Dualtron Forever vs Kaabo Mantis 8 - Which "Mid-Power" Scooter Actually Deserves Your Money?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The Kaabo Mantis 8 edges out the Dualtron Forever as the better all-rounder: it rides softer, usually costs less, and still dishes out serious dual-motor fun without feeling like a physics experiment gone wrong on bad tarmac. The Dualtron Forever fights back with stronger brakes, a punchier high-voltage feel, and the cachet of the Dualtron badge, but you pay more and don't clearly gain enough in real-world use to justify it for most riders.

Pick the Mantis 8 if you want maximum fun per euro, a more forgiving suspension, and primarily ride mixed or rougher city surfaces. Choose the Dualtron Forever if you're power-hungry, care about premium braking and brand ecosystem, and mostly ride decent roads at higher speeds.

If you want the full story-including where each one quietly annoys you after a few weeks-read on.

Electric scooters have grown up. We're no longer choosing between flimsy rentals and 40-kg monsters that require a gym membership just to get them up a flight of stairs. The Dualtron Forever and Kaabo Mantis 8 sit right in that sweet spot: proper dual-motor performance in a package that a normal human can still lift without rethinking life choices.

I've put plenty of kilometres on both: rush-hour commutes, weekend blasts, badly patched bike lanes, and the odd "shortcut" that turned out to be more gravel than road. Both scooters promise a similar recipe-mid-weight frames, dual motors, decent range, and a whiff of premium branding-but they go about it in noticeably different ways.

Think of the Dualtron Forever as the serious, slightly uptight cousin: sharper, more rigid, more about control and braking. The Mantis 8 is the playful one: softer, more agile, and better value. Which is right for you depends less on raw specs and more on how and where you actually ride. Let's unpack it.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters live in the mid-performance, mid-price universe: far above rental toys, well below the "I replaced my car and my spine" hyper-scooter class. They're made for riders who already know a 350 W rental is not it, and who want something that can actually keep up with city traffic, climb real hills, and still fit into a lift without negotiating with building management.

The Dualtron Forever comes in a bit pricier, with a higher-voltage system and a distinct focus on braking and stability at speed. It's pitched as your entry ticket into the Dualtron world without dragging around a 40-kg frame.

The Kaabo Mantis 8 undercuts it on price and takes a different tack: same general power class, slightly smaller wheels, but a very agile, "street-fighter" handling approach. It's the "fun first, numbers second" option that still holds its own when you push it.

They compete directly for the same rider: someone doing around a dozen kilometres a day, wants dual-motor punch, but still occasionally has to carry the scooter or fold it for storage.

Design & Build Quality

In the hand, these two feel related, but not identical. The Dualtron Forever is pure Minimotors DNA: an industrial, almost tactical look with a chunky stem clamp, exposed hardware, and that familiar matte-black, angular silhouette. It feels solid-more tool than toy-but also a bit old-school in some places.

The Kaabo Mantis 8 is more sculpted. The curved swingarms and "crouched" stance give it a sportier, almost animal posture. The deck has a rubber mat instead of grip tape, which your cleaning cloth will appreciate after a wet week. Anodised accents and the "praying mantis" swingarms make it look a bit more modern than the Forever's utilitarian vibe.

In terms of build, both frames feel robust enough to take years of abuse. The Dualtron's stem clamp is undeniably sturdy once set, but it looks and feels like a design from an earlier era-there's some faffing with collars and levers. The Mantis 8's clamp and safety pin feel more contemporary and less fiddly, while still keeping stem wobble at bay.

If you like your scooter to look like tactical equipment, the Forever will make you happy. If you prefer something that looks like it came from a performance design studio rather than an engineering lab, the Mantis 8 has the edge.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where their philosophies really diverge.

