APOLLO Ghost 2022 vs KAABO Mantis X Plus - Mid-Range Monsters or Overhyped Middleweights?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The KAABO Mantis X Plus edges out overall as the more rounded everyday scooter: smoother power delivery, more refined ride, better cockpit and electronics, and a noticeably lower price for similar real-world range and performance.

The APOLLO Ghost 2022 fights back with stronger outright punch, higher top-end speed and more serious brakes, making it the better choice for heavier riders, very steep hills, and adrenaline junkies who care more about power than polish.

If you want a fast but civilised daily companion, the Mantis X Plus is the safer bet; if you want something that feels a bit more raw and muscular, the Ghost still has its charm despite its age.

Stick around for the full breakdown - the spec sheets don't tell the whole story, and the devil is very much in the riding experience.

Mid-range dual-motor scooters have become the "hot hatchbacks" of the e-scooter world: fast enough to be silly, still just about practical, and dangerously good at convincing you that you don't really need a car. The APOLLO Ghost 2022 and the KAABO Mantis X Plus sit right in that sweet spot - on paper, at least.

I've spent decent saddle-free miles on both: city commutes, late-night blasts, ugly cobblestones, and a few hills that make rental scooters cry for help. One of them feels like an old-school muscle scooter with manners; the other like a modern, slightly de-tuned sports scooter trying very hard to be your daily friend.

The Ghost is for riders who want "Phantom-lite" performance without selling a kidney; the Mantis X Plus is for riders who want Wolf-DNA comfort and tech without dragging a small motorcycle up their stairs.

They're direct rivals in price and purpose, but they go about the job very differently - and those differences matter far more than a few watts on a spec sheet. Let's dig in.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters aim at the same rider: someone who has outgrown rental toys and 25 km/h commuters and now wants real acceleration, real hills, and real suspension - without going full "Wolf King with a death wish". Dual motors, full suspension, similar weight, broadly similar real-world range: they are natural competitors.

The Ghost comes from the "performance first, polish later" school. It has more top-end power, more brutal acceleration and bigger-feeling brakes. It's the one you take if you like to embarrass cars off the line and your commute includes rude gradients.

The Mantis X Plus is more about refinement and value: smoother controllers, better display, modern lighting, and an entry price that leaves you with money for a proper helmet. It sacrifices a bit of sheer shove for an easier, calmer daily experience.

Same use case - fast commuting and weekend fun - but different personalities. Think hot rod versus well-sorted warm hatch.

Design & Build Quality

Pick them up (or try to - they both weigh as much as a large dog that doesn't want to move) and the family resemblance is obvious: chunky aluminium frames, dual swingarms, 10-inch tyres, big stems. But the details tell a different story.

The Ghost has that exposed, skeletal look: hollow swingarms, visible springs, lots of metal and very little plastic. It feels sturdy enough, but also a bit "parts-bin": functional clamp, generic trigger display, and some small touches - short fenders, basic cockpit - that give away its slightly older design. In the hands it feels like a solid enthusiast frame with a few rough edges left deliberately unpolished.

The Mantis X Plus, by contrast, feels more integrated. The stem, deck and swingarms look like they were designed together rather than bolted from a catalogue. The aviation-grade aluminium chassis is tight and less prone to random rattles out of the box. The colour TFT in the middle of the bars makes the Ghost's old QS-style display look a bit last-decade. Even the button layout and NFC reader feel more "vehicle" and less "DIY kit".

Neither is built like a luxury Dualtron, but the Mantis clearly feels more modern in design and finishing. The Ghost still wins on a sense of brute robustness, but it's starting to feel dated next to KAABO's newer generation.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where the gap between them becomes obvious after just a few kilometres.

The Ghost's dual spring suspension is competent. On broken city asphalt and the usual manhole-and-pothole bingo, it soaks up the worst hits reasonably well, especially if you dial the preload to your weight. You can cruise at sane speeds and not feel like your knees are being punished, but sharp hits and repeated bumps still come through. On long stretches of bad cobblestones, you'll notice your legs working.

The Mantis X Plus, on the other hand, genuinely glides. Its adjustable shocks have more usable travel and a more controlled rebound. On the same cobblestone stretch where the Ghost starts to feel busy, the Mantis just floats with that "did they repave this?" sensation. You can soften it for plush comfort or stiffen it for sportier carving, and both modes feel deliberate rather than a compromise.

Handling follows the same pattern. The Ghost is stable and predictable, but its square-wave aggression combined with narrower tyres makes it more of a point-and-shoot machine: it will happily take sweeping bends, but tight, playful carving isn't its strongest side. The Mantis X Plus lives up to the Mantis reputation - wide bar, lowish deck, and round, wider tyres give it a very natural, confidence-inspiring lean. In twisty bike-path S-bends, it simply feels more composed and more fun to flick around.

If your roads are mostly smooth and straight, both are fine. If your city specialises in creative road surfaces, the Mantis is the one that gets you home with less tension in your ankles and shoulders.

