KAABO Skywalker 8S vs TURBOANT R9 - Two "Budget Muscle" Scooters Enter a Bar...

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The TURBOANT R9 is the overall winner: it rides more comfortably, feels more planted at speed, and delivers a lot of performance for noticeably less money. The KAABO Skywalker 8S counters with stronger hill-climbing, a punchier motor and a slightly more compact folded footprint, but feels dated and compromised in tyres and braking for the price.

Pick the R9 if you want fast, cushy, budget-friendly commuting on bad roads and don't mind the weight. Pick the Skywalker 8S if you live in a very hilly city, value compact storage, and can live with a harsher, more old-school ride in exchange for that extra grunt.

If you want to know which one will make you smile more and annoy you less after a few months, keep reading - the devil is in the details.

Electric scooters have grown up. What used to be a choice between flimsy toys and 30 kg monsters is now a crowded middle ground of "muscle commuters" - scooters that promise real speed and range without needing a gym membership to carry them. The KAABO Skywalker 8S and the TURBOANT R9 both live in that space and look, on paper, like they're solving the same problem: faster, tougher city transport for riders who've outgrown rental-spec machines.

I've put hundreds of kilometres on both: dry days, drizzle, cobbles, bike paths and the odd "shortcut" that turned out to be a gravel track. One sentence each? The Skywalker 8S is a compact power brick with attitude and some very obvious compromises. The R9 is a big, enthusiastic puppy of a scooter: fast, cushy, fun - and just a bit rough around the edges.

They overlap in price, weight and target rider, but they approach the job very differently. If you're trying to decide which one deserves space in your hallway (and in your budget), let's unpack what really matters beyond the spec sheet.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters target riders who are done with flimsy, low-powered commuters but aren't ready to jump to dual-motor tanks. Think medium to longer urban commutes, some hills, mixed surfaces, and speeds that actually let you run with city traffic instead of being overtaken by joggers.

The Skywalker 8S positions itself as a "heavy-duty commuter": compact wheels, adjustable stem, folding bars, and a motor that's serious for its size. It's the kind of scooter you buy when your 350 W commuter gives up halfway up the hill and you promise yourself "never again".

The TURBOANT R9, meanwhile, goes for "performance on a budget": bigger wheels, full suspension, all-terrain tyres and a top speed that would make most rental fleets faint. It's the scooter for someone who looks at the regulation-limited crowd and quietly thinks, "No thanks."

They sit in a very similar use case - single-motor commuters with proper power - but diverge sharply in how they deliver it: Kaabo trades comfort and modernity for compactness and torque; TurboAnt trades lightness and refinement for plushness and speed per euro.

Design & Build Quality

In the flesh, these two look like they belong to different generations.

The Skywalker 8S is all straight lines and industrial vibes - boxy deck, exposed hardware, and that familiar "Kaabo muscle" stance. The aluminium frame is stiff, and the adjustable stem and folding handlebars make it feel very purpose-built for commuters with tight storage. In the hand, the chassis feels solid, but the details - cable wrapping, rear fender, basic display - feel a step behind the newer competition. It's very much function-first... sometimes to a fault.

The R9 goes for a more modern, tactical look: matte black, red suspension springs, chunky front fender, and 10-inch tyres that visually fill out the frame. The cockpit is simpler but feels more integrated, and the deck rubber looks and cleans better than the Kaabo's traditional grip. There's visible sealing around cable ingress points, which inspires more confidence for year-round commuting than the Skywalker's older-school routing.

In terms of perceived build quality, both are a notch above supermarket scooters, but neither screams "premium flagship". The Kaabo's frame is arguably more time-tested, but the mix of a solid rear tyre, single rear disc brake and that rattly-prone fender gives it a slightly budget aftertaste at its price. The TurboAnt feels more coherent as a design, even if the drum brakes and basic screen remind you where they've saved money.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where the R9 walks away with the trophy - or rather, floats away with it.

