Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)
The overall winner here is the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 - not because it's wildly exciting, but because it behaves like an actual vehicle, not a cheap gadget. It feels sturdier, stops better, carries heavier riders with confidence, and is much more reassuring in daily traffic.
The KuKirin S1 Max makes sense if your budget is tight, you're a lighter rider, and you mainly need an ultra-cheap, low-maintenance "tram-to-office" shuttle with decent range and don't mind a harsher ride and basic brakes. In that scenario, it can be a clever money-saving tool.
If you care about safety, braking, and long-term robustness, lean towards the SoFlow. If your wallet calls the shots and your commute is short, flat, and gentle, the KuKirin is worth a look.
Stick around for the full breakdown - the differences are bigger than they look on a spec sheet.
Urban commuters today are spoiled for choice: every brand promises "the perfect city scooter", yet most of them are just the same aluminium stick with a different sticker. The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 and the KuKirin S1 Max at least pretend to take different paths - one aiming to be a sensible, heavy-duty Swiss-ish commuter, the other a bargain basement workhorse that does the job with no frills and even fewer euros.
I've spent time riding both in the real world: dodging potholes, sprinting off traffic lights, and carrying them up more staircases than I care to remember. On paper they sit in a similar weight and power class; on the street they feel like they belong to different worlds.
One sentence picture: the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 is for riders who want a proper, safe commuter that can take abuse and big riders; the KuKirin S1 Max is for people who look at their monthly public transport bill and think, "I can beat that for under 300 €." Let's dig into where each one shines - and where the corners have very obviously been cut.
Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?
Both scooters live in the entry-to-mid commuter class: single motor, moderate speeds, compact folding, and the promise of cheap daily mobility. They weigh in the mid-teens in kg, fit under most office desks, and are clearly built for bike lanes, not off-road adventures.
The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 plays the "serious commuter" card: higher load rating, proper dual disc brakes, big pneumatic tyres, and safety features you normally see on pricier models, like turn indicators and NFC lock. It's aimed at riders who treat their scooter as a car replacement for short trips - including heavier riders who usually get ignored by this price bracket.
The KuKirin S1 Max in contrast is an unapologetic budget multi-modal toy-tool hybrid: solid tyres, basic brakes, long-ish range for the price, and a low sticker price that screams "first scooter" or "cheap second vehicle". It's more for students, light commuters, or anyone whose main metric is "spends less than a monthly train pass."
They overlap on price only if the SoFlow is on sale and the KuKirin is at full RRP, but they compete in people's minds: do you stretch the budget for something that feels like a vehicle, or save cash for something that's "good enough"?
Design & Build Quality
Pick them up and the design philosophies show instantly.
The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 feels like a compact metal tank. Thick stem, beefy welds, a wide deck with decent rubber grip - nothing ultra-premium, but it gives off "tool, not toy" energy. The colour highlights are restrained and the integrated display looks like it belongs there rather than being bolted on as an afterthought. You can tell part of the budget went into metal rather than marketing.
The KuKirin S1 Max is visibly more cost-conscious. The frame is still aluminium and acceptably rigid, but the whole thing feels lighter and a bit more hollow. The folding joint works, but long-term play in that area is a known issue on budget Kugoo/KuKirin frames and you can feel why once you've folded and unfolded it a few dozen times. The deck is narrower, the handlebars slimmer, and the cockpit is functional but on the cheap side, with a display that already struggles in bright sun when it's new.
Build quality verdict: the S1 Max is absolutely fine for the money, but the SoFlow feels like it was designed to survive daily commuting by grown adults, not shared between three flatmates and left in the stairwell.
Ride Comfort & Handling
This is where their choices on tyres and suspension really define the character of each scooter.
The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 runs on large pneumatic tyres and no mechanical suspension. That sounds harsh on paper, yet in practice those big air-filled wheels soak up a surprising amount of city abuse. On typical bike lanes, asphalt, and mild cobbles, the ride is pleasantly muted; vibrations are there, but not offensive. Hit a big pothole or a sharp curb, though, and your knees still get the memo - you're the suspension, not some fancy linkage.
In corners the SO4 feels planted and predictable. The wide deck lets you shift stance, the stem is reassuringly stiff, and those tyres track nicely through bends. It's not playful, but it's confidence-inspiring, which is what you actually want when mixing with traffic.
The KuKirin S1 Max goes the opposite route: small solid honeycomb tyres with simple front and rear springs. You avoid punctures, yes, but you pay for that with a firmer, busier ride. On fresh tarmac at moderate speed it's tolerable, and the little suspension bits do help, but once you introduce rougher surfaces the scooter starts transmitting pretty much every imperfection to your ankles and wrists. After a few kilometres of uneven paving stones, you'll be very aware of how much you paid for the scooter - and not in a good way.
