The V8 has a rugged design thanks to its solid build quality and beefy 9-inch tires.
It handles NYC’s bumps, potholes, and hazardous roads without issue.
Compared to my smaller and aging Segway Ninebot, the V8 was noticeably slower than I was used to.
Unboxing and Setup
When it arrives, setting up your new TurboAnt V8 is very simple.
After unboxing, you’ll see that the V8 is fully assembled except for its handlebar.
After a few tries the latch came loose.
The kickstand is already attached and can be used to keep the scooter upright during the next step.
There is a small pad keeping the battery from making contact.
Once removed, the battery can fully slide in.
Just remove the protective film from the display, and you’re ready to turn the V8 on.
Controls couldn’t be easier, which is great when riding and making quick changes.
TurboAnt V8 Design: Function Over Form
The TurboAnt V8 is far from flashy or sleek.
Featuring IP54 water-resistance, it’s capable of handling light rain and small puddles without any issues.
Unfolded, this measures 45.7 19.9 45.5 inches and folds down to 18.1 inches thick.
The deck is large enough to comfortably hold one rider at 6.9 inches wide and 19.7 inches long.
The deck has a rubberized textured grip that keeps your feet from sliding around.
This is what it looks like next to my Segway Ninebot with its dual battery system.
This allows users to charge both batteries simultaneously, which can be a significant time saver.
Operation
The TurboAnt V8 uses a simple set of controls located on the handlebars.
aaaaaThe V8 has red aarear brake lights that flash when brakes are engaged.
It has a 3W front light that has just one brightness level.
Instead, this is more akin to a powerful Toyota 4Runner rather than a lightning-quick BMW M5.
That’s not to say the TurboAnt is a bad scooter, but it’s important to set expectations.
The throttle feels very responsive and allows you to maintain speed and acceleration relatively well.
I’ve tried other scooters which feel rather jerky in comparison.
Compared to my Nine-Bot, this helps avoid accidentally pulling the scooter away when you aren’t ready.
When already in motion, it still never feels quick, even in its highest Sport power mode.
The V8 can support up to 275 pounds, which is quite impressive.
Both brakes are activated together when pulling on the single brake lever.
Otherwise, it was quite mushy.
Maintaining Slower Speeds
Surprisingly, the TurboAnt V8 struggles to go slower speeds.
The scooter is rather unforgiving here and will frequently require you to kick again for the throttle to reengage.
This happened more times than I care to admit.
Rather awkward and annoying to say the least.
Instead, there is noticeable resistance, which makes it hard to roll.
Oftentimes, I would simply get off the scooter completely and walk it instead.
I was of course riding in Sport mode and was frequently at full throttle.
A Great Budget Scooter?
However, it’s quite heavy and lacks strong acceleration and reliable braking performance.
