You can't walk down the streets of London without seeing electric bikes littering the streets (nor Paris, Milan, Tel Aviv or Palermo to name but a few of the cities overrun by cycle hire schemes).
The e-revolution has changed the transportation game for the capital's commuters who are switching sweltering tube rides and costly car ownership for two wheels.
The appeal of this kind of transport is immediately obvious – you get to ride in the fresh air (an infrequent experience for office workers), marvel at the city’s hotspots, skip crowded train carriages and take the most direct route – all without working up a sweat thanks to the electric boost.
I am a Londoner born and raised. Growing up before the influx of cycle lanes, the idea of biking around the city was a death wish, which meant I just never really did it. My friends who spent their childhoods in less urban areas have taken to popping around the capital on Limes without fear – and I can’t relate. Yet I have recently moved to North London and require a bus ride to my closest underground station. Cycle lanes are everywhere so I knew I needed to do something to improve my convenience.
An electric scooter seemed like the perfect choice. They have a lower centre of gravity so feel more balanced and stable than bikes and they’re much more affordable than investing in an electric bike, while offering the chance to gain road awareness and improve my confidence.
Pure has established itself as one of the leaders in the category with slick scooters that are powerful, compact and easy to ride. However, while it is lobbying the government, it is not currently legal to ride e-scoters on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements. They can only be ridden on private lands.
While we collectively await the legalisation of private e-scooter use, I have taken the brand’s new Pure Air4 Pro model for a spin. Here’s what I thought.
Specs
- Range: 40km (25 miles)
- Max speed: 25km/h (15.53 mph)
- Weight: 17kg
- Unfolded dimensions: 113cm (H) x 55cm (W) x 111cm (L)
- Folded dimensions: 48cm (H) x 55cm (W) x 111cm (L)
- Power: 710W
- Tyres: 10”
- Indicators: Yes
- Headlight: 150 lumen
- Features: Active steering stabilisation, rubber deck grip, dual braking system and foldable design
- Water resistance: IP65
- Battery: 9.6Ah at 37V
Set up
The Pure Air4 Pro arrived in a sizeable box, but the contents were far more compact than it appeared. After removing the scooter from its setting, the set-up process consisted of popping the handlebar in the designated slot, securing the front clip and adding screws – a process that takes around a minute. Just pay attention to ensure the headlight is facing outwards and you’re ready to go. There is very little in the way of plastic in the packaging process, which is good to see but there is a fair amount of cardboard to content with.
Design
On first impressions, it is clear that this is a sophisticated and sleek piece of transportation tech with its black and orange colourway. The only problem is that while the orange looks good and is eye-catching, it didn’t take long for the base to show the dirt – one characteristic London rainstorm and it is covered in filthy footprints. All-black is also available.
The steel Pure Air4 Pro is no wallflower at 17kg. It’s sizeable and far heavier than our childhood push scooters. This is expected and offers peace of mind that it will be a sturdy, stable ride. The scooter folds onto itself and clips in place to make it easier to transport but the staircase to reach my flat provides a daily weightlifting challenge.
Features
The Pure Air4 Pro can reach up to 25 km/h but the speed limit for its use is 20 (around 12mph). This means that while you are going from A to B, cyclists on non-electric road bikes whizz past, which begs the question – why is it that these scooters are illegal on UK roads? It feels far less dangerous than the top speeds of traditional or e-bikes.
While doing so, it offers a leisurely ride thanks to Pure’s patented steering stabilisation and precision steering. It is so easy to manoeuvre this scooter wherever you need to go, over shallow bumps and uneven terrain and a sudden change of direction is no problem.
Speaking of which, the addition of indicators, the rear brake light and a very bright headlight are hugely welcomed for visibility and signalling. It means you don’t need to take your hands off the handlebars to reveal your turns and so adds an extra element of safety. However, the back reflective lights don’t seem to stand the test of time as one cracked during my very first ride - no doubt from a rogue piece of gravel.
The Pure Air4 Pro is host to the brand’s most powerful motor and its most advanced battery to date. I rode for around two hours before the battery life (clearly displayed on the LCD screen) entered the red zone in which the speed dropped to 17km/h. It then took around six hours to charge up. So, it’s not ideal for longer journeys but transformed a 30-minute flat road walk into a six-minute ride.
However, on researching the scooter’s functionality for this article, it appears as if I had the scooter on Performance mode (indicated with a red S on the screen), so watch this space for its duration on Normal mode (white S) which is said to have a longer range. There is also a Pedestrian mode that cuts the speed to 6km/h and the headlight flashes. These can be switched between using the power button which also switches the headlight on.
My biggest gripe with the scooter is that it is not key-operated, which would deter thieves. You also have to take this electric bike inside and cannot park it externally, which is not ideal if there are a lot of stairs (in my case) or if the scooter is dirty.
Verdict
Pure4 Pro electric scooter
The Pure4 Pro is the leading electric scooter label’s most advanced model to date – and it shows. The slick black and orange hue and steel construction is an indicator of the premium nature of this alternative transportation, even if the orange reveals the dirt. It is also foldable to store or transport.
The electric scooter has active steering stabilisation, precision steering and a dual braking system to make it a smooth and steady ride, while remaining easy to manoeuvre or change directions. When it comes to the latter, indicator buttons on the handlebar allow you to signal without removing your hands for added safety and peace of mind – which is heightened by a very bright 150-lumen headlight.
Shorter journeys are where this scooter shines. I rode for around two hours on Performance mode before the 9.6Ah at 37V battery life (clearly displayed on the LCD screen) entered the red zone in which the speed dropped to 17km/h. The brand dubs this around 40km and it then took around six hours to charge up. There are three modes; Normal, Performance and Pedestrian.
The rubber deck and handles provides a comfortable and solid grip for the feet and hands respectively, while the IP65 rating ensures the weather won’t dampen your ride. The tubeless tyres have been put through their paces and are solid and able to absorb impact - but you may want to bend your knees over deeper potholes.
The Pure4 Pro makes zipping from A to B a seamless and importantly, fun experience. Throw in the ability to lock it up externally and the UK changing the law regarding riding on public roads, and this is very likely to be the mode of transport of the future.
Buy now £549.00, Pure
