InMotion S1F vs Hiboy X300 - Which "SUV Scooter" Actually Deserves Your Money?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

If you want the more complete, confidence-inspiring scooter for daily commuting, the InMotion S1F edges out the Hiboy X300 overall. The S1F rides further on a charge, feels more mature as a product, and backs it up with a stronger reputation for long-term use and support.

The Hiboy X300 makes sense if you're on a tighter budget, really want those giant wheels, and mostly do medium-distance rides on rough city streets where comfort per euro is your main metric. Just accept that you're trading away some range headroom, load capacity, and polish.

If you can stretch the budget, the S1F is the safer long-term bet; if you can't, the X300 is a decent "good enough" comfort scooter with compromises. Now, let's dive into what those compromises actually feel like on the road.

Keep reading - the devil (and the fun) is in the details.

There's a certain class of electric scooter that doesn't care about Instagram trick shots or drag races. Instead, it wants to do something far more difficult: be your boringly reliable, genuinely comfortable daily transport. The InMotion S1F and Hiboy X300 both claim that throne - big, comfortable commuters that promise to turn beat-up city asphalt into something vaguely civilised.

I've spent proper time on both: long commutes, late-night rides, humbling hill tests, and plenty of abusing them on broken pavements and tram tracks. On paper they live in the same universe - similar weight, similar peak power, similar headline speeds. In practice, they feel like two different interpretations of the "SUV scooter" idea.

The S1F is for the rider who wants a long-range, no-drama workhorse that feels thought-through and grown-up. The X300 is for the rider chasing maximum comfort per euro, who's willing to accept that not everything about the package is as refined as it looks in the photos.

Let's see where each one shines - and where the marketing politely forgets to mention the fine print.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters live in the mid-range commuter segment: not rental-toy cheap, not "mortgage a kidney" performance monsters. You're looking at solid adult commuters for people who actually ride every day, not just on sunny Sundays.

The InMotion S1F positions itself as a long-range, comfort-focused commuter for serious mileage and heavier riders. Think: replacing bus passes, doing full cross-town commutes, food delivery shifts, or reliably hauling a big human plus backpack without drama.

The Hiboy X300 goes after the same general rider, but with a different hook: huge tyres, cushy feel, decent power, and a friendlier price. It screams, "Look at these 12-inch wheels, this will fix your cobblestone trauma," and for many riders, that's enough to get the credit card out.

They weigh about the same, occupy similar space folded, and target similar speeds. So if you're shopping for a serious daily scooter that doesn't try to murder you or your spine, these two will inevitably end up on the same shortlist.

Design & Build Quality

In the hand, the S1F feels like a slightly overbuilt commuter scooter - in a good way. The frame is solid, welds look tidy, and nothing really rattles once you've got a few dozen kilometres under it. Cables are routed neatly, the display is integrated cleanly into the stem, and the whole thing has that "finished product" vibe rather than "assembled in a shed from catalogue parts." The side lighting and high-mounted headlight look a bit Tron-esque, but they're functional rather than gimmicky.

The Hiboy X300, by contrast, goes for a chunkier, more industrial look. Big stem, big deck, big wheels. At first touch it feels impressively substantial - no obvious flex in the stem, fenders that don't feel like they'll snap the first time a stone hits them, and a deck that actually lets your feet relax. But look a little closer and you start to see where the budget went and where it didn't: hardware is fine but not inspiring, the plastics are more utilitarian, and the finishing isn't quite on the same level as InMotion's more polished approach.

Ergonomically, both do well. The S1F has a tall stem that suits average to tall riders beautifully, with a wide, rubberised deck that lets you change stance during longer rides. The X300 counters with an even wider-feeling deck and big, reassuring handlebars that make it feel like a small scooter-moped hybrid. You stand "in" the X300, while on the S1F you're more "on" it.

Overall build impression? The S1F feels like it's been through a couple more design revisions. The X300 feels solid enough, but you never quite shake the sense that some corners have been cut to hit its price.

Ride Comfort & Handling

If comfort is your top priority, both will make a typical rental scooter feel like a medieval torture device. But they get there via different recipes.

The S1F relies on a full dual suspension setup with air-filled, tubeless tyres. On rough city streets it has that soft, floaty character. It doesn't erase big potholes - nothing with small wheels does - but the high-frequency vibration and constant chatter are impressively muted. On long rides, your knees, wrists and lower back all send thank-you notes. Handling-wise, the long wheelbase and low-mounted battery make it feel planted at higher speeds; you lean into turns rather than nervously tiptoe them.

The Hiboy X300 goes all-in on tyre size: those 12-inch air tyres with a front fork do more than you'd expect. On cobbles and broken tarmac, you can feel the big wheels rolling over stuff that would seriously unsettle a 10-inch scooter. It has a distinctly "moped-lite" vibe - stable, forgiving, and friendly to newer riders who aren't yet comfortable with micro-adjustments in balance.

Where the difference shows is at speed and on more technical rides. The S1F feels calmer and a bit more precise when you're carving through urban corners or descending a long downhill stretch. The X300 is steady, but not quite as confidence-inspiring when you start pushing it - you feel the weight and that single front fork working hard. On longer rides, both are comfortable, but the S1F's rear suspension means your spine takes less of a hit when the front misses a bump.

