Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)
The overall winner here is the ISCOOTER i9Ultra - not because it's brilliant, but because it quietly delivers more real-world utility for a fraction of the money the 8TEV B12 PROXI asks for. The i9Ultra gives you stronger punch, more usable range, suspension, zero-flat tyres and app features at a budget price, even if the ride is a bit firm and unglamorous.
The 8TEV B12 PROXI is the better choice only if you're specifically chasing premium chassis feel, big pneumatic wheels and beautiful engineering for short, stylish urban hops - and you're happy to pay dearly for that pleasure and live with modest range and power. If your commute is under roughly 5-8 km each way and you care more about "vibe" than value, the 8TEV still has its charm.
If you can spare a few more minutes, let's dig into how these two really stack up when the asphalt gets rough and the battery bars start disappearing.
Electric scooters have matured from wobbly toys to serious daily transport, and these two machines sit on opposite ends of how to approach that job. The 8TEV B12 PROXI is the boutique, design-first interpretation: big bicycle-like wheels, a chromoly steel frame and a maple deck that screams "bespoke" every time you glance down. The ISCOOTER i9Ultra is the pragmatic alternative: solid tyres, suspension, decent power and a price tag that doesn't require a budget meeting.
On paper, they shouldn't even be in the same sentence: one costs well into four figures, the other hovers in low three. On the road, though, they compete for the same urban commuter: someone who needs a compact scooter to cover daily city miles, cope with bad infrastructure and survive real-weather Europe.
The PROXI is for the rider who wants their scooter to feel like a crafted object; the i9Ultra is for the rider who just wants the thing to work every day without drama. If you're curious which attitude actually makes for the better ownership experience, keep reading.
Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?
Both scooters target the everyday commuter who wants something lighter and more portable than the monstrous dual-motor beasts, but sturdier than toy-grade rentals. You're looking at machines for people who ride to work, class or the train station, then fold and stash.
The 8TEV B12 PROXI positions itself as a premium "urban surfboard": short city hops, excellent stability, and a big focus on ride feel and style. Think design agency creative, not food courier. It lives in the premium price bracket, where you normally expect either high power or long range - it offers neither, but counters with craftsmanship and huge wheels.
The ISCOOTER i9Ultra lives at the opposite end - very affordable, firmly in the budget-to-lower-mid range. It goes after students, first-time buyers and cost-conscious commuters who still want decent speed, real suspension and a motor that doesn't give up at the first hint of a hill.
So why compare them? Because a surprising number of people stand in exactly this dilemma: "Do I buy one fancy, 'engineered' scooter with modest stats, or a cheap workhorse with better range and grunt but less pedigree?" That's the question we'll answer.
Design & Build Quality
Pick up the 8TEV B12 PROXI and the first impression is: someone cared. The chromoly steel frame feels like bicycle-industry kit, not scooter catalogue tubing. The welds are neat, the powder coat looks serious, and that maple deck with carbon reinforcement is the sort of thing you'd expect on a high-end longboard, not a commuter scooter. The three-spoke mag wheel up front and the integrated lights give it an almost custom-bike presence.
The flip side is that you're paying heavily for this niceness. Under the paint and wood, you're still looking at very modest motor and battery hardware for the price point. The chassis absolutely outclasses the electronics bolted to it, which is a slightly odd balance in 2020s micromobility.
The i9Ultra, by contrast, is unapologetically utilitarian. Aluminium frame, rubberised deck, honeycomb solid tyres, functional display perched on a straightforward stem. No one will mistake it for a design study, but nothing feels embarrassingly cheap either. The folding joint clicks into place with a reassuring clunk, and there's none of the alarming flex you get on bottom-of-the-barrel clones.
In the hand, the 8TEV feels like a lovingly machined tool; the ISCOOTER feels like decent factory output. If you buy with your eyes and fingertips, the PROXI wins. If you buy with a spreadsheet, the premium build suddenly feels like a luxury more than a rational choice.
Ride Comfort & Handling
This is where the PROXI earns its reputation. Those huge pneumatic wheels change everything. Roll out onto broken European pavements, and the scooter just glides over cracks that would make smaller-wheeled rivals flinch. The tall tyres contribute a natural cushioning, and the flex of the wooden deck quietly filters out the high-frequency buzz that normally makes your feet go numb after a while. It's all passive comfort - no springs or linkages - but it works.
The side-by-side stance the wide deck allows is another small revelation. You can ride almost like on a board, shifting weight and carving into corners. At speed, the long wheelbase and lazy steering geometry make the scooter feel planted and calm. You don't find yourself white-knuckling the bars just to track straight. After a few kilometres of dodgy paving stones, your knees still feel human.