Performance

Let's be honest: neither of these is slow. If you're upgrading from a rental scooter, both will feel like time travel. But the way they deliver that speed is very different.

The Ghost is the brawler. Dual motors rated at roughly twice the nominal output of the Mantis shove you forward with real urgency when you hit Turbo and dual-motor mode. Off the line, it rips; traffic lights become launch pads, and you catch yourself giggling under your helmet. It also holds higher speeds more easily on the flat, with headroom well beyond typical bike-lane pace. It feels happiest when it's allowed to stretch its legs a bit.

The flip side is that the throttle is pretty brutal in its sportiest settings. The square-wave controllers give you a strong, punchy hit that can catch the unprepared. It's fantastic if you like drama, but less so if you share paths with pedestrians and want millimetre-level control at low speed.

The Mantis X Plus is more of a scalpel. On paper its motors are more modest, but the sine-wave controllers give wonderfully progressive throttle. From walking pace up to brisk commuting speed the power comes in smoothly, almost elegantly. It still pulls away from traffic easily, and hills don't slow it to a crawl, but it doesn't have that "hold on to your organs" surge the Ghost can deliver. Above typical city speeds it runs out of breath sooner, and flat-out it simply can't match the Ghost's top-end.

Braking tells another story. The Ghost's hydraulic discs are strong and easy to modulate; you can stop hard with one finger and still feel in control. Adjusted correctly, the regen can do a lot of the everyday work, saving pads and giving you smooth deceleration. The Mantis' mechanical discs plus EABS can still haul you down safely, but you feel more lever travel and need a bit more hand strength. For serious high-speed riding, the Ghost's system inspires more confidence.

Hills? The Ghost barely notices them, especially with a heavier rider. The Mantis climbs well for its voltage and power class, but if you live in a city built on cliffs or you're on the upper end of the weight limit, the extra grunt of the Ghost is both noticeable and reassuring.

Battery & Range

Both scooters live in that "comfortable there-and-back for most commutes" bracket, but they take slightly different technical paths.

The Ghost uses a higher-voltage pack with a bit more total energy. In real riding - mixed speeds, some fun, some hills - you're looking at a solid medium-size round trip without sweating, and you can push further if you're disciplined with modes and speed. Ride it like every traffic light is a drag race and you'll watch the battery drop faster, but that's true of anything this powerful.

The Mantis X Plus runs a slightly smaller, lower-voltage pack but counters with more efficient controllers and gentler peak power. The result is that, in typical commuting use at sane speeds, it actually keeps up remarkably well with the Ghost in terms of how far you get from each charge. On back-to-back city loops at civilised speeds, the difference isn't huge. Start abusing full throttle and dual motors constantly, and the Ghost's extra energy and voltage keep it happier for longer.

Charging is another trade-off. The Ghost's pack takes its time with the standard charger - you're in full overnight territory unless you add a second charger. The Mantis X Plus, with its smaller battery and slightly quicker standard charge, gets you back to full sooner. For daily commuting where you plug in at home and forget, both are fine; for someone trying to do multiple long legs in one day, the Mantis' shorter recharge window is quietly useful.

Range anxiety? On either, if your daily ride is under two dozen kilometres return, you'll be more worried about the weather than the battery, assuming you're not riding everywhere at full chat.

Portability & Practicality

On spec they weigh the same. In real life they feel... equally annoying to carry. This is "I can lift it into the boot" weight, not "I'll carry it up four flights today for fun" weight.

The Ghost's folding mechanism is robust and confidence-inspiring. The stem clamp locks down nicely, play is minimal, and the folding handlebars make a big difference when you're trying to slide it between other objects or into a smaller car. Once folded and latched to the rear, it's a long, dense object - fine for a single lift, less fine for repeated stair sessions.

The Mantis X Plus folds quickly with its improved stem clamp and also hooks down cleanly, but the wide bars stay wide. It's not the scooter you want to wrestle through a crowded train aisle. For car boots and lifts, both are workable; for daily multi-modal commuting, both are frankly overkill.

In everyday use, small details matter. The Ghost's key ignition is old-school but simple. The Mantis' NFC tap-to-start is faster and feels more up-to-date. Water protection is cautiously adequate on both: they will survive a wet commute if you're unlucky, but neither should be your first pick if your local climate specialises in horizontal rain. Storage on both is "bring a backpack and maybe a stem bag".

Overall practicality? Call it a draw in pure physics and a slight edge to the Mantis in day-to-day niceties, tempered by the Ghost's narrower folded profile thanks to its folding bars.

Safety

Safety at these speeds is about three big things: brakes, stability, and visibility.

Brakes first: the Ghost's hydraulic setup is simply stronger and easier to trust when you're really moving. With properly tuned regen it lets you scrub speed effortlessly with minimal noise or drama. It feels like it was specced for the top speeds it can reach. The Mantis' discs plus electronic assistance are adequate for its performance, but they just don't offer the same reassuring bite. For riders pushing the upper end of the speedometer regularly, that matters.

