Big Wheel vs Big Hype: Razor C35 vs Hiboy S2 Pro - Which Scooter Really Deserves Your Commute?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The Hiboy S2 Pro edges out as the overall winner for most riders: it's faster, goes noticeably further, climbs hills better and packs more features into a still-reasonable budget. If you want maximum practical range and punchy performance without babying tyres, the Hiboy is the more capable everyday tool.

The Razor C35, however, fights back with a calmer, confidence-inspiring ride thanks to its big front wheel and soft pneumatic tyres, plus a no-nonsense, UL-certified package from a very established brand. It's the better choice if your roads are rough, your speeds are modest, and you care more about stability and simplicity than apps and acceleration.

If you just want the most "scooter" per euro, keep reading with the Hiboy in mind; if you want the thing that feels least like a sketchy toy under your feet, don't write off the Razor just yet.

The real story is in how they ride, not what the spec sheets shout-so let's dig in.

Electric scooters in this price range all claim to be the perfect commuter solution, but very few feel genuinely confidence-inspiring after the first month of potholes, wet manhole covers and hasty braking. The Razor C35 and Hiboy S2 Pro sit right in that crowded middle ground where most people are shopping: not bargain-bin junk, not enthusiast rockets-just "get me to work and back without drama".

I've spent time with both: the Razor with its comically oversized front wheel and old-school steel vibe, and the Hiboy with its spec-sheet swagger and "never-again-a-puncture" promise. On paper, the Hiboy looks like the obvious winner; on the street, the decision is a lot more nuanced.

If I had to summarise each in one line: the Razor C35 is for the cautious rider who wants stability and a known brand; the Hiboy S2 Pro is for the commuter who wants more speed and range and is willing to accept a harsher, slightly more "budget" feel to get it. The fun part is figuring out which compromise annoys you less-so let's compare them properly.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters live in the entry- to mid-level commuter segment: the kind of money where you expect a real vehicle, not a toy, but you're still counting euros. They're aimed at adults doing daily city trips, mostly on tarmac, mostly under an hour per day.

The Razor C35 is the more conservative of the two. Rear-hub motor, steel frame, big soft tyres, simple display, no app. It targets first-time adult riders, cautious commuters, and anyone allergic to tech gimmicks. Think "I just want something solid that doesn't feel like it'll snap in half on a pothole".

The Hiboy S2 Pro is more ambitious. Stronger motor, larger battery, app connectivity, solid tyres, rear suspension, more lights. It's what you buy if you've looked at the spec sheet of a Xiaomi and thought, "I want a bit more of everything, but I'm not spending twice the money".

They sit close enough in price and performance that many buyers will have both open in adjacent tabs, wondering whether to trust the nostalgic big brand or the internet-famous value hero. Exactly the sort of dilemma worth untangling.

Design & Build Quality

Pick up the Razor C35 and the first impression is: this thing is unapologetically metal. The steel frame feels dense and old-school tough, more "urban beater" than "sleek gadget". Welds are chunky, there's very little flex, and that oversized front wheel dominates the silhouette. It looks like the engineers won an argument against the marketing department-and I mean that mostly as a compliment.

The Hiboy S2 Pro goes for the modern, Xiaomi-inspired aluminium look: matte black, tidy cable routing, red accents to imply sportiness. The chassis feels reasonably solid in hand, and the folding joint is better reinforced than many of its budget peers, but it doesn't quite have the same "hit it with a hammer, it'll be fine" aura as Razor's steel tube.

Where the two diverge philosophically is in attention to small durability details. Razor leans into simplicity: no suspension linkages, no folding handlebars, fewer moving parts to rattle loose. Hiboy, to its credit, has clearly iterated: reinforced rear fender, dual rear shocks, decent hinge design, integrated lighting, app-driven electronics. It's clever and feature-rich, but also means more to maintain and more that can creak or wobble over time if the factory tolerances are merely "good enough".

In the hands, the Razor feels a tad agricultural but reassuring; the Hiboy feels more refined at first glance, but if you tug on the stem or bounce the rear, you're reminded which one is built like a scooter and which is built more like a gadget trying to be a scooter.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where the two machines feel like they come from different planets.