The i9Ultra takes the opposite route: solid tyres for durability, then tries to soften the blow with front and rear suspension. On smoothish tarmac and moderate imperfections, that combo does a decent job - the springs absorb the sharper hits, and the scooter feels agile without twitching. But you do feel more of the road texture than on the big pneumatic 8TEV hoops. Long stretches of cobblestones or patched asphalt will remind you you're on solid rubber, even if the suspension is doing its best.
In handling terms, the i9Ultra is more "typical modern scooter": reasonably quick steering, compact wheelbase, and good manoeuvrability in tight bike lanes or weaving around pedestrians. Stable enough at its top speed, but not in the same "big-wheel calm" league as the 8TEV.
If your daily route is made of nice bike paths and decent roads, the difference is less dramatic. If your city likes potholes and cruelty, the PROXI's large tyres and wooden deck really do feel kinder to your joints - assuming you remember its other compromises.
Performance
On pure shove, there's no contest. The i9Ultra's rear motor has much more grunt. From a standstill at the traffic lights, it pulls you up to its cruising speed with a confidence that would surprise anyone coming from a generic 350 W rental. You feel that extra torque especially with a heavier rider on board or when the road starts to tilt upwards - it just keeps pushing instead of fading away in embarrassment.
The PROXI's motor, by contrast, lives in the "respectable but modest" category. The higher-voltage system helps, and at city speeds it feels nippy enough in its strongest mode, but you're never going to confuse it with a performance scooter. There is a noticeable pause between squeezing the throttle and the motor waking up, which you do learn to anticipate, but it doesn't exactly scream "precision". Once moving, it holds its top end decently for a small motor, but acceleration is more "civilised pull" than "energetic launch".
Top speed sensations are similar: both sit in that sweet spot for city commuting where you can comfortably mix with bike traffic and not become a rolling roadblock. The i9Ultra just gets there with more authority. On hills, the story repeats - the 8TEV will manage typical city bridges and moderate inclines, but on steeper streets you can feel it working hard. The ISCOOTER simply has more in reserve; even riders closer to the weight limit report it soldiering up serious slopes, if not at full flat-ground velocity.
Braking is one of the few areas where they land closer together. Both use a mix of electronic braking on the motor wheel and a mechanical disc at the rear. The i9Ultra adds a more sophisticated electronic system with anti-lock behaviour that helps keep the wheel from locking in panic stops, which is particularly welcome on solid tyres. The PROXI's mechanical rear feels predictable and strong enough, and the long wheelbase plus big front wheel make hard braking feel controlled rather than sketchy.
Bottom line: if you care about performance beyond very gentle commuting, the i9Ultra is simply the more muscular scooter. The PROXI is tuned more for feel and composure than outright shove - and given its premium billing, that balance feels a bit conservative.
Battery & Range
Range is where the romantic narrative around the PROXI starts to wobble. Its battery is not large, and the real-world distances reflect that. Ride it enthusiastically in the fastest mode, with a few hills thrown in, and you're looking at a daily radius that suits shorter city hops rather than cross-town missions. Light rider, gentle pace, flat ground - you can stretch it, but for most people it's an every-day-or-two charging companion at best.
The upside is that the 8TEV keeps its performance fairly consistent until the gauge drops low. The higher-voltage system helps it avoid that "wheeze and crawl" feeling scooters often get once the battery goes below half. Still, you're very aware that this is a proximity-focused machine - the name is not exactly hiding it.
The i9Ultra, on the other hand, plays the range game better. In typical mixed riding - some full-throttle bursts, some cruising, a normal-weight rider - it will comfortably get most commuters through a there-and-back day without nerves. Ride it aggressively at full speed and heavy load, and the distance shrinks, but still sits well above what the 8TEV can realistically cover. Nurse it in the more economical modes and you can turn it into a genuine suburban commuter.
Charging times are roughly similar in real life; the i9Ultra is a touch quicker from empty thanks to a smaller voltage and standard charge rates, while the PROXI takes a standard workday or overnight session. In practice, both fit into normal daily rhythms - plug it at home, forget it until morning.
If your commute is short and fixed, the PROXI can work. If your days vary, or you like detours, or you simply don't want to think about range every time you see an interesting side street, the i9Ultra is far less anxiety-inducing.
Portability & Practicality
On the scales, both scooters sit in the same ballpark, which means "carryable, but not fun" for anything more than a flight or two of stairs. Neither is a featherweight, but both are a world away from the hulking dual-motor monsters.
