KAABO Mantis X vs ANGWATT F1 NEW - Premium Pedigree Meets Budget Brawler: Which Scooter Actually Deserves Your Money?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The ANGWATT F1 NEW is the better overall deal for most riders: it delivers serious speed, very usable range, chunky comfort and modern features for a fraction of what you'd normally pay. If your budget is finite but your appetite for fun is not, the F1 NEW is shockingly hard to argue against.

The KAABO Mantis X still makes sense if you want dual motors, more refined handling, better weather resistance and the backing of a big, established brand - and you're willing to pay dearly for those advantages. It's the choice for riders who treat their scooter as a long-term "main vehicle", not just a cheap thrill.

If you care primarily about value and don't mind a bit of DIY tightening and tweaking, go ANGWATT. If you want something more polished, planted and brand-backed, go Mantis X - and open your wallet a bit wider.

Now, let's dig into what these scooters are really like to live with when the road gets rough and the battery starts to dip.

The KAABO Mantis X and the ANGWATT F1 NEW live in the same performance neighbourhood, but they come from very different families. One is the well-bred offspring of a famous performance brand, the other is the loud, slightly scruffy cousin that somehow bench-presses more than everyone else.

I've put plenty of mixed city kilometres on both - cobblestones, bike lanes, sloppy tarmac, the odd gravel detour - and they answer the same question in very different ways: how much real performance can you squeeze into a scooter that you still pretend is "for commuting"?

The Mantis X is for the rider who wants a "proper" premium-feeling machine with dual motors and plush, adjustable suspension. The F1 NEW is for the rider who looks at the spec sheet, then at the price tag, and happily ignores the logo on the stem.

On paper they're closer than you'd expect; on the road they're surprisingly far apart. Let's break down where each one shines - and where the shine starts to crack.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters sit in that "serious but still (sort of) commuter-friendly" class: fast enough to keep up with city traffic, big enough to feel like vehicles rather than toys, still just about carryable if you've recently been to the gym.

The KAABO Mantis X positions itself as a mid-range premium dual-motor all-rounder - the sort of scooter you might actually replace a car with for inner-city life. It's pitched at riders graduating from generic 350 W commuters who now want proper acceleration, real suspension and a recognised brand behind them.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW, in contrast, is the value assassin. Single rear motor, big battery, modern features, all at a price that normally buys you something with no suspension and a wheezy little motor. It's aimed squarely at budget-conscious riders who still want "big scooter" speed and range.

They're competitors because the F1 NEW creeps up into the same performance envelope as the Mantis X - similar cruising speeds, similar realistic ranges, similar overall heft. The difference is that one asks you to pay premium money for polish, the other dares you to live with rougher edges in exchange for a massive discount.

Design & Build Quality

Park them side by side and the family background shows immediately.

The Mantis X looks and feels like a deliberate, evolved platform. The C-shaped suspension arms, forged aluminium chassis and tidy cable routing are clearly the product of a brand that's been iterating for years. The finishing is clean, welds look solid, and most contact points - deck rubber, grips, clamp hardware - give off a "this will last" vibe. It's not art, but it is clearly engineered.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW, by comparison, has that utilitarian, parts-bin charm: a mix of iron and aluminium, chunky brackets, visible bolts, and a cockpit that screams "function first, aesthetics later". Up close, the paint and machining aren't in Kaabo territory, and some bolts arrive wanting a relationship with your Allen keys. But nothing feels dangerously flimsy; it's more industrial workshop than premium showroom.

Ergonomically, both are pretty friendly. The Mantis X cockpit is better integrated: central, bright display, NFC neatly tucked in, switches that mostly fall under your fingers. The ANGWATT's large central display looks cool but can feel a bit "stuck on", and that glossy cover is a mirror in bright sun. Both have wide bars that give confidence, but the Mantis bar setup feels a touch more sorted out of the box.

If you value refinement and long-term structural confidence, the Mantis X feels like the more mature piece of hardware. The ANGWATT feels like what it is: a hardworking machine where most of the money went into the battery, motor and tyres, not the cosmetics or the last 10 % of finish.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where the difference in suspension philosophy really comes through.

The Mantis X uses adjustable hydraulic shocks front and rear. Dial them soft and it glides over broken city pavement like it's been repaved overnight; dial them firm and the chassis tightens up nicely for faster runs. On a long stretch of lumpy cobblestones, the Mantis is the one that lets you keep your teeth together and your knees uncomplaining.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW counters with a hybrid setup: oil-damped shock at the front, heavy-duty spring at the rear. The front end is genuinely impressive for the price - that hydraulic damping stops the pogo-stick effect you get on cheaper spring forks. The rear, though, is more old-school: it takes the sting out of hits, but you feel more of the chatter compared with the Mantis' fully hydraulic layout.

In fast corners and quick lane changes, the Mantis X feels more composed. The dual-motor layout spreads the work across both wheels, the wide 10-inch tyres dig in, and the adjustable suspension lets you find a balance between plush and precise. It carves, rather than merely turns.

The F1 NEW is surprisingly stable - the long wheelbase and fat, tubeless tyres help - but you're always a bit more conscious of what the surface is doing. On rough side streets, it's comfortable; on really broken asphalt at higher speed, you're reminded you're on a cheaper chassis.

