Hiboy MAX Pro vs InMotion S1F - Two "Big Commuters" Enter, Which One Actually Deserves Your Money?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The InMotion S1F is the stronger overall package: it rides softer, goes further on a charge, feels more refined, and is better sorted for year-round, long-distance commuting. If your priority is serious daily mileage, comfort and weather resilience, this is the one that will quietly win you over.

The Hiboy MAX Pro makes more sense if you want to spend less, still care about comfort, and mainly ride moderate distances on decent roads - it's the budget-friendly "big scooter" with a cushy ride, just without the polish and range of the S1F. Lighter riders with flatter commutes will be perfectly fine - and save a few hundred euros - on the Hiboy.

If you can stretch to the S1F, do it. If your wallet can't, the MAX Pro is a usable compromise. Now, let's dig into how they really compare when the tarmac gets rough and the battery gauge starts dropping.

Electric scooters have grown up. Both the Hiboy MAX Pro and the InMotion S1F are proof we're well past the "toy with a handlebar" era and deep into "this might actually replace my car for commuting". I've spent enough kilometres on both that my neighbours probably think I run a very small, very specific taxi service.

On paper, they're aiming at the same rider: someone who wants a big, comfortable, long-range commuter without going into crazy dual-motor money. In practice, they go about it with slightly different personalities. The Hiboy is the value-focused comfort cruiser; the InMotion is the more mature, long-legged workhorse.

If you're wondering which one will still feel like a good idea on a cold, wet Tuesday night when you're late, tired, and staring at a low battery bar - keep reading.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters sit in that "serious commuter" class: much heavier and more substantial than last-mile toys, but not yet in the lunatic dual-motor league. They're for people whose commute is measured in tens of kilometres, not "a quick hop to the tram stop".

The Hiboy MAX Pro targets the rider who wants the plush feel of big tyres and suspension without torching their savings. It's for someone who does, say, medium-length daily rides, mostly in dry weather, and cares more about comfort and price than brand prestige.

The InMotion S1F goes after the same basic rider archetype but adds two twists: very long range and higher weight capacity. This is the one that says, "Use me like a small moped; I'll cope." Heavy riders, delivery workers, and anyone with a genuinely long commute will feel it's built around their needs rather than just tolerating them.

They're direct competitors because if you're ready to live with a 20-something-kg scooter and want a big, comfortable deck with real suspension, these two will almost certainly end up on the same shortlist.

Design & Build Quality

Side by side, you can feel the different philosophies straight away. The Hiboy MAX Pro looks "industrial commuter": matte black, fairly straightforward frame, visible but tidy cabling, and a design that feels like a scaled-up version of their cheaper models. The chassis feels reasonably solid, with little flex in the stem, but you're always faintly aware this is a cost-conscious scooter dressed up as something more premium.

The InMotion S1F feels more like a single, cohesive product than a frame with parts bolted on. The aluminium construction is beefy, the joints are tight, and the cabling is tucked away. The lighting is integrated, not added as an afterthought. Nothing creaks when you rock it back and forth; it has that "appliance" feel - in a good way - where you sense the engineers started with a clean sheet rather than a parts bin.

Ergonomically, both offer wide decks and decent bars, but the S1F's taller stem and big, rubberised deck feel more sorted. The Hiboy's cockpit is fine - big central display, sensible control layout - but feels a bit more generic. The S1F's dashboard and controls look and feel like they belong on a more expensive scooter.

In the hand, the InMotion simply feels the more mature product. The Hiboy isn't flimsy, but it does feel like the cheaper of the two - which, of course, it is.

Ride Comfort & Handling

On comfort, both of these scooters try to seduce you with the same weapons: big air tyres and dual suspension. On a freshly paved bike path, it's hard to separate them. It's when the route starts looking like a war crime - cracked asphalt, paving stones, root-heaved cycle lanes - that the difference appears.

The Hiboy's huge tyres do a lot of the heavy lifting. Combined with its front and rear shocks, it softens edges nicely. On bumpy city sidewalks, it's a world better than any small-wheel, solid-tyre rental clone. After a few kilometres of broken pavement, your knees are still speaking to you - which is more than can be said for many cheaper scooters.

The InMotion takes that same basic formula and dials it in better. Its dual suspension is more progressive: less crashy on bigger hits, less bouncy on repetitive bumps. On a long run over cobbles, the S1F feels like it's floating just above the chaos, while the Hiboy starts to let some of the chatter through. Not painfully so, but enough that you know which one you'd choose for a long, rough commute.

Handling-wise, both are stable at speed - their size and weight help - but the S1F's longer wheelbase and lower centre of gravity give it a calmer, more planted feel when you're nudging towards the top of its speed range. The MAX Pro is stable enough, but you feel more of the road and you have to work a bit more in gusty crosswinds or sloppy surfaces.