The Razor C35's giant pneumatic front tyre is the star of the show. Roll off a kerb or across broken tarmac and you can almost hear it chuckling as it steamrolls obstacles that would have a standard small-wheeled scooter chattering its teeth out. The rear pneumatic is smaller and you do feel sharper hits through your heels, but overall the Razor's tyre-based "suspension" gives you a noticeably softer, calmer ride than most budget commuters.

Handling on the Razor is stable and forgiving. That large front wheel slows down steering a bit in a good way-you're less twitchy, more planted. It's the kind of scooter you feel comfortable lending to a nervous friend. Quick evasive manoeuvres are predictable; it doesn't encourage hooligan behaviour, but it doesn't punish you for clumsy inputs either.

The Hiboy S2 Pro is the opposite flavour: 10-inch solid honeycomb tyres with rear suspension. On smooth bike lanes, it actually feels quite nice-firm but composed, and the scooter tracks straight at top speed without drama. The rear shocks do take the sting out of potholes and expansion joints, but they can't hide the fact you're riding on hard rubber. After a few kilometres on broken city sidewalks, your knees and ankles will know exactly how honest your road maintenance department has been.

In corners, the Hiboy turns a bit quicker and feels more agile, helped by the uniform 10-inch wheel size. On dry surfaces, grip is fine; on wet patches or painted lines, that solid rubber can feel a little "glass-y", encouraging more conservative lean angles. It's rideable all right-it just rewards smoother, more deliberate riding, whereas the Razor is more forgiving when you hit a surprise bump mid-turn.

If your daily route involves cracked asphalt, random tree roots and patchwork repairs, the Razor's big front tyre is the kinder companion. If your city has mostly decent bike paths and you value sharp handling over plushness, the Hiboy will do the job-just don't expect it to pamper your joints.

Performance

Let's talk about going and stopping, the bits that actually raise your heart rate.

The Razor C35's motor sits right in that modest commuter band. From a standstill it eases you up to speed rather than flinging you there. For new riders, that's comforting; for heavier or more experienced riders, it feels... adequate. On flat ground it will cruise at a perfectly acceptable pace for bike lanes and low-speed streets, but you're not going to be overtaking many e-bikes ridden by enthusiastic commuters in Lycra.

On hills, the Razor does what most mid-powered scooters do: it copes, as long as you're not too heavy and the slope isn't too long. Urban flyovers and gentle inclines are fine; aggressive hills will steadily knock your speed down, and you may find yourself helping with the occasional kick. Braking is a mix of electronic rear regen and a physical rear fender brake. The dual system does stop you, but the fender stomp is an acquired taste and forces you to shift your weight back. It works, but it feels a generation behind proper dual mechanical setups.

The Hiboy S2 Pro, by contrast, clearly packs more punch. Off the line, it has that little "zip" that surprises riders upgrading from weaker scooters. You reach its capped top speed briskly and it holds that speed confidently on flat ground. In city traffic, you're no longer the slowest two-wheeled thing in the lane, and you notice it most when pulling away from lights-you're not an obstacle anymore.

Where the Hiboy really earns its keep is on inclines. That beefier motor translates into meaningfully better hill performance: the same rises that make the Razor huff and puff are dispatched with less of a speed penalty. You'll still slow on serious gradients, but you're not reduced to a rolling apology. Braking is also more modern: a rear mechanical disc combined with front electronic regen, all activated from a single lever. Stopping power and modulation are both noticeably better than the Razor's fender-plus-regen combo, even if the disc can squeal until adjusted.

If you like your scooter to feel eager rather than just willing, the Hiboy has the more satisfying drive train. The Razor's performance is serviceable, but the Hiboy is the one that actually feels like it wants to get you somewhere in a hurry.

Battery & Range

Range is where marketing departments get imaginative and reality comes along with a pin. In day-to-day use, the difference between these two is very clear.

The Razor C35's battery is on the smaller side. On paper it looks modest, and on the road it behaves exactly like that: fine for shorter urban hops, less reassuring for longer excursions. With an average adult, mixed modes and typical stop-start traffic, you're realistically looking at a commute of moderate length each way before you start getting range anxiety. Doable, but you'll plan to charge at one end of the day if your total distance creeps up.