If your daily routes include lots of bad roads, tram tracks and the occasional "what even is this surface?" segment, the Mantis X wins on ride quality. The ANGWATT is good - very good for its price - but it doesn't quite reach that "floating" feeling the Mantis can be tuned to deliver.

Performance

Under the right thumb, both scooters are capable of causing mild trouble with local speed limits. They just go about it differently.

The Mantis X runs dual hub motors that, on paper, don't sound outrageous, but they punch well above their rated figures. In dual/turbo mode, launches from a standstill are brisk enough to require proper stance and attention. It's that effortless, almost lazy surge you get from twin motors sharing the work - especially noticeable on steeper hills, where the Mantis just keeps hauling rather than slowly bleeding speed.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW sticks to a single rear motor, but a vigorous one. Acceleration is honest and lively; in city traffic you're not left wanting, and you'll still beat most rental scooters comfortably away from the lights. It doesn't have that "catapult" feel of a well-tuned dual-motor setup, but for a single motor machine it's genuinely fun to pin the throttle.

Top-speed sensation is similar: both will carry you into territory where body armour stops being optional. The Mantis X feels calmer when you're fully wound out - the steering is a touch more planted, and the chassis feels like it was designed to live up there. The ANGWATT will do it, but you're more aware you're pushing a budget scooter near its ceiling.

Braking is a split decision. The Mantis X's discs paired with strong electronic braking do a good job, and the chassis stays reassuringly level when you really grab a handful. I'd still prefer full hydraulics at this price, but the stopping performance is appropriate for its speed and weight. The ANGWATT's triple system - front and rear mechanical discs plus e-brake - clamps down hard enough, but out of the box it can squeal and may need a session of adjustment to get everything feeling sharp and aligned.

On steep climbs, the Mantis X walks away. Dual motors and higher effective power output make short work of serious gradients while holding decent speed. The F1 NEW will climb most urban hills with a bit of a determined growl rather than a gasp, but on really nasty slopes, you'll feel it working and dropping off more.

Battery & Range

On the spec sheet, both pack a healthy battery, and in the real world they land in a very similar "I can do my day and not panic" zone.

The Mantis X couples its sizeable pack with relatively efficient sine-wave controllers. In practice, even ridden enthusiastically, you can do a long return commute or a good afternoon of mixed riding without that creeping "will I make it home?" feeling. If you ease off the throttle and keep speeds civilised, it stretches even further.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW leans on a big 48 V pack that, frankly, you don't expect to see at this price. Ridden hard in its sportiest mode, a medium-weight rider can still knock out a very substantial loop before range anxiety taps you on the shoulder. Dial the speed back and it becomes a genuine long-haul commuter. For heavier riders, it remains usable rather than optimistic - you still get a meaningful buffer, not marketing fantasy.

Where the Mantis falls behind is charging. With the standard brick, you're looking at a proper overnight-from-low situation. The ANGWATT is marginally quicker to refill, but it's also a big battery, so you're still very much in overnight territory. Neither is a "fast top-up at the café and go again" scooter unless you invest in faster chargers where supported.

Energy efficiency per kilometre slightly favours the ANGWATT in practice, helped by the single-motor setup and tubeless tyres. The Mantis X spends some energy on that extra motor and beefier suspension, but it doesn't feel wasteful - just more performance-oriented.

Portability & Practicality

Both of these weigh enough that calling them "portable" with a straight face requires strong acting skills.

The Mantis X sits just under the psychological "I regret my life choices" weight limit. You can lift it into a car boot or up a short flight of stairs, but you won't relish doing that daily. The folding mechanism is well engineered: quick, solid, and the stem hooks neatly to the rear, making it reasonably manageable as one big, dense package.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW is only a hair lighter on the scale, but in the hands it feels every bit as hefty. The fold is straightforward, the dimensions compact enough for most car boots and small storage spots, but it's still a two-hand, brace-yourself lift. For ground floor flats and garage storage, no problem; for fourth-floor walk-ups with no lift, both scooters are your daily workout.

Where the Mantis pulls ahead is weather practicality. With its better water resistance, it's far more comfortable to take into light rain without that "am I slowly drowning the controller?" paranoia. The ANGWATT can handle a drizzle if you're sensible, but you're gambling more and many owners end up doing their own sealing work.

On public transport, neither is a darling. Wide bars, big tyres and real weight mean you'll be "that person" blocking the aisle. If multi-modal commuting is your thing, you really shouldn't be looking at this class anyway.

Safety

Safety is a mix of how well a scooter helps you avoid trouble - and how gracefully it saves your skin when trouble happens anyway.

The Mantis X takes lighting seriously: a proper, high-mounted headlight that actually puts light down the road, deck lighting, indicators - the full package. You're visible, and you can genuinely see where you're going at night without resorting to helmet-mounted torches. Paired with those big pneumatic tyres and a rock-solid stem, high-speed stability is excellent for this class.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW answers with a more budget-conscious but still respectable lighting suite: low-mounted headlight, side lights, indicators, and a brake light that does its job. You are visible, though the beam pattern isn't as confidence-inspiring as the Mantis' high mount in really dark backstreets. Still, for urban use with streetlights, it's absolutely serviceable.