On the Skywalker 8S, you get small 8-inch wheels, a soft front air tyre, a solid rear tyre and dual spring suspension. On smooth asphalt at moderate speed, it's actually quite decent: the front end filters out the buzz, the deck is wide, and you can adopt a relaxed stance. But once you hit rougher tarmac or patched-up city streets, the limitations show. The solid rear wheel transmits more harshness, and the small diameter means every larger crack or pothole feels that bit more dramatic. After a few kilometres of broken pavement, your knees and ankles know exactly what you're riding.

Hop on the TURBOANT R9 and it feels like going from an old hot hatch to a soft crossover. Large 10-inch pneumatic tyres already change the game, and when you add dual springs front and rear, the scooter simply glides over stuff that makes the Kaabo flinch. Cobblestones go from "brace yourself" on the 8S to "mild background rumble" on the R9. The longer, wider deck and broader bars also give you a calmer, more planted stance, especially at higher speeds.

Handling-wise, the smaller wheels and shorter wheelbase make the Skywalker 8S more flickable at low speed - weaving through pedestrians and tight bike racks feels natural. But at unlocked speeds, those tiny wheels spin fast and you start to feel every imperfection. The R9, with its wider bars and more generous footprint, trades a bit of nimbleness in tight spaces for vastly better stability once you're above typical bike speeds.

Performance

Both scooters are "properly quick" compared with entry-level commuters - but they deliver that speed in different flavours.

The Skywalker 8S has a beefy rear motor for its size and voltage, and it shows. Off the line, it punches harder than most mid-range commuters; you pull away from traffic lights with a satisfying kick that will surprise anyone used to rental scooters. On hills, the Kaabo is the stronger of the two: it holds speed more confidently on steep, sustained climbs. If you live somewhere with brutal inclines, the Skywalker feels like it was built with you in mind.

Top speed, when derestricted, is lively but not outrageous. The issue isn't so much the number on the display as what it feels like: with 8-inch wheels, that speed comes with a bit of nervousness. The chassis is stiff enough, but the wheel size and rear solid tyre mean you're always aware you're pushing a compact scooter quite hard.

The TURBOANT R9, by contrast, feels like it was designed to cruise fast rather than merely reach a high number once in a while. The motor is nominally weaker, but the 48 V system and tuning give it plenty of punch. Acceleration is brisk and fun, though a hair less brutal off the line than the Skywalker's best moments. The payoff is at the top end: the R9 holds serious speed with less drama. The bigger wheels calm everything down, and the longer chassis doesn't twitch every time you hit a small bump.

On hills, the R9 copes well with typical city gradients, but if you throw both at a proper wall of a climb, the Kaabo claws ahead. In day-to-day use, though, most riders will notice the TurboAnt's more relaxed high-speed behaviour more than the Kaabo's extra grunt on the worst slopes.

Braking performance is a mixed story. The Kaabo's single rear disc plus electronic assist is adequate but not inspiring, especially considering the potential speed. It stops, but you're relying heavily on that one wheel. The R9's twin drum set-up with regen braking has more overall bite and much better all-weather consistency, but the tuning isn't subtle: grab too quickly and the electronic brake can feel grabby, turning a smooth stop into a mini drama until you learn the lever's sweet spot.

Battery & Range

On paper, both promise long commutes. In the real world, they behave like most scooters: reasonable, but nowhere near marketing fantasy.

The Skywalker 8S carries a mid-sized pack that, in gentle mode on flat ground, is supposed to get you close to a long-distance figure. In reality, ridden as intended - mixed speeds, some hills, a normal adult on board - you're looking at roughly a work day's worth of commuting for most people, with a bit of buffer. Ride it hard in its fastest mode and that buffer shrinks quickly. The upside is that voltage sag is relatively well controlled; it doesn't turn into a slug the moment the battery icon drops a bar or two.

The TURBOANT R9 has a slightly larger battery, paired with a faster top speed and chunkier tyres. Unsurprisingly, that combination eats energy. Owners consistently report real-world ranges in the "comfortable medium commute" zone rather than the brochure's all-day epic. That still covers a typical there-and-back urban journey without drama, but you won't want to forget to plug it in overnight if you push it daily.