The Dualtron Forever runs on rubber suspension cartridges front and rear. On smooth or decent tarmac, this gives a nicely planted, "sport-tuned" feel. The scooter stays composed under braking and acceleration, and you don't get that seasick bounce you sometimes find on soft spring setups. But hit a series of bad joints or dodgy cobblestones and the stiffness makes itself known-after several kilometres of neglected city pavement, your knees will definitely remember it.

The Mantis 8 uses dual spring shocks with a surprising amount of usable travel. Over the same broken bike lane, it just floats more. Expansion joints, patchwork repairs, and the odd shallow pothole are swallowed with less drama. The smaller wheels mean you still need to steer around really nasty holes, but in day-to-day city use the suspension is simply more forgiving.

Handling-wise, the Dualtron feels longer and a bit more "serious". Stable in a straight line, confident at higher speeds, but not as eager to flick around tight corners. The wider 10-inch tyres help with composure, especially when the road surface isn't perfect.

The Mantis 8, thanks to its 8-inch but very wide tyres and lower centre of gravity, feels like a little go-kart. It tips into corners easily and feels playful in quick direction changes. At the same speeds where the Forever feels disciplined and pointed, the Mantis 8 feels like it wants you to carve and weave just for fun.

If your roads are mostly smooth and you like a firmer, more connected feel, the Forever is fine. If your daily reality includes patchy asphalt and you'd like to arrive with joints still on speaking terms, the Mantis 8 is noticeably kinder.

Performance

Both scooters are genuinely quick by sane-person standards. You're not going to be left behind at the lights by anything that doesn't burn petrol.

The Dualtron Forever has that classic 60-volt punch. Off the line, especially in dual-motor mode, it surges forward with that "oh, so this is serious" shove. It's not the sort of scooter you hand to a complete novice on full power unless you enjoy watching surprise wheelspin. Cruising well above typical city bike-lane speeds feels relaxed, with enough unused headroom that you're rarely running at the ragged edge of what it can do.

The Mantis 8's dual motors are a touch milder on paper, but in normal urban riding the difference is less dramatic than spec sheets suggest. It still launches hard enough to make rental scooters look like they're stuck in eco mode, and it climbs steep hills with impressive determination. There's a tiny bit less ferocity at higher speeds compared with the Forever's 60-V setup, but within city limits that's not something most riders will exploit often.

Braking is where the Dualtron Forever pulls ahead clearly. Full hydraulic discs with electronic braking and a basic ABS function give you very strong, very controlled deceleration. One-finger braking is a reality here, and coming down from high speed feels reassuringly boring-which is exactly what you want when someone steps into the bike lane without looking.

The Mantis 8 can be had with either good mechanical discs or hydraulics depending on version. Both work well; with hydraulics it's absolutely confidence-inspiring, with mechanicals it's "good enough" but you do feel the difference compared with the Forever's setup when you really lean on them.

On hills, both are happily overpowered for normal use. The Forever shrugs off steep grades with a bit more zeal, especially for heavier riders. The Mantis 8 still climbs very well; only on long, punishing inclines do you start to notice the Dualtron's extra voltage advantage.

Battery & Range

On paper, the Forever carries more energy than a base Mantis 8, but the story is more nuanced once you're actually riding them.

The Dualtron Forever's higher-voltage pack gives it strong punch throughout most of the charge. It holds its lively character deeper into the battery percentage, so you don't feel it "going flat" as quickly as some 48-V scooters. In mixed real-world riding-some eco, plenty of fun, and not exactly babying the throttle-you're typically in the few-dozen-kilometre ballpark before you start getting range anxiety. Ride it like every green light is a drag race and you'll eat into that quickly.

The Mantis 8 is more dependent on which battery version you have. The smaller pack variants give you very similar real-world range to the Forever if you ride sanely in mixed single/dual-motor modes. The bigger "Pro" batteries stretch that significantly, turning it into a genuinely capable weekend-cruiser as well as a commuter. Push it hard in full dual-motor all the time, and again, you'll be closer to the lower end of that real-world band.