Stability is closer. Both run 10-inch pneumatic tyres and have decent frames, but the Mantis' wider rubber and more refined suspension help it stay planted in corners and on rough sections. The Ghost is stable in a straight line and at speed, but its harsher responses on bad surfaces make you work a bit more to keep things perfectly calm when the road gets ugly.

Lighting is one area where the Mantis clearly feels a generation newer. Its main headlight is mounted sensibly and throws real light down the road rather than just glowing at the front wheel, and the integrated turn signals and swag lights actually make you visible as a moving vehicle from multiple angles. The Ghost's deck and stem strips are great for being seen, but the main headlight is more "be noticed" than "light your path". In both cases, if you ride fast at night on unlit roads, an extra bar light is still highly recommended.

Both frames feel up to the task, both have enough deck space for a stable stance, and both demand proper gear and a healthy fear of physics. But if you care most about outright stopping power, the Ghost still has the edge; if you care most about being seen and reading the road at night, the Mantis pulls ahead.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

Here the Mantis X Plus lands a surprisingly hard punch. It comes in notably cheaper than the Ghost while still offering dual motors, full suspension, decent real-world range and a much more modern cockpit. For riders shopping in the mid-range, that difference is not small - it's the cost of a good helmet, gloves and maybe even a spare charger.

The Ghost was a value king when it arrived, and in many ways it still offers strong performance for the money. But stacked against the Mantis X Plus today, you're paying more for extra peak power and slightly higher speed, while getting older electronics, weaker lighting and a less refined ride. If you actually use that extra shove daily, you might consider it worth it; if you're mainly commuting at legal speeds, the value calculus tilts clearly towards KAABO.

Long-term, the Mantis' lower entry price and still-respectable performance make it easier to justify as a daily tool rather than a guilty pleasure toy. The Ghost feels more like an emotional purchase: you buy it because you want that punch, not because it's the most rational spreadsheet winner.

Service & Parts Availability

Both APOLLO and KAABO are now established brands with decent parts pipelines, which matters a lot once you've done a few thousand kilometres and reality sets in.

APOLLO tends to centralise support more, with a stronger brand-run service culture, especially in North America and increasingly in Europe. You're more likely to get official guidance, proper documentation and a bit of hand-holding if something goes wrong, though you may wait for parts if your local partner isn't well stocked.

KAABO relies heavily on distributors, but the upside is that the Mantis platform is everywhere. Need a swingarm, controller or fender? Someone, somewhere in Europe probably has a stack of them on a shelf. The trade-off is that experience can vary depending on which retailer you bought from - some are excellent, others... less so.

For DIYers, both frames are very mod-friendly. The Ghost's straightforward layout makes basic maintenance clear, while the Mantis' popularity means plenty of community guides and tutorials. Overall, I'd call service and parts a slight win for KAABO due to sheer ubiquity, with APOLLO getting points for somewhat more structured official support.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

Put bluntly: for most riders, most of the time, the KAABO Mantis X Plus is the better everyday scooter. It rides more comfortably, feels more refined, has friendlier power delivery, a far nicer cockpit and lighting setup, and it asks noticeably less from your bank account. If your riding is mainly commuting at legal speeds with the occasional spirited blast, the Mantis gives you very little to miss and a lot to like.

The APOLLO Ghost 2022 still has its place. If you're heavier, live somewhere steep, or simply crave that harder hit of acceleration and extra speed on open stretches, the Ghost will make you smile in ways the Mantis can't quite match. Its hydraulic brakes and higher voltage give it a more serious, "grown-up" performance edge - at the cost of refinement and value.

So, choose the Mantis X Plus if you want something you can happily ride every day without feeling like you're wrestling it, and you appreciate modern features and comfort. Choose the Ghost if you're willing to put up with slightly older ergonomics and tech in exchange for more raw muscle and stronger brakes. Either way, step up your safety gear - these are not toys, even if they sometimes feel like it.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics put hard numbers behind the feel: price-per-Wh and price-per-range show how much you pay for energy and distance; weight-based metrics reveal how effectively each scooter turns mass into usable performance and range; efficiency (Wh/km) tells you how gently they sip from the battery. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power describe performance potential, while average charging speed is about how fast you get back on the road. They don't tell you which is more fun - but they do show who's wasting energy or money.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO Ghost 2022 scores 4 points against the KAABO Mantis X Plus's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO Ghost 2022 gets 25 ✅ versus 26 ✅ for KAABO Mantis X Plus (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: APOLLO Ghost 2022 scores 29, KAABO Mantis X Plus scores 32.

Based on the scoring, the KAABO Mantis X Plus is our overall winner. Between these two, the Mantis X Plus simply feels like the more complete package for real life: it's kinder to your body, easier to live with day after day, and gives you that "sorted" feeling that makes you want to ride more often, not just faster. The Ghost 2022 still tugs at the heart with its extra shove and beefier brakes, but the Mantis' balance of comfort, refinement and price makes it the scooter I'd actually choose to stand on every morning. The numbers say it's smart; the ride says it's right.

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.