SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO vs JOYOR S5 - Which "Value King" Actually Deserves the Crown?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO edges out the JOYOR S5 as the more rounded, grown-up choice, mainly thanks to better safety kit (including indicators), certification, and a slightly more mature overall package. The JOYOR S5 looks tempting on paper and is cheaper, but it cuts a few corners in refinement and long-term feel that start to show once the honeymoon is over. Pick the Speedway PRO if you want a legal, confidence-inspiring daily workhorse; pick the JOYOR S5 if price rules, you like a rugged look, and you do not mind living with a scooter that feels a bit more "budget hot-rod" than polished commuter.

If you care about how these two actually ride day in, day out - comfort, handling, range reality, and maintenance headaches - the real story starts just below.

Electric scooters in this price band have grown up fast. You are no longer choosing between flimsy rental clones and unhinged 60 km/h missiles; there is a new middle class of honest workhorses that promise comfort, proper power, and at least some respect for your spine.

The SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO and JOYOR S5 sit right in that middle. Both aim to be your everyday "I can actually replace the bus with this" machine: chunky suspension, proper tyres, batteries big enough to matter, and motors that do more than sigh at the first sight of a hill.

On paper they look like twins; on the road, the differences start to show. One feels like a slightly overbuilt commuter that wants to last, the other like a bargain performance toy that's keen but a bit rough around the edges. Let's dig in.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters play in the same weight and performance class: adult-sized, dual-suspension commuters that can easily handle longer urban routes and rough surfaces. They are aimed at riders who have already outgrown the basic 350 W stick with no suspension and now want something that feels like a vehicle, not a rental toy.

The Speedway PRO leans into the "serious commuter" role: wide deck, strong safety focus, legal certification, and a motor that shrugs at heavier riders and hills. It suits people doing regular medium-length trips who value predictability over flash.

The JOYOR S5 goes after the "rugged value" crowd: a bit of off-road flavour, aggressive styling, and a spec sheet that looks generous for the money. It targets riders who want comfort and torque without spending big, and are willing to accept that not every detail feels premium.

Same category, similar mission, similar bulk - which makes this a very fair head-to-head for anyone shopping a mid-range, real-world commuter.

Design & Build Quality

Park them side by side and the family resemblance is obvious: both are black, beefy, with visible suspension hardware and big 10-inch tyres. But the philosophies differ.

The SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO goes for a "rugged utility" vibe. It is a fairly straightforward steel-and-aluminium frame, wide deck, chunky stem, with practical touches like height-adjustable handlebars and integrated lighting. It looks like something designed in a workshop by people who commute, not by a designer chasing Instagram likes. Up close, welds and paint are decent, hardware is mostly standard, and nothing screams luxury - but nothing screams "wishful thinking" either.

The JOYOR S5, by contrast, shouts a bit more. The bright swingarms, sharper lines and chunky tyres give it a mini-motocross attitude. The aluminium frame keeps weight in check for its size, and visually it absolutely punches above its price: this is the one more likely to earn random "nice scooter!" comments. But once you poke around, some details feel a touch more budget - cable routing is busier, plastics are thinner, and the overall impression is more "value performance toy" than "mature commuter platform".

In the hands, the Speedway PRO feels a little closer to a solid, slightly overbuilt tool; the S5 feels lighter on its feet visually, but not quite as confidence-inspiring when you start thinking in years, not weeks.

Ride Comfort & Handling

Both scooters are light-years ahead of stiff, solid-tyre city sticks. Dual suspension and big air-filled tyres are the norm here - but they tune that comfort differently.

The Speedway PRO has a classic dual-shock setup with generous travel and relatively soft springs. Roll over cracked city asphalt, expansion joints or the odd cobblestone section and you feel a gentle, controlled bob instead of a knee-to-teeth hammering. After several kilometres of broken sidewalks, your legs are still fresh and your wrists are not buzzing. The wide deck and calm geometry make straight-line cruising feel planted, almost lazy in a good way.

The JOYOR S5's rocker-arm suspension looks trick and does a decent job too, especially given the price. It soaks up bigger hits well - potholes, curb ramps, gravel stretches - and the wide 3-inch tyres add a welcome first layer of cushioning. But the suspension tune on many units is a bit more restless: you feel more small movements through the chassis, and the system can squeak and chatter unless you keep it lubricated. It still transforms bumpy routes, but it is less "magic carpet", more "firm trail shoe".