Charging is not glamorous on either. The Forever's larger, higher-voltage pack means a proper full charge with the standard charger is an overnight job unless you buy a faster brick. The Mantis 8, depending on battery size, generally shaves a couple of hours off that with a standard charger, and some versions allow dual-charging to speed things up further.

In short: out of the box, the Forever offers solid but not spectacular range for its class, while the Mantis 8 can either match it or beat it depending on which configuration you pick-and it usually spends less time tied to the wall socket.

Portability & Practicality

Neither of these is a "throw it over your shoulder and skip up four floors" scooter, but both are within what most adults can realistically carry when required.

Weight-wise, they're in the same mid-20-kg neighbourhood. In hand, the Mantis 8 feels a hair more compact when folded, mostly due to the smaller wheels and more compact deck profile. Lifting it into a boot or onto a train step feels slightly less awkward than the Forever, though we're splitting hairs here-both will remind you you're carrying real machinery.

The Dualtron Forever's folding routine is secure but fiddly. You undo the collar, manage the twin clamps, fold the stem, then hook it to the deck. Once done, it's a compact enough bundle to slide under a desk or into a corner, but if you're folding and unfolding multiple times a day the process does get old.

The Mantis 8's fold is quicker: flip the safety, open the latch, drop the stem, clip it down. Handlebar folding depends on the specific trim, but overall it's the more commuter-friendly mechanism. The kickstands on both are merely okay; neither screams "premium", but the Mantis' stance is a bit more secure if you park on slightly uneven ground.

In everyday life-wheeling into lifts, parking in hallways, stuffing into cars-the Mantis 8 feels that little bit more cooperative. The Forever's practicality is fine, but you notice that its design started from "performance Dualtron" and worked backwards to portability, rather than the other way round.

Safety

Safety is more than just brakes, but let's start there because that's where the Forever clearly flexes.

The Dualtron Forever's full hydraulic discs with electronic assist and a basic ABS-style function are excellent for the class. You can scrub speed in a very controlled way, and emergency stops feel composed rather than chaotic. On wet or dusty surfaces the ABS-like modulation helps keep the tyres from fully locking, which is comforting if you ride year-round.

The Mantis 8 with hydraulic brakes comes close in feel, though without the same layered system. Mechanical-brake versions are still good, but you apply more lever force and get slightly less finesse at the limit. In daily urban riding both are safe; the Forever simply has more headroom before you flirt with the tyres' grip envelope.

Lighting is a mixed bag on both. The Dualtron Forever offers a more complete stock package: headlight, tail, turn signals, and those RGB accents that double as "please notice I exist" features. Visibility to others is pretty solid, though like almost every scooter here, the headlight sits low and doesn't magically turn night into day.

The Mantis 8 does nicely on side visibility with its deck LEDs, but the main headlight is more of a "I'm here" light than a proper road illuminator. Almost every Mantis owner I know eventually straps a decent bicycle light on the handlebars. Turn signals exist on some trims, but aren't always as prominent as on the Dualtron.

Tyre grip and stability: the Forever's larger, narrower 10-inch tyres are better at rolling over bad stuff, while the Mantis 8's smaller but very wide hoops provide a big contact patch and great cornering stability. At speed on rougher roads, the Dualtron benefits from its larger diameter; on good surfaces, the Mantis 8 feels glued down thanks to that width and low stance.

Overall, from a safety-first lens, the Dualtron Forever has the better out-of-box braking and signalling package. The Mantis 8 is absolutely safe if you ride sensibly and add a proper headlight, but it doesn't hand you quite as many safety toys by default.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

This is where the Kaabo Mantis 8 quietly walks off with the trophy.

The Dualtron Forever sits comfortably above the 1.400 € mark. For that, you get the Dualtron badge, high-voltage system, hydraulic brakes, and the ecosystem. It's not an outrageous price for what it offers, but it's also not a bargain-especially when you look at how much real-world performance you actually use day-to-day.

