REVIEW OF THE DECENT ONE ELECTRIC KICKSCOOTER
Written by Ed Wiles, Scootered Founder
Introduction
The Decent One electric scooter replaces the original Decent X7 (which was itself a variant on the Turboant X7). The company behind the Decents has been wholesaling other brands for years but felt that the proliferation of the Xiaomis (and the unfair practices employed by some stores selling them) meant they needed a new option. But how does the Decent One compare to other scooters in the price range? It is generally priced about the same as a Xiaomi Essential (though Xiaomi stopped producing the Essential in 2022).
The Basics
The Decent One is a foldable electric scooter with a simple design, replaceable battery, 25 km/h (16 mph) top speed, 19 km (12 mile) range (on one battery), and 13 kg weight. The battery is stored in the handlebar stem and easily (and quickly) can be replaced. This means that you can carry spare batteries with you (in a rucksack) and replace one as and when you need, thus extending your journey (the defining quality of the Decent range thus far). The dashboard displays the speedometer, battery level and riding mode. There is no app to connect to, while it is easy to assemble straight out of the box.
The Design
As mentioned, the Decent One's 36V Li-ion battery is located in the handlebar stem (like the original Ninebot models), whereas the majority of scooters now house their battery in the base (including the Ducati Scrambler, which also has a replaceable battery). The Decent One Max is essentially the same scooter but has a larger battery, which attaches to the stem.
The frame is built from an aluminium alloy, just like the Xiaomi scooters (and indeed all vehicles in the price range). This means it is strong but not too heavy. At about 13 kg, it is very slightly heavier than similar Xiaomis, but this will in part be due to its extra height and larger wheels (the tyres themselves are air-filled): the Decent One has 10 inch tyres, while the Xiaomi range have 8.5 inch tyres.
The display on the Decent One is what one might expect: it shows your speed as well as the battery power and ride mode. The accelerator is a button/switch on the right-hand handlebar, on which the power button and menu button are also housed (this is somewhat unusual as such buttons are normally incorporated into the top of the stem/dash).
There is a bike-like brake on the left-hand handlebar. I generally prefer this kind of brake as opposed to a second electronic switch. There is also a bell, which is kind of built into the brake. There is a headlight and a rear light, which also functions as a brake light. The scooter continues the X7 theme with its white side reflectors, repeating the white in the brand logo. These side reflectors conceal the bolts for the wheels (meaning that they will have to be peeled off and then stuck back on should you ever need to remove a wheel).
Riding The Decent One
The Decent One feels much like those first Segway-Ninebot electric scooters (which flooded the streets of Europe in 2019 when rental companies used them) but is perhaps slightly smoother because of the larger (10 inch) tyres. It's really difficult to tell just by riding them.
The rear mud guard also functions as an "emergency" brake, again like the original Ninebots (and X7), but I never use this for fear of breaking something that looks like its main function is to prevent mud spatter. Decent have not provided braking distances but the brake is pretty much the same as the Xiaomis (indeed, it looks like the disc is manufactured by the same company). Of course, if you are not used to riding scooters, the first time you ride any e-scooter will probably be a little nerve-wracking.
We always recommend wearing a helmet when riding an e-scooter; and the majority of e-scooter accidents happen within the first few rides, so be careful if you are a beginner. At time of writing, e-scooters are still not legal on public roads in the UK.
Although the 10 inch tyres are safer then smaller tyres (less susceptible to potholes), they are still relatively small and British workmen are of course incapable of filling in potholes with anything like permanency. Like other lower budget e-scooters, there is no independent suspension (shock absorbers), meaning that you are relying on the air-filled tyres to provide for a smoother ride. This is fine unless you pick up punctures and end up putting on solid or honeycomb tyres: there will be a noticeable decline in comfort in such a case. Decent claims that, if run at the recommended pressure, their tyres are "puncture resistant", but is hard to know whether this is true.
Battery
The Decent One comes with a 36V, 180 Wh, which is average. However, as with the X7, the rated power is 350 Watts and this is above average (the Essential's power is 250 Watts). It may be that providing the extra power has had a detrimental effect on the range of the Decent One, for a 12 mile range is slightly below average. Of course, the idea is that this shorter range is compensated for by having replaceable batteries. Life would certainly be a lot easier if you could easily change your phone battery.
Summary
The Decent One pitches itself as a no-nonsense electric scooter and that is pretty much exactly what it is. It is inexpensive with the essential features you need. It would certainly be a great scooter for a someone to get to school/college/uni and back. The lack of app connectivity makes little real-world difference but the shorter range (on a single, charged battery) means it is hard to give it the full five stars (despite its cheapness and nifty battery system). Of course, all Li-ion batteries have a finite life anyway, and one could argue that my rating system means that no electric scooter in this price range could ever attain the full five stars because there are always going to be compromises (and it is a fair argument to make). To conclude, I would definitely go for the Decent One over the Xiaomi Essential, but then it becomes a toss up between the One and the 1S.
Rating
Specification Table
| Size (Unfolded) | 108 x 42 x 118 cm |
| Size (Folded) | 108 x 42 x 46 cm |
| Weight | 13 kg |
| Output | 350 watts |
| Battery Capacity | 180 Wh |
| Top Speed | 25 km/h |
| Range | 19 km (12 miles) |
| Charge Time | 2-3 hours |
| Max Climbing Angle | 20 % |
| Tyres | 10 inch air-filled |
| Shock Absorbers | No |
| Rear Brake | Mechanical |
| Waterproof | IP54: spray resistant |
| Lights | Headlight + Rear Light |
| Riding Modes | Eco/Standard/Sport |
| Display | Battery/Speed/Mode |