China-based NANROBOT has been rapidly expanding its electric scooter portfolio over the past years so that it now includes the D5+. Marketed as an adult-oriented e-scooter, the D5+ ticks a lot of essential boxes that customers are more inclined to consider, including the likes of performance and comfort.
The Nanorobot D5+ is a well made and well designed electric scooter. It is capable of carrying a rider weighing up to 330lbs which shows just how well built this scooter is. It features two independent electric motors, one for each wheel, which can propel it up to a top speed of 40mph. The battery offers an exceptional range of up to 50 miles between charges. Front and rear disc brakes provide exceptional stopping power while the controls are well set out on the handlebars. It even folds down easily to offer easy transportation and storage.
Nanrobot D5+ Electric Scooter – A Detailed Review
Below is the in-depth review of this scooter, check it out.
Top Speed, Range, and Braking Efficiency
The D5+ has a claimed top speed of 40 mph (64 kmh), which we believe, though we only tested it to 36 mph (58 kmh) due to lack of runway. The scooter packs a 52 volt, 26 amp-hour, 1217 watt-hour battery. The D5+ delivered 30.3 (49 km) miles with an average speed of 23 mph (37 kmh) during our real-world range test (urban test loop with frequent stops, hills, rough terrain; 165 lb rider; scooter P-settings in fastest mode).
The Nanorobot has dual disc brakes as well as dual electronic brakes. We were able to bring the scooter from 15 mph to a stop in a meager 11.6 feet (3.5 m), an exceptional result. For comparison, a typical scooter has a 15 mph stopping distance of between 15 to 25 ft, anything below this we consider exceptional.
Construction and Build Quality
The Nanorobot D5+ is a hefty chunk of a scooter. It has a maximum rider weight limit of 330 lbs (150 kg). Its high-powered motor should make it quick for a heavier rider. The D5+ has lots of thick metal parts, and we expect that it should be durable. Much of it looks overbuilt. big bolts, thicker supports, just more metal than is probably necessary. Notably, some have reported failing bolts on their D4+ scooters that resulted in collapsing while riding, but we haven’t seen any verifiable claims of this happening with the D5+. Because of all this metal, the Nanorobot weighs 66 lb (30 kg).
As we’ve seen in other beast mode scooters, manufacturing and assembly are less precise. Finishes on the components can be a bit rougher. Less attention is paid to QC and detail. There are some sharp edges where a more mass-produced scooter would have none. Sometimes this is cosmetic. Other times it can lead to product failures. Though the folding mechanism is robust, other joints in the scooter have some play and just don’t feel super tight. We expect you’ll have to make some adjustments of the D5+ out of the box to get it more dialed in. Even after tuning, the D5+ will still have some of these quirks.
Portability and Compactness
Tipping the scales at 66 lbs, the D5+ is a beefcake. It has collapsing handlebars and a telescoping stem for storage. However, you won’t be hauling this thing onto public transportation or lugging it up to multiple flights of stairs. The stem locks in the folded position, which is helpful for those moments where you need to lift the scooter. The D5+ also has a kickplate over the rear fender. This serves as a carrying handle and helps you when lifting it.
The stem folding mechanism is quick to activate and solid once locked into place. It has an anodized metal tab that you push on with your foot or hand to unlock. The collapsing handlebars use the same mechanism we’ve seen across many other electric scooters. The handlebars are folded by pulling on a spring-loaded collar, then pushing them down. Out of the box, when extended, one of the handlebars were loose. After adjusting a screw in the mechanism, we were able to take out nearly all of the play.
Design and Connectivity
The D5+ has a pretty standard cockpit with a few extra touches. Both sides of the handlebars have brake levers. The brake levers have some meat to them. Squeezing down, you’ll feel some modest drag due to the mechanical cables. There is a minimal amount of travel necessary for triggering the electronic brake. However, there is significant electronic brake lag, perhaps 0.5 seconds or so, from the time the brake lever trips the digital switch till the moment you feel the sudden deceleration. Rubber grips on the handlebar are average. They are thick, hard, and firmly attached to the handlebars. Even after death-gripping them for extended periods, they stayed in place and didn’t rotate.
On the right side of the handlebars sits the ubiquitous LCD trigger-throttle. We noticed it didn’t feel very linear and maxed out only about half-way through its travel. When riding for long periods, your extended index finger will become uncomfortable and fatigued. Below the throttle control are dedicated Eco/Turbo and Singe/Dual motor buttons. The buttons cap the top speed and enable one or both motors.
On the left side of the handlebars are a rocker switch for lights, turn signals, a moderately loud horn, and a key lock ignition. The rocker switch is a nice touch that controls all the lights on the scooter. Many scooters have light switches that are annoyingly placed on the deck. You have to dismount the scooter to turn them on or off. The ignition has a built-in voltage meter for knowing your precise battery power level. This appears to be the same generic model used on many other scooters. Its plastic housing tends to pop apart if not tightened before you go for your first serious ride.
