Nobody quite knows what to call the latest trend in personal transport. Self-balancing scooters seems to be the official name but that covers such a wide range of devices that you could have an hour long conversation only to find you´ve been talking about two completely different things.
Hover boards is an awesome futuristic name for these devices. It´s a name that comes with such disappointment when you see both wheels on the ground. This naming problem is such that Vice have christened them “rap scooters” due to their popularity with famous rappers like Wiz Khalifa and Soulja Boy.
The product we´re are looking at today is truly deserving of the “rap scooter” moniker. This was the board Wiz Khalifa was arrested on, for riding through Los Angeles airport on it. It´s the board that stars in all good “hover board fail” viral videos. In fact, the Cocheer 6.5 inch is the face of the self-balancing scooter movement.
We´re going to take an in-depth look at the features, performance and price-tag to see if it´s worth buying. Don´t believe the hype.
Features
To start with, the Cocheer 6.5” self-balancing scooter, looks every inch the fashion statement. It´s available in 6 different colors, but looks its best in white. Out of the box, it´s got enough weight to convince me that it´s well-made. It also passes the “rattle test”, another indicator of good construction.
This product is made in China so it´s pleasing to see a UL22772 certificate. It´s passed 159 separate safety tests so there´s no risk of it exploding, or burning your house down. Cocheer have gone the extra mile safety wise by including a feature alongside an automatic shut-off.
The Cocheer is an adult hover-board. It carries up to 220lb, has a cruising speed of 6.5 mph and flat out you´ll reach 10mph. It´s a commuter device with a 20km run time and, thanks to its Lithium Ion battery, a charge time of just 1.5 hours. It isn´t the fastest on the market, nor does it have the strongest staminha, but the Cocheer nestles neatly into the mid-range market. For the price, it performs a lot better than most.
When you take the Cocheer out of its comfort zone, the low price begins to make more sense. Despite having two 350W motors, any type of incline will have a dramatic effect on performance. The manufacturer states it can handle a 15 degrees but it really does struggle in this regard. The 6.5 inch tires are fine for smooth pavements, anything else and you´ll either be bucked off or stuck still.
A couple of other additions are the LED lighting for night-riding as well as the bluetooth connectivity that lets you keep an eye on performance and battery life via an app. It´s also got an IP rating of 54, so you can ride it in light showers without breaking the electronics, or sacrificing your warranty.
Strengths
- The price is its strongest suit. For the money you won´t be able to find anything better.
- The battery is great. A short charge in exchange for decent performance and long distances.
- The build quality is very good
- Fully UL22772 certified for safety
- Has an excellent reputation among rappers, and customers
- An almost iconic look
Weaknesses
- The features are a little bare, (where are the speakers?)
- It struggles outside of its comfort zone
- If you´re close to the 220llb mark the performance will be reduced.
Specifications
Dimensions: 584*168*178(mm)
Weight: 12kg
Wheels Size: 170mm
Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
Motor: Dual 250W motors
Miles per charge: 20k/m miles
Maximum Speed: 15km/h
Battery Type: 36V*4.4AH(158WH) lithium battery
Charging Time: 1-2 Hours