The 8TEV's folding mechanism is nicely engineered - solid latch, minimal play, and a compact enough folded footprint to slide under a wide desk or into a hallway. Those big wheels do make the scooter longer than typical 8,5-inch commuters, so it's not the most petite thing in a car boot, but you gain back so much ride stability that it's a fair trade if you're not driving a tiny city car.
The ISCOOTER folds in the classic way: stem down, latch to the rear fender, carry by the bar. The package is slightly chunkier in height due to suspension hardware and thicker deck, but still perfectly manageable for public transport hops and boot duty. The latch feels secure enough that you don't spend the whole walk worrying the stem will drop onto your shins.
Practicality is where the i9Ultra's low-maintenance brief wins hearts. Solid tyres mean you never face the miserable evening of trying to change a tube indoors with tyre levers and regret. For all-weather riders, that's huge. The PROXI's pneumatic tyres offer a much nicer ride but demand you actually own a pump and care about pressures; sloppy maintenance here can undo a lot of its comfort advantage.
Daily-living details? The 8TEV's lack of an obvious built-in lock point is annoying in the real world. You can loop a chain creatively, but it's clearly not designed with street locking in mind - perhaps because the designers assume you'll always bring it inside. The i9Ultra, being cheaper and more generic, is easier to lock mentally and physically: the frame geometry lends itself more readily to a U-lock or chain, and you're less terrified of cosmetic scars.
Safety
Both scooters tick the fundamental safety boxes, but they approach them differently.
The PROXI leans heavily on geometry and wheel size. Those giant pneumatic tyres are your first and best safety system. They dramatically reduce the chances of being thrown by a pothole or tram track, and they make mid-corner bumps much less dramatic. Combined with the long, stiff frame, the scooter feels unflustered even when you have to brake hard or swerve at speed. The water-resistance rating is also excellent, so you're not gambling with electronics every time it rains properly.
Braking is solid, though not spectacular. The mechanical disc at the rear and electronic braking at the front do the job, and the chassis stays composed. Lighting is neatly integrated and offers decent visibility to others, though it's more "be seen" than true headlamp-level illumination for fast night riding.
The i9Ultra comes at safety from the tech side: disc plus electronic front brake with anti-lock behaviour, bright headlight, reactive rear light and even integrated turn signals. Being able to indicate your intentions without waving an arm around is a surprisingly big deal in real traffic. The 10-inch wheels are a good compromise - big enough to roll over city rubbish more safely than the tiny rental-size tyres, though clearly not in the same league as the 8TEV's twelves.
Its water resistance is decent for light rain but not something you'd willingly abuse in a storm. On wet roads, the solid tyres give predictable but slightly skittish feedback - they don't deform around imperfections the way pneumatic tyres do, so you need to ride with a bit more mechanical sympathy when the tarmac is shiny.
If your city is full of nasty surface surprises, the B12 PROXI feels inherently safer underneath you. If your safety concerns are more about traffic interactions - signalling, visibility, controlled braking on mixed surfaces - the i9Ultra fights back effectively with its electronics and lighting package.
Community Feedback
| 8TEV B12 PROXI | ISCOOTER i9Ultra |
|---|---|
What riders love
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What riders love
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What riders complain about
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What riders complain about
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Price & Value
Let's not dance around it: the price gap is huge. The PROXI sits firmly in premium territory, asking the sort of money where you can reasonably demand either serious performance or serious range - and ideally a bit of both. Instead, what you primarily get is an excellent chassis, big wheels, and refined ride feel... anchored by a battery and motor that could easily belong on a mid-range scooter at half the price.
For some riders, that's acceptable. If you value the "forever frame" idea - a scooter that feels like a durable, repairable piece of hardware you'll live with for years - you may rationalise the spend as a long-term investment. But in cold, unromantic value terms, the numbers are tough to swallow when you start comparing with what else that budget buys in the wider market.
The i9Ultra flips that equation. For a surprisingly low outlay, you get a strong motor, usable range, suspension, app connectivity and a full lighting suite. The components are nowhere near boutique, but they deliver plenty of function per euro. For commuters counting their pennies as well as their kilometres, it's much easier to justify. Yes, you're not buying heirloom craftsmanship, but as a daily tool the cost-to-benefit ratio is frankly far more convincing.
Service & Parts Availability
8TEV, being a smaller British brand with real people on the other end of emails, scores well for personal support. Owners often mention direct, helpful communication, and the scooters are built in a way that's friendly to proper mechanics: standard brake parts, robust frame, sensible fasteners. Long-term, that's promising. The risk is that boutique brands live and die with market winds; if they thrive, you're golden, if not, you rely more on generalist repair shops and compatible parts.