Braking-wise, as mentioned, both stop adequately when set up properly. The Mantis feels more progressive and balanced under hard braking; the chassis stays composed, and the tyres communicate well. The ANGWATT stops strongly but needs some dialling in out of the box - pad alignment, cable tension - to get rid of squeals and slightly spongy lever feel.

Tyre grip is good on both. The Mantis' wider road-oriented 10-inch rubber gives you a very planted feel leaning into tarmac corners; the ANGWATT's hybrid tread has a bit more all-surface confidence and shrugs off gravelly patches nicely, though it's marginally less "locked in" on clean asphalt.

Overall, the Mantis X feels like the more inherently safe platform at higher speeds and in bad weather. The ANGWATT is safe enough if you treat it with the respect a fast budget scooter deserves and keep up with basic maintenance.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

Let's address the elephant and the wallet in the room.

The Mantis X sits firmly in mid-premium scooter pricing. For that, you get dual motors, adjustable hydraulics at both ends, strong lighting, and the Kaabo badge with its dealer network and resale value. You also get the sense that most rough edges have been sanded away over several product generations.

The ANGWATT F1 NEW, by contrast, costs well under half of what a typical dual-motor mid-premium scooter asks, yet it delivers comparable speed, very similar real-world range and a legitimately comfortable ride. It's not pretending to be luxury; it's openly playing the "how much can we stuff in before finance yells at us" game.

If you value refinement, weather sealing and a known brand, the Mantis X may justify its extra outlay for you. But in terms of raw performance-per-euro, the ANGWATT is in another league. You have to really want the Kaabo ecosystem and the dual-motor behaviour to ignore how much the F1 NEW gives you for what you pay.

Service & Parts Availability

This is one of the key divides.

KAABO has an established European presence via distributors and dealers. Need pads, a new display, a replacement suspension arm? You can usually source it through official or semi-official channels without trawling obscure forums. Plenty of independent shops also know their way around a Mantis chassis by now.

ANGWATT leans on big online retailers and direct shipping. Parts do exist and are generally inexpensive, but the model is more "we ship you the bits, you or your local handyman figure it out" than "pop into a branded service centre". For tinkerers, that's fine. For riders who want someone else to do the dirty work locally, it's less ideal.

Community-wise, both have active owners sharing tips and fixes, but Kaabo's ecosystem is naturally larger and better documented. With the F1 NEW, you sometimes have to piece things together from generic Chinese scooter knowledge, which is fine if you're comfortable with that... and less so if you're not.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If money were no object, the answer would be fairly simple: the Mantis X is the more complete, better rounded scooter. Dual motors, fully adjustable hydraulics front and rear, proper weather resistance and a mature chassis make it a joy for serious daily use. It feels like a deliberate tool, not a bargain experiment.

But money is very much an object, and that's where the ANGWATT F1 NEW leans over the table with a grin. For a small fraction of the price, it delivers legitimate speed, long commutes on a single charge, surprisingly good comfort and modern niceties like NFC and turn signals. It undercuts the Mantis not by a little, but by a mile - and still manages to be genuinely fun to ride.

So, which should you actually buy? If you are a committed daily rider who will use the scooter in all weathers, values rock-solid handling at higher speeds, and wants the backing of a big, established brand, the Mantis X makes sense despite its cost. You're paying for refinement, safety margin and support - and you do feel those on the road.

If, however, you want maximum bang for every euro, can live with doing a bolt check now and then, and mostly ride in dry conditions, the ANGWATT F1 NEW is the more rational - and frankly more exciting - choice. It brings "big scooter" performance to a budget where most brands are still selling wobbly commuters.

Emotionally, the Mantis X is the better scooter; practically, the ANGWATT F1 NEW is the better deal. Choose heart or wallet - but at least now you know exactly what you're trading.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics strip away emotions and look only at efficiency: how much you pay for each unit of energy, speed and range; how much mass you haul around per unit of performance; how thirsty the scooter is in Wh per kilometre; how strong the motor effort is relative to top speed; and how quickly the battery refills. Lower values mean "less waste" for most categories, while higher is better when we're talking about power density or charging rate.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the KAABO Mantis X scores 3 points against the ANGWATT F1 NEW's 7. In the Author's Category Battle, the KAABO Mantis X gets 35 ✅ versus 11 ✅ for ANGWATT F1 NEW (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: KAABO Mantis X scores 38, ANGWATT F1 NEW scores 18.

Based on the scoring, the KAABO Mantis X is our overall winner. Between these two, the ANGWATT F1 NEW is the scooter that makes you question why you ever thought serious performance had to be expensive. It's honest, fast enough to be thrilling, and delivers a ridiculous amount of real-world usefulness for the money. The KAABO Mantis X still feels like the more sophisticated machine under your feet, but the F1 NEW is the one that keeps whispering, "Look how little you paid for this," every time you blast past a row of rentals. If you want premium polish, go Mantis; if you want maximum grin per euro, the ANGWATT walks away with it.

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.