Hill-Crushing Torque vs Budget Range Beast: SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT vs JOYOR Y8S-ABE - Which Heavyweight Commuter Actually Deserves Your Money?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT is the more complete, grown-up scooter here: better safety package, stronger hill performance, higher load capacity, weather protection, and a generally more confidence-inspiring ride - it's the one I'd trust as a daily workhorse in real city traffic. The JOYOR Y8S-ABE counters with frankly ridiculous range for the money, but it cuts corners in refinement, tech, and overall polish, and you do feel it once you live with it.

Pick the SO4 Pro GT if you care about stability, braking, wet-weather commuting and serious hills, and want something that feels engineered rather than assembled from a catalogue. Choose the Y8S-ABE if your priority is going very far for very little money and you can live with an older-school feel and long charging times.

Both will get you across town; how pleasantly and how long they'll keep it up is where the real story begins - and that's exactly what we'll dig into now.

Electric scooters at this size and weight are no longer toys; they're substitutes for buses, cars and mopeds. The SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT and JOYOR Y8S-ABE both sit squarely in that "serious commuter" category: big batteries, big frames, legal top speed, and no real intention of being carried up three flights of stairs unless you've annoyed your fitness coach.

I've spent many kilometres on machines like these - the kind you ride for an hour straight, not ten minutes from the train station. On paper, they look like direct rivals: long-range, 500 W class, 20 km/h capped, dual suspension. In practice, their personalities couldn't be more different. One feels like a Swiss torque tractor with a tech degree; the other like a bargain-bin touring scooter whose main party trick is "still not empty".

If you're trying to decide which of these beasts should live in your hallway (or garage, realistically), read on: they solve the same problem in very different ways, and the compromises matter.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters target riders who've realised that tiny, folding toys are not built for 15-km commutes, heavy riders, or steep cities. They belong to that mid-power, long-range class where you expect proper suspension, big decks, and real-world range that doesn't vanish at the first headwind.

The SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT aims at the "I live on a hill and weigh more than a scarecrow" crowd. It's a legal-speed tank with ridiculous torque, high load capacity and strong safety features. Think of it as the pragmatic city mule: not glamorous, but unfazed by bad roads, heavy riders and awful weather.

The JOYOR Y8S-ABE, by contrast, is the budget distance hero. It's for people who stare at their commute distance on a map and think "I don't want to think about charging this week". Less about finesse, more about maximum kilometres per euro of battery.

They cost very different amounts, yet shoppers often cross-shop them because both promise "big scooter" comfort and proper range at regulated city speeds. Same use case, very different philosophies - which is exactly why they're worth comparing directly.

Design & Build Quality

Pick them up (or try to) and you immediately feel the mindset behind each brand.

The SO4 Pro GT has that blunt, industrial Swiss vibe: thick frame tubes, purposeful welds, a wide rubber-covered deck and a stem that feels like it belongs on a rental bike rather than a toy. The integrated colour display in the stem, cleanly implemented turn signals and well-thought-out lighting give it a more modern, cohesive look, even if the exposed cabling keeps it from feeling truly premium. It's solid, slightly overbuilt, and feels as if someone actually cared how it would age.

The removable battery is also neatly executed. The hatch locks down properly, doesn't rattle when closed right, and the pack slides in and out without needing a YouTube tutorial. That alone already feels more "engineered" than most mid-range scooters.

The Joyor Y8S-ABE looks and feels more like a parts-bin special. Sturdy, yes - the frame is chunky and doesn't creak - but the design is older generation: external cabling everywhere, a generic trigger-throttle display, visible springs and clamps that seem chosen for cost and availability rather than elegance. The folding handlebars are a practical win, yet the whole cockpit has a "busy" look that reminds you where the budget went: into the battery, not the finishing.

In terms of raw robustness, both feel capable of taking abuse. But the SOFLOW manages to wrap its strength in a slightly more refined package, while the Joyor feels like it skipped a few design reviews on the way out of the factory.

Ride Comfort & Handling

Comfort is where these heavy commuters earn their keep, and both do better than the usual entry-level stuff - but in different ways.