ISCOOTER runs the high-volume, direct-to-consumer playbook. Warehouses in the EU and UK improve shipping and warranty turnaround, and community feedback about service is generally positive, especially considering the price point. Parts like tyres (well, wheels, given they're solid), brakes and controllers are generic enough that e-scooter shops or even online marketplaces can keep you going for years, regardless of brand fortunes.
If you want human, brand-level relationship and are willing to pay for it, 8TEV scratches that itch. If you want cheap, readily available bits and "fix it anywhere" practicality, the i9Ultra ecosystem is easier to live with.
Pros & Cons Summary
| 8TEV B12 PROXI | ISCOOTER i9Ultra |
|---|---|
Pros
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Pros
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Cons
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Cons
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Parameters Comparison
| Parameter | 8TEV B12 PROXI | ISCOOTER i9Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Motor power (rated / peak) | 250 W / 700 W | 500 W (rear) |
| Top speed (approx.) | 34,9 km/h | 35 km/h (often limited to 25 km/h) |
| Claimed max range | 22 km | 40 km |
| Realistic mixed range (est.) | 15-18 km | 25-30 km |
| Battery capacity | 48 V / 7,6 Ah (364,8 Wh) | 36 V / ~12 Ah (≈432 Wh, est.) |
| Weight | 16 kg | 16,3 kg |
| Brakes | Front electronic + rear mechanical disc | Front E-ABS + rear mechanical disc |
| Suspension | None (tyres + deck flex) | Front and rear suspension |
| Tyres | 12-inch pneumatic | 10-inch honeycomb solid |
| Max load | 120 kg | 120 kg |
| Water resistance | IPX6 | IPX4 |
| Charging time (approx.) | 6 h | 4-6 h |
| Price (approx.) | 1.345 € | 300 € |
Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?
Living with both, the pattern is clear: the 8TEV B12 PROXI is lovely to ride but hard to justify, while the ISCOOTER i9Ultra is never particularly lovable but relentlessly sensible.
If your riding is short, stylish and deliberate - think inner-city commutes where every kilometre is paved with potholes and you care deeply about stability and aesthetics - the PROXI can be a charming companion. Its big wheels, flexy deck and rock-solid frame make it feel more like a "mini vehicle" than a gadget. If the budget doesn't sting and you see this as a long-term object of use and affection, you may look past its modest range and gentle motor.
If I had to keep one as my actual daily city scooter, not as a conversation piece, I'd take the ISCOOTER i9Ultra and spend the price difference on train tickets, coffee and maybe a decent helmet. The 8TEV B12 PROXI is a nice experience - the i9Ultra is a smarter choice.
Numbers Freaks Corner
| Metric | 8TEV B12 PROXI | ISCOOTER i9Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Price per Wh (€/Wh) | ❌ 3,69 €/Wh | ✅ 0,69 €/Wh |
| Price per km/h of top speed (€/km/h) | ❌ 38,55 €/km/h | ✅ 8,57 €/km/h |
| Weight per Wh (g/Wh) | ❌ 43,85 g/Wh | ✅ 37,73 g/Wh |
| Weight per km/h (kg/km/h) | ✅ 0,46 kg/km/h | ❌ 0,47 kg/km/h |
| Price per km of real-world range (€/km) | ❌ 81,52 €/km | ✅ 10,91 €/km |
| Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km) | ❌ 0,97 kg/km | ✅ 0,59 kg/km |
| Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km) | ❌ 22,11 Wh/km | ✅ 15,71 Wh/km |
| Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h) | ❌ 7,16 W/km/h | ✅ 14,29 W/km/h |
| Weight to power ratio (kg/W) | ❌ 0,064 kg/W | ✅ 0,033 kg/W |
| Average charging speed (W) | ❌ 60,8 W | ✅ 86,4 W |
These metrics strip away emotion and look purely at how much you get for what you pay, what you carry and what you plug in. Price-per-energy and price-per-range show cost efficiency, weight-related metrics tell you how much mass you lug for the performance and distance you get, and Wh per km reflects how frugal each scooter is with its battery. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power show how muscular they are relative to their size, and charging speed indicates how quickly you can turn wall-socket time into usable Wh.