Performance

Neither of these is built to win drag races against dual-motor monsters, but power still matters on hills, junctions and busy city flows.

The Hiboy MAX Pro's rear hub motor delivers very typical mid-range commuter performance. Off the line it's brisk rather than aggressive; you're not thrown back, but you're not left behind either. In flat city use, it feels entirely adequate, and its higher-voltage system helps it keep that liveliness deeper into the battery.

Point it at a steep hill with a heavier rider and it starts to show its class more honestly: it climbs, but with determination rather than enthusiasm. You'll usually get up there, just not with much reserve. With a lighter rider and more reasonable gradients, it's fine - but this is very much a "single-motor mid-range" feel.

The InMotion S1F, with similarly rated motor but higher peak output and different tuning, feels punchier. There's noticeably more shove when you pin the throttle, especially once you're rolling. Its hill-climbing is where the difference becomes obvious: even with a big rider, it trudges up slopes that make weaker commuters wheeze and stall. If your ride involves any serious climbs, the S1F is simply in another league.

Top speeds are a shade higher on the InMotion and, more importantly, it holds them with less drama. On the S1F, cruising at the top of its range feels controlled and relaxed. On the Hiboy, you're still safe, but more conscious that you're near its limits.

Braking performance on both is decent, not spectacular. Dual drums plus electronic assist on the Hiboy give predictable, low-maintenance stopping - more "progressive" than "sporty". The S1F's combination of drum and regenerative braking has a slightly different feel: you get that gentle electronic deceleration first, then the mechanical bite. Once you acclimatise, it's smooth and effective, but neither scooter is going to pin your eyeballs back like a properly tuned dual-disc setup.

Battery & Range

This is where the gloves come off.

The Hiboy MAX Pro has a genuinely decent battery for its price. In the real world - mixed modes, some hills, a normal-sized adult - you can comfortably do a fairly long round-trip commute without having to panic-charge at the office. For many riders, that's plenty: charge every couple of days, forget about it.

The InMotion S1F is operating on a different scale. Its battery is much larger, and you feel it. You can commute serious distances multiple days in a row before even thinking about the charger, or do big weekend rides without watching the percentage like a hawk. For delivery riders or anyone doing long, meandering city loops, the S1F basically removes range anxiety from the equation.

Efficiency is also slightly in InMotion's favour. It squeezes more real-world kilometres out of each watt-hour despite lugging a similar mass around. It's not a night-and-day difference, but enough that over weeks of commuting you notice you plug it in less often.

Charging is more nuanced. The Hiboy's pack is smaller but still an overnight affair from empty. The InMotion's big battery also takes its time on a single charger, but the dual-port setup is a big plus: run two chargers and you can turn a long wait into something more like a long lunch break. For heavy users, that flexibility is worth its weight in Wh.

Portability & Practicality

Let's be clear: neither of these is "toss it over your shoulder and up three flights of stairs" material. They both live firmly in the "I'll take the lift, thanks" category.

The Hiboy MAX Pro is marginally lighter, but we're talking "one more shopping bag" lighter, not a different class. You still notice every step if you regularly lug it up stairs. The folding mechanism is simple and reassuringly solid: drop the stem, hook it, job done. Folded, it's long and fairly wide because of those big tyres and broad deck; it will fit under a desk if you don't share that desk, and in most car boots with a bit of planning.

The InMotion S1F is slightly heavier and feels it when you lift it from awkward angles. The folding system is also robust and quick, but the non-folding handlebars and tall stem mean it occupies more volume once folded. Carrying this onto a crowded tram is an exercise in diplomacy and shoulder strength.

In daily life, both are better as door-to-door transport than multi-modal toys. Roll them out of your flat/garage, ride all the way to work, park them under or next to your desk - perfect. Drag them through stations and up staircases several times a day? You'll hate either one in a week.

Weather practicality, however, is firmly on the S1F's side. Its higher water-resistance rating and better-sealed components make it the one I'd actually use when the forecast looks "British" rather than "Mediterranean". With the Hiboy, I'd be much keener to avoid heavy rain and deep puddles.

Safety

Both scooters make an effort to treat safety as more than a checkbox; neither is flawless, but one is clearly more thoughtful.

The Hiboy MAX Pro does the basics right: front and rear drum brakes with electronic assist for redundancy, a bright headlight, rear light, and extra side lighting that genuinely improves your visibility in urban traffic. The big tyres and long, stable frame help you stay upright when the road throws surprises at you. At its top speed, it feels reasonably composed - no scary high-speed wobble if your tyres are properly inflated.

