Razor E90 Razor E100
Razor E90 vs E100 – Side-by-Side Comparison
UPDATE: These scooters have now been replaced by the Power Core Versions. Read my comparison Review of the Power Core E90 vs E100 is here.
This is my independent Razor E90 vs E100 Comparison Review. They are both excellent first machines for kids that want to transition from kick scooters, but which is the best kids electric scooter?
Both are designed for children aged 8+ so, when I consider this question, I really have in mind kids aged between 8 and 12. For older kids, these scooters might be a little under-powered and I would suggest that they look at the other models in the Razor E-Series instead, like the E200 or E300.
I should say that, whilst the recommended minimum age is 8 years old, children all mature physically at different rates. You know your kids best and I have seen some mature 6-7 year olds manage these scooters perfectly safely. At the end of the day, they only reach speeds of 9-10 mph and require a push start to get the motor running – they probably go much faster than this on their push bikes!
The maximum child weight for safe use is 54kgs/120lbs for both scooters – so more than enough for a large child, but mum and dad should keep off!
Whichever model you choose, always ensure that your child wears a helmet just as they would when riding their bicycle – it helps to choose one that looks good since they are more likely to wear it (see image to the right). You can also buy elbow and knee pads to go with the helmet for extra protection.
Manufacturer
Both scooters are made by the Razor company. They are considered to be the no.1 manufacturer of ride-ons in the world. They are based in California and have a well deserved reputation for creating products that combine innovative design, high-quality construction and first-class features.
Price
The E100 scooter is slightly more expensive than the E90. At the time of writing, the E90 costs about $100/£115 and the E100 costs about $120/£135.
So, the E90 wins on this issue, but not by very much and as in most things in life you get what you pay for.
Motor & Speed
The E90 model comes with a standard 12v/100w kickstart motor that is powered by a single 12v battery.
The E100 model comes with a high torque 24v/100w kickstart motor that is powered by 2 x 12v batteries.
The E90 has a top speed of 9 mph, whereas the E100 can reach 10 mph. There isn’t much difference in top speed despite the high torque power of the E100 motor. This is partly due to the fact that the E100 is larger and heavier than the E90 (see below). Although there isn’t much difference in top speed, the E90 is more sluggish and will struggle to get up some hills that the E100 could manage more easily.
Throttle
There is a big difference in the throttle mechanisms for these 2 scooters. The E90 uses a push-button mounted on the right hand grip, whereas the E100 uses a normal motorcycle-style twist-throttle on the hand grip. Neither has a variable speed control, so the throttle is either on full or off. Variation in speed is achieved by using the brake and throttling on and off as required – your kids will soon get the hang of this after a little practice. I don’t have any strong preference for either save for the fact that the twist throttle better prepares them for upgrading later on to models that universally use this mechanism (E90 throttle shown below).
Brake
This is another area where the scooters differ greatly. The E90 has a foot brake that operates very much like the sort of foot brake that you find on kick scooters, whereas the E100 has a hand lever brake like those found on bikes and motorbikes.
The logic of the E90 foot brake is presumably to make it easier for small kids to transition to electric scooters. However, by the age of 7-8 most kids will be well used to using a hand lever brake on their push bikes and I would prefer my child to have their feet free to simply stand on the scooter rather than worry about having to step back to engage the brake (E100 brake shown below).
Run Time
The advertised continuous run time between charges is 50 minutes for the E90 and 40 minutes for the E100. Both ought to be more than adequate to allow your kids to scoot to their friends and back (or around the neighbourhood) provided it is no more than about 5 miles round trip. The battery recharge time is 8 hours (12 hours for 1st charge from new). You can buy extra batteries separately if you need to.
Size / Weight of Scooters
The E100 is heavier at 29 lbs vs the E90’s 21.75 lbs.
The E100 is also larger at 32.5 x 16 x 36 (inches) vs the E90’s 31 x 14 x 33 (inches).
The most relevant difference between the 2 scooters as far as size goes is that the E90’s handlebars are 3 inches shorter than the E100. the E100 handlebar height is also adjustable and makes it more likely to grow with your child than the E90 which they may outgrow sooner.
The weight difference shouldn’t make too much difference since these scooters are not designed to be carried very far and won’t work as a normal scooter when the battery is dead.
Accessories
Both scooters come supplied with all necessary batteries, chargers and assembly tools – some suggest that you use mechanics grade tools instead but this seems unnecessary to me. Both scooters are easy to assemble and maintain – they come 95% pre-assembled.
My Overall Verdict
I would definitely choose the E100 over the E90. Its adjustable handlebar with an extra 3 inches of height mean that it ought to last longer than the E90 and I prefer the throttle and braking mechanisms. The extra torque and top speed is worth the extra money in my opinion and you won’t have to put up with your children complaining that the scooter is sluggish on slight inclines.
The E90 is still a good scooter and if your budget can’t quite stretch to the price of an E100, I still think that it is worth buying as a first electric scooter.
The New Razor Power Core E90!
Since writing this review, Razor has introduced a new and much improved version of the E90 Electric Scooter onto the market.
It is called the Razor Power Core E90 and is much better than the original E90 Scooter.
The main improvements are as follows:
- Increased battery time of 80 minutes
- 50% more power
- New Power Core Technology
- Hand brake
- Much better styling!
Watch the Razor E90 Power Core in Action:
Read my in-depth review of the Power Core E90 here.
The NEW Razor Power Core E100 Scooter
Razor has now introduced a new version of the E100 scooter onto the market. It is an improved version that has a more funky look to it and, importantly, has an INCREASED BATTERY LIFE OF 60 MINUTES!
Watch the E100 Power Core in Action:
Where to Buy
E90
It’s very hard to find good deals on the old version of the E90 Scooter and I wouldn’t bother even looking any more since the new version is so much better and available at very reasonable prices.
Check Price of the Razor Power Core E90 here
Check Price of the Power Core E90 in the UK here.
E100
Check the latest Amazon US price here
E100 Power Core
Check Price of the NEW E100 Power Core here.
Find Other Razor Electric Scooters
Find Out More
Read My Full E90 Review – This is for the OLD VERSION!
If you have any questions or feedback on the subject of the Best Kids Electric Scooter, please leave a comment below or send an email to kristian@electricridetoys.com
Great review. Just what I was looking for. Thank you.
Fantastic information. Just what I was looking for to make a decision.