Segway-Ninebot F3 Pro scooter review

To segue is to effortlessly transition between topics or activities, without pause. Though rooted in music, the art of the segue is something that any creative, public speaker or broadcaster needs to master eventually. Speaking of segues... scooter.

The cleverly-named Segway became a household brand with its novel last-mile transport solutions, specifically its iconic Segway PT (Personal Transporter), an upright self-balancing two-wheel device that accelerates as the user leans forward. The innovative product was primarily marketed towards people working and studying on large campuses or military bases but it has also become a popular method of transport for tourism groups around big cities.

Despite becoming an iconic part of Silicon Valley lore, the classic Segway PT never became a widespread choice for average commuters. After being acquired by Xiaomi subsidiary Ninebot in 2015, Segway eventually ceased production of its classic PT model in 2020, paving the way for a pivot into e-bikes and, eventually, electric scooters. The latter is where Segway really found its footing, becoming one of the biggest manufacturers of the increasingly popular electric scooter market. While it still sells self-balancing devices to the truly curious, scooters like the F3 Pro have become the company’s bread and butter.

After using the Segway-Ninebot F3 Pro for a few weeks now, I can say it’s one of the sturdiest, most fully-featured electric scooters I’ve ever experienced, even if the overall weight and size aren’t as convenient as I’d like. The biggest issue isn't with the device itself; it's with the increasingly confusing laws and regulations around its usage.

There's no way to write this review without addressing the elephant in the room: the law (the elephant is also a cop). While there are trials being carried out across different parts of New South Wales, it is still illegal to ride an electric scooter in public. 

Essentially, riding a privately-owned scooter on a road, footpath or bicycle lane could land you with the same penalties for driving an unregistered, uninsured and unlicensed motor vehicle in addition to some other fun fines, like $136 for riding on a footpath. You're also not permitted to carry an electric scooter onto public transport in NSW, which could be more of a headache than anything else. 

Before you ride, it's important to check your state's rules and regulations. Canberra, for example, does allow you to carry personal electric scooters on public transport, under certain conditions. 

According to NSW law, however, you're only allowed to ride your electric scooter on private property, and even then, you're only allowed to ride it at a maximum speed of 25km/h. You don't have a choice. The Segway Ninebot F3 Pro and other electric scooters sold in Australia are limited to 25km/h driving speed via a firmware restriction (even though the F3 Pro is actually capable of 50km/h). 

I'm sure we all have our own feelings about these laws. Personally, I think restricting the speed limit via easily jailbroken firmware is both an overstep and an ultimately futile practice. 

Still, the 25km/h standard lets us focus on other features that separate the F3 Pro from the competition. To begin with, the F3 Pro averages 70km range on a full battery (at 15km/h). On a single charge, I surpassed 70km and not through any considered effort. You're simply not going to be cruising at a constant 25 or even 15km/h if you could hypothetically use this scooter outside you're own private property. 

More importantly, the difference that makes can be monumental depending on your situation. I have to regularly travel to my Mum's house to help out with various chores. It's a six-minute drive, but at the frequency I do it, it feels like a lot of time spent in the car (and an increasingly expensive trip thanks to petrol prices). If I cycled there, it would take roughly 35-40 minutes, easily an hour there and back. With the F3 Pro, I could cut that down to a half-hour round trip if I took the dirt track between my Mum's house and my own. Which I would never do, of course, because I love the law. and it would be against the law to ride the F3 Pro on a dirt track that the local government doesn't maintain. 

Speaking of dirt tracks (nice segue), I have been pleasantly surprised by the hydraulic suspension in the F3 Pro's front chassis. Combined with the 10-inch tubeless tires, the F3 Pro offers a super smooth ride on roads that make my 2008 Honda Civic sound like its' going to fall apart. I'm not too heavy for the F3 Pro's 120kg weight limit but I'm not too far away from it either (and with the help of the F3 Pro, I truly believe I can get there). The generous suspension makes a rough ride much more comfortable, even for someone a little thicker like me. 

Overall, the F3 Pro is an incredibly solid package out of the box. Part of that is a refined balance of economical packaging and minimising the user setup process. When you unbox the F3 Pro, there are only two major steps: lift the steering column and attach the handlebars. It's basically impossible to screw up unless you don't know how to scan a QR code and set up the device in-app. 

But speaking of screwing up— segue game is on fire today— there was a distinct rattle out of the box when I took the F3 Pro on its maiden voyage. The brakes also felt quite spongy. Both quite concerning when you're redlining the F3 Pro's speed limit for the purposes of a review. Thankfully, there's more than enough documentation online to guide you through tightening the brakes and steering column. 

When it comes to design and build, the only thing I'd have to ding the F3 Pro for would be its overall weight and portability.

Like most scooters, the F3 Pro folds down for easy stowage but that doesn't change the fact that it weighs almost 20kg. It's heavy and not-so-easily carted around from place to place, which could become problematic if you run out of battery away from home or are denied passage on pubic transport (which is at the discretion of the bus driver or train staff in NSW). 

I haven't had that problem, personally, but I have struggled to transport it in my KIA Sportage, a small SUV with a fairly spacious boot. 

It's for that same reason that the F3 Pro is forced to sleep outside like a large, neglected pet. Given the asking price, that can be a source of concern but the F3 Pro's security features do a good job of easing that paranoia. Especially if you're an iPhone user.