Handling-wise, the small wheels and narrow bar make the S1 Max feel more nervous at top speed. It's nimble in tight spaces, but less relaxing at full tilt. You end up scanning the road like a hawk because an innocent-looking crack can jolt the front end more than you'd like.
In short: SoFlow gives you grown-up stability with basic comfort; KuKirin gives you budget practicality with constant reminders that the tyres are solid.
Performance
Neither of these scooters is a rocket. That's fine - they're commuters - but the way they deliver their modest power is quite different.
The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 has a slightly stronger motor tuned for torque over drama. Off the line, it pulls more assertively than many generic 350 W commuters, especially if you're on the heavier side or carrying a backpack full of laptop, chargers, and bad life choices. It doesn't try to exceed legal European speed limits, but getting up to its capped cruising speed feels easy and unstrained. On hills, it's clearly the more capable climber of the two, especially with heavier riders - it won't fly, but it will keep crawling where lighter-duty scooters start giving up.
The KuKirin S1 Max runs a slightly milder motor. Acceleration is smooth and tame, nice for beginners or tighter spaces, but it doesn't have the same shove when you ask it to work. On flat ground with an average-weight rider, it holds its top speed well enough for inner-city trips. Add hills or a heavier rider, and you quickly find its limits: it slows, it wheezes, and occasionally it politely asks you to contribute with a kick or two.
Braking is where the gap yawns open. The SO4's dual disc brakes give you real lever feel, modulation and actual emergency stopping capability. You can scrub speed precisely in traffic without planning each stop five seconds in advance.
The S1 Max by contrast leans on a front electronic brake plus rear foot brake. Used well, they can stop the scooter, but it's not what I'd call confidence-inspiring. The e-brake alone is too gentle for surprises; the foot brake works but requires technique and commitment. For casual, predictable paths it's okay; in chaotic traffic it constantly reminds you you're riding a budget device.
Battery & Range
This is one of the few categories where the KuKirin has a clear mathematical advantage - and it shows day to day.
The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 comes with a modest-size battery. The advertised figures are, as usual, optimistic. In real usage - adult rider, full speed, stop-start traffic - you're looking at what I'd call "short-commute comfortable": enough for a typical there-and-back urban run with a little buffer, but not for long river-path explorations. If your daily return distance approaches that real-world limit, you'll be staring at the battery icon more often than you'd like.
The KuKirin S1 Max packs a noticeably larger pack relative to its weight and price. Realistically, you can get a healthy city day out of it: commute, a couple of extra errands, and still arrive home with something in reserve, especially if you don't cane it at maximum speed all the time. It's better suited to slightly longer flat commutes and people who hate the idea of mid-day charging.
Charging flips the script again. The SoFlow's smaller pack charges in a reasonable workday or long lunch break, depending how empty you ran it. The KuKirin's bigger battery plus slow charger mean you're looking at a proper overnight affair. For most commuters that's fine, but "quick top-up" is not really its thing.
If your priority is maximum kilometres per euro, the S1 Max is the more frugal choice. If your rides are shorter anyway and you care more about how the scooter behaves in traffic than how far it can theoretically go, the SoFlow's weaker battery becomes less of a deal-breaker.
Portability & Practicality
Both scooters sit in that sweet spot where you can carry them, but you won't love doing it every day for sport.
The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 is a solid middleweight
The KuKirin S1 Max is slightly lighter and feels it. The fast folding latch and more compact cockpit make it easier to manhandle through doors, up staircases, or onto crowded public transport. This is where it genuinely earns its keep: if your commute involves trains, trams, lifts and escalators, the S1 Max is the more polite companion - it takes less space and offends fewer fellow passengers. Practical reliability is split: the SoFlow's air tyres demand occasional pressure checks and the odd puncture fix, while the KuKirin's solids just roll, no drama. If you hate tools and have no patience for flats, the S1 Max has a strong everyday advantage here - acknowledging you pay for it in comfort and grip. On safety, the two scooters are not playing the same game. The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 is clearly designed with serious road use in mind. Dual mechanical disc brakes, big pneumatic tyres, indicators on the bars, bright front and compliant rear light, and a chassis rated for heavy riders all come together into a package that feels much more car-lane compatible. At typical commuter speeds it feels planted rather than skittish, and when you pull the brake levers, you get actual, predictable deceleration. The KuKirin S1 Max meets the basics: front light, rear brake light, some suspension, and splash resistance. But the combination of smaller solid wheels, basic brakes, and a somewhat nervous feel at top speed doesn't exactly scream "safety-first vehicle". You can ride it safely if you stay alert and adapt your style, but the scooter isn't doing you many favours if you misjudge a braking distance or hit a surprise pothole. For beginners or riders sharing space with