Tires and Mounted Light
The scooter has front, rear, corner deck lights, and turn signals. The front LED headlight is bright and can be tilted to light up the road ahead. However, it is mounted low to the ground and won’t project far enough ahead to be very visible to others. The turn signals and corner deck lights are also a nice touch, but their low mounting position is a drawback.
If you are riding this scooter at night, I recommend an additional, ultrabright headlight for safety. A bright, high-mounted red LED taillight is also recommended. Given the 40 mph top speed, it’s of the utmost importance to be able to see far enough ahead on the road to avoid hazards. Learn more about our recommendations for additional lighting to help you stay visible at night.
The D5+ features 10-inch (25 cm) by 2.5-inch (6 cm) pneumatic inner tube tires made by CST. The tires have 4-ply construction and valve stems that stick out far. This makes them easy to fill without needing a tire valve extender.
Comfort Level and Off-roading
The D5+ has large air-filled 10-inch pneumatic inner tube tires, front spring suspension, and rear air suspension. The dual suspension is excellent for smoothing out minor bumps in the road, but harsher terrain will be problematic.
One flaw we experienced in the scooter is the ultra-soft front suspension. Resonant of that on a retro motorcycle, with two parallel springs per side, the suspension is super soft and bottoms out on severe bumps. Under heavy braking, the D5+ tends to dip forward as the front spring compresses due to the loading. When riding, you have to shift your body weight toward the rear as you brake. We’ve seen many owners remedy this issue by replacing the front suspension with stiffer springs or using a rubber ring to suppress the impact when the front bottoms out. The rear suspension, which is also a bit soft, can be replaced with quality coil-over-hydraulic springs with relative ease.
Power, Battery backup and Charging Time
The NANROBOT D5+ has a massive 52V, 26AH battery mounted under the footrest area. This battery can be fully charged in 10 hours, and you get a range of 50 miles from one full charge. The long-range means that you can ride the scooter for a long distance and back without any fear of the battery running out mid-commute. Even though the batteries are superb, the range depends upon certain external factors including the rider’s weight, the incline, and the type of road. However, the scooter provides one of the best battery life amongst its pears, and after a single overnight charge, you can comfortably ride it for at least a couple of days.
This Nanorobot D5+ scooter is driven by two powerful 1000w electric hub motors. One is located in the front wheel and one in the rear. This gives the Nanorobot D5+ all-wheel-drive capabilities. It also gives a total power of 2000 watts. The rider can engage both electric motors or run on just one. As you would imagine using just one does not deliver the same top speed but it does preserve battery life. Going up a hill with a 6% grade, the Swagger 5 slowed so much that I had to get off and walk; the Dolly slowed to a crawl of about 5-6 mph but made it to the top of the hill. Following a 6-mile ride that included a few hills, the Swagger 5’s battery died less than a quarter-mile afterward.
Specifications of Nanorobot D5+
Top Speed 40 MPH
Maximum Range 50 Miles
Weight 70.0 lbs
Motor 2 x 1000 Watts
Dimensions (Unfolded) 49 inch x 45 inch x 10 inch
Why buy it?
The D5+ is the first scooter I’ve reviewed that comes stock with an alarm system and wireless keyfobs for arming/disarming the scooter. It comes with two keyfobs with a white and pink Hello Kitty color combination. It is hilarious to roll up in a powerful beast-mode scooter and whip out the keyfob to lock. Color choices aside, the alarm system is a pretty cool feature.
Once you’ve parked your scooter and armed it, movement or even the slightest touch of the scooter will set off the ultra-loud alarm. It’s a nice feature that, combined with the keyed battery cut-off, makes the scooter secure to park in public. For a quick run inside a store or cafe, it may be all you need. For maximum security, you should also use a lock. The scooter has some prime real estate around the folding mechanism to slip a U-lock through. We don’t recommend cable locks because they can be cut easily.
Pros and Cons of Nanrobot D5+ Electric Scooter
Other Similar Scooters For You:
- eMove Cruiser Electric Scooter Detailed Review
- Unagi Electric Scooter Review – Get to Know Everything
- Xiaomi Mijia M365 Pro Review
- Glion Electric Scooter Review
- Gotrax GXL v2 Electric Commuter Scooter Review
Wrap Up
If you are wanting to buy one of the fastest electric scooters available the Nanorobot D5+ is a fantastic choice. It is well designed and well constructed. With a top speed of 40mph and a range of 50 miles, there are only a handful of electric scooters that can even dream of competing.
It folds down for easy storage and transportation in your car and even features an alarm which is something you do not often see on electric scooters. The bottom line is that if you want a fast electric scooter, a scooter with a super long-range, and an electric scooter that has well thought out safety features, the Nanorobot D5+ is an excellent choice.
Well, it can be one of the best choices among all the scooter brands available in the market.