The Mantis 8 typically lands a few hundred euros lower. You still get proper dual-motor shove, solid range (especially on larger packs), full suspension, and a well-established brand with broad support. It may lack some of the Forever's high-spec touches, but in terms of euros per grin it's hard to argue against it.

Put bluntly: the Dualtron Forever charges you a brand and feature premium that only certain riders will fully appreciate. The Mantis 8 delivers nearly the same class of performance and a comfier ride, for less.

Service & Parts Availability

Both Minimotors (Dualtron) and Kaabo have mature global ecosystems now, especially in Europe. You're not buying some obscure Kickstarter unicorn with mystery screws.

For the Dualtron Forever, compatibility with a wide range of Minimotors parts and accessories is a genuine plus. Need brake components, a new controller, or rubber cartridges? Plenty of dealers stock them, and there's a small library of YouTube tutorials for almost every job.

Kaabo is not far behind. The Mantis series is wildly popular, and spare parts-tyres, rims, controllers, swingarms, clamps-are distributed by lots of EU resellers. Aftermarket support is strong, and there's a hefty online community documenting fixes and upgrades.

In day-to-day ownership, both are serviceable. The Forever's split rims make tube changes more tolerable, and the Mantis 8 also uses split rims on many configurations. You're not going to struggle badly with either, but the Dualtron brand has been around longer and offers a slightly deeper parts catalogue for cross-compatibility.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If you strip away the branding and the spec-sheet chest-thumping, this comes down to what kind of riding you do and how much you're willing to pay for marginal gains.

The Dualtron Forever makes the most sense if you regularly ride faster, want the best braking you can get in this size, and appreciate a firmer, more "sportbike" road feel. You also need to be okay paying a clear premium for the Dualtron name, the 60-V punch, and the slightly deeper ecosystem. If your commute involves wide roads, decent asphalt, and you enjoy stretching a scooter's legs, the Forever will feel reassuringly composed and serious.

The Kaabo Mantis 8, meanwhile, is simply the easier recommendation. It's cheaper, more comfortable on real-world city surfaces, still properly fast and torquey, and more playful in its handling. You sacrifice a bit of high-speed ceiling and some braking sophistication, but in everyday use most riders just won't miss it. For the majority of people upgrading from a basic commuter, the Mantis 8 will feel like a revelation without punishing their budget or their spine.

If you want the badge and the best brakes: Dualtron Forever. If you want the better deal, nicer ride, and a scooter that makes even dull commutes feel like a little joyride: Kaabo Mantis 8 all day.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics show how efficiently each scooter turns money, mass, and energy into speed, range, and power. Lower values mean you're getting more performance or range per euro, per kilogram, or per watt-hour, while the "power to speed" and "charging speed" lines reward more punch from the motors and faster refills of the battery. It's a purely mathematical snapshot that helps highlight where each model is objectively efficient or wasteful, independent of how they feel on the road.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the DUALTRON Forever scores 5 points against the KAABO Mantis 8's 5. In the Author's Category Battle, the DUALTRON Forever gets 23 ✅ versus 25 ✅ for KAABO Mantis 8 (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: DUALTRON Forever scores 28, KAABO Mantis 8 scores 30.

Based on the scoring, the KAABO Mantis 8 is our overall winner. Between these two, the Kaabo Mantis 8 is the one that feels more honest about what it is: a fast, fun, slightly mad little machine that doesn't overcharge you for the privilege. It rides softer, plays harder, and makes more sense for the kind of mixed, imperfect urban riding most of us actually do. The Dualtron Forever is capable and serious, and if you value that braking performance and the badge, you'll be happy with it-but it never quite escapes the feeling that you're paying extra for strengths you won't always use. The Mantis 8 might not win the spec-war in every column, yet it's the scooter I'd rather grab on a random Tuesday and just go ride.

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.