other electric scooters I have reviewed. It felt like I was riding on a flat surface because of the width and turning felt like I was turning on a square tire. But after a few miles I got used to the larger wider tires and was quite happy with its maneuverability. During testing I was able to take sharp turns and lean into my turns using the extra width and weight of the scooter to my advantage. Despite its heavier build, the G4 remains nimble and responsive, making it easy to navigate tight corners or crowded streets.
Comfort Verdict:
The Kukirin G4 is perfect for urban commutes and long rides on paved surfaces, with a level of comfort that rivals much more expensive scooters.
Off-Road Performance
While not explicitly marketed as an off-road scooter, the G4 offers some versatility.
Dirt Trails and Gravel:
The Kukirin G4 is best for riding on paved surfaces but can hold its own when going off-road. I did test the G4 on some sandy and loose gravel trails. While I would not ride it at the top speed of 43 mph, I was able to get to 20mph without feeling too unstable.
Loose Sand and Uneven Terrain:
The single-motor setup when riding the G4 on sand is definitely a disadvantage. During my testing I found the single motor and street tires struggled to power me through loose sand and up sand hills. Without having dual motors, the Kukirin G4 doesn’t have enough torque to get through sandy conditions and is best kept on paved surfaces.
Inclines:
The Kukirin G4 has enough power in its 2000-watt rear motor to power you up hills and inclines on paved surfaces. But, the limited torque from the single motor makes steep off-road climbs challenging.
Off-Road Verdict:
While it does have a very powerful 2000-watt rear motor, The G4 is not good in loose sand and is best suited for light off-road adventures, but primarily shines on paved surfaces and inclines.
Technology and Features
The G4 incorporates modern features that enhance the riding experience.
- Touchscreen Interface: Displays speed, battery levels, odometer and speed modes (Eco, Sport, Race). However, the screen can sometimes be unresponsive, requiring multiple taps to register.
- Lighting: The G4 includes a bright headlight, rear taillight, and turn signals, improving visibility during night rides. However, the headlight’s range is limited preventing you from seeing road hazards at high speeds.
- Folding and Portability: The G4’s stem can easily fold for portability. The latch is easy to use and doesn’t require you to insert any pins or screw anything in or out. To fold just squeeze the latch and push the pin. To unfold just raise the stem and it automatically latches in place. Unfortunately, there is no latch to keep the stem secured when picking up the G4. This is one feature missing that other folding electric scooter include, which makes it easier to pick up and to transport or bring inside.
Features Verdict:
The Kukirin G4 has a solid mix of modern technology and safety features, but the touchscreen could use improvements in responsiveness and the addition of a latch on the stem would make the G4 more portable.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Incredible Value: At $849.00 The G4 offers performance and features typically found in scooters costing much more.
- Speed and Throttle: Smooth acceleration through power band and a thrilling top speed of 43 mph.
- Comfortable Ride: A large deck, Dual suspension and wide tires ensure a smooth, stable ride.
- Reliable Braking: Strong front and rear mechanical disc brakes for added safety and are quiet as a mouse.
- Compact Design: Easy to fold and transport despite its heavier build.
Cons:
- Limited Off-Road Capability: With a single motor and street tires, the G4 is not ideal for loose sand, off-road trails or steep climbs.
- Touchscreen Responsiveness: The touchscreen could be more user-friendly and responsive. Sometimes it took sever touches to get the screen to respond.
- Charging Time: With such a large battery comes long range but the long charging period of up to 12 hours may not suit everyone.
Final Thoughts: Is the Kiran G4 Worth It?
The Kiran G4 electric scooter delivers an unbeatable combination of speed, range, and affordability. Priced at $849, it competes with scooters that cost significantly more, making it a fantastic value for money. It’s ideal for urban commuters, thrill-seekers, and anyone looking for a reliable, high-performance electric scooter.
While it has some minor drawbacks—such as its long charging time and limited off-road capabilities—the G4 excels in the areas that matter most: speed, comfort, and safety. If you’re in the market for a fast and affordable electric scooter, the Kiran G4 is a top contender.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the top speed of the Kukirin G4?
The Kukirin G4 boasts an impressive top speed of 43 mph, making it one of the fastest electric scooters in its price range.
2. How far can the Kukirin G4 travel on a single charge?
The Kukirin G4 has a maximum range of up to 43 miles per charge, depending on factors like terrain, rider weight, and riding mode.
3. Does the Kukirin G4 support off-road riding?
While the Kukirin G4 performs exceptionally well on paved roads, its street tires and single rear motor make it less ideal for loose sand or rugged off-road trails. Compact dirt or gravel paths, however, are manageable.
4. How long does it take to charge the battery?
The 60V 20Ah lithium-ion battery takes approximately 10-12 hours to charge fully from 0%.
5. What is the weight capacity of the Kukirin G4?
The Kukirin G4 supports riders up to 265 lbs (120 kg), ensuring a comfortable experience for most users.
6. Can the Kukirin G4 handle steep hills?
Yes, the Kukirin G4 can handle inclines of up to 20°, but its performance may vary on steeper slopes or in soft terrain due to its single motor design.
7. Is the Kukirin G4 foldable for easy transport?
Yes, the Kukirin G4 features a foldable stem that makes it compact enough to fit in most car trunks or SUVs, making it easy to store and transport.
8. Does the Kukirin G4 come with a warranty?
Yes, the Kukirin G4 includes a 12-month warranty. You can extend this to 24 months for an additional $100.
9. Is it suitable for night rides?
The Kukirin G4 features a bright headlight, rear taillight, and turn signals for visibility. However, its lighting is better suited for urban areas, and you should ride cautiously in poorly lit conditions.
10. Where can I buy the Kukirin G4 at the best price?
Currently, the Kukirin G4 is available for just $849, significantly discounted from its usual price of $1,549. Check the official website or trusted retailers for the latest deals.
About The Author
Eric “Hobart” is the founder of Hobart’s Reviews, specializing in electric scooters, e-bikes, and accessories. With over 10,000 miles ridden and more than 20 models reviewed, Hobart brings firsthand experience and expert insights to his audience. Follow his comprehensive reviews on his YouTube channel and website for trusted advice and detailed evaluations.