In short: X300 wins on "instant comfort upgrade from a cheap scooter," but the S1F edges ahead when you're riding fast, far, and often.

Performance

On paper, both sit in the same ballpark: rear-driven hub motors with similar rated outputs, broadly similar peak figures, and very comparable top-speed claims. In real life, the nuance matters.

The S1F's motor tuning is all about usable torque and smooth power delivery. Pull away from a light in Sport mode and it doesn't smack you in the face; it just leans you back and keeps pulling until you're up near its speed ceiling. On flat ground with a typical adult on board, it holds its pace well, even as the battery drops into the second half of the charge. Hill starts? It's surprisingly capable for a single-motor scooter, especially for heavier riders - you're not reduced to sad little kick-assists at the first sign of a proper incline.

The Hiboy X300 also accelerates confidently, helped by its 48 V system. It feels lively off the line, especially in its highest mode, and for average-weight riders on moderate inclines it does the job fine. But push it harder - steeper hills, or a heavier rider plus backpack - and you can feel it running out of enthusiasm sooner than the spec sheet would suggest. It's not hopeless by any stretch, but you're more aware of its limits.

Braking is another point of difference. The S1F uses a drum at the front plus regenerative braking at the rear. The feel is more "calm and controlled" than "bitey and sharp". Panic-stop tests don't turn your knuckles white, but the scooter stops in a predictable, linear way - ideal for commuters who value stability over stunt-level stopping power.

The X300's rear disc plus electronic brake can be more aggressive, once properly adjusted. Out of the box, you may well find yourself fiddling with calipers to get rid of rubbing or to get a decent lever feel, which is a recurring theme with Hiboy and other budget-friendly brands. Once dialled, it stops decisively, but it requires a little more owner involvement to get it feeling right.

At their respective top speeds, the S1F feels more composed, the X300 slightly less so - stable, yes, but more "soft SUV" than "precision tool."

Battery & Range

This is where the InMotion S1F quietly takes its victory lap.

The S1F carries a noticeably larger battery pack, and you feel it in the real world. With mixed-speed city riding and a reasonably adult-sized rider, it can stretch a charge well into the "don't really worry about it during the week" territory. You start planning routes based on where you want to go, not where the charger is. Even under heavier loads or lots of hills, there's decent buffer before you're limping home in Eco mode.

The Hiboy X300's battery is no slouch - for a budget-friendlier mid-range scooter, its pack is absolutely respectable. For most commuters doing classic there-and-back daily runs, it will comfortably get you through the day. But it doesn't offer the same "range luxury" as the S1F. On longer joyrides, or if you're enthusiastically pinning it in Sport mode, you'll hit the low-battery warning sooner and more regularly. Range anxiety is not terrible, but it does occasionally tap you on the shoulder and remind you that you didn't buy the big tank.

Charging times are similar on paper, but the S1F's dual-port system is the ace up its sleeve. Run two chargers and you can get a very big pack topped up in the kind of time that turns a long lunch break into a functional "refuel stop." The X300 just does the classic "charge it overnight, ride it tomorrow" routine. Fine for most people, less flexible if you're a high-mileage rider trying to squeeze in multiple long rides in a day.

Net result: both are acceptable; the S1F plays in a higher league for range and flexibility.

Portability & Practicality

Here's the blunt truth: neither of these scooters is what you buy if you live on the fifth floor with no lift and questionable life choices.

They weigh around the same, and "24 kg" in spec-sheet terms translates roughly to "I can carry this up one flight of stairs without swearing, two if my neighbours are watching." Both have folding stems, both end up as fairly long, fairly bulky packages that will eat a serious chunk of a small-car boot. Neither is going under a train seat unless your local train company has very generous legroom.

The S1F's fold is simple and robust, but the tall, non-telescoping stem and wide deck mean it's more a "fold for storage and car transport" solution than a "fold three times a day mid-commute" one. InMotion at least gives you a feeling that all the hinges and latches are overbuilt enough to survive years of use.

The X300 similarly folds at the stem, hooks to the rear, and then just sort of sits there being big. The large wheels and wide deck are blessings on the road and curses in tight storage spaces. Practically, it's fine for garages, offices with a corner to spare, or ground-floor hallways; less fine for shared stairwells or tiny flats.

Both have decent water resistance ratings, so they don't go into meltdown at the first puddle. For all-weather commuting, the S1F's IP rating plus better-sealed components give it a slight edge in long-term "abuse tolerance," but the X300 holds its own for damp roads and light rain.

Practicality verdict: they're both "ride, don't carry" machines. The S1F wins more for people who treat the scooter as a vehicle. The X300 suits riders who accept the bulk because they really want that planted, SUV-like feel on their local roads.

Safety

Safety breaks down into three big buckets here: braking, visibility, and stability.

On braking, we've already touched on it: the S1F's drum + regen combo gives a very predictable, low-maintenance feel. You won't be constantly adjusting it, and it works the same in week ten as it did on day one, barring major abuse. The X300's disc + e-brake system can produce stronger initial bite once tuned, but it puts a little more responsibility on the owner to keep it dialled in. For non-tinkerers, that matters.