The InMotion S1F takes the lighting game up several notches. The high-mounted headlight actually lights the road ahead rather than the immediate vicinity of your front wheel, and the automatic turn indicators are not just a gimmick - they're genuinely useful. Being able to signal a lane change without taking a hand off the bar is one of those "once you have it, you miss it on every other scooter" features.

Stability at speed is also a touch better on the S1F thanks to its geometry and battery placement. When you're cruising at its top allowed speed for long stretches, it feels like it wants to go straight; little nudges and gusts don't unsettle it easily. Tyre grip is good on both, but the S1F's tubeless setup copes a bit better with minor punctures and low-pressure situations - more time to stop safely, fewer instant walk-home moments.

Braking feel is slightly more intuitive out of the box on the Hiboy (everything is drum-based), while the S1F's regen-first approach takes a day or two of muscle-memory recalibration. Once used to it, though, the InMotion gives you smoother, more controlled slowdowns in traffic, especially when you anticipate stops.

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Price & Value

The Hiboy MAX Pro sits firmly in the mid-range price band and brings a lot of hardware for that money: big tyres, real suspension, a sizeable battery, and a frame that can take a proper adult without apologising. For riders who don't need extreme range or bulletproof weather protection, it's a sensible, cost-effective pick. You do feel some corners have been trimmed - finish, water protection, raw power - but not disastrously so.

The InMotion S1F costs noticeably more, and you do feel where the extra money went: range, refinement, weather-proofing, lighting, and overall engineering polish. If you're commuting serious distances or you're a heavier rider, the better performance and range aren't luxuries; they're the difference between a scooter that "just about copes" and one that feels like it was built for you.

In terms of pure euros-per-hardware, the Hiboy looks like the bargain. In terms of euros-per-stress-free-kilometre, the S1F quietly wins.

Service & Parts Availability

Hiboy has become fairly well-known in the budget and mid-range segment, and you can find parts and spares online without much drama. Their customer support has a decent reputation, which is not something you can say for every brand in this price range. Still, outside the most common wear items, you're often in the hands of third-party sellers and generic components.

InMotion operates more like a traditional PEV brand with a dealer and distributor network, particularly strong in Europe. That means easier access to official parts, firmware updates, and technicians who actually know the product. For long-term ownership - especially when you start clocking thousands of kilometres - that ecosystem matters more than people think when they're still at the "watching YouTube reviews" stage.

Neither is perfect, but for European riders in particular, InMotion tends to offer smoother long-term support and spare-part sourcing.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If you strip away the spec sheets and just think about how these feel after a week of real commuting, the picture gets quite clear.

The Hiboy MAX Pro is the "good enough" choice for riders on a tighter budget who still want a big, comfortable scooter. If your commute is medium length, mostly flat, and you're not riding in heavy rain or pushing the upper weight limit, it will do the job - and your bank account will thank you. It's not thrilling, but it is pleasant enough when the road is half-decent.

The InMotion S1F is what you buy when you want your scooter to be a primary transport tool rather than an experiment. It goes further, copes better with hills and heavy riders, survives worse weather, and feels more sorted in the details that only start to matter after a few hundred kilometres. It's still far from perfect, but it feels like a more complete vehicle.

So: if budget is king and your demands are moderate, the Hiboy MAX Pro is a defensible choice. If you're serious about distance, comfort and long-term use - especially as a heavier rider or all-weather commuter - the InMotion S1F is the one I'd actually want to live with.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics put the raw maths under a microscope. "Price per Wh" and "price per km" show how much energy and real-world distance you buy for each euro. "Weight per Wh" and "weight per km" expose how much mass you drag around for that energy and range. "Wh per km" is straight efficiency - how thirsty the scooter is. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power relate to how much grunt you have relative to top speed and mass, hinting at acceleration and hill behaviour. Finally, average charging speed tells you how quickly the battery fills per hour on the plug. Numbers don't capture comfort or build quality, but they are very good at calling out hidden trade-offs.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the HIBOY MAX Pro scores 4 points against the INMOTION S1F's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the HIBOY MAX Pro gets 9 ✅ versus 32 ✅ for INMOTION S1F.

Totals: HIBOY MAX Pro scores 13, INMOTION S1F scores 38.

Based on the scoring, the INMOTION S1F is our overall winner. Between these two, the InMotion S1F simply feels more like a vehicle you can trust day in, day out - it's calmer on bad roads, more forgiving over long distances, and gives you that reassuring sense that you're never one hill or one rain shower away from regret. The Hiboy MAX Pro puts up a respectable fight on price and comfort, but you're always faintly aware you bought the sensible middle option, not the one you secretly wanted. If your scooter is going to be your main way around town, the S1F is the one that will make fewer excuses and more good journeys. The Hiboy will do the job; the InMotion will do it with a little more grace and a lot less compromise.

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.