Acer Predator Extreme eScooter: an off-road animal with a forward stance

The Acer Predator Extreme PES017 isn’t your average e-scooter. This off-road machine is unique in looks and has more power than you would expect from your average commuter device. To be fair, it’s the outside-of-the-box thinking you would expect from a gaming company that has made the move into a new market, and that should always be encouraged. However, for many, this is probably a step too far.

I’m a big fan of electric scooters. They provide a fast and effective way to get from A to B without the hassle (or effort) of cycling. I first started testing electric scooters in Chicago, where they are completely road-legal, provided they don’t go above certain speeds and engine sizes. In the UK, only hired scooters are permitted on roads, so any scooter you buy can only be used on private land.

That’s frustrating, but there’s still a place for them, especially one designed for off-road use, like the Acer Predator Extreme. Stick it in your car or van when off on a camping trip and it makes an easy way to get across the campsite or hotel grounds. Plus, if you are going abroad, you can use the scooter on the road in many European countries.

With a 350W motor, the Extreme PES017 offers an impressive amount of torque to take it up inclines of 18%, though the top speed is a fairly restrained 25km/h (15.5mph). The range is also smaller than the competition at 32km or 20 miles. This is about going anywhere, rather than going fast or far.

How much is it?

The Acer Predator Extreme PES017 powered scooter is said to be priced at €1200 in Europe, which is around £1050 or $1400. Right now, though, it’s showing as out of stock on the Acer store with no other options available for purchasing.

For an off-road scooter, this price is pretty competitive, as the Segway GT3 E with similar spec comes in around £1400 / $1700 and the more powerful Apollo Phantom 2.0 is around £2300 / $2200.

Set-up

With this scooter, you also need to attach the kick stand and the foot plates for you to stand on when riding it. The assembly is still pretty straightforward, though you do need to get right under the scooter to put the foot plates and kick stand in place. All the required tools come with it, so you don’t need your tool kit. Even working slowly, it’s less than 30 minutes from unboxing to being able to ride.

The instructions suggest around a five to six-hour charge to fully charge the battery, though mine came already partially charged, so it took considerably less. There’s a dedicated charger that comes with it, and the charging port is covered with a rubber plug. Once the scooter is fully charged, the light on the charging brick turns from red to green.

For ease, the battery can be removed from the scooter and charged separately, avoiding the need to bring the whole thing inside. This is particularly handy if you’re scooter gets covered in mud from off-road use.

Design and build

Most electric scooters look the same. The same grey plastic finish, the straight handlebars that fold down for easy carrying and the two small wheels. The first thing you notice about the Predator Extreme is that it looks very different. Taking it out of the box for the first time, it looks more like a mini motorcycle than a scooter, with a raised front section and two footplates on either side of the wheels rather than a standing platform.

That design changes the way you ride this electric scooter. You face forward, with one foot on either side of the rear wheel – more like a jetski or motorbike than the sideward stance of a regular scooter, skateboard or snowboard.

The main power button is right down on the body of the scooter. This big red button is like a main kill switch and removes all power to the device. Most other scooters allow you to turn them on from the handlebars, but this does feel like a nice safety feature.

Compared to the main body of the scooter, the features on the handlebars feel a little dated. The bell is like something off of an old-fashioned bike, as are the brakes and grips. The computer, which shows the speed and changes the modes, is a simple monotone LED display that also feels rather basic.

Conversely, the main body of the scooter feels expensive. The metal frame and exposed suspension give this device a rugged feel that you know is built to withstand some serious off-road usage.

Riding

Riding a forward-facing scooter takes a little getting used to after years of standard platform-designed models. That starts even from the kick off, as you really have to balance the scooter with one foot on the side. Once you are moving, it’s much easier, but again, remembering to balance your weight forward when you press the accelerator down takes practice.

There’s a slight delay in the power delivery, especially on the high setting, but once that torque kicks in, it could easily throw you off if you’re leaning back to far. A slower squeeze of that trigger is advised, at least until you’re used to it.

The Acer Predator Extreme uses both front and rear suspension and you can feel the give in them. This makes even the roughest terrain feel smooth and even allows you to take small jumps where appropriate.

That 350W motor means that there’s more than enough torque to take you up steep inclines, though it is a little limited on that 15mph top speed. Presumably, this is a restricted speed to allow it to be legally used in more countries. However, other scooters, such as the Apollo Phantom and the Segway GT3 Pro, can be unlocked to offer more than double this speed. While I’m not sure most off-road riders want to hit 50mph, but 15mph does feel slow.

Should I buy the Acer Predator Extreme PES017?

Acer has dared to be different with the Predator Extreme and has doubled down on the off-road capabilities. Thanks the the forward facing design, this model offers far more suspension than most other scooters and is therefore better designed for uneven terrain.

However, for regular road and commuting use (where it’s legal), I much prefer the sideward stance platform design. For this kind of budget, commuters would be better off with the Segway Max G3, however it wouldn’t compete off road.

I really hope this isn’t a one off for Acer, as the scooter market could do with more big players in it, and the Predator Extreme pushes the envelope with some of its features. Right now though, its full potential is as limited as its top speed – especially here in the UK.