Bluetran Lightning review: Fills a gap in the market

The latest addition to the Minimotors family – one of the most famous manufacturers of electric scooters, is here and wants to be heard. Not just by its eye-catching design but also by what it hides under the hood. The fact is that you won’t find a 10-inch electric scooter on the market with such a large battery and unparalleled performance potential.

The excellent news for potential customers is that among other scooters made by Minimotors, which include the popular Dualtron models, the Bluetran Lightning does not take a back seat. By its specifications, it even leaves some of them behind.

With this machine, the manufacturer fills the gap in the market, and the scooter includes certain equipment used by its closest competitors. Just look at the battery capacity, to name one specification, which you won’t find in the 10-inch scooter category. But we’ll get back this battery later. Let’s start with unique riding properties of the Bluetran Lightning.

Power and acceleration rivaling the best scooters out there

The Minimotors models have earned a reputation as electric scooters with a sharp start and the Bluetran Lightning is no exception. Many drivers sitting in cars with combustion engines will envy you the uncompromising acceleration at the intersection.

As soon as you push that finger lever fully, the machine shoots off from a standstill to a speed of 30 km/h in 3.05 seconds. It reaches fifty kilometers per hour in 6.22 seconds. In terms of distance, you will reach 30 km/h on the speedometer in just over 14 meters and get to 50 km/h in less than 51 meters. We measured these values in our independent tests, which always guarantee unbiased results.

We also measured the scooter’s actual power. According to the manufacturer, the two motors – one at the front and one at the back – promise 5040 watts of power, which figure approaches the absolute top among electric scooters. In our own tests, the peak power came at 3564 watts. The question of whether you can climb steep hills with a gradient exceeding 30 degrees with this scooter is answered immediately after you experience its power for yourself.

The scooter’s dynamic nature remains present when riding on a flat surface. In this case, the top speed climbs to 73.72 km/h, almost equalling the specification claimed by the manufacturer. To put it simply, this scooter is ideal for weekend exploration of new places outside the city at a very brisk pace.

The ace up its sleeve? Battery

It is no coincidence that we mention day-long trips. This is the area where the Bluetran Lightning offers one of its biggest advantages – the LG battery. No other electric scooter with 10-inch tires comes with such a huge battery capacity – 72 V and 35 Ah.

You can find values like that in models such as Dualtron Ultra 2 or Nami Burn E, which belong to a wholly different scooter category. The potential that this scooter takes you to places several dozens of kilometers away is truly high. The question remains whether the Bluetran Lightning is able to achieve it in practice.

However, we quickly forgot about this concern after managing to exceed the 150 km mark on this scooter while performing our tests. If you only use the scooter after work and during your days off, it is very likely that you will charge it no more than once a week.

However, sooner or later this battery will have to be charged via the GX20 three-pin charging port. If you think that one charging port is not quite enough for a battery of this kind of capacity, you are not alone. The charging time confirms it. You will have to wait up to 25 hours to have the scooter fully charged with the supplied charger.

Although the charging port is adapted to accept 10 ampere fast chargers, which reduce charging time to 7 hours, the scooter nevertheless deserves at least one additional charging port. Also, this charging port could be better located. Its position on the deck where your feet are located is definitely not an ideal solution.

Patented suspension is a step forward

The placement of charging ports may not be ideal with this scooter, but we must praise its suspension. While we are used to elastomer suspension in Dualtrons models, the people at Minimotors chose a completely different suspension type with the Bluetran. They even patented their double air shock absorbers at the front and back.

You will find four shock absorbers integrated directly between the suspension arms and we have to praise this modification from a functional point of view. While Dualtron models have gained a reputation of electric scooters with stiffer suspension, Bluetran’s suspension got softer.

Although it continues to nicely dampen small bumps like the elastomer suspension but, unlike it, it also filters larger bumps at high speeds. At the same time, this suspension remains stiff enough, so you won't feel like you're floating while riding. The scooter responds immediately to any change in direction. To complete its sharp riding nature, the chassis height can be adjusted based on your preference.

The controllability is yet another of the scooter’s pluses as it comes with 10-inch inflatable wheels. These wheels can contribute to overall comfort even with a scooter of this size. But, most importantly, they provide slightly better maneuverability compared to 11-inch wheels we see on scooters of similar size.

The only drawback is that the steering is too loose and there is no turning radius end stop. You will notice the absence of a steering damper especially at high speeds when you will have to concentrate little more on maintaining the direction of travel and stability.

You will be able to enjoy fast riding right up to a point where you will have to stop abruptly ahead of oncoming danger. The art is not to be able to ride fast but, above all, safely, which is taken care of by the Zoom hydraulic disc brakes along with the electric ABS system. To get a better idea about their efficiency, you can bring the Bluetran Lightning to a complete stop from a speed of 50 km/h in under 2.75 seconds. The effect of hydraulic brakes manifested in the braking distance value of a little more than 17.5 meters.

Unmissable on the road

As the scooter’s name suggests, it is the light that plays a lead role. Many lights. At the front there are two LED lights integrated into the deck, along with the main headlight on the steering rod. Its output is more than enough for evening trips as it illuminates a sufficiently long distance in front of you.

The drivers behind you will be alerted to your presence by a pair of red lights in the deck and by the dynamic LED strip on the deck step at the rear. This strip serves both as a brake light and a warning light. We have to praise the decision to install separate turn indicators above the rear lights so that whenever you wish to turn, everyone behind you understands that you are braking and changing direction at the same time.

All lights are controlled by a multi-switch near the left hand. The switch offers everything necessary – a well-arranged controller of turn signals, warning lights, horn, as well as an eco mode switch, are all at the single spot, which means that you will quickly learn to operate the scooter by heart. On the opposite side of the handlebars there is a standard EYE display, so typical of the Minimotors machines.

However, the handlebars themselves are atypical. Their width of 650 millimeters contributes to better stability and control when riding fast. However, you can adjust their height based on your needs and preference thanks to the adjustable stem angle. To make matters even better, these handlebars can be folded for better scooter storage and transport.

They took good care of design

When you look at the Bluetran Lightning after unboxing it, a number of external details catch your eye at first glance. The dominant black color is nicely complemented by visual accessories in white and yellow.

Moreover, the inscriptions on the steering rod and the side of the deck are illuminated by LED lights with variable color output. You can set these lights according to your preference or mood using the light controller, which gives the scooter a modern feel. It is no coincidence that the scooter is called the Lightning.

But wouldn’t you prefer stop reading about this electric scooter and rather see it in real action? If so, click the video review below:

However, the overall build quality has both good and bad aspects. While the handlebars and the folding mechanism are top notch, the steering rod joint chosen by the manufacturer is not a particularly good one. For a scooter of this value, we would expect a slightly more sophisticated and more durable folding solution. Not to mention the labor-intensive method of fastening the pair of quick release clamps.

The hook in the deck is a plus, serving to fix the steering rod to be able to carry the scooter more easily. The deck itself is of premium build quality. It offers a wide enough space for rider’s feet and is terminated by a robustly built and excellently positioned rear step for convenient and safe riding. Its all-rubber surface with black-white-yellow elements further emphasizes the scooter’s attractive design.

Made for who?

The Bluetran Lightning is suitable for all who appreciate visually appealing exterior design and like long and comfortable rides. No other electric scooter in its category can take you over such distances and at such fast speeds. It is perfect for day long exploring of narrow paths that will take you back home every time. Safely, fast, and in style.

The same way Max Blinker will deliver this scooter to you, if you decide to order from us the Bluetran Lightning at the lowest market price.