Author's Category Battle
| Category | 8TEV B12 PROXI | ISCOOTER i9Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ✅ Slightly lighter overall | ❌ Marginally heavier frame |
| Range | ❌ Short daily distance | ✅ Comfortable commute range |
| Max Speed | ❌ Similar but weaker pull | ✅ Holds speed better |
| Power | ❌ Modest, city-only punch | ✅ Stronger motor everywhere |
| Battery Size | ❌ Small pack, short legs | ✅ Larger, more usable pack |
| Suspension | ❌ No dedicated suspension | ✅ Dual suspension setup |
| Design | ✅ Distinctive, premium aesthetic | ❌ Generic, utilitarian look |
| Safety | ✅ Big wheels, great stability | ❌ Smaller wheels, IPX4 only |
| Practicality | ❌ Short range, tricky locking | ✅ Longer range, easy living |
| Comfort | ✅ Plush big-tyre, flex deck | ❌ Firmer, more vibration |
| Features | ❌ Quite basic feature set | ✅ App, indicators, cruise |
| Serviceability | ✅ Bike-like, repair-friendly frame | ❌ More generic, less refined |
| Customer Support | ✅ Personal, responsive brand | ❌ More impersonal mass-market |
| Fun Factor | ✅ Carvy, surfy city feel | ❌ Competent but less character |
| Build Quality | ✅ Premium frame, tight tolerances | ❌ Good but not premium |
| Component Quality | ❌ Modest motor and brakes | ✅ Stronger motor, solid kit |
| Brand Name | ✅ Boutique, enthusiast appeal | ❌ Value brand image |
| Community | ✅ Enthusiast, engaged owners | ❌ Broader but less bonded |
| Lights (visibility) | ❌ Basic, no indicators | ✅ Indicators, bright brake light |
| Lights (illumination) | ❌ Adequate but modest | ✅ Better headlight output |
| Acceleration | ❌ Noticeable lag, softer pull | ✅ Strong, immediate shove |
| Arrive with smile factor | ✅ Big-wheel carving grin | ❌ More functional feeling |
| Arrive relaxed factor | ✅ Very stable and planted | ❌ Firmer, more feedback |
| Charging speed | ❌ Slower for its capacity | ✅ Faster average top-up |
| Reliability | ✅ Robust frame, sealed electrics | ✅ Solid tyres, proven motor |
| Folded practicality | ✅ Slim, tidy folded form | ❌ Bulkier folded height |
| Ease of transport | ✅ Slightly lighter, balanced | ❌ Heavier, bit more awkward |
| Handling | ✅ Stable, confidence-inspiring | ❌ Nimbler but less composed |
| Braking performance | ❌ Good, but no ABS | ✅ E-ABS plus disc combo |
| Riding position | ✅ Wide deck, relaxed stance | ❌ Narrower, less adjustable |
| Handlebar quality | ✅ Solid, wobble-free feel | ❌ Functional, less refined |
| Throttle response | ❌ Noticeable delay | ✅ Quick, predictable response |
| Dashboard / Display | ❌ Simple, basic information | ✅ Clear, app-linked display |
| Security (locking) | ❌ No good lock points | ✅ Easier to secure frame |
| Weather protection | ✅ Excellent IPX6 rating | ❌ Lower IPX4 rating |
| Resale value | ✅ Boutique appeal, strong story | ❌ Budget scooter depreciation |
| Tuning potential | ❌ Limited by small battery | ✅ More headroom, common parts |
| Ease of maintenance | ❌ Pneumatic flats possible | ✅ Solid tyres, simple upkeep |
| Value for Money | ❌ Premium price, modest spec | ✅ Strong performance per euro |
Overall Winner Declaration
In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the 8TEV B12 PROXI scores 1 point against the ISCOOTER i9Ultra's 9. In the Author's Category Battle, the 8TEV B12 PROXI gets 20 ✅ versus 20 ✅ for ISCOOTER i9Ultra.
Totals: 8TEV B12 PROXI scores 21, ISCOOTER i9Ultra scores 29.
Based on the scoring, the ISCOOTER i9Ultra is our overall winner. Riding these back to back, the 8TEV B12 PROXI is the one that makes you nod in appreciation at the frame and grin as you carve a clean line through a scruffy bike lane. But it also makes you glance at the battery gauge sooner than you'd like and quietly question the invoice. The ISCOOTER i9Ultra doesn't seduce you in the same way, yet it just keeps doing the job - further, harder and for a lot less money. In the end, the i9Ultra is the scooter I'd trust to carry me through a chaotic year of real commuting with the fewest compromises. The B12 PROXI is the scooter I'd enjoy borrowing for a sunny Sunday in the city, preferably when someone else has paid for it.
That's our verdict when we try to stay objective – but hey, riding is mostly about emotions anyway, so pick the one that will make you look forward to your commute every single day.