Apollo City 2022 vs InMotion S1F - Which "Big-City Commuter" Scooter Actually Deserves Your Money?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The InMotion S1F edges out the Apollo City 2022 as the better all-round commuter: it goes noticeably further on a charge, rides very comfortably, and undercuts the Apollo on price while still feeling like a serious, adult machine. If your main concern is day-in, day-out commuting with minimal fuss and maximum range, the S1F simply makes more practical sense.

The Apollo City 2022 fights back with slightly sharper performance (especially the Pro version), better water protection, and nicer integration, so it suits riders who value design polish, app tuning and strong braking more than raw value. Heavy riders, delivery workers and anyone clocking big weekly mileage will generally be happier on the InMotion; style-conscious "power commuters" who ride shorter distances may lean Apollo.

If you want the long-range workhorse that quietly does its job, go S1F. If you prefer a more refined, techy feel and don't mind paying extra for it, the Apollo City 2022 still has its charm. Now let's dig into the details before you drop several hundred euros on the wrong kind of "freedom".

Urban mid-range scooters have grown up. Both the Apollo City 2022 and the InMotion S1F are aimed squarely at riders who are done with rental toys and wobbly budget frames, and now want a proper vehicle under their feet.

I've clocked serious kilometres on both: commuting, grocery runs, late-night rides on miserable streets that look like they were shelled last winter. Both scooters promise comfort, range and grown-up build quality, but they take quite different routes to get there - and neither is perfect.

The Apollo plays the sleek, highly integrated "designed in Canada" card with strong braking and weather protection; the InMotion counters with long-legged range, a sofa-like ride and better value. One is the slightly over-styled city slicker, the other the pragmatic long-distance cab. Let's see which one really deserves your commute.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters live in that "serious commuter" middle ground: too heavy and too pricey to be toys, but nowhere near the insane, dual-motor monsters that belong more on closed roads than bike lanes.

The Apollo City 2022 (I'm focusing on the Pro spec for fairness) targets the rider upgrading from a Xiaomi or Ninebot who now wants real speed, suspension, app tweaks and fully integrated looks. Think: medium daily commute, mixed surfaces, and a taste for gadgets.

The InMotion S1F aims at the same adult audience, but with a stronger emphasis on range, comfort and carrying bigger riders without complaint. It's less about flexing at the office bike rack, more about reliably getting you across town and back, day after day.

Price-wise, they land in the same broad "I'm replacing a transport pass" bracket, but the InMotion sits a noticeable step lower. That alone makes this comparison worth your time.

Design & Build Quality

Pick them up (or try to) and the design philosophies hit you immediately.

The Apollo City 2022 is visually the more "engineered" object. The unibody-style frame, internal cable routing and rubberised deck give off a premium, almost consumer-electronics vibe. You don't see a tangle of cables; you see clean lines and tasteful accents. The cockpit is tidy, the display sits flush, and even the fenders feel deliberately overbuilt rather than afterthought plastic. It looks expensive - because it is.

The InMotion S1F also goes for integration, but in a more functional, slightly utilitarian way. The aluminium chassis feels dense and solid, with very little creak or flex. The lighting strips along the deck give it that "Tron commute" aesthetic, but otherwise the design is more about space and ergonomics than sculpted curves. The deck is huge, the stem tall, and the whole thing feels like it was designed by someone who actually rides long distances, not just draws pretty CAD models.

In the hands, the Apollo feels a touch more refined: tighter panel gaps, more cohesive shapes, and a generally more "premium toy" impression. The S1F feels more like a work tool: very solid, not quite as pretty, but clearly built to be used hard. If you care deeply about how your scooter looks parked in the office lobby, the Apollo has the edge; if you care more about whether it still feels tight after a brutal winter, the InMotion quietly makes its case.

Ride Comfort & Handling

Both scooters promise comfort, and both deliver - but in slightly different flavours.

The Apollo City 2022's triple spring setup and self-healing tyres do a genuinely good job on rough city surfaces. You can roll over cracked asphalt, expansion joints and the usual collection of "temporary" roadworks plates without your teeth clacking together. It has that "hoverboard" quality on decent tarmac, and the rounded tyre profile makes carving through bends pleasantly predictable. Steering feels stable, not twitchy, and the wide bars give good leverage at speed.

The InMotion S1F, though, is simply plusher. Dual shocks at the front and a proper sprung rear make it feel like a soft-roading scooter. Cobblestones that make lighter scooters shudder turn into a distant rumble under the S1F. Combined with the very long and wide deck, you can shift stance during a ride, relax your knees and genuinely forget how far you've gone. Handling is more "limousine" than "sports sedan": slightly slower to turn in than the Apollo, but rock-steady once set in a line.