In corners, both are stable, with the S5 feeling a bit more playful and eager to lean, while the Speedway PRO feels more grown-up and settled. If you like carving and darting around cyclists, the S5 will entertain you; if you prefer a calm, predictable line through fast bends, the Speedway PRO has the edge.

Performance

Neither of these scooters is legally allowed to show its full teeth on public roads, but the underlying hardware matters a lot for how they feel at realistic speeds, especially with extra kilos on board.

The Speedway PRO's motor has more nominal grunt. Off the line, especially in its sportiest mode, it has that satisfying "push" that tells you there is serious torque in reserve. Heavier riders and hilly routes expose these differences quickly: the Speedway PRO keeps its composure on steeper ramps and doesn't sag as much when you ask it to accelerate uphill. On flat ground, it reaches its legal cap briskly and then just hums along, motor clearly under-stressed.

The JOYOR S5's rear motor is no slouch, especially considering the price bracket. It pulls decently, and for lighter or average-weight riders on moderate hills, it will feel lively enough. There is a slight softening at the very start of the throttle - likely intentional to avoid surprising new riders - then it wakes up and hustles. But when you load it up with a heavier rider or long, sustained climbs, it simply does not have the same "pulls like a train at any battery level" feeling as the Speedway PRO.

Braking is strong on both, with dual mechanical discs on tap. The Speedway PRO adds an electronic brake to the mix, which helps smooth out deceleration and gives you a bit of regen without having to grab full lever pressure. Modulation is better once you adjust things properly. The JOYOR S5's discs can feel more on/off out of the box - plenty of power, but easier to lock a wheel if you panic-grab - and benefit from a session with an Allen key and some bedding-in rides.

Battery & Range

On paper, both claim the usual optimistic "up to" marathon ranges. In the real world, ridden like actual humans ride - mixed speeds, some hills, occasional full-throttle sections - they land surprisingly close.

The Speedway PRO carries a slightly larger battery. That shows when you stretch the day: commuting both ways with some detours, it tends to come home with a bit more in reserve than the S5. It is a scooter you can abuse in the faster mode and still expect a couple of days of medium commutes before you must plug in. Range anxiety is minimal unless you are really trying to burn it down.

The JOYOR S5's pack is a touch smaller, but efficiency is decent. For average-weight riders cruising mainly on flats, it delivers comfortably into that same mid-double-digit kilometre zone. Start piling on hills, aggressive riding and heavier loads, and its battery drops off a little faster than the Speedway's. For most urban routines it is fine; for longer mixed-terrain days you notice that you need to be a bit more mindful with the throttle.

Charging times are also similar, with the S5 having a mild edge on paper. In practice both are "overnight chargers" - neither will win any pit-stop awards, and that's fine in this class.

Portability & Practicality

Let's be blunt: neither of these is a cute little last-mile toy. You will feel every kilogram if you live on the fifth floor with no lift.

The Speedway PRO sits in the low-twenties kilo range and feels every bit of it when you pick it up by the stem. Carrying it up a short flight of stairs or into a car boot is manageable; hauling it any serious distance is gym-membership territory. The folding mechanism is functional rather than elegant: the updated clamp and double anchor tame stem wobble better than older designs, but folding is still a deliberate, two-handed operation. Once folded, it lies reasonably flat and does not occupy absurd floor space.

The JOYOR S5 is in essentially the same weight category, give or take a few hundred grams. Its "one-step" folding design is conceptually simpler, but out of the box the latch can be stubbornly tight - which new owners discover the first time they are trying to fold it in a hurry while a train is approaching. It does bed in with use. Folded size is broadly similar to the Speedway's, with the chunkier swingarms making it look a touch bulkier, even if the dimensions are comparable.

For real-world practicality - bringing it into offices, fitting it in car boots, manoeuvring in corridors - they are about equal. Where the Speedway PRO pulls slightly ahead is in feeling more "sorted" as an everyday tool once folded and parked; the S5's slightly fussier latch and squeak-prone suspension demand a bit more tolerance.

Safety

This is where the Speedway PRO quietly but clearly takes the moral high ground.

The SMARTGYRO comes with a genuinely comprehensive safety package: bright front light that actually lights the road, rear brake light, side lighting, and - crucially - integrated indicators front and rear. Being able to signal a lane change or a turn without taking a hand off the bar is not a luxury; in dense traffic, it is the difference between calmly merging and hoping drivers can interpret your wobble. Add in the triple braking system and larger-wheel stability, and you get a scooter that makes you feel looked-after rather than merely fast.