The SO4 Pro GT finally fixes the notoriously harsh ride of earlier SO4 generations. With a proper fork up front and an air shock at the rear, it actually glides over the kind of cracked city tarmac that used to rattle your teeth. Dial in the rear shock for your weight, and you get a surprisingly composed, "big scooter" feel. Add in chunky 10-inch tubeless tyres and you can attack cobbles, tram tracks and patched asphalt without clenching every muscle.

Handling is confident rather than playful. The wide bars and stiff chassis make it feel planted in sweeping turns. It isn't a nimble slalom machine, but on fast bike paths and urban straights it tracks straight and true, with less wobble than many cheaper frames when pushed hard or loaded up.

The Joyor Y8S-ABE is, on the surface, even plusher. Dual springs at the front, a beefy rear setup and big air-filled tyres make short work of broken paving. On long, dead-straight bike paths, it genuinely feels like a sofa on wheels - you feel the suspension cycling underneath you, taking the edge off everything from cobbles to root-heaved paths.

Where it falls behind is composure. The Y8S can feel a bit floaty and bouncy if you start riding more dynamically, and the cockpit doesn't have the same tight, reassuring feel. There's more squeaks and clunks in the hardware, especially over time, and the sharp front brake combined with this softness can make emergency manoeuvres feel less controlled than they should.

If your riding is mostly relaxed cruising, the Y8S is fine, even comfortable. If you care about precise, confidence-inspiring handling in messy urban traffic, the SO4 Pro GT has the more sorted chassis.

Performance

Legally, both scooters end up at the same speed ceiling. Experientially, they live in different worlds.

The SOFLOW's geared rear motor is the star of the show. It doesn't just accelerate - it lunges. From the first press of the thumb throttle, you feel that multiplied torque shove you forward, indifferent to your weight or the gradient. On steep city streets where most "500 W" scooters start gasping and slowing, the SO4 Pro GT just keeps pushing until it hits its speed limiter. It's the rare legal-speed scooter where the motor always feels like it has another gear in reserve.

The trade-off is a noticeable mechanical whine that rises with speed. You'll either call it "satisfying sci-fi turbine" or "why is my scooter screaming at me", but there's no denying it sounds like it's working hard. The payoff is predictable, sustained torque, even late in the battery.

The Joyor Y8S-ABE, by contrast, has a more ordinary performance profile. Its rear hub motor gets you up to cruising speed with acceptable urgency - it doesn't feel dead - but it never has that bulldozer feel the SOFLOW has on inclines. Moderate hills are fine for average-weight riders; long, steeper climbs start to expose its limits, especially if you're closer to its upper weight recommendation. It's more "steady diesel" than "winch with wheels".

At legal top speed, the Y8S is happiest just sitting there, especially with cruise control on. There's a slight throttle delay that actually smooths things out but also makes it feel a bit detached. Fine for bike paths, less inspiring when you need immediate reaction in dense traffic.

Braking is another clear separator. The SO4 Pro GT's dual discs plus regen are strong but controllable - you can haul it down hard without instantly locking the front if you've got decent technique. The Joyor's twin discs are powerful on paper, but that aggressive front bite catches a lot of riders off guard. Until you recalibrate your fingers, panic grabs can feel sketchy, particularly given the soft front end.

If you live in a flat suburb and just want to cruise, the Joyor's performance is serviceable. If hills, heavy loads, and real stop-and-go traffic are your daily reality, the SOFLOW earns its keep every single ride.

Battery & Range

This is where the Joyor struts in, drops its oversized battery on the table and dares anyone to match it for the price.

The Y8S-ABE's battery is simply enormous for its category and cost. In real life, that translates to commutes where you just stop thinking about range. Day after day of riding, and the gauge barely nudges down. Riders regularly report doing a full work week on one charge, with mixed surfaces and speeds, and still having a healthy cushion left. If you're coming from a smaller commuter that needs juice every other day, it feels like cheating.

The catch? Refuelling that tank is slow. You're looking at overnight-plus from low charge with the included brick. That's not a big problem if you adopt a "plug once every few days" routine, but if you habitually run batteries down and forget to charge, you'll eventually get bitten.

The SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT plays a slightly different game. Its battery is still legitimately big, and in real-world riding you can absolutely clock serious distances on a charge - easily enough to cover long commutes and errands without planning every kilometre. The difference is you're paying more, not just for the capacity, but for the rest of the scooter wrapped around it.

Range on the SOFLOW stays impressively stable even when riding aggressively or heavier, but it can't quite match the Joyor's sheer endurance per charge. The flip side is that it refills appreciably quicker, and the removable pack lets you charge in your flat while the scooter lives in the garage, or even swap packs if you're really committed.

So: the Joyor is the undisputed "one more lap" champ, especially for the money. The SOFLOW counters with "more than enough" range and a better all-round machine attached to it.

Portability & Practicality

Let's be honest: neither of these belongs on your shoulder for any meaningful distance unless you're training for a strongman competition.

The Joyor Y8S-ABE is marginally heavier and feels it when you try to carry it. The saving grace is its folding handlebars and relatively slim folded footprint: once collapsed, it actually slides into car boots or under desks more easily than the SOFLOW, despite its bulk. Carrying it up long staircases, though, is an exercise in regret. The non-removable battery means you're always lifting the full package.

The SO4 Pro GT is slightly lighter on paper but not exactly "light". The non-folding bars mean it stays wide when folded, so threading through narrow hallways or stashing it in tight car boots is more of a puzzle. Where it claws back practicality is the removable battery: you can leave the muddy chassis in the basement, carry only the pack upstairs, and you're done. It's a small everyday quality-of-life improvement that becomes a big deal over months of ownership.

Weather is another practical dimension. The SOFLOW's strong water resistance rating makes it a genuine year-round option in rainy climates: spray, puddles, and wet commutes are much less of a worry. The Joyor, while not made of sugar, doesn't inspire the same "go ahead, it's raining" confidence; it feels more like a dry-to-light-showers machine rather than a storm companion.

In short: Joyor wins on folded compactness, SOFLOW wins on charging flexibility and wet-weather practicality. Neither is truly portable in the "grab and go" sense; plan on rolling, not carrying.

Safety

Safety isn't just brakes and lights; it's how stable, predictable and visible you are when things go wrong, not when everything is perfect.

The SO4 Pro GT takes this side seriously. Strong dual disc brakes backed by regen, a stiff frame, and wide tyres create a very reassuring platform. Even at its modest top speed, it feels as if it was engineered to cope with more, which is exactly what you want when a car door opens in front of you. The lighting is genuinely useful: that front beam actually throws usable light onto the road ahead, and the integrated indicators front and rear let you communicate in traffic without flapping hands in the air.

Stability is another strong point. The chassis doesn't wobble at speed, doesn't flex under heavier riders, and the suspension helps keep the tyres in contact over rough patches. It feels like a "grown-up" scooter designed for mixed traffic, not a toy upgraded with big wheels.

The Joyor Y8S-ABE meets German ABE requirements, which already puts it above a lot of grey-market stuff. Dual discs, decent integrated lights, reflectors everywhere - the basics are covered. On lit city streets, you're visible enough, though I'd add an extra front light if you ride dark paths regularly.

Where the Y8S loses points is controllability. That sharp front brake, combined with the plush front suspension, can encourage dramatic nose dives if you panic-grab. You can absolutely learn to modulate it, but it's less forgiving to novice mistakes than it should be. And while the chassis is stable at its limited speed, the overall package doesn't have quite the same "I've got your back" feel as the SOFLOW when you're mixing with impatient cars and sketchy surfaces.

If safety is high on your list - especially night riding, traffic and rain - the SO4 Pro GT is the more convincing package.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

This is where many people get stuck: Joyor's price tag looks almost suspiciously attractive next to the SOFLOW.

The Y8S-ABE gives you a truly massive battery, proper dual suspension and a solid frame for the cost of many entry-level commuters with half the stamina. If your checklist starts and ends with "range per euro" and "basic comfort", it's frankly hard to argue against. You do, however, pay for that low sticker price with older tech, less refinement, and a few compromises in braking feel and finish.