On tight city zig-zags, the Apollo feels a bit more agile; on long, bad stretches of broken pavement, the InMotion is the one that keeps your joints happier. After half an hour on rough bike paths, I step off the Apollo feeling fine; off the S1F, I feel like I could easily keep going.

Performance

Neither of these is a drag-strip scooter, and that's a good thing for real-world commuting. Still, there are differences worth noting.

The Apollo City 2022, especially in dual-motor Pro form, has the more urgent feel. Off the line, it snaps forward enthusiastically, and the torque is enough to make you plant your rear foot on that kickplate if you pin the throttle. Top speed sits clearly above typical rental-fleet limits, and the scooter feels surprisingly composed when you're flirting with those upper figures. The throttle tuning is smooth rather than binary, so you can thread between pedestrians without drama and still have a decent shove when the bike lane opens up.

The single-motor S1F plays a more relaxed but still capable game. Its rear hub is tuned for torque rather than fireworks, so it surges away from lights in a confident, linear way. You won't be leaving dual-motor scooters standing, but you won't be stuck behind cyclists either. Up to its maximum speed - which is a shade below the Apollo Pro - it feels willing and strong, particularly impressive when you load it with a heavier rider.

Hill climbing is where InMotion's tuning shines. With weight over the rear wheel, the S1F digs in and climbs with a "slow but unstoppable" feel. The Apollo Pro can be quicker up short climbs thanks to two motors, but the S1F holds its own remarkably well for a single-motor commuter, especially under heavier riders.

Braking is a notable split. Apollo's dual drum setup plus dedicated regen throttle is one of the nicer commuter brake systems out there. You can do almost all your slowing with that left thumb and keep the mechanical drums as backup. Stopping is strong, progressive and very predictable. The S1F's front drum plus rear regen combo is good enough, but not particularly inspiring; it does the job without drama, but doesn't give quite the same locked-in confidence at higher speeds as the Apollo's twin drums and regen lever.

Battery & Range

Range is where the InMotion S1F simply walks away with the trophy.

The Apollo City Pro has a respectably sized battery that will comfortably cover a typical urban return journey with some "fun riding" thrown in. Ride hard, and you're looking at comfortable medium-distance commutes without sweating over the battery icon, especially if you can top up at work. It's decent, not class-leading. The regen throttle does claw back a bit of extra energy in stop-start traffic, but don't expect miracles.

The S1F, on the other hand, feels like it swallowed a power bank the size of a brick. In the real world, even with spirited riding, it stretches noticeably further between charges. For many riders, this means you're plugging in a couple of times a week instead of every night. That changes behaviour: you stop obsessing over distance and start taking scenic detours because you can.

Charging speeds highlight another contrast. The Apollo's pack refills in a reasonably short time for its size, so lunchtime to late-afternoon top-ups are realistic. The InMotion's bigger battery takes its time with a single charger, but the dual-port option lets you slash that wait if you invest in a second brick. For heavy users - couriers, for example - that dual-port trick is genuinely useful.

In day-to-day use, though, the feeling is simple: the Apollo's range is "enough for most commutes", the S1F's is "enough that you mostly stop thinking about it".

Portability & Practicality

Let's be blunt: neither of these is a featherweight you casually fling over your shoulder between metro stops.

The Apollo City 2022, especially the Pro, is properly heavy. You notice it on stairs and when wrestling it into a car boot. The folding mechanism itself is solid and confidence-inspiring when locked, but the hook that's supposed to keep the stem latched to the deck when carried is... temperamental. If you don't balance the scooter just right, it can slip out, which is the last thing you want halfway up a staircase.

The S1F is a touch lighter but still firmly in the "lift with your legs and swear under your breath" category. The fold is straightforward and the latch feels robust, but the tall non-telescoping stem means that, even folded, it stands quite high. The bars don't fold in, so it takes more lateral space in narrow hallways or packed trains than you might like.

In practice, both are most practical when your life involves lifts, garages and ground-floor storage. For roll-to-the-door commutes, supermarket runs and locking outside a café, they're excellent. For mixing with crowded public transport or hauling up multiple flights daily, they're both compromises - with the InMotion's slightly lower weight offset by its bulkier folded shape. Neither wins "portable king"; they're too grown-up for that.

Safety

In safety terms, these two trade blows, and which matters more to you depends on how and where you ride.

The Apollo scores very well on braking and weather protection. Dual sealed drums plus that regen throttle give you strong, low-maintenance stopping in all conditions. Add a water-resistance rating that's well above the usual "light rain only" standard, and you get a scooter you can genuinely ride through a downpour without praying for the electronics. Lighting is integrated and neat, with deck-level indicators - though being low down, they're not always ideal for car drivers behind you.

