6 Best Electric Scooters For Climbing Hills (Selected From 100+ Models)

The Mantis King GT has done nothing short of exploding onto the electric scooter scene. With a stunning black and gold (or red) finish and programmable swag lights, it’s easy to see why so many heads have turned. But this is one scooter that’s got so much more to offer than just its good looks.

Based on earlier Mantis models like the Pro SE, the King GT perfectly walks the line between complete overhaul and reverent reissue. It retains a lot of what we loved but comes with a host of upgrades, reinventions, and completely new additions.

For instance, the designers at Kaabo have significantly upped the comfort factor by making the frame larger, the deck more spacious, and the build quality so tight it has Rolls Royce engineers looking over their shoulders in envy.

This redesign has also made it more robust. When you’re riding up steep slopes it puts a lot of pressure on the scooter and a poorly put-together frame will soon develop annoying rattles and vibrations. There’s none of that to worry about here. The hard-wearing aluminum alloy construction and the built-in steering damper are more than a match for unrelenting hills and keep you steady on your course.

Building on its top-notch build, the handlebars are home to several top-of-the-line features. It’s the first Mantis scooter to be equipped with a 4.2-inch TFT display. This was famed by the Wolf King GT and has been one of Kaabo’s most well-received additions. This has replaced the EY3 MiniMotors display and finger throttle. It’s now centrally mounted and is exceptionally clear letting you view various riding stats at a glance.

Our favorite function of the display, though, is that it puts full control of the scooter’s power delivery in your hands. it allows you to regulate the power of the ferocious 1100W motors via 6 riding modes (Eco, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Even better, you can choose to engage either one – or both – of the motors. By controlling and capping the torque available, you can ease into the ride. This helps to build confidence by progressing through the speeds at your own pace but is crucial for maintaining momentum while scaling steep inclines.

A good throttle is key in your ability to modulate your pace, too. Instead of following the finger-throttle blueprint of previous Mantis scooters, it’s now completely separate from the display and is controlled with your right thumb. This is a better setup since it’s more intuitive.

Other useful features that are accessible via the cockpit include a loud horn, as well as a multi-switch console that lets you control the impressive array of lights. With a high-mounted headlight, responsive taillights, turn signals, and deck LEDs, you and your scooter are kept visible at night.

When I say that the Mantis King GT is an example of electric scooters at their best, you might think I’m exaggerating. But once you’ve seen the attention to detail that’s been applied, you’ll soon agree.

None more so is the detail noticeable than in the GT’s motor power. Able to reach 15 mph in 1.9 seconds, its acceleration can, at times, feel like you’ve been strapped to the back of a Formula 1 car.

The dual motors are capable of producing tremendous amounts of torque that peak at 4200W. To put this into perspective, this is 68% more powerful than the Apollo Ghost which is already a thrilling ride. As to be expected, it makes light work of hills.

However, it’s not just a blistering 43 mph top speed that you get; each motor is paired with a 30A Sine Wave controller to regulate the flow of power as they surge into action. Electric scooter controllers manage the flow of power between the battery and the motors. Previously, Kaboo scooters have been fitted with Square Wave controllers and when you’d press the throttle, power was pulled in an erratic motion. This would jerk you back and forth (and is a reason I’m not the biggest fan of Dualtron scooters since the majority have these types of controllers). A Sine Wave controller, on the other hand, pulls power in a consistent and controlled manner, resulting in a smooth throttle response.

Controlling your speed via the throttle alone, however, would be foolish. Here’s where the brakes come into play – and the Mantis King GT doesn’t hold back. With Zoom hydraulic discs on both wheels, you get exceptionally responsive stopping power that’s more than a match for its mighty performance. When activated, you’ll come to a stop from 15 mph in a short 2.1 meters.

Strong brakes are vital when you need to slow while going downhill, but a standout feature is the ABS function (which you can turn on or off). ABS, otherwise known as an anti-locking braking system, works by sensing when the wheels are about to lock. It then rapidly reduces and increases the braking pressure multiple times per second, applying optimal pressure. This allows the wheels to keep moving as the scooter slows down, instead of locking up.

So, we’ve established that the Mantis King GT has the pedigree to effectively scale steep inclines, but the final topic of discussion is ride quality.

Thankfully, the newly introduced adjustable suspension system is the best you can get for an electric scooter priced under $2,500. Thanks to its hydraulic design, the compression and rebound of the springs are controlled via pistons that contain a compressed liquid. Using the simple dial, you can adjust the rate at which the springs rebound. Ultimately, this means that you can customize the suspension to your weight and terrain for the smoothest ride possible.

Working in cahoot with the beefy 10 x 3 pneumatic tires that are equipped with a terrain-agnostic tread, the Mantis King GT delivers a level of ride quality that far surpasses its rivals. It’s the only scooter on this list that can tackle all kinds of terrain without making any major adjustments (i.e. swapping street tires for off-road variants).

Whether you're riding up hills or burning rubber on the flats, the Mantis King GT has an impressive arsenal of functions and features. It chews up any hill you point your wheels at and ensures you have fun while doing it.