Fluid Horizon Review - Our Honest Review

• Read Time: 7 min

If you are looking for a workhorse and a step up from entry-level scooters, with a good speed, low on maintenance, made from durable materials, the fluidfreeride horizon electric scooter will be your ticket.

It has a powerful 500W motor, a 624-watt hour battery, and is good for long-range commutes yet is still portable even though it is heavier than the average entry scooter.

The longer commutes mean that the rider most likely will ride over diverse and rougher terrain, so comfort is a must.

The Horizon delivers on all those points and is well below the $800 mark

The Horizon electric scooter is a very efficient hillclimber. Inclines of a few % are easily conquered without missing a bit. Only really steep hills will make it come to a crawl at the crest. If you live in San Francisco, some of the biggest hills will make you notice that.

Definitely a longer range category scooter with its claimed 25-mile range (40 km). In a real-world range test performed by professional testers, it actually managed 26 miles (41,9 km). This is a mix of starts, stops, and riding in the fastest possible mode. 

A rear-wheel drive 500W brushless hub motor with a max power output of 800W delivers all you need to tackle the hills and keep a good top speed. It runs along with a slightly pleasant whizzing sound. 

The build quality is solid and should not present any bigger issues over time. Quality metal material and proper bolts are all part of the package. Cabling from the handlebars to the rest of the scooter runs through a separate tube and is bundled together in a very effective and smooth-looking way.

Front and dual rear suspension together with front air-filled tire are doing a great job and even after riding over rougher terrain for a long journey, you will feel fine. 

The balance is tilted slightly towards the back due to the rear motor and drum brake. The rear tire is solid but the dual rear spring suspension balances that fact out. The Horizon electric scooter is a good commuter scooter with very good overall ride quality. It won't disappoint. 

A rear drum brake and regen braking, also on the rear wheel and controlled by the brake lever, stops the Horizon effectively although the solid tire means you don't have the same grip as an air-filled tire would. The rear drum brake is fully encased within the rear wheel and should mean it is virtually maintenance-free.

The brake lever is well balanced requiring little effort for smooth braking. The lack of a front-wheel brake needs paying attention too though. Because of rear brakes only and with that rear airless tire, you can lock up and start sliding. 

It most definitely falls into the portable category of scooters even though it weighs 42 lbs (19 kg). Folding handlebars as well as a folding telescoping stem. To unfold the handlebars, pull them upwards, and then tighten a screw mechanism. This will ensure them from collapsing midflight.

The stem folds super easy. Pull a lever at the base of the deck and fold. A distinct clicking noise will let you know it is locked in place. Once folded it measures 38 x 45 x 14 inches (97 x 18 x 36 cm). A very compact package that you can bring on public transport or store away in a corner.

The Horizon electric scooter has front and rear led lights. The front lights are low mounted and although helpful in darker conditions, they might need additional help for better visibility. The dual tail lights flash under braking. No turn signal and ground effects lighting.

An interesting combination with an air-filled front tire and a solid rear tire. And there's a reason behind this philosophy. A flat tire is annoying, to say the least, and it's usually the rear tire that suffers them. Fixing it is a bit of a faff with the hub motor and all the rest.

The solid tire eliminates this issue. Traction will not be as good as with an air-filled tire though, so one needs to be wary of braking too sudden and hard, as well as damp patches lest they catch you out.

Front tire dimension is 8,5 " (21,6 cm) and the rear tire is 8" (20 cm).

Looking down at the spacious deck you will see the fluid logo. Grip tape will help you stay firmly on the 18 x 6.3 inches (46 x 16 cm) deck. A 4,2 inch (10,6 cm) ground clearance will clear most curbs without getting caught.

Very good LCD display, It shows speed, battery level, odometer. Bright enough even in direct sunlight with the exception of the battery level indicator. Different features can be controlled with the P-settings.

It does have a trigger-style throttle, which in some cases can be fatiguing on the index finger. This one is very smooth though and is not hard to operate even over longer distances.

It doesn't have an IP rating so water resistance will be minimal.

The Horizon scooter has a reputation as a more or less bulletproof reliable machine. It just runs and soaks up mile after mile. Very durable and long-lasting brake pads as well.

Not much to do here but recharge and get back on the road. The fluidfreeride Horizon is virtually maintenance-free.

Some people think the rear mudguard is a step-on brake and have broken it when they step on it. A stronger mudguard has been designed so it is not as easy to break if you should step on it.

Some screws that run through the plastic of the mudguard tended to loosen over time as the plastic wore out. This has also been addressed and that part is now stronger and sturdier.

There is a lot of scooters for the money. Sure there are some compromises. It is a bit heavy, the rear tire can be slippy, it has trigger-style throttle and many prefer a thumb throttle.

But once you start riding it, the high top speed, the fun, and comfortable ride quality, the lack of worrying about a rear puncture, as well as it being super low on maintenance, means this is a winner.