In practice, the R9 and 8S end up surprisingly close for most riders. The Kaabo is a bit more efficient at moderate speeds; the TurboAnt is hungrier but starts with more in the tank. Charging times are both in the classic "leave it at work or charge overnight" window - nothing fancy, nothing disastrous.

Range anxiety? On either, you'll be fine if your round trip is modest and you're not full-throttle everywhere. On the R9, it shows up faster if you live in the fast lane. On the 8S, it shows up faster if you live on a hill and ride like every traffic light is a drag race.

Portability & Practicality

Neither of these is what I'd call "throw it under your arm and jog for the bus" material, but one is noticeably more civilised indoors.

The Skywalker 8S sits a little lighter and, crucially, folds into a slimmer, shorter package. The folding handlebars are a real asset: once collapsed, it becomes a dense, rectangular lump that actually fits under desks, into small lifts and behind car seats. Carrying it up a couple of flights of stairs is doable; more than that and you'll start bargaining with yourself about life choices, but it's not completely ridiculous.

The TURBOANT R9 is heavier and bulkier. The stem folds quickly with a simple latch, but the wide bars and long deck mean it takes up more real estate wherever you try to stash it. Short carries - into a boot, over a few steps, onto a lift - are fine. Lugging it up three floors of a walk-up is the sort of workout your smartwatch will proudly log for you. Multimodal commuting at rush hour with this thing is... optimistic.

For pure ride practicality, the R9 is winning: bigger deck, better comfort, stronger lights, extra safety features like indicators, and even a USB port for your phone. For mixed "ride plus carry plus squeeze into tight spaces", the Kaabo's compact fold and slightly lower mass make day-to-day life easier - assuming you accept that you're trading some ride comfort to get it.

Safety

Safety is a cocktail of braking, grip, lighting, and stability. Both scooters mix these ingredients differently - with varying success.

The Skywalker 8S keeps things simple with a single mechanical rear disc and electronic motor braking. Stopping power is acceptable at commuter speeds, but once you start using its higher-speed potential, you really feel that missing front brake. Most of the time it copes, but there's less redundancy than I'd like on a scooter that can easily outrun bicycles. The hybrid tyre setup doesn't help: the front air tyre steers confidently, but the solid rear can get skittish on wet paint or smooth stones, especially when you're braking hard.

Lighting on the Kaabo is "city okay": low-mounted front LED that makes you visible and just about shows the path on lit streets, plus deck-level and rear lights that generally do the job. For serious night riding, you'll want a proper handlebar-mounted lamp. Stability at speed is decent for something on 8-inch wheels, but you do feel every imperfection more sharply than on a larger-wheeled scooter, and that can affect your confidence on rough, dark roads.

The TURBOANT R9 takes safety a bit more seriously out of the box. Dual drum brakes plus strong regenerative assist give you meaningful stopping power at both wheels, and because the brakes are enclosed, they care less about rain and grime. The tuning is on the aggressive side - the regen can feel like you've stamped on the pedal at first - but once you adapt, you've got a strong, repeatable stop.

The lighting suite is noticeably better: a brighter, higher-mounted headlight, a prominent tail light, working indicators with audible beeps (so you remember they're on), and a horn that's actually heard by distracted drivers. Combined with the large pneumatic tyres and a stable chassis, the R9 feels much more composed when the speedo climbs and the road quality drops.

In simple terms: the Kaabo asks more of your skills and attention when conditions aren't perfect. The TurboAnt gives you more margin for error - provided you treat that strong braking with the respect it deserves.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

This is where things get slightly awkward for the Skywalker 8S.

The Kaabo sits firmly in mid-range territory, flirting with the price of some more modern, better-finished commuters. For that money you get a very strong motor for its size, decent suspension and the Kaabo badge, but you also get small wheels, a solid rear tyre, one mechanical brake and older design language. If raw torque and compactness are your priorities, the price can be justified - but you're clearly paying for motor output more than a rounded package.