The Speedway is also DGT-certified, which for riders in Spain (and by extension, anyone worried about future regulation) is more than a stamp. It means the chassis, electrics and dynamics have at least seen official scrutiny. You are not riding a science experiment.

The JOYOR S5 is not unsafe by any means. It has bright lighting, indicators on the more recent "Z-style" revisions, and solid dual discs. The big tyres and reinforced stem lock also contribute to stable, drama-free riding at legal speeds. But the tuning of the brakes and the occasional play or noise in the suspension out of the box can make it feel a bit less polished. Safety is there; confidence is slightly more DIY, "adjust and hope the shop did their job" than on the SMARTGYRO.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

On sticker price, the JOYOR S5 undercuts the Speedway PRO quite noticeably. For riders shopping purely by initial outlay, that is a powerful argument: you get dual suspension, a reasonably powerful motor, proper tyres and lights for noticeably less cash. It is the classic "most spec for least money" proposition.

The Speedway PRO asks more, but counters with a slightly bigger battery, beefier motor, more rounded safety kit and strong local support and certification. Over time - factoring in the extra range headroom, better hill performance and more confidence in spares and legality - the price difference looks less dramatic. You are not paying for carbon trim and marketing; you are paying for a bit more scooter where it matters.

If you are ultra budget-sensitive and can live with a bit of roughness and extra tinkering, the S5 will look like the better bargain. If you think in terms of several years of daily use rather than the first few months, the Speedway PRO starts to feel like the safer financial bet.

Service & Parts Availability

SMARTGYRO has its home turf in Spain and a strong European presence, which shows when you actually need help. Spare parts - from brake pads to controllers and plastics - are relatively easy to source, and there is a healthy ecosystem of tutorials, local shops and rider communities familiar with the platform. It is not premium-brand polished, but you rarely feel abandoned.

JOYOR also has decent European distribution and is not some anonymous rebadge brand. Parts exist, and there is a user base out there. However, availability can be more patchy depending on the country, and you sometimes pay with longer waits or more hunting around for exactly the right version of a component. The S5 is built mostly from generic parts, which helps; still, the overall support picture is a step below SMARTGYRO's home-field advantage.

For the average rider who just wants their scooter back on the road quickly after something bends or squeaks, the Speedway PRO is the less frustrating ownership proposition.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

The JOYOR S5 makes a lot of noise on paper: proper suspension, decent battery, punchy rear motor, and a price that undercuts much of the competition. If you are stepping up from a basic scooter and want max comfort and fun for minimum spend, it is tempting - and for many riders, especially lighter ones on gentler terrain, it will do the job and feel like a revelation.

The SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO, though, feels more like the scooter you buy when the novelty has worn off and you just need something that works, every weekday, in real traffic. The stronger motor, slightly bigger battery, better-sorted braking, indicators, and certification add up to a package that inspires more trust. It is not glamorous or exotic; it is just more complete.

If your budget absolutely tops out in the lower half of this price band and you are willing to tinker and accept some rough edges, the JOYOR S5 is a very usable, very comfortable bargain - just go in with realistic expectations. If you can stretch a bit further and want a scooter that feels more like a dependable tool than a flashy deal, the SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO is the one I would want under my feet long-term.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics break down where each scooter "spends" its money, mass and energy. The JOYOR S5 wins most of the pure value and efficiency battles: you pay less per watt-hour, less per kilometre of realistic range, and it sips energy more frugally. The SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO, on the other hand, delivers more motor per kilogram and per unit of speed - it is the stronger, more muscular machine, even if it is less efficient per euro.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO scores 3 points against the JOYOR S5's 7. In the Author's Category Battle, the SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO gets 32 ✅ versus 7 ✅ for JOYOR S5.

Totals: SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO scores 35, JOYOR S5 scores 14.

Based on the scoring, the SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO is our overall winner. Between these two, the SMARTGYRO Speedway PRO simply feels like the more complete partner for real-world commuting - stronger where it counts, calmer under pressure, and better supported when life (or a pothole) happens. The JOYOR S5 fights back hard on price and looks, and if you are chasing maximum comfort per euro it absolutely has its charm, but you can feel where the corners were trimmed. If I had to live with one of them as my daily "get me there in one piece, every day" machine, I would take the Speedway PRO's slightly duller but more reassuring character over the S5's cheaper thrills.

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.