The SO4 Pro GT sits in a different price bracket and doesn't try to compete on raw capacity per euro. You're paying for engineering details: planetary-gear torque, serious water resistance, integrated signals, a removable pack, better-sorted suspension, and a safety package that feels more like a small vehicle and less like a cheap toy plus a giant battery. For the rider who will actually exploit the torque and ride in all weather, that premium can be justified. For the flat-city casual who just wants long range on the cheap, it will feel like overkill.

Value, then, depends strongly on how demanding you are as a rider. As a pure spreadsheet purchase, the Joyor looks like a bargain. As a daily transport tool in mixed conditions, the SOFLOW quietly makes a stronger case.

Service & Parts Availability

Both brands have a European presence, which is already better than mystery-label imports, but the experience differs.

SoFlow, being strongly rooted in DACH markets, generally offers structured support and a clearer parts pipeline, though you may still wait for specific components depending on your region. The SO4 Pro GT uses some proprietary elements - that geared motor, the integrated dash, the removable pack - so you're more dependent on official channels if something unusual fails. On the upside, you're dealing with a brand that actually designed those parts, not just bought them off a shelf.

Joyor has a decent dealer network in several European countries and leans on more standardised components: generic controllers, common-pattern tyres, typical displays. That usually makes backyard or third-party servicing easier and cheaper. On the other hand, build variability and the more "budget" nature of the scooter can mean more small niggles - squeaks, brake adjustments, cable issues - to chase over time, often handled by owners themselves.

For riders who want a clean, official channel for more complex tech, the SOFLOW is the safer bet. For tinkerers happy to source generic parts and get their hands dirty, the Joyor's simpler hardware plays in their favour.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

Both scooters occupy the same broad niche but answer very different questions. The JOYOR Y8S-ABE asks: "How far can I go on one charge without emptying my wallet?" And if that's genuinely your only question, it has a very compelling answer. For long, mostly flat commutes where you rarely see a hill and you don't mind old-school hardware, its absurd range per euro is hard to ignore.

The SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT, on the other hand, asks: "What if your scooter has to behave like a small vehicle, not a cheap gadget?" It's the more rounded product: better in the wet, better on hills, calmer under heavy riders, safer in mixed traffic, and easier to integrate into daily life thanks to that removable battery and genuinely useful lighting and signalling. It costs more, and you don't quite get the Joyor's marathon range, but you're getting a far more serious tool in return.

If I had to live with one as my primary transport, I'd take the SO4 Pro GT. It's not perfect - the motor could shout a bit less - but it feels like a scooter built around real-world commuting realities rather than just a giant battery and a price tag. The Joyor Y8S-ABE is a brilliant budget hack for range junkies, yet next to the SOFLOW it feels more like a very good deal than a very good scooter.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics strip everything down to maths. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km/h show how much you pay for energy capacity and legal speed. Weight-related metrics show how efficiently each scooter turns mass into usable performance and range. Wh/km gives you an idea of energy efficiency when actually riding. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power indicate how muscular the motor feels relative to its capped top speed and weight. Average charging speed tells you how quickly each battery can realistically be refilled.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT scores 5 points against the JOYOR Y8S-ABE's 5. In the Author's Category Battle, the SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT gets 33 ✅ versus 9 ✅ for JOYOR Y8S-ABE (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT scores 38, JOYOR Y8S-ABE scores 14.

Based on the scoring, the SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT is our overall winner. Living with both concepts in mind, the SOFLOW SO4 Pro GT is the scooter that feels more like a trustworthy companion than a clever bargain. It rides with more confidence, behaves better in ugly real-world conditions, and gives you that reassuring sensation that it was actually designed for serious daily use. The JOYOR Y8S-ABE is easy to like for what it offers on paper, and if your heart belongs to long, flat bike paths and low costs, it will absolutely do the job. But if you're asking which one I'd want under my feet on a dark, wet Tuesday with hills ahead and traffic all around, it's the SOFLOW every single time.

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.