Visibility is where the S1F quietly flexes. High-mounted headlight that actually lights the road, integrated side lighting, and automatic turn indicators that trigger from lean/steering sensors - you end up broadcasting your presence from all angles without thinking much about it. It feels like a genuinely thought-through lighting system, not an afterthought.

The X300 also has a decent headlight, brake light, and turn signals with audible cues. You're definitely visible, and the sound reminder for indicators is clever - or annoying, depending on your tolerance for beeping. Overall, it's good kit, but not as seamlessly integrated or sophisticated as InMotion's setup.

Stability-wise, both are strong. The S1F uses geometry and weight distribution to keep things planted at speed; the X300 relies heavily on those huge wheels for rolling stability. In tricky surfaces - tram tracks, gravel patches, nasty pothole clusters - the X300's front end feels incredibly forgiving. But at sustained higher speeds, especially on longer stretches, the S1F's calmer chassis and dual suspension feel more reassuring.

If you ride a lot at night, in rain, or in busy traffic, the S1F's combination of lighting, stability and low-maintenance braking puts it slightly ahead as a "safety-first" commuter. The X300 is safe enough - just a little more DIY and a little less polished in execution.

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Price & Value

The Hiboy X300 undercuts the S1F on price by a noticeable margin. For that, you get big wheels, a comfortable ride, a decent battery, and a feature set that - at first glance - looks dangerously close to more expensive machines. For many budget-conscious riders, that's a compelling combination.

The S1F, however, buys you more than just numbers on a spec sheet. You're paying extra for a larger battery, more sophisticated suspension, better lighting, higher weight capacity, and - crucially - a track record. InMotion's ecosystem, firmware support, and overall product maturity mean that the S1F tends to feel less like a gamble and more like a long-term tool.

If your budget is strict and you mainly want comfort plus "good enough" everything else, the X300 offers aggressive bang for the buck. If you see this scooter as a serious transport investment for several years, the S1F's higher upfront cost makes more sense when you spread it across thousands of kilometres.

Service & Parts Availability

InMotion has been around in the PEV world for a long time, particularly with electric unicycles, and that shows. There's an established dealer and service network across much of Europe, readily available spare parts, and a community that's good at documenting fixes and tweaks. You're not on your own if something breaks.

Hiboy, meanwhile, sits in that awkward space of being a big online brand with improving but still somewhat uneven support. Parts availability is better than many cheaper rebrands, but you're more reliant on direct-from-manufacturer shipping or regional resellers. Community support is there, but not nearly as deep as for InMotion's more enthusiast-followed machines.

If you're handy with tools and don't mind ordering parts online, the X300 is manageable. If you want something that any decent PEV shop will recognise and be willing to work on with readily available spares, the S1F has a clear edge.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

Both scooters promise a more civilised commute over ugly city streets, and both broadly deliver. But they do so with different levels of depth and long-term confidence.

If you want a scooter that can consistently handle longer commutes, doesn't flinch at heavier riders, and feels like it's been engineered as a cohesive vehicle rather than a parts-bin experiment, the InMotion S1F is the stronger choice. Its range, dual suspension, safety package, and brand ecosystem all push it ahead as the more rounded, future-proof machine.

The Hiboy X300, meanwhile, is the pragmatic option for riders whose wallets are screaming "no" at the S1F's price. If your rides aren't excessively long, your hills aren't murderous, and you're mainly chasing a smooth, forgiving ride on bad surfaces for less money, the X300 will do the job and feel pretty good doing it. Just be prepared to live with its quirks, adjust a few things yourself, and accept that you didn't buy the top-shelf commuter in this match-up.

Put simply: if you can afford the S1F and you actually ride a lot, it's the one that will age better with you. If your budget is firm and your expectations are realistic, the X300 is a likeable, if slightly rough-around-the-edges, comfort scooter.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics highlight how efficiently each scooter uses your money, weight and energy. Price-per-Wh and price-per-speed show pure "spec for euros"; efficiency and weight-per-range tell you how far each unit of battery and mass actually gets you. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power expose how muscular the drivetrain feels relative to the scooter's heft, while average charging speed gives a rough sense of how quickly you can refill the tank in watts instead of hours.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the INMOTION S1F scores 8 points against the HIBOY X300's 2. In the Author's Category Battle, the INMOTION S1F gets 37 ✅ versus 0 ✅ for HIBOY X300.

Totals: INMOTION S1F scores 45, HIBOY X300 scores 2.

Based on the scoring, the INMOTION S1F is our overall winner. Between these two, the InMotion S1F simply feels more complete - not spectacular, not glamorous, but quietly competent in the ways that matter once the novelty wears off and you're just trying to get to work and back every day. It gives you that extra bit of confidence that it will still be doing its job nicely a few years from now. The Hiboy X300 is likeable, and for the right rider on the right budget it can absolutely be "good enough", especially if your streets are terrible and your trips aren't epic. But if you're looking for a partner rather than a fling, the S1F is the scooter more likely to keep you riding, and smiling, in the long run.

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.