The InMotion counters with superb visibility and planted stability. The tall, bright headlight actually lights your path instead of just your own front fender, and the automatic turn signals that trigger when you lean or steer are both clever and genuinely useful. You keep both hands on the bars and still communicate your intentions. The long wheelbase and low-slung battery make the S1F feel very secure at its top speed - less nervous than many scooters in this price bracket.

Braking feel on the S1F is fine but somewhat muted compared with the Apollo; you get smooth, predictable deceleration rather than "anchor overboard" performance. For most commuters that's acceptable, but if you ride aggressively in busy traffic, the Apollo's stronger system is a confidence booster.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

This is where things get a bit uncomfortable for the Apollo.

The City 2022 sits clearly higher on the price ladder than the S1F. You do get some justification: more sophisticated integration, better water protection, clever regen controls, and, in the Pro's case, livelier dual-motor performance. Maintenance costs are kept low thanks to drum brakes and self-healing tyres. Over years, that matters.

The InMotion S1F, though, delivers a huge battery, full suspension, solid build and excellent comfort for considerably less money. You give up a bit of outright speed and some polish, but get much more range per euro and still enjoy a seriously capable scooter from a reputable brand.

In pure value terms - euros versus what shows up in your daily life - the S1F is hard to argue against. The Apollo feels like it's asking you to pay extra for design and finishing flourishes; the InMotion feels like it quietly spent the budget on things you notice on kilometre fifty, not in the showroom.

Service & Parts Availability

Both Apollo and InMotion are established global brands with decent reputations, but their approaches differ.

Apollo pushes the "Western-brand, we pick up the phone" angle. They're known for strong community engagement and generally standing behind warranties, especially in North America. In Europe, support depends heavily on which reseller you buy from, and parts for their proprietary chassis and components can sometimes take a little longer to source because, well, they're proprietary.

InMotion has been around the wider PEV world for a long time, especially with unicycles, and that broader ecosystem helps. Their scooters share a lot of design DNA and components, and there's a reasonably mature network of distributors and service partners across Europe. Replacement parts like tyres, controllers and displays are not unicorn-rare, and the S1F's more conventional component choices make third-party fixes easier.

Neither brand is perfect - you'll find stories of slow responses for both - but for most European riders, InMotion currently has a slight edge in availability and "my local shop actually knows this thing" factor.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

Both the Apollo City 2022 and the InMotion S1F are competent, comfortable commuters - the era of flimsy budget scooters is clearly behind us here. But when you weigh what actually matters day to day, the S1F quietly pulls ahead.

If your riding is mainly medium to long commutes, if you're a heavier rider, or if you simply hate charging and want to ride several days on one fill, the InMotion is the more rational choice. It's cheaper to buy, easier on your body over distance, and stretches each charge far enough that you mostly stop thinking about electrons.

The Apollo City 2022 makes more sense for riders who value sharper acceleration, stronger brakes and a more polished, integrated look - and who don't mind paying a premium for that blend of design and weather protection. If your commute is shorter, you ride in all conditions, and you like the idea of that dedicated regen throttle and high IP rating, the Apollo still has a sensible place.

But if I had to live with just one as a daily, all-season, "no drama, just ride" scooter, I'd park the S1F in my hallway. It may not have the Apollo's showroom sheen, but when the novelty wears off and winter sets in, the InMotion's range, comfort and value keep mattering long after fancy cable routing stops impressing anyone.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics strip away emotions and look at pure maths. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km show how much you pay for stored energy and usable distance. Weight-per-Wh and weight-per-km/h hint at how efficiently each scooter turns kilos into performance. Wh-per-km is a simple efficiency score: how much energy you burn per kilometre. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power capture how strongly each scooter accelerates relative to its size and top speed. Finally, average charging speed tells you how quickly a flat battery becomes a usable one again.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO City 2022 scores 5 points against the INMOTION S1F's 5. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO City 2022 gets 21 ✅ versus 25 ✅ for INMOTION S1F (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: APOLLO City 2022 scores 26, INMOTION S1F scores 30.

Based on the scoring, the INMOTION S1F is our overall winner. Between these two, the InMotion S1F simply feels like the scooter that keeps showing up for work with the least drama: it goes further, rides softer and hurts your wallet less, all while feeling solid and grown-up under your feet. The Apollo City 2022 has its charms - sharper punch, nicer finishing, clever regen controls - but you're paying extra for refinement rather than getting a clearly better daily tool. If you value a calm, comfortable, long-legged ride that quietly shrinks your city, the S1F is the one that will make you forget about buses and fuel bills. The Apollo will please riders who care more about style and snappy performance than cold-blooded value, but in the real world, the InMotion is the scooter I'd actually rely on Monday to Friday.

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.