The Hiboy S2 Pro carries a significantly larger energy pack, and it shows. Riders routinely report being able to do longer round trips without fretting, even when staying in the faster mode most of the time. Range drops, of course, with heavier riders and hilly routes, but you're operating in a different league than the Razor. In practical terms, you can comfortably overshoot your normal commute-detours, errands, meeting friends-without doing mental maths every time you accelerate.

Charging times on both are within the "overnight or under-desk" norm. The Razor's smaller pack takes longer than you'd wish considering its capacity; the Hiboy's bigger battery surprisingly doesn't feel like a chore to fill, fitting neatly into a workday or evening window. If you hate thinking about range and charging, the Hiboy makes your life simpler. With the Razor, you're more aware of that battery gauge creeping down.

Portability & Practicality

On the scales, neither scooter is featherweight, but there's more to portability than a brochure number.

The Razor C35 is slightly lighter, and you can feel that when you haul it up a short flight of stairs or lift it into a car boot. The fold is straightforward, the latch is confidence-inspiring, but the handlebars don't fold in, and that tall front wheel makes the folded package a bit lanky. It's fine for office storage or the occasional train hop, less ideal for cramming into very tight spaces or wrestling through crowded public transport at rush hour.

The Hiboy S2 Pro is the heavier of the two and you do notice it if your day involves multiple staircases. It's still manageable for most adults, but you'll be tempted to call it "a workout" rather than "a breeze". However, the folded shape is more compact than the Razor's: the stem hooks neatly to the rear fender and the overall package feels more cohesive and easier to carry one-handed for short distances.

In daily life, the Hiboy's built-in conveniences help: the app lock, cruise control, adjustable braking and acceleration all add up to a scooter that slot more smoothly into a tech-centric routine. The Razor's practicality is rooted in simplicity: less to fiddle with, less to go wrong, but also fewer little quality-of-life joys. You decide whether "simplicity" feels refreshingly honest or annoyingly barebones.

Safety

Safety isn't just about which spec sheet claims "dual braking" in bigger font; it's about how the whole package behaves when something unexpected happens.

The Razor C35's main safety virtue is mechanical: that big pneumatic front wheel. It dramatically reduces the chance of the front end tucking into a pothole or getting deflected by cracks you didn't see. For newer riders, that translates directly into fewer brown-trouser moments. The UL certification of its electrical system also adds a layer of fire-safety reassurance that many budget scooters, Hiboy included, don't shout about quite as loudly.

Lighting on the Razor is basic but functional: headlight and a proper brake-activated tail light. You're visible enough for urban riding, though there are no fancy side markers or turn signals. Braking is adequate but dated: regen plus foot fender. It will stop you, but it's neither the strongest nor the most intuitive system, especially in an emergency when you're trying to keep your weight balanced and stomp the fender hard enough.

The Hiboy S2 Pro goes harder on the active safety side: a brighter, higher-mounted headlight, reactive tail light, and additional side illumination make you much more conspicuous in traffic. The dual braking system (mechanical disc plus front eABS) offers stronger, more controllable stopping if you keep it maintained. On dry surfaces, braking performance is clearly ahead of the Razor.

Where the Hiboy compromises is tyre grip in poor conditions. Solid rubber simply can't match the wet-weather traction of the Razor's pneumatic front. Add in painted crossings or metal manholes in the rain and you're wise to dial things back. The rear suspension keeps the scooter more composed over bumps, which is a safety win, but I'd still rather hit a surprise wet patch on the Razor's front tyre than the Hiboy's hard rubber.

Overall: the Razor feels inherently safer in terms of stability and crash avoidance; the Hiboy feels safer in braking power and visibility-until the weather turns nasty.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

On sticker price alone, the Razor C35 undercuts the Hiboy S2 Pro. It's cheaper, and coming from a major legacy brand with UL certification, that's not nothing. If your budget ceiling is hard and non-negotiable, the Razor gives you a recognisable name, a big safety-enhancing front wheel, and a structurally solid frame at a very fair price.