cars regularly, the SoFlow's safety package is in a different league. The KuKirin is more acceptable on calmer bike paths and short hops, ideally with an attentive, already-confident rider. Let's address the elephant in the room: the KuKirin S1 Max is dramatically cheaper. For roughly half the SoFlow's sticker price, you get a scooter that can genuinely cover a mid-length city commute, folds quickly, doesn't need tyre maintenance, and will probably pay for itself in a few months of skipped bus passes. If you view it as an appliance rather than a vehicle - something to get you from A to B as cheaply as possible - it's compelling. The SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 asks for a noticeably bigger investment while offering a smaller battery. On a pure specs-per-euro sheet, especially for range, that looks bad. But it gives you stronger brakes, much higher load rating, better tyres, and legal-focused equipment like indicators and NFC lock. For heavier riders or anyone who rides in proper traffic, that added cost starts to look more like insurance than extravagance. If your budget ceiling is strict, the S1 Max is the only realistic choice here. If you have room to spend more and want something that feels like it'll still be structurally happy a few years from now, the SoFlow justifies its price in ways that don't fit nicely into a spec table. SoFlow is a more established, regulation-focused European brand. That usually means better availability of official parts and authorised service partners, especially in the DACH region. The flip side: when things go wrong, riders report that support can be slow and bureaucratic - more "corporate ticket" than charming local shop. KUGOO / KuKirin has a huge grey-market footprint, with parts and accessories floating around countless online shops and community groups. Official support is more hit-and-miss, varying wildly by reseller. The advantage: lots of community guides and cheap third-party spares. The disadvantage: you may become your own service centre sooner than you'd like. If you prefer an official, somewhat more "structured" support chain, SoFlow is the safer harbour. If you're comfortable with DIY fixes and hunting parts online, the KuKirin ecosystem isn't bad - just be prepared to get your hands dirty occasionally. If I had to live with one of these every day as my main urban transport, I'd take the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 - and I wouldn't need to think very long about it. It's not spectacular, but it feels like a proper, adult commuter scooter: stable chassis, serious brakes, grown-up tyres, and a safety package that doesn't feel like an afterthought. For heavier riders especially, it's one of the few options in this weight class that doesn't feel like you're asking too much of the frame. The KuKirin S1 Max earns its place on price and range. If your budget is tight, your roads are smooth, your terrain is flat, and you're not pushing the upper end of the weight limit, it can be a genuinely smart buy. As a first scooter, a campus cruiser, or a cheap "train-to-office gap" machine, it makes sense - as long as you accept the firm ride and modest safety margins. So: choose the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 if you want something that behaves like a small vehicle and you care about braking, stability and long-term robustness. Choose the KuKirin S1 Max if price and low running costs trump everything, and your riding environment is forgiving. Your commute - and your risk tolerance - should decide the winner for you. These metrics show how efficiently each scooter uses your money, weight and energy. The KuKirin dominates in all the cost- and range-related ratios: you pay far less per Wh and per kilometre, and it carries more energy per kilogram. The SoFlow counters with a stronger motor relative to its weight and speed and charges its smaller battery faster. In plain terms: the KuKirin is the bargain-distance king, while the SoFlow is the more muscular, quicker-charging machine. In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 scores 3 points against the KUGOO KuKirin S1 Max's 7. In the Author's Category Battle, the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 gets 26 ✅ versus 11 ✅ for KUGOO KuKirin S1 Max. Totals: SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 scores 29, KUGOO KuKirin S1 Max scores 18. Based on the scoring, the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 is our overall winner. Between these two, the SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3 simply feels like the more complete scooter - it rides with more confidence, stops like it means it, and behaves like something you can trust day in, day out, even if it never really excites on paper. The KuKirin S1 Max makes a loud argument with its tiny price and long-ish range, but once you're actually on the road the compromises in comfort and safety are hard to un-see.
If your commute matters to you and you want to feel like you're riding a compact vehicle rather than a clever toy, the SoFlow is the one that'll quietly keep you happier over time. The KuKirin is the budget specialist - handy in the right niche, but you always know why it was cheap. 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.Safety
Community Feedback
SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3
KuKirin S1 Max
What riders love
What riders love
What riders complain about
What riders complain about
Price & Value
Service & Parts Availability
Pros & Cons Summary
SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3
KuKirin S1 Max
Pros
Pros
Cons
Cons
Parameters Comparison
Parameter
SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3
KuKirin S1 Max
Motor power (nominal)
450 W
350 W
Top speed (approx.)