The TURBOANT R9 undercuts it noticeably while offering larger wheels, more suspension, better lighting and similar real-world range. Yes, the brand lacks the long-term prestige of Kaabo and the customer service reputation is spottier, but in terms of sheer riding experience per euro, the R9 is very hard to ignore. It feels like a scooter that should cost closer to the Kaabo, but doesn't.

Long-term value is a toss-up: Kaabo's ecosystem and parts availability are better established, which matters if you keep scooters for years. TurboAnt compensates with a lower buy-in price that gives you more budget for safety gear, accessories or - in a few years - a painless upgrade.

Service & Parts Availability

Kaabo has been around the block. The Skywalker 8S benefits from a global network of distributors and a healthy aftermarket ecosystem. Need a new controller, display, brake lever or even a suspension rebuild? It's rarely a wild goose chase. Many shops have at least some familiarity with Kaabo layouts, which makes servicing less of a gamble.

TURBOANT, as a younger, direct-to-consumer brand, is more of a mixed bag. They do operate warehouses and service channels in Europe, and some owners report smooth warranty experiences. Others tell stories of slow email loops and parts delays. Third-party support is thinner: most general scooter shops can work on it, but you're less likely to find R9-specific parts on the shelf, and you rely more on TurboAnt for proprietary bits like the display or controller.

If you're the type who keeps things stock and expects the brand to support you, Kaabo feels like the safer bet. If you're happy to wrench a bit yourself and accept some support roulette in exchange for lower initial cost, the R9 can still make sense.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If you strip all the numbers away and just think about how these scooters feel after a week of commuting, the TURBOANT R9 is the more rounded, future-facing choice for most riders. It's faster at the top end, dramatically more comfortable on poor roads, better lit, and significantly cheaper. Yes, it's heavy, and the braking takes a little learning, but once you're rolling, it feels like a "proper vehicle" in a way that belies its price tag.

The KAABO Skywalker 8S is harder to recommend unconditionally in today's market. It still has clear strengths: that strong motor, better hill performance, compact folded size and Kaabo's more established support network. If you live in a hilly city, have tight storage, and care more about torque and portability than plushness and price, it remains a viable - if slightly old-school - option.

But for the average urban rider who wants to blast over rough bike lanes, keep up with traffic and not feel every crack in the road, the R9 simply delivers a bigger grin per euro. The Skywalker 8S feels like yesterday's idea of a performance commuter; the TURBOANT R9 feels like where budget performance scooters are heading.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics look purely at efficiency and "bang-for-spec": cost per battery capacity and speed, how much weight you haul per unit of energy or power, and how briskly the battery refills. They don't capture comfort, safety tuning or build nuance, but they help show where each scooter is objectively more efficient on paper: the Skywalker 8S is leaner on weight, power and energy use; the R9 is dramatically cheaper per Wh, per km/h and per kilometre ridden.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the KAABO Skywalker 8S scores 7 points against the TURBOANT R9's 3. In the Author's Category Battle, the KAABO Skywalker 8S gets 23 ✅ versus 18 ✅ for TURBOANT R9 (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: KAABO Skywalker 8S scores 30, TURBOANT R9 scores 21.

Based on the scoring, the KAABO Skywalker 8S is our overall winner. Riding these back-to-back, the TURBOANT R9 just feels like the more complete everyday companion: it's the one that shrugs off broken tarmac, keeps you relaxed at speed and does it without emptying your wallet. The Skywalker 8S still has its charms - that muscular pull and compact fold will absolutely win over some riders - but it carries the aura of a previous generation hanging on in a much tougher class. If I had to live with one of them for a year of real commuting, I'd take the R9, throw on a good helmet and an extra light, and enjoy the fact that comfort and speed don't have to cost a fortune. The Kaabo would still be fun for the odd hill climb and tight-city blast, but the TurboAnt simply makes more day-to-day sense.

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.