The Hiboy S2 Pro, though, offers a lot more scooter for not that much more money: a much larger battery, a stronger motor, better braking, rear suspension, app features, and more comprehensive lighting. On pure cost-per-capability, it's hard to argue with the Hiboy-this is why it's so often called the "value king". The catch is that you're buying into a brand that lives on thin margins and mass volume, which you sometimes feel in the refinement and after-sales experience.

If you measure value as "how much performance and range do I get per euro?", the Hiboy wins. If you weigh brand heritage, certification, and long-term, low-drama ownership more heavily, the Razor starts to look like the quieter but sensible investment-so long as your expectations on power and range stay modest.

Service & Parts Availability

Razor has been around long enough to have proper distribution, especially in Europe and North America. That translates to easier access to official spares, more straightforward warranty processes, and a general sense that in two years' time you'll still find a brake lever or controller without trawling obscure websites. The flip side is that Razor isn't exactly flooding the internet with custom mods or tuning guides; it's more appliance than hobby platform.

Hiboy leans on the direct-to-consumer model. That keeps prices aggressive, but support can be hit and miss: some riders get quick replacement parts, others complain of delays and language friction. On the plus side, the huge user base means there are plenty of third-party parts, YouTube tutorials and community hacks. If you're willing to spin a few spanners and watch videos, you'll manage; if you expect a polished dealership-style service experience, you may be disappointed.

For hands-off owners who want predictable, formal support channels, Razor is the safer bet. For tinkerers and those comfortable with "community-driven service", Hiboy's world is surprisingly rich-even if the brand itself can be a bit slow to pick up the phone.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If your ideal scooter is a calm, confidence-inspiring companion rather than a pocket rocket, the Razor C35 makes a lot of sense. The big pneumatic front wheel, steel frame and conservative power delivery create a scooter that feels composed and predictable, especially if your roads are less than perfect. It's the one I'd put under a nervous adult who just wants to get to work without feeling like they're balancing on a folding chair with fireworks taped to it.

However, when you look at the total package-range, power, braking, features-the Hiboy S2 Pro simply covers more ground, literally and figuratively. It goes further, accelerates harder, climbs better and stops more convincingly, while also throwing in modern amenities like app control, cruise control and serious lighting. You feel its compromises on rough or wet surfaces, and you do sense the budget in places, but as a daily commuter for mostly decent asphalt, it's the more capable machine.

So: if you live somewhere with battered streets, value mechanical grip and long-term simplicity, and your rides are short to medium, the Razor C35 is a defensible, sensible choice. For everyone else-the typical city rider on mixed but mostly OK roads who wants one scooter to cover commuting and fun with fewer limitations-the Hiboy S2 Pro is the better, more future-proof partner, even if it occasionally reminds you how much you didn't spend.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics quantify how efficiently each scooter turns euros, kilograms, watts and watt-hours into real-world performance. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km show raw value for energy and range; weight-per-Wh and weight-per-km/h indicate how much bulk you haul for the performance you get. Wh-per-km reflects energy efficiency; power-to-speed and weight-to-power ratio capture how muscular each scooter feels relative to its top speed and mass. Average charging speed tells you how quickly you can refill the battery relative to its size.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the RAZOR C35 scores 3 points against the HIBOY S2 Pro's 7. In the Author's Category Battle, the RAZOR C35 gets 18 ✅ versus 21 ✅ for HIBOY S2 Pro.

Totals: RAZOR C35 scores 21, HIBOY S2 Pro scores 28.

Based on the scoring, the HIBOY S2 Pro is our overall winner. Between these two, the Hiboy S2 Pro is the scooter that feels like it's trying harder to replace a car journey: more punch, more range, more toys and a sense that you can stretch your rides without constantly watching the battery bar. It's not perfect-and you'll feel every sloppy bit of road you roll over-but it delivers a lot of real-world capability for the money. The Razor C35, in contrast, is the one that feels more honest and reassuring under your feet, especially when the tarmac turns ugly. It won't thrill you, but it earns your trust. If you want the more rounded, do-it-all commuter and can live with the firmer ride, the Hiboy wins; if comfort, grip and a calmer demeanour matter more than numbers, the Razor quietly makes a very strong case for itself.

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.