20-25 km/h (region dependent)
25 km/h
Battery
36 V 7,8 Ah (≈ 280 Wh)
36 V 10,4 Ah (≈ 374 Wh)
Claimed range
30 km
39 km
Realistic range (avg. rider)
15-20 km
25-30 km
Weight
16,5 kg
16 kg
Max load
150 kg
100 kg
Brakes
Front & rear mechanical disc
Front electronic + rear foot brake
Suspension
None (reliant on pneumatic tyres)
Front shock + rear spring
Tyres
10" pneumatic (air-filled)
8" honeycomb solid
Water resistance
IPX4
IP54
Charging time
3-5 hours
7-8 hours
Price (approx.)
581 €
299 €
Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?
Numbers Freaks Corner
Metric
SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3
KuKirin S1 Max
Price per Wh (€/Wh)
❌ 2,08 €/Wh
✅ 0,80 €/Wh
Price per km/h of top speed (€/km/h)
❌ 23,24 €/km/h
✅ 11,96 €/km/h
Weight per Wh (g/Wh)
❌ 58,93 g/Wh
✅ 42,78 g/Wh
Weight per km/h (kg/km/h)
❌ 0,66 kg/km/h
✅ 0,64 kg/km/h
Price per km of real-world range (€/km)
❌ 33,20 €/km
✅ 10,87 €/km
Weight per km of real-world range (kg/km)
❌ 0,94 kg/km
✅ 0,58 kg/km
Wh per km efficiency (Wh/km)
❌ 16,00 Wh/km
✅ 13,60 Wh/km
Power to max speed ratio (W/km/h)
✅ 18,00 W/km/h
❌ 14,00 W/km/h
Weight to power ratio (kg/W)
✅ 0,0367 kg/W
❌ 0,0457 kg/W
Average charging speed (W)
✅ 70,00 W
❌ 49,87 W
Author's Category Battle
Category
SOFLOW SO4 Gen 3
KuKirin S1 Max
Weight
❌ Slightly heavier, bulkier
✅ Lighter, easier to lug
Range
❌ Shorter real range
✅ Clearly goes further
Max Speed
🤝 Same legal cap
🤝 Same legal cap
Power
✅ Stronger, better torque
❌ Weaker, struggles loaded
Battery Size
❌ Small for price
✅ Bigger, better value
Suspension
❌ No mechanical suspension
✅ Basic but present
Design
✅ More refined, cohesive
❌ Cheap, utilitarian look
Safety
✅ Brakes, tyres, indicators
❌ Weaker brakes, small wheels
Practicality
✅ Better for daily traffic
❌ Better only for pure budget
Comfort
✅ Big pneumatics, wide deck
❌ Solid tyres, harsher ride
Features
✅ NFC, indicators, dual discs
❌ Basic feature set
Serviceability
✅ More "official" support path
❌ DIY, reseller-dependent
Customer Support
❌ Mixed, slow at times
❌ Also mixed, reseller-based
Fun Factor
✅ Stable, torquey enough
❌ Nervous, more appliance-like
Build Quality
✅ Sturdier frame, higher load
❌ More flex, joint play
Component Quality
✅ Better brakes, cockpit
❌ Cheaper controls, display
Brand Name
✅ More premium positioning
❌ Budget, value-focused
Community
❌ Smaller, regional
✅ Larger, very active
Lights (visibility)
✅ Indicators, good rear light
❌ Basic, no indicators
Lights (illumination)
✅ Strong, commuter-focused
❌ Adequate but weaker
Acceleration
✅ Punchier, better loaded
❌ Mild, fades with weight
Arrive with smile factor
✅ Feels like a real vehicle
❌ Gets the job done only
Arrive relaxed factor
✅ Stable, sure-footed feel
❌ Harsher, twitchier ride
Charging speed
✅ Faster full charge
❌ Slow overnight charge
Reliability
✅ Sturdy frame, few rattles
❌ Stem play, app issues
Folded practicality
❌ Wider bar, bulkier
✅ Slimmer, more compact
Ease of transport
❌ Heavier feel on stairs
✅ Friendlier for multi-modal
Handling
✅ Stable, confidence-inspiring
❌ Nervous at top speed
Braking performance
✅ Strong dual discs
❌ E-brake + foot only
Riding position
✅ Wider deck, comfy stance
❌ Narrower, more cramped
Handlebar quality
✅ Solid, less flex
❌ Slimmer, cheaper feel
Throttle response
✅ Smooth, predictable pull
❌ Slight delay, softer
Dashboard/Display
✅ Integrated, decent visibility
❌ Dim in strong sunlight
Security (locking)
✅ NFC immobiliser onboard
❌ No built-in immobiliser
Weather protection
❌ Basic splash resistance
✅ Slightly better rating
Resale value
✅ Stronger brand, features
❌ Budget scooter depreciation
Tuning potential
❌ Legal-focused, locked down
✅ Mod-friendly, big community
Ease of maintenance
❌ Tyres, discs need care
✅ Solids, simple mechanics
Value for Money
❌ Pricey unless you need load
✅ Strong bang for buck
Overall Winner Declaration
