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Welcome to Flywheel, a weekly exploration of the used side of owned micromobility. Each newsletter will highlight an observation of trends emerging in the industry and feature five of the most interesting used vehicles being sold in the secondary market.

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The observation of the week explores the average resale prices of used escooters. This week’s featured vehicles are a sport/commuter hybrid ebike, two high-speed escooters, a budget commuter ebike, and a cafe racer style scrambler.

Observation of the Week

Exploring average resale prices of used escooters

Across the 4 largest micromobility markets in the US, the average resale price of a used escooter on Craigslist is $697.90. The median resale price of a used escooter is $450. For context, the average resale price for used ebikes on Craigslist across the same markets is $1864.73 and the median resale price is $1400 (as noted in the 2022 Flywheel Wrapped report).

Whereas the sweet spot for mass market ebikes (in my opinion) is $1500-$2500, it feels like the current sweet spot for new mass market scooters is somewhere in the range of $750-$1250. There’s likely room for this range to move up and become more expensive over the coming years, particularly as new scooters emerge that are true high-utility vehicles with high-quality componentry vs. toys being shoehorned into transportation use-cases. Additionally, as the line between ebikes and escooters continues to blur (i.e. seated scooters, ebikes without pedals), the sweet spot for escooters will likely also increase and be closer to that of ebikes.

Looking at resale prices by region also reveals some interesting market dynamics that differ from that of ebikes. Consider the following breakdown of average resale price by region:

Surprisingly, the SF - Bay Area’s average resale price of $638 is the cheapest by $75+. As a comparison, the SF - Bay Area region has the most expensive average resale price for used ebikes by $100+.

Seattle’s average resale price for used escooters of $918 is the most expensive, and is $163+ more expensive than its peer regions.

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Top 5 Vehicles of the Week

1. Riese & Müller Roadster Mixte | $2,999 | SF - Bay Area

The Riese & Müller Roadster Mixte is a class-1 hybrid that performs equally well for commuters or pavement/gravel sports riders. R&M is a premium german brand synonymous with quality and luxury within the ebike world, and as such is packed with premium, maintenance-free components. The powertrain features an 85Nm Bosch Performance CX mid-drive motor and a 500Wh Bosch battery pack. The Roadster Mixte comes with either a 10-speed Shimano Deore transmission or a continuously variable Enviolo hub, and this listing is fitted with the Shimano system. While the Enviolo hub gives you a smoother glide when pedaling and is generally considered the more premium option, it is heavier and has less of a mechanical advantage (less torque) than the Shimano Deore. The frame is stiff and solid, but is paired with an adjustable spring suspension front fork to give riders an amazingly sturdy but smooth ride. R&M bikes are excellent used ebikes to buy because they have one of the highest utilizations of all ebikes (as noted in the 2022 Flywheel Wrapped report), are extremely reliable, and can be serviced across a massive servicing network. This listing was bought in 2018 but only has 50 miles of usage. It was originally listed for $3.9K, but its price has since been reduced by almost $1K. While the Roadster Mixte is expensive when new and doesn’t have many of the software features that competing commuters from VanMoof or Cowboy do, this used Roadster Mixte selling for ~$3K is an incredible value option for urban riders looking for impeccable quality, rideability, and maintainability. Listing can be found here.

2. Dualtron Thunder | $999 | LA

The Dualtron Thunder is an escooter capable of hitting a monstrous 50mph max speed. If you’ve ever ebiked on SF’s Market Street and wondered how a scooter zoomed past you faster than the cars/buses next to you, it’s likely you’ve encountered a Dualtron Thunder in the wild. The Thunder’s powertrain packs two massive 2700W (peak) hub motors and a 2.1kWh battery, giving riders a range of 45+ miles and allowing them to climb grades up to 47%. This scooter is not only mind-bogglingly fast, but is also designed with the quality and safety features required for this kind of speed. Its hefty 95lb frame, wide deck, dual cartridge swingarm suspension, oversized tires, dual hydraulic brakes, and sturdy steering stem all help provide a steady and stable ride. The Thunder also has a series of smart software features and accesories, ranging from underdeck lighting, fingerprint unlock, and turn signals to single/dual motor modes and a torque/power limiter. It goes without saying that you need to be extremely careful, protected, and responsible when riding a vehicle like the Thunder. It’s likely way overpowered for most urban riders, but it is an absolutely thrilling escooter for daredevils. This listing has 323 miles of usage and is selling for ~$150 less than its Flywheel Vehicle Value. Listing can be found here.

3. Aventon Level.2 | $1,700 | LA

The Aventon Level.2 is a class-3 commuter and the brand’s flagship model in its most recently released line of ebikes. Despite only weighing ~50lbs, it has a powerful 50Nm geared rear hub motor, a high-capacity 720Wh battery pack, an 8-speed transmission, and front suspension. There’s even must-have commuter accessories like lights (front, rear, and brake lights), fenders, and racks directly integrated into the vehicle frame. The Level.2’s most notable improvements over its predecessor are its torque sensor and LCD display. The torque sensor significantly improves the response and feel of the pedal assist and is a rare touch for vehicles retailing for <$2K, and the LCD display is integrated nicely into Aventon’s excellent smartphone app to make software like ride controls and social/community features available directly on the vehicle. Aventon has one of the best quality and serviceability reputations within the budget ebike segment, and their bikes tend to be high performance and high value vehicles. This listing was only used for a photoshoot and is practically new with <5 miles ridden. Listing can be found here.

4. Apollo Ghost | $800 | Orange County

The Apollo Ghost is another high-speed escooter that lets you breeze past urban traffic with ease. Its powerful and large drive system (dual 800W hub motors and 946Wh battery pack) allows riders to hit a max speed of ~34mph, reach an average range of 25 miles, and climb a max grade of 25%. While the Ghost isn’t the fastest or most powerful scooter out there, it’s a bit of a Goldilocks vehicle that provides excellent performance while retailing for much less than its competitors. The 34mph max speed is particularly great because it provides just the extra bit of speed needed to keep up with traffic without going overboard or feeling unstable. The Ghost’s standout feature is its suspension. Its dual swing arm suspension has long travel, and provides excellent cushioning when riding over potholes and bumps on the road. However, the lack of hydraulic brakes on this particular listing is a concern for a vehicle capable of this speed. Apollo has one of the best servicing networks in the scooter segment, and is one of the better brands to look for when buying used. This listing has only 200 miles of usage and has a thumb throttle instead of the stock finger throttle. Listing can be found here.

5. Monday Anza | $1,800 | Seattle

The Monday Anza is a class-2/class-3 hybrid modeled after the style of 1970s cafe racers. Its powertrain features a 48Nm Bafang rear hub motor and a 557Wh battery pack that is tucked away into the “tank.” While the large bench seat is designed to accommodate two riders, the powertrain is not sufficient to move two people in non-cruising rides. The scrambler market is extremely competitive, with brands like Super73 and Juiced leading the charge. One of the Anza’s weaknesses against bikes from these brands is that it lacks proper suspension, making for a sometimes uncomfortable ride given the vehicle’s seat and riding position. There’s also a few minor design details around the cabling and lighting systems that could be improved. However, Monday has a much broader servicing/dealership network than many of its scrambler competitors. This listing has a Flywheel estimated ~200 miles of usage, but is selling for well above this model’s average resale price. If the seller is willing to bring down the price by $100-$200, it could be a compelling option. Listing can be found here.

That’s it for this edition. Thanks again for joining, see you next week!

- Puneeth Meruva

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